Mom, Something's Wrong Down There...
"Son?"
Seeing Siu charging toward her at full speed, So-young called out to him, wondering what was going on.
"Mommy!"
"Y-you can't call me that here... "
The words and tone clearly said no, but the corners of her mouth twitched quietly in amusement.
At first, she'd thought it was a bit odd, but the more she heard "Mommy," the more it strangely tugged at her heartstrings. Even if another woman showed up later claiming to be Siu's other adoptive mom, So-young was certain Mommy would be hers alone.
Ah, that's not the point.
"So, what's wrong?"
"Adlen's bullying me."
Throwing away any shred of shame and flinging himself into So-young's arms, Siu whined like a child.
By now, calling her Mommy had become second nature, so he'd decided to go all in and be shameless about it.
Life was for living as he pleased anyway. What was there to fear?
Now that he had such a beautiful, powerful, and authoritative adoptive mom—Mommy—he planned to milk every advantage he could.
Adlen, who had followed belatedly, overheard and freaked out.
"Hey, you little pri—... No! When did I ever?!"
She'd nearly spat out a curse but swallowed it in a hurry, though by now, that hardly mattered.
So-young's face had already hardened at the word bullying.
Of course, Adlen was like family—a close, precious friend—but right now, Siu, with whom she'd shared a passionate night, took priority. Plus, Adlen had a history of similar offenses.
Her sharp gaze turned to Adlen.
"Adlen. Did you bully my son?"
"Huh? W-what are you talking about? I didn't!"
Adlen stood her ground defiantly.
What she'd done was just light advice, nothing more.
How was she supposed to know what a pervert like that worthless prick might do to So-young under the guise of being her adoptive son? He already looked suspicious as hell, and she couldn't let him pull any more outrageous stunts.
If she hadn't warned him, Adlen was sure Siu would've done something to So-young by now. Though he'd already crossed that line and done the deed.
"...Alright. I'll believe you for now."
So-young nodded.
Adlen seemed genuinely convinced of her own innocence, so her eyes gave nothing away.
"S-see?! So he's the one lying..."
"Still, be careful."
"...Huh?"
"My Siu is a very delicate boy."
"???"
"So hold back on anything that could be misinterpreted. You've done that sort of thing plenty of times before, haven't you?"
"???"
It was unbelievable.
So-young said she'd believed her, but everything she'd just said was firmly on Siu's side.
After years of camaraderie, surviving life-and-death together, her dear friend and respected senior was taking the side of some adoptive son she'd known for barely two months.
"......"
"Adlen? No answer?"
"...Y-yeah. Got it..."
Adlen barely squeezed out the words.
Her lowered head let her twin white tails droop limply, mirroring her mood. Her tiny fists clenched tight at her sides did the same.
Gritting her teeth and forcing her head up to hide her anger, she spotted Siu hugging So-young. They looked so natural, arms wrapped around each other like a real mother and son. It pissed her off.
No—even if they were blood mother and son, it'd piss her off. So-young was only 39, Siu 24. A 15-year gap. And a grown man acting all cutesy in his mom's arms? Ridiculous.
Yeah, whatever trick you pulled... it worked on So-young, huh? Just you wait. Let's see who wins. I'll dig up your pathetic plans and turn you into the worthless prick you are.
She kept her expression neutral, but her blazing eyes betrayed her.
Siu and So-young both sensed she wouldn't let this slide. But with no hard evidence for something she hadn't even done yet, they couldn't call her out.
"...I'll head out now."
"Already?"
"Yeah. Feels like I should. ...Rest well, So-young."
"Yeah..."
She turned and left without a backward glance. She'd visit often anyway, just like always.
Siu wouldn't always be here either. Word was he was a hero candidate, so he'd head back to the academy soon.
He was from Palania Kingdom. He wouldn't visit the empire often. Fewer chances to see his face meant her victory.
Heh heh, worthless prick. So-young's coming back to active duty! That means I'll see her even more. We're both from the empire!
Adlen, already picturing a dumped Siu and feeling victorious, strode confidently from the parlor.
But she had to return moments later.
"...Hmm. This tea is quite delicious."
"You worthless orc prick! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Oh, was I supposed to leave too?"
"You think?!"
"Calm yourself, Lady Adlen. Raised voices shatter the peace of the mind and fan the flames of..."
"You shatter my peace, you worthless orc prick!"
Adlen yelled, fuming, but when Otan replied with his blank face, she realized her mistake.
