Mother stood still, expecting us to attack first. 

I used this chance to gather my bearings and assess the situation. 

Last time I fought her, I had to calm myself by thinking of her as just another opponent. But it was dawning on me that I shouldn’t do that anymore.

Mother wasn’t just another opponent, she would never be. Mother was Mother, a talented swordsman, capable of adapting to any situation with elegant precision. A master at taking down multiple foes, and able to disable an opponent in a few seconds flat. Her instincts and battle experience were second to none.

If I thought of her as anything but a monster in battle, I wouldn’t last.

But that doesn’t mean I had to be scared to fight her. No, in fact, it meant the opposite.

Her instincts. Her precision. Her skills.

Having seen her fight several times in this very dance hall, I believed I had cracked the code.

Once again, I took a deep breath. If there was any doubt left about my victory, I already snuffed it out.

I moved, both of me.

Both of my bodies flew forward, the taps on the marble floor rhythmic. Our blades felt heavy, but I was determined not to let it go.

Moving in perfect unison. Our footsteps harmonized.

Carine’s elegant taps. Feyt’s booming thumps.

I must become one with myselves.

It was coordination so synergized that no two souls could achieve. 

But one can.

Just before entering her range, we stepped sideways, counter-clockwise. Mother’s eyes widened, perhaps surprised by the sudden, simultaneous movement.

I swung my swords. Carine aimed low, Feyt aimed high.

Mother jumped back, unable to block both at the same time. Our swords cut air, passing by each other at a small distance.

I shifted my legs, letting my boots glide across the marble for both of us to regain our footing. Now side-by-side, I rushed forward as one, footsteps synchronized, rising and falling at the same exact pace. I was the perfect shadow of myselves.

Mother’s blank eyes narrowed at the sight of us approaching. “What…”

We swung. Feyt’s blade rising, Carine’s blade descending.

Once again, Mother couldn’t possibly block both of them, so she jumped back on instinct. But this time, her distance was closer.

I rushed forward as Feyt, giving her a quick swing. She blocked it while gritting her teeth. With her blade still meeting Feyt’s, I rushed as Carine giving another quick swing. She quickly retracted her blade to deflect Carine’s.

But before she could raise a foot or push her hilt, I swung again as Feyt. Then as Carine. Then as Feyt. Over and over again.

It became a flurry of swings, a cacophony of metal hitting metal in a strange, constant rhythm. Each strike pushed Mother back further and further.

Mother’s solution for fighting multiple opponents was clear and simple. Secure a one-on-one duel amidst the chaos, and thin them out slowly. Destroy their teamwork and coordination through whatever means necessary. If there was any opening… if one person was distanced from the others, she wouldn’t waste time to seize the chance.

That was why I had the perfect counter against that. My two-bodied coordination, with one body perfectly knowing what the other was thinking and doing at every moment. Even if one was still reeling from an attack, the other could cover instantly. 

Our assault continued; it felt almost like a dance. My blades never touched each other, as my mind calculated every single swing each body should take to maximize everything. Mother didn’t have a single opening she could exploit.

Mother seized a small delay in our response to launch an attack of her own, but I parried it away with Carine. Immediately, I lunged as Feyt. Mother reeled back hard but managed another block, her stance crumbling little by little.

Eventually, we backed her enough until her back was practically against a wall. Backed off into a corner, she wouldn’t have much range of motion. This was it.

I stepped back, both of me. Mother immediately seized the moment of breath to gather herself. But before she could, I lunged myselves forward at once, our blades crossing paths.

Noticing this, she raised her blade low to block them. She planted her feet, her stance deepened.

As we got close, I raised both of my blades with strength. 

““Aaaaaaagh!”” both of my bodies screamed.

—Three blades clashed.

One snapped upward from the force. 

Mother’s blade flew from her grip. It blurred as it spun into the air, eventually crashing down with a metallic clatter that echoed through the entire hall.

Her hands trembled from the shock. Her feet scrambled backwards. Her eyes looking at the both of me.

I panted and heaved heavy breaths. 

I had won.

Somehow, I had won.

Mother froze as the room fell into silence.

…

I gathered my breaths, and when I had enough composure to talk properly, I stepped forward as Carine.

Mother didn’t move, her eyes were staring between the two of me. Her arms were lowered now, her palms slack. Her breathing was shallow and uneven.

Blood still trickled down my thigh, the adrenaline seeping away as pain returned to me with each step. But I didn’t stop.

“Mother… It’s over.”

Mother didn’t respond. Her eyes lowered to the ground as her breaths slowed.

I extended my hand. “Please, come to your senses, Mother. Father will be home soon.”

She inhaled sharply. She closed her eyes and took a step forward.

“Why… Why are you so stubborn, Carine?”

For the first time since we fought, she had called me by name. But it was clear to me, her mind hadn’t cleared just yet. No matter, I’d bring her back, I promised myselves that.

“All I’m doing is trying to protect you…” Mother’s gaze flicked upward, locked straight into mine. Her eyes glared forward, yet I couldn’t see the rage past that thick cloud of blankness covering her eyes. “Why are you throwing yourself into danger?! Is this how you treat the one who raised you?!”

