“T-That’s… well… if Your Highness insists…”

Krista’s voice faltered slightly. She bowed her head again—not out of obligation, but out of genuine respect.

Yet even as she tried to gather herself, that lingering question refused to leave her mind.

Just then, sensing the tension in the room had finally softened—at least marginally—Princess Snow took the opportunity to gently steer the situation toward something more formal.

Her posture shifted with a quiet poise, and the soft smile she wore became a touch more diplomatic, yet still warm.

After all, as the one who led this unexpected visit, it was her responsibility to speak first.

To be honest, what had happened earlier wasn’t entirely unexpected.

She’d prepared herself mentally for the possibility that Riley’s mother—or rather, any of his family members—might react strongly to their sudden appearance.

But even with that mental preparation… she hadn’t anticipated things turning quite like this.

Snow cast a quick glance toward Alice and Rose—both sitting silently, their expressions properly composed, but with faint traces of guilt still clinging to their eyes.

Of course they were embarrassed. So was she. There wasn’t a single one of them who felt proud of how they handled the beginning of this meeting.

Fainting.

Of all things.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault per se, but the way Krista had collapsed still weighed on Snow’s conscience.

Her first meeting with Riley’s mother… she’d wanted it to be more sincere, more gentle.

She had rehearsed how she’d greet her, what kind of tone she’d use, and even how she’d smile—not as a princess, but as a girl who truly cared about the boy Krista had raised.

But reality had, as always, been less than ideal.

‘If only we’d had more time to prepare’ she thought, holding back a sigh.

The truth was, this wasn’t their original plan.

They were supposed to meet Riley’s mother separately, one at a time, and in a more controlled, private setting.

Maybe a casual visit.

Maybe an invitation.

Something subtle, something that would’ve allowed them to ease into the awkwardness without shocking her with three high-profile girls showing up on her doorstep unannounced.

But plans had changed—abruptly.

Due to an unforeseen complication regarding a certain fiancé flying around taking their man wherever, they had no time to coordinate, no room to divide the roles neatly.

And so, with barely any discussion, the three of them had resorted to Plan B—if one could even call it a plan, especially Alice who was just informed right at the get go.

Plan B basically consisted of…

A collective, unspoken decision to just… show up together.

And now here they were. Sitting in a noblewoman’s living room, surrounded by fine tea, untouched sweets, and an atmosphere so thick with tension you could cut it with a knife.

Snow fought the urge to rub her temples.

If there were a way to go back in time and redo this introduction, she absolutely would.

Her tone, her entrance, the way she stepped through the front door like royalty when she had meant to come as a guest—all of it felt like a misstep now.

She could still remember Krista’s expression before she fainted. Shock, confusion… and just a hint of dread.

“We need to fix this…”

That thought had been repeating in Snow’s head like a quiet chant ever since Krista had stirred awake.

Even though Riley’s mother was surprisingly understanding and composed, Snow knew better than to take that grace for granted.

This wasn’t just a courtesy between nobles.

This woman—Countess Krista Hell—was someone Snow genuinely wanted to make a good impression on.

Her future mother-in-law, if everything continued the way her heart hoped.

Of course, the title was presumptuous.

But the feeling behind it wasn’t.

It came from a sincere place.

Snow wanted to meet Krista not as a princess, not as a representative of the empire—but as a girl who truly cared for her son.

A girl who, along with the two beside her, had arrived unannounced… and accidentally caused the poor woman to faint for nearly thirty minutes.

No matter how you looked at it, it was a disaster.

“I’ll apologize again later. Privately, just me. Properly…” Snow made a mental note, glancing toward Krista with a mix of guilt and admiration.

She really was beautiful.

Now that Snow had a proper look at her, she could see where Riley got his features.

That serene gaze.

That natural poise.

There was something sharp yet kind in her eyes—something that reminded her a lot of Reina too.

In a strange way, Krista felt like a perfect combination of both of Riley’s siblings, which made Snow feel oddly more connected to the boy she—

She shook the thoughts away.

Now’s not the time for daydreams.

She had a duty to make things right first.

Seeing Krista quietly sip from her tea with her hands resting politely in her lap, Snow stood up with practiced elegance, brushing aside the trailing hem of her gown as she stepped forward.

“Now that we’ve… finally recovered from the incident earlier,” she began gently, her voice smooth and respectful, “please allow us to formally introduce ourselves, Countess.”

Krista blinked.

Only then did it truly occur to her—they hadn’t properly introduced themselves yet.

The girls had arrived with such overwhelming presence, and everything had unfolded so quickly, that common etiquette had been brushed aside entirely.

That realization made her straighten in her seat a little, trying to regain some control over the situation, though her eyes remained cautious.

Snow placed one hand lightly over her chest and gave a poised, graceful bow.