Her emotions had gotten the better of her, but he was a precious comrade and friend. She snapped at him often, but this felt excessive. Even a prick didn't deserve being called a prick.
"Ah, s-sorry..."
"...I'm not a full orc, but a half-orc. And since I've been castrated, nothing gets stuck down there..."
"Argh! So annoying!"
After the active SS-grade hero swept through like a storm, Siu and So-young enjoyed two peaceful months.
Adlen was foul-mouthed and arrogant, but her loyalty to the respected So-young was top-tier. She leaked nothing about Siu or the active-duty return.
She'd never been fond of the empire or the imperial family anyway, so it was natural. If she held even a sliver more goodwill toward them, she wouldn't have been so rude.
"Ah, I'm pregnant♥"
"Ugh. Congrats, Mommy..."
"Yeah. Our son should congratulate me too. Heh heh. You finally knocked up Mommy, huh?"
Han So-young, pregnant with Siu's child.
It happened two weeks after their first time. Despite unloading so much semen, that initial round hadn't taken. Siu had to endure nonstop milking until it did.
I really need to get stronger...
It fueled his resolve to grow even more.
Once those planned two months passed, Siu contacted Iron-Blooded Princess Helena first.
"Mr. Siu? You said it was urgent... Is something wrong?"
Having heard only that it was urgent and to come quick, Helena arrived at the mansion, her golden blonde hair whipping behind her. She'd postponed several scheduled events, but her focus was solely on Siu.
"Mission accomplished."
"Pardon?"
"So-young M—Lady So-young is returning to active duty."
"Sh-she... Yes? Han So-young is... returning to active duty? Already?"
"Yes. Active. Duty."
"......Huh?"
Helena uttered a rare dumbfounded sound.
Her Iron-Blooded Princess moniker seemed laughable in that moment.
The imperial family had poured years of time and effort into it—months of all-out push—and still failed.
Unlike So-young, who was easy to handle despite her lack of fondness for the family (thanks to her family devotion), Adlen was a nightmare.
Every tactic had failed, yet a mere hero candidate succeeded in under three months. Without any real support.
Already? She changed her mind this fast? How? Is this even possible?
Helena's mind reeled.
What method had convinced Han So-young in just three months?
Even her sharp intellect couldn't guess.
A virgin third princess like her could never imagine leveraging his lower strengths—with luck on his side—to achieve it.
"Ahem. Well. Thank you so much for returning to active duty, Lady Han So-young."
"No problem."
"So, when do we start preparations? Rank re-exam, party formation—there's a ton to do. It might be a hassle, but..."
Helena rattled on excitedly about the gains from So-young.
But the SS-grade hero cut her off with a smile.
"Oh, a few more things first."
"Pardon? More to say...?"
In that instant, Helena felt her instincts scream.
Normally unflappable even in danger, now it rang differently. Unresolved, it could end her political life. But what?
What now? Why does everything go sideways with Mr. Siu...?
So-young turned to Siu beside her and smiled warmly.
"My Siu..."
My Siu?
"I'm adopting him as my son."
"...Pardon?"
She couldn't help but blurt it out.
Son? Sure, he was younger, but not quite son-level. Looks and age said auntie at best.
Suddenly a son?
Did he appeal to her maternal instincts to convince her?
But the real shock came next.
"And my Siu's from Palania Kingdom, not Glazer Empire?"
"......"
Helena's face stiffened. Context alone was bad enough, but the dreaded words hit.
"...He wants to naturalize in my son's country."
Something was very wrong.
Very, very wrong.
"N-no. W-wait. L-Lady Han So-young? Please calm down..."
"Hee hee. You need to calm down, Princess Helena."
"......"
Han So-young's playful smile brimmed with mischief.
Beside her, Han Siu's sly, wicked grin.
Thinking about it, mother-son, siblings, or lovers—they matched perfectly. Just in a way that horrified Helena.
At least now she was certain.
"...What do you want?"
"Pardon? Want? Like I said, naturalization in Palania..."
"Not that. Tell me what you really want. Anything I can grant, I will. If not... I'll bring in the imperial family."
"Hee hee. As expected of the Iron-Blooded Princess. So clever."
"......"
To Helena, it sounded like mockery.
"Shall we discuss that part now?"
"Oh, I'll handle that."
"Oh? You will?"
Helena ground her teeth watching the harmonious mother-son duo.
You can't do this to me!