I, Valon, am frantically searching for my mother.

Even though he was just being held tightly by this small, even somewhat thin, white body, Wayne felt as if his body was frozen in place by some invisible force.

This is not a physical restraint; with Wayne's current strength, he could easily break free.

Do not move.

You can't push it away either.

Instead, Wayne felt that in this atmosphere and occasion, he should quietly accept the embrace in front of him.

Daphne still held the baby in front of her tightly, with all her might, the baby who was much bigger and stronger than her.

Daphne's hug was still clumsy, but the force was astonishing, as if she wanted to tell Wayne everything she had experienced over the years.

Then she started to speak.

"Because Daphne was useless...and a bad child...that's why Daddy and Mommy...abandoned Daphne, right?"

"Daphne was useless...that's why so many dragons...died. Everyone from before...brothers, sisters...are all gone. Only the bad girl Daphne...survived."

"But... Daphne doesn't want to be a bad child... Daphne also wants... to be needed by others... that's why she wants to become a mother..."

"But it seems like none of the dragons...don't need a mother...Cody doesn't, Lyle doesn't, and Her Majesty Anna...doesn't seem to need one either..."

"Maybe it's because...they weren't abandoned, but chose to become wanderers? Daphne...that's so strange..."

Her voice lowered, filled with confusion and self-doubt, but it was quickly replaced by a cautious elation.

"But! Daphne is... so happy today, so very happy!"

"Because Daphne has finally... found her baby!"

She hugged him tighter, rubbing her cheek affectionately against Wayne's golden scales, her voice carrying a hint of relief.

"If your baby needs Daphne... then Daphne will be useful... right?"

"So... Daphne shouldn't be abandoned, right?"

Daphne's words became more and more fluent, as if she were talking to herself, or as if she were talking to Wayne. In the end, she hugged Wayne tightly.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Daphne abruptly raised her head and looked directly into Wayne's somewhat complex golden vertical pupils with her pale blue eyes, which were filled with tears but were surprisingly bright.

"Baby...you must not have a mother anymore, right?"

"That's why I...looked everywhere for my mom!"

The moment Wayne heard Daphne's words, he seemed to put on a mask of pain.

Say something nice, Daphne!

Saying that will offend many dragons.

If someone else had said that to Wayne, Wayne would have just started swearing.

Your mom!

How dare you talk to me like that?

You'd better have more than one mom like me! Otherwise, I'll make you and your mom fly!

However, the person who said this was Daphne, who was indeed Wayne's mother.

Therefore, Wayne could only accept Daphne's hug with a complicated expression.

Wayne looked at Daphne, who was hugging him tightly and had never seen her parents since birth, and couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

Indeed, one dragon after another cannot be compared to another!

Daphne, do you know that even if we split our money equally now, I could give you another mom!

However, looking into Daphne's pure and unadulterated eyes, Wayne's inner turmoil and frustration eventually turned into a silent sigh and a strange tenderness.

He remained silent, and then, with an extremely gentle force that he himself was unaware of, he slowly raised his own paws and embraced the small, trembling white body in his arms, which seemed to have used up all its courage to hug him.

Daphne tried to speak, but Wayne silenced her with his claws.

Old Feng in white should probably say less.

If you keep talking like that, and my mother hears you one day, you'll have to become Fitch's Cup.

However, Daphne clearly did not understand what Wayne meant, and she gently brushed Wayne's claws away.

Continuing with that tone of voice, a mix of sobs and silly laughter, she released the emotions that had been building up for too long:

"Don't be afraid, baby..."

"I... Daphne, will never abandon my child!"

"If I could... Daphne would do anything... to protect the baby!"

She loosened her embrace slightly and gently patted her thin chest, covered with pale scales, with her paws. There, a tiny heart seemed to be beating passionately and recklessly.

"How is it?"

She looked at Wayne, and that silly smile reappeared on her face.

"Daphne...is she very useful?"

"This way... I should be able to... avoid being abandoned, right?"

Wayne remained silent.

He looked at the small white figure in front of him, who was smiling but then became teary-eyed again.

Wayne nodded slowly and very solemnly.

In his red, vertical pupils, the cunning and cynicism had faded, leaving only a calm and unwavering determination.

"Um."

Wayne's voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in the simple cave.

"Daphne's mom is the best."

"I, Wayne, will never abandon Mama Daphne."

"forever."

boom--

It was like a dam that, after holding out for too long, was breached by a raging flood.

The forced expression and pretense on Daphne's face, the one she was trying so hard to maintain as a "mature and reliable mother," shattered and collapsed the moment Wayne finished speaking.

"Waaaaah..."

First came soft, suppressed sobs.

Then came an uncontrollable, heart-wrenching, childlike sob, as if trying to unleash all the grievances, fears, loneliness, and self-doubt accumulated over the years!

"Waaaaaahh ...

Daphne suddenly buried her face deep into Wayne's chest.

"Dad... Mom...!"

"I...I miss you all!"

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Daphne isn't a bad child... Daphne wants to be a good child too...!"

"Don't leave Daphne behind... Waaah... Don't leave Daphne alone again...!"

The cries echoed in the narrow cave. All the maturity and strength that the young dragon had just managed to maintain crumbled, and Daphne finally became the person she was meant to be.

Ultimately, she was just a white dragon cub with the intelligence of an 8-year-old!

Looking at Daphne, who was wailing loudly in front of him, Wayne sighed.

These one or two things are really causing me a lot of trouble...

So Wayne hugged Daphne tightly and gently stroked her white head.

"Don't be afraid, Mom, I'm here."

"Wayne's here!"

……