Mom looked at me with calculative eyes. "Perhaps you'd want to redo the seal?" She was looking at me carefully, observing me.

So, I gave her a straight answer. "You and I both know I'm not going to do that, at least not from that vixen."

This time she really did laugh loudly. "Never thought I'd hear you say that. But since you're being such a good boy, I'll give you a small bit of advice. Don't underestimate that bitch. I did and she took him from me. If she tries to lay a finger on you, destroy them, I won't hold it against you: I had my reasons not to pick a fight, but as you are, you can and you can win."

'And I never thought I'd hear you say that either.'

This was the first time ever mom gave me permission to destroy something. And she was serious too. For a second I was too surprised to even say a word. I took a glance at my right and Elsa was just as surprised.

But this only meant, I had mom's blessing.

So, me going over to the Battlesuins and thrashing everything was still an option.

And wait, mom didn't even say a word about the 'making impotent' part. I had a feeling she didn't really care if I turned into a villain and was just putting up a front. Of course, I didn't have the guts to ask that directly.

Well, I was done eating anyways. "Oh, and I plan to marry Marg so we might have to fight the Rodwichs." I stood up. I dropped the bomb on her. Marriage was a rather big thing and I kind of wanted to think more about it before telling it to these guys. But they deserved to know more about my intentions, so I held nothing back. "Of course, only if Marg wants to." I winked.

"I know." Mom was done eating and was having her tea. I had no idea where she was fitting all this stuff. But seriously, she knew? "And don't worry about them, they won't be a problem." And she was being nonchalant about this too.

'At least say something!' Boy, oh, boy was I disappointed.

And mom had already taken care of the Rodwich problem? Well, that was news to me. But seriously?

Sigh!

"Alright." I was feeling a bit tired and my bed was calling me from upstairs. So instead of thinking too much- "Night." A good night's sleep was something that I was looking forward to for a while.

My lovely, comfy bed. 'Here I come bed, just you wait for me.'

***

Elsa's fork danced with the food but the food refused to get into her mouth. In fact, she couldn't bring herself to eat or drink anything. 'He's going to get married?'

She looked at her mother who was still having tea. "Mom, I can't-" She couldn't stand this anymore. Her heart couldn't take this anymore. She'd hid her feelings long enough.

"No." Her mother didn't even look at her. Her mother already knew, she knew Elsa's feelings.

"But- I'm not even-"

"No means no. He has eyes for someone else. Besides, he only sees you as a sister, nothing more, nothing less. There's no point in having feelings. We're family and we love each other as family. If you went out of your way, our bond might fracture and he might end up hating you, do you want that? "

Elsa looked at the table, at her unfinished food. "No." Her voice was small and her eyes shimmered. "I'll be in my room." She got up and left. But the tears didn't stop.

***

Helio's mother sighed a great deal. 'Why the hell did I ever get married.'

She supported her head against her arm.

She reminisced about the past. She met Helio's father rather early in life. Back then he was just another arrogant nobody and yet… She fell. Of course, she never admitted it, not until Helio's father proposed first. She watched as the arrogant boy gradually turned into a man. But even as a grown-up, he made all sorts of silly attempts to impress her.

He even stormed the Romswell mansion for her, only to be beaten to a pulp but Helio's grandfather.

Her memories really were fun. Those were good times. Even her married life was fun. Of course, there was trouble and even disasters. Her firstborn dying right after being born was one such calamity. But she was happy: her second son wasn't healthy either but at least he was alive. Those were the happiest days of her life. She'd have done anything to get them back.

And yet…

And yet… everything shattered and now all she had were worries and just the distant memories. 'But I still have my kids and I don't want to lose them.' That's why she was going to protect this bond no matter what. No matter the cost.

***

Marg returned to her room. Her roommates were in the bathroom, having some fun. She could hear the fun and it was getting annoying.

Noise-canceling headphones were a thing, so she used those.

Her appearance was calm but her heart was not.

'Why was he so flustered?'

Marg was already convinced of what she needed to do. And getting weak now, only meant she didn't have enough resolve.

And yet, it was her heart that was racing. 'Maybe I shouldn't have said no like that. What if he thinks I was treating him like a nuisance?' But she already knew, she really was treating Helio like he was a nuisance. She was avoiding him and she was making sure her interactions with the boy were minimal.

And yet, she couldn't stop herself from asking whether Helio actually forced himself on Raea. But when she found joy in knowing he didn't, she was shocked herself. 'Do I… love him?'

What was love anyway?

If she chose her family's decision she was going to get her revenge. But if she chose Helio, not only would Helio be in serious trouble but also her mother was going to suffer too. After all, her mother was nothing more than just a servant.

Indecisions were eating her alive.

Lying in bed, hands over her eyes, she had only one thought. 'Would it really have been better if I wasn't born?'