Ray walked to the end of the corridor and standing before the door, called out.
"Mom? You there?"
Immediately a cheerful voice replied from the other side of the door.
"Ray? Come in, come in!"
Without another moment of hesitation Ray opened the door and entered the room before closing the door behind him.
Isis was sitting on her desk, wearing a white night dress with blue flower patterns all over it. Unfortunately it was completely opaque, covered up all her body, going almost up to her neck, showing no cleavage, and the sleeves covered up to her elbows.
There was a sweet smell coming from her body which immediately hit Ray's sharp senses while her lustrous long black hair fell all the way to her back. Accompanied with her sweet melodious voice, Ray swore he would knock out anyone if they said this wasn't the most beautiful woman in the empire.
Her nightdress was highly conservative, but Ray knew this was her usual. Isis hated wearing revealing clothes, and especially more so after she became the empress and the entire empire started looking up to her.
She never showed an ounce of skin other than her face, and even wore gloves to cover her hands. This added to the fact that she almost wore white and gold dresses which looked extremely elegant; it gave her a gentle innocent charm.
Extremely rarely would she wear a revealing nightdress, like the one Ray had seen her in before, when she was alone, or with Ambrosia or Ray, but Ray knew she only wore those dresses when she was extremely tired and absolutely sure no one would call or disturb her. Of course her family wasn't included in that 'no one' and she entertained them whenever they wanted to meet her, no matter how tired she was.
But to Ray who had seen Isis' huge chest and ass in nothing but underwear before, he knew the word 'innocent' would hide in shame at the sight.
Collecting his thoughts, he started speaking.
"What's the occasion? How are you on your desk? When did you last use that, fifteen years ago?"
Isis smiled while she looked at Ray.
"Come on, I agree that you made arrangements to do almost all my work, I can still use the desk you know?"
"Not unless something important happens. The Empress I know hates delving into difficult matters and going through paperwork the most… but now… that's exactly what you're doing. Something happened?"
"Nothing really. It's just that I keep forgetting certain things."
"Hmm?"
"I was supposed to check the list of people invited to your coronation as guests yesterday, but I somehow managed to forget it…"
"You really need to rest, you know?"
"Sigh… My hard work ends with your coronation though. After that I you have to handle everything, while I will cheer you from the side!"
"As if you aren't doing that already…anyway, let me see that list."
"Hmm… here."
Ray went through the list in a few minutes. He looked up at his mother and narrowed his eyes.
"Why are there five extra invites in the list that we originally prepared?"
"Oh! Remember the children of some of the palace ministers went to a dungeon hunt before?"
"Yes, but that was weeks ago, and didn't they die? That's the reason we removed them from the original list…"
"Apparently all of them didn't. They met a strong wyvern, but five of them managed to escape! They returned only a few days back."
"Hmm… and so you added them to the list? Isn't this too suspicious?"
"Well… all five of them returned in pretty bad conditions and the wounds in their body appeared to be from a wyvern and seeing as they were originally in the list, the finance minister asked me to add them again!"
"The finance minister did?"
"Yes! But… if you want I can immediately remove them from the list!"
'Something is definitely going on…'
"Hmm… no it's alright; I'm sure its fine."
'I'll investigate this myself…'
Suddenly, Ray thought of something and used the new function of the appraisal skill on Isis.
[Name: Isis Celestia
Status ailment: Under the effect of 'confusion' spell. Due to strong bloodline and physique, effects have been lessened. Will forget minor things and overlook certain things.]
Immediately, a few veins started throbbing as Ray clenched his fists.
'Fucking bastards… how dare they use her to harm me and the empire?'
[Wrath System side quest generated.]
[Wrath System (Legendary)
Quest: Cold Revenge (I)
Requirements: Make the person who used the spell on your mother suffer as much as possible.
Rewards: Passive Skill: Retribution-(S)-While fighting sworn enemies, your stats increase explosively, 500 points]
[Wrath System: Killing them is not enough. Make them suffer. As much as you can.]
Ray's SSS ranked mind immediately calmed down his emotions and a cold glint flashed past his eyes.
'I can't wait… to serve them the most satisfying revenge possible…since I arrested the corrupt nobles beforehand in this life, you dare include my mother in your plans?'
'Hmm… hmm…'
Ray suddenly broke into a smile.
'Wait… isn't this situation actually pretty ideal? I know just the perfect plan to take care of almost all my problems in one go!'
"Hee… hee"
"Ray?"
'Oh shit, I laughed out loud.'
"Oh it's nothing!"
"I mean you just laughed out of nowhere…"
'Alright, time to make my move and the confusion spell can actually help me in more than one way…'
'Suggestion Activate'
"Say mom… I suddenly had a thought!"
"Hmm?"
"Should we not have sex?"
Isis tilted her head, not registering what Ray was talking about, but when understanding suddenly hit her, her eyes widened as she suddenly stood up.
"W-W-What are you talking about???"
"I mean… you love me as a son right?"
Isis remained quiet, still looking at Ray in shock, not processing what was going on.
"And now that I'm 18, by the empire rules I'm already an adult… so I'm a man right?"
"…"
"Now that I've become a man, and you still love me, shouldn't you love me completely, shouldn't you love me as a man too?"
