"Alright, alright, Mom," Draven conceded, but her arms remained wrapped around him.
"Are you finally ready to give Mommy a kiss?" she teased.
*It's not like I have a choice,* he thought.
She shifted her face away from his.
"Mommy's been saving this little spot just for your kiss, honey. Come give Mommy a big one, right here."
Blushing, Draven turned and kissed her on the cheek.
"Mmm, perfect!" she said before kissing him as well.
"Mom, stop! I'm not a kid anymore," he protested.
"I can't help it! Mommy loves you so much, more than anything, my baby."
She looked at him in silence for a moment.
"Aren't you going to say it back, or don't you love Mommy? Are you trying to break Mommy's heart by not saying it back?"
Blushing, he softly said, "Love you too, Mom."
Pretending not to hear him, she said, "Hmm? What was that? I think Mommy's ears are broken… I can't hear you!"
She smiled playfully.
Draven chuckled.
*She clearly heard me, but I guess I have to say it again.*
He said it louder.
"I love you too, Mom!"
With a soft smile, she responded, "There it is! That's the sweetest sound in the world."
Draven looked at his mom with a smile on his face as she placed her hand on his head and ruffled his hair affectionately.
"Alright, it's time to get your haircut."
She raised her hand, and dark energy, Shadow Magic, began to gather around it as she slowly walked behind him.
The energy condensed into a pair of sharp scissors.
Using the scissors created with Shadow Magic, she began cutting his hair.
"So, how is it going with those two?" she asked.
*She must be talking about Lyriana and Aldridge,* he thought.
He replied, "Hmm, I guess they're okay."
"I don't know what their motives are for asking to serve you," she said. "You should probably be on guard. They might try something."
*What the hell, Mom?*
"If you knew that, why did you still allow them?" Draven asked.
She giggled.
"She asked to serve you, and you did need a personal maid."
"Yeah, I guess."
"So?"
"So I let her serve you like she wanted. She's also doing it for free."
"Hmm, free? Do you actually pay the maids that work here?"
"Yes, of course, honey."
"Wow, to think they work here of their own free will," he mused. "I always thought it was a do-or-die kind of thing, like either you serve me or die."
Suddenly, his mom stopped cutting his hair.
Draven shivered.
A chill ran down his spine—not from the draft, but from something deeper, colder.
Then, he heard her voice, calm and sharp like a blade pressed against his skin.
"Do you really think of me as someone who would do such a thing?"
His heart froze.
*Shit.*
He'd said it out loud.
Slowly, he turned his head, forcing a nervous smile onto his face.
His mom was looking down at him, still smiling—but it wasn't warm. It was still. Dangerous. The kind of smile that didn't promise comfort.
It promised consequences.
In her hand, the Shadow Scissors pulsed with faint, dark energy. The blades were forged from condensed Shadow Magic.
They didn't reflect light.
They devoured it.
Draven scrambled for an excuse.
"Hmm? Huh? No, I just—"
He didn't finish.
Her hand came down in a sharp strike.
Pain exploded across his forehead.
"Brat!" she snapped, her voice ringing with disbelief. "Do you really think of your own mother like that?"
He rubbed his swelling forehead, grimacing.
*Damn it… why does it hurt so much?*
"I just haven't seen anyone get paid," he muttered, half to himself, trying to make sense of her fury.
She cut him off, her voice rising.
"Of course I pay the maid! What do you think I am?!"
*Yeah… now I know.*
Outwardly, he lowered his head.
"I—I'm sorry."
She scoffed and flicked him on the head.
"I forgive you. Lucky I didn't let the scissors take more than your hair," she added with a giggle, snipping the scissors once for emphasis.
Draven swallowed hard.
*What the fuck... I suddenly feel like I don't need a haircut anymore.*
Trying to shift the topic, he said, "Mom, so—what about Aldrich? It's not like I really need a bodyguard hovering over me all the time."
She replied casually, "It's still best to have one. Besides, you can use him as a sparring partner. Might as well put all that energy of yours to good use."
*Who the hell wants to fight that bastard?* he thought bitterly.
*I'd rather spend my time reading books.*