Mommy Villainess

Chapter 218: Collecting the Pawns

LUNA was expecting that Yumi, the White Snake, would put up a fight.

But when she and Roarke arrived at House Hayward's mansion, they found the White Snake having tea in the balcony of her room. It was as if she was waiting for them.

"You're late," Yumi said, then she put the teacup on the table before she faced them. "My dear daughter-in-law asked you to take me to her, didn't she?"

"That, the Supreme did," Luna said in a cold tone that was reserved only for enemies. "I guess it's safe to say that you're coming with us without a fuss."

"I will visit House Nystrom using House Hayward's carriage," the White Snake said with a smirk. "So in case that I never make it back alive, people will suspect House Nystrom of killing off the new madam of House Hayward." She laughed softly. "That's how the Supreme work these days. She loves setting-up people with fabricated evidence."

"The Supreme doesn't have to fabricate evidence if a crime wasn't committed in the first place," she reasoned. "And even though we worship her, we are fully aware that she isn't a perfect person. She's not even trying to be."

"I can see that," the White Snake with a scowl. "The current Supreme is very different from Soleil Rosenberg. I never liked my daughter-in-law back then but at least, she had moral ascendency unlike now."

"The current Supreme still has moral ascendency," Roarke said in a firm voice. "But fortunately, she learned how not to apply it to people who don't deserve her mercy. And to be honest, even if the Supreme abandons her morals, we will still follow her even if it means going to hell."

"How dramatic," Yumi said sarcastically, then she stood up. "Now leave," she said. "I know my way to my son's house."

Luna and Roarke exchanged glances.

Well, Yumi didn't seem like she was lying. In fact, it sounded like she was looking for an excuse to go to House Nystrom. It seemed like Tilly was right when she suspected that the White Snake would make another move to take Duke Nystrom away from the Supreme.

As always, we can just leave this to Tilly.

"We'll escort you, Lady Hayward," Luna said formally. Since it was Yumi's plan to make her visit to House Nystrom officially, they should act like fetching her was an official order from their masters. And so, they had to be "courteous" of the White Snake. "You can't expect us to trust you completely, right?"

Roarke nodded in agreement. "Unlike Lady Soleil Rosenberg, Lady Tilly Nystrom isn't interested in seeing the "good" in her enemies. And oh, the Supreme specifically told us that we can literally roast her "evil mother-in-law" if we need to. In short, don't do anything funny, Lady White Snake."

"Insolent children," Yumi snarled at them. "It looks like my dear daughter-in-law raised a bunch of insolent children, huh?"

That, the Supreme did.

***

TILLY almost laughed when Kiho, Winter, and Julian offered their hands to her all at the same time as soon as she got up from the bench.

Then, Kiho (playfully) glared at their kids.

Winter glared back at his father, but Julian's facial expression remained calm. Protest was evident in Julian's eyes though.

Our Julian is too polite to "compete" with Kiho.

On the other hand, their Winter

Well, Winter is our little rascal through and through.

When Tilly cleared her throat, her boys all turned to her at the same time. She smiled at them, then she offered her hands to her sons whose face both lit up instantly. "Will you escort me to the mansion, gentlemen?"

"Of course, Mommy!"

"Yes, Mother."

Winter instantly grabbed her right hand while Julian shyly held her left hand.

Kiho, on the other hand, pouted.

Gosh, he looks like a puppy kicked by his owner!

Well, she hated seeing her husband down so she knew she had to make it up to him somehow.

"Shall we go inside, hon?" she asked with a sweet smile.

Kiho suddenly looked confused but intrigued. "I'm sorry but I'm afraid I quite didn't get what you just called me, Tilly."

"I was told that we used to call each other 'honey,'" she lied to hide the fact that she had already retrieved her memories. "Apparently, I used to call you 'hon' a variation of our endearment. Do you mind if I call you that way again?"

"I don't mind," Kiho said right away. She could clearly see that he didn't feel dejected anymore. In fact, her husband was back in his high spirits. "Can I call you 'honey' again, Tilly?"

"Sure," Tilly said with a smile. "Shall we go inside the mansion now?"

Kiho nodded eagerly. "Sure, honey."

***

ELIS let out a deep sigh when he noticed that someone else had gotten in the temple earlier than he did.

The temple he was referring to was the one hidden in the basement of the Eclis Church. Surprisingly, even though only a few people knew about it, the place was still well-maintained. Aku Moonchester probably made sure that the sacred place would remain clean.

Although he had to say that it was practically empty now.

The only important thing left in the temple was the statue of a full moon floating in the center of the cold room.

"Come out," Elis said. "I know you're here."

Like he expected, his descendant came out from hiding behind a post.

"Greetings, my dear ancestor," Noel Sherwood greeted him cheerfully. "Are you going to kill me?"

His descendant was lucky that he wouldn't kill a person inside that temple.

