As the barrier of light was lifted, Emilia and Mimi were finally allowed to return.
The moment Draco and Ariana laid eyes on their daughter, emotion flooded their gazes so strongly that Emilia's breath hitched for a second. She stopped in her tracks, worry written across her face.
"Mom? Dad? What's going on?" Emilia asked softly.
Ariana stepped forward slowly… and then wrapped Emilia in a warm embrace.
"Don't worry, dear," she whispered against her hair. "We won't let anything bad happen to you."
Emilia blinked in surprise. Her mother rarely sounded so fragile, so desperate.
Then, Ariana's eyes shifted to Mimi.
"Please, protect Emilia for me, Mimi."
"Meow?"
Mimi tilted her head, confused by the strange tension in the air, but she meowed in agreement all the same. Protecting her master was only natural. That was her duty, her pride. Not to mention, if anything happened to Emilia, Mimi would be the first to suffer for it too!
