The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

Her mind was lost in troubling thoughts.

If he wanted, he could check. He could see what was troubling her. Just a Skill activation away. But no.

Aeric had decided something a long while ago when he [Claimed] Erimyra's Main Skill. No matter how curious he got, he had promised to the best of his efforts, to never use the Insight skill on his mother.

She was off limits to him and the only person who was deserving of her privacy in his opinion. He loved her too much to intrude into her safe space.

"You look beautiful," Aeric said softly, now standing beside her and also peeping into the window.

Guinevere blinked, snapping back to the present as she noticed his reflection on the mirror. Her face lifted up, finally meeting his.

Mother Guinevere's lips curved into a warm smile, and she reached out, gently touching his cheek. "My lovely son," she murmured, her voice like a melody.

Aeric knelt beside her, his gaze unwavering. "Morning, Mother."

"Good morning, Aeric."

The Prince looked at his mother with a worried expression. "Mother, you look a little sad. Are you alright?"

Guinevere's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "I'm fine, Aeric. It's nothing for you to worry about. Just the troubles of being a royal mother."

Aeric frowned, his worry deepening. 'This again,' he thought under his breath. 'What happened last night? Did Eros say something to her? Did he hurt her? Or is she just tired of seeing him? Doing his bidding?'

"Mother," Aeric called her softly, getting her to look up at him again and say, "Mhm?"

"Did Eros hurt you?" he asked without stutter.

'Huh?' Mother Guinevere blinked, taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Aeric's face reddened slightly. "Last night. You had left for something important. The duties of being a God's wife, you said. I thought you went to meet him last night. In the chamber where you both..."

A soft laugh escaped her lips. "Oh no, no, Aeric, no. I wasn't with Eros. I did also tell you I was going on a meeting with the other Mothers. We discussed politics, nothing more."

She tilted her head softly. "Did you forget?"

Aeric raised a brow. 'Oh. That is true. Why did I ignore all of that and only focus on her bringing up the god's wife thing. Am I really that selfish and protective of my mother?'

He looked at Guinevere. Her smile, her delicate and pristine skin, her beautiful motherly curves, those breasts that he had suckled on many years ago. 'Damn,' he thought. 'I really would do anything to make sure Eros or anyone never touches her again.'

He smiled at his mother, relief flooding his chest. "Oh. I thought…"

Guinevere reached out, then ruined his hair with her hand brushing above his head. "Aeric! Don't tell me you're jealous of your own father!"

"No! No!" Aeric squirmed. "I'm not jealous. I'm just a little overprotective, that's all."

Guinevere smiled. "Overprotective? Is it the duty of my son to protect me? Oh my, I forget that you're all grown now and I don't have to protect you anymore."

"Hmm. But I also don't think you have to worry about protecting me. I think that should be a privilege for the lucky girl you'd choose as a girlfriend. Me? I'm much too old."

Aeric looked down at her with a sarcastic but plain gaze. "Uh uh. Is that so, Mother? How about we don't talk about my romantic life? Mhm? I'll protect whoever I want to protect."

Mother Guinevere smiled wider and warmer. "My shy little boy. I don't want to say I'm jealous but any girl would be lucky to have you as a boyfriend. Be brisk and find one so you can tell me all the details of your love life. I will not accept this idea of being restricted from that information."

Getting red cheeked now because of his mother's behaviour, Aeric scratched the back of his head, but decided to change the topic after a breath. "How was the meeting? I know there's some internal rivalry amongst you Mothers. Hope there wasn't a clash."

Guinevere's face darkened a bit, but she chose against informing her son about Mother Selene's accusations. "It's fine, my son. Truly. The other Mothers envy me because I have you. The only Son among their Daughters. You're my special superpower. My gift."

She stood up, held him by the head, and pulled his tall frame down before planting a kiss on his forehead.

Aeric smiled, though he could tell his mother wasn't truly honest with him and his earlier worry barely melted away. "You're right, Mother. You've navigated these Mothers for years now, I'm certain you have everything under control. In fact, I don't even know what I was so worried about."

Guinevere chuckled. "Go on now. You have another school day ahead. Make me proud."

"I will," Aeric promised, bowing slightly before leaving her chambers.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

'Not very long till I turn my attention to these Mothers. Whichever one is making life difficult for my mother will have me to answer to.'

He went down the stairs and out the halls, taking some food and snacks into a small bag and giving it to a maiden to tie on Sylver's reins.

The castle grounds were alive with activity when he stepped outside. The morning sun bathed the courtyard in warm light, and the faint scent of dew lingered in the air.

Just as he walked out, he saw Delva approaching from the stables, astride her sleek brown mare, Sylver walking tall and steady beside her.

They positioned themselves in front of him, waiting.

"Beautiful morning, Delva," Aeric greeted, a grin spreading across his face as he approached. "Don't you think?"

"It is a beautiful morning, Master Aeric," she replied, her tone, friendly, steady and loyal as ever. "But even more beautiful since you have that bright smile on your face."

"Oh, stop it, my good friend!" Aeric waved her off, blushing. "I don't do well with compliments."

He petted his Silverwolf, telling him that he has some Beast Tokens to level him up before he mounted Sylver and prepared to ride.

"Do you plan for another eventful day, Master Aeric?"

Aeric looked at her. "In more ways than one, Delva. In more ways than one."