Now it was Deon's turn to give her a dose of happiness. Viktoria was the mother, and she had every right to claim what belonged to her. Of course, she understood why her children strongly opposed her teasing, but what could they do? She had complete ownership over them.
On her way to the training grounds outside the estate, Viktoria encountered her maid, Yulna. Though the latter tried to make the meeting seem coincidental, Viktoria had been aware of her tailing her from the very start.
"What a coincidence. Is the lady going out? Would the lady like some company?"
Viktoria remained silent, calmly observing Yulna's facade, which refused to change. She was impressed that she didn't flinch while telling such an obvious lie. Viktoria could have called her out, but she held back. Yulna was just worried about her.
"It really is a coincidence. I was heading to see my D. What are you doing here? And did you say hello to Yven?" Viktoria asked with a sarcastic smile.
Yulna tensed at that. She realized her mistress had caught her, but this time, she wasn't being scolded as usual. So Yulna steadied herself and continued the act. "Yven is busy studying, and I was returning to clean your room, my lady. But that can wait. I'll accompany you."
Viktoria rolled her eyes dramatically and simply gestured for Yulna to follow from behind. Yulna let out a relieved sigh and obediently trailed after her mistress, keeping a few steps back.
After a few minutes of wandering through the corridors of the massive estate, the lady and the maid stepped through the grand gates. Viktoria paused, taking in the breathtaking view before her.
An expanse of green stretched out far, eventually giving way to a vast white landscape of snow. Beyond that, the white spread endlessly past the distant mountains.
Viktoria gazed at the mountain range, which extended infinitely in both directions like a colossal wall, barring both entry and escape. She knew what lay beyond the frozen peaks—what had been sealed away there, for time to forget. And she also knew that the time of its return was near. The cold would soon shatter the chains of its seven prisons.
And If only that were their only problem.
Viktoria sighed to herself. Three pillars still stood; for now, they still had time. Though she wouldn't be around to witness it.
At that thought, Viktoria frowned, closing her eyes to mask her discomfort. But she soon smiled again as the image of her son, Deon, surfaced in her mind. She was eager to see him, even more excited knowing that her son would soon be complete. Even if she wouldn't be there to witness it with her own eyes, that was the price she had to pay. And she was happy to do so.
With her rediscovered enthusiasm, Viktoria took a deep breath. The air was cold, numbing her face, and she couldn't help but take another.
Yulna observed her mistress's actions from the side. Though she was concerned, she wasn't foolish enough to interrupt her mistress's moment of enjoyment. She wouldn't make that mistake again.
"Yulna, let's go!" Viktoria declared excitedly, pointing toward the building where the Household's main training grounds were located.
Without waiting for a response, Viktoria leaped up the few steps, laughing loudly, and made her way forward without waiting for her maid.
Yulna struggled to keep up. Her mistress's steps were quick, as if gliding effortlessly over frozen ice. Except there was no ice—only a neatly arranged gravel path, bordered by short green grass.
By the time Yulna arrived, her mistress, who had been waiting on the other side, wore an expression of boredom as if she had been waiting for an eternity. And she was eager to express her thoughts.
"Yulna, you're doing a terrible job. Did you skipped how to walk in your childhood? This is unacceptable, but I'll forgive you... I am a generous lady, after all."
Yulna remained silent, her breathing too heavy to even form a response, let alone argue. But her thoughts were working just fine.
'What did I do to deserve this? Even in my free time, I have to listen to Yven go on about how kind Lady Viktoria is... I—'
"You're thinking something unnecessary."
Yulna was startled by her mistress's voice, which came from right beside her. She turned to find Viktoria's beautiful face close enough to see the intricate details of her enigmatic eyes.
Yulna took a few steps back. "No, my lady." She had regained enough breath to lie.
Viktoria still looked doubtful, but her suspicion quickly faded as she remembered something and stepped into the training grounds.
Yulna followed after her, only to be surprised again at how far ahead her mistress had gotten. Viktoria had already descended the long flight of stairs leading from the viewing area to one of the many battle arenas below.
Yulna took a deep breath and reluctantly began her descent. What choice did she have, after all?
***
"Good morning."
Viktoria greeted the young Deon, whose expression was one of shock. His large violet eyes widened further as he looked at his mother.
"Did you miss your dear momy who loves you so much?"
Of course, that wasn't a question. How could he not miss her? She could feel it in his very bones.
Deon's face turned completely red. He tried to hide his embarrassment but failed. His gaze flickered toward the man whom Viktoria had completely ignored—the so-called trainer of her son, the snake Decius.
After a moment, Deon composed himself and bowed respectfully to Viktoria. "Good morning, Mother," he said formally.
Viktoria was so shocked that her mouth hung open, unable to utter a word.
Her D never addressed her formally.
Right in front of her, Deon looked away in shame. Viktoria felt a surge of anger, but not at her son. No, there was only one person who would dare try to ruin him while she was still alive. She turned, her face burning with fury, directing all her rage at that wretched snake, Decius.
