Chapter 479: A Mother’s Bias….

It was a sunny morning—oddly so.

The winter sky, usually blanketed by muted grays and soft drifting snow, was instead bathed in a clear, golden light.

The snow still clung to the landscape like an icy veil, but the warmth in the air felt almost… gentle.

Inside one of the quieter rooms of the estate, a rather rare sight unfolded.

“Is this how you do it, Mother?”

Snow asked, her brows furrowed in earnest concentration as her slender fingers fumbled with a length of yarn and a pair of needles.

“Yes,” Krista replied with a nod, guiding her with gentle words. “But be careful with the twist there—too sudden, and the fabric might loosen.”

Snow gave another tiny nod, her mouth slightly puffed in focus. The needles clicked awkwardly, and a slight mess of loops began to tangle near her fingertips.

Krista smiled—softly, almost maternally—as she observed the scene.

It was an odd sight, one she never thought she’d witness so naturally: the Imperial Crown Princess of the great Germonia empire, sitting cross-legged on a rug in her house, struggling to knit a scarf like a village girl.

There was something deeply human in it.

When the girls had first arrived at the estate—her son’s… “future Wives,” as everyone had started calling them—Krista had expected headaches, formality, and tension.

But days had passed, and to her quiet surprise, a different reality had settled in.

One filled with warmth, laughter, and oddly, an unexpected domestic peace.

Snow sighed deeply and looked at her failed attempt.

A cluster of knots and uneven rows drooped limply from her needles.

Several other botched scarfs—one half-finished, one completely tangled, and one with holes—were scattered around the room like little casualties of her determination.

Krista couldn’t help but smile again.

“Please don’t laugh, Mother…” Snow said suddenly, a hint of pout in her voice without even looking up.

“I didn’t laugh though,” Krista said, amused.

“I can see it in your smile,” Snow mumbled, pouting further as she gently pulled her scarf apart to redo it again. “Trust me—I’ll perfect this craft in no time. You’ll see.”

“I’m sure you will,” Krista said, her voice laced with gentle affection. She resisted the urge to laugh—not out of mockery, but out of fondness. Somehow, she’d grown soft for this girl.

Snow, for all her prestige, beauty, and formidable titles, was still a young woman.

A daughter-in-law trying her best.

And Krista—who once found the presence of these powerful girls in her household overwhelming—now felt something else entirely.

She had become fond of them.

The house had grown livelier since their arrival, noisier too.

There were more footsteps down the hall, more laughter echoing from the rooms, and a lot more teasing from one girl to another.

At first, it felt chaotic—like a noble estate being turned into a dormitory—but over time, that chaos had shaped itself into something… warm.

Something that felt like family.

And among them all, Snow—stoic and elegant—had opened up the most.

Krista didn’t know when it happened exactly, but they had grown close.

Maybe it was during afternoon tea, or during shared walks in the garden.

Or maybe, like this moment now, it was through small things—quiet mornings filled with sunlight and tangled yarn.

Krista reached over and gently fixed Snow’s misaligned stitch with a smile.

“Don’t rush,” Krista whispered, gently patting Snow’s hand with a touch only a mother could give. “Great things happen with time…”

Snow nodded at her words, her lips curling into a soft smile.

It was quiet between them—comfortably so.

The kind of silence that only forms when two people have spent enough time together to no longer need words to fill the gaps.

Though occasional traces of tension still lingered—mostly due to the undeniable difference in their status—Snow didn’t let that distance matter.

Not anymore.

To her, Krista wasn’t just a noble lady or the mother of a noble family… she was the mother of the person she loved.

And that meant everything.

“Will Riley and the others… like this, Mother?”

Snow asked hesitantly, holding up the barely halfway-done scarf in her lap.

There was nervousness in her voice, as if she feared being laughed at despite the effort she put in.

Krista’s expression softened, her smile warm as ever.

“Fufu… I’m sure they will. You’ve put a lot of effort into it, and that alone will mean more to them than perfection,” she said gently, giving her a supportive look. “Though, if you’re aiming to score a few extra points with Riley, maybe make his scarf a little more special. He’s always had a soft spot for light colors—pastels, especially. Something like cream or sky blue might work.”

She ended her sentence with a gentle wink, the kind only a seasoned mother could give.

“Thank you, Mother…” Snow murmured, clearly touched by the subtle advice.

It wasn’t just the suggestion about the colors—it was Krista’s quiet encouragement, her willingness to give her a nudge in the right direction.

Snow wasn’t oblivious; she could see the affectionate gesture for what it truly was.

Even without saying it outright, Krista was rooting for her.

And she appreciated that more than words could express.

Though Krista tried to remain neutral—at least outwardly—when it came to her son’s complicated romantic life, helping Snow out now and then didn’t feel like favoritism.

