Seduce the hero's mother (GL)

We made it to Ashford Manor without too much trouble. Dylan and the rest of the servants, who thought I would never come back, greeted us on the doorstep.

— Your Grace, we were so worried about you!

After the rumors of my imprisonment had spread in the country, another piece of news was awaited: the announcement of the date of my execution. After all, by today's standards I had committed an unforgivable act.

Everyone in the palace was all over Camilla like a piece of crap. So even the maid who accidentally broke a service in front of her deserved the death penalty. Never mind me… I literally attacked her.

No one expected me to return to the manor in just a few days, whole and… Alive. The servants, who had already lost hope, couldn't hold back tears of joy.

— Come on,» I grinned. «It's no big deal.

— Your Grace, how can you say that? We almost died of fright here…!

— All right, all right, I'm sorry… I won't make you worry anymore.

I apologized to everyone who was worried about me because of my impulsive act. The moment I went to the palace, my anger was overwhelming me, and I didn't think about the consequences. That everyone else at Ashford Manor could have been punished after me.

Luckily, it didn't have to be, and we could breathe easy. At least for now… Because I could see what would happen in a week, and I didn't hold out much hope.

I did not believe that Camilla could just forget about it. And therefore, the temporary lull meant only an even worse storm.

Despite my outward joy, deep down I felt a heaviness. So many people needed my protection right now… and I had nothing left to figure out how to do it. If I could do it at all.

Of all the people, Maxie was the only one who noticed that my smile wasn't real. And so, as we walked through the corridors of the manor, she couldn't help but ask:

— Do you regret what you did?

I smiled and shook my head.

— No.

Why regret now? Anyway, given Camilla's hatred for me, it was bound to happen anyway. You could say that I'd only added fuel to the fire.

— Because of that, Broomstick is furious… You know you stirred up a hornet's nest.

— «A hornet's nest?» — let out a chuckle,» What an accurate characterization.

Maxie sighed.

— Still, now there was no telling what would happen next… As a last resort, she could pack her bags and leave the empire.

It really sounded like the only way out at the moment. The Marquis's daughter was a good judge of her abilities and knew that she couldn't protect me alone. It was better to hide in a safe place.

But I gave up that idea.

— If you want, you can take all the servants of the manor and leave the country. I'll stay.

Maxie was indignant.

— And why should…?!

— I could run away from anyone but her.

Worse than death was the humiliation of running away: if I ran away, I would admit my defeat. But I would never let Camilla think I was afraid of her.

When I made such life-threatening decisions, Maxie always argued with me. But this time she was unexpectedly silent.

— If you're staying, so am I.

I nodded.

— I nodded.

We broke up and I went to rest in my room. But on the stairs I suddenly saw Razor. The guy looked shabby, like he'd just gotten out of bed when he heard the news that I was back.

I rejoiced.

— How long have you been awake?

The boy smiled back at me.

— This morning.

I anxiously approached him and took him by the shoulder.

— Is everything alright? You were unconscious for so long…

— More than okay,» the prince nodded.

I grinned.

— You could say I've been on vacation for a couple of days. It was so nice not to have to work. And the food was always on time…

We laughed.

Razor and I stood in the corridor for a while, and then he suddenly said that he had something to report. In slight bewilderment I went into his room and closed the door behind me.

When that happened, the guy suddenly turned to me and smiled.

— Leriana… I finally remember who I am.

— What are you talking about? — I wondered.

— To begin with, I'm not exactly a prince to begin with…

When this revelation came to me at once and right in the forehead, all I had to do was to open my mouth. He explained:

— My real name is Solly. In a former life I was the author of this novel.

I was in no condition to ask any more questions. My shock at what was happening was stronger than my sanity. Razor, meanwhile, went on and told me everything.

As it turned out, he remembered his entire past life from the beginning. Including how he had created this novel. When I thought nothing else in this life would surprise me, I was very wrong. The last thing in the world I expected was to meet one of the popular authors in this setting!

