70

A sudden bolt from the blue on a sunny day.

The captain of the Imperial Knights himself had come here to detain Athena. What in the world was going on?

'…Was there such a story in the original?'

I quickly searched my memory, but in the novel, Athena's past hadn't been revealed yet. There was nothing that could provide a clue about this situation.

If this had happened after the story started, I might have been able to deduce something. However, the original story wouldn't begin for another two years.

"The Imperial Palace wants me?"

Even Athena, seemingly at a loss to understand the situation, wore a bewildered expression.

The knight who delivered the news fidgeted nervously, unable to decide what to say.

Athena pondered for a moment before addressing the knight.

"Fine. Let's hear it. Lead the way."

"Y-Yes! T-This way, my lord…"

The knight, clearly feeling the heavy weight of the situation, replied without hesitation and started to lead the way.

With an uneasy heart, I followed Athena to the main gate, where we soon arrived.

There, several horses adorned with golden armor stamped the ground restlessly, while a small group of soldiers clad in the same golden armor stood before them. Among them, a figure who appeared to be the commander stood at the front. That must be the captain of the knights.

The imposing presence of the group, exuding the tenacity of seasoned warriors, gave off an oppressive aura that made it hard to approach them.

"Ha, it's real."

Athena, however, merely clicked her tongue briefly, as if unfazed by their intimidating demeanor.

"A-Athena, what is going on?"

I clutched Athena's hand, my voice trembling.

She looked at me, smiled gently, and said,

"It's okay, Hera. Just stay here for a bit while I go."

"N-No! I want to go with you!"

Not wanting to let her face those people alone, I pleaded with her.

Those people said they had come to detain Athena. That certainly couldn't mean anything good.

Considering Athena's temperament, this could easily escalate into a big fight.

As I looked at Athena with a worried expression, she chuckled softly and patted my head.

"Alright. If you want to come, then let's go together. But the little one stays here."

Athena turned to Mari as she spoke.

Mari glared at Athena for a moment but soon seemed to realize this wasn't her place and took a step back.

"If Mom gets hurt, I won't forgive you."

"The same goes for me," Athena replied with a smile.

Leaving Mari behind, Athena and I approached the group together. The man who seemed to be the captain came forward to meet us.

He had short brown hair and a towering figure. His commanding presence and the energy radiating around him made it clear he was no ordinary man.

"I am Godric, First Captain of the Imperial Knights. It is an honor to meet the Empire's hero."

The man bowed his head politely.

Athena ignored his greeting and spoke bluntly.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Godric, seemingly accustomed to Athena's cold demeanor, raised his head and replied without missing a beat.

"It is an imperial order to detain the hero and bring her to the Empire."

"Ha."

"Athena, ma'am—"

Before he could say more, Athena wrapped an arm around me, pulling me snugly into her embrace.

"How dare you."

As soon as she finished speaking, the ground began to tremble with a deep rumble.

It felt as if a typhoon had struck.

The air in the mansion swirled violently, and the ground around Athena started to crack bit by bit.

"Ugh!!"

"Argh!"

"Kh…!"

Everyone, including the soldiers of the imperial palace, fell to the ground, writhing in pain.

Even Godric, the captain of the knights, stood frozen, unable to move, as cold sweat dripped from his face.

But unlike them, who were suffering, all I could feel in Athena's embrace was her warm body heat.

Athena glanced at the captain of the imperial knights and spoke in a low, chilling voice.

"Go ahead and run your mouth again. Who did you say you'd bind?"

"Ugh… Lady Athena. Please, a moment to talk."

As she stared at the knight commander with an icy expression, she seemed to realize he had something to say. Clicking her tongue, she extended her hand into the air.

The oppressive pressure that had filled the surroundings gradually began to subside.

"Speak."

With Athena's permission, Godric stepped closer to her and whispered softly into her ear, so quietly that even I couldn't hear.

After a short while, Godric stepped back, and Athena let out a deep sigh.

"All this fuss over nothing."

"My apologies."

Although her face was still creased with annoyance, the heavy murderous aura that had enveloped the area moments ago had vanished.

"Athena… are you okay…?"

I cautiously asked her.

Athena smiled warmly and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Hera, are you worried about me?"

Her words made embarrassment seep into my chest, but I managed to answer without hesitation.

"Yeah… because I'm your lover now."

Athena, who had been staring blankly at me with a faint blush on her face, suddenly leaned in and left a brief kiss on my lips.

"Mm."

"Just wait a little while. I'll be right back."

"Wh… where are you going?"

"The old man in the imperial palace wants to talk to me. I suppose I should hear what he has to say."

For a moment, I noticed the knight captain's face twitch slightly.

The old man in the imperial palace… Could she mean the emperor?

"Are you sure… it's okay?"

Athena, seeing the worry on my face, chuckled softly and patted my head.

