15. The Married Queen's Mother-Daughter Rice Bowl
"Hee hee~. Siu...♡"
A sultry voice wormed its way into Siu's ear.
The nasal coquettishness of a married woman in her thirties might be an acquired taste, but when that woman was a beauty who could pass for her twenties and carried his child, it sounded nothing short of delightful. Siu felt the same way.
"Did I keep you waiting that long?"
"No! I just... hee hee. I'm just so happy to be having dinner with you like this, Siu.♡"
Queen Sharfria sat at the head of the table, beaming at Siu with a radiant smile.
The intimate dinner for two had her pregnant heart all aflutter.
She'd intuited like a ghost that Siu, back in the capital, wouldn't head straight to the palace—and sure enough, she'd prepared a private evening meal just for them.
She'd cleared her entire schedule for the day to make it possible. Paperwork had piled up unavoidably, but she'd skipped all audiences. Luckily, no emergencies cropped up.
"I'm happy too, Sharfria."
"Hee hee. Call me by name more often."
"No reason not to. Sharfria."
"Ah♡ Yes, Siu!"
Perhaps because he was the love of her life she'd met amid hardships, Sharfria welcomed him with even greater joy than usual.
"You're smiling more and being extra cute today. Something good happen...? Or knowing you, Sharfria, maybe things have been tough?"
They'd barely crossed paths in his first timeline, but after regressing, their bond had deepened immensely.
With her carrying his first child, he'd made time to see her whenever possible.
One was a promising hero, the other a queen—schedules rarely aligned, but their efforts paid off, carving out moments together. Mostly at night, of course.
Had she not been pregnant, who knows—but now in her stable phase, they still held back out of worry. Not completely, but the frequency had dropped overall.
Instead, they'd shared tea or lain in bed, chatting about everything and nothing.
"The work is so exhausting...."
Sharfria's shoulders slumped instantly.
"Haha...."
To anyone else, he'd say toss it and walk away—but she was the queen; no such luxury.
"Hang in there, Sharfria."
It was the best encouragement he could offer right now.
"Thank you, Siu."
Yet it was enough to genuinely lift her spirits.
She gripped the hand he extended.
"Siu?"
"Yes?"
"Are you... heading back to the mansion tonight...?"
Her expression and tone could melt any resolve to leave.
Sure, he felt bad for the women possibly waiting at the mansion, but he planned to stay here tonight. His party members were all wiped out and asleep anyway—only Ash, Nina, and Gwen might mind.
"What do you think?"
"I don't think so♡"
Their eyes met, exchanging tender glances.
Siu brought it up casually.
"By the way, where's Sharina?"
At his sudden mention of her daughter, the queen puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Still with her fiancé, probably."
Yet her eyes sparkled with amusement as she spoke.
"Ah, tough luck."
"Tough? It's all her own doing. Who told her to rush into that engagement? She begged and pleaded back then—ugh. Never listens, that girl. Raising daughters is pointless, I swear."
"Hahaha."
In his original world, it would've been a mom griping about her son.
The subtle reversal cracked him up.
"So, Sharfria, you'd prefer a son in there?"
"Hmm... Ideally one who takes after you, Siu. I've already got a daughter who looks like me."
"Really? I'd love a daughter who takes after you, Sharfria...."
"Oh♡"
The married queen smiled shyly.
Her pale hand caressed her swollen belly.
"Not much longer for this one. Then... shall we make a second right away?"
It was a joyful temptation, but Siu worried about her first.
"You sure? Childbirth will take a toll. You'll need time to recover postpartum."
"Oh... right?"
Sharfria blinked in surprise.
Pregnancy was new to her, and rare around her. Predicting the aftermath wasn't easy.
Her maid chief, Countess Persha Baekjak, had scurried about gathering info, but queens weren't typical cases.
"With mana and blessings... hmm. Hard to say."
"Yeah.... Well, let's have this one first and see. Hee hee♥"
Already thrilled at the thought of a second, Sharfria lit up.
To Siu, it looked irresistibly erotic—and though they'd barely finished half the meal, he broke etiquette.
He rose slightly, closing the distance too far for hand-holding alone, and kissed her.
