Just One More Time
I lowered my waist at a perfect right angle and offered an apology to the woman standing before me.
“I’m sorry, Mother.”
“All this time, your unworthy son has been immature and failed to understand the pain in your heart.”
Just how rotten must he have been to not only frequent gambling dens from a young age, but to become the world’s greatest scumbag who reached for every pretty woman he saw?
When I thought of Countess Iris, who had still cradled and comforted that same child as if he had come from her own womb, enduring her silent suffering, my vision blurred with tears.
They were real tears.
“I have brought shame upon the family and given you nothing but worry and disappointment… You must find it hard to even believe that I stand here before you.”
Just from the venomous words I had heard from Seohwa while she was in her trance state, I could easily imagine how much she had bottled up inside and suffered alone.
That was why this apology had to carry genuine sincerity, not some shallow performance.
It had to be an apology so raw and heartfelt that no one could say, Look at this bastard pretending to reflect again.
Enough to reach Reid’s mother.
And now, my mother as well—the head of the Hesed family.
Enough to reach Iris Hesed herself.
“Only now do I begin to understand how much you have worried for me, how much you have endured and held back…”
Well, if it were me, the moment I found out my son was treating gambling houses and brothels like his personal dining room, I would have smashed his skull in.
“I have acted childishly, trampled on your expectations, and only tarnished the name of House Hesed.”
—flinch.
Only then did I sense Iris swallowing a sharp breath in shock.
It must have been bewildering.
This was completely different in tone from the formal, empty apologies the old Reid used to give.
Of course it was.
Right now, without a single ounce of falsehood, I was apologizing in place of the former Reid—who had not only dug into his mother’s heart but practically mined it with a pickaxe—for all his unfilial behavior.
“There is no room for excuses.”
I won’t do it anymore.
I’m not even interested.
Right now, taming Seohwa was far more entertaining.
With Seohwa here, there was no reason to visit places like that, was there?
Well, the hypnosis hadn’t sunk in deeply enough yet, so it would be difficult for now… but that wouldn’t take long.
“However… I will not behave that way any longer. It may be late, but I want to change starting now. So… if it’s not too much to ask, could you believe in me just this once more? Mother.”
“……”
For a moment, a suffocating silence stretched between us.
“…Reid.”
When I glanced at Iris calling my name in a trembling voice, her eyes were rimmed red.
She gave one sniffle, then spoke to me.
“My baby… is this… is this really true…?”
“…Yes, Mother.”
I nodded, infusing the gesture with affirmation.
At that, Iris could no longer hold back. She stepped forward and pulled me tightly into her embrace.
“Reid…!!”
“Oof—!”
—squish.
My face sank into a sensation that was both voluptuous and impossibly soft, and for a moment I couldn’t breathe.
It wasn’t bad—the fluffy texture and pleasant scent were actually quite nice—but I was seriously about to suffocate…!
I flailed one hand toward Seohwa, who had been silently watching my apology from the side, sending an urgent SOS.
“…My lady. Please calm yourself a little. At this rate, the young master will pass out.”
“Ah…! R-Reid. Are you alright? Hmm? Does it hurt anywhere?”
“Haha… I-I’m fine, Mother. Whew.”
Finally released, I took a few deep breaths.
To be honest, I wouldn’t have minded staying buried in that heavenly fragrance a bit longer, but that could have led to all sorts of awkward complications.
…After all, she wasn’t my real mother.
Strictly speaking, she was Reid’s mother, not mine.
And Iris Hesed… was dangerously beautiful.
Even from the brief illustrations I had seen, I thought she was stunning, but seeing her in person was on another level entirely.
Pink hair that looked like it would flow like water if touched.
Emerald eyes wet with tears, trembling with emotion.
A mature, voluptuous figure radiating an indescribable sensual charm.
Beneath her pink hair that seemed as if it would slip through your fingers like water, her emerald eyes shimmered, moist with tears.
The years she had spent supporting the family alone after losing her husband had not worn her down; instead, they had transformed her into a mature, voluptuous beauty that defied description.
And those breasts—how could one even call them merely “voluptuous”? They were mountains of maternal affection that swayed with every breath.
The way they strained against her thin dress was so prominent it almost seemed intentional. If I stared at those glorious mounds for even a second longer, I might end up in the ridiculous situation of getting hard while looking at my own mother.
