Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

”Helena? Aria?”

The sudden voice cut through her words.

A figure entered the room without permission, something only one person would ever dare to do.

Lia stood at the entrance, eyes widening the moment she saw Helena and Aria. Surprise flickered across her face, quickly replaced by genuine happiness, and without hesitation, she hurried toward them.

Aria and Helena smiled gently.

”Hello—”

Before either of them could finish, a sudden burst of air rushed past the group and,

”Darling~”

Mary was already there, pulling Lia into her arms and hugging her tightly, possessively, as though afraid she might disappear.

”M-Mom... stop it,” Lia protested, her face flushing deeply as she glanced awkwardly toward Helena and Aria.

”My friends are here.”

Mary smiled sweetly, her voice light and affectionate. ”Of course, of course,” she said, finally setting Lia down while grinning shamelessly at her daughter’s embarrassment.

Lia cleared her throat and stepped forward, coughing lightly as she composed herself before looking at Aria and Helena.

”It’s been a while... You both really look different now.”

Aria smiled warmly and nodded, pulling Lia into a gentle hug.

”You too,” she replied softly. ”Look at you. You’ve grown so much.”

She gestured lightly toward Lia’s height, and it was true.

Lia had grown.

Helena smiled as she hugged her next. ”I missed you buying lunch for me.”

”...”

Lia blinked, momentarily stunned.

What the heck?

Did she miss her or... the lunch?

”And you haven’t changed,” Lia said with a small, amused smile as she hugged Helena tightly before turning toward Mary.

”Mom, these are my—”

”Of course, my darling made friends~” Mary suddenly exclaimed, pulling Lia back into her arms while also dragging Helena and Aria into the embrace.

”I am so proud of you!!”

”I am so proud of you, darling... so very proud,” Mary continued, kissing Lia’s face again and again, showering her with affection as if making up for lost time.

Why she was proud remained a mystery.

Everyone stared at her in open confusion. Just moments ago, she had declared her daughter needed no friends, yet now she looked genuinely delighted.

”M-Mom, stop it!” Lia protested again, her face burning red.

Mary grinned beneath her blurry form, eyes filled with strange warmth. ”My darling brought friends for the first time,” she said cheerfully. ”Of course, I’m proud of you. You finally made friends. I’m so proud of you, darling... sooooo~chu~”

She leaned in and kissed Lia’s cheek deeply.

Lia shoved her mother away and quickly slipped from her grasp, retreating a step with a flustered expression.

Mary chuckled softly before releasing Helena and Aria as well. She leaned closer to them, lowering her voice as she whispered directly into their ears.

”If you hurt my darling’s feelings,” she murmured, her eyes glowing with lethal intent, ”I will make sure your bodies are never found.”

Both Helena and Aria flinched, not merely because of the words, but because of the chilling certainty behind them.

Mary was not joking.

They both gulped audibly!