Second Chances
The sun rises and the birds call, "Baaaad Omen!" It's a day like any other at Blood Pledge Castle. Lady Cecilie leans over her balcony, staring out at the land she once ruled, and sighs. It's a coquettish sound, a light, breathy exhalation that never fails to bring the men to their knees. Cheri smiles ruefully at the thought.
She's gorgeous and everyone knows it. Surely there's no need for false modesty! After all, it's not every day you meet a mother of three with a figure this stunning! And yet… In all her long years, she's never managed to keep a man she's roped in.
There was her first husband, who died young. Her second and most beloved, who was human, and died old. Her third, who again died young. And in between all of them were various short-lived beaus and jealous ex-lovers and fun spring flings. At the present, there is her shnookums, FanFan, who she is careful to keep from getting too attached to because he is human and will move on without her, as all three great loves of her life have done so far.
Some people, like her good friend Anissina, think it's weak for a woman to depend on a man. Cheri disagrees. She thinks there's a certain emotional strength required to trust someone that much – to give someone that kind of control, and to be responsible for having that kind of control over someone in return.
Anissina is strong in her own way, but not so experienced with love. Cheri knows this because she lives for love of all kinds. She has been burned by love so many times that it's a wonder she still has any of her own left to give. But of course she does. She's a mother, and mothers never run out of love.
Down below, two figures speed off along the dirt path. First, she sees the distinctive black hair of the Maou, then the familiar figure of her darling second son. She can feel it in the way they move together. For a moment, Cheri's flirty expression falls as she makes up her mind to ensure the happiness of her son.
Conrart has had to deal with so much, and from such an early age. It is mostly her fault, she thinks, because she failed him as a mother. With this in mind, she heads down to the courtyard to intercept them as they return.
Her timing is perfect, of course.
"Oh, Your Majesty~ Yuuri~ Over here!" She saunters up and snuggles into the handsome Maou, thoroughly enjoying his squirming and squeaks of surprise, and then she coos at him, "Aww, you're so cute, as always! Come, I must speak with you for a moment."
"Mother, please restrain yourself!"
"N-no, it's okay, Conrad. You go on ahead, and I'll be right with you."
Yuuri manages to struggle out of her grasping, stroking hands. He motions for Conrad to go on first, and of course her precious son nods and obeys, leaving them alone, just as planned.
"Oh, so you two are really getting into it now."
"W-what?!"
Cheri smiles smugly.
"Eh… Ehh?! You can tell? Is it that obvious?"
"Only to a trained eye like mine," she winks. "Where are you headed now, Your Majesty?"
"We're just going to wash off in the baths."
"Ah, I see. I suppose you'll be returning to the other world, then."
"Y-yes."
"And you'll be taking Conrad with you."
"Well, yeah. I was sort of planning to tell my mother about…us, and he offered to be there for…uh, 'moral support' or something."
"All right. I just want to confirm one thing," she says, dropping her coquettish air. The woman standing before the 27th Maou is not a bimbo, but the 26th Maou. She puts both of her hands on his cheeks, turning his head to look directly at her. "Will you promise to take care of my son?"
She lets her hands drop while waiting for his answer.
"…I promise."
Although Yuuri says it aloud, the real answer is in his eyes as they gaze toward the castle entrance, and in his bearing – in the way his whole body sings. This is an honest love, without pretenses or pride. No matter how many complexities surround their lives, it is a simple, straightforward love. This, Cheri can tell.
She nods and gives him an indulgent smile. "Welcome to the family, Your Majesty."
He blushes and stutters a 'thank you' before taking off, and in his retreating back she sees herself. And when her son peeks out from behind the entrance, too far to have heard their conversation, but not far enough to have lost sight of His Majesty, she sees her lost love, Dan Hiri. And when they walk side by side, she sees things come full circle. She sees the second generation love between a Maou and a soldier. She sees a second chance.
It was her matchmaking plans that resulted in bringing love to her second son. Well, it wasn't the direct result, but she was still a catalyst. She thinks she'll start working on her baby Wolfy next.