When Sifa and his sister entered the living room, they found their mother, Enilu, talking to the housekeeper, Kunna. At the sound of footsteps, the two women looked over and stopped their conversation.
The Baroness had a noble bearing, and her face, no longer young, radiated warmth and tenderness. She opened her arms slightly. "Welcome home, children."
"Good evening, Mama." Helibel lifted her skirt slightly, then flew into her mother's embrace like a little bird. Holding Enilu's hand, she said, "Do you know, Mama? Sifa is already a Major! He arrived at just the right moment tonight and really took those young ladies down a peg. Let's see if they dare look down on me or our family again."
Enilu lightly brushed a finger against her daughter's nose. "Belle, you're not a little girl anymore. Why are you still squabbling with people like a child?"
Seeing that her mother was about to lecture her, she hurriedly said, "It's getting late. I should go to bed. Good night, Mama."
She winked at Sifa, then lifted her skirt and ran off, leaving Enilu shaking her head.
"Good evening, Madam Enilu." Sifa smiled as he removed his hat and held it against his chest, his expression warm.
Enilu rolled her eyes at him, then laughed. "Come here, let me have a look. So this is a Navy Major's dress uniform? Actually, I think a Major's regular uniform would suit my son better."
When he returned home earlier that day, Sifa had already told his mother about his promotion, along with the news that Clarence's Door and Morse had fallen into the hands of the Feysac people.
Thus, seeing her son in a field officer's dress uniform, Enilu was not as surprised as her daughter had been.
She then waved a hand, and Kunna