Queen Era: The Monster I Love - Chapter 104
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CHAPTER 104
Meanwhile, Era stayed close to the window watching the whole charade and she could feel Anna’s pain.
Never in this life did she think she could affect someone so much less to the point where they cried for not seeing her.
If she was told she would say it may only be her younger sister but watching Anna suffer, pricked her fragile heart she shook her head, not being able to take it anymore.
“I want her. She made me a promise. I need to see her! She said she would not leave me.”
“And I never did, Anna. I never did not once.”
“But you did. I haven’t seen you in…” she paused, finally realizing that the person who spoke was not Aeverie but a very familiar voice she had always longed for.
She blinked several times trying to come to terms with what she had heard. Although she was shocked, she did not move but the other children behind did move as they tried to see where Era was.
“I have always watched over you and never left any of you,” Era’s voice resounded from where she was again.
Realizing what was going on Arya’s worried face brightened up as a wonderful smile pushed out. This queen and her lady royal were something else entirely.
‘Sigh! So her majesty was around all these while and she allowed the poor little child to cry? Well what can is ay, she loves to make an entrance and every moment and aspect is worth everything.’ Arya thought as she watched on.
After some seconds when she still did not see Era, she decided to search her out with her eyes and soon she found her by the window.
Her shadow had brought her out of hiding.
Anna, on the other hand, had her lips open, realizing that the owner of the voice was indeed era but she dared not look lest she actually turned and found out that it was all a lie.
Smiling to herself, Era moved towards the door and opened it gently, allowing it to fully go wide, stunning the kids behind it.
GASP!
“I missed you, I missed you all.”
The second the door opened and the kids turned their heads to see who it was, their eyes held untold joy and expectation as they laid eyes on Era.
One could see the wondrous smiles on their face and the happiness that could last for a life time without worry.
It took a while before they could call out her name. It was either their shock that took the best of them or they had forgotten her name.
Choosing to take the former, Era stepped into the house, dropping her bags at the door as she stood before the children, smiling down at them.
“Aunt AVA!!”
It was like they had commanded them to scream at the same time because that was what all of them did at the same time, screaming her name with reckless abandon.
Their noise was just the right amount of shout that Anna needed to break her from her shell. Not wasting another second, she turned around at once in their direction, her eyes blazing with joy, pain and shock but that did not matter anymore.
“Hahhaa…”
Immediately they got their senses back and rushed at her the way they did to Aeverie. The only difference was that their momentum wasn’t as high for Aeverie as it was for Era and before she could say anything, they had already pushed her down to the ground.
Thud!
“Hahhaaa…”
“Aunty Avaa!!”
“Aunty Ava, welcome!”
“We miss you!”
“I miss you all too.”
Anna did not leave where she sat. She looked on with glee and astonishment as her grasp at the handle of the chair tightened, causing her knuckles to turn pale.
“Hold on,” Era struggled but each child wanted to have a go at hugging her.
She looked like a celebrity who had just gotten tackled down by her fans.
Although Aeverie and Arya wanted to help, Aeverie kicked against it and even when Arya was about to intervene to stop the kids, Aeverie warned her.
“They are her people and they look up to her. She deserves it and so do they.”
Arya nodded in understanding and remained rooted to where she stood.
“They are after you because they miss you. You should accept it with open hands and heart.”
“I agree,” Arya added from where she stood.
It took Era some minutes but finally, she managed to calm down the children and pleaded with them to allow her to stand up and they did.
Once she was standing and they too had stopped causing a commotion, she looked ahead to where Aeverie sat as her gaze met with a pair of shocked, yet joy and pain-filled eyes.
The way and manner in which Anna stared at her were fascinating like she was seeing some new toy for the first time.
“Aren’t you going to hug me?”
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back in Anna’s case.
No longer was she shy, worried, upset, name it. All that mattered was that the person standing in front of her was the one her heart had yearned after.
Her lips opened again and a soothing giggling sound flew out of her lips as she stood up from her seat and raced towards Era’s direction.
Seeing the incoming chaser, all the other kids paved way for her. They knew out of everyone she loved Era the most and she was going to be selfish and so happy to see her.
So before they even gave her the chance to cry or become possessive of Era, they paved the way for her and watched as she rushed into Era’s waiting arms like a child who was just released from the boarding school.
As for Era, she waited, watched and yearned as she saw little Anna.
The second the girl took her first in her direction, Era too moved, soreading her hadns to the side to welcome her lovely hug and when their bodies met, she pulled Anna into her arms, lifting her up a bit as she began to twirl continuously with the little girl in her hand.
“After what seemed to be like ages, they finally stopped to prevent both of them from falling due to how dizzy they were.
Subsequently, Era tightened her hold on the girl, letting her hidden emotions overflow.
“I missed you,” little Anna confessed.
“I missed you more.”
“I missed you most, Aunty Ava. I missed you so much that it hurt a lot and I did not know what to do other than cry.”
Era sucked in lungs full of air and when she reopened her eyes after briefly shutting them, she pulled Anna away from her body so she could look into her eyes which were soiled with tears.
“Oh, Anna. Please stop crying,” Era pleaded but all she got was the little girl shaking her head in front of her as she tried to wipe the tears away.
Funny enough, the more she tried to wipe her tears away, the more it poured out and subsequently she stopped trying.
“It is okay if you cannot stop. I understand. I just do not want you hurting further,” Era explained.
“I am not hurting. I have you here and I am fine, okay. Never have been better.”
“Thank goodness.”
Taking her into her arms again, Era hugged her for the umpteenth time again, leaning down her head a bit to peck her on the air.
Unlike the very first time when she met her, she smelled fresh and better and she looked well taken care of, save for the dark circles underneath her eyelids.
Pulling away again, Era half knelt on the floor and gazed deeply into the child’s eyes. Yes, she looked sad before but now, it was different.
She was full of energy although she looked tired, there was vibrancy in her eyes and bones.
“I missed you, darling. I missed you all.” She looked at the kids, making sure they knew she meant every word she said and they all nodded as they chorused, “We missed you too.”
“I am so sorry for making you all worry about me. I have been swamped up with so many things before but now I am back and would have time to see you from time to time.”
“Finally! Yayyy!”
Everyone began to jump up and down at her announcement but little Anna she clutched at her gown, holding unto her so tight, scared that if she let go, Era would disappear again. This little act of hers had made Era to chuckle out to further help ease the tension and her fears.
“Oh Anna, I won’t go for long again. I promise you.”
“NO.”
“Hahaha, little Anna, wouldn’t you allow your aunty to relax? We had a tiring journey all the way here you see.”
“No.. If I do, she may leave again.”