IBTHM Chapter 22

"……What?"

That's what I'd like to ask, Abel's Father.

What on earth—why is Hades here at this hour, dressed like he's clearly planning to sleep here……

We stared at each other from across the room, thinking for a moment, then simultaneously turned to look at Abel.

The adorable little troublemaker was grinning like an absolute angel.

His smile was undeniably cute, but for some reason, it reeked of something.

What smell? The smell of scheming.

'But today……'

'Today?'

'Ah! Never mind. Hehe'

I immediately realized what cunning trick Abel had pulled.

It seemed he hadn't only told me about his wish to sleep together.

Of course, I understood Abel's desire to fall asleep with his father and (future) mother on either side after growing up without receiving any love until now……

'But Hades and I are still way too awkward for this kind of family roleplay!'

Hades, who'd been staring at me in equal bewilderment, seemed to have figured out the situation as well.

However, his reaction was quite different from mine. He approached with that insufferably self-satisfied expression and smirked.

"I thought something was strange… The boy's never once said anything like this before, but suddenly he wants to sleep together."

Yeah, I knew it.

Hades rubbed his forehead with a tired expression and added:

"If you wanted to be together, you could've just said so directly instead of using the child to……"

"That's not true, Your Grace. There's no such thing."

"Right. Of course not."

Ah…….

What am I supposed to do with this injustice? Should I just confess everything and seek redemption?

If someone were reading this situation as a novel in printed text, they'd definitely consider this a supremely frustrating scene.

Hades's ever-increasing self-consciousness was deeply concerning, but today, once again, I could only sigh without offering a single word in my defense.

Abel, unable to understand our conversation, simply looked back and forth between Hades and me with a bewildered yet innocent expression.

"Come on, lie down. Good children should sleep early and wake early."

Hades seemed perfectly fine with all three of us sleeping side by side. He gently pushed the lying Abel over and settled in next to him.

I was flustered, but there was nothing I could do about it.

I couldn't dampen Abel's mood when he was beaming with happiness.

In the end, I set aside my uncomfortable feelings and carefully lay down, and I heard Hades let out a quiet snort of laughter.

Well then…

"Hehe……"

Abel, lying between Hades and me, looked genuinely delighted.

His head was busy turning left and right, constantly looking back and forth between Hades and me. And every so often, he'd blush and smile.

That's right, Abel. I'm fine. As long as you're happy, I'm…… fully prepared to endure a life of being misunderstood by His Grace the Self-Consciousness Overload Duke.

"Um……. After Father and My lady hold the wedding ceremony."

Abel, who'd been laughing happily for a while, hesitated as if about to say something embarrassing, then spoke.

"Wh-what… should I call My lady?"

Hades, who'd been listening quietly, let out a pfft of laughter. I also smiled at Abel's shy question.

I know why you're asking a question when you already know the answer. Because you want to hear it said out loud.

I looked at Abel and deliberately tilted my head.

"Well? What do you think you should call me?"

"Hmm……"

I carefully stored away the adorable sight of Abel rolling his eyes this way and that, and finally, I burst out with the laughter I'd been holding back.

"Shouldn't you call me Mother? I'd like it very much if Young Master would call me that."

"Ah……"

Abel looked happy. His expression was exactly like mine when I'd received the blessing of reverse-attack supremacy and finally achieved fandom enlightenment.

Seeing him like that made me feel a bit… complicated.

How should I put it—surprised yet thrilled?

Could we possibly…… really, just maybe…… be able to fangirl over each other, Abel?

Just imagining it made me happy, and Abel answered like an angel.

"Yes. I…… love it so much."

He immediately turned to Hades with an excited expression.

"Father, Father. When will you hold the wedding ceremony?"

Hades smiled at Abel's cuteness and answered.

"The vassals are coming to the castle tomorrow, so I'll discuss it with them. And once the marriage documents sent to the Esclife estate arrive, we'll set a date right away. Well, once the preparations are finished, there's no need to delay……"

He stopped mid-sentence and turned his gaze to me, adding:

"Let's hold the ceremony as quickly as possible. Since you're so worried."

