Let's start over, Your Majesty.

Chapter 166 Epilogue: Homecoming [The Grand Canal Arc Ends]

"Meow~"

The snow-white short-eared cat meowed and nuzzled its head affectionately against Yumilia's palm.

"Be good."

Yumilia stroked its soft fur, smiled slightly, and handed it a small dried fish.

As she watched the cat eat the dried fish, Yumilia's smile slowly faded.

"Haven't Caesar and Ithaca returned yet?"

She gazed at the azure sky outside the window, feeling a profound emptiness within her.
Caesar said he would be gone for a week, but eight days have passed and he still hasn't returned. Ita has no idea what to expect, and when he asked the temporary steward at the mansion, he could only get vague information.

Although Freya was with her during this time, she still had to work, so she was alone at home most of the time.

"I'm so lonely."

She lay on the bed, her lonely eyes staring at the ceiling. The cat stepped onto the bed and snuggled up beside her.

She hadn't felt this desolate in a long time. Caesar had never been away from her for so long. After the child was gone, life seemed to be missing something, becoming meaningless.

"I miss you so much."

Yumilia felt an emptiness in her chest, bit her lower lip, and got out of bed.

"Madam, what can I do for you?" the maid at the door asked immediately as she came out of the room.

"I...I want to go home and see." Yumilia didn't even know she had this thought, even though there was no one at home.

But she still wanted to go back, at least to a place with familiar smells.

She took a car back to the familiar apartment building; it was her first time back since the attack.

Looking back now, I realize that the simple and unpretentious life here suits me better. In a big mansion, there are always people taking care of you and everything else, which I'm not used to at all.

After telling the driver not to wait for her, Yumilia went upstairs, took out her keys, and opened the door.

A faint musty smell mixed with the familiar scent of home wafted over her, instantly calming her down.

The furniture was covered with white dust-proof cloths, the curtains were drawn back, and the windows were opened to let the sunlight shine in again. The bellflowers on the balcony had grown everywhere and hadn't been pruned in a long time, while Caesar's snowdrops were still in full bloom and looked exceptionally beautiful.

She squatted down and wiped the floor with her hands; her palms were also covered in a layer of dust.

"Looks like we need to do a thorough cleaning," she said.

He entered Caesar's room, pulled back the dust cover on the bed, opened the wardrobe to take a look, and then sat down at the desk, as if Caesar's warmth still lingered there.

"Ugh"

She lay down on the bed, hugged her pillow, smelled the scent of her child on it, and looked at the empty desk. She seemed to see Caesar studying at the desk every night in the past. She would bring him a glass of milk, pat his head and say a few words of encouragement. Caesar would occasionally hold her hand and talk to her, complaining about things at school.

Although this child appears so mature on the surface, he still reveals his childlike side when he is alone with himself in private.

Yumilia lowered her eyes, the pleasant memories only making her feel more lost.

If you can't stand being apart for just a few days, what will happen when Caesar grows up, becomes independent, and gets married? Will he still be with you then?

Lying in bed hugging her pillow, Yumilia couldn't help but think to herself.

The thought of Caesar having other family members by his side in the future made me inexplicably sad.

Without realizing it, tears welled up in the corners of my eyes.

"Oh, how can this be? As an elder, you're so emotionally fragile," Yumilia muttered, quickly wiping away her tears.

No, the longer I stay at home, the more uncomfortable I feel. Everywhere I look, there are memories.

"Take the snow jasmine back with you,"

As she was thinking this, she went to the balcony and was about to pick up the potted plant when she heard the sound of a key opening the door. Caesar, carrying a backpack and holding a bunch of bright violets, stepped into the house.

He was stunned when he stepped inside and saw Yumilia on the balcony.

"Why are you back?" he asked in surprise.

Yumilia stared blankly at the familiar boy's face, her emotions surging like a tidal wave, but she only whispered:

"I...I just came back to take a look."

“I was saying I’d go home first, and then come to Ita’s mansion to find you later,” Caesar chuckled, walking in, putting down his backpack, and placing the bouquet of vibrant violets aside.

He glanced back at Yumilia and saw that she was still holding her own pillow in her arms.

"What are you doing, hugging my pillow?"

"This..." Yumilia realized she was still holding the pillow and quickly put it aside.

"I was just tidying up."

"That's it"

Yumilia walked up and was about to say something when Caesar took out a square glass box from his backpack.

Inside the box was a deep blue flower specimen, about the size of a palm, with white spots on it.