"It's fine, Hera. Just stay here and get ready."

Hearing her say she was fine, my restless heart finally began to calm down.

It must have all been a misunderstanding.

Right. There's no way Athena could be confined to the imperial palace.

I worked so hard to keep her from going down a dark path.

Maybe the Athena from the original story would have been different.

But the current Athena was entirely unrelated to any conspiracies.

There was no reason for the imperial palace to treat her as an enemy.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I pushed aside the anxious thoughts that had clouded my mind.

But then…

"Preparation?"

"Huh? Preparation for what…?"

At my question, Athena gave a sinister smile, leaned close to my ear, and whispered in a sultry voice.

"To continue what we started last night."

"Huh…!"

"I'm looking forward to hearing plenty of sweet sounds from you again tonight, darling."

My face turned bright red, as if a balloon had popped with a loud bang.

If she meant what we didn't finish last night, it had to be that.

Ever since we became a couple, Athena seemed… a bit bolder.

"Pfft. You're adorable, Hera."

I didn't… dislike it, though.

***

It had already been several hours since Athena left.

For some reason, I was lying in bed reading a book, with Mari, who looked much healthier, beside me.

"Oh, right! Let me give you your medicine, Mom."

Mari rolled over and smiled at me.

"Ah… again?"

"Yup."

By 'medicine,' she must mean the potion I took this morning.

The mysterious medicine Mari created using her mana.

Maybe it was thanks to that potion, but I felt like I was in perfect condition today.

"It's okay. I'm already so much healthier, all thanks to you, Mari."

Since it was made with her mana, I worried it might harm her, so I tried to decline.

But upon hearing my words, Mari's expression turned icy cold.

"No."

"Uh… what?"

"You have to take it every single day. You promised Mari."

Saying that, Mari strode toward me.

For some reason, with every step she took, I felt an inexplicable sense of pressure.

"Take it, Mom."

When she reached me, she extended her hand, and a blue liquid began to form in her palm.

"Ah…"

I hesitated.

I didn't really feel like drinking it, but seeing Mari's earnest expression made me think it was fine.

Besides, it was a potion she made for me with love. As her mother, I shouldn't refuse.

And it really did make me healthier.

Smiling faintly, I spoke to Mari.

"All right, then. Thank you, Mari. Let me just grab a cup—"

"I'll feed it to you!"

"Huh…?"

"Mari's hands are clean. Say 'ah~,' Mom."

Mari extended her hand, now brimming with the blue liquid, toward me.

Looking at her outstretched hand, I felt a bit flustered.

"Come on, Mom. Mari's hand is starting to hurt."

"Uh… Uh-huh… Ah~"

As I reluctantly opened my mouth at Mari's urging, two of her small fingers rested on my tongue.

Before long, just as before, a sticky liquid began flowing into my mouth.

"Drink it all for Mommy."

"Mm… mmph…"

As I gulped down the mana Mari gave me, my mind instantly cleared.

It might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I even felt a refreshing sensation, as if I had been reborn.

Not long after that, I managed to swallow all the liquid Mari had provided.

"…?"

But for some reason, Mari's fingers remained on my tongue.

I wondered if she was going to give me more mana, but nothing else followed down my throat.

"M-M-Mari…?"

I looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Mari, with her cheeks slightly flushed, gazed down at me with a dreamy look.

More precisely, at her own fingers still inside my mouth.

"Mm…Mari…if you give me all of it, these fingers…just a bit…"

Mari's hand was in my mouth, causing her words to come out slurred.

As she stared blankly at me, Mari suddenly—

Squelch…

She began to move her fingers, which were resting on my tongue, exploring every inch of it.

"Mmngh?! …M-Mari?!"

Tickling, pulling, doing all sorts of things to my tongue, Mari's actions left me bewildered.

Just as I tried to push her away—

Her blank expression transformed in an instant, her face taking on the predatory look of a beast.

"G-guh?!"

"The woman…she must have done it like this…"

Mari shoved two of her fingers deep into my throat.

"Gack?!…Ugh…kghh…hhlk…"

Squish-squish—

The sound of her fingers rubbing against my throat echoed painfully.

Paralyzed by the incomprehensible situation, my body froze for a moment.

When I finally regained my senses, panic surged through me, and I pushed Mari away with all my strength.

"Ah!"

With a short yelp, Mari fell limply onto the bed.

"Ughh…cough…hack…hhuurk…"

Suppressing the gagging sensation that rose from the back of my throat, I glared at Mari.

"Gasp…Mari! What on earth are you doing to your mom?!"

"Ah…uh…"

Hesitant, Mari quickly apologized to me.

"I'm sorry, Mom…"

Despite her apology, confusion still clouded my mind.

Because—

Mari's face—

"M-Mari?"

—was now adorned with a sadistic smile, as if she had awakened to something new, her breath ragged and unsteady.