Chapter 282: Really jealous?

"Mom?"

Eira was surprised as Florence suddenly clasped her wrist and pulled her away from the hallway.

Before she could even react, she was pulled through to her mother’s room, and Florence closed the door behind them.

Without hesitation, Florence cupped Eira’s cheeks in her hands as she lowered her gaze to meet her daughter’s eyes "Dear... why are you interfering when I am with Brandon?"

Eira blinked, taken aback. "Interfering?"

Florence’s eyes softened, "You know what I mean. When you step between us like that, it unsettles me. I don’t understand why you’re doing it."

Eira puffed out a breath and turned her face slightly away, though Florence’s hands kept her close "I thought you would help me... and you agreed too."

There was a flicker of guilt in Eira’s expression "I kinda want to help you, Mom, but-" she huffed, folding her arms and glaring off to the side, "-the show you’re putting on is too much. It’s irritating me."

Florence tilted her head, her blonde hair brushing over her shoulders as her hands slid down from Eira’s cheeks. "Too much?" she asked gently.

Eira’s gaze dropped, and before she could stop herself, her eyes narrowed at her mother’s breasts.

*pla*

She slapped her palm lightly against it, and the impact made Florence flinch in surprise as Eira grasped her breasts and gave an exasperated squeeze.

"This!" Eira exclaimed, glaring up at her mother. "Why is it so big- and why are you always pushing it against him? You don’t even try to hide it!"

"Hngh..." Florence’s breath caught at her daughter’s bluntness, and she instinctively placed a hand over her chest where Eira had smacked.

"Well..." Florence murmured, her fingers idly tracing the neckline of her dress as she rubbed the sore spot.

"I can’t help how I was blessed, dear. And if it happens to draw his eyes or make him flustered, is that really such a crime?"

Eira groaned, throwing her head back. "Ugh, you’re unbelievable!"

Florence giggled softly, and she stepped closer, lowering her hand to rest it against Eira’s shoulder "You’re jealous, aren’t you?"

Eira’s face flushed, and she quickly looked away, "I’m not! I just... don’t want you to overdo it."

Florence leaned in and tucked a loose strand of Eira’s hair behind her ear "Are you... not happy with me loving Brandon?"

Eira shook her head and replied in a low voice "It’s not that..."

Florence’s smile deepened, "Not that?"

She tilted her head and leaned closer, "Then what is it, my darling? Tell me honestly."

Eira tried to step back, but Florence’s hand remained firm on her shoulder.

"It’s just... I don’t want things to become weird," Eira muttered.

"You’re my mom... and Brandon is-" She stopped herself as the words caught in her throat.

Florence’s eyes softened further, though her smile still held that playful edge "Brandon is someone you love, too."

Her thumb stroked Eira’s cheek tenderly "So what are you afraid of? That I’ll take him away from you?"

Eira’s heart skipped, and her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. Her silence was answer enough.

Florence let out a soft, almost sorrowful chuckle and pulled her daughter into a loose embrace, pressing Eira’s head against her shoulder.

"Foolish girl... I would never take him from you. As I said... I only want to share him with you. To love him together. Isn’t that what we agreed?"

Eira stiffened in her mother’s arms.

"You’re too much sometimes," Eira finally confessed with her voice muffled against Florence’s shoulder.

"When you throw yourself at him like that... it makes me feel like I’m... small. Like I can’t keep up with you."

Florence slowly drew back, cupping her daughter’s face again.

Her expression was gentler now, more motherly than teasing "Oh, my sweet Eira... don’t you understand? You’re the one he cherishes most. I may tease, I may play, but you’re the one his heart beats for. I see it every time he looks at you."

Eira blinked, startled by her mother’s certainty "Y-You really think so?"

Florence nodded, brushing her thumb across Eira’s warm cheek "I know so. That’s why I don’t mind being a little bold. Because even if I lean on him, even if I hug him... I can never take away the place you hold inside his heart. I only want to stand beside you, not against you."

Eira’s lips trembled and a sigh escaped her as her shoulders loosened, "...Then don’t make it look like you’re trying to steal him," she whispered, leaning into her mother’s touch despite herself.

Florence giggled softly, "Alright, my dear. I’ll try not to make my little girl jealous."

Eira buried her face against her mother’s shoulder, grumbling, "I’m not jealous..."

Florence’s lips curved into a knowing smile.

She pressed a kiss against the top of her daughter’s head and murmured, "Yes, yes... of course you’re not."

Eira pulled back slightly and looked up at her mother "Also... I’ve already spoken about you to Aunt Elize, Sister Ravene, and Sister Yve..."

Florence blinked in surprise "W-What did they say? Also Yverine? That girl?"

With a soft sigh, Eira nodded "Hmm, she is also one of his girlfriends. Also... they accepted you, as long as you don’t try to monopolize him."

Florence hurriedly shook her head "No, No, No, I don’t mind sharing him... I swear."

