Although Ed wrote several letters, he told Vala that "all is well. "I can fix it. "There's nothing to worry about. ”...... It was also on a drizzling afternoon that Walla appeared with River Singal in the Temple of Collins for the first time after her son became a saint.

Even Eric, who never left an inch, thoughtfully avoided it, giving the family a little alone time after the initial hug.

“...... I shouldn't have agreed to let you come to this damn place. After a moment of silence, River glared hatefully at the white walls, "I should have dragged you aboard the boat and sailed straight to the Sea of Summer...... Seeing that sea, blowing the sea breeze for a few days, will definitely uproot that stupid idea of 'I'm going to be a pastor' out of your head!"

Ed grinned, "Father...... It's useless to say this now. ”

"And what do you tell me useful?!" River began to spin around in irritation, "I have the money to hire quite a few wandering knights, the best of them...... I also have a good relationship with the lord of Leo...... You said that if there is an invasion by foreign enemies, will our king stop thinking about troubles in the temple?"

“...... Father!" Ed was dumbfounded, "the gods are above...... What are you thinking?!"

He knew that his father had always been very bold in business...... But this idea is a bit bold!

River stopped and looked at his son, "I might just be a businessman, Ed...... But I have also been in danger at sea more than once. The southern islands are infested with pirates, and the Singers' fleet is notoriously rich. I've never told you about it, but I've had a few fights with the pirates. Sometimes if you can't take the initiative and take the initiative, you can only die!"

"That's different!" Ed scratched his head anxiously and helplessly. "You're talking about treason!"

"I'm talking about how to protect my son!" Riverer didn't give an inch, "That guy Ante is sinister and suspicious, and if he tries to deal with you, he won't stop until you have no power to fight back...... Luckily, I was careful enough to never keep too much money in Ston Butch...... No, maybe Visa isn't that safe either......"

"It's not that serious at all!" Ed tried to convince him. "Just some misunderstanding...... I can fix it!"

"You can solve a fart!" River said in a rare slug in front of his wife, "Let's touch the beard on your chin first!"

Ed touched his chin aggrievedly - was it his fault for the thinning hair?!

"That's enough!" Vala gave her husband a stern look to stop her husband from pondering his bold plan.

River closed his mouth and continued to spin in circles with a grunt.

"I believe in you. Ed. Vala held her son's hand in her palm, her tone calm, but Ed could see worry in her eyes and growing wrinkles.

“...... I'm sorry," he murmured. "I never wanted you to worry about ......"

"My fear is that you're going to give up or run away. Even if it's to run back to me. Vala smiled, "But you didn't, and that's enough to make me proud." I just want you to know that you don't need to face it all alone. ”

"I'm not. Ed's eyes widened, "There are a lot of friends helping me!"

He still has enough capital to be proud of this.

"And what about your family?" Vala sighed, "are they so useless?"

"yes, am I so useless in your eyes?!" River echoed with his chest held up.

Vala glared at him. "I'm good friends with Queen Moira, maybe I can talk to her?" she always likes you. You know. ”

Ed smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I believe that the queen will not be ignorant, and if it is possible, she will definitely try her best to stop it...... Your presence will only make it more difficult for her. What's more, now it is only the Sage of the Water God who is facing this, and if Ed of the Singal family is involved, things will only get more complicated...... Ante had never given any orders against the Singers, so it was best not to give him a reason to do so. ”

“...... Is there nothing we can do for you?" Vala sighed.

"Absolutely. Ed tried not to smile so forcefully, "Healthy, safe...... As well as happiness. ”

"Then I'll do my best to do the former," Vala leaned over and kissed him lightly on the forehead, "but the last one...... Only you can give. ”.

“...... So we're all in vain?" River muttered in his wife's ear reluctantly, "I really can't do anything?—it, I don't need your and Ed's consent to do anything!"

"You can try. Vala said coldly.

River shut his mouth in a huff.

On the other side, Ed took his mother's arm and stared firmly ahead, pretending not to hear anything. He knew that he had never had to convince his mother that River would listen to Vala in any matter that mattered.

