The Princess's Pampering and the Mother's Blade

"She seduced me first, I tell you. Your son is making his debut at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠debutante this time, so I stopped by since my duties have quieted down a bit. How are things between you and your son these days, Aurelia?"

"No different from a year ago."

"Oh? 'No different' from your mouth... Weren't you the one who used to fabricate stories just to report something?"

"...Really, nothing happened. Except lately, his lonely moments have been showing more..."

"Pfft..."

Ashtoret finally burst into laughter.

"You two have grown a bit distant, haven't you?"

"...It feels that way."

Ashtoret laughed heartily, positioning herself in front of Aurelia. She pierced through the faint anxiety visible on Aurelia's face, which hadn't appeared in a long time. No matter the circumstance—even when a comrade fell in battle—that woman never showed a flicker of emotion. The only thing that could shake her like this had to be her son.

"If you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't fix that soon, you'll be the one suffering."

"...Understood. I'll resolve it through conversation."

"That sounds awfully ominous coming from you. And anyway, you resolve things with your son through talk? What else would you use?"

"...That's also true."

"Right. So, about your son."

Finishing the brief exchange, Ashtoret raised a single finger and fixed her gaze on Aurelia.

"...You know that this debutante has my backing—more precisely, my daughter's, right?"

"Yes. I received documents stating that Princess Crois la Solarrium's influence was involved."

"Yeah... It seems my daughter is finally looking for a match. But tell me... why go so far as to spend money to attend this particular debutante?"

With a smirk, Ashtoret curled her lip and eyed her.

"...Don't you have some idea?"

"...Nothing particular comes to mind."

"Ehey~ You know exactly what's going on, but playing innocent? Even with that blank expression of yours, all your emotions show through—you should know that."

"...That my son... is the one the Princess has in mind... Is that what you mean?"

"Why say it so stiffly?"

Ashtoret waved her hand dismissively.

"She just likes him, that's all."

"...I... see..."

Aurelia's face, murmuring blankly, cracked ever so slightly. Seeing it, Ashtoret's smile deepened. Lately, Aurelia's love for her son had grown ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exceptionally fierce. Gauging her reactions like this was endlessly amusing.

'But... there's something even more important.'

Crois la Solarrium. The princess of the swordsmanship empire Solarrium, and Ashtoret la Solarrium's eldest daughter. Crois was far from the ideal woman most men desired. She wasn't sturdy or curt, nor did she possess the strength to protect frail men. From childhood, she disliked physical activity, and instead of swords or weapons, she only held soft, yielding things that harmed no one.

Flowers. Tea. Desserts. And gentle touches.

To Ashtoret's eyes, it had been deeply uncomfortable, but she was the daughter she so desperately wanted—the eldest who would lead the family. Even if she couldn't become the 'sword' ruling the empire, Ashtoret thought she would at least have the magnanimity to embrace countless subjects.

— ...So, you're stepping down as heir? Truly?

— ...Yes. I am not the material to lead the Solarrium Empire. Please give the chance to my siblings...

— If you're truly set on that... I'll consider it.

But in the end, that plea fell on deaf ears. In Ashtoret's eyes, Crois was too perfect. She might even surpass her own potential. Ashtoret vaguely remembered one incident. It was the day she took young Crois to the forest for some fresh air. A mountain beast appeared, and Ashtoret expertly drew her bowstring taut.

But then.

— ...Stop.

— !!!

With Crois's short command, the beast—several times her size—froze in place. With just a light glance and her voice, she paralyzed a wild animal many times larger than herself. And soon.

— ...Grrr...

The massive beast submitted, prostrating itself before Crois. Not before Ashtoret, but precisely before Crois alone, bowing its head.

— Good boy. See, Mother? No need to hunt this one. He listens to humans well.

— ......

Unlike Ashtoret, who had felled countless monsters on the battlefield to claim victory, this untrained young girl bent life itself to her will with mere words and gaze. Surely, she was the perfect stock to lead the swordsmanship empire Solarrium, vast across the continent. Ashtoret had believed she would one day stand proudly before the empire's masses, raising her majestic presence to guide the nation.

But for that, Crois first needed a high-status fiancé at her side.

Betrothal wasn't merely a matter of emotion. It was a declaration of intent to take someone as a spouse. Furthermore, it proclaimed that she possessed enough power to wed such a noble, and that...

...she would bear the child to succeed her.

That the Solarrium family would continue ruling this empire—a faint declaration of that, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too.

"Well, it's not a bad deal for you either, is it?"

Ashtoret smirked as she spoke.

"The Hero's son betrothed to the princess. What easier way to seize power?"

