Seduce the hero's mother (GL)

Several years have passed since Emily sealed her daughter's abilities at the cost of her own life. All this time, the Archduke has been searching hard for a way to put things right.

Until the last, the man was unwilling to admit defeat.

Finally, when Leriane was approaching seven years old, Henry was able to decipher the ancient records of the abilities of the Ileas clan. From them he learned that the power could be sealed in another person or object. That became his main clue.

Going through all the available options, the man reached for the pendant. It was the family jewel of the Ashford family that Henry had given to his wife on their wedding day. The Archduke had never before imagined that Leriane's power could be sealed in it.

To retrieve it, the man had to disturb the peace of his wife in the crypt. In the end, he gave the pendant to his daughter for her birthday and told her never to take it off. Henry hoped that sooner or later the power would recognize Lerian as her mistress and return to her.

With that in mind, he had waited his whole life for this moment.

Considering how awful his own parents were, the man treated his daughter as the greatest treasure of his life. Ever since she was a little girl, Leriana got everything she wanted and never knew rejection. The young lady of the Ashford family was adored by those around her.

Despite his busy occupation as head of the family — Henry also paid a lot of attention to her. It is no exaggeration to say that Leriana was the most spoiled child of the empire. Henry did all this so that one day his daughter would return the favor.

It's not too hard to fulfill one request of a beloved father, is it? Especially since he'd cared for her so much all her life.

Ashford longed to give Leriana the childhood he never had. And at some point…his feelings were mixed with uncertainty.

The man began to see his daughter as more than just a tool to fulfill a purpose. Seeing the people around him as nothing more than a soulless mass, Henry never truly loved anyone. But in the end his heart for his own child wavered.

Had Henry Ashford treated Leriane sincerely? Did he love her? It is hard to say. Only he himself could know the answer to that question. But the fact remained. Even decades later, the man had not given up on the idea he had had on that cold, rainy morning.

When he realized that his life was meaningless and worthless.

As a result, Henry spent his entire life striving to prove that this was not so. His personality was more than just the masses of a silly novel.

For years Ashford simply ran away from himself. And in the end he found himself at a dead end. In all that time, only Emily was able to discern his true identity — the big coward who hid behind outward bravado. More than reality, Henry feared death. The pathetic character trembled at the fear of death and clung to life with all his might.

But in the end his end was even more miserable than in the original. He died on his knees begging for mercy-while his own daughter abandoned him. A truly ironic twist of fate.

However, his intervention did leave its mark on the history of this world.

In an altered reality, the main characters are not destined to be born. The heroine Brisney was the reincarnation of the goddess from legend, while her lover was the first demon. It was they who were destined to lift the curse of the Bloody Camellia once and for all.

Now… there's no telling how things will work out.

Anyway, there was no going back to what had originally been. All that remained was to move forward.

When Razor realized all this, reality around him could not be the same as before. In a short time he had seen with his own eyes a multitude of destinies from the past — which eventually coalesced into a single picture.

The woman who had led him by the hand along the way disappeared. Because the prince suddenly realized that it was really him.

Without any effort, Razor brought himself out of the dream on his own and opened his eyes. He saw the snow-white ceiling of Ashford Manor in front of him.

The corners of his lips curled into a faint grin.

— It turned out… that I had been the author of the novel all along.

***

It had been some time since I had been accused of conspiring with slave traders and beating the crown princess. I found myself locked in solitary confinement without windows or any of the usual comforts. All I had to do in such a situation… was to think.

In the last few days I had been thinking a lot about what had happened and about my life.

To be honest, at first I was very angry at those around me and especially at Rachel. I was hurt when she told me that the life of a maid meant nothing. Someone like her didn't deserve revenge for it.

Those words sounded extremely cynical. Especially since Melinda was my friend. No wonder I felt the urge to punch Rachel after Camille.

It wasn't until later that I realized… that she was right. All the aristocrats of the empire thought so.

After all, the world was ruled by a monarchy-so there was a strict division between classes. Nobles and commoners. The difference between them was quite palpable. And I was the only one who didn't understand it.

Originally born in another world and time — many things happening here were still unfamiliar to me. It was hard for me to accept that someone could be inferior to me just because of an unfortunate origin. I was an aristocrat myself, purely by accident.

Perhaps that was something I would never be able to accept for the rest of my life. It is hard for a man of modern civilization to fully accept the customs of the Middle Ages.

But meanwhile, other people were born and raised here. What was happening was commonplace to them. Rachel was one of them. Especially since she was a queen.

The girl was dismissive even of aristocrats. I still remembered the times when she called them all trash. What to say about ordinary people?

In other words, I was the only «strange aristocrat» in the empire. It was foolish to blame others for the environment in which they had grown up. All I had to do was… Try to make it a little better while I lived here.

Although «living» sounded doubtful… considering how much I'd «colored» Camille, it was a wonder I hadn't been executed. Every day I waited for them to come and send me to the scaffold. But so far that hadn't happened.