Near the end of the corridor, there were people standing quietly facing the lake, and at this moment they seemed to hear their footsteps, and turned to them, but they were still standing in place, the smile on their lips was calm and complicated.

Vala stopped suddenly, then let go of Ed's arm, threw her husband behind, and hurried to meet him.

"Scott!"

She cried softly, as if for a moment she wanted to stretch out her arms and embrace each other, but withdrew her hand with some restraint and replaced it with a hasty curtsy.

“...... You're still the same, Vala. Scott smiled and hugged her, completely oblivious to the clouds piling up on River's face.

Ed stole a glance at his father's blackened face, and for some reason, in addition to the embarrassment, there was a small sense of happiness in his heart.

Scott's candor convinced him that there wasn't anything wrong with his mother—but if it made River more aware of what he had done to Valla, he didn't mind the little ambiguity between them.

"You're still the same. Vala's voice came in the wind, and her tone was slightly sad, "I think you look more like my cousin than my cousin now." ”

"Ah...... That's probably because I ran away from one of the most frustrating years of a child's headaches. Scott's eyes twinkled, and he sidestepped the topic, "I should thank you for accepting Is...... To him, you're probably like a mother he's never had. ”

"Doesn't that sound strange?" Vala seemed to laugh, "You're his brother, and I'm like his mother?"

“...... I don't mean anything else. Scott scratched his beard in embarrassment, "That's it...... He likes you. ”

"I also like that kid, although he looks cold, but he is considerate and obedient...... You taught him well. ”

...... Considerate and obedient?

Ed pricked up his ears in suspicion - did he mishear something? Is, who had been obedient but didn't seem to be very considerate, was even more indifferent to both words.

"I don't think that's my credit...... He had a good adoptive father and friends. ”

"But no one can replace you...... Does he know you're here?"

"Of course. Scott sighed, "You can stand up a little bit and look behind me, there's a ...... on the left Do you see its head? It looks like it's sleeping, but it's staring at me. For example, if I move a little bit this way -- is its eyelid moving? But it could also be staring at you...... You can't just walk away without saying goodbye to it. ”

Vala really let out a low laugh this time.

Ed couldn't help but giggle - he hadn't heard Valla's laughter in a long time. When he knew that Vala was coming, he insisted that Scott, who wanted to get away, meet her, and he was right.

And...... Why hadn't he found Scott so pleasing to women before?

River snorted and walked over with his hands behind his back.

"Long time no see, River. Scott greeted him without any excuses.

"yes...... We all thought you were dead. River said dryly.

Ed grinned a little, a little crying and laughing. He thought his father would be able to handle it better.

Scott's face froze, but then he smiled indifferently: "I used to think so, too." ”

It sounded like a joke, so no one took it seriously. Ed was slightly stunned, and couldn't help but think of the unbelievable speculations that Eren had told him.

"I don't want to disturb your reunion, but it's time for us to go back, Vala. River put his arms around his wife's waist affectionately, "Otherwise, you won't be home until dark." We could invite Scott to the castle - at his convenience. ”

Vala glanced at him, but didn't say anything, but finally generously stretched out her arms and hugged Scott again, and it took a while to let go.

"Goodbye, Scott. She smiled goodbye, "You can come back anytime...... Criesburg will always be your home. ”

Scott nodded slightly at her, his eyes determined as if he had some kind of promise.

Standing a little further away watching Vala gently pat the ice dragon from pretending to be asleep and say goodbye to it, Ed leaned his head into Scott's ear.

"What did she tell you?" he asked.

River probably hadn't noticed, but from where Ed was standing, Valla's cheeks could be seen moving slightly—the last hug, she had clearly whispered something to Scott.

Scott looked at him and seemed to want to laugh: "What do you think she will say?"

Ed blinked, not sure how to answer. He just couldn't help but ask.

Scott shook his head and sighed, "She said, 'Protect my child, Scott, and don't let him get hurt in any way.'" ’...... Nothing is more important to her than you. ”

Ed lowered his eyes and stared at the ground in a daze—what was he thinking? he should have guessed.

...... And what could he do for her? He couldn't even reduce the wrinkle in the corner of her eye.

(To be continued......)