But to be honest, he didn't have the motivation to kill the child. After all, he knew that the Sherwoods were the 'Bookkeepers' of the empire's history. They never took sides in a war. Their clan would just always go where an interesting story that no one had ever heard of before. In short, his descendant wasn't a threat.

Aku Moonchester knew that, so he let the boy live. After all, people who could document history as accurate as the Sherwoods were people whose lives were worth sparing. It would be a shame to kill such precious tools.

The only thing I don't like about the Sherwoods is their weird obsession with the Black Serpent.

"Don't be too arrogant, child," he told the young man. "Your life isn't worth sullying this sacred temple."

"That's a relief," his descendant said. But to be honest, it didn't look like that he was scared of his life for a moment. He knew for a fact that the Sherwoods wouldn't hesitate to risk their lives just to record an important piece of history. "Do you mind if I stay, Lord Ripperton?"

"I won't kill you," he said. "But let me ask you this: why didn't you tell Kiho Nystrom what you discovered in this place?"

The fact that his descendant was there made it pretty obvious that he discovered the secret of that hidden temple. He just didn't know how long the young Sherwood had known about that sacred place. But he was certain of one thing: he didn't tell Kiho Nystrom about what he knew.

"I pledged my loyalty with Kiho Nystrom," Noel Sherwood said proudly. "I know that it's unprecedented for a Sherwood to pledge his loyalty because as a Bookkeeper, I was raised as a free man. My clan taught me to only side with the truth. But I guess it only applied to the previous generations before me who have never met the real Black Serpent.

He had to roll his eyes at that. The Sherwoods are indeed obsessed with the Black Serpent even now.

"After the unfortunate defeat of Duke and Duchess Nystrom to His Majesty five years ago, I began to notice a strange energy coming from here," his descendant started to explain. "It was a very faint energy that most Mana users would simply dismiss. But since Sherwoods are naturally curious beings, I went here to investigate. That was when I found out that a god descended on earth in secret."

"And yet, you remained silent."

"If I told Duke Nystrom who lost his memories about what I discovered, it would have only brought harm to him," Noel Sherwood continued. "I didn't want to trigger his memories not when the duchess wasn't by his side back then. After all, I know for a fact that once the Black Serpent loses himself, you'll take advantage of it. I don't want him to end up like how he did when he was still Kalel Nystrom."

"How touching," he said sarcastically. "Had I known my descendants would have turned out like you, I would have just ascended the heavens without leaving an heir."

To be honest, he really didn't want an heir.

But he followed what his clan begged him to do just to spite Soleil in the past, thinking that she would get jealous if he got together with another woman. But alas, she didn't care. Soleil even congratulated him when the woman got pregnant with twins a boy and a girl before he ascended to the heavens.

"Well, you abandoned your descendants as soon as you became a Beast God," Noel Sherwood said with a shrug. "I heard that when the Rippertons were attacked by the Moonchesters, you didn't heed their prayers. You didn't help your descendants. Only the Sherwoods, the clan that your daughter built when she married the first Bookkeeper in the empire, survived that war."

He didn't comment on that because it was true he really abandoned his descendants.

When he became a god, he spent his time looking for ways to make Soleil his. He hasn't given up on her, and he never will.

"And guess what?" his insolent descendant asked with a smirk. "It was the Black Serpent who protected the Sherwoods. He tried to help the Rippertons but it was too late for them. That's why you shouldn't be surprised if the Sherwoods are more attached to the Black Serpent than we are to you."

"I really don't care about that," he said, then he changed the topic. "Now, answer this: if I let you witness a moment of history that I'm about to make, are you going to warn Kiho Nystrom about it?"

"No."

His descendant only said one word but he instantly believed him.

It had nothing to do with their "connection." He just had faith in Bookkeepers. They wouldn't miss a chance to witness history in the making for their personal feelings.

"First, you'll kill me if I do that and I don't want to die without witnessing a momentous night," Noel Sherwood said brightly. "But more importantly, I don't have to protect Duke Nystrom anymore. I can finally do my job as a Bookkeeper again because the Duchess of Oakes is back." His smile grew wider and this time, he was sure that his descendant was trying to annoy him. "Now that Lady Nystrom is here, we all know that your plans are about to get f*cked up."

"You just made me regret leaving an heir, Noel Sherwood," he said, then he walked past the young Sherwood.

It wasn't the right time to let his descendant provoke him.

And like he said a while ago, that temple was too sacred for him to sully it with blood and violence.

Most of all, he had an important job to do tonight.

"I am back, my lord," Elis greeted his master politely, then he put a hand on his chest as he bowed. "Pardon my insolence but it's time for you to awaken, Master."

***

TILLY felt the hostility of the servants.

It broke her heart to see Leni and Lani looking at her with animosity. Thankfully, she learned how to help people snap out of their trance. It was a simple trick that Solaris taught her.

The Fire Archmage figured that Nia Moonchester wouldn't use high-level mind manipulation to control non-Mana users. According to him, the royal princess was known for her great use of the Moonflowers. As long as the smell of those magical flowers was embedded on a person's brain, the fake memories installed in their mind would remain.

