From Mother to Concubine

I barely managed to lift my body, which had been slumped helplessly over the desk. The liquor bottle that had been lying beside me rolled off and clattered to the floor, but I couldn't muster the will to pick it up. Lowering my head even slightly felt like it would make everything inside me come surging back up. I shoved the bottle roughly under the desk and drank from the glass of water. The pounding in my skull, which had been vibrating like something rolling around on its own, finally began to settle. The floor, which had been heaving like a stormy sea, grew still.

"Haa... What time is it now?"

I turned my stiff neck to check the clock and saw it was already past three in the afternoon.

"Oh no. Arwen and Sophia will be here soon."

My children had reached the mansion long ago, but I was in no condition to greet them. I felt sorry for Sophia, but I couldn't face Arwen while still reeking of alcohol. Reluctantly, I'd left a message with Cordelia saying her sister would arrive shortly, then collapsed into unconsciousness like a fainted woman. That had been an hour ago.

"...I wonder what Arwen is thinking."

That cunning stepson of mine must have spent the last four months sharpening the blade of revenge against Masha and me. Even though his plan had failed, it was the same blade meant to topple the heartless mother who had tried to dispose of him.

And what about me? The moment I pictured Arwen's face, the memory of all those days spent drowning in drink stabbed at my heart.

"No. There's nothing to worry about."

Without my permission as acting head of the family, Arwen could not ascend to the position of patriarch. Besides, I had the steadfast Masha, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who had always remained at my side, and my daughter Sophia—somewhat blunt, perhaps, but possessing even greater martial strength than Masha. With the two of them, Arwen wouldn't dare act recklessly. The initiative was still mine. Thinking that eased my mind a little.

Just then, noisy footsteps echoed outside the office. It seemed Arwen had arrived.

"Mother, I'm coming in."

It was Arwen's voice. For some reason, it carried more weight than it had before he left the mansion. The image of that confident boy flashed through my mind and stirred my anxiety again, but I steadied myself by recalling Masha and Sophia's faces.

"Come in, Arwen."

The moment I gave permission, the office door flew open with force. Just as I expected, my stepson strode inside with confident steps and a light, cheerful tone.

"It's been a while, Mother."

Arwen gave a slight bow, then looked directly into my eyes. In his gaze I sensed an emotion that was neither resentment nor anger. It was something else entirely.

Joy? No... Is that ecstasy? Or perhaps excitement?

"I already said I was sorry, Cordelia. Stop sulking now."

On our way to see Isabel, Cordelia walked beside me with her lips pursed in a pout.

"Hmph. You didn't even kiss me once after we finally reunited, but you spent a whole hour tangled up with Raibel and Aunt Masha? What, now that you've already knocked me up, you're done with me? Sob sob, there's a pitiful little sister who's been abandoned by her big brother right here, everyone."

Cordelia covered her face with both hands and pretended to cry. Thankfully, her sister cut off the clinginess that had grown even thicker over the past month.

"That's enough, Cordelia. Keep this up and big brother will get sick of you and run away before we even meet Mother."

"Have you truly understood, brother? Hehe, then I'll look forward to seeing how different you are starting tomorrow."

At Sophia's single remark, Cordelia instantly wiped the tragic look from her face and blew me a playful hand kiss. I raised both hands in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠surrender to the girl who smiled with pure, terrifying delight at the thought of toying with her brother through her lewdness.

"Yes, yes... As you wish, Lady Cordelia."

Chatting idly with the women, we soon arrived at the office. The guard stationed at the door greeted me.

"It's been a while, young master."

"Mm. Is Mother inside?"

"Lady Isabel is within."

"Is she now?"

According to Cordelia, Isabel hadn't returned to her own room since last night. She'd stayed locked in here, drinking nonstop. She was clearly feeling the psychological pressure of facing the child she'd tried to kill.

The thought of watching her expression shift moment by moment filled me with anticipation. Blood rushed hotly to my lower belly. I smiled at the guard.

"Good. I'm about to have an important discussion with Mother regarding the family, so would you step away for a while?"

