IT HAS already been three months since Father married Lucina Morganna.

Winter would admit that his stepmother was more caring than his birth mother. He thought that her presence in the mansion would change his father's coldness. But much to his surprise, the duke remained stoic.

Most of all, his father was still rarely at home due to his work as a captain and as a duke.

Ah, right. Father has been busier than ever because he's the one managing all the businesses that my grandfather left to my mother.

"Good morning, Winter."

Winter was greeted by his stepmother when he entered the dining hall for breakfast. "Good morning, Mother," he said. Well, his father insisted that he called his new wife 'Mother' and as a dutiful son, he had to follow him. "Did you sleep well?"

His stepmother just smiled and nodded. Then, while holding freshly cut Moonflowers in her arms, she squatted in front of him. "Do you have swordsmanship training this afternoon?"

He nodded. "Captain Sherwood will bring me to his squad later. Why did you ask, Mother?"

"Your father will finally be coming home after a week of staying in the palace for work," she said with a sad smile on her face. She must have missed his father a lot. His father was probably the only husband in the empire who would leave his new wife in the mansion alone for so long. "We're planning to eat out for dinner. Does having seafood sound good to you?"

Seafood?

All of a sudden, a vague image of him as a toddler entered his mind. In that particular memory, he saw himself in a seafood restaurant with his father and mother. From the looks of it, they seemed to be having a good time because the three of them were smiling. But he wasn't sure if it was a real memory or just a dream.

"I used to be a lower noble before I married your father so I'm not sure if higher nobles enjoy seafood," his stepmother said with a shy smile. "Your father enjoys it since like me, he wasn't born with the same status that you enjoy now, Winter. So I'm wondering if you'll enjoy the things that higher nobles don't usually indulge."

"It's okay, Mother," he assured her. "Even my birth mother loves seafood. I remember that we used to go to a seafood restaurant when I was a toddler."

"That's not true, Winter."

He flinched because for some reason, his stepmother's smile and voice turned… creepy?

"I heard from your father that your birth mother has never enjoyed seafood or anything that is considered cheap by higher nobles like her," his stepmother said.

Then, she put a hand on his cheek that gave him goosebumps. And yet, his feet seemed to be glued to the floor because he couldn't move from his spot.

What is this numbing feeling?

"Sadly, your birth mother is a vain, selfish, and greedy woman who loves money, power, and other superficial things," his stepmother continued. "Poor Winter. Your birth mother never really loved you. She only cares about your position as His Majesty's heir."

Well, he knew that his mother hasn't been mentally stable these past years. He was also aware of her greed for power. But despite everything, he knew that she loved him dearly. She just couldn't fulfill her duties to him because of her poor mental health.

Father also often tells me that whatever happens, my birth mother is still my mother.

"My birth mother might be insane to most people," Winter said firmly. "But she loves me and I feel the same."

"Poor Winter. You believed your mother's lies," his stepmother said. And before he could protest, she hugged him tight. When the Moonflowers between them were pressed against his chest, the fragrance coming from the flowers became stronger. For some reason, the smell made him dizzy. "Only I can truly love you and Kiho, son."

***

"ARE YOU alright, Young Master?"

Winter slightly shook his head at Captain Sherwood's question while pinching the bridge of his nose. "I often have headache these days," he said, then he looked at the bouquet of Moonflowers that the captain had in his hand. "Are you planning to give those flowers to my birth mother?"

Since he had two mothers now, he had to refer one as "birth mother" and the other as "stepmother" to avoid confusion.

Anyway…

Right now, he was in the carriage with Captain Sherwood. Since he was done training with the Black Serpent Knights, it was the Blue Dragon Knights' turn to teach him their ways. Yes, as the future heir of the emperor, he was required to train under the Four Orders.

"I can't visit Lady Prescott empty-handed, can I?" Captain Sherwood said with a soft laugh. "And now that she's divorced, I don't think Captain Kiho will kill me for giving her flowers. Gone were the days where your father would threaten me with his eyes for merely looking at your mother's direction."

He let out a sigh while shaking his head. Then, he looked at the Moonflowers and blinked several times when he realized something. "Are Moonflowers popular? I know that it's Princess Nia's favorite flowers. But these days, even our mansion is filled with Moonflowers because of my stepmother's sudden interest in them."