So to counter that

Tilly let go of Winter and Julian's hands. "Boys, kindly stay away from me and stick to your father like glue."

Thankfully, her kids didn't question her.

In just a blink of the eye, Winter was already hugging Kiho's right leg. On the other hand, Julian shyly held his father's left hand.

Aww my boys are so cute.

"Kiho, make your body as cool as possible to protect our kids," she said. "Please?"

Kiho nodded. "I will protect our children, honey."

Someone got attached to our old endearment again, huh?

After ensuring that their children would be safe, she faced their servants who all looked confused of what was happening.

"I'm sorry, everyone," she said seriously. "This might hurt a little."

And then, she stomped her foot on the floor.

As soon as she did, a ring of fire entrapped the servants making them scream and huddle together. The flame she used was hot enough to even make Julian, a Fire Mage himself, look uncomfortable. Kiho and Winter, whose dominant Mana was ice, started to sweat.

A few moments later, the lobby of the mansion started to smell like burned charcoal. That particular smell would eventually erase the fake memories that Nia Moonchester planted in their minds. After that, everyone would finally return back to normal.

As a side-effect, the servants started to drop on the floor one by one.

To make sure that they wouldn't get hurt, she closed her right hand and extinguished the ring of fire that she created. The important thing was the smell that she made and not the flame itself.

Good night, everyone, Tilly said to herself. You'll retrieve your old memories tomorrow.

***

"HONEY, if you need anything, I'm just next door," Kiho told her gently. "Amilo and I have already brought the servants to their chambers so you don't have to worry about them."

Tilly smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Kiho," she said. Right now, she stood in front of the door of the room where she would be resting with their children. Winter and Julian were already inside. She was just saying 'good night' to Kiho even though she knew the night wasn't over yet. "Thank you for everything."

To be honest, she felt tired. Ever since she landed back on earth, she had been using her wings and Mana non-stop. Of course, it was bound to take a toll on her body. And right now, her temperature was unnaturally hot even for a Fire Mage.

"Tilly?"

"Hmm?"

"May I touch you?"

Her husband's face was etched with worry and his voice sounded innocent. And yet, she couldn't help but tease him. "Don't you think you're going too fast, my lord? The children are just behind the door."

As expected, Kiho's face instantly turned red. "I-I don't mean it that way.

She raised her brow, intending to tease him more. Recently, it was rare for them to have an interrupted moment like this. She wanted to make the most out of it. "You don't want to?"

"Of course, I want to touch you in ways a man is allowed to touch his lover," he confessed, his earns and neck were as red as his cheeks now. "But I have to hold back for now. I'm worried about you, honey. You seem tired."

Ah, he noticed.

That made her smile, of course. "You may touch me, Kiho."

"Thank you," he said, then he carefully placed a hand on her forehead. He flinched when he felt how hot her skin was. "You're hot, Tilly."

The familiar line made her laugh softly. "I know, Kiho. Thanks."

His face turned redder, if it was possible. "Well, you're really hot. But I'm afraid I mean it literally right now. But I guess you already know that."

The fact that he knew that she was just teasing him made her smile grow wider.

He cleared his throat as if he was really trying hard not to flirt with him. And it worked because she could clearly see that he was seriously worried about her. "Do you want me to help you cool down?"

In the past, Kiho would help her cool down by taking a bath with her.

But of course, they couldn't do that now.

Not yet.

She nodded, not teasing him this time because she was afraid that it would be her who'd find it difficult to hold back later. Plus, she could see in Kiho's eyes that he was having a hard time resisting her flirting. She shouldn't make their lives difficult as it already was. "Yes, please."

He just nodded, then the hand on her forehead started to turn very cold.

"This is quite not what I expected you to do to help me cool down," she said in a light protest. "I thought you were going to hug me, Kiho."

His golden eyes glowed in excitement. "Can I do that?"

As a response, she just opened her arms wide.

Kiho smiled and then, he hugged her carefully. It seemed like he didn't know how tight he should wrap his arms around her at first. But eventually, it was as if his body remembered how her body should mold with his. "This feels nice," he whispered against her neck as he hugged her not too tight, but also not too loose. It was the kind of comfortable and cold (yet warm) embrace that she remembered from five years ago. "I wonder how I survived without this for many lonely years."

"You don't have to worry about that anymore," Tilly said as she wrapped her arms around his body. "You'll never be alone again, Kiho."

***

"I BET my snacks that Mommy and Daddy are flirting outside."

"We shouldn't bet on something so obvious," Julian said while shaking his head. "I bet my food stash that Mother and Father will flirt for about 10 minutes."

"10 minutes will never be enough for them," Winter said with a smirk. "I'm betting my allowance that Mommy and Daddy will flirt for at least 30 minutes."

Julian let out a soft laugh.

And then, Winter suddenly realized that they were acting like they didn't have a life-threatening fight a while ago.

Oh.

***

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