Initially, I didn't like this child.

This is a timid punishment, an embodiment of human ugliness. Deceiving my older brother and leaving behind both his pain and my own cowardice. This is what humans do, always avoiding their responsibilities but still indulging in momentary pleasures without thinking about the consequences. And this child, they are the embodiment of their misguided love.

Initially, I didn't like this child.

This child grew inside of me, and I swore to myself that I would never like this child, that I would never admit to being their mother. Whether this child achieves greatness or perishes in exile, it has no connection to me. I only gave them life, and I will never admit to being their mother.

It should have been like this.

But when the female official handed me this child and gently placed them in my arms, I couldn't tear my eyes away after just one glance. I clearly didn't want this child, so why did I extend my arms to embrace them? I've never held a child before, so why do I feel so tender and skilled? I don't feel happy because of his birth, so why are my eyes moist and my lips curved into a smile?

Looking at his fair little face, feeling his warm body sleep in my arms, why do I feel a happiness I've never experienced before? Even when my older brother holds me, I've never felt this happy. It's as if the whole world consists only of me and this child, and as long as I hold this child, the entire world is beautiful.

Is this...my child?

I clearly didn't like this child! I clearly said I would never be a mother, that I would only give him life without giving him a future...but why, why, when this child called me "mom" for the first time, did my tears flow like a raging river? In my heart, there was only one thought: to hold him tightly, my own child, my only son.

This is my child...

He called me "mom"...

This is my child...my only child...he was born from my body, every breath he takes has me by his side, every night he falls asleep in my embrace, and I cradle his face when he cries or laughs. This is my child, and I am his mother. There is no right or wrong because I am a mother.

At that moment, I finally understood that I could never harbor ill intentions towards this child. When I made the decision to give him life, I became his mother. The only mother.

I once pondered countless moments of happiness, living with my older brother, taking a carefree bath in my favorite hot spring after hunting, and watching the endless fields of wheat and the smiles of the people. But now, my happiness revolves around just one thing: watching this child grow little by little, witnessing my son go from a tiny baby to taking his first unsteady steps, and then galloping confidently. Watching his tender face gradually acquire a resolute determination, and seeing him hold my hand while picking up a bow and a curved blade. Watching him transform, becoming the "respected prince" in everyone's eyes. I am incredibly happy.

The most comforting moments for me are when he stands before me, dressed in fine clothes, bows with a smile, and calls out to me, "Dear mother."

It's so blissful, I am incredibly happy as long as my son is by my side. As long as I see his smile, there is no evil in this world. I don't need anything else as long as my son is with me. No matter what happens, I have the confidence to face it. No matter how grave the issues raised in the court, I have the confidence to solve them because my son stands beside me.

My son has grown up, my proud son has grown up. This is my son, despite his past. He was born from my body, nourished by my breast milk, and gradually became brave, proud, and confident by my side. I am the one who shaped him, I am the one who fulfilled my motherly duty!

So, let this child grow up by my side, let this child stay in my sight forever. I will forever embrace my child, it is the privilege of a mother. No one can take my child away from me, especially not that woman who abandoned him, betrayed him, and ran away, leaving him behind. She disappeared from the moment he was born and only now comes forward saying she is his biological mother and wants him back?

He is my son! He is my flesh and blood, and I won't give him to anyone! I won't give him to anyone!I want to see him every day, watch him become more and more handsome, with a more and more upright figure, looking at himself and smiling, saying, "Mom, I'm home..." I swear it was the most beautiful scene I had ever seen.

The evening sun shone through the window, gently illuminating the bed filled with the scent of plants. The dust in the air danced lightly, and the thin silk bed curtain couldn't block the sunlight. Elf sat silently on the bed, her almost transparent white skin seemed to be pierced by the sun, revealing a gentle and kind light. Her incomparably beautiful face was now radiant, captivating like an angel descending. Her blue gem-like eyes gazed at the sunset outside, tears flowing like sparkling diamonds.

The scene was so breathtaking that I stood at the door, as if I had seen the most beautiful artwork in the world. I shouldn't go in because artworks shouldn't be approached, they should be admired, not played with. I couldn't ruin this perfect artwork, even though I really wanted to talk to my mom.

Mom woke up.

Had she just woken up?

Mom's eyes slowly turned towards me, smiling as she looked at me, extending her arms.

I smiled and gently walked in, walking to the side of mom's bed and hugging her. Mom's warm body tightly embraced me, the fragrance of plants and the comforting aura unique to a mother enveloped me. Mom held me tightly in her arms, gently stroking my head.

"Mom, I'm home."

I nestled my head on mom's chest with relief, smiling as I spoke. This time, I had no worries or thoughts. She was my mom, my eternal home. As long as she held me, all sadness, pain, and fatigue would disappear. She was my mom, my only mom...

"Yes, welcome back."

Mom's embrace was still as warm as ever, her soothing voice sounded in my ears, and mom's hand gently stroked my head. I closed my eyes, smiling as I enjoyed my mother's touch. No matter how much celebration there was outside, no matter how much praise I received from others, it couldn't compare to mom's welcome back.

Now, I was home.

"Mom... I missed you... It's so good to see you're okay... I've defeated all the earth dragons, so you don't have to worry anymore!"

