Wheeling Gull Isle out of the corner of my eye

She nodded, and quickly said, My family's gods. She left it at that. Not hers. The Melonii gods were no longer hers. But that was a long and convoluted story, and she didn't want to burden Huā with it, especially given the change in subject and the hesitant way the leading woman replied to her question.

No, I'm sorry, Maegi replied, shaking her head. I didn't know it was so complicated. She couldn't imagine Mou having other women, other children. In fact, she struggled to think of a couple who weren't pledged solely to one another—

My parents. She gave an involuntary shudder and shoved Potema and Cicero to the furthest reaches of her mind, where they belonged.

She blinked softly at Huā. I hope you can find happiness, she murmured. With him, or someone else. But at least you have your children.

And Maegi envied her very much for it.