"Mm.... Nn, haah...♡"
"Smack. Mwah.... Slurp...."
"Chp, hnn.... Hn, smooch...♡"
The kiss was sweet despite the hints of oil and meat.
With just the two of them, no one could complain about length—but minutes later, an intruder arrived.
Hurried footsteps blurred into Siu's ears. Raised voices just outside the dining hall door, then a guard's announcement as it swung open.
"Siu!"
A face and voice mirroring Queen Sharfria's.
Princess Sharina.
Siu lit up to greet her but paused briefly—the door shut swiftly behind.
Sharp guards.
"Long time no see."
"Haah♡ Yes!"
True mother and daughter—her joyful coquettishness was pure Sharfria.
"Came from that guy's place?"
Sharina's shoulders drooped at the question. It was so like her mother he nearly laughed, but held back; no laughing at her sadness.
"He's got no tact but hones in weirdly well—kept holding me back. Ugh, I wanted to come sooner...."
"Happens."
Siu stroked her head.
At over 180cm, her ~160cm frame was perfect. His gentle hand over her rich golden blonde melted her expression into a goofy grin.
Aah, bliss...♡
These 2-3 minutes of head pats beat hours with her fiancé today. She itched to dash off and dump him right now.
"Hmph. Interrupting Mom's kiss with her lover—some daughter I am."
Sharfria grumbled from behind.
"Ah, sorry."
For a smooth breakup, she needed the queen mother's help—so Sharina bowed politely in apology.
They got along well as mother-daughter and shared lovers. Still, they vied subtly for his affection, yielding little in moments like this.
Exactly like now.
"Then I want a kiss too...."
"Huh?"
Befuddled yet natural, Siu accepted the lips Princess Sharina offered.
"Smooch, chp...♡ Mwah...."
"Wh-what?!"
Outraged at her daughter's brazen provocation, Sharfria fumed.
She wanted to smack her head but held back for the baby. Excess motion or anger harmed the fetus, they'd been told.
Saintly magic pregnancies are easier, but this feels worlds better.
Maybe after two or three more—but for now, her heart was set.
Calming herself, Sharfria called softly to her passionately kissing daughter.
"Sharina."
"Mm, ...gasp!"
Queenly charisma or ingrained upbringing—Sharina panicked, lips parting. Her tense face screamed "daughter who's been scolded before."
"Is that how a proper lady behaves?"
"N-no...."
"Exactly."
The queen pressed even with polite speech.
As Sharina broke a sweat, Siu clapped to lighten the mood.
"Alright, alright. We're still eating."
"...True."
"Sharina. Eaten yet?"
"Huh? Oh, kinda... but only a little...."
She stammered, embarrassed.
Sharina now disliked—no, despised—her fiancé.
With her heart elsewhere, food wouldn't go down.
"Yeah? Join us then. Plenty of spare settings—sit over there."
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Siu...♡"
She'd rejoice at anything from him now. Glancing at Mom slyly, she took the seat across from him.
Royal fare overflowed the table—even with an extra woman, no shortage. Sharfria had anticipated Siu and specially requested the palace head chef. Every dish showed care.
"Hm...?"
Starting her meal, Sharina scanned the table and realized.
"Mother...?"
Sharfria met her daughter's wavering eyes with a demure smile.
To Sharina, though, it brimmed with seduction.
Mom's on another level... I can't compare!
The royal dishes filled the table.
Half were tonics boosting male stamina and virility.
This world's royal cuisine specialized in yang qi tonics—and these screamed effort. Sharina wondered if Siu knew.
She peeked up cautiously.
Well, he probably... eek.
Their eyes met; he smiled.
"......"
A lewd smile that set any woman's heart racing.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heart pounded wildly.
...He knows...♡
She guessed why he'd invited her to eat.
Tonics were for men, but not useless for women. The table mixed in female-focused dishes too—some ineffective for pregnant women, which Sharfria surely knew.
Tonight....
What would happen?
Face flushing crimson, she heard Siu call her name.
"Sharina."
"Hic...! Y-yes!"
"Bathe early tonight and come to Sharfria's bedroom."
"......♥"
Sharina nodded shyly, glancing at her mother.
"......♥"
She was sure Mom wore the same look.