There was no doubt that Razor really came from my world. He remembered everything to the smallest detail. After all, the guy even went to the same Internet café as me! At least, not until I was in the hospital.

The only thing I couldn't understand was… How did such a person even get into his own book? How could it be possible?

Razor summed it up thoughtfully:

— …the last thing I remember was falling asleep on my desk from overwork. After that I was already here. But unlike you, I had no memories of my past life.

I digested this information in silence for a while. If you look at it this way: there was a perfectly logical explanation for what was happening. After all, while I was trapped in the body of an almost grown-up girl — Razor was literally reborn in this world from the beginning. No wonder he forgot everything, and at first he behaved according to the original plot.

But now that he remembered everything, I didn't even know how to react…

I literally have the creator of this world in front of me! It's like for a character in a book to meet God. Could I still consider him my friend?

— Ah… It's…» I said uncertainly, «How should I address you now?

Razor was quick to assure me that I knew what I meant:

— It's all right. It's all right. Other than that information, nothing will change our relationship.

— B-but how… It turns out that you're not really…

She or he sighed.

— You can keep referring to me as a guy. I've been living in this body for almost twenty years anyway… I got used to it a long time ago.

I nodded.

— Whatever you say.

Meanwhile, even after giving out such shocking information, the prince was still concerned.

— I have something important to tell you.

I dumbfounded.

— Is there anything more important than that?!

Razor looked at me tensely.

— Actually, it's not that simple…

The boy didn't hide anything and revealed to me all the details he knew. Particularly about my father… I never expected to hear such revelations about him after his death. Some of them really made me angry.

I don't think I've ever heard of a more selfish man in my life. Henry Ashford was even worse than I thought.

— I don't know how it happened… But in an instant it all got out of hand. His image began to haunt me in my dreams. Eventually I wanted to finish the book as soon as possible to get rid of him.

I grinned bitterly.

— But now, he's no longer with us.

Razor sighed.

— It's probably for the best.

— More than that,» I agreed.

Even though the man was my own father-I didn't regret his death at all. The Archduke had done so many terrible things in his life that he truly deserved it. The only thing that was ironic was his finale.

More than anything, Henry Ashford longed to meet the author. The man who had trapped him in that «cage.» If he had known it was Razor, how would he have reacted? It is difficult even to imagine.

Talking about my father silenced us for a while. Eventually Razor inquired quietly:

— Do you think so too?

— Hmm? — I raised my head in surprise.

— …that the world we're in is just a fake.

The guy grinned incredulously.

— You must hate that you're here because of me.

I was surprised at that question.

— Why would you be? No, it was the opposite. I'm thankful more than anything that it turned out this way.

— А?

Razor was taken aback.

— I've never felt so alive as I do here,» she smiled.

The boy blinked in surprise.

— But why…? Don't you want to go home?

— «Home?» — I grinned bitterly, «To a hospital bed? No, I don't. I'm better off here. Besides, if I hadn't come here, I would have died of the disease and that would have been the end of it.

It may have been strange, but as time went on, my perspective on what was going on changed. If in the beginning I was in awe of becoming the mother of the main character, now I wouldn't trade my rebirth for anything in life. The friends and home I made here were the most precious things.

I never doubted for a second that they weren't real. After all, everything I had today, I had achieved solely through my own efforts.

When I told all this to Razor, he really looked shocked. And then he grinned.

— I knew from the beginning that you were not an ordinary girl. You really are different from your father.

— Of course I am! Besides, it's too costly for me to take over the world…

The guy let out a chuckle. I smiled too.

— In that case, I really wouldn't regret telling you about it. I guess in the current situation, you're the only one who can fix things.

— What do you mean? — I was surprised.

— Do you still have the family pendant? — He suddenly asked me a question.

— Huh? Yes…

The pendant was hidden under my collar, and I pulled it out. The tear-shaped emerald gleamed in the sunlight.

The boy looked at it with satisfaction. Then he made an unexpected request:

— Then break it.