“As you may already know, my name is Snow Luvenitia White Germonia Leven—crown princess of the Germonia Empire,” she said clearly, though without arrogance. “It is a true honor to be welcomed into your home, Countess.”

She gestured to her right. “The young lady beside me is Rose Brilliance, daughter of Duke Brilliance and heir to one of the founding houses of the Central Federation.”

Rose, who had been standing calmly with her hands clasped in front of her, gave a soft nod and lowered her head in a well-practiced bow.

“Hello, Countess,” she said in a composed tone. Despite her noble aura, there was an unmistakable trace of nervousness in her voice—one that made Krista’s shoulders tense all over again.

The sight of such a powerful noble bowing her head toward her, a mere countess, was… disorienting, to say the least.

Before Krista could react, Snow gestured toward her left.

“And here,” she continued with a gentle smile, “is Miss Alice Holloway. Though I doubt she needs much introduction. Her accomplishments, like Rose’s, are already well known across the continent.”

Alice, dressed modestly compared to the others, gave a small, polite bow. Her golden eyes briefly met Krista’s, and she offered a quiet, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Countess.”

There was nothing flashy about her tone or mannerisms—but something about Alice’s presence carried weight.

As if she were used to hiding deeper intentions behind that soft demeanor. Krista noted it immediately.

And finally, with a slight twirl of her wrist and a light tug of her gown, Snow gave one last curtsy, lifting the hem of her skirt slightly as tradition demanded.

“That concludes our rather overdue formal greetings,” she said with a light, almost playful smile. “I hope this… makes up for the chaotic start we had earlier.”

“…Yes… it’s a pleasure to meet all of you,” Krista finally managed, her voice soft and careful, the words catching slightly in her throat.

She rose briefly from her seat and offered a polite nod to the three young women before her. They looked radiant—far too radiant for her modest living room, like stars that had somehow descended to

Earth. Clearing her throat with a quiet cough, Krista quickly sat back down and gave a small, awkward smile.

“I-I must apologize,” she said, flustered. “As the host of the household, I’ve been… rather poor in welcoming you all. P-Please, princess… ladies… do take your seats. I imagine your visit here must be for something important, yes?”

Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the teacup in front of her.

She took a small sip, hoping the warmth would help settle her nerves.

The porcelain clinked quietly against the saucer, but she could feel the tension in her chest rising again.

Snow smiled, a gentle, amused sound escaping her lips. She found Krista’s genuine flustered state endearing.

“Please, Countess,” Snow said, her voice light yet sincere, “there’s no need for such formalities with me. From now on, I’d be honored if you simply addressed me as Snow.”

Krista nearly choked on her tea.

“S-Snow…?” she echoed, blinking rapidly. That was unexpected.

But the surprise didn’t end there.

Snow tilted her head slightly and smiled even brighter.

“Well… it’d be a bit much to keep addressing one another so formally, wouldn’t it? Especially among family members, right?”

Krista froze. Her teacup almost slipped from her hand.

“F-Family…?”

“Fufu~,” Snow giggled. “Surely, you’ve at least heard about our relationship with Riley, right, Countess? At this point, calling each other by our full titles would just feel awkward. So, perhaps… may we address you as Mother from now on?”

Krista’s entire body stiffened.

“M-Mother…?”

She hadn’t expected that.

Snow was still smiling, clearly enjoying the moment, though not maliciously. Her tone was teasing—but underneath it, there was an unmistakable sincerity. She meant it.

“Ah… was that a bit too forward?” Snow added, tapping her cheek with a finger. “Then… how about… Mom?”

Krista stared at her in stunned silence.

Rose stepped in calmly, placing a hand near her chest as if trying to soothe the atmosphere. “That’s… even more direct, don’t you think?” she said in her usual reserved tone. “For now, I believe calling the Countess Mother would be more appropriate.”

Snow nodded in agreement. “That’s fair.”

Then came Alice’s turn. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement as her voice softened just enough to sound mischievous. “Still… we did barge into your home rather rudely,” she said sweetly. “So being too direct might be a bit much for now, right… Mother?”

Krista’s grip on her teacup tightened ever so slightly.

All three girls—elegant, accomplished, and dangerously beautiful—were now looking at her with open affection, hopeful smiles, and a strange yet overwhelming sense of familiarity.

They didn’t just see her as the Countess of Hell.

They were seeing her as someone… closer.

Someone they wanted to be close to.

The warmth in their voices… the innocent teasing… their expectant, eager gazes—

‘It’s a similar gaze to Liyana in the past…’

It all felt like pressure building up in her chest.

Not a heavy pressure, but a suffocatingly sweet one, like being surrounded by the warmth of a hearth fire that you hadn’t prepared for.

She wasn’t used to this.

Only then did Krista suddenly realized: she wasn’t just dealing with noble ladies.

She was dealing with her son’s suitors.

And worse—

They were serious.

Very, very serious.

‘My dear Liyana I want to fully support you but…. what should I do?’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep