5 Chapter 5

The Young Duke ignored the astonished gaze he was receiving from the servants and he ask them where the Duchess was currently

After receiving an answer, Cain run until he reached the Manor's Garden

The Garden was filled with Dahlia Flowers. Their light pink color gave a simple yet aesthetic looking view

These flowers were Qain's favorite flower and the Duke made sure that the garden would be filled with these to satisfy his wife

Not far from Cain, he saw an elegant and gentle-looking Moon. The Duchess has hair longer than most people and he tied it behind him

Cain got his hair color from his mother as they both have that silky pitch-black hair

After seeing his mother for the first time in years, Cain's emotions swelled. His heart palpitated in fear that what was in front of him was a mere illusion

The Duchess sensed someone looking at him and his light pink colored eyes turned to look at that 'someone'

He originally has a neutral expression on his face but as soon as he saw who was looking at him, the Duchess's expression instantly changes into that of a delight and also a hint of surprise

"Cain, my baby!" The Duchess called out. The Young Duke has a stern and serious image in the people's eyes but in his mother's point of view, he was still nothing but a little baby

In the past, Cain always felt helpless whenever his mother would call him baby. But now, that word sounded so sweet in his ears

Cain's legs moved again as he run towards his mother and he gave him a tight hug that is filled with raw emotions

He couldn't believe that he could hug his beloved mother again. Cain would never trade this with anything

The Duchess was surprised at his son's action but even then, he still rubs the man's back and head just like he used to do

"My baby, did you miss your mother that much?" Qain asked gently with joy in his tone

"I do, mother" Cain replied honestly as he buried himself into his mother's embrace

The Duchess didn't expect that he would receive such an answer. When Cain grew up, just like most people, he became shy and embarrassed when showing affection to his parents. As such, Cain being honest like this is out of the Duchess's expectation

"Silly kid" Qain commented with a chuckle and he broke their hug to look at his son's face

"Why do I feel like you change a lot?"

Cain stiffened at that question. For his mother, it might only be a few days but for Cain it was years

It's not weird for him to change yet he didn't expect that his mother would notice it this easily

An unnatural expression found its way into the Young Duke' face that the Duchess didn't fail to notice

"Well, even if you change, you are forever my son" Qain continued with a chuckle as he rubs his hands into Cain's cheeks

The Young Duke misses receiving this warmth and he placed his hands to his mother's hands

As a result, the Duchess saw the Ring of Absolute Obedience and he was surprised that its color changes

"You... you used the ring?" Qain asked but he already knew the answer to that. The stone in the ring was originally white in color but it would change when the wearer uses it

Qain might look like a gentle flower especially to his son but he wasn't nicknamed the "Strongheaded Flower" for nothing. He was far from being a pushover and he can be decisive if needed

That is the trait that the Ducal House of Ybra has. They don't bully the weak and even help them but when they need to dirty their hands, they would not hesitate

That can be seen in how Qain gave the Ring of Absolute Obedience for his son and how Cain uses it to forever enslave the 1st Imperial Moon

"M-Mother... I..." Cain didn't know what to say. He originally thought that he would never use this ring

After all, there is no possible known way to release the master-servant relationship between the ring's wearer and victim

This means that once Cain uses the ring on someone, his target's life would always be in his hands. There is no way to fix that

Seeing his son's reaction, the Duchess smiled as he flick Cain's forehead. "Silly kid, I am your mother. I know full well that even if you used the ring, you have your own reason"

Qain was surprised at knowing his son has used the ring this early but knowing Cain, he surely wouldn't use it without any good reason

"Have a seat and join me to have a tea" the Duchess motioned to the chair opposite to him and Cain sat on it

With gentle and graceful movements, Qain poured the tea into the teacup and handed it to his son

Cain blew at it for a while before taking a sip and a sweet taste instantly pervaded his taste buds

The Duchess has always liked teas that are a bit too sweet

"So, may I know why my son visited me today? I don't believe that this is just because you miss me" Qain stated with a knowing smile

His son's actions today were not normal and there has to be a reason for that

Cain took another sip of his tea before placing it back on the table. "Mother, I wish to be engaged" Cain dropped the bomb and the Duchess almost spilled his tea

"E-e-engage?" The Duchess stuttered before having an even bigger reaction. "B-but you're only 18 years old!"

Before coming back to the past, Cain is already around 30 years of age. And now, he was back to his teenage years

In the Morningstar Empire, it wasn't rare to be engaged as young as 12 and get married when they reach 18, the adult age

However, Cain was always seen as a little baby by his own mother. Hence, the Duchess has such a big reaction

"Mother, I-I'm already 18" Cain insisted while moving his head to the side, unable to look at his mother's eyes

"W-wait, why do you even want to be engaged? Did someone tell you that you have to have a political marriage to help the family prosper? Who are they? I would surely beat them to death even if it is your father!" The Duchess said with a red face

Just thinking about someone forcing his son to have a political marriage causes his anger meter to rise to the maximum

"H-honey, what did I do wrong? Why do you want to beat me?" A fearful voice entered the ears of the pair of mother and son

When they look at the source, they saw a man with silver hair and red eyes with sweat trickling down his forehead

The servants informed him that his son returned to the Manor and was in a hurry to meet the Duchess

He didn't know what is up with his son but as soon as he arrives, he heard his wife talking about how he would beat him. Did he do something wrong with his son?

The Duchess's fierce eyes stared at his own husband as if he would chew him alive any second from now

"My son told me that he would like to be engaged. Do you have something to do with this? Are you forcing my son to have a political marriage?!" The gentle aura of the Duchess instantly vanishes and he was true to his title

'Why is it your son only? He's also my son!' The Duke - Victor Ybra thought in his head but he didn't dare speak it out loud

"O-of course not! I'm not incompetent to the point I have to force my son into a political marriage! Even if he were to marry a commoner, I would still support him!" The Duke instantly answered

His wife was never the one to discriminate against someone. In fact, Qian's cousin decided to marry a commoner despite the family's resistance

As a result, Qain steps in to help his cousin be with his true love

Although the Duke doesn't want his son to marry a commoner, he could only say such words to appease his wife's anger

"M-mother, this engagement is my own decision. Father didn't force me into it" Cain awkwardly clarified and he saw his father looking at him as if he was some sort of a messiah

"What? Your own decision? Could it be.... *gasp* are you in love?!" The Duchess was surprised by his own hypothesis and the side of Cain's face twitches

Him? In love? To his fiancé and wife to be? If it was any other person, Cain still have a chance of falling in love with them

However, it was the evil Royal Villainess we are talking about! There is no way in hell he would like such an evil person!