Not really.

At least that’s what she told herself. If one of her daughters-in-law had earned her quiet favoritism… well, Snow made it easy.

The girl was graceful, respectful, and quietly determined, and out of all the others, she had made the most effort to bond with Krista personally.

It was endearing.

Krista could tell—Snow genuinely liked spending time with her.

They could sit for hours doing something as mundane as knitting, and Snow wouldn’t grow tired or impatient.

Still, there was also a small part of Snow’s presence here that was more strategic than sentimental.

Krista had raised children.

She could recognize these things.

There was a subtle intention behind some of Snow’s kindness.

A quiet, careful effort to gain her approval.

To better understand Riley from the woman who knew him best.

It was a touch manipulative—but only in the most harmless and, frankly, adorable of ways.

Snow wasn’t scheming; she was just trying her best to understand her place, and maybe, earn it fully.

Krista chuckled inwardly.

’She really is a clever girl…’

But clever or not, Krista couldn’t fault her for it.

She appreciated the effort. In truth, it felt rather nice to be treated with that kind of thoughtfulness.

She knew Snow’s intentions were genuine—even if part of her motives involved scoring some “mother-in-law approval points.”

“Well then,” Krista said, breaking the silence, “should we make some hot tea while we knit? I have a special blend Riley used to love when he was a boy. Maybe it’ll inspire your hands a bit.”

Snow’s eyes lit up, her frustration over the failed stitches momentarily forgotten.

“I’d love that, Mother.”

Krista rose to her feet with a soft laugh, her heart quietly warmed.

It has been a long time since her house felt this alive.

A part of Krista still held quiet concerns about her son having so many lovers—it wasn’t exactly how she imagined his future to unfold.

But now, after spending time with the girls themselves… she was starting to think maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Each girl had their quirks, their distinct personalities, and admittedly, a bit of chaos seemed to follow them wherever they went.

But they were genuine.

Kind.

And they loved her son in their own ways.

And watching them interact, watching how Snow helped her with the smallest of things, or how the others buzzed around the house like flitting little stars, made her realize something strange:

Having multiple daughters-in-law… might actually be a blessing in disguise.

Krista’s cheeks flushed faintly at the thought—though she’d never admit it aloud.

Her heart even beat a little faster as her mind drifted to the future.

The thought of grandchildren—many grandchildren, probably—made her chest tighten with quiet anticipation.

Just imagining a bunch of tiny little hands tugging on her sleeves, shouting “Grandma! Grandma!” with Riley’s eyes and his stubbornness brought a rare smile to her lips.

Of course… she couldn’t help but wonder how on earth her son was physically keeping up with such energetic and affectionate lovers, especially with how lively they all were.

But that was a topic she firmly—and wisely—refused to think too hard about.

’I’m sure my son has his ways…’ she thought with an amused sigh, shaking her head slightly.

She never saw herself as someone fond of harems.

It was a structure prone to jealousy, imbalance, and complications.

But… if Riley could truly love each of them with his whole heart—if he could keep them happy without losing himself in the process—then she would support him with all of hers.

As long as his love stayed sincere, he would always have her approval.

“By the way, Snow,” she said after a moment, casually sipping her tea, “aren’t you going out with Riley and the other girls later this afternoon?”

“Yes!” Snow perked up slightly, nodding. “Uhm, if you’re worried about the time, please don’t be, Mother. We arrived earlier than expected from the duke’s residence, so I wanted to make sure I had more time to spend with you first.”

Krista shook her head gently, chuckling under her breath.

“Fufu, it’s not that—I just wanted to give you a little dating advice,” she said, setting her cup down. “It’s lovely to explore and discover things together as a couple, of course, but just a little motherly tip… Riley’s quite fond of the pasta place on Lower Level Street. It’s tucked between two antique shops—easy to miss, but charming once you find it.”

Snow blinked, surprised at the sudden tip.

Krista leaned in slightly, lowering her voice like she was about to tell a precious secret.

“And also… before twilight sets in completely, there’s an old legend here in Hamen City. They say that if a man and woman share a kiss—ten seconds long—at the central fountain, their love is said to last for eternity.”

Snow’s face flushed instantly.

“M-Mother, that’s…!”

Krista smiled, entirely unbothered by the younger woman’s reaction.

“You can share that with your sisters, if you like,” she said, her voice full of gentle mischief.

Snow let out a soft breath, hiding her bashful expression behind the half knitted scarf on her neck as she responded.

“Of course, Mother….”

But the subtle sparkle in her eyes betrayed the truth behind her composed answer.

It was the smile of someone already planning when, and how, she’d make that ten-second kiss happen.

Even if she had to make sure none of the others beat her to it.

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