Chapter 323 - Father or Brother

"Father!"

Alistair opened his arms and welcomed his child in his embrace.

"Ali, my Ali," he wept openly, not caring anymore about his face.

The King of Heaven savored the feeling of his child in his arms as his amethyst orbs continued to shed tears. In his heart was an overwhelming wave of emotion filling him to the core. It was unbelievable. It was more than magical.

The last time he had held Ali so desperately like this in his arms was when he had found her lifeless body in the cavern. But now, she's not dead. She's real; she's warm and very much alive in his embrace.

Ara's cry pierced into the silence of the night as well as everybody's hearts. There was no one watching the reunion of the parent and child who didn't have a fiery blockage in their throats and red noses as tears welled in their own eyes.

Not everyone knew the legend of Alencica and Kresnik. But everybody could understand the pain and longing of the man and the lady as they clung together, their hands wrapped around each other as if they couldn't be much closer to each other.

"They've finally reunited," Yayoi murmured amidst happy tears as she reached out a hand to pat the Koutaishidenka's shoulder as if to give him support and to congratulate him on this happy occasion.

Homura Ryuu remained standing on the balcony where he opted to stay and watch his wife and his father-in-law from. He didn't come forward to welcome the King of Heaven with Ara to give them time alone.

"Yes, they finally have," he murmured in agreement as he looked on the two with nostalgia.

It had been thousands of years since he'd last seen this scene. No matter how long they had been separated – hours, days, weeks, Alencica would always greet her father like this.

Ryuu knew how much Perun treasured his children – yes, all of them, even the ones he bore with his first wife, Fanya. Alencica was his youngest and only daughter. One could just imagine how much pampering he had given the only princess – heaven's favorite child, most especially since she was the only one he had with the wife he loved for real.

No one realized how long the parent and child hugged. But as soon as they let go, both had smiles on their tear-stained faces the spread through everyone. Their happiness was infectious. If there was no one who wasn't moved to tears earlier, this time, there was no one who did not wear a grin on his face as they continued to watch.

"Young Master," Yayoi called as she handed Ryuu a basket of hot towels.  

"Thank you," the Koutaishidenka told the Head Housekeeper as he accepted the basket and then turned his attention back to his wife and her father.

Seeing as it was already appropriate for him to step up, Ryuu finally joined the others in the middle of the courtyard.

"Father," Ryuu greeted Alistair who finally looked up from his child to him.

"Kresnik," Alistair greeted him back with a nod of acknowledgment.

For those who were privy about the status and politics in the Celestial Plane, the gesture looked totally normal.  Perun was the King of Heaven. Aside from his daughter and brother he never really showed many reactions to anyone. Kresnik, before becoming part of his family was his vassal – the greatest and the strongest General in the Celestial Plane.

However, to those people watching them now, the gesture looked cool and impersonal. It was as if the father-in-law didn't have a warm relationship with his son-in-law – a total contrast to how Perun catered to his child. This made the people of the Homura House look at them with worry. They feared as they wondered if the King was angered by the Young Master's marriage to Ara.

But their hearts were put to rest almost immediately.

Ryuu offered the basket with hot towels to the King and Ara so they both could wipe their tear-stained faces and refresh themselves. Perun smiled at the Koutaishidenka gratefully before accepting a towel to clean himself.

"Father, let's go inside," Ryuu invited after, and he guided the King towards the interior of the house.

The servants led by Yayoi had prepared the receiving room for them and immediately served snacks and alcohol as soon as they had seated.

"Forgive me, father, for I had to trouble you to sit on the floor," Ryuu apologized.

Perun, of course, didn't mind. As soon as he saw the arrangement, he had automatically understood that people here sit on the floor – not to mention that he had mimicked his daughter and his brother into removing his sandals before stepping on the wooden balcony.

"I don't mind," Alistair answered Ryuu generously before turning his attention back to Ara who sat next to him.

His daughter looked very well taken good care of, and so, he was very satisfied with his son-in-law.

"Father," Ara called, and he turned to her again with a smile.

"What is it, Ali?"

Alistair wondered what she would ask him. But whatever it was, he would be glad to answer it.

"I wonder if I should continue to call you Father or should I call you brother instead?"

The question was so unexpected that Alistair was dumbfounded for a while. In all honesty, he had missed her calling him "father" so much. Back in Ritz, she only ever addressed him as her brother since, in this lifetime, they were born from the same parents. He was physically only ten years older than her.

However, since they're indeed siblings in this lifetime and would continue to stay amongst the mortals for a long while, it indeed would be strange for her to call him her parent. It would be very confusing to a lot of people, most especially since he had no idea how long he'd stay here on Earth with her.

It's a dilemma. He didn't know how to answer her since he preferred to be addressed as "father" but the logical title should be "brother".

Sensing his predicament, his twin answered for him.

"Ara, call him brother for now," Gin answered. "You may call him father when there's just us here, but it's better to call him brother when there are other people."

Alistair looked bleak but acquiesced nonetheless. "Call me brother, for now, my little one."