Eira slowly nodded and Florence’s smile widened "Now then... the next step is to make Brandon fall in love with me."

Eira’s gaze condensed "I am not gonna lie... but I do think he is pretty interested in you."

Florence’s entire face lit up and her lips curled into a giddy smile "Do you think so? Do you think he has a crush on me?"

Eira blinked, seeing her sudden enthusiasm and then let out a small chuckle "You are really happy about that."

Florence clapped her hands together before rushing forward to hold Eira’s arms "Of course I am! Dear, you don’t understand... I thought he might see me only as your mother, a woman who’s too old or too far removed from him! But if you say he’s interested, then I still have a chance...!"

"Mom..." Eira muttered, shaking her head in disbelief at her mother’s giddiness.

Florence giggled and her heart softened further "But seriously, dear... thank you, truly..."

Looking at the vulnerability in her mother’s face, Eira’s gaze trembled, and she leaned forward, gently kissing her cheek "Then, good luck on your attempt to make him fall in love."

Florence nodded her head with a bright smile "Mhm."

---

Leaning against the cool balcony railing, Brandon tilted his head back, letting the night breeze wash across his face.

A quiet chuckle slipped past his lips as he held his phone to his ear "You didn’t cause any commotion today, did you?"

Seonhwa, who was on the other side of the call, was flustered and replied "No, Master.. i didn’t do anything. I am your good maid. I behaved, I promise."

Brandon smiled gently "Good, I will return there soon."

There was a pause before Seonhwa’s voice broke through again, tinged with excitement she failed to conceal "Really? Then I’ll be waiting for you, Master... waiting very much."

His tone softened even further "Mhm... Then I will talk to you tomorrow."

"Yes, Master," Seonhwa replied quickly, almost breathlessly, like even the small exchange filled her chest with warmth.

Hearing her tone, he smiled tenderly and cancelled the call.

He came downstairs and looked at Eira and Dhayun sitting on the couch, looking at the tablet in their hands as bright colors illuminated their faces.

"If you’re starting anime," Dhayun said, scrolling through the list, "you should start with this one. It’s super good, a classic."

Eira was amused to hear this "Ohhh, the title also looks interesting."

Dhayun chuckled and nudged her with her elbow. "Haha, we can watch together later."

"Okie."

Looking at them, Brandon smiled and walked to the kitchen.

His gaze flicked toward the counter, where Elize was standing beside Yverine, guiding her hands as she cut vegetables.

"No, no- you shouldn’t cut this vegetable like this," Elize said patiently, her hand covering Yverine’s hand to correct her grip on the knife.

"If you press too hard, you’ll bruise the greens before they even cook."

Yverine frowned slightly, her pride wounded by such a mundane struggle, yet she obediently followed Elize’s guidance "Cooking is more troublesome than drills."

Elize chuckled softly "But far more rewarding if you do it right. You want to cook for Kael, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yverine blushed and her ears turned slightly pink "Hn."

Brandon stood in the doorway, leaning a shoulder against the frame and his gaze narrowed ’Where is Florence?’

He stepped out of the house, walking to the fields in front, and looked at Florence leaning back on the tree, sitting on the mat.

Under the moonlight, he walked to her, and she turned her head toward him with a smile on her face "Brandon..."

She had a half-drunk wine bottle in her and he sat beside her on the mat "Oh, you also brought your own wine..."

She nodded her head and handed the bottle over to him "Here..."

Brandon accepted, taking the bottle and tilting it back for a sip.

The liquid was sweet but carried that sharp bite of alcohol underneath, warming his chest as it slid down.

He handed it back, leaning into the tree with her.

Their shoulders brushed faintly, though neither pulled away.

Florence looked at him quietly for a moment, her expression softening before a sudden giggle left her lips.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke lightly "Reminds me of that night..."

Brandon’s gaze drifted over the moonlit field before shifting back to her "Yeah... we had a long chat that day, didn’t we?"

Florence leaned her head back against the tree with half-lidded eyes as she let out a little hum "Mhm. We really did. I was nervous at first... but you just sat there with me, listening to all my nonsense."

He chuckled low in his throat "I wouldn’t call it nonsense. You were honest. And I liked that."

Her heart fluttered at his words, though she masked it with another sip of wine.

After a pause, she turned her head toward him, her eyes glistening in the moonlight "Brandon... do you think moments like these will keep happening between us?"

He stayed silent for a moment before answering, "As long as you want them to."

Florence’s chest tightened and her grip on the wine bottle faltered slightly.

She set it aside, her fingers brushing the grass nervously as a small, almost shy smile spread across her lips "...Then I want them to."

She turned slightly, resting her head against his shoulder.

He stiffened for a moment, but then he eased, and he gently took her hand, interwining his fingers with hers.

The smile on Florence’s lips bloomed as she reciprocated and squeezed his fingers.