Kissing The Wind

Three years later…

Sydnee frowned when she saw Nikolai dressed like a hooligan. The small body was covered by a thin black silk that was a gift from the Crown Prince.

After Anthony went back from the convention, he brought great news that the two kingdoms had decided to end the war and signed a bilateral agreement. It was all due to Anthony’s strength in persuassion.

The king then asked what Anthony wanted as a reward, and being a sly man, he asked the King to grant him Sydnee as his wife. In the same day, Sydnee received an edict about her marriage with Anthony.

Duke Theodore was not as surprised as she was because the duke had a bet with Anthony, that if Anthony would bring good news from the convention, then the duke would not obstruct his plan to marry Sydnee.

A year after she was married off to Anthony’s household, Sydnee bore him a son who had a great resemblance with Anthony. This called for a celebration.

Since then, when Nikolai would celebrate his birthday, the maids would dress their young master like that of Duke Anthony.

And now, staring at his son who was blinking his innocent eyes on her, Sydnee’s lips twitched. “Who dressed him up?”

The maids giggled before someone answered. “It was Katliya, My Lady.”

Sydnee face palmed. Katliya was the mastermind of dressing Nikolai up as a mini version of Anthony. When she looked at the clock, the party had started. She picked up Nikolai and walked out of the boy’s room.

She had met Aleksander along the way and his eyes widened in surprise upon looking at Nikolai. Without asking her, Aleksander directly snatched Nikolai from her and ran away.

Like… she was Nikolai’s mother, right? Why would that bastard snatch her son from her without her consent?

When Sydnee arrived at the hall, she saw Nikolai being treated like a ragged doll. He was passed onto another, from Anthony’s mother, to Anthony’s father, to Duke Theodore, and to Lady Geneva.

She shook her head and walked towards Anthony who was busy slicing the cake.

Two years after she married Anthony and when Nikolai was born, Lady Geneva had finished mourning for Catarina. The Duke let her out of their room. And when the Lady saw Nikolai she was moved that she kept on visiting the young man.

At first, there was indeed an awkward silence between her and Lady Geneva, but eventually, they greeted and started to talk with each other. Sydnee was struggling at first in getting close with the woman, but Nikolai became their connection to mend their broken relationship.

Anthony saw her and he smiled. “Do you want to take a bite?” he asked.

“Sure.”

Without a word, Anthony kissed her. Sydnee’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

“You said you want to take a bite?”

“I’m talking about the cake!” Sydnee huffed. “Tsk. Your son picked up after you. Look at his appearance, what a hooligan!” she whispered to Anthony.

Anthony chuckled and snaked his other arm around her waist. He picked up the spoon, get a small part of the cake, and brought it to Sydnee’s lips. She opened her mouth.

“Have you visited your foster mother?”

Sydnee stopped chewing for a second, before she swallowed. “Yeah.” She sighed. “She was… mad. I mean her mind is not in the right condition. Although she tried to kill me.” Sydnee frowned. “I still want her to get treated. She was the one who brought me up after all.”

Anthony hummed.

They joined the celebration and they drank and danced the whole night. It was a family bonding so there was no outsider except for Aleksander who was so thick-skinned that he volunteered to be one of Nikolai’s godfather.

But after sometime, a maid informed her that someone was looking for her. Sydnee excused herself for a moment and went outside. There, she saw Rogie with Lisa.

Their eyes met and Sydnee was the one who looked away first. After the meeting ball and what happened in the terrace, Rogie and she did not talk nor meet with each other again. It was the first time after so many years.

Rogie had changed from a haughty boy into a dignified man. Lisa who was standing beside him had also changed. She was more mature than she last seen her.

“I heard that your son is celebrating his birthday,” Rogie said and gestured to the maid behind him. The maid handed her a box wrapped in a delicate gift wrapper and ribbons. It was girlish at first sight, but the designs were fit for a young boy’s preference.

Rogie cleared his throat. Lisa who was silent started to speak. “I-I’m sorry about what happened back then, sister-in-law.”

Sydnee felt her scalp went numb. That’s right. She did not tell Rogie the truth that they were not blood related at all. The man still thought that she was his ‘cousin.’

A stiff smile appeared on Sydnee’s lips. “Thank you for this gift. Why don’t you come inside first?” Because she felt it was good to at least let them see Nikolai, being a good ‘cousin’ to Rogie whom she deliberately deceived years ago.

Rogie shook his head. “We are travelling towards the capital and happen to drop by to give this gift.”

She did not hold them and they bid goodbye to her after saying more pleasantries. She watched as their car drove away.

“Lady, the night is cold. Please come inside,” Katliya, who was standing behind her, said.

She nodded and walked back inside the mansion. The family was still celebrating, but Sydnee was sleepy due to heavy workload that she accepted this morning. She kissed Nikolai’s cheek and bid goodbye to her in-laws and parents.

Anthony then accompanied her back to their room.

She looked behind her and saw her husband following her like a loyal dog. Her lips twitched. “Hey, go back. I will just sleep. You, entertain them.”

But he did not listen. Instead, he picked up Sydnee in a bridal manner. Sydnee covered her mouth in shock. She glared at the naughty man but he just kissed her forehead.

“I’ll carry you back. You walk slower than a snail.”

“What?”

Anthony shut the door and threw Sydnee on the bed. Not long after, distinct noises that could make a maiden blush sounded from behind the closed door.

Years later, Nikolai was sulking because he was not the center of attraction. His little sister who grew up looking like his mother was stealing the limelight. But he could not do anything, because just like everyone else, his little sister was so cute that he could not help but to give all her wishes.

Alas, the big brother wearing a maid’s uniform was sulking beside the little girl who was wearing a prince’s attire.

*click*

The camera sounded and that cute picture lingered in their parent’s room even after Sydnee and Anthony had passed away due to old age.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

THE END.