Fabian Whitefyre Pov.

I kinda knew what father expected of us. I knew he wanted us to be more engaged in the battle with our siblings, but Gideon and I really just didn’t care. We were strong enough to make it as adventurers and we planned to go that route sooner rather than later. Grandfather even offered to tag along for at least a year to help us get acclimated before we do it on our own.

“Let’s go meet mother.” Leila said.

We had just come out of the meeting with father and made our way to mother’s lounge area. As we entered the room, she smiled at us. She still looked as beautiful as ever, with her flowing white hair and her pink eyes. Marianna Whitefyre was a beautiful woman who aged gracefully. She silently waited for us to settle down before she looked at Leila.

“How did it go?”

“He wants us to go to the city opening in Heartree and you’re not allowed to follow us.” Leila said. Mother frowned slightly in concern.

“Do you want to go?”

“I have to if I want a chance at the headship.” Mother pursed her lips at that. I looked at Gideon and we shared a look, I knew exactly what he was thinking.

‘Why would you want this burden.’ I wanted to change the gloomy atmosphere.

“It’ll be okay, we’ll get to see and experience something cool. We might even meet some interesting people.”

“Yeah, you don’t have to worry mom, nothing will happen.” Gideon finished our sentiment.

Mother just chuckled lightly.

“You’re all grown and powerful, exceedingly more powerful than the average. And you have the name of this house to back you up, maybe I shouldn’t worry so much.”

“You really shouldn’t mother, we’ll be perfectly fine.” Leila said with a small smile.

‘I like it when it’s like this, when it’s just our little family.’ In front of others, mother puts up a cold front and Leila is apathetic. Only with us do they let their guard down. Mother doesn’t even really care for father enough to be anything but cold to him.

‘But why?’

“Why did you marry father?” I snapped my mouth shot as all the eyes in the room snapped in my direction.

‘Shit.’ My mouth just blurted out my thoughts.

Mother looked slightly taken aback, before she settled down once more.

“I was beautiful all my life. My mother before me was also beautiful and I saw how she suffered for it. Her husband, my father, was killed by a noble who took to her beauty and wanted her as a mistress and she had no choice. I was cognizant enough to know what was happening.” We kept silent as we waited for her to continue.

“Mother took the opportunity of being a mistress, reluctant as it was, to get me sword training. She would not have me weak and helpless like she was in her lowest place. The guards that trained me did a haphazard job, but I was talented, exceedingly so, and I took advantage of the opportunity.” She played with the hem of the blouse she was wearing and took a few seconds to herself.

“When she thought I was strong enough, my mother told me to escape and become an adventurer before killing herself and I couldn’t even fault her. She was essentially getting raped by the man who killed her husband and she had just endured all those years until I reached an adequate strength level. So I took her advice and ran.” She looked up at us with blank years.

“I was an adventurer for only a few years before my beauty was all that was known about me. I had turned down many nobles and we were getting to a point where no wouldn’t be an acceptable answer anymore. The breaking point for me was when a particular noble tried to force himself on me. I cut the hand he touched me with and castrated him, but I was not strong enough to withstand the blowback from his family. No matter how beautiful I was, I was just a commoner.” She looked slightly resentful.

“Heh, I knew what I had to do. So I found the most powerful noble I could and for the first time in my life, put my curse, my beauty, to work for me. I seduced him and within a short few months, we were married and I was expecting you, Leila.” She chuckled to herself.

“But the thing about your father is that he cannot be content. I knew that when I met him and took advantage of him. I knew he would move on to the next young thing soon enough, so I just waited. After giving birth to you guys, my body lost its appeal to him.” She said with a smile.

“Why do you seem happy about that?” Leila asked and mother let out a loud laugh before smiling.

“Because I am. I used your father for his title and he used me for my body and the status that came with getting the woman that they all desired, they being the lower nobles. My children would never have to go through what I did and would have all the opportunities in the world. The icing on the cake was that he left me alone after he grew tired of me and so I am free to do what I want without any problems. Why wouldn’t I be happy?” Her smile softens.

“My mother and I suffered so that your generation could be happy. I don’t want to see you do something so burdensome as to become the head of this family and deal with the noblemen who will belittle you. I want you to be free.” She said softly.

“But what is a choice if not a choice. I went through all I went through so that you can have the power to choose without anything hindering your decision. So whatever you choose, mummy will be here to support you.”

‘Man, she really went through all that?’ Leila went and hugged mother as tears wet her eyes.

“Awe, my baby. It’s okay. Nothing can shake me now.” She cupped Leila’s face and looked into her eyes.

“Live your life to the fullest, that is all I ask.” I smirked and Gideon mirrored my expression.