"Pardon? Step away?"

The guard looked troubled. The mansion's residents had probably already noticed the strained relationship between Isabel and me. That made leaving his post even more uncomfortable. If anything happened while he was gone, he wouldn't escape punishment.

I lightly patted the guard's armored shoulder.

"I know what you're worried about. Still, you don't seriously think I'd do anything improper in front of Sophia and Masha, do you? Nothing that would cause you trouble will happen."

"I-is that so?"

The guard glanced back and forth between Masha and Sophia. When I turned, I saw both women nodding firmly with resolute eyes. It was telling that the mansion servant prioritized reading the expressions of my guard knight and younger sister over obeying the family heir's direct order. It showed exactly where my standing was within the Reinhardt family at present. I had no dignity as successor—for now.

But this humiliation would end today. Starting today, the Reinhardt family would fall into my hands. And the coming meeting with Isabel would be the first step in that grand process. My heart trembled—not with nerves, but with excitement.

Fortunately, the guard accepted my request. If he'd refused to the end, I'd planned to use a sleeping agent, but it was better this way for both of us.

He saluted with his right hand over his chest and bowed.

"Understood, Lord Arwen. Please enjoy your time with your mother."

"I will. It will be very enjoyable. Especially for Mother."

I couldn't contain the excitement rising inside me and let the suggestive words slip out. Even without looking, I could feel Sophia's sharp gaze boring into the back of my head. The guard, oblivious, quickly descended the stairs and vanished.

Now the third floor held only our group and Isabel. I stood before the office door, knocked carefully, and spoke.

"Mother, I'm coming in."

After a brief silence, Isabel's hoarse voice—rough from drinking since morning—answered from within.

"Come in, Arwen."

Hoo... It's finally here.

The first meeting with Isabel had left a powerful impression. Now it was time to claim the lewd, enchanting body that had once captivated me. I forced my trembling hand to steady and opened the door.

The sharp stench of alcohol assaulted my nose the moment I stepped inside. Then I saw her—Isabel, seated at the cluttered desk covered in papers and empty bottles.

"It's been a while, Mother."

Masha, Sophia, and Cordelia each greeted her and took positions at her side. Meanwhile, I drank in the sight of Isabel's beauty. Her voluptuous breasts that no clothing could conceal, her hips and thighs that looked ready to burst, her resilient skin that showed no sagging despite bearing two children. I savored every inch of her body without avoiding her strange gaze.

And at that moment, the system presented me with a new quest. Just as expected. There was no way a delicious morsel like Isabel would pass by without one.

The quest's success condition was clear: I had to ascend to the position of family head. I needed to wrest that authority from Isabel within four days. The penalty wasn't as extreme as the [Short-Lived] trait from the previous quest, but [Premature Ejaculation] was a fatal flaw in this adult game world, and losing twenty points of hard-earned vigor was still infuriating.

Doesn't matter. Failure isn't an option anyway.

While I scanned the floating quest window, Isabel spoke.

"Is something wrong, Arwen? You've finally reunited with your mother yet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you stand there blankly without even offering a proper greeting."

Isabel furrowed her brow, completely unaware of the fate about to befall her. There was no need to hold back any longer. It was time to paint that pretty face with shock and terror.

I offered her a kind smile and spoke bluntly.

"A problem... Yes, there is one."

"Hmph. And what might that be?"

Isabel gave a short snort, her lips twitching as she asked in a light tone.

In the same light tone, I told her exactly why I had come. Not mere pleasantries of reunion, but the purpose that carried the vanished Arwen's long-held wish.

"The problem is that you're sitting in the seat that belongs to me. It's been years since Father passed. I intend to take back what should have been mine from you, Mother."

"Wh-what? What did you just say, Arwen? It sounds like you think I'm refusing to give you the patriarch's seat. How dare you accuse your own mother of theft!"

Isabel shot to her feet and shot a sharp glare at Masha. It was clearly a signal to restrain her insolent son. Yet Masha didn't move. She simply stood quietly at Isabel's side.

