Lynn left, taking his army with him.
He left Yuffie behind without a care.
After Lynn's army had temporarily gone away.
At the Charles family home, a Kinship Recognition Ceremony had just begun.
Isa cupped Yuffie's face in both hands and pinched her cheeks. "Yuffie's grown so much, hasn't she?"
"What have you been eating? Why are you taller than me?"
"Mm, how about calling me Mom?"
"Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm?"
"Mo...ther." Yuffie wasn't used to this. When she said it, her words came out stiff and forceful.
But Isa was beside herself with excitement. She wrapped her arms around Yuffie and clung tightly to her neck. "You're all grown up, and so well-spoken, too. How did that happen?"
Gaowen chuckled and tugged at his sister. "Sis, sis, Isa was raised by our mother. She only went to the Imperial Capital later."
"Oh, I see." Isa let go, took a ruby out of her pocket, then ushered Gaowen out by pushing on his back with both hands.
"Good. Now there's no one else here."
"Yuffie, you've figured it out, right?" Isa pointed at Yuffie's cheek, rubbing it nonstop.
"Mm. Also, you're too close, Mother."
"Hehe, are you embarrassed?" Isa's smile was full of mischief, and she looked thoroughly amused.
Chali immediately started panting. "I know!"
"I know!"
"I know..." Chali scrambled backward, using both her hands and feet.
Chali was so mortified she didn't know what to do.
What should she do?
Act cute like a little girl?
Hide behind Isa?
Or force herself to put on a dignified air?
Would acting dignified even work?
Obviously, it wouldn't.
Chali had already learned that firsthand.
She was so harmless and charming that even when she got angry, it came across like she was acting cute.
Chali had thought that, in this form, she wouldn't