episode_0198

[194th Episode] – Responsibility of Choice (2)

“I’m back, mother. I’m fine—”

“…Titania, come here and sit for a moment. Let’s talk.”

As Titania returned from her work and entered the room, she was taken aback by Vivian’s subdued voice that greeted her. It wasn’t common for her mother to look at her with such an expression.

Seeing her mother’s unfamiliar expression for the first time since childhood, Titania swallowed nervously in anticipation. As Titania cautiously approached Vivian and sat down, Vivian let out a deep sigh.

“Titania.”

“…Yes, mother.”

Vivian took a deep breath and hesitantly began to speak.

…Where should she start? Should she mention that Bangsio has discovered our relationship? Although Vivian tried to bring up the story she had heard from Bangsio, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

Bangsio wasn’t someone who casually gossiped about her and Titania’s relationship. Since Bangsio had difficulty sharing the story, she thought she should also keep quiet about Bangsio.

So, the story she needed to bring up now is…

“Titania, it seems even I, who stayed only in this room, have heard some ‘rumors.’”

“…Rumors?”

“Yes, rumors that the ministers’ patience is wearing thin due to the ‘successor’ issue.”

Was it because of the word “successor,” or was it because of the word “ministers’ patience”? Upon hearing the story that came out of my mouth, Titania sighed as if feeling exasperated and furrowed her brow slightly.

“…Who did you hear that rumor from?”

“…Is that important right now?”

Yes, that wasn’t important right now. The most significant problem was the impending ‘successor’ issue. She had been deliberately ignoring and postponing it until now, but now she could no longer ignore it.

Vivian firmly held Titania’s hand, lifted her head, and looked into her eyes. Titania looked down at the hand that was being held, furrowing her brow even more as if feeling awkward, but Vivian didn’t let go of her hand.

Titania, you’ve been incredibly “calculated” from what I’ve seen so far. You meticulously plan everything from the beginning for the sake of our relationship.

That’s because I don’t want to incur my mother’s displeasure due to my mistakes…

…I understand. So, you plan meticulously to avoid making mistakes. Step by step, carefully. Drawing a line for fear of emotions getting in the way. Am I wrong?

Vivian’s words made Titania nod quietly. Since the first time she kidnapped her mother and tormented her afterward, she had always planned meticulously whenever it involved her mother to avoid making mistakes.

First, from a distance, then a little closer, she approached her mother, following the steps she had set for herself to avoid making mistakes again. Sometimes there were slip-ups, but the overall framework remained unchanged.

…Considering how much you dislike making mistakes related to me, I can’t believe you haven’t thought about the biggest issue in our relationship, the ‘successor’ matter.

That’s because…

Upon hearing this, Titania let out a bitter smile.

How could my mother see through me so clearly? The more she listened to her mother’s words, the more she felt like her innermost thoughts were being laid bare.

Her mother’s words were all correct. It wasn’t the right time yet, it was still difficult to talk to her mother, so she needed more time, and that’s why she had been ignoring the ministers’ words.

If she could show the ‘outcome’ she and her mother achieved together to the ministers who sang the successor’s praises, ultimately, they wouldn’t be able to say anything. The ‘outcome’ was more important than the process.

I…

As Titania sighed, Vivian grasped Titania’s hand even more tightly. Frankly, Vivian couldn’t understand. Did our relationship still need to go through stages?

They had crossed the wall between mother and daughter to become lovers, holding hands, kissing, and intertwining their bodies. Yet what was lacking for Titania that she still felt the need to ‘plan’ and ‘stage’ her relationship with herself?

“…Titania. To be honest, it doesn’t feel good that you’ve come this far and are hiding something from me, it feels like you’re doubting my feelings.”

“Oh, no! I’m not doubting my mother…!”

“If that’s the case, then why are you hiding things from me? Aren’t you still doubting me? What else do I need to do here to make your doubts disappear?”

“No, I’m not doubting my mother…!”

Just as Titania was about to say something, Vivian pulled the held hand towards her chest. Suddenly feeling the soft and supple sensation at the fingertips, Titania couldn’t say a word.

“…Titania, do you still think we need ‘plans’ or ‘stages’ between you and me?”

