And jab—he added the second charm. A smile combined with sweet lines, what kind heart not melting hearing that? Not his mother of course. In ten-years lifetime not once his mother stayed angry after he used this particular method. Very soon, his mother would drown him in a big giant hug, swinging him round like a cute teddy bear despite her thin frame.
"Oh…" his mother stepped forward. Was this it?
"…look how cute you are"
Her mother's hazelnut hair swung as she stepped closer, each time. Altaris smiled for real, dropping his bow to the ground. The thing would be back anyway—artifact and all that. As she grew nearer, his hand began to rise—accepting the hug. But wait, something wrong. His mother's hand, it didn't move as intended. She only rose one arm, while the other fell limp at her side. Pinching his cheeks maybe?
The hand slipped past his cheeks, into his…ears?
"AAAAA"
A pain shot through, slithering from his earlobes. He screamed, trying to dash back—but couldn't. Two objects were locking his ears in place. His charm didn't work—why?
Where was his hug?
"I searched for four hours and the first thing you say to me was swear words?"
I'm sorry mother, I'm sorry
Yet, only shout escape his mouth. Not a single concrete sentences as he tiptoed around his mother fingers.
At this point, his ears felt like they were going to tear.
And it really was, because his mother began a slow, painful walk into the manor. One hour to be exact. He cursed his mouth under, clutching his ears who began to burn. Surprisingly, his mother was very good at this. Shocked him the most. The way she juggled between a weak grip and a bone-shattering one. Every time he thought the worse, the pain lessened. Same when he tried to catch his breath, the pain suddenly manifold.
When did she learn all this? and when he had time to think about all this, was his pain tolerance increased?
Exactly an hour later, they arrived at the manor. A huge black house looming in front with three spires pointing into the sky like fingers. Around the garden, a few maids were trimming the flower, mumbling and laughing at things he didn't seem to understand. Not that he could hear much anyway. Only ache, searing beneath his cartilage.
Then, the worst happened
At first, it was Olenna, the oldest maid. He recognized her from how she bundled her hair. High—just like the spires. He could see her glancing past the gate, eyes locked straight into him. Olenna paused, dropping her shovel as her hand covered her mouth. Just like that, the other maids followed. Dozens of gazes drilling into him, each with a different expressions: Some grabbing their skirt, others holding the flowers with a smirk.
Yet, one thing they all shared: watching him like a spectacle. The heat in his ears was now swarming his cheeks, painting them red.
He'd bet tomorrow, the whole mansion would know—About the story of Altaris, Angelica Claremont number one son who, for some reason got punished by her own mother by dragging his ears from the forest behind the manor. The next, they would try to find the reason, gossip after gossip until somehow everybody knew that he tried to insult his own mother. Then, they would call him names 'Altaris, the red ears' or something. Then… Then…
"…Taris. ALTARIS"
The words jolted him back, his nose brushing his mother's skin. Close. Her blood-red eyes stared right at the same level as his. A small puddle emerged from inside her pupil, drenching her pink lips.
"Baby…" Her voice trembled. "I'm…I'm so sorry"
Mother….
Her soft palm brushing against his cheeks, trembling, as it held his head in place. Truly, seeing her like that—what a foolish thought he had. There is no way his own mother would try to shame him, in front of all this people. It must've been impulse: she was a demon after all—just like him.
"Mother…"
Because he couldn't move his head, his hands found her chin.
"…don't worry. It's not that painful"
"So…" her tone sank "…you forgive me?"
"Well of course, mother"
Like spring, a tender smile bloomed on his mother's lips, lighting the stone manor. A faint, gusty breeze caressed his skin, bringing a sweet rose-like scent from the garden. He smiled, glancing past her shoulders, his vision drowned in red and white flowers. It had ended well, after all.
"Altaris baby, I wanted to tell you something…"
"Yes mother?"
"It's about your fiancé…"
"Excuse me?" He stepped back. Fiancé? Since when?
"We arranged a marriage between you and Violet, from house Vernicus. And…"
She batted one of her eyes—a cheeky, knowing kind
"…they will arrive in two hours. Be ready, okay"
He nodded, speechless. The news was so abrupt that he could only watched the gate creaked open. Her mother stood back, walking back inside mansion, leaving him and his little thought. Details about the news would be helpful, extremely so. But what for?
After all, the rice had long turned into his mother's exclusive handmade porridge
His head shook. Time to prepare, I guess