"Yes, I brought this for you. I couldn't find any other rare flowers, but this one is very pretty, and it has a lovely name: Starfrost," Caesar said.
Yumilia took the flowers, looked at the beautiful flowers in her hand, and then at Caesar's obviously tanned face. A warm smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

"Thank you, Caesar, I like it very much."

“Oh, and this too,” Caesar said, holding up the bunch of violets beside him. “I found these on the way here, thought they were pretty, and picked some.”

He could have returned a day earlier, but thinking of his promise to Yumilia, Caesar spent a day in the wild collecting flowers, making specimens, and bringing them back to her.

Yumilia accepted the beautiful flowers with great joy, but then she noticed the bandage wrapped around Caesar's left hand.

"Caesar, is your hand injured?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"Oh, this?" Caesar pulled his sleeve to cover it. "It's nothing, I just got burned while camping in the wild."

"let me see."

Yumilia put down the flowers, took Caesar's hand, and stroked it through the bandages.

He described it so casually, but in reality, his entire forearm was wrapped in bandages, clearly indicating a serious injury.

This made the mother feel a pang of heartache.

"It must hurt a lot," she asked softly.

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Is field research very strenuous?"

"It was a bit tough, but it was also very interesting, and I learned a lot."

"Are you used to the food there?"

"It's alright, I can do it myself."

"Are you sleeping? Are you getting enough rest?"

"Yeah, I'm very tired every day, so I still sleep quite well at night."

"Caesar has someone outside."

I was going to ask if you missed me, but I felt that was too sentimental.

I can't let Caesar think that I'm the kind of mother who's very controlling.

Children grow up and eventually have to fly away; they will certainly experience many more separations like this in the future.
She pursed her lips, suppressing the surging emotions within her, and finally just smiled slightly at Caesar.

"It's good to be back. You've worked hard, Caesar."

There was a moment of silence, then she said softly, "I'll go get some water, you can wash your face."

She had just turned around when Caesar suddenly hugged her from behind.

"Ugh?"

The sudden hug warmed her heart, and before she could say anything, she heard Caesar, his head buried in her shoulder, say in a soft voice:
"I miss you."

The overwhelming emotions welled up from the boy and she could feel them.

She opened her mouth, feeling a surge of happiness rising from her heart, quickly filling her small chest.

She took Caesar's hand and turned to hug him.

I miss you too.

She embraced Caesar's head, gently stroking his shoulders, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Welcome back, Caesar."

"Report on this operation."

Muirner placed a thick stack of documents in front of Greenworth.

“Thank you for your hard work, teacher,” Greenworth said respectfully. “I will do my best to help with the Borough of the Valley.”

Although the plan has completely failed, the promise still needs to be kept. After all, the condition with Muirna was only to contain the object, and now that the object has returned intact, he has to fulfill his agreement.

Muirner gave a low hum.

"Also," Greenwald asked tentatively, "I heard that the [Dark Knight] has reappeared this time. Teacher, did you have any contact with him at the scene?"

"What's it to you?" Muirner asked expressionlessly.

“I’m sorry, I talked too much,” Greenworth said.

“I want to see the plan implemented within a month,” she said. “I have no interest in anything else.”

"Yes."

After Greenworth left, Muirner let out a deep breath and his gaze fell on the science fiction novel on the sofa.

"What kind of person are you?" she murmured softly.

The Realm of No Form

"Thanks to Your Majesty's help, the Dragon Clan's sacred artifact was returned intact, and the clan successfully weathered this crisis."

Ita stood below the throne, reporting the details of the incident.

"It's good that things are stable. I only played a guiding role. The glory of the Dragon Clan still needs to be protected by yourself," said Emperor Shengyuan.

"I will continue to work hard to restore the dragon race to its former glory," Ita said firmly.

“However, a despicable person appeared in this operation. He attempted to steal the sacred relic. If it weren’t for the relic’s primal connection with me, he would have succeeded,” Ita said, his expression turning fierce.

In the end, she saw that the guy was about to escape with the sacred object, but when she woke up, the sacred object had returned to her, so the only explanation is this bloodline connection.

"He got away this time, but if we meet again, I will make sure he is completely wiped out!"

After a few seconds of silence upon hearing her vow, the king on the throne spoke:

"The one you mentioned is the attendant I sent to assist you this time."
His name is Caesar Thranduil.

Upon hearing the name, Ita's previously fierce expression vanished instantly, followed by a moment of stunned silence.

"Ugh?"

(End of this chapter)