Graduation and Homecoming
"…Something like that happened just a little while ago."
"……."
"……."
At Han Siu's words, Elaine and Hildear sat there with their mouths agape, blank expressions on their faces.
It was bewildering material for events that had unfolded in the mere hour they'd been apart.
Hildear, in particular, felt a profound sense of disorientation compared to Elaine.
To think Mother and Siwoo-nim had already met…
It was something bound to happen now that they'd returned to the Palania Kingdom, but she hadn't mentally prepared herself yet. This turn of events left her heart in turmoil. Of course, it wasn't because of the foolish things Siwoo had said, like how he'd "devoured her daughter well" and that she was "delicious."
Ugh… Does Mother really think that way…?
Siwoo was the man she loved. He was also her master and lord.
And the Rubelstone family had served as knights guarding the Palania royal family for generations.
They took pride in serving the king across multiple reigns, becoming members of the Royal Guard. It wasn't that they viewed failing to join the Guard as shameful, but growing up, she'd absorbed the subtle expectation that she must become a Royal Guard knight.
The Rubelstones were a knightly house utterly loyal to the crown.
Yet here she was, the eldest daughter meant to carry on the family legacy, serving not the royal family but another master.
Even if that master was a hero leading the kingdom to prosperity, wouldn't her mother disapprove? Hildear pondered cautiously.
"Hilde."
"……."
"Hilde?"
"…Y-Yes? Ah, yes! Siwoo-nim!"
Snapped out of her deep thoughts by his call, she refocused.
"Hilde's mother. She seems like a fine woman."
"Ah, i-is that so…?"
A fine woman.
Those words from Siwoo's mouth stirred complex emotions in her.
Even knowing they'd already met, Hildear couldn't shake her anxiety completely.
"Hm."
Siwoo couldn't read her exact thoughts, but her unease faintly showed on her face. Ever since bonding with his knight, he'd grown attuned to her feelings, and he noticed it.
Some conflict with her mother, maybe?
It wasn't impossible.
Parent-child conflicts arose for all sorts of reasons in this world, just like anywhere else.
"She should be at the Royal Guard building by now, right?"
"…Mother, you mean?"
"Yeah. Let's go see her together."
"Yes?!"
Hildear flinched in surprise at his words.
Siwoo grinned, stood, and took her hand.
"We'll be back."
"Sure, see you later, Siwoo-nim."
As Siwoo started leading Hildear out, he suddenly remembered this was his room, not Elaine's, and turned back. At the end of his gaze, the pink-haired saintess lay sprawled on the bed, clutching a pillow.
"……."
"Hng, hnnng… Haa♥ Faint, but Siwoo-nim's scent…♥"
"Elaine?"
Hildear noticed too and awkwardly called her name with an honorific.
"Eek?! Oh, uh, you haven't left yet…."
"…Keep it moderate."
"Pardon? Ah…. Yes♥"
"Let's go, Hilde."
"Y-Yes…."
Leaving the saintess with her face buried in the pillow, sniffing away, the two headed to the Royal Guard building.
The Royal Guard building on the palace outskirts was a grand facility befitting Palania's elite force. The structure itself was massive, complete with knights' quarters, training grounds, and practice halls—clear evidence of their support.
Siwoo had trained here too, honing his stamina and awakening his mana. The reason was simple: the palace's only training ground was at the Guard building.
"Half a year here too, huh? Feels kinda weird."
"Weird, you say?"
"Yeah. Familiar but off somehow?"
"Ah…. Yeah, I get what you mean."
Hildear nodded in agreement.
Just half a year.
But she'd spent considerable time at this Royal Guard building. She'd become a knight young, joined the Guard early, and afterward visited her home territory only once or twice a year, always stationed here.
Then she'd gone not to another part of the kingdom, but far away to the Glazer Empire. The Hero Academy's facilities were superior overall, but Hildear preferred this place.
But something feels a bit off. Hehe. Siwoo-nim must feel the same? …Huh? But Siwoo-nim was only here less than a week?
As she belatedly puzzled over it, Siwoo called her.
"What're you doing? Let's hurry."
"Ah, yes."
Hildear walked properly but with a slightly awkward gait.
From the window of the Guard captain's office on the fourth floor, where Lubblestone Countess had been watching training knights, she spotted the scene by chance. Complex, subtle emotions flickered across the mother's face.
