After cleaning dishes, Annshera came back to her bedroom. She found her husband sat on the bed. She joined him and kissed him passionately. When she was about to push him on the bed he interrupted her then smiled to her.
“We have a guest.”
She found their baby boy peacefully asleep, his favorite plushy, his father’s minion in the palm of his hand. She had the purest smile and caressed her baby cheek.
“An angel ! Our sweet baby ! He is the cutest ! Where is adult Florian ?”
“He wanted to go outside for a walk, Last Vigil he said.”
“Alright I’ll join him.”
“I’ll stay with the baby. Go.”
***
Florian was sat at her favorite spot, the little area right next to the fire. She brought him many times here as a baby, drinking hot chocolate, eating biscuits and cakes. At her biggest surprise, the smoke wasn’t generate by the fire but by her son smoking a cigar. She froze without hiding her stupefaction. Florian stared at her, inviting her with a nod to sit face to him.
‘You… you smoke ?!”
“It happens.”
She looked at him astounded and judgmental. Annoyed, he sighted then turned everything off.
“Get over it Mother, it’s not a big deal.”
“Florian, you’re a baby to me. I don’t know this Florian who smokes and bad mouth his mother.”
“I’m not bad mouthing you !I… Mother I love you, more than everything!”
He soften his face and contemplated his mother. Annshera could perceive sorrow in his son eyes mixed with unconditional love. She put her hands on his cheeks. He was avoiding eye contact. Obviously, he was upset about something. He was already doing this when he was about to cry as a baby.
“Florian what is it ?” Tell me. I’m your mother. You tell me everything. Does it have something to do with your brothers and sisters ? How are they ?”
He abruptly stepped away from her. He couldn’t answer this question. It would lead to many other question from her. He couldn’t tell the risk to tell too much about her future.
“I can’t answer that Mother. It would influence your behavior too much.”
“It’s a yes then ?! Oooh I hope they are okay. I’m sure you’re taking good care of them. I noticed you don’t call me Mummy anymore.”
“I like Mother better now.”
She smiled, proud of her calm and confident son. She could see herself in his personality and her husband in his mannerism. Florian crossed his legs and contemplated her mysteriously amused just as Aymeric would do. It warmed her heart, he was his father’s son in so many ways.
“Do you have a girlfriend ?”
“Mother ! No I don’t.”
“Why ? You are so handsome. Women must see it. Or maybe you’re not into women.”
“I love women but they are the least of my concern at the moment.”
“My pretty boy, they must love you so much.”
Florian sniggered. Even this embarrassing conversation managed to warm his heart. No he didn’t have a girlfriend but there was someone very dear to his heart, he would have loved to introduce to his mother.
“Where do you live?”
“Hingashi, the vacation home in Shirogane.”
“It’s so faraway from home… Why so much distance ? You’re not in good terms with us ?”
“We are in good terms. I visit once a month. I just like Shirogane and I’m busy, very busy.”
“Busy with what ? Spying for Garlemald ?”
She spoke with a quiet tone but her eyes were telling another story. Florian didn’t let himself intimidated and maintained eye contact.
“Your coat, nice fabric, Garlean fabric. I’ve lived 18 years in a former Garlean province, I’ve learned to recognize their fashion.”
“Yeah they have nice and warm clothes, what about that ?”
She bit her lips to contain her laugh. Such imprudence, just as someone she knew very well. He learned from the most imprudent one, herself.
“And the gun, who gave it to you ?”
“Emperor Zenos.”
“What ?!”
Florian put his hands before his mouth realizing he gave crucial information about Annshera’s future. Intrigued, she urged him with her eyes to tell her more.
“Emperor Zenos ? Emperor Varis you mean.
“Emperor Zenos zos Galvus, the Emperor of Garlemald. Well at least what is left of it. I’m friend with his children, I see them often so he knows me well, therefore, he gave me this gun. And I shouldn’t have told you that but whatever.”
“Zenos has children and you are friend with them ?!”
“Yeah they are my best friends. The Galvus did a lot for me when.. They are the one who helped me travel through time. I wouldn’t have made it here if it wasn’t for them.
Annshera felt betrayed by his words. Her son almost declaring that he considered the Galvus, family of most likely her worst enemy, the family he chose. Florian wasn’t even hiding his affection for them. His voice was full of fondness and he had this small smile she had when she was thinking about something particularly joyful. Zenos took her son, her baby boy. This thought was unbearable for Annshera. “What did I fail ?” she wondered, her eyes full of tears.
“So you asked them for help but not your own parents ? Not your family ?”
“Why do you think I came all this way ?! Took always these risks ? Almost died to come here ? I’m here for you !”
“Why can’t you visit us in your timeline ? Why only once a month; Once a month isn’t enough ! We’re not in good terms right ? You cut ties and you left us to make your life at the other side of the world ?!” Annshera screamed
“I needed distance. I couldn’t
! I’ve tried but it was too painful but I never miss, I always
visit once a month… I… always visit you…”
Annshera suddently understood what Florian meant. The tragic truth, the real reason why he traveled through time. She was mortified, something went awfully wrong in the future. The emotion on his eyes when he laid eyes on her. She also realized he looked at Aymeric as if he just saw him few time ago, not her. It was so much more emotional for him to see her again because it had been such a long time ago. It could only mean one thing.
“You always visit me in the cemetery because I’m dead right ? I’m dead in your timeline.” she shouted with a broken voice.
Florian burst into tears, falling on Annshera knees. Her son extreme sadness broke her heart. She was also terrified. Her poor baby without her. Did she even have time to raise him. How many years she got with him ? Too much information and questions for her. She collapsed on the floor and cried out loud holding her dear son.
“You are for a while now. For… many years.”
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