Her words were full of conviction. But even without Feyt’s ears, I could tell… her words meant nothing, even to her. I swallowed a gulp, sweat trickling down the side of my face. I lowered my hand as I cleared my throat silently. 

“I threw myself into danger to save you, Mother. That man has lied to you, and you should already know that. The one being stubborn here isn’t me.” I extended my hand once more. “So please, let it go. Let’s go back inside the estate, and we’ll—”

“Don’t you dare insinuate that you know better than me!” Mother’s voice cut through the air as if she still had a blade. “I always thought you were smart, always thinking of the future. Yet here you are, being childish against me.”

I… didn’t know what to say to that. For a moment, both of me stood there in silence. Carine’s body was rooted where I was, facing Mother. Feyt remained behind the other me, blade still held firm.

It was clear my voice couldn’t reach her. 

Then something clicked.

Why was I only speaking with one voice?

I shifted focus. I let my breath calm down in both bodies, then, as Feyt, I stepped forward.

“You trained her yourself, Instructor.”

Mother’s eyes flicked to the one behind Carine.

“She’s not just your daughter, she’s her own person,” I continued. “She is reliable in tough situations, strong when faced with challenges, and observant to anything and anyone.”

Ugh, having myself say that out loud was a bit embarrassing.

Despite the heat rising to both pairs of my cheeks, I didn’t stop. She needed to hear this.

“Carine is strong. She’s not reckless, she’s not childish. If even I could notice that, why shouldn’t you?”

Mother stood still. Her eyes flicked to the ground once more. I could hear her grit her teeth.

“Y-You heard Feyt, Mother,” I said as Carine, the blush from praising myself so directly still there. “Please, accept my hand.”

As I extended my hand closer to her, she lunged forward.

“No—!” she yelled as she pushed my shoulder.

I stumbled back, the wound on my thigh made me lose balance. I tripped and fell on my back, my other body couldn’t catch me in time.

“Agh—!”

I felt sharp, searing pain echo throughout my leg. Did I twist it?

“Ugh—! It… hurts…!”

As I whimpered at the sudden, unexpected pain, Mother’s eyes widened. Her eyes fell upon both of me. Carine, lying on the ground holding her wounded thigh, and Feyt supporting her back.

“W-Who…” she muttered, almost too soft to hear. “Who did that to you?”

I blinked through the pain. 

What was she talking about?

The breath caught in her throat. Through the reflection in her eyes, I saw her gaze trailing the crimson line trickling down my thighs, soaking into my thigh-highs. Then, her pupils trembled.

“No… w-why are you hurt?” she whimpered. “I… I was trying to protect you. But this… who… what am I protecting by doing this?!”

Little by little, I saw the blankness clouding her eyes dissipate.

Her legs gave out as she crumbled to her knees. She clutched her head, shaking it violently, as if trying to rattle thoughts out of her own skull. Her eyes were wide and stared into nothing. Then, it fell to the small pool of blood pooling underneath her.

“No. No, no, no, no. This—This blood, this isn’t mine… This is… Carine’s—?!”

The words dissolved into dry sobs. Her shoulders trembled, her breaths coming in frantic bursts.

Despite the pain, I helped myself back up and rushed forward to Mother.

“Mother—!”

Her arms flinched, expecting a blow. But I only wrapped mine around her tightly. 

“Mother! It’s okay! I’m okay!”

I held her firm, trying to slow down her rising breath.

“Why… Why is this happening?! Why did I raise a sword against her?! What was I trying to do?!”

Her hold on her head grew firm. In response, I held her closer to me.

“Mother! I’m alright! It’s over now, please snap out of it!”

As I held her firm, our foreheads touched. Mother’s dry sobs and frantic breaths slowed down. Eventually, it grew quieter until they faded into nothingness.

Then… with a short whimper, her eyes met mine, tears began to roll down her face.

“Carine…”

“Mother… I’m here.”

“…I’m… sorry. For… everything.”

Her breaths grew fainter by the second until her eyes fluttered shut. She’d fallen unconscious, from the shock, the adrenaline, everything. I held her body, still warm yet trembling, close to me.

Finally. 

Finally!!

It’s over!

I exhaled, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. My breath whimpered slightly.

I doubt things would go back to normal after this.

But at least, Mother was safe now.

My breaths were still heavy, my body not yet accepting that things were finally over. I figured that once both of me accepted it, we would probably collapse from exhaustion, just like Mother.

But then, the door behind us creaked.

Both of my heads turned. 

Has Father returned? I asked myself. But the footsteps echoing down the lobby didn’t match his.

Then who was—

When the door opened fully, my eyes sharpened. Energy filled my body as I felt my fingers twitch.

“My, my. Sure is a massacre in here,” the gentleman said, eyes scanning the room. His deceitfully gentle eyes fell upon me. “Huh, did I interrupt something?”

I gently set Mother down to the floor, ensuring her breath remained steady before I stood up. I picked up the sword I had set down.

My eyes flicked to the bastard by the door. My grip on my swords had never been firmer.

I rushed forward. To the man who called himself ‘Sebastian’. To the man who started everything. To the man who caused Mother this suffering.

I will…

I will make him suffer! For everything!

““SEBASTIAN!””

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep