Alex's mother had rushed back toward the kitchen after hearing Janeth's startled cry. .
She expected an accident. Instead, she walked straight into the sight of the dignified professor wrapped in her son's arms, lost in a deep kiss.
The realization of being caught paralyzed Janeth completely. Her heart throbbed wildly in her throat, a wide blush rushing up her neck and staining her cheeks crimson.
Her knees felt weak, leaving her pinned helplessly against Alex's chest, unable to retreat away.
She tried to bury her face against his shoulder to hide. The stunning striped dress clung to her curves, her heavy breasts squished firm against his ribs.
Alex's hand remained casually placed around her slender waist, keeping her secured against him.
"A-Auntie....!" Janeth gasped out, her voice trembling. "I-It's not what you think! I... I lost my footing! I was falling, and Alex was simply—"
His mother stood frozen at the doorway, undeniably dumfounded, her jaw was slack, her hand pressed tight over her mouth.
Yet instead of escaping the place embarrassed, a flustered confusion washed over her face. She began frantically waving her free hand, her own cheeks turning pink.
"Oh... good grief! I-I thought I was mistaken..." his mother stammered, completely overwhelmed. "A-Alex... why on earth didn't you say anything to me?! I... I made the poor professor sleep on the living room sofa the other night! If I had any idea you two were... were together like this..."
"It wasn't a problem, Mom." Alex replied, his voice smooth and entirely unbothered. He didn't ease his grip on Janeth's waist at all. "You told me to take good care of her."
"I didn't mean like that! I-I didn't realize you too were this close!" his mother squeaked, her face burning hotter.
Before she could spiral further into her frantic assumptions, the front door clicked shut and faint footsteps padded down the hallway, accompanied by the rustle of a plastic wrapper.
It was the mischievous succubus.
Rose strolled casually into the kitchen. Still wearing nothing more than one of Alex's oversized shirts.
The thin cotton hung loosely down her bare thighs, her full breasts bouncing softly under the fabric with every step. She was casually crunching on a handful of potato chips.
Seeing Rose enter, his mother's face went completely pale.
A look of heavy guilt washed over her features, she looked like a bystander who had just caught a sweet girl's boyfriend cheating red-handed and had no idea how to hide it.
"A-Ah... Rose, sweetie..." his mother wavered, her voice tight with panic. "Y-You're back early..."
"Hi, Mom~ I brought snacks!" Rose chirped happily, walking up to his mother first, she wrapped her free arm around her shoulders in a warm hug.
His mother stood stiff as a board during the hug, sweating nervously as her eyes darted anxiously toward Alex.
But unfazed, Rose pulled back with a bright smile and turned toward Alex.
Even with Alex's arm still molded around Janeth's waist, and her being pressed tight against his side, Rose didn't hesitate.
She glided right up to his open side, throwing her arm casually over his shoulder, tiptoeing up on her slender feet, she planted a sweet lingering kiss on Master's cheek.
"Master~" Rose whispered softly so his mother wouldn't hear, her voice melting with sweetness. "I was a very good girl and watched over the store just like you asked. I even made sure your human slaves reached home safe."
Watching Rose warmly hug her before turning around to kiss Alex, completely fried his mother's remaining logic even further.
The panic on her face slowly collapsed into helpless defeat. She stood there silently for a moment, letting out a long heavy sigh. Reaching up, she began fanning her flustered face, shaking her head in resignation.
"Aaah... I am far too old for this...young people these days..." his mother muttered, turning right back toward the hallway. "I'm going to bed before my brain melts..."
She walked out and shortly after, her bedroom door clicked shut down the hall, leaving the three of them in the quiet kitchen.
'Your mom will get used to it in no time. No need to use magic~' Liza broke the silence in his head with a chuckle.
Alex nodded faintly to the Queen's words, then let his hand slide off Janeth's hips, rolling his shoulders casually as he stepped back. "I'm taking a shower," he said, a fiant smile showed on his face, before glancing at Rose attentively. "Try to get along."
