Amanda sat on a chair made of pure darkness and looked at the two girls in front of her with a look that said that her whole life was a lie.
"...So you mean not only did Var have two beautiful, talented and powerful girlfriends, he even convinced them to live in harmony?" With a voice that bordered on disbelief, she asked in a confused tone.
"Urgh, I hate to admit it, but he did exactly that," Sarah shook her head as she recalled that day in the mansion. A faint smile hung on her lips unconsciously as Varian's words of confession rang in her mind like an intoxicating song, "He can be goofy about a lot of things but for the few important things, he's dangerously astute.
If it was any other guy, he'd have been sandwiched between the two women and would be struggling to balance and would get emotionally drained. Unending swinging from preferring one woman and then another, with a lot of push and pull, jealousy popping up, egos and fights, and things going nowhere. Overall, it's a recipe for disaster."
Amanda recalled the harem battles she saw in the movies and shuddered. There was a saying that went 'Having an enmity with your wife leads to a shorter life.'
"What about you, Sia? You grew up with him and I always thought you were going to be the one..."
Sia's lips twitched for a moment before she shrugged, "I thought so too, but what can I do now? Well, I want to lock him up in a basement and let him be mine. But would you allow it?"
"W-Wait, what?"
"I was joking," Sia smiled and looked at the sky, "I...I was also coming from a lot of turmoil after we got out of the ruins. Same with Sarah. Varian picked that exact period for a vacation and he confessed to me and her.
I mean, we both almost died under Julius and we already had a lot of trauma in our baggage. So, I just wanted to be with Varian. Our lives aren't really...safe nor were our future certain, so maybe that's why I'm fine.
Once we said yes, every disagreement and fight that came after can be settled. And...he's dangerously smart. If it's any other time other than the vacation, then this issue would've been dragged for much longer."
"Is that so?" Amanda nodded, a little lost in thought. Even though polygamy was common in the high class, it wasn't normal for a commoner. Neither Amanda nor anyone in her circle was into this.
Now, her own son was doing this. So, she was confused about how to feel. Admonish him? What's the use? It's all over and even the girls in question seemed happy. And why admonish him over his own choices which didn't hurt anyone?
'If everyone involved is happy, then I should also be happy for my son and daughters-in-law,' Amanda rubbed her forehead and decided to not bring her personal judgment into her son's love life.
"Well, he did give a promise that I can't reject," Sarah said with a dreamy smile, "He said he'll either become a powerhouse and live for a long, long time or fall in the middle. If he succeeds, we have an eternity to spend together. If he does fall, then it's all the more reason to be together before death, regardless of other factors."
"Um...," Amanda wanted to refute this seemingly smooth but persuasive argument. It seemed right but felt wrong.
If someone else said it, she could simply say you won't even reach the Sovereign state, forget anything higher. But it's Varian here. The Sovereign state for him was merely the first step.
After racking her brain, Amanda simply sighed, "I never thought Var would be a playboy. And so persuasive. I guess children do grow up and change. Is he still optimistic?"
Sia nodded.
"Still jovial? And a bit of narcissism..."
Sarah nodded.
"...And his naming sense, did it improve?" Amanda asked with an embarrassed expression.
Sia and Sarah looked at each other and laughed.
"What happened?"
The girls shook their heads. There was a silent agreement between them to keep Varian a thousand miles away from naming their kids.
If they really let that man do as he wishes, the kids will rebel after they grow up citing the ridiculous names. For any parent, it'd be the biggest embarrassment.
Amanda sighed in relief. 'The two seem genuinely close. At least Var's backyard won't catch fire. And...'
Glancing at the young beauties, she drifted into thought, 'And maybe it's not a bad thing he has two wives. I will have more grandchildren...even though I can never meet them...will they look like Var or Sia...or Sarah...argh. Sia has no one, and Sarah's father doesn't sound like someone who spends time with his grandchildren. And these kids are very busy with their daily lives. No one will be there for the little ones. They'll grow up without grandparents. Argh...but I really want to see them...I want to see them grow up....I..."
Pit! Pat! Pit!
"Amanda!"
"Mother-in-law!"
Sarah and Sia wiped the tears from Amanda's cheeks and looked at her in concern. "What happened?"
"Eh," Amanda felt the genuine care in their eyes and shook her head forcefully. Fighting back the tears that threatened to break out, she patted the girls and they gently placed their heads on her shoulders, "N-Nothing, I-I'm just happy that you both love Var. He won't be lonely. He's strong but he too has his weak times. But with you two, I can rest assured. And you two as well, Varian won't leave the people he wants. He'll protect them at any cost. So, I'm happy for your beautiful little family..."
What she didn't say was 'I feel sad that I wouldn't be able to see the sons and daughters of my son. I'm sad that I can't see them grow up. I won't be called grandma, I can't tell them the stories of their father's childhood. I...I will miss them.'
Even she didn't understand why she missed the people who weren't even born yet. Maybe...just maybe, because she couldn't spend enough time with Varian, she wanted to compensate for it through her grandchildren. Perhaps that's a wish of many grandparents.
'I'll buy them bigger toys, read more stories, make them smile more, play with them more, I'll...' Amanda's thoughts drifted as she stared blankly at the clouds. Sia held Amanda's hand and patted it gently.
She couldn't understand what was going through a woman who was just brought back from death and was supposed to die soon.
She begged for forgiveness and she was forgiven. Sia felt her soul was light and she enjoyed holding Amanda's hand in silence. It reminded her every second that she was forgiven.
"Mother-in-law," Sarah, on the other hand, wanted to cherish this meeting as this might be the only time she'd ever meet her mother-in-law.
So, she called the dazed Amanda with a polite tone.
"Uh?" Amanda realized her gaffe and apologized, "Sorry, I just..."
"It's fine," Sarah said with a gentle expression that was the opposite of her usual coldness, "Mother-in-law, can I ask you something?"
"Sure?" Amanda nodded with a little confusion.