"...I want to hear what Kariel—no, my son—thinks."

Aurelia spoke slowly after a moment of silence.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"What my son thinks of this betrothal. Whether he truly wants it. If there's even the slightest reluctance. I want to ask him."

"...And if he says no?"

Ashtoret's eyes narrowed.

"Then..."

In that instant, the air around them chilled sharply. Aurelia's blue pupils seemed to dilate wide. Ashtoret wiped a bead of cold sweat from her nape, her hand unconsciously drifting to her sword hilt.

"...No matter what, I will stop that betrothal."

"...Even if I'm the one pushing it?"

"Yes."

The answer came without hesitation.

"Even if the moment comes to sever Your Majesty's head, I will stop the betrothal."

"...Pfft... Yeah... That's why I kept you by my side. Because when push comes to shove, you've got the guts to take my head."

"...I hope it never comes to that."

"Yeah, me too. Looks like we've arrived mid-conversation."

She nodded playfully toward the door.

"Go on, open it. You get first look at your precious son. You've been anxious since earlier."

"...Was it that obvious?"

"Of course. To me, at least."

Aurelia took a deep breath. She resolved not to flinch at the sudden sight. This was that kind of place. Young men presenting themselves amid women's gazes. So Kariel surrounded by countless ladies... might even be natural. Her son was so adorably beautiful, even by her own standards. So, absolutely no drawing weapons. No scattering mana.

Reaffirming her vow, she flung open the massive doors.

"Mmwah..."

"Eek!"

"Pfft... You flinched hard. It's just a little peck—why? Don't you know it's a sign of affection?"

"I-I know... B-but Mom does it every morning too..."

"That's why... this is my way of showing you affection too... Mmwah... My cute Kariel... You started it, seducing me first... Why be so shy...?"

"Th-there are s-so many p-people w-watching..."

"You seduced me first... You did it first..."

"A-and why are you exuding such k-killing intent...!"

The conversation pierced her ears. The scene unfolded before her eyes. A strange air brushed her nose, and faint mana currents crawled over her skin.

"......"

Shing...

The longsword at her waist slowly slid free.

* * *

"Hmhm~"

"Nom nom... So sweet..."

"Mmm, this feels kinda nice, doesn't it? Everyone staring only at you and me—like I'm some princess on a white horse. Feels great~"

"R-really...?"

"Yeah. Does Kariel hate it?"

"N-no... I love it... So warm... fluffy... soft... cozy and safe..."

"...Me too. So much."

Princess Crois had me perched on her lap, constantly feeding me cookies. Normally, I'd hate drawing this much attention, but today... it was surprisingly okay. Thanks to her, all the young ladies crowding the table had backed off, now watching from afar with wistful eyes. No one dared touch me, snuggled in the princess's arms and acting spoiled.

"So comfy..."

The benefits were huge. The clingy young ladies were gone, and though distant stares prickled...

"Mm..."

— Squeeze... Squeeze...

"What're you looking at~?"

One word from the princess, and they all cowered, averting their eyes. Whenever the gazes grew too burdensome, I'd tilt my head up to her face, tug gently at her dress, and she'd respond like that. So convenient... At first, I thought something was wrong, but now that it was happening, it was way more comfortable than imagined. People really need to pick the right strings to pull. The emperor's successor and eldest daughter had claimed me—who'd fear anything?

That was when it happened.

"...You know, every time I see you, you just get more lovable."

"Huh?"

"Makes me wanna gobble you up..."

"W-what do you—"

— Smack!

"Eep?!"

A moist, soft sensation spread across my cheek. My shoulders twitched. Eyes wide, a warm, fragrant aftertaste made my breath hazy.

"Hweh...?"

"Mmm... You're still too young to devour, so this'll have to do. Guess I'll need a bit more."

"Y-yeah...? Eung..."

She went beyond lips to my cheek, nibbling gently. Chewing softly within pain-free bounds, my mood melted blissfully. What was it... so warm, so cozy... Super embarrassing, but... felt amazing...

"Hii... Do it more..."

"...God, you're so lovable it's driving me crazy..."

— Peck, peck... Peck...

Like a bird pecking with its beak, she kept kissing my cheek. I let out a faint smile, my body swaying lightly.

"Hee... Feels good... Keep kissing... ...Huh?"

...What?

Something felt off. So... familiar... and...

...A sticky killing intent clutching my heart.

I turned my gaze.

...Mom stood there, drawing her sword from its sheath.

"...Draw."

Il Do Yang Dan

Shiiiing—

In that instant.

It was as if the world split apart.