Seduce the hero's mother (GL)

Before we set out in search of Elder Ileas, we stopped briefly in the Archdiocese. Since the journey was to be a long one, I needed to complete my business as head of the clan.

For this purpose, I spent the whole day today to have time to solve the issues of primary importance. Everything else could be left to Andrew-who would fill in for me in my absence.

Maxie and Razor came with me and rested in specially designated rooms. Tomorrow morning we would be on our way.

I myself had not slept a wink all that time and had only finished my chores by the end of the evening. It seemed that I would fall asleep here.

But in spite of my fatigue, I resisted the urge to go to bed right away.

Instead, I went straight from the study to Razor's quarters. Because the maid had informed me that the boy had been awake for a long time because of nightmares.

The second prince was probably dreaming about his brother.

I sat down next to his bed and stayed up until the middle of the night. His disheveled dark hair and innocent expression looked as cute on him as they had years ago. I couldn't believe when my black rabbit had grown so big.

Finally, he soon calmed down and stopped tossing and turning in his sleep. I sighed and smoothed the boy's hair.

It seemed like a good time to leave him behind and go to bed myself.

I blew out the last candle in the room and was about to head to my room, too. I shut the door quietly and walked down the hallway.

Different thoughts, including anxious ones, had been haunting me all day. I hoped that everything would go well on our journey.

At the very least, we would find what we were looking for.

As I walked past the room where Maxie was staying, I involuntarily froze. The door was slightly ajar, and for the sake of interest I decided to look inside.

As it turned out, the girl was still awake.

Standing with her back to me, in complete darkness, she was looking out of the window and probably thinking about something. I knocked lightly.

— Maxie?

She turned around in surprise.

— What are you doing up?

I shrugged.

— That's what I wanted to ask you.

The Marquis's daughter sighed, and I went into the room. We both looked at the moon in the night sky.

— Actually, I've wanted to ask you something for a long time,» the girl said suddenly in a low voice.

— Hmm?

I turned to her.

— What… What if it doesn't work? — Maxie said suddenly.

— What do you mean?

— What if Cassius…» she stammered, «never remembers you?

I looked surprised only for a moment. The next second I smiled.

— In that case, I'll just stay by her side.

— What?» Maxie was taken aback.

— Even if we're never in the same relationship as before… I'll still stay by her side.

The girl stared at me in astonishment.

— But why would you do that?

— Rachel has done so much for me in the past that I didn't even know about… So now, at least out of the shadows, I will help her for the rest of her life.

Maxie got angry.

— Don't you realize how dangerous this is? — She said angrily, «Rachel doesn't remember you any more and she might kill you at any moment!

— I know,» she said with a simple shrug.

— Then why do you keep insisting?

— If Rachel wants to kill me one day… I'll just take it for granted. Payback for everything she's done for me.

Maxie clenched her teeth as she obviously found my words too naive.

— Damn it, you don't have to pay her back with your life! — She cried out. «If that's the only reason, then-

— It's not the only reason,» I countered calmly.

Maxie froze.

— I want to stay close to her because I love her.

Even though I realized it so late, I was going to hold on to my feelings to the end. Even if it didn't work out in the end, I'd be glad if Rachel could live a good life, too.

This was the first time I had ever felt worried about someone else's life even more than my own.

When I told Maxie about all of this-something in her expression twitched.

At that moment the girl's features became strangely distorted. She was silent for a while, and then she suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders.

— It's all in the past,» said the daughter of the Marquis.

— What?

— Your relationship with her is already over.

I stared at her in surprise, not understanding why Maxie had suddenly brought this up. Meanwhile, the girl still continued to hold me tightly by the shoulders. She looked straight into my eyes.

— Don't you ever think there's someone else in this world who cares about you?

— What do you mean? — I asked him again.

— Like… me.

I hesitated, thinking that Maxie had stated something obvious.

— Of course,» I agreed, «you and Razor are important to me, too.

She shot back angrily.

— She was angry. «That's not what I mean. — she interrupted.

My pupils dilated in surprise.

— I love you-not as a friend.

After Maxie's sudden statement, I was in a stupor for a while. I couldn't immediately understand what she meant.

— «Not as a friend?» — I repeated,» What did that mean?

The Marquis's daughter kept staring at me.

— You know that, don't you?

I shuddered. It was true. We weren't kids anymore-when we could easily get confused or misread someone else's feelings. It seemed pretty obvious now.

I just… I didn't want to admit it.

— Did you mean it? — I asked after a while.

— I was.

Her answer, given without any hesitation, made me furious. The last thing I expected was for such a day to come.

— But why…? — I hesitated, — What about your first love?

— It's you.

— What?!

— The girl I told you about, it's you,» Maxie repeated.

I was surprised.

— But how is that possible? — I couldn't help asking,» she said. «Then… We've never met before, have we?

— You're wrong,» she protested. «Our first meeting was a long time before that.

I froze. Had we met before? But when…?

From the moment I moved into Leriane Ashford's body-all her memories and feelings from the past began to be transferred to me. Eventually I began to see myself as one and the same person.

The carefree days in the Archdiocese, the childhood I'd spent with my father… It was all so clearly imprinted on my memory that I really began to feel as if it had happened to me. But for some reason… Leriana's meeting with the heroine's mentor I couldn't remember no matter how hard I tried. Maybe because it had happened too long ago?

— I don't remember it,» I admitted honestly.

She sighed.

