Mother // Yandere Stepson x reader

⚜ Chapter 18⚜

There was chaos everywhere. Holding a young girl's hand, a young man ran deep in the wood. Her long curly blonde hair flowed behind as she pitifully whimpered. Her beautiful gown had tears on the hem.

"_Arthur, it's my fault.
_Of course not. No one could have stopped it, Vivian.
_But I lost it... I-!"

Arthur turned around pulling her in his arms. He held her close tightly. He knew she was scared, even though he was scared of what was happening. And while he hoped he could find some comforting word for her, he couldn't say it. He wasn't great with words, just like his father.

~~~~~~

Y/n was standing on the porch with a big smile. Soon a simple carriage came in sight to park at the end of the step. The young woman could feel like she was going to cry when she saw the young boy coming out. He seemed to have matured a lot since the last time they saw each other.

Lucas' green eyes shined as he saw his elder sister for the first time since that cursed wedding. Seeing her round belly and her healthy complexion, he felt mixed emotions of relief and horror. He did hear about the assassination but didn't think that old thing could still produce something. He was horrified to think about the old Duke touching his beloved sister.

"_Sis! How are you? I-!"

Lucas walked up to her noticing Castian standing near her. He could see the hand firmly put on her hips. The young boy admired the young general but this was his "stepmother" not his wife. Y/n didn't seem to mind she looked natural to it like it was just the usual. Even the servant's indifference was a good indication of how many times this happened. His sister has a lot to explain to him.

Unbeknown to him, Castian was quite elated to finally meet his in-laws. Even if it was just his brother-in-law.

"_Welcome to the duchy Lucas, how was the trip?
_Good... Good... Uh, sis? What's the F... I mean! Is there something you need to tell me?"

He looked at both the man and her for a moment. Castian smiled fondly at the young boy. He was indeed a bright young man. As expected of his brother-in-law, the black-haired man was proud of the teenager.
Cadtian gently escorted Y/n inside, his eyes looked so warm that even Lucas could tell he was a fool. The great empire general, the man nicknamed the god of war, was an utter fool in love with his sister. Lucas felt both proud and a certain pity for him. He was in love with his father's wife. Lucas observed them the whole time while the maid took his language. He did hear about the rumors of his sister having an affair. He didn't tell her that, but he did get in a lot of fights because of it. Of course, he was ready to defend his sister. And if it was true? He would still fight them to protect her. And cheer for her because Castian was completely warped around her dainty finger.

"_Where is the duke?
_He is resting. His health has become worse, so he is bedridden."

The young boy nodded as he listened to her. He still had to give him his greeting, so after sharing a cup of tea with both Y/n and Castian... Plus regretting every decision that leads to this and wishing that his sister's "allegedly" lover could stop flirting with her and rub his relationship on his face. Lucas finally followed her in the Duke's room. He could see Anny's troubled face every step they took toward the bedroom. The shy maid he remembered seemed more weak now. 

"_It's been a long time,  Duke."

Lucas shivered in disgust as he saw the old man. He looked weaker and worse than the last time they saw him. It hasn't even been a year, how could someone wither away like that? Edmund's eyes were wide open as he looked for something in the room. When he saw Y/n, his breath became shallow as he laughed. 

"_Beatrice!! My Beatrice!! There you are!!"

The old man laughed as he flailed in the bed, he tried to grab the hem of her dress as the young Duchess took a few steps back. 

"_I loved you! My Beatrice! You finally came back to me!! I promise... I will protect you this time! Bea! My beautiful Beatrice!!"

Lucas pulled his sister behind him as the old man laughed like a maniac. Castian had a hand on his sword looking at his father. Edmund looked pitiful, the cold-hearted man he used to be wary of was no longer here.  The young general sighed and escorted the pair of siblings out before closing the door.

"_She is not Beatrice.

_Beatrice! My Beatrice!

_She is dead, father. The woman you are longing for has long been gone. She must be in heaven with her husband.

_The wisteria... I promised to marry her under the wisteria..."

Castian sighed once again, the old man seemed not to understand anything he told him. It looked like he wasn't going to live for long. Suddenly as he had a moment of clarity, Edmund looked over at his son.

"_You are just like me...

_What?

_You are cursed like me to covet what can't be yours.

_I'm different, because unlike you. She is already mine, and no one will take her from me.

_Fool, you can't fight fate..."

Exhausted, Edmund fell into a deep slumber, leaving his son to ponder on his word. Castian wondered what fate his father tried to fight off. He couldn't help but remember that death experience he had. His purpose was already filled or at least it was what that thing said about him.