Vivian said this while embracing Titania’s hand even more tightly. She could feel the softness of the entire hand against her chest, and beyond the touching skin, she could feel her mother’s heart beating strongly.

She wasn’t doubting her mother. It was just difficult to speak. She needed a little more time. Enough time for her mother to not be shocked, enough time for her mother to understand and accept “the story.”

As Titania only pursed her lips, Vivian slowly brought the held hand up and wrapped it around her cheek. Then, with a mischievous wink, she tilted her head.

“I don’t think we need that between you and me.”

At that mischievous wink, Titania suddenly felt her rationality evaporate. Her head went blank, and a hot flush enveloped her. Her lower abdomen tightened, and she felt something moistening her underwear.

Titania burst into a hollow laugh at the sensation of something overflowing from below and drenching her undergarments. Had her mother ever seduced her like this before? No, not even once.

Her face turned crimson, her skin flushed with heat. In her mother’s eyes as she gazed at herself, there was even a fervent desire for something. Could it be that her mother herself desired this not for the first time?

Titania closed her eyes tightly and fell into thought for a moment. Should she speak? But honestly, she wasn’t sure. Even now, her mother might recoil in disgust and avoid her if she heard the story.

However, no matter how true that might be, isn’t it still too early? Just as Titania, somehow holding onto her reason, was about to shake her head, Vivian took Titania’s hand and then collapsed backward, pulling her along.

Titania, drawn by the hand, naturally assumed a posture that seemed to pounce on the bed where Vivian lay. At that moment, as Titania’s grip on her reason tightened, an event occurred that caused her to let go of that restraint.

“……”

“……”

Titania and Vivian, who met each other’s gazes, said nothing. No, they couldn’t say anything. Her mother’s gaze, brought to her cheek by her hand, was so intense.

Her mother’s eyes looking up at her were filled with desire. Her mother briefly kissed her thumb that touched her lips. With a sound, she began to kiss her lips, then took them into her mouth and started rolling her tongue over them.

As she licked her thumb with the tip of her tongue and looked at her with lustful eyes, Titania remembered what her mother had said. Yes, now what “stage” was needed between her and her mother?

“I wasn’t trying to hide it. I just thought it wasn’t the right time yet. I also struggled with how to express it. So… I hesitated to speak.”

Titania slowly lowered her hand down to Vivian’s stomach and gently caressed it. Startled by the gesture, Vivian squirmed and soon began to lean into the touch, her thighs pressing against Titania’s.

“What if I cause trouble for you, Mother? Because of that concern, I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. Being the successor is important, but not receiving your resentment is even more crucial.”

“You could never be a burden to me. Whatever you ask of me, I will grant it all. It’s a request from someone I love.”

“…Thank you for saying that.”

Titania smiled happily as she affectionately stroked Vivian’s cheek. In response, Vivian, with a twinkle in her eye, kissed Titania’s thumb once again.

Yes, just as Mother said, there’s no need for formalities anymore. You love me, and I love you. Surely, now, you’ll grant this absurd “request.”

“…As you said, Mother, I’ve already prepared for the successor.”

“Wha… how…?”

“It’s simple. If you help me, everything will be settled. The successor will be…”

Titania moved her hand from Vivian’s stomach, which she had been gently caressing, to the rounded mound, lightly pressing on the uterus. A soft moan escaped Vivian’s lips.

“The successor will be the child you bear for me.”

“…? What? Bear? A child?”

In an instant, Vivian felt her heated mind turn cold. As if questioning if she had misheard, she tilted her head, but Titania, as if to confirm that she hadn’t misunderstood, firmly pressed on Vivian’s lower belly.

“Yes, our child. My child with you. The child you will conceive for me. That child will become the kingdom’s successor.”

“…? What does that mean…?”

Titania gazed at Vivian’s stomach as if it were lovely. It was as if she was looking forward to her own belly swelling and the baby taking its place there, embodying the faces of both parents.

“You said you would grant my beloved request, didn’t you?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Then, I ask as the beloved ‘wife’ of my mother.”

As if unable to understand, Vivian widened her eyes and looked at Titania. Titania lowered her head, kissed Vivian’s cheek, and whispered in her ear, “Please give birth to my child, Mother.”