— It's okay. The important thing is that I remember everything.

Even though the moment was rather awkward, I wasn't embarrassed to ask:

— Why are you telling me this now…?

— Because I gave up before.

— What?

— You chose Cassius… I chose to accept your choice and not interfere. But now that it's over between you two, I want to be honest.

I flinched.

— Maxie, I…

— It's all right if you don't have anything for me right now,» the girl kept holding me by the shoulders, «I can wait. Sooner or later it will happen.

Honestly, I really didn't expect something like that to happen. A few years ago, if a beloved novel character had confessed his feelings to me-any fan in my place would have fainted with joy. And before, I would have been no exception. But now…

— Maxie, I'm sorry… This isn't going to work,» I said quietly.

She was taken aback.

— You don't have to give me your answer now,» she said hastily, «I can wait as long as you want.

— But I want to give it now.

Even though I didn't want to hurt Maxie in any way, I more than confidently took her hands off me. And I looked her straight in the eye.

It was better to tell her right away than to keep giving her false hopes that wouldn't do any good anyway. If I'd known how she felt about me from the beginning, I never would have created this stupid triangle.

— I don't want you wasting your time on me,» I said firmly.

— But…» Maxie wanted to make one last attempt to change my mind.

But I remained adamant.

— In my heart… From beginning to end, it was just Rachel.

***

That pesky archduchess was finally gone.

Rachel must have been relieved that no one else was bothering her. As a matter of fact, she was.

The girl's last weekdays were no different than usual and consisted of work. In some ways even more than before. She had stayed up late that evening, too.

Looking at the concentrated face of the queen, Camilla smiled. Clad in a single red robe, the viscount's daughter approached and took her by the shoulders from behind.

— Your Majesty, aren't you tired yet? — she cooed over her ear.

Rachel smiled weakly back at her. She, too, was dressed more loosely before she went to bed.

— It's all right,» she put her hand on hers, «You can go to bed first.

— You always say that. I won't get off this time.

She let out a chuckle.

— Ha-ha… As you wish.

Camille sat on her lap and put her arms around her neck. She rested her head on her breast and muttered in displeasure:

— Your Majesty, why do I feel that the work is more important to you than me?

— Don't be silly,» objected Rachel, «Of course it isn't.

— Then do you still remember our wedding date? — The viscount's daughter kept repeating herself.

— Exactly one month from now,» she answered without hesitation.

Camilla smiled in relief.

— Your Majesty, since the ceremony is so soon… May I ask you for a pre-wedding gift?

Rachel grinned.

— And what would that be?

The girl pulled away slightly and pointed defiantly at her neck. In a sweet voice she whispered:

— I want you to leave a mark on me.

Rachel tensed a little.

— Why would you want that…?

— What do you mean? I want us to be bound!

After Camille became aware of the Camellia Blood curse, she was more than confident that, unlike that bitch, she would be able to break it with Rachel. In order for the effects of the curse to cease, there must be mutual honest feelings. Which Rachel and Leriane never had.

Now things are different. The viscount's daughter had no doubt of her success. Besides, members of the Cassius family rarely dare to take such a step. It is comparable to a marriage promise to be together forever. Therefore, having this mark on herself became even more important to Camilla.

She wanted the Queen to personally make it her own.

But… Over the past six months, Camilla had asked her for it many times. Rachel always found excuses.

— Um… We agreed that I would do it after the wedding,» the girl involuntarily reminded her.

— «Your Majesty, it won't take long! — Besides, we've known each other for so long… It's time to do it.

— There is only a month to go. What's the rush?

Camilla was offended, but made no sign of it. They'd known Lerian Ashford even less, but that hadn't stopped Rachel from taking the step, even before they'd been in a relationship. With Camille, on the other hand, they were about to get officially married. But Rachel was still hesitant.

Rachel, however, still noticed the distraught look on her face. She smiled and pinched her cheek lightly.

— Stop sulking. I promised I would.

— You did?

— Of course you did. Besides, it's not that big of a deal… My feelings for you have nothing to do with this thing.

Rachel didn't know who she was trying to convince more at this point: Camille or herself. At any rate, it worked.

Camille was glad to hear it. Cheered up, the girl emphatically closed all the work folders and put the documents aside.

— If you really love me, then let's go to bed right now.

Rachel smiled.

— Okay.

But before she went to bed, Camille reminded her of something. In the corner of the table was a cup of broth — which the girl had brought hours ago. But Rachel still hadn't drank it. The contents had already become completely cold.

— You forgot,» Camille handed her the cup, «You need to take it every day.

— Oh yes…

Rachel took the cup and drank it in a gulp.

— Thank you for taking care of it,» she thanked with a smile.

— Of course I do. How can I ignore your health when you work so hard? — Camilla declared.

It was a special elixir for fatigue — which the imperial healer had prepared at Camilla's request. After it, Rachel was supposed to have a good night's sleep, as well as plenty of energy in the morning. The viscount's daughter was concerned with this so that the queen's fortune would not be depleted by excessive occupation.

Rachel herself appreciated such a gesture of care.

— I'm all drunk,» she announced and showed her empty cup, «Then let's go to bed.

— Mm-hmm.

At that moment, there was a faint rustling sound outside the door. Melinda managed to escape in time before she was spotted.

Relieved, she exhaled behind the nearest pillar-the maid's one troubled thought never left her. Her investigation was finally beginning to take a turn.

— Elixir of Fatigue, then…?