Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey-Chapter 1010: Aether... Give him to me, Mom!

Selene stared into her mother's eyes for a long moment before softly speaking, "Did you think I found... You repulsive?"

Aether and Xara both raised their eyebrows in unison.

Selene slowly shook her head. Her voice was tender, heavy with emotion. "Of course I was shocked... no, horrified... to find out my own mother was doing something so wicked, so cruel... I honestly didn't know what to say or what to do... It was too much for me at the time… my mind just froze."

Xara lowered her head quietly, her lips trembling slightly as guilt swallowed her whole.

But Selene continued, her voice cracking, eyes glistening with fresh tears. "Yet... Deep down I know... I do know... my mother loved me. My mother took care of me from the very beginning, held me, raised me, fed me, stayed by my side..." Her voice broke as a tear slipped down her cheek. "She is... she is..."

Before she could finish, Xara immediately stepped forward and pulled her into a warm, trembling hug, embracing her tightly as if she never wanted to let go again.

"Don't cry, my dear..." Xara whispered gently, running her fingers softly through Selene's hair, her voice motherly, comforting, deeply shaken.

But Selene didn't stop.

Her voice trembled with a deeper ache now. "D-Do you know what I actually found repulsive...? It wasn't your work... not the experiments, not the science, not the madness..." she whispered while clinging to her mother. "It was that... you didn't t-trust me enough to tell me the truth."

Xara bit her lips hard at those words.

Selene slowly lifted her head, her teary eyes staring at her mother with something raw. "Tell me, Mother... Am I really such a stranger to you? Am I... just some third person in your world? A burden? Am I that unimportant to you...?" Her voice cracked again, and her breathing stuttered as she began to break down even more.

Xara blinked slowly, her chest tightening with realisation. Her daughter wasn't angry because of the horrors she uncovered?

No! She was devastated because Xara didn't trust her enough to open up.

That was the true pain she had been carrying.

Xara gently nudged her forehead against Selene's, pulling her close once more. "I... I..." she whispered, her voice choked. She truly had no words left. What could she say to that?

It wasn't about Selene being a stranger or not. Xara had only wanted to hide her truth from her children to protect them... or maybe out of fear. But now… now she saw how deeply that silence had hurt her daughter.

Selene kept crying softly, her face buried against Xara's shoulder. "Y-You could've just told me the truth... Even if you didn't tell Kai… you could've told me! Why didn't you trust me...?" she whimpered. "How could you believe I would ever hate you for that? I… I would never hate you... I just wanted you to be open with me..." Her body trembled again in her mother's arms.

Xara's expression softened... Her daughter had truly grown—emotionally, spiritually. Unlike Kai, Selene wasn't blinded by rage or pride. She thought things through, saw beyond the surface. She felt... more.

'Selene has always understood better than Kai,' Xara thought weakly. It wasn't about superiority or favouritism—it was just how it was.

Selene simply understood.

"I... I'm really sorry," Xara said with trembling sincerity, her eyes misting up again. "My dear... I'll never hide anything from you ever again. That's a promise I can make with all of my heart." Her tone turned serious, filled with resolve.

Xara knew what was done couldn't be undone. The past was written. But if Selene still had love left for her... if she still believed in her... then Xara would walk any path to make things right.

Selene stared at her mother's face—serious, yet gentle. Without saying anything, she leaned in, resting her head softly on her mother's chest, against her warm, soft breasts, and inhaled her familiar scent. That calming, soothing scent… the one that always brought her comfort since she was a child.

It still worked.

She let out a long, deep sigh as her trembling slowly faded. Her heart eased. Her mind cleared. She felt safe again... in her mother's arms.

With a fragile smile, her face still resting against her mother's chest, Selene whispered, "Tell me something... You love me, right? I'm not just... an experiment, right?"

Xara nodded quickly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I love you, my child... I truly do. You are not just an experiment, not even close. You are my beloved daughter. The moment I first held you in my arms, I knew... I was blessed. I was grateful. I was happy. I never wanted to let go. I'm... just a foolish, broken woman... Please... please forgive me." Her fingers tightened around Selene's clothes, desperate to hold her daughter close, afraid to ever lose her again.

Selene's body trembled with emotion. Seeing her mother cry before her, begging for forgiveness, was almost too much. She bit her lower lip hard.

"Can I still... call you Mom?" she asked, her voice shaking, unsure, aching for love.

Xara's eyes turned warmer, gentler than ever before. She smiled through her tears. "Of course, my love... I'd love to hear that again, Sel."

"Mom..." Selene whispered. She hugged her mother back, tightly, fully, as if she never wanted to let go again.

Xara's heart swelled with warmth, joy, and bittersweet pride. She was grateful. So incredibly grateful... for her daughter's understanding, for her forgiveness, for this second chance.

