Even Other People's Moms Are Still Moms
Aren't other people's moms still moms at the end of the day?
A gentle silence wrapped around the room. The sky outside was already awash in sunset hues. Through the window, the crimson glow spread quietly, filling the space in a shade reminiscent of her own.
"Hmm. Tutus makes the best brew—we always turn to it when we need to tamp down excitement like this. You knew that already, didn't you, Aurelia?"
Ashtoret swirled her teacup lightly and smiled.
"...Yes, I am well aware that Your Majesty favors Tutus above all."
"Exactly~ It was practically mandatory whenever we had to talk with you."
Ashtoret let out a soft giggle, slowly setting down her cup. Back in the day, during the war between humans and monsters, Aurelia had been utterly impossible to deal with. No reaction to any conversation, blank-faced even to jokes. Questions were met with long silences, followed by a curt word or two at best. It had driven the hot-blooded Ashtoret of that era mad with frustration.
She'd felt genuine affection for her, of course. Aurelia had been her handpicked imperial guard, a sword she trusted above all others. But her utter lack of affability made her a nightmare to handle. At least react so I can tease you, or give me something to praise! Instead, she just sat there silently polishing her blade with that intimidating glare...
"...So."
Ashtoret propped her chin on her hand and lifted her gaze.
"Why don't you put that down already?"
Ashtoret suppressed the anger bubbling from deep in her chest and pointed at Aurelia—more precisely, at the snowy-white something clutched tightly in her arms. Her fingertips trembled faintly.
- Squeeze...
"No."
"Eeeeeeng..."
At those words, Aurelia's arms tightened even more. The snowy-white bundle in her embrace let out a melting wail, wriggling deeper into her chest. It squirmed and burrowed like dissolving cotton candy. The sight was so absurd it drew a hollow chuckle.
Good grief.
The woman who used to mull over a single question in silence for minutes before spitting out some bizarre response was now refusing point-blank to set down her son even for a moment of conversation, hugging him even tighter instead. Anyone would think he'd scatter like dust if she let go.
Ashtoret stared for a long moment, a faint crease forming between her brows. She took a sip of tea with a sigh and murmured softly.
"...Your son looks a bit uncomfortable there."
"Nonsense. He's loving every second. My boy adores me more than anything."
"Euuub... Eeeeng..."
"See? He loves it. So I'll keep holding him. This isn't selfishness—it's what my son wants. A mother's duty."
"...Fine. Do whatever you want. Sigh."
No matter how you looked at it, that wasn't a sound of joy—it was the death rattle of someone being suffocated. And yet, bizarrely, he seemed to crave being held that tightly.
Ashtoret observed the scene quietly, took another sip of tea, and shifted her gaze. The tall young lady with jet-black hair... was nowhere to be seen. In her place, a skeletal figure of pristine white bone sat rigidly on the sofa, its slender hand bones resting on its knees, skull bowed and trembling faintly. Quite the spectacle.
"...You're a lich, aren't you."
"...Indeed."
"Hah. Do you use that tone because you don't know who I am?"
"I serve only Lady Aurelia, head of the house. Not you, you human puppet."
"Th-that puppet's master used to serve me, you know?"
"And? It was Lady Aurelia who ushered in this era of peace, not the likes of you. Mind your tongue, Empress Ashtoret."
...What a foul temper.
The lich's empty eye sockets gleamed coldly. When she'd tried speaking to it, it had bared its fangs defiantly. The appearance, the archaic speech, the massive frame, the gleaming white bones—from all that, and now this attitude, it was obvious. She'd long since given up asking its name. It had to be Belatrix, one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings.
"Lich. Mind your tongue. Though not anymore, you once served under me."
"Yes, ma'am..."
Heh...
The lich, which had been bristling moments ago, instantly shut its mouth and bowed its head. Ashtoret swallowed a wry laugh inwardly. Groveling the second Aurelia spoke up—what a sight. She could hardly tell if she was on the empire's highest throne or a bed of nails.
"...You do know why I personally excused you all from the Debutante Ball and brought you here, right?"
"Obviously for Young Master Kael's safety."
"...No. That's not it. Absolutely not."
...I should've kept my mouth shut.
Ashtoret pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes squeezed shut. She turned her gaze to the one least likely—no, most unlikely—to listen.
"...Crois."
"Yes, Mother."
"...You think it's appropriate that you've said nothing so far?"
"No."
"Then speak."
Ashtoret's eyes narrowed.
"Why has no explanation come from you, who owes the most?"
"Because any words from me would just be excuses. It was simply what I wanted... so I approached."
"......"
No, you can't say that!
Ashtoret barely concealed the cold sweat trickling down her neck and looked away. There...
