Seduce the hero's mother (GL)

Chapter 152: Chapter 3. Grapes

An ominous silence enveloped the throne room of the imperial palace. It was interrupted only occasionally by the sobs of the Fernandez family.

The viscount, his wife, and their three eldest children knelt before the imperial throne. Each of them was afraid to move or utter the wrong word when, literally, their lives hung in the balance.

They still couldn't believe that such a day had really arrived.

Camilla was perched imposingly on the throne as if it were her own, eating grapes from a bowl. Her new crown princess outfit — perfectly matched her golden hair. She did look majestic, as if she had been born for the role.

As she devoured one berry after another, Camille watched with interest the expressions on the faces of her relatives. These people, who had never set her on anything her whole life, were now literally shaking with fear of her. The girl clearly enjoyed the spectacle.

— Father, Mother,» the noblewoman turned to them casually, «It's been six months since I received my new title. But you still haven't congratulated me.

The couple turned pale at the same time. They had indeed ignored their youngest daughter's coronation ceremony-because they hoped it would pass them by. They didn't want to ever contact her again.

But the girl ended up inviting them to the palace herself. And Louis Fernandez, being an ordinary viscount, had no opportunity to refuse. Now they had only their luck to pray for.

When Camilla made this direct remark, the viscount began to make awkward excuses:

— W-we… We were going to…

Camilla arched an eyebrow.

— Oh, really? So you didn't have time before then?

The Vicomte looked at his wife anxiously. She gestured for him to be silent so as not to say anything he should not say.

The girl grinned.

— Why the long faces? Of course I'm not angry with you.

— …

— You must have just forgotten to congratulate me.

Silence.

— Anyway, Father… Shouldn't you be proud of me now? Your daughter will soon be queen.

Viscount Fernandez swallowed. The thought that his bastard daughter would soon have absolute power in the country — gave him not joy but… Horror. For it meant that from now on no one would be able to stand against her. And only the gods knew what she would do.

— It's quite amusing, don't you think? — Camilla smiled,» Nineteen years I was nothing in this family. Now you are on your knees before me.

The tension in the hall increased. Camilla slowly began to descend the steps, watching with pleasure as their hearts pounded harder with each step she took.

The noblewoman was the first to approach her older brother, the heir to the Fernandez family.

— Camille, I seem to recall you calling me a nobody unworthy to be in your family.

The young man bowed his head trembling before her.

— I–I… I am sorry! — he muttered.

Camilla went on to the other two older sisters.

— Florence, as a child you used to make fun of me all the time and once you even tried to drown me in the lake. Do you know that since then I've still been afraid of water?

Florence was frightened and put her head between her shoulders.

— I am sorry! Forgive me, sister! — She let out in one breath.

Camilla grinned.

— And you, Magritte? You've been jealous all your life that as a bastard child, I was prettier than all of you put together. I remember you wanted to disfigure my face.

Camilla's last sister, who was only a year older than she was, obediently bowed at her feet, as did the others.

— I'm sorry…! I take it back!

This was the first time these three had appeared before her in such a pathetic way. And if possible — the girl would have liked to enjoy the spectacle longer. Of the viscount and his wife there was nothing to speak of.

A father who considered her birth the biggest mistake, and a stepmother who despised her. If Camille began to list all the pain they had caused her in recent years — sooner or later she would get tired of talking.

So the girl only smiled, giving all the members of her family one look.

— Anyway, I'm not going to hold a grudge against you. The past must remain in the past.

But the relief that was on the faces of all five of them after these words lasted only for a moment. For following the previous statement, Camille also reported:

— After all, we are members of the same family and bound by blood. I will do you one last favor and not send you to the other world with your sins.

The faces of the Fernandez family twisted in horror.

— WHAT…?!

Camilla waved her hand carelessly, and the guards in the hall immediately seized them.

— Execute them somewhere else,» the girl said lazily. «I don't want to stain the carpet with blood.

— Yes, Your Highness!

The knights dragged them along forcibly, while they struggled as best they could.

— Sister, don't…! — A desperate cry from my brother. hosted on m-v_l-e _m-p_y-r

— Please, sister! Have mercy on us…! — there were tears in the sisters' voices.

— Camilla, my daughter! — For the first time in nineteen years the viscount spoke to her in this way, — I am your father! You can not do so…!

Terrified, her relatives begged for mercy. While the girl herself only laughed. She had waited so long for this day. And justice was finally served.

After her death, Camille wasn't even going to bury them. Perhaps such refuse would be good enough to feed to the dogs.

When the screaming members of her family were finally led away, the aristocrat was about to go back, but at that moment she froze. Suddenly Rachel appeared in the throne room.

When Camille saw her, her expression changed in an instant. She could not contain her excitement.

— Your Majesty!

The girl ran up to her and threw herself on her neck. Rachel smiled and hugged her, too.

— How are you feeling? — She asked.

— I missed you! — Camilla muttered,» Your Majesty, why have you been so busy lately? I almost died of boredom!

— Our wedding is coming up,» Rachel reminded her, «I have to get everything ready.

— Well… Let the servants do it! I want to spend more time with you,» she frowned.

Rachel stroked her hair with a grin.

— All right… As my fiancée wishes.

Camille rejoiced like a child.

— Yay!

Rachel took the throne while Camille settled on her lap. She took her bowl of grapes and smiled contentedly.

— Say ah-ah, Your Majesty!

Camilla put the berry in her mouth.

— Who were these people? — Rachel inquired as she fed her grapes.

— My family…» the girl answered grudgingly, «I ordered their execution.

— You did? — Rachel was a little surprised.

— Yes… They are lowly people and I don't want to talk about them. But don't worry! — The noblewoman assured me, — I have thought of everything, and in the eyes of the people it will look as if I had them executed for treason.

— Hmm… I see,» she didn't ask again. She didn't really care who Camilla had and hadn't executed.

— Don't mention it,» said Camille, dismissing the unpleasant subject. «Look at my new necklace!

She showed Rachel a gold pendant with a rare scarlet ruby, the only one of its kind in the Empire. It had been custom made by a famous imperial jeweler.

— It's beautiful, isn't it? — she smiled,» I think it would go perfectly with the wedding dress!

But Rachel seemed strangely thoughtful.

— Is something wrong, Your Majesty? — Camilla was puzzled by her reaction.

— Hmm… It's strange. I remember you didn't like to wear jewelry before.

Camilla used to say she didn't see the point of all that «bling». That's why her jewelry box was just gathering dust.

«And why do noble ladies wear so much? — she muttered, «That gold weighs a ton! I'd rather buy ice cream with it…»

Now it was the other way around. New jewelry as well as outfits appeared to the girl almost every day, and she spent all her free time in the atelier. Rachel found such an abrupt change in her previous habits unusual.

Camille hastened to explain:

— It used to be true… But now I've decided to change my preferences a bit.

— Hmm?

— I'm going to be queen soon, after all,» she said, «And my appearance has to match the status.

Rachel was surprised.

— So, here's the thing…

— Yes, yes! Well, let's not talk about it. Have some fruit. It's so delicious!

Camille changed the subject and Rachel didn't insist. What difference does it make to her whether she wears jewelry or not? Either way, the viscount's daughter was still the girl she loved. And that would never change.