Not obvious, but that gait is weird. She wouldn't have learned some strange footwork at the academy.
It happened occasionally.
Knight learning footwork from martial artists or warriors from the Murim world.
Useful techniques, but less so for Guard knights who needed to sync with comrades. Learning alone could throw off teamwork in crucial moments.
My eldest isn't a fool. So, in the end….
The countess's cheeks faintly flushed.
One assumption filled her mind.
A woman who'd lost her virginity just hours ago walking awkwardly? The only suspect was the aftermath. Thinking of it stirred odd feelings.
She's a knight. She shouldn't struggle walking unless…. But she's walking like that, so….
She'd heard of it.
Taking something too large inside and having intense sex could leave a gap causing that gait. It wasn't just big men; tight women fared similarly.
As the countess pondered, a knock came from behind.
Knock knock.
"Pardon the intrusion. Mother-in… I mean, Captain. Heroes Han Siu and Hildear Rubelstone. May we enter?"
M-Mother-in-law!?
She'd anticipated their arrival from the window, but not Siwoo calling her "mother-in-law." He corrected mid-sentence like a slip, but she couldn't shake the feeling it was deliberate.
"Ahem…. C-Come in."
"Then, pardon us."
Click. The door handle turned.
A tall, handsome man with a warm smile entered first through the opening door.
She wasn't one to fuss over men's looks, but Siwoo suited her tastes. Not a stunning beauty, which made him approachable and unburdening. And his specs were impressive regardless.
…Tastes are hereditary, they say.
They sure inherited the useless stuff.
"What brings you here?"
"To give a proper greeting. As Hilde's lord and lover, I've kept her by my side for half a year without meeting you."
A proper greeting.
A smile bloomed on the countess's face.
Not joy at the greeting itself, but appreciation for Siwoo's basic decency and manners. It seemed obvious, but she'd seen heroes lacking even that.
Returning from long vacation, hearing her eldest had committed grave offense against a hero candidate and now served him had flustered her. She'd known the gist beforehand but not details.
She understood, but as a mother, she worried. Rumors were positive, but nothing beat seeing for herself. Yet leaving the palace as captain for the academy was tricky.
Six months of waiting.
Their first meeting was unique.
Not something unsayable.
Siwoo didn't know, but a minor tradition here involved married women thanking their husband's parents and praising his bedroom prowess. Varied by region, some even complimented night affairs.
His bold opener had startled her, but she didn't think ill of him. Quite the opposite—his politeness now endeared him.
"I worried so much, but it's a relief she's with a good man. Oh, don't misunderstand. I meant it when I called you splendid earlier. It's just…."
"I understand. As a mother, you can't help worrying about your daughter."
"Exactly. Hehe. Feels strange. It should be the other way around."
With two daughters, she oddly felt like she had a son.
This world's male hero, indeed.
Countless worlds reversed gender roles, libidos, and more from this one.
Heroes had appeared since her birth in her early forties, and knowledge spread as she aged, but it still felt awkward. She'd spent most life in her territory and palace; Palania was hero-weak.
"Um… Mother."
Hildear cautiously addressed the countess.
"Yes. What is it?"
"Are you… angry?"
"Angry? Me? Why?"
The countess blinked in confusion.
Hildear flinched at the unexpectedly mild response.
She'd braced for a scolding, but Mother seemed in high spirits.
Relieved, Hildear sighed, her stiff expression softening into a dopey smile. Until the countess spoke again.
"I'm not angry, but as a mother—and your former captain—I should give you a few words of discipline."
"Eh… Yes? Ah? M-Mother?"
Hildear's body stiffened instead of her face.
The countess before her looked more captain than mother.
"Hero, forgive me, but could you…."
"No problem. Parents lecturing kids is normal. And as former superior too. I'll step out."
"Thank you."
"My pleasure. And Captain?"
"Yes, Hero."
"Before hero, I'm Hilde's man, so if possible, speak more casually."
The countess smiled softly.
"Thank you. This is more private than official, so… yes, I'll do that."
"Haha. Much better."
Less formal than "casual," but her tone softened, satisfying Siwoo.
This world's Lubblestone Countess differed much in appearance from his pre-regression memories. Whether due to reversed spousal roles or her birth as woman, the change reduced his aversion.
But personality's similar. Her loosening up so easily shows she likes me.
With that thought, Siwoo watched contentedly as Hildear got an earful from her mother.