"Grind..."
"M-Mommyyy... don't make that face... it's scary..."
"...I'm not making a face. I was just deeply contemplating whether to enact the justice I've always pursued."
"Huh?"
Aurelia glared at Crois with a chilling intensity, grinding her teeth fiercely. The overwhelming killing intent, like staring down an arch-enemy, made even Ashtoret swallow dryly. Thank goodness Kael was in her arms holding her back— the moment he was set down, the entire imperial office might get bisected by Iltoyangdan.
With that thought, she couldn't bring herself to demand Kael be released again. In her prime, Aurelia could have slaughtered the entire imperial guard. Even rusted as she was now, past her peak, Ashtoret never once thought she and a single lich could stop her. As Aurelia herself had said without hesitation, she'd kill even Ashtoret herself over anything involving her son.
"...Haa. Everyone out except Kael la Elion."
"No."
"No."
"No."
"......"
...Am I the emperor or not, you bastards?
Ashtoret bit her lip and downed her Tutus in one gulp. She never imagined she'd chug the stuff meant for calming the mind and body like this.
* * *
"Mommy. Can we sleep here tonight?"
"Yes, we will. There's still much to do in the imperial capital. You just rest easy. Got it?"
"Yeees."
"Good boy."
The gentle touch of my mom's hand stroking and grooming my hair. Just a year ago, her fingers had been so awkward it took over ten minutes to fix my hair. I'd always ended up calling a dark elf to do it instead. Now she was so skilled and natural, I didn't need anyone else.
In game terms... her beauty and grooming stats must've leveled up? The hero class made even a mere 10,000-point gain feel like a ten-point jump—huge changes for easy feedback. And as she petted me, she rubbed my cheeks, stroked my belly so tenderly... my whole body felt fluffy like floating on clouds.
I hated anyone else touching me, but Mommy was fine. She was family. I loved her!
"Mommyyy."
"What is it?"
"Will you sleep with me again tonight?"
"...No, not tonight."
"Huh?"
Mom's hand, brushing hair behind my ear, froze. She rubbed my belly lightly, fiddled affectionately with my earlobe, soothing me as if to say not to worry.
"I have business at dawn. Can't sleep together."
"O-Oh... okay? Then hold me till I fall asleep, at least... till I do..."
"...Alright. Till you sleep. That okay?"
"Yes! That's perfect... hehe. Being with Mommy feels so good... so warm and cozy... I love it..."
"I know. I'll hold you. Now sleep quick."
"Mhm!"
Mommy hugged me snugly. Done with my hair, she scooped me up lightly and laid me on the bed. I naturally piled onto her, burying my face deep in her huge, soft breasts, my lips curling up blissfully.
So warm... cozy... soft and pillowy... She trained so hard, used her body so much, yet how was she this squishy?
...Come to think of it, she always reset her Body Enhancement stats whenever she looked at me.
...That made me feel all warm inside. She cared that much. Always wearing only those soft, thin clothes she never otherwise touched. Worried I'd get hurt by her strength, or uncomfortable with her muscles—so she reset her stats too.
In the game, resetting cost a tiny bit of stats, even if minimal.
"...Mommy... you're the bestest..."
"I love you too, my son."
- Mwah.
A warm sensation bloomed on my forehead. Trembling in that warmth, I drifted off to sleep.
. . .
- Rustle...
"Nng... yaaawn~"
I yawned widely, mouth agape in a daze. Blinking sleepily, I looked around.
The warm, fluffy embrace that had held me tight was gone...
"...Mommy left, huh... hng."
I knew it already, but it still felt so empty. My shoulders slumped; I pouted, then shook my head.
"Can't sleep. Overslept this morning, maybe."
They say sleep needs decrease with age. Why was I still so sleepy? And I wasn't growing taller anymore. Weird. All the boys my age were way bigger than me. Why me?
"...Too picky with food? If I eat more veggies, will I grow...?"
In my past life, I'd scavenged trash bins or choked down the bland slop from homeless shelters. Now food overflowed with deliciousness—why force veggies?!
Anyway. Still groggy, I blinked and hopped off the bed. Grunting, I pushed open the huge door and stepped into the corridor.
Reason? ...So lonely... Anyone, just hug me...
Wandering blankly with that thought, I spotted a lit room. Where was this...? Couldn't read the sign...
I pushed the door open with a grunt and went in.
"...? Who? Who enters my office... huh?"
"...Your Majesty...?"
"Why are you here..."
"Hug meee..."
"W-Wait, what do you—"
- Squish...
"Hehe... warmmm..."
With a dazed face and arms wide open, I launched myself straight into Empress Ashtoret's embrace.