"Haha……"

It was the expression of someone looking at a pitiful woman anxiously wringing her hands about whether she'd be able to marry him.

I haven't even been in the duchy for a month, but I could probably write a book called Reading His Grace the Duke's Inner Thoughts Through His Expressions.

To escape the embarrassing atmosphere, I asked:

"Um, Your Grace. Won't there be problems at the meeting with the vassals? Count Gaspel doesn't seem very fond of me……"

I'd only meant to change the subject, but now that I'd said it, I really was worried.

I recalled the faces of Count and Countess Gaspel, who'd maintained an attitude of absolutely refusing to accept someone like a poor baron's daughter.

When I looked at Hades with a genuinely worried expression, his face was deeply furrowed.

"Why on earth would you worry about such things? The vassal meeting is merely a formality. What can they say when I'm bringing someone into my castle, my own person?"

"That's right, My lady. Don't worry about such things."

The identical father and son looked at me with the same expression that said not to worry needlessly.

I had more to say, but knowing they'd just dismiss it as me being overly anxious anyway, I simply nodded.

"Abel, it's late. Go to sleep."

Hades spoke as he tucked Abel's blanket snugly around him.

Abel looked like he wanted to chatter a bit more, but unwilling to go against Hades's words, he gave a small nod.

Then he said:

"When I fall asleep…… will Father return to your room?"

Hades was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"No. I'll stay by your side until you wake up tomorrow."

Abel's expression brightened immediately, and this time he turned to me.

"What about My lady?"

I answered with a smile as if I'd been waiting for the question.

"Me too."

"Hehe……"

Only then did Abel seem reassured. He clutched the blanket pulled up to his chin and closed his eyes.

I followed his lead and closed my eyes, but I probably wouldn't fall asleep easily.

Like those childhood nights before a spring field trip when excitement kept me awake for so long…….

Perhaps it was the aftermath of such a happy day—I had a fantastic dream that night.

Abel had definitely been a ten-year-old child until I fell asleep, so the fact that a grown-up version of him stood before me meant this had to be a dream.

The face that looked like a carbon copy of Hades was a bit disconcerting, but still, Abel in the dream was calling me…….

"Mother!"

……so I didn't mind and hugged him tightly when he embraced me.

"Thank you for raising me. Without you, Mother, I wouldn't be who I am today."

"Abel……"

"I love you most in the whole world, Mother. Even more than Deborah!"

"Oh my……"

Overcome with emotion, Abel smiled brightly and hugged me tight.

The embrace of my dependably grown son was spacious and warm.

Is this the heart of a mother with a well-raised son?

From lowly fangirl to receiving the blessing of reverse-attack supremacy and becoming a fandom saint, and now to becoming his mother……

Sniff.

I barely swallowed the tears threatening to flow from the emotion and burrowed deeper into Abel's embrace.

He'd definitely been the perfect pocket-sized child in his adorable younger days, but now that he'd grown, his shoulders and chest had become as broad as the Pacific Ocean…

You've grown so well!

"Aisha."

At that moment, Abel called my name quietly.

Oh my, this boy……. Even if you love your mother, calling her by name so openly. Of course I don't mind what you call me, but what if Hades pretends to be strict and scolds you?

"Aisha."

Huh?

The moment I realized Abel's voice calling my name sounded exactly like someone else, just like his face.

I lifted my head from within Abel's embrace.

Looking again, he was definitely Hades.

With that now-very-familiar, overflowing-with-self-consciousness expression, Hades smirked and said:

"I know my excessive charm is a sin, but still, you… are truly exhausting."

What are you even saying, really?

Abel's grown now, so I can finally say this. I made up my mind firmly to confess and seek redemption, even if only in a dream.

That's when my eyes snapped open.

"Ah……"

When my heavy eyelids flew open like lightning, I was met with an unfamiliar sight.

It was moderately sun-bronzed skin…… very firm…

'A chest?!'

Startled, I jerked my head up.

I saw Hades's face laughing as if this were absurd.