Decius was a man past middle age, with short yellow hair and sharp blue eyes. But to Viktoria, he looked like a venomous green serpent, hissing its poison. The snake smiled at her politely.
"Good morning, First Lady. Is your health well enough for you to leave your chambers?"
Despite his smile, Viktoria felt the mockery and disrespect laced in his tone. She knew where it came from—the rumors that Viktoria was growing weaker by the day had spread widely.
The fear she once saw in Decius's eyes, in the eyes of so many others, was gone. Only the memory of it remained. Their newfound boldness was nothing more than their way of forgetting what they had once been before her.
Deon sensed the tension in his mother's gaze and quickly stepped in front of her. "Mother, I was just about to—"
"Deon, keep your mouth shut."
Viktoria placed a firm hand on Deon's head, silencing him. She was still angry with him. She moved him aside without even looking at him.
Her eyes remained locked onto Decius, who, in turn, was watching Deon as if expecting something. But as time passed, Decius shook his head in disappointment, making sure Deon noticed. Deon lowered his head.
Viktoria's rage only burned hotter.
Did this snake expect her D to defy her?
How foolish.
"What is the First Lady doing here? We are busy truly tending to the future of this household," the vile snake mocked, stepping forward in defiance.
"What do you think you're doing? With my son?"
Viktoria already knew the answer. But hearing it from him would give her an excuse to break his face.
Decius, oblivious to the danger he was in, lifted his chin high, looking down at the shorter Viktoria.
"I'm taking care of your son in your behalf. Though it will take time—bad habits don't fade so easily."
Viktoria had her answer.
She turned to Deon, her hand still resting on his head.
Deon must have seen something in his mother's eyes because he immediately stepped back, fleeing to a safer distance.
'What a good boy!'
As Viktoria turned back to face Decius, her hand curled into a fist, and she threw it straight at his face.
Decius was unprepared.
He truly hadn't expected her to attack—wasn't she supposed to be sick?
Those were his thoughts as he watched her fist accelerate toward him.
Viktoria saw her hand cut through the air, freezing it in tiny points around her fist. She hadn't even used any mana yet—her raw physical strength alone was enough to break the sound barrier.
But if she was going to deal enough damage to this snake—damage that would satisfy her—she would have to tap into her mana.
Viktoria constantly used illusions on herself, and that required mana. A small amount, manageable despite the pain.
But to inflict the damage she wanted, she had to reach deeper into her mana. It would hurt more.
But it would be worth it.
A surge of silver-white mana erupted around Viktoria.
The air grew heavier, colder, more terrifying.
Decius's expression collapsed into terror.
His sword was raised before his face, his own red mana swirling around it—but in comparison, it was feeble. Like an ant facing an elephant.
Yet hope remained in his heart.
He was the Second Elder. Surely, she couldn't overpower him in her condition.
Surely, she was bluffing!
But the fear inside him refused to fade.
The woman before him was the same tyrant who had terrorized them for so many years.
To his eyes, she didn't look sick at all.
Viktoria's fist met his mana-infused sword, yet the impact was nonexistent.
The sword crumbled like an old piece of candy.
Her fist continued forward, toward his face, with a terrifying indifference.
In his panic, Decius activated every defensive spell he had prepared in advance. He even started casting new ones aloud, no longer caring to hide his fear.
He had thought he would never fear her again.
But he had thought wrong.
So terribly wrong.
She looked at him with the same indifference as before, reminding him of exactly who she was.
Every single defensive spell on him shattered as if they had never existed.
Her fist cut through them like a hot knife through butter.
'How is this possible?'
'She's only using raw mana. I'm using specialized defensive spells!'
Viktoria's fist crashed into his face, emptying his mind of all thought.
His brain shut down from the impact.
He was sent flying at an insane speed, crashing into the far side of the training grounds. The force of the collision obliterated the area, and Viktoria could no longer see the snake anywhere.
But she felt him—buried several meters beneath the rubble.
Pain pulsed through every vein in her body, unbearable yet ignorable in the face of her satisfaction.
She massaged the hand that had shattered the snake's face, smiling in contentment.
After a few seconds, Viktoria turned to her son, Deon, who was watching her from behind the spectator's platform.
He didn't look surprised at all. As if he had seen the same sight thousands of times before. But this time, his expression was different. He was worried. For her. That made Viktoria smile in delight.
"The problem has been dealt with. Now come give your dear mama a hug!"
Deon hesitated for a moment but eventually approached her.
He stood before Viktoria, who spread her arms expectantly.
Deon hugged her. Not because he had to. But because he wanted to.
"You should have waited until I came to you..." he muttered.
"If I had, I wouldn't have known that the snakes were trying to corrupt my precious baby," Viktoria huffed in annoyance. "Or am I wrong?"
Deon pulled away from his mother's embrace but remained silent.
His head lowered—confirmation enough.
Viktoria's expression softened.
She patted Deon's head gently and spoke in a soothing tone.
"Tell me everything."