Mommy Villainess-Chapter 392: Damned Connection

TILLY was sure all the traces of the Hellfire burning Kiho’s insides were gone.

Hence, she couldn’t understand why her husband suddenly seemed to be in a trance. She couldn’t even think of what might have triggered it.

[Or maybe it’s a side effect?]

"Luna, can you check if the Hellfire is still burning the insides of my husband?" Tilly asked the witch carefully without tearing her gaze off of Kiho. "Clearly, he’s not acting himself at the moment. Does it have to do with the flame that almost melted his Core?"

"I can assure you that the Hellfire has been completely extinguished, Tilly," Luna said, her eyes glowing while inspecting Kiho from head to toe. "It’s not burning His Grace’s insides anymore. Moreover, since the duke is a Beast God, his body has now begun treating his internal injuries."

"Then why is my husband acting like that?" she asked nervously. "I’m pretty sure Yumi hadn’t gone anywhere near Kiho since I asked Wong and Kelsi to interrogate her about Kyro."

"Tilly, don’t forget that the White Snake is still Duke Nystrom’s Spirit Guardian," the witch reminded her. "You were able to get rid of Lucina Morganna because she betrayed you and tried to kill you. But the White Snake, despite all the terrible things she had done to you and your family, hasn’t directly harmed Duke Nystrom with the intention of killing him. Hence, albeit one-sided, Yumi’s love for her son keeps their connection intact."

"Exactly," Tilly said, still confused. "Kiho has already disowned his parents, so I don’t think they’d be capable of manipulating my husband emotionally."

And yet, Kiho was crying.

[This is definitely not normal.]

"Kiho, honey," Tilly said, shaking her husband’s shoulders. "Wake up. Please."

It was futile as Kiho remained trapped under a spell no one knew about.

"Tilly, it seems like Duke Nystrom has fallen into a deep slumber. Yes, his eyes are open. But it looks like his consciousness is trapped somewhere else."

"What can I do to bring back my husband, Luna?"

The witch fell silent for a moment before she opened her mouth. "You have to enter Duke Nystrom’s dream. But it might be dangerous to do that now. If both you and the duke disappear from the fight scene..." She trailed off, then she shook her head. "But that won’t stop you from rescuing your husband, right?"

"I need Kiho to save and protect our children since I can’t do it alone," Tilly admitted, then she put a hand on Luna’s shoulder. "I’m sorry to say this, but please protect me and my husband while we’re in "dreamland," my trusted friend."

Luna looked shocked at first, then she laughed. "Alright– I’ll keep the two of you safe even if it means sacrificing myself."

Uhm, don’t go that far, please.

***

WINTER was relieved after seeing that Solenn had finally calmed down while in the safety of Julian’s arms.

Of course, she felt awkward while watching the two embrace each other like there was no tomorrow. But he was just glad that the little princess was back to her usual self. His brother was indeed a good counselor.

"Why did you follow Aku Moonchester here without your parents?" Saint Forrester scolded Winter and only him because Julian was still busy comforting Solenn. "I’m sure you know that this isn’t a child’s game."

"I’m the only one who can kill Aku Moonchester, Your Holiness," Winter said politely even though he didn’t like being scolded by other people. "But there’s another reason why I decided to return to the Plane."

"And what would it be?"

"I can’t kill Aku Moonchester because his soul is tied to my father," Winter said. "My father will die if Aku Moonchester dies."

The saint gasped as if he was surprised. "Right. I can’t believe we almost forgot about that."

<"Then wouldn’t it be fine if you cut the tie binding the Black Serpent’s soul with the fallen emperor?">

Hmm?

Winter and Saint Forrester both turned to Serafina, the deity guarding the Plane who looked like a ghost because of her lack of a physical body.

[Right, she might know.]

"I’m looking for a way to do that," Winter said eagerly. "Do you know how to cut off my father’s bind with Aku Moonchester?"

<"It’s possible, but it won’t be easy. You have to find the String of Fate that connects the two souls you wish to separate. Once you find it, you need to have the authority to cut it. Finding the String of Fate would be easier than getting the authority to cut it, and that what makes the job almost impossible.">

"I have the authority to do whatever I want with Aku Moonchester’s soul."

"You do?" Julian, who seemed to be done consoling the now calm Solenn, asked in surprise. "How do you know that, Winter? Did you remember something about your past as the Moon Serpent?"

As expected, his brother was sharp.

Winter nodded in response to Julian’s question. "I’m the Moon Serpent who gave the last moon his freedom– he owes me a huge debt."

***

TILLY lay down next to Kiho.

Under Luna’s supervision, she fell asleep and found herself inside a dream...

... a dream that was both familiar and strange to her.

[I recognize this place.]

It was the old world– the time before Soleil Rosenberg and the four Beast Gods were born.

"Tilly?"

Huh?

Tilly turned around when she heard the familiar voice, then she let out a sigh of relief when she recognized her husband. "Kiho."

It was her Kiho.

"Honey, where are we?" Kiho asked, confused, while looking around. "I don’t really understand how I got here. The last thing I remember was chasing after our children..." He trailed off, then he went pale. "Tilly, I’m sorry. Winter and Julian..."

"It’s alright, honey," she assured him. "Our babies went to the Plane. I’m worried about them, of course. But I hope Solenn and Saint Forrester are still there– oh."

She was forced to stop talking when someone bumped into her from behind.

Fortunately, Kiho caught her. "Are you okay..."

Her husband trailed off while looking at the person who bumped into her.

"Are you okay?" the woman who bumped into Tilly asked worriedly. "I’m sorry!"

Tilly was shocked when she recognized the woman. "Yumi?"

Yumi, the White Snake, was visibly pregnant.

***

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