Chapter 173: Love of a mother (1/2)

[Tower of Babel]

After a rather tense meeting, though much less tense after they signed the contract, the girls streamed out of the room in teams.

After all, what they had signed was in a way a pact of non-aggression. It wasn't as if they suddenly became the best friends in the world.

But, at the very least, they knew that this couldn't continue. None of them were stupid. If there was one thing this event highlighted, it was that most of them did not trust each other. This was something normal, but this was also a fatal flaw the enemy could use.

As the last to walk out, Lilin and Setsuna keep looking at each other.

Even though Setsuna kept urging her with her eyes, Lilin still seemed to hesitate.

Finally, seemingly exasperated, she caught Lilin by the arm and pushed her out before talking loudly.

”Your majesty. Pardon my impudence, but the princess wishes to talk with you.”

Saying so, she bowed slightly before walking away.

Setsuna's situation was a little awkward. Technically, she was a slave. But at the same time she was still a princess, even if a fallen one, and ultimately she was one of the future spouses of Sol.

Because of those three titles, Setsuna never really knew how to address Lilith and generally tried to avoid her.

This time though, she needed to stick out for her friend and rival.

'I hope you have a good talk with your mother.'

A small smile formed on her face.

---

After the little commotion Setsuna caused, the others dispersed in hurry with a knowing smile. They all knew that the relationship between Lilin and Lilith was extremely stiff.

They didn't wish to meddle in what could be a tentative way to mend their relationship.

Now alone, Lilith looked at her daughter who stubbornly refused to look at her. A faint smile formed on her face as she asked,

”Should we visit the garden? There are many things I wish to tell you.”

Lilin hesitated a little.

If she had to be honest. She did not want to hear the so-called truth. She felt like she would lose everything if she heard it.

But, recalling the encouraging smile of Setsuna and the words of Sol, she clenched her fists before relaxing.

”Let's go.”

---

[Tower of Babel, hanging garden]

Under the moonlight, the daughter and mother duo stood on a bench while observing the beautiful painting of the milky way in the sky.

The atmosphere between the two was silent, almost oppressively so.

Ruminating the words of Lilith, Lilin showed a dazed expression.

On the side, Lilith only showed a bitter expression as she looked at the sky.

After they had reached the garden, Lilith began to explain the full story to Lilin. Aside from the identity of her father and the fact that she was dying soon, she hid nothing.

After this was done, Lilin seemed to have had her soul sucked out of her body as she sat listlessly.

This deadlock seemed like it would last for a long while, but it was broken by Lilin,

”So...I am basically a clone of you and whatever man was used?”

Lilith winced a little. In a way, it was an accurate description.

Lilith could not give birth normally. In fact, even though her reproductive organs functioned normally, she simply lacked the eggs necessary for reproduction.

As such, even though she birthed Lilin, in the truest way, they were not really mother and daughter but instead, copies of each other.

Currently, Lilin's mind was in a complete mess. The revelation she received tonight was nothing short of earth-shattering.

Murmuring absent-mindedly, she said, ”Every day, every night, I would receive gruesome training for reasons I did not understand. Even though it hurt so much, even though I would cry myself to sleep every night, I still held on.”

Her eyes reddened, ”I have always thought that you hated me. I always wondered why? Was it because I was born from a forced marriage? Was it because I didn't have enough talent? I did not understand, could not understand... But now, I see. In the end, I was nothing more than an experiment, and you--were never my mother in the first place.”

Wiping away the tears that threatened to spill, she stood up abruptly, ”I think I have heard enough. Goodnight.”

Lilin had already decided to walk away when she felt her arm being gripped.

Turning around, she saw that the one that had caught her was none other than Lilith.

”What do you want?”