Naoko had already left the room, her footsteps vanishing down the dark hallway as she headed toward her private office. The air in the obsidian-walled dining chamber remained heavy, not with tension now—but with the strange stillness that lingers after a queen exits.
Amelia remained seated. Leona stood from her chair, brushing down her elegant white coat, then glanced toward Rina.
"I need the restroom," she said, flashing a faint smile before slipping out, her footsteps echoing briefly down the corridor.
And just like that, they were alone—mother and daughter.
Rina sat with her back straight, her hands folded over her lap, her eyes tracing the delicate patterns carved into the table's glossy surface. She could feel her mother's gaze on her—sharp, knowing, amused. The silence stretched... until Amelia finally broke it.
Her voice was soft, almost playful. "So, Rina… you said you met Jien last night."
Rina looked up, wary.
Amelia's golden eyes glimmered with a strange amusement, her expression unreadable—except for the unmistakable glint of mischief dancing behind her poised demeanor.
"Tell me," she said lightly, "how did that go? What was your first meeting like? What did you two talk about?"
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she added with a sly tone, "You've been avoiding his eyes all morning. Why is that? Did something happen between you two? Hmm?"
Rina's breath caught.
"Your cheeks were quite red when he walked in earlier," Amelia continued, the corners of her mouth twitching ever so slightly. "Was it his face? His voice? Did his beauty make you weak in the knees? Did your mouth go dry? Or perhaps—"
She tilted her head delicately.
"—did you start drooling a little?"
Rina blinked in shock. "W-What?!"
Her mother's expression remained calm, composed. But her eyes sparkled with devilish glee.
Amelia gave a small sigh, almost theatrical. "Rina, my dear... I have only one piece of advice for you."
She stood, smoothed down her coat, then walked gracefully around the table until she stood behind her daughter.
She bent down slowly, her breath warm against Rina's ear.
"In your wedding night," she whispered sweetly, "don't forget to use birth control."
Rina froze.
Amelia's voice was like silk dipped in flame—low, sharp, and impossible to unhear. "You don't want to get pregnant at your age. You're still in the academy. And I *am* your mother, after all—I know exactly how thirsty you get."
Rina's entire body locked up. Her golden eyes went wide as her face turned an alarming shade of red—first her cheeks, then her ears, then her neck.
"M-Mother!" she squeaked.
Amelia straightened, feigning innocence, and walked back to her seat with all the grace of a queen returning to her throne.
"I'm only being practical," she said smoothly, pouring herself another cup of tea. "Better safe than sorry, hmm?"
Rina covered her face with both hands. "I can't believe you just said that..."
"Oh, sweetheart, believe me—I've said worse."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't. You just hate that I'm right."
Rina let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a whimper. Her heart was still racing, and her mind replayed the scene in the kitchen again. Jien's calm eyes. His quiet acceptance. His gentle smile even as she lashed out.
No. No, she couldn't think about that now—not with her mother sitting across from her sipping tea like she hadn't just dropped a bomb into her soul.
Amelia watched her with a pleased smile, clearly enjoying every second of her daughter's mortification.
Then the door opened, and Leona returned, looking relaxed and unaware of the emotional catastrophe that had just occurred.
"Did I miss something?" she asked casually.
Rina didn't even look at her. She kept her face hidden behind her hands.
"Nothing," Amelia said brightly. "Just a little mother-daughter bonding."
.......
Note: This chapter is part of the chapter that I will merge with chapter 0.38, so don't be surprised. There will be some differences, but I left this chapter because it seems a little entertaining.