It wasn't getting any easier, though. Waiting only made the atmosphere more painful. Though after all that had happened, I wouldn't say I was afraid of death.

I just wanted it all to be over.

I sighed heavily, while my only entertainment was to throw stones at the wall. Which was what I'd been doing for the past few days.

And then, as I was throwing another stone at the blank wall, I suddenly heard a noise. It was coming from outside. When I looked up in surprise, I could not understand who had the courage to cause a commotion in the imperial dungeon.

As it turned out, the answer was quite obvious.

A few minutes later I saw Maxie on the threshold of my cell. Behind her I could see the skinny figure of an old man. Best friend and personal secretary… What were they doing here?

But no sooner had I asked that question than Maxie burst into the cell first, and grabbed my arm.

— Come out.

I rounded my eyes.

— If we're caught, you know you'll be executed, too, don't you?

My fears were unfounded. Escape from the Imperial dungeon was no joke and was punishable by death on the spot. I did not want to expose my loved ones to such danger.

But Andrew was ahead of my objections:

— Don't worry, Your Grace. We have arranged everything.

— What?!» I was shocked, «How is it possible…?

I could hardly believe that Rachel had actually agreed to let me go after that. Okay the slave-traders, but I had touched her precious fiancée.

Maxie provided me with an official stamped document. I dumbfounded even more.

— Blizzard had agreed to settle.

— How?!

The Marquis's daughter grinned.

— One must know the ways.

The two of them looked at each other enigmatically, which made me more tense. If they really were threatening Camilla, it wasn't going to end well. The girl was one of those people who would pay back humiliation in two ways.

— Don't worry. At least right now she can't be the one to expose us. The old man dug up some dirt on her.

I coughed. While I was gone, what were they even doing…?!

— All right. Let's go already. This prison is creepy and I don't like it here.

Maxie led me by the hand and I didn't resist. Andrew followed us. Already on the way out, I sighed heavily.

Though the problem was unexpectedly solved… For some reason I didn't feel better. It was as if the worst was yet to come.

***

Camilla had recently been moved from the infirmary to her private quarters. The girl was still lying on her bed recovering while the maid circled around her around the clock.

Even though the physician declared that the princess was no longer in danger, she was still apprehensive. Especially considering that their wedding would take place the day before.

Fortunately, the girl's face was unharmed. Because that was what she protected and covered the most. However, that did not cancel out all those bruises and abrasions on her body. Camille was furious.

— Your Highness, it is time to take your medicine.

Each morning Douglas served the princess a special potion for her internal injuries. This time Camilla cast him a look of undisguised hatred.

While she was forced to drink all that bitterness and heal, that wretch escaped punishment and roamed free. Yesterday the Archduchess' men came and blackmailed her with the evidence they found. And to avoid suspicion from Her Majesty — Camilla had no choice but to agree. Until now she regretted it.

— Put it away…!

Camilla tossed the cup away from her and the contents spilled onto the floor. The maid shuddered.

— Your Highness, have I upset you in some way?

— Everything upsets me!

Douglas sighed.

— Don't worry, Your Highness. You'll be well soon enough.

Camilla hummed. She knew for herself that the wounds were not that serious. Much more troubling to her was the fact that she would be attending her wedding ceremony covered in bruises! Even though they would not be visible under her dress.

The girl had waited so long for this day, and in the end it was almost ruined by that creature. Camilla longed to finish Leriana off with her own hands.

— I'm sorry… I'm so sorry I let her go! — I would have skinned her right now if it had been up to me!

Seeing her mistress in a rage, Douglas remained silent.

— No… I can't leave it like this! — She resolutely declared, «No one in this empire would dare humiliate me like that! I will send men after her at once!

But before the girl could call for the guards, the maid dared to interrupt her:

— Your Highness, don't rush into this decision.

— What are you talking about?!

— Your wedding is so very soon…» she reminded her, «Is it right to cause bloodshed on the eve?

Camilla pursed her lips. The anger that had blinded her eyes has subsided.

— So you're saying I should just leave her alone?

— Not exactly,» the girl objected, «You should wait for the right moment first.

— Hmm?

— Right now the whole empire knows that the Archduchess has attacked you. The people are completely on your side, while she is considered an evil witch. Doesn't that benefit your status as future queen?

— It makes sense…

— For the sake of maintaining your reputation, it's best not to be overtly aggressive. You can do so after the coronation, when the power is fully in your hands. Then the Ashford clan will disappear without a trace.

The crown princess grinned.

— I never would have guessed my maid would be so clever.

She smiled obediently.

— Your Highness, I have followed you since I was a child… I have learned much.

Camilla nodded approvingly.

— Then we shall do as you said.

The old rage toward Leriane Ashford was gone. Instead, the girl grinned contentedly. Douglas had been right: the bitch wouldn't have long to be a winner. After all, her wedding to Her Majesty was only a week away.

And when that happens… She might not dream of staying alive.