Yet...

'Is she truly alright?' Xara thought quietly. Despite this reconciliation, a part of her was worried about Selene's mind. What Xara had done was not something easily forgivable, and her daughter understood her at this young age... not even Xara's had it.

A mother will always worry for her child... Even if it good. That's just how it is.

Aether, watching silently from nearby, smiled softly at the sight.

Xara ruffled Selene's hair a few times as her daughter still rested against her chest. Then she asked gently, with a bit of teasing doubt in her tone, "So... you're not angry anymore?"

Selene slowly lifted her head from her mother's chest, not looking directly into her eyes, more like staring at her mother's clothes instead, before calmly saying, "Yes."

Xara's face turned slightly gloomy again.

But then Selene added, her voice more playful this time, "Although... there is a way to solve that too."

Xara's eyes lit up a little. "Which is?" she asked quickly, a hopeful tone in her voice.

Selene leaned in a little closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stared directly into her mother's. "Tell me... where are you going?"

Xara hesitated. "Well... I... I'm going far away from this place..."

"Which is...?" Selene leaned in even more.

Xara gulped, nervously starting to glance at Aether when—

"Look at me, Mom. I'm right here. Answer me," Selene said with a firmer, stricter tone.

Xara blinked and scratched her head awkwardly before mumbling, "Well, I kind of... bought a house. So... I'll be staying there..." she trailed off with a nervous laugh, sweat trickling down her temple.

Just seconds ago, she had vowed not to hide anything from her daughter. And now here she was... already gulping down her honesty again.

Selene nodded, "Hmm... good. What about me then?"

Xara frowned, "What about you? You can stay here... Velc wouldn't let yo—"

Selene shook her head firmly, "I cannot be here... that's it," she said with a strict tone. "So, I am coming with you."

"..." Xara blinked, just about to glance at Aether again when Selene caught her chin and turned it back, "I'm still here, Mom," she smiled, but that smile held no warmth at all.

Xara bit her lips, "The house is a little small, you know..." she tried to come up with some excuse, but Selene remained firm.

"I'll stay in the corner."

"I... I don't have a big cupboard."

"I only have a few clothes."

"... There are no servants to clean and wash everything."

"I'll be fine doing my clothes, thank you."

"... There's no water to bathe!"

"I don't mind bathing once a month."

"..." Aether blinked just then, /I am obviously not an idiot!/ her word echoed in his mind with bashful.

After a few rounds of back-and-forth, finally, Selene said, "Looks like you don't want me... Well, I guess I'll just go lie on the roadside like a pathetic, homeless woman—"

"You can stay," Xara interrupted, nodding without a hint of hesitation.

"Hmm? Are you sure?" Selene tilted her head with an amused expression.

"Of course, you can stay," Xara nodded again. She would rather let her daughter come along and eventually find the truth than imagine her lying on the roadside like a beggar or something.

She'd talk to Aether about it later.

Xara's face brightened with hopeful expression, "So... you're not angry anymore?"

Selene hummed before replying, "A little bit?"

Xara groaned, "What else?"

Selene suddenly smirked with a sly glint, "This outfit... did you buy it during your date with Aether?"

Xara's cheeks instantly flushed red, "T-That's not a date... and... yes, I bought it during one of our usual calm walks."

Selene narrowed her eyes, "You're not dating Aether?"

Xara's face turned horrified, "What are you talking about? H-He is my son! Didn't you hear my--"

"Your Obvious lie" Selene blankly stared at her mother, "Mom, I am no idiot... I have seen everything the way he acts before you... that's no how Kai acted as you son... I knew it mom, that story was lie"

"..." Xara averted her eyes.

"Mom, I was the one who even gave you hints about the roses and surprises... Do you think I'm an idiot who wouldn't notice her mother sniffing Aether's coat?"

'She what?!' Aether's eyes widened in shock at that sudden revelation.

Xara sighed. She knew her daughter already had an idea about her relationship with Aether. "Hmm..." Xara simply nodded. "And no, I'm not sniffing his coat or anything! I-It's just an experiment, okay?" as she glared at Aether dangerously.

Aether smirked... Xara blushed softly but turned back her head to Selene who had a deadpan expression, "I guess, I don't need even words.. still.. Yes or no?" Selene asked with a stern face.

Xara bit her lip, cheeks glowing slightly red, "Y-Yes."

"Fine... give me."

"... These clothes? No wa—" Xara frowned slightly.

Selene's expression turned wicked, "Nah. Him. Aether. Give him to me," she said as she pointed at Aether with a deadly serious face.

Xara blinked before calmly responding, "...Okay."

"...What?" Both Selene and Aether echoed in stunned surprise.

Uno Reverse card... Xara used it! Without knowing!!