My whole body felt like it had been hammered by a god with nothing better to do.Two weeks of training—magic, muscles, and MMA—had burned every inch of me.But, weirdly, I didn't hate it.
Out in the courtyard, sweat dripping from my chin, I felt something alive again.Maybe it was the mana flowing through me.Or maybe it was the simple fact that pain finally made sense again.Whatever it was, I could feel eyes on me.
From the balcony above, Duke Ardan Valtor—my dear father—stood watching.His usual scowl had softened.For a second, he actually looked proud.The old man was probably thinking, my son has finally found purpose.
(He doesn't know that purpose is walking straight into hell.)
A maid whispered behind him, "My lord, young master Kael seems to be working hard lately."And the Duke, hands behind his back, nodded with a rare smile."Yes," he said warmly. "It's good to see him focused."
—Scene cut—
"YOU WANT TO GO WHERE?!"
So much for the warmth.
The Duke's roar shook the whole office.Even the portraits of ancestors looked offended.I stood there, arms crossed, trying not to laugh."I said I'm going to Parelleso Dungeon," I repeated. "Don't look at me like I said I'm marrying a cow."
My father slammed the table. "That hellhole has devoured entire armies! And you—barely back from suspension—want to waltz in there?!""Pretty much," I said. "I'm a duke's son, right? I can do whatever I want."
He blinked.Then blinked again.Then, in perfect noble fury, he shouted, "GET OUT!"
(Well, that went better than expected. I thought he'd call for a priest.)
I left his office, shaking my head.I honestly expected him to say something like, Do what you want, son, just don't embarrass me again.But no. He actually cared this time. How annoying.
I sighed, stretching my shoulders."If no one lets me go, I'll find another way."My thoughts drifted to the only person who ever went soft on me."Mother…"
That night, I sat by the candlelight and wrote a letter.
Mother, I don't know where you are right now, but I want to try something that might make the family proud—or at least make me stop being the failure everyone talks about. Bla bla bla bla bla… you know how this goes.
I sealed it, left it on the table, and fell asleep without much thought.
When I woke up the next morning, something was off.Warm. Soft.And suffocating.
I opened my eyes—and almost choked.
A beautiful woman was lying beside me, wrapping her arms around me, her long silver hair spilling over the sheets like moonlight.Her body pressed tight against mine.Her gentle breathing tickled my ear.
For a second, my brain stopped working."Wha—what—"
Then she whispered, half-asleep, "My son…"
I screamed.She screamed."MOTHER?!""SON?!"
Silence.
Then she giggled, brushing my hair gently. "You always sleep like a log, Kael. You didn't even notice me come in."I sat up, heart pounding. "Mother, what are you doing here?!"She smiled, ignoring the question. "You wrote me a letter. How could I not come back after reading that?"
Her name was Lady Celica Valtor, the only person in this whole mansion who could hug me without getting burned by my temper.She wasn't my real mother—the real one had died the day I was born—but Celica treated me like her own child.
And right now, she looked at me with the same fiery gentleness I remembered from the game—the kind that made her one of the scariest villains after the real Kael's death.
I guess love really does twist the dangerous ones.
She sat up, her eyes sharp now."So," she said softly, "you plan to go to Parelleso Dungeon?"I nodded.
Her lips curved into a proud, dangerous smile."Then let the world tremble, my son. If anyone dares stop you… your mother will destroy them all."She paused. Then, suddenly, her expression flipped."But you AREN'T going anywhere."
I froze."...What?"
She smiled sweetly."That's final."
I groaned.From beating monsters to being grounded by my mom—what a downgrade.
✨ To be continued… ✨