Chapter 7 - Troubling Desires(3)
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To my surprise, the door soon opened up to reveal a mature and beautiful woman smilingly looking down at me. She was my Mother, though.
I was a bit shocked since Mother usually won't answer the door of her Lab unless she confirms who it is.
While I was still trying to comprehend the answer to the mystery, Mother herself resolved it as she spoke to me,
"Good Morning, my dear Lily. Hmmm~? Are you wondering how I knew it was you? How cute this child of mine is! You still make me want to hug you tightly again~!"
H-Hey Mom! I just came to talk to you about something very embarrassing here. If you keep on treating me like a child, then how am I able to open up about a pervy topic like mine?!
After fulfilling her appetite of hugging me out of nowhere, Mother finally led me inside her personal Lab and made me sit on a solitary chair in a corner, away from all of her research stuff.
I don't remember seeing this chair here before. Not even yesterday, I think. Then, did Mother place it in here for my sake?
There were lots of questions swimming around my head regarding this mysterious Mother of mine; however, I decided not to get lost in her rhythm and to tackle my issues head-on. Who knows where this conversation might end up if I just let her have the lead?
After bracing myself to bear the embarrassment, I turned to look at my jovial Mother and spoke to her,
"Mom, there is something I have been somewhat worried about. It is... regarding the partner choosing affairs..."
I could feel my face heating up to a great degree while my palms were quickly turning sweaty. My heart was jumping around like a deer in action, making it a very hard thing for me to articulate my words properly.
It's not really a surprise, though. A topic like this, one would think thrice before approaching any close friend to talk about it. When it's your own Mother, though... the difficulty level rises exponentially.
"Mnnnh? What's the matter, Lily? Was the breakfast not to your liking? Or, is your stomach upset again? Want some diarrhea pills? I must have a few lying somewhere around here..."
Upon hearing Mother's weird conjectures that seemed to have come out of nowhere, I felt my face heating up even more, as I instinctually reacted to her and spoke,
"No! Mother, that's not it. I was just wondering... if visiting a brothel for my first time would be okay or not...?"
Ahhhhh! I said it!! I really did!
So EMBARRASSING!!
I feel like dying already. Just let me dig a hole somewhere and bury myself 7 feet underneath...
"Ohhhhhhh... so that's what it was? Let's see here... mnnnnh... It should be alright, I think. Just take a few of our loyal knight retainers along with you to provide some extra security. By the way, Lily, which one are you planning on visiting?"
Uh oh. Does Mother need to know even that?! S-Should I try lying to her about it?
No... it's no use running away from these situations. These things won't end with just running away. Besides, I just don't feel like letting my relationship with Mother be polluted by a web of lies spun by me.
Resolving myself to speak the truth, my eyes started to shift to looking sideways, as I tried to speak to Mother about the truth.
"That... i-its that one. The... Red and Pink B-Brothel... The security there shouldn't be a problem, right?"
There was an awkward silence between the two of us after I mentioned the brothel's name. Desiring to turn the topic towards a more vague matter, I tried to divert it toward the Security affairs of the place.
Mother, too, seemed like she really began to think seriously about it, while I took a few deep breaths to relieve myself from the incredible stress that I had piled up upon myself.
"Ah, if that's the case, then rest easy. The Baron in charge of the place is someone your Father has had many interactions with. No one at his place would have the guts to dare trouble you. Still, just for the sake of the exceptional cases, bring a few Knights along. And remember to be back before night, alright? Don't lose yourself in the pleasures of the flesh, young one."
Wait. What? W-What did Mother just say?!!!
"M-Mom! T-T-There won't be a problem with something like self-restraint, I think. Hmm... how about I tell Sarah to bring me out when it's time? I am sure that she would be able to quell any overly stupid thoughts that I might get there, right?"
As if I wasn't even sure about my own answer, I tried to bring Sarah into the mix to get myself under wraps. Since things had, for some reason, become awkward between us, I felt that it was still a better way to deal with the issue by confronting the matter through more direct engagement between the two of us. Maybe that way, Sarah would be able to find a chance to speak her mind to me at some point.
"Well... if that's what works for you then so be it. Just remember to treat Sarah nicely, alright? That poor girl has a lot on her mind lately. Even if she isn't very expressive with her thoughts, she still thinks and feels like all of us. Remember to be kind to the people closest to yourself, alright, Lily?"
So even Mother has been looking out for Sarah, huh? I can't really blame her for it, though. Mother had rarely ever treated any worker of the place harshly. Unlike Mother, though, Father believed in having a tight rein over his subordinates. Differing philosophies for different people, I suppose. Let's try keeping Mother's suggestion in mind. It won't hurt to be kind to others, I think.
"I-Is that so? Then, alright. I will be careful, Mother. Can I ask you about something else?"
Before I could even blink, Mother instantly replied to my request,
"Sure. Ask away anything that's troubling you. Mom is here to listen."
Mother... you really are a great person. I feel extremely blessed to have such a great mother in this lifetime. She is just too good for us in the family.
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