[Lust System: Yo bro, how the hell did you come up with that?]
Ray knew that his 'Suggestion' skill was finally making an impact, as he suddenly felt a seed of thought being planted in Isis' mind. He willed it to grow faster.
Isis opened her mouth several times before closing it. She didn't know what to say.
She hadn't thought about what Ray told her anytime before. And even after Ray said, she was extremely confused as to what was happening.
But now that Ray was explained the reasoning, she thought it somehow made sense.
She felt weird. She somehow knew this was wrong, but at the same time was strangely excited. She didn't know what was happening.
At that time Ray broke the silence.
"Or do you not love me?"
"No! I do, but we're…"
Isis had immediately blurted out, but she didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to say and how to say.
"But we're what?"
"I'm your mother…"
"So?"
Isis was shocked once again. Her heart trembled lightly, as the seed of thought Ray had planted was now slowly sprouting.
"It's… not right…"
"Oh? Do you really think so? And why is that? Did you forget?"
"..?"
"We are the rulers of the empire. It's we who make the rules. It's we who decide what's right and what's wrong. And we love each other, so that's all that matters."
"…!"
"Morals? Who gives a shit? People can't just eliminate their feelings and desires blaming it on morals."
Isis kept listening to Ray as her expression kept changing. The seed that had sprouted had by now already started growing small green leaves.
"Did my father think of morals before he killed his parents and took the throne? And he was praised by the people for what he did."
"…"
"Did the nobles you helped from the kindness of your heart appreciate you? No, they took your kindness as your weakness and became corrupt."
"…"
"Do you think when we caught the nobles, if we didn't give evidence, the people would have praised us? No, they would have immediately branded us as tyrants. Even worse, they would keep praising us in front us, but curse us the moment they turn back."
"…"
"If that's the case it's the world and its morals that are wrong. We are doing nothing but staying true to our feelings. People who lie to themselves are nothing but cowards. Deceiving yourself is the worst thing you can do."
"..!"
The thought that had started as a small seed had entered an extremely fast growth stage, and each and every sentence Ray spoke, it grew faster and faster, until it rooted itself deep in her mind, grew leaves that slowly filled her mouth with a sweet taste, making her feel comfortable, and grew into a tiny sapling, which stood straight, with a beautiful green glow, making her heart throb.
Ray knew that he had succeeded. He could feel that his SS rank 'Suggestion' skill had worked on her mind faster than he actually thought.
'Just one final push.'
"Forget about the so called 'morals' for a few seconds and think about yourself. Do you not want to stay together with me?"
"I-I do…"
"Do you not feel down whenever you cannot see me for a day?"
"I do…"
"Do you want to stay close to me?"
"Yes…"
"Then let's get as close we can. So close that we will never be separated again!"
"I-"
"Before you say anything. I want you to promise me something. You will forever stay true to yourself, do only what you want and not be swept into whatever other people say."
"…"
"Promise me, and I promise to always stay true to myself and do only what I want too."
"A-Alright. I promise to always stay true to myself."
"So… what do you want to do?"
Isis slowly confirmed her resolve.
'Whatever Ray had says is completely true.'
She had already lost her only loved ones, her parents previously. As such, she did not want to lose her beloved son just due to what other people might think.
She decided to accept her feelings and the moment she did, she imagined herself together with Ray, not as her mother but as her woman, and a shiver passed through her body.
The Suggestion planted in her body completely took root at this moment and Isis knew what she had to do.
Ray felt this, and smiled internally.
Finally Isis spoke up, but she didn't make eye contact with Ray.
"C-Close your eyes…"
"Hmm?"
"Just do it will you?"
"Anything for my dear mother!"
Ray closed his eyes, not knowing what to expect.
'Hmm... what does she-"
Before he could think properly, he felt two soft hands hold him in a tight embrace, and two a pair of soft bouncy breasts press against his chest.
Isis gathered her thoughts, and reached forward to kiss Ray in the lips.
The moment their lips touched, Ray opened his eyes, startled.
Calming down within a few seconds, he kissed her back; they sucked on each other's lips for a few seconds before they separated immediately.
The kiss wasn't too passionate, nor did anyone use their tongue, but in that soft gentle kiss they could feel each other's emotions.
Love, lust and desire.
Isis pouted as she looked at Ray.
"Why did you open your eyes?"
"How could I not?"
"Hmm… of course you could not; I took your first kiss!"
'So she thinks that's my first kiss? Shame that I kissed Adrianna before… But I don't want to make her sad…'
"Who said it's my first kiss?"
Isis widened her eyes as she looked at Ray.
"It's not?
"Maybe, maybe not, who knows!"
"You! You started teasing your mother again!"
"Right now we're not just mother and son, we're also lovers!"
"No we are not… yet."
"Shall we change that?"
"Hmm?"
"Let's do it!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Let's have sex!"
Isis was astonished once again. She knew her was always working hard; doing everything he could to help her.
But never had she seen her son being interested in any girl romantically.
And suddenly seeing him being so direct to her and knowing how he felt about her made her feel… happy.
And without thinking she said… "Why not…"
When she realized what she just said, she widened her eyes and was about to say she didn't mean it, but the moment she looked at Ray who was looking at her with a mischievous smile…
She knew she couldn't escape anymore.