James eyes opened as he digested what was being screamed.
"Ugly bitch! You dare touch my son, I'm going to cut off your hands and whip you to death!" A mature woman's voice threatened.
'What the hell went wrong so quickly? Justine was right to worry.. this woman is a nightmare.'
The woman who's voice had sounded distant, was suddenly inches away and started screaming in Veronica's face. He couldn't quite make out the woman's face as very large boobs pressed over onto Veronica, blocking his line of sight.
James could feel Veronica trembling as she tried to respond but was cut off.
"You dare hold my son you filthy slut?! I'm going to make your death very painful and-"
"Why the hell is this stupid hag screaming like that? Veronica shut this dumb woman up, I'm trying to sleep."
James had already guessed that this was the Duchess and he was getting mad at the way she was treating his companion.
He had closed his eyes and snuggled into Veronica's arms. He then felt air move as the woman stepped away.
There was desperation in her voice as she said, "M-my son.. this wretched woman is taking-"
"I don't remember having such a vile person as my mother. You're obnoxious, annoying and a bully, someone like that couldn't possibly be my mom."
James heard a smack and opened his eyes to see a woman who had fallen to her knees. Her hair was a beautiful dark brown like his own and had two braids running along the side of her head where they came together in the back.
He couldn't quite make out her face as she had her head lowered staring at the ground.
She seemed to be an Ascendant however and was probably a head taller than both his 7 foot companions.
Her breasts were were huge but quite smaller than Emily's and her legs seemed plump and soft. She looked like a giant and perfect mature beauty, if he was only going by her figure.
'That attitude though, maybe higher status nobles are just all stuck up pricks.'
The Duchess seemed to be crying now ss trembling shoulders bobbed up and down.
"Why *hic* is my *hic* son *hic* being so mean.." she sobbed on the ground.
"Who said I'm your son? You could just be some cradle robbing pervert for all I know."
'This lady's lost it, I wonder if she's having some sort of psychotic episode because her real son is missing.'
"Mommy isn't a pervert *waaah*" the woman kept crying but looked up to meet his gaze.
James mind thundered when he saw her face. Memories flooded his mind of his past and memories that weren't his seemed to be intruding.
"M-mom?" James said stupidly.
"Yes, I'm your mommy James."
Her almond colored eyes looked at him as the crying Duchess's face morphed into the laughing easy going woman looking back at him from the front seat.
"AARGH!"
James's brain split and he held his head with his hands. He felt wetness on his lips as his nose bled. Blood was stinging his eyes as tears of red fell down his cheeks. He felt it seep out of his ears and go cold on his neck.
He fought out of Veronica's hold as panicked shouts went up around him. His head pounded as the invasive memories sought escape.
James saw flash's of a past growing up that wasn't his own. Happy memories stabbed into him of a life with an alive mother and siblings.
He was laughing, playing, getting into trouble and being scolded. His two pasts merged as he kept picturing the woman who's face he had forgotten.
'Mom you already left me.. so how did you come back..'
The pounding in his head stabilized and his vision went black. Eyes rolled into the back of his head, he felt the side of his face colliding into the ground as he lost consciousness.
The maids of the manor were freaking out as the display took place.
Justine had went pale when James had insulted the Duchess and even more so as the young man collapsed, leaking blood out of every orifice.
Emily and Veronica immediately dashed to his side checking his vitals. They cleaned his face and worriedly held him.
The Duchess had almost drawn her weapon and killed everyone on the spot. She only hesitated because her son seemed like these filthy people. Her cold voice boomed throughout the property.
"If something has happened to my son, you will all die." She said this not as a threat but in a certain tone that promised retribution.
——————————-
James awoke for the seemingly hundredth time that day and was confused by his surroundings. He saw Emily and Veronica looking at him bitterly as they stood across the room watching him sleep.
He felt unnaturally warm but it was quite pleasant and he moved backwards into whatever was providing this wonderful feeling.
'What the hell happened.. and who the hell am I?'
While fragmented, the intruding memories didn't seem to cause him any more pain. The happy family life of this James Cromwell ended at 12 years old and he couldn't remember anything past that.
'Why is my isekai so convoluted.. this should be easy mode where everything is handed to me..'
A voice came from behind him as broke from his internal musings.
"Did you want to cuddle with mommy after being gone so long, my sweet boy." She purred.
James instantly shot out of bed and ran behind Emily and Veronica.
"Why are you two letting me assaulted by some strange and creepy woman!? James asked in a panic.
James saw the two bitter expressions became one of delight and victory.
'What is going on man.. can't I just have one normal day.'
A voice he now recognized as the Duchess came in strangled choke.
"Why are you so mean to mommy *waaah* my baby boy doesn't like me anymore *hic* he'd rather play around with some no good broads" *sniffle*
'Is she really my mom.. and am I really James? Or am I James from earth while this James is a different James from the James I used to be while being the same James- God! This is so complicated..'
