Seduce the hero's mother (GL)

— …From now on, I will not burden you with my existence.

When Rachel saw the Archduchess take the last step toward the precipice and fall, her whole body was suddenly paralyzed by fear. It was a feeling that awakened the most secret corners of her soul.

It is…!

The girl fell to her knees from the piling headache. What… What's going on?!

«I really want to get along with you, Rachel Cassius.»

«If I'm such a bother to you, you might as well not invite me to visit!»

«In fact, Elsa and I are dating now.»

«Promise me you'll definitely come back to me!»

«And in a year, and in two years, and many years from now… Everything will be fine.»

The unsolicited scraps of phrases and events seemed as if they were in a dream. It was as if everything had finally fallen into place. Those memories that had previously occupied Camille — dissipated.

The false appearance of the crown princess was gone from her mind. Instead, the real owner-Leriane Ashford-appeared. The person Rachel loved more than her own life. And whom… Somehow she had managed to forget.

When Rachel realized this, it was as if she'd woken up from a dream. And even more angry at herself.

— Oh shit…!

She didn't have much time to come to her senses. For along with the memories, something else came to the girl. Rachel's pupils dilated in horror when she realized what had just happened.

«NO!»

A second before the irreparable, she rushed to the precipice and managed to take Leriana's hand. Now they were both hanging over the precipice.

Leriana, who had already accepted her fate, was startled when someone grabbed her tightly.

— You…» she mumbled with one lip.

Rachel looked down at her and exhaled angrily.

— Leah, you really are such an idiot.

Tears came to my eyes. I was so stunned that I couldn't say a word.

At that moment I noticed: in order to save me Rachel almost fell down herself. Her hand, which she was holding onto the edge, was already covered in blood. I was frightened.

— Let me go! — I screamed.

— Why would I do that? — she asked calmly.

— If you go on… You'll fall! — I sobbed desperately.

For the first time in a long time, Rachel smiled at me.

— That's right… I'd forgotten you were anything but a feather.

I smiled involuntarily through my tears, too. Even at a moment like that, the girl had managed to say things like that to me.

— You…!

— Don't worry,» Rachel assured me, «I'll only let you go if I die myself.

I was speechless.

— Rachel…

— We'll live or die together,» she said firmly, «If you're really going to do this, I'll follow you.

A lump rose in my throat.

— Who said I wanted to die? — I said in a trembling voice.

— Did you? Then what do you want? — She asked me.

I sobbed.

— Maybe… We could go back to the way things were before? — I asked hopefully.

Rachel was surprised and was briefly silent. Then she suddenly answered:

— No.

At that moment my heart skipped a beat. But before I could be disappointed, another answer followed those words:

— …But we can start over.

My breath caught and I couldn't believe my ears.

— Really?!

— Look…» she cleared her throat, «I don't think it's a good idea to have a fight over ten thousand meters. I wasn't kidding when I said you weren't a flake.

Rachel was holding on to the edge of the cliff with one hand while the other held on to me. Even she had to struggle to get out of it. Gritting her teeth, she helped me up first. Then, with one tug, she climbed up herself.

We both collapsed on the grass from exhaustion.

Though the danger was over, my eyes were still wet. Both of Rachel's hands were bloody from the strain.

— Your wounds…! — I sobbed.

— It's nothing,» she waved back. «It'll heal soon.

The first thing Rachel did once she was safe was to hold me tightly to her.

— I'm sorry…» she said guiltily, «I'm sorry.

I smiled happily through my tears. Rachel continued to apologize to me-but in that moment, I felt no resentment at all. On the contrary. I'd never been happier.

I hugged her back.

— As punishment, you'll have to live with me for the rest of your life,» I grinned.

Rachel smiled into my shoulder.

— This will be my best punishment ever.

For the first time after a long time apart, we kissed and couldn't tear ourselves away from each other. And in that moment, neither of us noticed-that the mark of the Bloody Camellia had changed. The bloodthirsty plant was no longer consuming other people's lives.

Now it was just the beautiful flower that bound us together forever.

***

To be born a bastard into a noble family is to condemn oneself to a miserable existence for the rest of one's life. It was lucky if such a person managed to survive and adapt to circumstances. But most of their lives were completely ruined.

The envious official children of aristocrats, the poverty and contempt of those around them… Everyone knew that you were only the child of a mistress and a stain of shame on a noble family. They wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Not everyone was as «lucky» as Camilla. As a bastard daughter — she was given her father's name and even permission to live on the family estate. Viscount Fernandez probably took such a step to save his reputation. Or for some other reason… At any rate, it happened.

From the outside it seemed as if the girl was blessed by heaven. Her father was such a generous man that he even welcomed a child out of wedlock into the family. She should remember that kindness for the rest of her life. But… No one knew that life on the estate was actually worse than life on the streets.

In words, the youngest daughter of Viscount Fernandez. In reality, her situation was no better than that of a servant. Though, in some ways, even worse. The servants, unlike her, were not mocked.

— You wretch, remember your place! — You're just a tramp who's lucky enough to be in our house. You'll never be like us.

Since Camilla had no rights in this house, she just had to swallow the insults. At one point she wished it would all be over. That all those disgusting «relatives» would just die.

And since the girl was treated like a servant, she was given tasks accordingly. The older sister could order Camille to do anything — and she had no right to refuse. Otherwise, the viscountess's beloved daughter would complain to her. And there is nothing worse than being punished by her stepmother.

This time exactly the same thing happened. Florence had a sudden craving for plum cake — and for that she sent her youngest to the other side of town. The dessert was sold in a particular pastry shop, which takes at least half a day to get there.

But Camille put up with that, too. After all, she had no choice.

The only person who has supported the girl through all these years has been the maid. Douglas and Camille met by chance when they were children, and they both had unhappy fates. Left without parents, the maid survived on the streets for a long time. Until one day she was lucky and the girl was welcomed into the Fernandez estate.

Douglas was appointed Camilla's maid and from then on they became friends. Wherever Mistress went, Douglas always followed her. Today she also went into town to help Camilla with her cake shopping.

By the time they came back from the shop, it was already evening. The girls were in no hurry to go back to the manor house — back to that oppressive atmosphere. So they decided to stay a little longer to stroll through the city.

— Madam, it isn't fair! — The maid lamented, «You are so beautiful and yet you have to wear such horrible clothes.

Camilla had never had a dress bought or ordered an outfit especially for her in her entire life. The spending of the estate was controlled by her stepmother — who counted every penny spent on her illegitimate daughter. On this basis, she considered such investments a waste of money.

Even now the girl was wearing her older sister's old dress.

Camille grinned.

— I think that's the least of our problems right now.

— Not at all! How can they treat you like that? — Douglas was indignant, -You must complain to the Viscount!

— Father? — There was a sad smile on the lady's lips as she said the word, «Do you think he will speak up for me?

By nature Viscount Fernandez was a rather indifferent man — who spent most of his time at work. Even his legitimate children did not receive much attention. To say nothing of Camilla?

When the girl reminded her of this, Douglas sank. One way or another, they both had to survive on their own.

Mistress and maid were about to stop the carriage to go home. Otherwise, Florence would surely reprimand her for being late. But at this time the city street was suddenly filled with noise.

At first the girls didn't understand what was going on.

And then…

— Greet Her Majesty!