Below her tightly cinched waist, the glimpse of her wide, fertile hips—perfect for bearing children—swayed seductively with every step, making it impossible to look away.
The black gloves that reached her fingertips and the fur draped over her shoulders added a subtly decadent sensuality to her noble dignity.
She was overflowing with the thick, sweet pheromones of a fertile female.
Her tear-streaked face was the crowning touch—a demonic allure that threatened to shatter the sanity of anyone who looked upon it.
Yeah. She was seriously dangerous.
In more ways than one.
“Reid.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Aah…”
“…?”
I had only called her “Mother,” yet Iris made a pitiful face as if she were about to burst into tears. I felt a flicker of panic inside.
…Just how much of a bastard had that idiot Reid been to elicit a reaction like this?
—sway.
“…!”
Overcome with emotion, Iris’s body suddenly lurched.
Before I could react, Seohwa was already at her side in an instant, steadying her.
“…My lady. It would be best if you calmed down and took a moment to breathe properly.”
“Ah, no… Seohwa. I’ve shown you such an unsightly side of myself.”
After steadying her breath for a moment, Iris looked at me with reddened eyes and spoke in a trembling voice.
“Reid. If it’s not too much trouble… would you have breakfast with this mother of yours? It’s been so long.”
The cautious tone at the end of her sentence.
The way her eyes carefully searched my face, afraid I might frown and refuse, pricked at a corner of my heart.
Hmm… I really wanted to go back to my room and play with Seohwa in all sorts of ways, but…
Still, this probably took priority right now.
I nodded obediently.
“Of course, Mother. Let’s go together.”
“Ah… I see… hehe…”
Iris’s eyes widened as if she could hardly believe it.
I stepped closer and naturally took over the support that Seohwa had been providing.
“…!”
I felt her tremble the moment our bodies touched.
Iris wore the dazed expression of someone unsure whether this was a dream or reality.
Seohwa, watching from the side, maintained her usual blank face, but the slight lift of her eyebrows told me she was surprised as well.
I acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary and escorted Iris toward the dining hall.
………
The dining hall was unnaturally quiet.
Even the tiny sound of a knife scraping against a plate seemed deafening.
Iris sat at the head of the long table and carefully lifted her fork.
I glanced at her and picked up mine a beat later.
I didn’t know noble dining etiquette, but since Estonia treated it with considerable importance, simply copying what I saw should keep me from standing out too much.
I mimicked Iris’s movements as naturally as possible and chewed my food.
After secretly glancing at me once or twice, Iris’s hand suddenly stopped.
“…Reid.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Ah… um, is the food… to your liking?”
The taste?
Honestly, it was a bit bland.
After being steeped in every kind of strong flavor and stimulation, my palate found it lacking in impact.
Still, it wasn’t completely tasteless, so I gave a small nod and offered a gentle smile.
“Yes. It’s delicious. It tastes… healthy.”
“…!”
Iris’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment before she turned away with a warm, contented smile.
When I snuck a glance at Seohwa standing behind her, our eyes met at just the right moment.
“……”
Seohwa stared at me silently for a moment, then slowly closed her eyes.
Neither approving nor disapproving.
For now, this was good.
I could gradually reshape her perception this way, step by step.
…Perfect.
I resumed eating with a calm expression, hiding a smile in my heart.
It seemed to be working better than I expected.
………
After the somewhat awkward breakfast came to an end, I was on my way back to my room.
Iris had clearly wanted to spend more time with me, but as the busy head of the family, she eventually left with visible reluctance.
While I was wondering what to do next, my eyes fell on Seohwa, who had been completely silent behind me the entire time.
“Seohwa.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Did Mother… seem happy?”
“…I have not seen her smile so brightly in a very long time.”
“That’s a relief.”
I had kept my promise properly.
Which meant it was now my turn to confirm something.
Just how far could I push this expressionless maid using the justification of “cooperation for the sake of the family head”?
We arrived at my room.
Seohwa followed me inside, and I sat down on the edge of the bed before speaking to her naturally.
“Seohwa.”
“Yes.”
“What you showed me this morning was too brief. I couldn’t see it properly.”
“……”
“Show me one more time. And don’t lower it until I say it’s enough.”
I deliberately didn’t specify what she should show me.
Because she already knew exactly what I meant.