THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

LANUVEL NIKITIS POV:

Five months. Five months have passed now since I discovered I was pregnant. So many things happened, so many things changed in the meantime that I sometimes feel dizzy thinking about it.

"Why are you staying so close to the window? You will catch a cold." 

"I won't, mom." 

As for the changes, the first one is my stomach. It has swelled so much it five months that I can't see my feet when I standing anymore. According to the priests, I am carrying twins. Although I haven't announced it yet to anyone but mom since I am waiting for him to come back first, I am sure they will really be shocked. 

The other change is my mother. After I came back and told her I was pregnant, her face and body started changing for the better. She regained colors, muscles and restarted eating normally all of sudden. Though sadly, her hair don't grow anymore. That's a shame since I liked her hair quite a bit. 

"Hum, hum hum, hum hum hum…" She is humming a song while making some clothes for babies who will be born. 

I didn't know that she could embroided things and it is even more surprising to see how good she is. I tried helping her once but I couldn't do it at all. She just laughed it off while saying that I will learn with time but I wonder when she managed to do so. 

While I am looking at her working, somebody knocks at the door.

"Oh, right. We were supposed to receive the priest's visit today, right?" Mom stands fast and goes to the door before I can do it. I was already about to do it though. And it's me that he comes to check.

"Just stay put and let me do those for you, okay." 

"Mom…I am not disabled. I can still work just fine, you know." 

"Yeah, I know. Don't worry."

I knew that it was the priest that was supposed to come but deep down, I hoped, I wanted it to be you. Do you know? How do I miss you? How do I miss your stupid and yet cute face? Your smile that you wouldn't show easily, your hair that sways gently to the wind, your eyes that can pierce through me like a spear…I miss you so much and yet, there is nothing I can do besides wait. 

Ever since you disappeared with the goddess that day, things went haywire for the church and even though the war is practically won, we can't say that it was a victory to us. So many people have died…So many that a new project was launched, just like the hill of the dead that was created after Tatradum's incident, they will make a new one, a bigger one, for those who died during this war. 

"Good morning, madam. Is she feeling sick?" 

"Oh, no. Not at all." 

"Madam, you know she needs to exercise. It is good for her and for the baby." 

The priest enters and behind him, there is another one this time, smaller. A cute young girl wearing the church's clothes as well. Ah…She looks so cute with her clothes that are a bit big for her.

"Good morning, Miss Lanuvel. How are you feeling today?" 

"I am fine. Though there is someone who just won't let me do anything." Mom looks away and leaves upstairs when I say that. She will surely come back to nag later. 

"I see. Well, do try to exercise as it will also keep the babies healthy." 

"I will. Don't worry." He comes to me and uses a script. My body starts glowing green and I feel my fatigue leaving me. 

"This will help a little for the next few days. Also…" He looks at his small and cute assistant that comes to me and gives me three small flasks.

"Oh…Thank you so much." She blushes when I pat her head. Oh, to think I will cutes ones like this as well soon. I can't wait to squeeze their adorable cheeks.

The little assistant doesn't say anything and goes to stand behind her superior. She was well taught, that's for sure. 

"You will spit in those flasks for the next three days. I will come to collect it. They will help us to det-"

"You did this before, you know? I already know what they are for."

"Ah, I see. Since I had a lot in my mind, I must have forgotten." 

"Is the trial still going?" 

"So you know. Sigh…Yes, it is. Frankly speaking, the atmosphere of the church right now is the worst. I still can't believe the pope was involved in all this." 

When Farner and the others came back, so many things had happened and were happening that I couldn't get my head around it at first. The first thing was that the high commander was cooperating with the Longinus and tried to kill them together with the Saintess. The official version says that your father saved them and killed the high commander. But from what Excia told me, he died in mysterious conditions before that.

As a result, he has become the next high commander of the eternal army. Which is about the only good news that I found from everything I was told. There was an investigation after that he conducted and it is then that the pope's affiliation was discovered. Though there aren't enough proofs to say he is guilty, it is sure that he did cooperate with them. Well, that's what Excia said. 

But the worst thing that happened is Sir Frankher's death. After a portal appeared there, he decided to stay behind together with almost all the army, and even though they were wiped out completely, they did manage to kill most of the Longinus that came as well. He did his very best until the end. I don't know when they will send people there to finish the job but it will certainly be soon since observers were already there to see the current state of things. 

"Miss Lanuvel, we will leave now. Make sure to drink a lot of water and exercise your body regularly enough." 

The priest went upstairs earlier while I was thinking so I was alone with the little girl. She kept looking at me while blushing. She was so cute that I wanted to take her in my arms but I am sure she doesn't want it since she went to sit far on the couch at the opposite side. 

"Okay, no problem." 

"I have scolded your mother as well. She mustn't exhaust herself. Her state might not be dangerous anymore but we never know what might happen. Please see to it that she follows my instructions." 

"I will try to but she can be stubborn." She is very stubborn in fact. 

"Even so, she must take care of herself as well. With that said, please excuse me, Sophia, we are leaving." 

"Yes, sir." 

"So your name is Sophia. Well, it was nice to meet you. I hope to see you again." 

The little girl blushes again and goes to the priest before answering. 

"I-I hope so as well." How can you be so cute?!! 

"Can you leave her here?" 

"Hm…I will think about it. She is an orphan from the war, you see. But I don't want her to be looked at like some-"

"Sophia, do you want to stay here? With me?" She hides once again behind the priest but then slowly brings her head out.

"Aunty is scary." Eh? Wait, me? 

"I-I am not scary. And I love children. In fact, I am waiting for two beautiful children. Don't you want to be their friends?" 

"I…I want to." I got you.

"So, you will stay, right?" 

I look at the priest instead and she does the same. 

"Sigh…Okay, I understand. I will bring her back together with her clothes tomorrow. Just take good care of her." 

"I will, you don't need to worry." 

They both leave and the little girl finally shows me her smile. Ah, how so cute you are.

"I am sure even he would like her." 

Ah, Kevin... Where are you? Where are you right now? What are you doing? Do you even think about me? About us? Are you eating well? Are you fighting? What happened between you and your mother? There are so many questions I want to ask but who can I ask them to? Who would answer me? 

"Did he leave?"

"He did, mom. And I am sure you didn't drink your medications." 

"That thing is way too bitter. What does he even put in there?" 

"They say bitter things are the best for the body. Don't you know?" 

"Oh…Are you lecturing me now, daughter?"

"Mom, don't start it." 

"Sniff…Sniff…Oh, my dearest daughter that I have carried for nine months," and here we go again, "that I have educated for so many years. Sniff…She is so grown up now she would lecture her own mother. How so very-"

"You remember the little girl that came with the priest, right? Her name is Sophia and she will stay with us starting tomorrow." 

"Eh? Really?!!" 

I knew that you would like it.