Infinite Harem System: I Grow Stronger From Every Female Lead
Chapter 20: Mother-in-law (1)

Chapter 20: Mother-in-law (1)

Rattle. Rattle.

The creaking sound of wheels echoed through the cold northern passage as a luxurious black carriage with the Valtor crest made its way toward the Arcain territory.

It was a week’s journey, so Janet had a lot of time to converse with her daughter.

Convincing her to change her mind was a lot better than going to enemy territory to argue with them.

"Sit upright, Amelia."

Amelia, hearing her mother’s words, flinched, raising her chest up.

"Good," her mother muttered, covering her lower face with a fan. "How have you been?"

Amelia struggled to smile. "Fine, Mother. I actually got a..."

Amelia’s words caught in her throat as Janet glared at her. "What did I teach you, Amelia?" _{f.(r)eewe/bnov\ll.com}

Amelia stammered. "A lady should only do two things: greet and answer questions."

Her mother lingered for a moment. "So why are you doing otherwise?" She stared at her daughter as if peering into her soul. "It is because of that demonic dragon, right?"

Amelia wanted to say something else. Counter her mother, maybe, or have a proper conversation like Arthur had told her. But she ended up nodding.

"Yes, Mother."

Janet scoffed. "I knew that monster was a bad influence on you."

"I always thought you were the sensible one, Amelia, so why didn’t you remember my teachings? Why did you get caught up in the moment? Didn’t I tell you only whores do that?"

She glared at Amelia as cold sweat formed on the young girl’s forehead.

Janet sighed. "Why exactly did you fall for that beast? You know you are meant to be with the Chosen One. What? Do you believe Arthur will be better than the Chosen One? Do you think you will be his only woman?"

"I—I know I won’t be the only wife to either of them, but..."

"Then what is there to think about, Amelia? The correct choice is right in front of you. What did I teach you about making the right decisions? Answer me, Amelia."

Amelia lowered her gaze as Janet’s voice entered one ear and came out the other. "Stop it..." she muttered desperately.

The voices of her mother through the years continued ringing in her head.

She could see the image of Ha-Joon, whom she had snuck out to meet a year ago. The horrific acts he committed, and the grueling fact that he was no different, no, he was far worse than her mother.

"Stop it, Mother..." her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Are you listening to me, Amelia? A lady should not slouch!" Janet yelled.

However—

That was the breaking point.

A single voice rang in her head almost immediately.

The soft, almost feminine voice of Arthur, the small promise he made to her and his outstretched arm, pleading with her to grab onto it.

For others, it might have felt like a simple conversation.

But to her, it was different.

The twin eyes of the Saintess.

In every two generations, two people are born with this special eye.

One of them is able to see a person’s true nature and is automatically granted the Authority that corresponds with space.

The other allows the user to see another person’s inner thoughts, the meaning behind words, and a person’s inner world. It also gives her the ability to absorb mana from the atmosphere.

So while others might have seen her encounter with Arthur as a simple conversation...

She saw it differently.

He was surrounded by innocent, bright light.

The moment he stretched out his hand, it wasn’t just a promise, he was pleading for her to take it.

Like he wanted to save her from a future only he knew. Like she was so much more to him than she could imagine.

Yes, there was still greed there, but it wasn’t the type she was used to seeing.

An innocent greed—maybe a white greed, even.

He was the bright light that shone in her dying, colorless world.

At that moment, only one thought rang in her head:

If I don’t take his hand... will my world go back to the way it was?

Will I end up with the Chosen One, whose world is darker than most nobles?

No. I could never end up like that.

If he was her only ticket out of that colorless world, then she was going to take it.

What she had told him wasn’t just to save her from her household, but to preserve his color forever, and to make herself able to shine with such radiant light.

"Amelia!"

Amelia raised her gaze. "Can you stop it, Mother?"

"What!?"

She shook her head. "You can talk bad about me, but not about my husband."

Janet’s eyes widened. "Are you planning on—"

Amelia suddenly shot out, "Mother!! Please! I beg of you, don’t act like I am in any relationship with Ha-Joon. The one I shall marry is Arthur Arcain, and I am Amelia Roderick Arcain!"

Janet’s jaw slackened. ’What did she just say?’

Amelia knew it too—no matter how cold her mother was, she genuinely cared about her and didn’t want her to end up like herself.

A girl who fell for one man and was later handed off to another for politics.

She knew her mother was only doing this to prevent her from falling for Arthur.

But she was a tad too late.

Amelia gripped her chest, her face beaming more brightly than Janet had ever seen. "Mother, I love Arthur. Unlike Ha-Joon, Arthur has a light that makes me feel warm. So please..." She bowed. "Let me marry Arthur."

Janet smiled. ’Honey,’ she said telepathically.

Reynold, who was in the opposite carriage, answered, ’Yes, I heard everything.’

Janet’s voice trembled. ’Doesn’t it remind you of us, when you fought the Duke of the East to marry me?’

Reynold chuckled. ’I can’t believe it’s been twenty-five years since then...’

Janet smiled at Amelia, moved closer, then patted her on the head. "I’m happy."

"Mother..."

Janet’s smile softened, her red hair and blue eyes shimmering under the northern sun. "I hope he makes you happy."

Amelia clenched her fists, stifling the urge to cry. Then, like a dam breaking, the tears flowed. "Mom... I love you too."

Janet hugged her daughter. "Dear, dear... Mom is sorry for being mean all these years."

Amelia nodded.

’I love you too, babe,’ Reynold muttered, as if feeling left out.

’It’s our baby girl’s happy moment, don’t spoil it, Reynold,’ Janet warned.

’But babe, I also want to be loved.’

Janet ignored her husband and looked into Amelia’s eyes.

’Ah... it’s the first time I’m really looking into your eyes, right, my baby,’ Janet thought.

"Your emerald eyes are really beautiful. I can’t believe I’m seeing someone more beautiful than myself grow."

"Huh?" Amelia tilted her head after hearing her mother’s words.

Janet shook her head. "Enough about that. Why don’t you tell me what you like about Arthur and his little world?"

Amelia nodded, her face brightening further like she had been given the chance to play her favorite game.

"He’s really innocent. And he seems to be obsessed with having a kiss."

Janet covered her mouth with her hand. "That does sound interesting. Tell me more."

The mother and daughter continued conversing—from topics about Arthur, who was apparently all Amelia could talk about, to her mother teaching her about other things.

Janet now understood that the relationship between Amelia and Arthur wasn’t simple.

However, that didn’t mean she was planning on accepting an incompetent son-in-law.

She wasn’t going to just test his strength—but his heart and soul too.

She too also had one of the two Saintess Eyes.

"Just wait, little son-in-law," she said, rubbing Amelia’s hair as the girl lay on her lap. "I’ll give you a real beating in a week."

─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───