Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 342: I will marry both of them
"Taranis... is it really you?" Mother asked in a low voice, her gaze fixed on my face.
"Yes, Mother," I whispered, touching her hand against my cheek. "F-forgive me... I’m... I’m late."
"T-Taranis, my son," Mother murmured, tears forming in her eyes.
She slowly leaned forward in her chair and pulled me into her embrace, both her hands moving across my face in a trembling motion.
"My son... my son... my son," she repeatedly murmured, sobbing heavily.
I gently wrapped my arms around her, my face resting against her chest as a tear rolled down from the corner of my eye.
"F-forgive me, Mother. I have not been a filial son," I whispered in a low voice.
For the next five minutes, unstoppable tears surged from her eyes, trailing down her cheeks as she wept, holding me with whatever strength her weakened body could muster.
---
"Wh-what in the heavens is going on?" Lily mumbled, utterly shocked and confused by the situation.
"H-her Majesty has moved for the first time in seventeen years!" she exclaimed. "I must inform Lord Robert."
Just as she was about to leave the temple, Ume coiled her fingers around Lily’s temple. A faint pink energy entered Lily’s head, making her faint instantly.
---
Once Mother calmed down, I asked, holding her arms with both hands,
"Mother, how did you become weakened to such a state?"
Her eyes lowered as her trembling hands wiped away her tears, and she whispered in a low tone,
"What woman could live when both her husband and son were killed right in front of her eyes? I had neither the reason nor the strength to live. If not for Nymeria, I would have already—"
Before she could complete her sentence, I hugged her tightly and murmured, "Don’t say that, Mother. I’m here now. You must live a long and healthy life."
"Hm," she nodded, accepting my embrace.
Now that my heart had calmed, my gaze fell upon the two wheels connected to either side of her chair.
"Mother, this..."
"My spine was pierced by the blade. I... I have lost the feeling in my legs," she mumbled, understanding what I wanted to ask.
Her revelation sent jolts of raw fury surging through me. My blood boiled, my nails dug into my skin until blood seeped out as my entire body trembled with rage.
"Kharos," I muttered. "You will pay for every pain you inflicted upon my family."
"Taranis, I will not stop you from taking your revenge," Mother said. Her voice was still low, yet firm. "But do not let revenge consume your reason."
She was referring to what I had done in the Sentinel Line. She must be worried about the lengths I would go to in slaughtering Solaris this time.
"You need not worry, Mother," I said, suppressing my anger before asking, "Do you remember what happened in the Sentinel Line after I fell?"
"I only have faint memories, as I myself was barely conscious at the time," Mother replied, recalling the events.
"The last thing I remember was Nymeria covering me within an ice barrier. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw both you and your father’s... lifeless bodies."
"S-so that means Father really..." I muttered, yet I dared not speak the word aloud.
---
"Son, what happened to your appearance?" Mother asked. "Were you reincarnated, or are you possessing someone else’s body?"
"N-no, Mother, what are you even saying?" I replied, facepalming. "I’m wearing a mask."
Moving my fingers to my neck, I removed the mask from my face, revealing my original appearance with black hair and golden eyes.
When Mother saw my real face, the same facial structure I had seventeen years ago, her eyes grew moist once again.
"Y-you are still as dashing as your father," she murmured, gently brushing my cheeks.
"Your eyes have become even more mysterious and beautiful," she added a moment later, referring to the dual pupils I carried.
"Mother, let me check the condition of your body," I said, rising to my feet.
Touching her forehead, I asked inwardly,
"Vivi, perform a thorough checkup of her entire body and tell me a method to completely cure her."
"Initializing Host’s request..."
"Analyzing the body of the target..."
.
.
.
"Analysis completed!"
"Due to prolonged mental depression, the target is suffering from extreme malnutrition. The target’s spinal cord was also damaged, rendering her unable to exert strength in her legs.
Recommended remedies to completely cure her:
1. Since the target is at the Eternal Sage Realm, her body cannot gain nutrition from normal food. Consumption of high-tier Soul Stones is recommended to cure the malnutrition.
2. Once the target regains her health, operate on her spine using divine Soulforce and the Eyes of the Fallen to repair the spinal cord."
"O-operation? But I’m not a doctor!" I murmured inwardly. "What is the success rate of the operation?"
"Thirty percent if the Host performs the operation. Ninety percent if the Beast Goddess performs it using the guidance of the Host’s eyes."
A ray of hope and relief appeared in my eyes as I briefly looked at Ume.
"Once again, I will be depending on her," I thought inwardly.
"Who is this beautiful lady?" Mother asked, noticing my gaze.
"Come here," I called to Ume.
"Mother, her name is..."
"I’m Ume Kitsune," Ume introduced herself with a slight bow, lifting her robe.
Her decision to reveal her true name took me aback for a moment. She had never told anyone her name before, which was why I had been hesitant to mention it. Yet now, before Mother, she introduced herself with her full name. She said nothing further, leaving the decision of how she was related to me in my hands.
I grabbed Ume’s hand and said, "Mother, she is the woman I love and have promised to marry. She is my betrothed."
The smile Mother had been carrying until now vanished from her face. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
With a worried and sharp voice, she asked, "What happened to little Nymeria?"
Her concern was obvious, given the values and character she had instilled in me. She knew there was no way I would marry another woman if Nymeria were truly fine.
"Mother, Nymeria is completely fine," I replied.
Taking a deep breath, I continued, "I will marry both of them."
