The Laughing Swordsman

Chapter 5 - Spoon-Feeding

Soft sounds of crunching filled the room.

A piece of lettuce dangled in front of Apollo's mouth.

He lifted his head and bit into it.

The uneaten part of the lettuce slipped off the fork and fell next to him.

Apollo giggled and turned to his new companion on the bed.

Willow sighed and picked up the fallen lettuce with her thumb and forefinger.

"Don't make a mess."

Willow then stuffed the piece of lettuce into Apollo's mouth.

He munched on it while shaking his head from side to side.

Once Apollo swallowed, Willow was already holding a piece of lettuce next to his mouth.

Willow got closer and gently brought the fork to Apollo's mouth.

"Say ahh."

Apollo opened his mouth.

Right as he was about to follow Willow's request, the door to the bedroom suddenly slammed open.

"I found you, Apollo! Don't think you will get away this time!"

A girl in a light blue dress had pushed open the door.

She was the girl that Apollo had spilled water on earlier. Her clothes were now dry, but her anger was as strong as ever.

She was seething and her blonde hair was trembling. Her hand was clenched into a fist as her light blue eyes narrowed.

However, her momentum was suddenly lost when she saw the intimate scene in front of her.

She had to take a few seconds to confirm that she was indeed looking at a woman in an elegant black dress spoon-feeding Apollo in bed.

Her fists unclenched and she blinked a few times.

"Apollo, you... you."

She repeatedly stamped her foot on the ground.

"Lecherous scoundrel!"

Willow retracted the fork and sat with a dignified posture as if she had no part in the strange situation.

The girl crossed her arms.

"Who is this woman?"

Apollo tilted his head.

"Ah, that's my mommy."

The girl froze and her eyelid twitched.

"Your mother? But..."

Willow sighed.

"Don't ask. I have no idea why he thinks that either."

Apollo giggled.

"Oh mommy you are so silly."

The girl furrowed her brows.

"What did you do to him?"

Willow placed the plate on her lap then raised both her hands like she was surrendering.

"I didn't do anything, he just suddenly-"

Willow cut herself off.

She furrowed her brows and rubbed her chin.

"Wait... did I do anything?"

She had a sudden realization. She attempted to assassinate Apollo just the day before.

The girl gritted her teeth.

"Apollo! Get away from that woman!"

Apollo giggled.

"Why would I get away from mommy? Who are you anyway?"

The girl's expression sank.

"What? You've been bothering me with your antics since forever! How could you possibly forget my name?"

Apollo hummed.

"Mmm... Dunno!"

The girl was distraught. It took her a few seconds to form the words.

"My name... it's Ivy. You don't remember me, Ivy?"

Apollo laughed.

"Nope! But it's nice to meet you, Ivy. My name is a wallow! Er, Apollo!"

Ivy's breathing was becoming unsteady. She took a few deep breaths, then frowned.

"Apollo! Stop with your antics already, I'm tired of them. This is no longer funny, okay?"

Apollo giggled.

"What's no longer funny?"

Ivy stamped her foot, certain that Apollo was messing with her. No longer bothering with him, she pointed at Willow.

"And you! What are you doing!"

Willow's face twitched. Her attempts to lower her presence had failed.

"I... am feeding him."

Ivy flailed her arms.

"What do you mean? He can do that perfectly fine on his own."

The corner of Willow's lip twitched.

"Well..."

"I can't move! See?"

Apollo interjected and began twisting his head from side to side.

Ivy furrowed her brows.

"You can't move? What did you do Apollo?"

Apollo giggled.

"Practicing swinging my sword with mommy!"

Ivy tilted her head to the side.

"You were... practicing swordplay?"

Apollo nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, yeah!"

The corner of Ivy's lip twitched.

"Oh..."

Ivy turned back to Willow.

"Well if Apollo needs to be fed I should be the one to do it! I don't know who you are, but a task like this shouldn't be left to a stranger."

Willow smiled bitterly.

"Haha, perhaps that is for the best."

Apollo twisted his head to Willow.

"Eh? What do you mean mommy? You are the only person who should be feeding me!"

Willow's eyelid twitches.

"Not mommy, my name is Willow."

Apollo pouted.

"...Willow, why are you listening to her?"

Ivy stamped her foot on the ground.

"Because I am the one being sensible here!"

Ivy walked over and snatched the plate and fork from Willow, who didn't try to resist.

Willow got up out of the seat and let Ivy take her place.

Ivy was frowning.

"How am I supposed to take revenge on you if this is the state your body is in?"

Something in the back of Apollo's mind flared up as Ivy said that. A memory felt like it was surfacing, but was unable to make it all the way.

Apollo shook his head. When he came to, there was a piece of lettuce on a fork, it was trembling ever so slightly.

Instinctively, he wanted to reach up and bite, but he stopped himself.

"Wait! You're not mommy!"

Ivy's face twitched.

"Just... eat the lettuce, you scoundrel!"

Apollo turned his head all the way to the other side.

"No!"

Ivy stood up from the chair and pushed the lettuce to Apollo's face.

"Why? Why are you doing this Apollo?"

Ivy pressed the lettuce against Apollo's lips, but he would not open them. The lettuce ended up falling on the bed.

Apollo pouted.

"I want my mommy to be the one!"

Willow's face twitched.

"It's Willow."

Apollo had let out a dissatisfied hum.

"Willow..."

Ivy was on the verge of tears.

"Fine!"

Ivy shoved the fork and plate into Willow's hands and stomped out angrily.

Willow stood there holding the utensils and was at a loss.

Apollo turned his head back over.

"Willow? I'm hungry..."

Willow sighed.

"Alright."

Willow sat down and picked up the lettuce on the bed.. She then used a fork to hold up a piece of lettuce above Apollo's mouth.