Chapter 67: Cheating... Or Not?

[Regulffsson Mansion—The Next Day—Morning—Alvar’s POV]

As I stepped into the marble hall of the mansion, the faint aroma of rose tea and polished oak greeted me—along with the sound of my mother’s voice, lilting yet dangerously sharp.

"I shall call Leif to redesign the garden," she said, tapping her teacup with her spoon as though conducting a symphony. "The colors are all wrong. Too lifeless. He’ll know what to do, don’t you think, Mary?"

Mary, her eternally patient lady-in-waiting, nodded politely. "Whatever Madam desires."

Mother hummed thoughtfully, adding, "He wanted models, didn’t he? Send a message to The Silver Swan Theatre Company . Tell them to send their best actors—those who know how to obey instructions ."

Mary bowed and quietly slipped out.

When Mother finally noticed me, her eyes softened just enough to seem warm. "Oh... you’ve returned. How is my Leif?"

I stared at her flatly. " He’s my Leif, Mother."

Her lips curved into a dangerous little smile. "And I am his mother."

I blinked. "Excuse me?" I exhaled slowly, folding my arms. "If I’d known you were planning to steal my man, I would’ve never told you about him."

"Too late," she replied coolly, lifting her cup again. "You handed him to me on a silver platter, darling."

I took a step forward, lowering my voice. "Mother."

"Yes, dear?"

"Stop flirting with my fiancé."

She smirked without missing a beat. "Then tell your fiancé to stop being so adorable. I’m only human, you know."

I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. "You’re unbelievable."

"I’ve been told," she said lightly, waving her hand with that same infuriating elegance. "Don’t forget to have lunch, dear."

I didn’t bother replying. The sound of her teacup clinking against its saucer followed me out—too calm, too perfect, as if nothing in the world could rattle her.

Outside, I motioned to the butler. "Send Captain Haldor to my office," I ordered, my voice low and clipped.

"Yes, my lord," he said, bowing quickly.

By the time I reached my study, my mind was already turning—Leif’s words echoing like a curse.

Someone’s watching me.

That single line had sunk into my bones and refused to leave. Leif wasn’t the kind to imagine things; he might dramatize life, but fear? That was real. Genuine.

If someone was watching him... then whoever it was had gotten too close.

I shut the door behind me, the faint scent of cedar and ink filling the room. My fingers brushed the edge of my desk, where a single letter from the palace still lay unopened. My chest tightened.

I had found nothing unusual about Elowen—no signs of harm, no hidden motives—but this... this was different. A shadow that lingered too close to Leif meant someone had already breached the circle of safety I built around him.

And if that’s true...

I clenched my jaw, the words leaving my mouth like frost.

"...then he’s not safe anymore."

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"My lord?" came Haldor’s voice, low and steady through the heavy oak door.

"Come in," I said, straightening.

He entered, bowing respectfully. "You summoned me?"

"Yes." I folded my arms, gaze fixed on the fire burning low in the hearth. "I need you to find a few Shadows—strong ones. The kind who can protect someone physically ."

His brow furrowed. "Is someone in danger, my lord?" His tone dropped. "Is it... Lord Leif?"

I turned toward the window, the morning light painting fractured gold across the floor. "Something’s happening around him, Haldor. Everything seems normal, but it isn’t. There’s a feeling—like the calm before a storm—and I know it’s not politics this time."

He stepped closer, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. "Do you suspect magic, then?"

"Maybe," I said, voice clipped. "Or something worse. I want Shadows who can protect him from both blades and spells. I won’t take chances."

Haldor nodded grimly. "What about Lenz? He’s discreet—and his people are reliable."

I looked up sharply. "Lenz."

Of course. The Guild Master had ties deep within the underworld—connections that stretched from assassins to archmages. "Yes. Contact him. Tell him I need at least two... no, four Shadows. The best he can find. I don’t care about the cost."

"Yes, my lord," Haldor said, already half-turned to leave.

"And Haldor," I added quietly, "no one outside this mansion hears about this. Not even my mother."

He bowed once more. "Understood." And then he was gone, the door shutting with a soft click that echoed far too loud in the stillness.

I exhaled, dragging a hand through my hair, the weight of unease pressing against my ribs. My reflection in the glass window stared back—cold, tense, uncertain.

"Do I need to meet Elowen?" I muttered, the thought burning in my chest. My reflection in the glass stared back—stern, restless, uncertain. Then I exhaled slowly, voice dropping to a low vow.

"No... first, I need to protect Leif. And bind him to me—before anyone else dares to touch what’s mine. "

The air around me felt heavier, colder. Determination flickered beneath my ribs like a silent flame.

I reached for my sword, the metal humming faintly as my fingers closed around the hilt. Sliding it into its sheath, I murmured, almost to myself—

"It’s time to meet His Majesty."

