The current Emperor of the Archlesia Empire, Chris Dia Archlesia. Her
path to this day has not been an easy one.
One day, the former Emperor of Archlesia suddenly welcomed a
succubus as his concubine. She has an overly beautiful appearance, her
gestures show her knowledge of men's hearts, and a cunning mind. The
succubus, who possessed all of these extremely high qualities, stole the
hearts of the men in the Imperial Palace in the blink of an eye, and her
influence quickly grew.
The succubus who suddenly appeared and even became the central
figure of the country… was Chris' mother.
Chris, who had been intelligent at a young age… hated her mother. She
had left taking care of Chris to the servants, never came to see her, and
only played around with men… seeing how she captivated not only
men, but even women, but never returning any of their affection,
treating them like slaves, she felt repulsed by her mother.
Fortunately, the succubus was not a spendthrift and wasn't interested
in the politics of the country, so she didn't bring ruin to the Archlesia
Empire, but the way she lived her life according to her desires made
Chris feel disgusted by her.
However, thinking about it again… the root of that feeling might have
been loneliness. She really wanted her mother to come and see her. She
wanted her love… However, she never even came to see her.
In order to cover up her loneliness, Chris began to hate her mother. She
hated her mother, "so it's no wonder she doesn't see her"… is what she
convinced herself to think of.
Yes, to put it in another way, Chris didn't know how to fawn upon her
mother. She was too clumsy when dealing with her own mother.
[…You are the most repulsive being in the world. To have half the blood
of a being like you in my veins is a stain on me that will never be erased
for the rest of my life.]
[...]
Perhaps, that was the reason why… when she was 16 years old, old
enough to be called an adult, she said this to her mother that she hadn't
seen in a while. She thought that her mother, who was not even
interested in her, would just emotionlessly dismiss her words.
However, the words that she had spoken with the intention of breaking
off their connection brought her distress instead.
[…I guess you're right. I guess it really is as you say.]
[ ! ? ]
Chris' mother affirmed her words with a face that looked like she was
about to burst into tears. Because of this, Chris was greatly shaken.
It wasn't because of the expression on her mother's face. It was because
"she regretted hurting her mother's feelings"…
She hated her mother. She should have… hated… her mother. But no
matter how many days passed since then, she couldn't get her face out
of her mind.
Unable to understand her own emotions, Chris, who continued to suffer,
began to travel around the world in the name of expanding her
knowledge, as if to escape from her mother.
And along her journey, she met the Underworld King and spent several
years in her home… before Chris finally accepted that she didn't hate
her mother that much.
Having settled her feelings, Chris returned to the Archlesia Empire after
expressing her deepest gratitude to Kuromueina and her family.
Then, for the first time in years… no, for the first time since she was
born, she faced her mother head-on and exchanged words with her.
[I have something to ask of you.]
[…What?]
[What am I to you? Am I just a hindrance who was unexpectedly
conceived? Or perhaps, am I just some trash not even worthy of
interest? I want to hear what you really think.]
[…id… that…]
[Eh?]
[When did! I ever say that!!!? Hindrance or trash, I never said a single
thing like that!!!]
[…T- Then, why! didn't you come to see me!? You also always ignore me
when I speak to you! I just don't understand… what am I to you!?]
That was the first fight between the mother and daughter. Regardless of
whether it's good or bad, this clumsy mother and daughter… had an
honest discussion for the first time.
[I don't know! What I should do… How to love someone… is something I
don't know…]
[Mot… her…]
[It was a whim that I gave birth to you. Other than children being born
if a woman gets pregnant, I don't know what a child is supposed to be
like… But when I saw you when you were born… so pure, so white… so
unbearably cute… I got scared…]
[Scared?]
[…Just as you said, I'm a succubus who preys on others. A horrible
being who has been living only for my own desires. If a person like me…
touches you with my dirty hands… I thought that I would sully the pure
white you… so I didn't know how to treat you.]
Yes, for Chris' mother… the strongest succubus Lilim, love is something
that is offered to her, not something that she gives to someone else.
She had never given her love to anyone else. That's why, she didn't
know how to express her love… even to her impossibly cute daughter,
Chris.
[Mother, please tell me the truth. Why did you leave my care to the
servants?]
[…Because rather than me who have never raised a child in my life… it
would be better… if you were raised by someone with proper
experience in doing it.]
[Why didn't you ever come to see me?]
[…I did… every day… I went to check on you every single day… However,
I didn't come to see you. I didn't know… what I'm supposed to when I
see you.]
[Why didn't you answer me when I spoke to you?]
[…I was scared… I thought you hated me… I didn't know… what face I
should have when I talk to you.]
[Do you… love me?]
[…I love you. I love you so much… that I don't even know what to do
with myself.]
After hearing her clumsy mother's true feelings, the dark fog that had
been building up in Chris' mind for years finally disappeared. The
clumsy mother and daughter, who had been at odds with each other for
so long, were finally starting to set things right between them.
Of course, their relationship that had been so different for so many
years would not be repaired immediately. But little by little, they were
steadily trying to get closer to each other.
It was late at night, and Chris, who was working in her office, stopped at
the sound of a knock. Before Chris could answer though, the door was
opened and Lilim appeared, wearing a nightdress.
[Even at this late, well, you're still working so hard… Good work. Good
grief though, why don't you just let your Human subordinates do the
work?]
A smile appeared on Chris' lips when Lilim looked like she was about to
curse as soon as she entered. Well, her mother is as clumsy as usual…
Yes, unlike before, Chris is now properly aware of the clumsy kindness
of her mother, Lilim.
As Chris begins to make moves to take the Imperial throne, worried
about the slow decline of the empire… Lilim sneakily made her own
moves, helping Chris from the shadow.
After they reconciled, Lilim refrained from flamboyantly playing around
with men and instead, began to give Chris guidance on diplomacy and
taking care of one's personal appearance.
Up to this day, she still does that. Despite her words, Chris could see
from Lilim's eyes that she was worried about her, who was working late
at night, and came to check on her.
[…That's unusual, isn't it. For Mother to come to this room.]
[I don't really have anything to do even if I come after all. Well, you
should keep things at a moderate, Chris-chan. Unlike me, half of the
blood in your veins is that of a Human, and lack of sleep is bad for your
skin.]
[Yes.]
Unlike when she was a child… Chris doesn't hate her mother anymore.
She was clumsy, and her compassion was hard to understand.
However, Chris clearly understood that Lilim loved her…
While Chris was thinking about this, Lilim took a wrapped box out of
nowhere and casually placed it on Chris' desk.
[…What's this?]
[Ahh~~ It was a gift from a boring guy. I don't want it, so I'll give it to
you. It's getting cold lately, and as your body is weak compared to mine,
wear it.]
[…Thank you.]
[Well then, I'm going to go now… By the way, your hair is slightly
damaged. I'll show you how to take care of it some other time.]
[Yes… Good night, Mother.]
[…Good night.]
After quickly finishing her own business, Lilim left the office.
Staring at the door where Lilim had left for a moment, Chris opened the
box she received… and let out a genuinely happy smile.
[…Good grief, if you're going to tell a lie, you might as well tell a
believable one.]
In the box that she had received was a slightly misshapen red woolen
scarf.
[Mother is still a member of the royal family, so there was no way that
she would be given such an obviously "amateur's first hand-knitted
scarf"…]
Chris knew right away who had knitted the scarf. Thereupon, wrapping
it around her neck… thinking of how sewing looked so unfitting with
her mother, a profound smile appeared on her lips again.