Chapter 775 - Will there be more...?

Chapter 775: Chapter 775 - Will there be more...?

The women’s reactions differed greatly. Leia was disappointed, Runa proudly surprised, and Naeku naturally relieved.

After recovering from her surprise, Runa chuckled with an amused grin. "Hehe, I see you haven’t forgotten how to be a good husband, Silvy. I’m so proud!" As she spoke, she took a seat at the table, across from Naeku.

Sighing, Erik rolled his eyes in exasperation. Since a certain someone was still clinging to his side, he reached down to wrap his left arm around Leia’s ass, then lifted her up. She yelped a little, but quickly grinned excitedly. With Leia on his arm, Erik took a seat next to Naeku and deposited the other woman on his lap.

Without skipping a beat, Leia wrapped her arms around his neck, buried her cheek against his chest, and closed her eyes like a content cat. If she couldn’t have sex with him, she’d at least indulge in his presence.

Meanwhile, the corners of Naeku’s lips twitched a little, though she said nothing. Across from her, Runa looked at the other side of the table with wry amusement. "Am I really alone in this conversation? Even you betray me now, Leilei?"

"Hmmm, of course not, Runes," Leia purred without looking up. "I may like Daddy’s lap more than yours, but I’m totally on your side, alright?"

"Hey!" Naeku pouted indignantly, now glaring at Leia. Obviously, she’d expected some support from her aunt as well.

Pursing her lips, Leia opened one eye to glance at Naeku. "What? That Kudzai boy could do far worse!" Her expression turned teasing as playful challenge flashed in her eyes. "But I’ll change my opinion if you order me to, Mistress~"

Instantly, Naeku rolled her eyes and looked away from her Aunt. Not only did she not want to give an order like that, it was pointless now as well.

Giggling at her success, Leia closed her eye once more and settled back into Erik’s chest.

Erik smirked at Leia’s behaviour, and Runa grinned widely. Suddenly, Erik heard his mother’s voice through the same kind of familiar bond Elora had created between him and Alice. "Thank you, Silvy."

"Hmmm?

"Heh, not at all," Runa chuckled warmly in response. "I’ve never seen her this happy. Sure, she’s changed a lot, but also not at all. Even before she had this playful, teasing quality, it was just a lot more subdued. Hidden behind stress and a false need to be in control."

Her words then took on a more wrathful edge. "Just don’t hurt her," she growled. "Or I’ll make you feel my motherly wrath..."

"H— Haha," Erik laughed nervously, his mind thinking back to last night. "S— Sure, Mom. You got it..."

His stammering quickly activated Runa’s suspicion, but before she could say anything, Naeku had lost the last thread of her patience. "Can we finally talk now?!" she grumbled after, to her, seemed like a few moments of silence.

She narrowed her eyes at Runa, having rediscovered her confrontationalism. "You’re taking advantage of my friend! What are you planning with him?!"

Reluctantly, Runa took her eyes off Erik with a look that promised him they weren’t done with this yet. Erik felt relieved, but also quickly prepared himself for the next time she’d ask about this.

Sighing, Runa leaned forward in her chair, planting her arms on the table. "In what way am I taking advantage of him, Naeku?" she asked calmly, her full attention on her daughter-in-law now.

Neaku blushed, but refused to look away from Runa’s gaze. The older woman’s look was calm and even warm, but passively intimidating in a way that made her think of Erik. "You— You know very well! You’re taking advantage of his... weaknesses."

A small smile appeared on Runa’s lips. "Hehe," she chuckled softly as she slowly leaned back in her chair, taking a seductive posture. Her movement and voice were delicate, and yet filled with meaning—suffused with a kind of dominating charm. Erik had no doubt that a more submissively inclined man would get the urge to worship Runa just from this.

With Erik, however, it just sent a chill down his spine, as he already regretted not taking the Leia option earlier.

A playful spark lit up in Runa’s eyes. "You mean his weakness to an older woman telling him what to do? Or just the fact that he’s a man?" She glanced at Erik. "Because I don’t think even your backup here would deny any man’s weakness to a beautiful woman."

Erik wisely kept his mouth shut, deciding not to step into that minefield. Fortunately, Runa left no silence in which Naeku could expect resistance from him.

"Honestly," she continued, grinning domineeringly, "I should thank Nobuntu. Clearly, she’s been preparing him for this from birth."

Naeku’s eyes bulged. "Y— You!" Yet, she quickly buried her consternation at such a shameful statement.

"W— Whatever," she grumbled, shaking her head, before pointing at Runa with narrowed eyes. "Yes! That’s what I mean! I know you’re partially doing this to get him away from some bitch back in Azania, but if you’re just bouncing him from controlling woman to controlling woman, he’ll never have a chance to discover himself!"

Erik saw his mother’s lips twitch at the desire to make a crass joke about bouncing and felt an inward groan. Fortunately, Runa resisted the urge.

"Why do you think he hasn’t discovered himself yet?" she instead asked, an eyebrow raised. "Some people just want someone telling them what to do." She waved her hand at the comfortable Leia. "I mean, exhibit A is right next to you." Then, she pointed at Naeku herself with a small grin. "Plus, I get a feeling you’re not entirely innocent of that, either."

Once more, a blush appeared on Naeku’s cheeks, frustration evident in her gaze. She had no immediate response, and Runa quickly capitalised on that to continue.

"There’s nothing wrong with that, of course," she shrugged calmly, before cocking an eyebrow. "And I know you don’t think that, either, so I wonder why you care so much? I know you love my son, so it’s not jealousy. I also doubt you believe only women should submit to a man and never the other way around... so why? Do you not trust me to care for him?"

Naeku’s determination was rapidly wavering under Runa’s barrage of questions and statements. She looked down at the table, uncomfortably shifting in her seat. Then, she glared at Erik. "Some backup, please?!" she muttered through their bond.

Unfortunately, Erik could only shrug helplessly. "Look, if you’re determined to stop him from ending up with my mother, then I’ll support you. I’m sure Mom would let it go if I asked sincerely, but... if you’re asking me to contradict her arguments, then... I got nothing. They’re good questions, and good points."

Erik had never been much of a debater, that was more Elora’s field. He really couldn’t think of good counterarguments, partially because even he didn’t really know the answers to Runa’s questions. He’d just assumed it was protectiveness on Naeku’s side.

Naeku groaned. She couldn’t even really be mad at him for that, even though she wanted to.

Sighing, she looked at Runa with downcast eyes and a pout on her lips. "I just... I’ve never felt anything romantic for him, and neither has he for me, but we di— I mean, do care about each other like siblings. Which... is why we once promised each other we’d always make sure the other ends up with someone they love in the future."

She looked at Erik gently and took the hand that wasn’t wrapped around Leia’s waist. "I found my love... even if it isn’t exactly how I pictured it in the past."

Then she looked at Runa again, sombre now. "So... if he ends up with you... will it be all about lust, or will there be more...?"