With that, I turned and strode out of the room, my cloak sweeping behind me, each step echoing like the beginning of a storm.

***

[Thorenvald Estate—Same Time]

"...Is that... that monster mother’s letter, master?" Zephyy asked, perched on my shoulder like a gossiping aunt.

"Yes," I said, holding up the envelope. "She sent me an address—apparently where I can find the best actors who can ’work according to me.’"

I smiled faintly, scanning the elegant handwriting. "Now that Mother has sent an address, we shall immediately—"

"MOTHER?!"

I froze.Huh?

That voice could melt glaciers and ignite dread in every child’s heart. I turned slowly, like a man facing his execution.

And there she was— my real mother. Standing in the hallway, trembling, eyes wide with betrayal.

"What... mother? " she repeated, her voice trembling. "Which mother? Whose mother? Why do you—DO YOU EVEN HAVE ANOTHER MOTHER?!"

My soul left my body.

"Mom—wait, I can explain—"

"Explain WHAT?!" she shouted, storming toward me like a divine punishment in heels. "LEIF! DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER MOTHER?! HAVE YOU—" her voice cracked with pure horror— " CHEATED on me?!"

"I—WHAT?! NO! MOM, THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS!" I stumbled back, clutching the letter like it was evidence in a crime trial. "I didn’t cheat on you! She’s—she’s my mother-in-law! "

Mother gasped. "MOTHER-IN-LAW?! YOU GOT MARRIED WITHOUT TELLING ME?!"

Zephyy facepalmed with his paw. ’And thus, the master digs his own grave.’

"MARRIED?!" my mom shrieked. "WHO IS HE? WHO IS THE WOMAN? NO, WAIT—WHO IS THE MOTHER? "

Why... why do I feel like I just got caught red-handed in a full-blown affair?

***

[Thorenvald Estate—Living Room—Later]

I stood there like a criminal on trial, hands clasped in front of me, eyes darting between my parents—who looked ready to disown me, exorcise me, and file for emotional damages all at once.

Father sat stiffly on the sofa, arms crossed, eyes glinting like a judge about to deliver a death sentence. "Leif," he began in his deep, serious voice, "your mother said... you cheated ?"

My soul physically cringed.

Before I could open my mouth, Mom shot up, slamming her hand on the table. " He did! " she declared, pointing at me as if unveiling the culprit in a murder mystery. "He’s been hiding another mother from me!"

"WHAT?!" Father choked on his tea. "Another mother?!"

I buried my face in my hands. "Please, let me die now."

Meanwhile, Alina—my darling little sister and professional chaos generator—was happily patting Zephyy on the head, her eyes wide and innocent. "What’s cheating, Mama?"

Mom turned to her, her expression dark and tragic, like a betrayed heroine from an opera. "Cheating, my dear," she said dramatically, "is when someone stabs you in the back with an invisible sword made of betrayal! "

I groaned. "Mom, I didn’t stab you with any swords—visible or invisible!"

She gasped. "So you admit there was a sword?!"

"NO! That’s not—ugh, never mind!" I groaned, rubbing my temples so hard I was sure I’d rub away my sanity too.

Father leaned forward, his tone dropping to that terrifying calm he reserved for criminals and unpaid taxes. "Leif. Be honest. Who is this other mother? "

I froze.Alright, Leif. This is it. No more running. No more hiding. It’s time... to come out.

I straightened my back—well, slightly—and said, very carefully, "She’s my... future mother-in-law. "

For a heartbeat, nothing moved.Then—

"FUTURE WHAT? !" both my parents screamed in perfect stereo, nearly shaking the chandeliers.

Alina blinked innocently, her little hands patting Zephyy’s fur as if she were coaxing a tiny, furry king. Zephyy purred in obvious delight, clearly enjoying the royal treatment.

"Alright," Father sighed and asked. "who’s the woman? "

My soul briefly left my body. "Uh... see... about that..." I laughed nervously, tugging at my collar. "It’s... not a woman."

Both their eyes widened.Oh gods. Here we go.

"It’s..." I inhaled deeply, "a man. "

Silence.Utter, perfect, horrifying silence. You could hear a feather fall. Or my dignity shatters.

Mom blinked slowly, her mouth half open, as if her brain had blue-screened. Father’s expression went from "processing error" to "system reboot."

"I... love a man," I continued quickly, because why stop when you’ve already jumped off the cliff? "And that man is—" I swallowed hard. "Grand Duke Alvar Regulffsson."

And then—

SILENCE.

Not a normal silence.An ’our brains are buffering like bad Wi-Fi’ kind of silence.

Father’s eyes twitched. Mom blinked once... twice... and then just stared into the void like she was trying to recalculate the meaning of life.

I stood there, sweating bullets, waiting—hoping—for something. A scream. A faint. A thrown teacup. Anything.

But they just sat there.Blank. Silent. Processing.