James shook his head kept thinking.
'Should I just treat her like my mother.. but that's weird since I never met her before… but these memories I have of her are- Gah! What do I do..'
"I'm sorry but my memory is hazy and I don't really know what to even think right now." James said truthfully.
The woman- err, his mom, put her hands up to her mouth.
"They said you lost your memories, I guess they weren't lying.. my poor boy *waaaah* you forgot all about me." She started crying again.
'How many tears can someone produce?!'
"I do remember some stuff now, I think that's why I fainted.. I remember some hazy memories of me growing up."
"So… it was my fault *waaah-waaah* I'm such a terrible mom. I should just kill myself right now."
Saying this she pulled out a knife from her inventory. James ran over and placed his hands over hers.
"What the hell is wrong- um.. I mean, I'm okay now so stop being so sad… m-mom *a-hem* you'll ruin your pretty face if you keep crying.."
After he said this the woman jumped on him in a body crushing hug, his face was burried in her chest and he was suffocating.
*Sqeee* "My baby is so good at flattery, mommy loves you!"
His arms flailed out to the sides, windmilling. She then let go of him and before he could breathe, she snatched his face with her hands and kissed him on the mouth. Hard.
Her big soft lips pressed into him in a crash, she was trying to pry his mouth open with her tongue. She settled with biting his bottom lip slightly when she couldn't get in.
When she pulled away, James was in a state of shock as he realized his first actual kiss was robbed by this fantasy version of his mother.
He had kissed Veronica and Emily on the cheek, but that couldn't compare to how passionate his mom was.
'I feel like should be completely repulsed by this.. but I don't really know this woman and she just happens to be this guys mom.'
James was trying to rationalize the feeling that kiss gave him so he wouldn't be disgusted with himself.
"What the heck mom!"
"What's wrong James?"
"Why'd you kiss me!?"
"Well you always said you want to marry mommy when you grow up."
She darted her eyes around and it was clear to James that she was lying.
'My mom is a freaking son-con. Why is my isekai so heartless…'
James remembered their earlier meeting and he was still upset about what he said to Veronica.
'How could you call Veronica ugly, she is so insanely beautiful. What is wrong with this world.'
Putting on a face of displeasure he scolded the older woman.
"Remember when you insulted Veronica earlier?"
"Yes, what about it?"
"Apologize to her."
"Why would I do that? What I said was true. Her hair reminds me of a granny and she's got the scars of a thug. Honestly-"
"Yeah. You're definitely not my mom. What a hateful woman." *tsk*
James started moving away when hand's grasped at him. He swatted them away angrily.
"Why are you being like this to mommy? I-"
"Veronica is beautiful and wonderful, she helped me out when I had no one and has been protecting me faithfully. She is a strong and amazing woman and you will not insult her. Go apologize to her, right now."
"But I'm a Duchess!? I can't apologize to some lowborn-"
"If you don't apologize, I'll hate you forever! A-and I'll never come home!"
James's words struck like a hammer blow as "I'll hate you forever" played on repeat in Mallory's head.
"Okay I'll do it now James, please don't hate mommy.."
Walking over to where his two companions stood. James noticed a deep shade of red coloring her cheeks and it seemed as if she had heard his stalwart defense of her.
He winked at her and pushed his mom in front of her.
"It's okay James, Lady Mallory doesn't need to apologize. I'm just happy that you feel that way about me-"
"Nope. She needs to learn her lesson or she'll do it again in the future."
James then prompted his mom.
"Corporal Veronica, I-"
"What's that supposed to be mom? That's not how you apologize properly. Get on your knees."
"B-but James! I'm a Duchess, I can't get-"
"Get on your knees or else." His tone was icy.
Veronica then chimed in.
"James it's really okay, I-"
"Did I give you permission to speak? Just sit there and look pretty, understood?"
Veronica nodded as steam blew out of her ears.
Finally the woman dropped to her knees under James's spiteful glare.
"C-corporal Veronica! Please forgive my foolish and hateful words!"
"Y-yes of course! You are forgiven my Lady."
Happy with the results, James clapped his hands and cheered.
"What a great apology! I would hate it if the most important women in my life didn't get along."
James then kissed Emily and Veronica on the cheek and hugged his still kneeling mother around the neck.
"Does this mean you don't hate mommy any more?" She asked with trepidation.
"I could never hate you, mother is too pretty."
"Then you should kiss me too."
'Maybe it's okay if indulge myself a little.. what the hell! I must have mommy issues.'
She closed eyes and leaned forward, but James had dodged this bout of incest.
*Ahem* "You already kissed me, no more for you."
James then backed away from his newly discovered mom and wondered what was in store for him in this crazy world.