"Me too, my child, my only child, mom was so worried about you... Why didn't you listen and ran around everywhere? Look at the blood on you... Mom was so worried about you! No, son, you absolutely cannot continue running around, mom will make you remember!"

"Hey hey hey hey hey?! Mom, what are you doing?! Don't untie my belt!! Ah ah! What's with these vines?!"

Before I could finish being moved, my body was suddenly wrapped by a huge vine from my waist and lifted into the sky. Then, two vines wrapped around my hands, completely immobilizing me. Mom untied my belt and pulled down my pants. I screamed and struggled desperately. Mom, you're beautiful, but what are you doing now?! Isn't it abnormal for a mom to take off her son's pants?! What are you trying to do?! What are you trying to do?!

Wait a minute, this script is wrong! Shouldn't it be mom hugging me affectionately? Why is she not paying any attention to what I said about defeating the earth dragons and instead focusing on me running away again? Something's not right! Mom, you missed the point!

"Slap! Slap! Slap..."

"Ah... ah!! Stop! Stop it! Don't... don't! It hurts! It hurts!"

Well, this is what happened next. But please remember, the sound above was coming from me, and the cries below were also from me... Mom suspended me from the ceiling with the vine, then took off my pants... and delivered a punishment that felt worse than death for me... Although it is indeed a punishment from a mother to a disobedient son, can't we try something different now that I'm already this old?!

Mom sat by the bed, placing me on her lap with the vines. She raised her fair and slender hand high in the air, then swung it down forcefully... giving my buttocks a heavy blow... Mom definitely didn't show any mercy, it hurt so much, really, really hurt!

"I told you not to run around, why don't you listen, son! Why do you have to go find those earth dragons, getting yourself covered in blood! You made mom so worried! Mom wants to spank your buttocks to teach you a lesson!"

"It hurts so much!! Mom! Ah... please! Please... stop... I... I'm already grown up... ah!""You're still my child no matter how old you are! I can't believe you're still causing me worry at your age! You made a mistake and still didn't listen to me!" My mom showed no mercy as she used her perfect hands to slap my bottom. I struggled, but couldn't break free. All I could do was scream in agony...

And the endless sense of shame!

Fortunately, it was my mom who was spanking me. I could somewhat accept it, even though I was only able to accept it a little. After all, my mom gave birth to and raised me. Getting spanked wasn't that embarrassing...

"Your Highness! Your Highness! We heard that you've recovered!"

Lucia excitedly pushed open the door, with the royal guards standing in perfect formation behind her. But when Lucia saw what was happening inside, her smile froze, and she gripped the doorknob tightly. My mom glanced at the doorway, her hand still raised high without coming down. In that moment, I felt the air freeze...

Maybe I should just die...

Silently, I lowered my head. My life had no regret. Mom, you really are a responsible mother. Well...although it does make me a bit unhappy that you always treat me like a child, I am still grateful for your care. Let's end it here. Lucia will take care of you and support you in your old age. I no longer have any face to live in this world. This morning, I risked my life to give birth to them and played my part well. But now, I'm being spanked by you...

It's like the Child King taking children to steal tomatoes from someone else's garden and being caught by his own mom, getting a public spanking...

"Your Highness! I'm sorry! We shouldn't have taken the Prince out without permission!"

Lucia directly kneeled on the ground and bowed her head to apologize. Behind her, the royal guards all kneeled, and the sound of metal meeting the ground made me cringe. It was evident that they misunderstood! If mom was spanking me in front of them, it meant they were facing certain death too!

Can't you be a little righteous and not worry about yourselves first? At the very least, don't let mom spank me in front of you!

Mom looked at them, then lowered her head to look at me with surprise. "Son, did you take the royal guards out with you?"

"Yes...I took half of them with me...and we killed the Earth Dragons in the canyon...it's true! It's true!" I looked at mom with despair in my eyes and muttered through gritted teeth.

"That's right, Your Highness. The Prince led the royal guards and exterminated all the Earth Dragons inside the canyon today. Currently, the bodies of the Earth Dragons are waiting for your orders. The Prince never backed down in battle, just like you, brave and skilled. We all admire him!" Lucia reported loudly with her head bowed. Then, she sneakily glanced at me and winked mischievously.

Mom proudly puffed her chest, and her pride dangerously swayed up and down. She touched my head with pride and said, "Of course, he's my child, my own son, the Prince of the Elf race, the next Elf King. How could he retreat? You all saw it too. I've always said that my son is brave, kind, righteous, and tolerant. Now you've all witnessed his abilities. So, stop treating the Prince like a child..."

You've always treated me like a child! You're the one! Whoever it is, you still spanked me when I'm already this old!!

"Since my son has shown such bravery and exterminated the Earth Dragons, although I'm still a bit angry, spanking shouldn't be the way to welcome a hero... Come on, son, get up..."

Mom waved her hand, and vines appeared from nowhere and disappeared to who knows where. I turned my back to them and pulled up my pants... Could you all not stand at the door and watch when I'm putting on my pants?

When I was ready, mom clapped her hands and smiled. "Alright then, let's go. Take me to see those Earth Dragons killed by my son!"

"Yes!"