"Moonflowers are popular among the ladies, Young Master."

"They're not," he said bluntly. Since he was chased by ladies left and right, he inevitably knew things that he didn't really care about. Just like what kind of flowers were popular among the ladies of the empire. "As far as I know, roses are still the most popular flowers among the ladies and not Moonflowers. To be honest, aside from Her Royal Highness, I've only seen my stepmother adore them."

"I don't really know much about flowers," the captain said, as carefree as ever. "I only brought Moonflowers because they are Princess Nia's favorite."

He didn't comment on that because they already arrived at his mother's estate.

And he glad that he came at the right time.

As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, he saw his birth mother straddling his stepmother who was crying while trying to protect herself from his birth mother. On the other hand, his birth mother was screaming while punching, slapping, and scratching his stepmother.

The servants behind couldn't do anything but watch. Based on the fear on their face, his birth mother probably warned them not to interfere.

What is my stepmother doing here?

"Mother, please stop," Winter calmly said. Then, he wrapped his arms around his birth mother's waist and pulled her away from his stepmother. Yes, he was accidentally hit by his birth mother in the face several times. It didn't hurt but his patience already ran out. "Mother!"

His mother stopped from her hysteria as if she was awakened by his yelling.

He didn't mean to raise his voice at his birth mother but he couldn't help it.

"W-Winter, please don't yell at Lady Prescott," his stepmother, who just stood up with the help of Captain Sherwood, begged him in a weak voice. "She's still your mother. And this is all my fault. I was worried when I heard that Lady Prescott hasn't been coming out of her room these days so I paid her a visit. But I may have stepped over my boundaries." Her voice started to crack and when she spoke again, tears started to silently roll down her cheeks. "I shouldn't have gone here. Lady Prescott has the right to be angry so please don't get mad at her, Winter."

The servants then gave his stepmother a pitiful gaze.

Ah, he should fire his mother's current servants right away. Now that their sympathy was on his stepmother, they would probably harbor negative feelings towards his mother. And servants who lost their loyalty towards their master could be dangerous.

My mother isn't in her right mind so I have to take care of her and the people around her.

"Snake," his birth mother said in a weak voice. Then, she fell to the floor. When he knelt beside her, she suddenly hugged him tight. He thought she was just leaning on him for support. But much to his shock, his mother whispered to him. This time, she was calm. "Winter, get rid of the Moonflowers in your mansion," she said in a voice that only him could hear. "Get those flowers away from you and Kiho."

"Mother, what are you saying?" Winter asked, his heart breaking for his mother. But when he noticed that his stepmother and Captain Sherwood were looking at him intently, he put on the usual blank look on his face. "Let me bring you to your room, Mother."

***

WHAT the hell am I doing?

After Winter brought his birth mother to her room, he asked her about the Moonflowers that she told him to get rid of. But all of a sudden, his birth mother went on a hysteria again. It looked like she couldn't even recognize him then. When her doctors arrived, they advised him to leave his birth mother to their hands.

Since his stepmother and Captain Sherwood were waiting for him, he had no choice but to leave with them.

Still, I can't take it off of my mind.

So, here he was in his parents' chamber.

"Their room is filled with Moonflowers," Winter commented to himself while looking around the chamber. All the vases in the room had Moonflowers. And then, he realized something. "My room is also filled with Moonflowers…"

His thoughts were cut-off when he heard footsteps outside.

He didn't have the time to leave the room because he'd be caught. Instead, he just quietly ran to the balcony and his there. He hid his presence as much as he could so that his father wouldn't notice him.

Please don't let Father feel my presence.

"Kiho, isn't it time that we share the same room?"

Winter raised a brow at what he heard. It's my stepmother…

"Why do we need to share a room?" his father asked coldly. "We're only married in papers, Lucina."

He had to cover his mouth with his hands to refrain himself from letting out a gasp.

"But Kiho, I'm your wife now," his stepmother said in a sad voice. "Can't you learn to love me since we're now married anyway?"

"I didn't marry you because I needed a new wife," his father said sternly. "I only married you because of our deal, Lucina."

Winter's brows furrowed in confusion.

What deal are they talking about?

***

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