Elara's POV,
There's laughter coming from the tea room. My room door is open so I can hear it clearly. I hiss and stand up to shut the door.
I already knew who and who was there. Celene and Seraphina.
Yes, even now, they were still in the mansion. For some reason, Lucien hadn't chased them out.
As I was about to slam the door loud enough for them to hear, I heard a smaller voice.
"What next, Grandma? What else did you do?"
What?
Without a second thought, I sprint out of the room, straight to the tea room to find Celene sitting on a single sofa and Asher sitting on her lap with star-struck eyes.
They hadn't noticed me, so I just watched. Thankfully, Seraphina wasn't around, so I just had to count on Celene's familial instinct to take care of Asher.
Actually, I counted on her hatred towards me to hurt him so I could find the perfect reason to kick her out.
"...and from that day onwards, she never dared to look me in the eye."
Asher laughs, kicking his small feet. "You're so weird, Grandma. Did you really bring a gun to school?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose. What stories was she telling him?
"She bullied me! In the same way, that kid is bullying you!" Celene defends herself, and my back stiffens. Are they bullying Asher in school?
And Celene somehow knows before I do?
"Where can I find a gun?"
"Oh no! Let me tell you something," She laughs, then whispers something in Asher's ear. He nods vigorously.
"Remember, if anyone troubles, they have me, your father…" She paused, stroking his hair. "And your fierce mother to answer to. Never fear."
Asher grins. "So, what does it mean?"
"You mean what I just whispered?"
"Yes! Uh, Kórvac se ne klanja. Stimo..."
She gently placed a finger on Asher's lips. "Kórvac se ne klanja. Stitimo ono sto je nase; i nikada to ne gubimo."
I rest my back on the wall, backing away in surprise. That's the Kórvac family motto.
I can't believe she's telling it to Asher.
"Yes, what does it mean?"
"A Kórvac does not bow. We protect what is ours, and we never lose it."
I shut my eyes tight.
Oh, Asher. You're fitting in too fast. I just hope you're happy.
"I want to learn Slovenian. That's where we're from, right? Slovenia!"
"Oh, you're such a smart boy."
"Tell me something else in Slovenian, Grandma. I'll get the meaning on my own."
"Okay. Mi nismo samo porodica, Asere. Mi smo naslede. A naslede se ne lomi; ono opstaje." She paused. "Oho nepe bcehe."
I bite my lower lip and leave just as Asher whines, "Aw, that's too long. What's the meaning?"
I go back into my room, shutting the door quietly. Why did she say that?
I know Slovenian. Of course, I do.
Matteo ensured I learned. So yes, I know every single word she said. What bothers me is why she said it.
There's a knock on my door, and I sit on my desk, then thinking it's Lucy, I yell out,
"Come in!"
"So, you managed to remain in school." I roll my eyes to the top of my head. "Impressive."
"What's impressive is that you thought you could try." I swing around in my chair to face her, and she has a scowl on her face.
Yep, still hates me.
"I met your son, Asher."
I grind my teeth, ready to attack her if she says the wrong thing.
"He reminds me so much of a younger Lucien." I raise a brow, and she walks till she reaches the edge of my bed. "So much."
Then she sits on the bed, making me frown. Who invited her anyway?
"Listen, testing me and testing Asher are two different things." I stand slowly. "Don't try it or else you'll regret it."
She looks at me. "You think I'll use him against you?" A small scoff. "I don't have to. The world will do that on its own."
"Then why did you come here?" I fold my arms across my chest. God, she was just like her son. Annoying as hell.
She slowly stands up with pursed lips.
"I don't like you."
"No shit."
"We're not friends. We're both aware of that." I twist my lips. "But that boy…is my blood. And I have no intention of hurting my grandson to get to you."
"Except I do not trust you."
"And you don't have to." She pauses. "But I love him. And I will not make him choose between us."
I grit my teeth. I wanted Asher to have nothing to do with this world, and here she was, asking to be involved in his life?
"Let me be a grandmother to him, Elara." She says, her voice quieter now. "Let me love him."
We both stared at each other for quite a while before I gave a curt nod.
"But if he ever cries because of you." My eyes turn dark. "We wouldn't be having a conversation."
I turn back to my desk and sit. "Shut the door on your way out."
She does, and I heave a heavy sigh.
There was only one reason why I allowed her to be a grandmother to Asher. Because of those words.
"Mi nismo samo porodica…" I whisper to myself and throw my head back, thinking of the meaning.
~ ~'We're not just a family, Asher. We are a legacy. And legacies do not break; they endure.'
I shut my eyes tight.
~ ~'Just like your mother.'