"M-Masha?"

When her close friend and most trusted subordinate failed to respond, panic bloomed across Isabel's face. Her arms began to tremble. She hurriedly turned her distorted expression toward her own flesh and blood.

"Sophia, take your brother to his room at once. He must be exhausted from the journey; he doesn't seem to be in his right mind."

"..."

Of course, Sophia gave no response either.

"Stop it, Mother. No one here is on your side."

"What are you saying, Arwen? Masha, Sophia, stop this nonsense at once!"

Isabel's eyes widened so much that the veins showed as she called their names, but the result was the same. Finally her legs gave out. She collapsed back into her chair, lips slightly parted.

"Th-this can't be... What did you do to them? What vile trick did you use to..."

To the muttering Isabel, I told the plain truth.

"I used no vile tricks. Everyone here genuinely believes that the only person fit to lead the Reinhardt family is me. Isn't that right, Sophia?"

Sophia, who had kept her lips sealed, opened them the moment I asked.

"Yes, Mother. The only one qualified to restore the glory of the Reinhardt family is Arwen—my brother."

"My name may not carry Reinhardt, but as one who has served this family for many years, I agree with Lady Sophia's opinion."

Masha nodded in agreement with Sophia.

"How can this be..."

The shock of betrayal from both her trusted friend and daughter made Isabel writhe. Her head, which had been fluttering like a powerless scrap of paper, finally fixed on me. The despair in her eyes ignited into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pure rage.

"Arwen, you bastard!"

Isabel sprang from her chair and charged at me. Masha and Sophia moved to intervene, but I raised a hand to stop them. Let her come.

"Give them back right now! Give me back Masha... and Sophia!"

When the stepson she hated stood before her, Isabel raised her hand to slap my cheek. But her wrist was easily caught. After all, even if it had only been four months, the strength I had forged to survive at the Academy was far beyond what Isabel could overcome.

"L-let go! Do you think such immoral behavior will be tolerated? I'll contact your grandfather right now and—"

"Ha. You mean the grandfather you seduced into trying to kill me through Masha? Really, I don't know who should be accusing whom of immorality."

"Th-that's..."

When her unforgivable shame spilled from her stepson's lips, Isabel's shoulders flinched and her head dropped. I leaned close to her ear as tears welled in her eyes.

"Hik? D-don't come near me!"

She trembled like a petal in the wind at the feel of my breath. I whispered into her quivering earlobe.

"Thank you for your hard work as acting head all this time. From now on, you'll have to serve the Reinhardt family in a different role."

"A-a different role? What are you talking about!"

I told Isabel exactly what position she would hold in the mansion from now on.

"You'll be in charge of the patriarch's sexual relief. In other words, you will become my concubine. I think it's the perfect role for you, Mother."

"S-sexual relief?"

Isabel's shoulders jerked upward at the word she clearly never expected to hear from my mouth. She muttered "sexual relief" two or three times, then lifted her head with a face full of fury and shame. Yet despite her defiant expression, her body instinctively took a step back. Her face showed pure horror at the depravity of her own child.

"You've completely lost your mind. How can a son even entertain the thought of violating his own mother?"

"And it's perfectly fine for a mother to try to kill her own son?"

I smiled faintly at Isabel and caught the hand of the woman trying to flee. Then I pulled her firmly toward me.

"Let go! Where are you taking me?"

Her sharp, despair-filled voice stabbed at my ears. I offered no answer. Silently, I began walking out of the office, dragging her with me. The pitiful woman being hauled away by a son whose blood she did not share beat at my arm in resistance, but escaping my grip was impossible.

Eventually Isabel gave up trying to break free on her own.

"S-someone, anyone, stop this madman!"

Yet despite her desperate scream, no one in the room stepped forward to help her. Masha, who had served Isabel for over ten years, showed no emotion on her face—though she did bite her lip slightly. Her own daughter Sophia simply closed her eyes and remained in place even at her mother's near-scream. Only Cordelia watched Isabel with a look of pity.