Mother // Yandere Stepson x reader

⚜Chapter 6⚜

Y/n was sitting in the waiting room with a cup of tea. It was her first time in the palace, so she was a bit anxious and curious at the same time. She was drinking tea in the heart of the power. This is where the political struggle and scandalous affair countess Perigrine used to talk about.  The countess was the most popular noblewoman in the small countryside she came from and the one relaying the lasted gossip which is obsolete from 1 week usually. It was exciting somehow. 

"_Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't know this room was already used."

The young girl blinked at a young man standing at the doorway. He was around her age with beautiful silver hair that shone like a diamond under the light. His eyes were blue, like a lapis lazuli. He flashed her a magnificent smile as if he was trying to make her blind. Y/n got up and bowed a little. It was a casual yet graceful greeting.  The young man responded with an elegant bow before introducing himself to her. 

"_I'm Caleb... Caleb Eupraxia. 

_Eupraxia... Oh, I didn't know Marquis Epraxia had a son named Caleb. I'm Y/n Pendragon, Duke Pendragon's wife. Nice to meet you, young lord.

_The pleasure is mine duchess. And to satisfy your curiosity, I used to have a very sick body."

Y/n laughed while hearing him talk. He seemed to be a very pleasant man to talk to. She sat down on the couch before going on with the chat. 

"_I see, so you are the empress's brother! Was it after you the prince was named so? "

His eyes shook at her question. Like deep emotion was trying to get out. His eyes darkened only for a few seconds before she could even notice it. 

"_I'm embarrassed to say that he was named after me... And Caleb is a really common name."

Indeed, Caleb was actually a common name. To the point that it was common to meet at least one or two guys named as such in the city. But Y/n couldn't help romance thing up and think that his name was used to name his nephew. A sister who loved her brother to the point that she would name her son like him. Even she wished to name her son if she had one Lucas, like his brother. 

"_Not at all, it's quite romantic and heartwarming actually. 

_Surely the duchess is jesting.

_At all, I do have a little brother so I can kind of understand the feeling."

Caleb looked at the young girl surprised before smiling sweetly. Somehow what she said touched his heart. Just like her sinful dance on that night. 

"_I hope we can meet again, but I have to go now."

He bowed and kissed the back of her hand before leaving the room. Y/n could only watch him disappear behind the door dumbfounded. Caleb hurried his step as he tried to calm his beating heart. Caleb Eupraxia... Or should he say, Caleb Diones Avalon, the actual crown prince. Of course, he did feel bad for using his dead uncle identity. But he couldn't explain what he was feeling right now. It wasn't anxiety or sadness, it was a strange bubbly feeling like he was relieved. But he also felt tight on his chest. So for the first time in a while, he ran to his mother like a little kid, like the little KID he actually is. Forgetting any manners, he barged into her palace startling the maid. The empress looked at him incredulously. Ambrose Eupraxia, her mother was a beautiful woman, the most beautiful and the most loved of all. It was rare but the emperor was so loyal and sincere with his love for her that it was seen as the romance of the century. For the woman, he was a helpless fool and she still thinks so! But he was her fool, and no one else. 

Ambrose looked at her son with a questioning look before putting her teacup down. 

"_What brought you here prince Caleb? Barging in the empress palace like this?"

Caleb dismissed the maid who left without promptly at a wave of his hand. He walked toward his mother before dropping on his knees. He put his head on her lap as she gently caressed his hair. 

"_I've been wondering why did you name me like my uncle? 

_Because he was the bravest man I ever loved. I'm not saying this because he is my little brother, but he was brave. He never gives up even against his poor health. He was so stubborn that it was hard to imagine that his illness would take him anyway. I wished for you to be as proud and brave as him. So that you would never give up in front of hardship, just like your uncle. 

_I don't like being compared to him. 

_I'm sorry if I ever deed that to you. I love you really dearly. You are more precious than anything else to me."

Slowly, he closed his eyes taking in his mother's warmth and care. He did use to hate his uncle for sharing his name. At some point, he also resented her mother a bit. But it wasn't her fault. Almost everyone in the capital knew about the sickly second son and everyone compared him with the young prince. "Your second Uncle could solve this easily at your age", " Eupraxia's second young lord was a genius, why can't you be more like him?", "In the end, you two only had the name in common". The 8 years old Caleb was traumatised by those words and her mother's avoiding eyes when he yelled about how much he hated this name, he felt betrayed by how clueless she was. All this time he thought she named him Caleb to be his uncle's replacement and even as he grew that pain stayed. 

A knock was heard and a maid came in. 

"_Your highness, the emperor ordered that the prince come to see him in his office right now."

Hearing her word, Caleb couldn't help but think of Y/n. Both sides were beautifully enchanting to him. The sight of her in the arms of his great cousin, moaning as she let the passion devour her and the sincere and kind girl he saw in the resting room. Biding his farewell to his mother, he left to meet his father. 

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Author note: This is a short but important chapter since he is introducing the second male lead of this story. While I was writing and thinking of Caleb background, I couldn't help but want to make a story for Eupraxia's second lord. I even have the title and plot ready for him ahah. But MC would be an Oc in this one since it's the same world as the current story, just not the same timeline. Please let me know what you guys think about it. 

IMPORTANT

I'm moving out of my parents home Wednesday, so I may be absent for a few days this chapter. So I was taking some time to pass with my friend since I may not see them again. I'm also sorry it took time for the past few chapters, but packing took me more time than I thought.😅 Thank god I started in advance. Anyway hope you enjoyed this chapter.