He walked out into the hallway, his footsteps fading down the corridor, and soon the bathroom door clicked shut as well.
The moment he was gone, the remaining warm timid air in the kitchen evaporated.
Left alone with the succubus, Janeth's soft demeanor vanished. She straightened her posture, smoothing down her cute cardigan, her eyes sharpened into an icy glare as she turned her full attention to Rose.
Rose just leaned her hip against the kitchen counter, popping another chip into her mouth, chewing slowly, her green eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Stop looking at me like that, Professor>" Rose said, licking a bit of salt off her thumb. "You'll get wrinkles."
Janeth crossed her arms over her chest, trying to look authoritative despite the heavy blush still burning on her cheeks. "Don't think for a second that I've forgotten what you are. You're a disgusting bitch. And you're living under the same roof as his mother, parading around like you own the place."
Rose tilted her head, her long hair spilling over her shoulder. "And you're a university professor who was just melting into a student's chest five minutes ago. How cute~"
Janeth's eye twitched. "Watch your mouth. I am not some helpless girl you can toy with. If you think I'm going to sit here and let a bitch dictate—"
"I'm not going to hurt you."
Rose said it so simply, that Janeth stopped mid-sentence. The icy glare faltered, replaced by confused suspicion.
"What?" Janeth asked.
"I can't hurt you." Rose repeated, her voice softening. She set the bag of chips down on the counter and turned to face Janeth fully. Her eyes were calm, stripped of their usual playful teasing.
"Not because I'm weak. Not because I'm scared of you. But because Master wants you. He likes you a lot unfortunately~"
The words echoed in the quiet kitchen. Janeth stared at her, her lips parting slightly. The anger and tension in her shoulders loosened just a bit.
"He... likes me?" Janeth whispered, the question slipping out before she could stop it.
Rose nodded slowly, studying the older woman's face. "He does. He wouldn't have brought you here otherwise and he wouldn't be taking care of you~."
Janeth looked down at the floor, her blondish hair falling forward and hiding her expression. Her fingers gripped the folds of her dress.
The icy professor was gone. In her place was a woman who looked like she had just been told something she desperately wanted to hear but was unable to believe.
"I don't... I don't believe you." Janeth murmured. "Why would he like a broken used woman..."
"I don't care if you don't believe" Rose said with an unbotherted expression, before turning around to snack the leftovers on the table.
Janeth looked up towards Rose, her eyes showed some vulnerability. "And you're... fine with this? With him liking me?"
Rose was quiet for a moment, then a small, proud smile curved her lips, reaching up, tucking a strand of pinkish hair behind her own ear.
"He likes you." Rose said, her voice warm but laced with unmistakable pride. "But he loves me~"
Rose didn't display any jealousy, but she was absolutely showing off to Janeth.
The succubus looked completely unbothered by Janeth's presence in her Master's heart. She didn't see Janeth as a threat.
Rose picked up her half-empty bag of chips from the counter and tucked it under her arm, then gave Janeth one last look, her eyes restoring their wickedness.
Janeth opened her mouth to respond, but the succubus was already walking toward the door. She paused at the doorway, glancing back over her shoulder with a sly playful grin spreading across her face.
"Oh, and Professor?" Rose called, her voice dripping with mischief. "I'm going to go take a shower with my Master now. So if you hear weird noises coming from the bathroom... just plug your ears~"
Janeth's face erupted in dark crimson. "Y-You—! You shameless—!"
"Bye-bye~" Rose sang, disappearing down the hallway with a light skipping in her step.
Janeth stood alone in the quiet kitchen, her mouth hanging open, she could still hear Rose's faint, giggling laughter resounding from the corridor, followed by the soft click of the bathroom door opening and closing.
She let out a long, shaky breath, pressing both hands against her burning cheeks.
"What am I going do now... my heart beats fast..." Janeth moved her hand on her chest, then muttered to the empty room...