New World with Four Husbands

Chapter 701: Who is visiting who?

A month passed, and life settled into a new normal for Coco and her mediators.

The house that Cleora had given them, previously bare of furniture, is now a home and filled with warmth of her husbands, and her dearest hybrid lover.

The mediators had gotten used to their new life rather quickly, the initial shock of their situation making a way to have comfort through their new routine with Zaque, Heiren, Alhai, Quizen, and even Kairo found a way to belong in the new house.

She had also accepted her mother’s actions, choosing to be forgiving, but never forgetting what she had done.

Now, her relationship with her mother had deepened, even her husbands and lover became close to their mother-in-law, due to how often Cleora would visit their house to check up on their baby bumps, all the while offering advice for them to use in the near future.

Coco is content— happy, even.

But right now, Coco couldn’t stop herself from speeding down the road toward the familiar dark castle looming in the distance.

She crossed that very distance rather quickly and the guards stationed at the gate gave no more than a quick nod when she passed by, the sight of her familiar figure already a routine sight to them by now.

She moved fast, her footsteps almost a dash as she approached the grand doors.

The sound of the grand doors slamming open shattered the quiet of the castle, the startled servants jumped, but quickly recovered when they saw that it was just Coco and dropped low into respectful bows.

Coco didn’t even look their way though, and merely rushed past.

She took the stairs two at a time, racing up the steps toward the second floor and straight toward Cleora’s office.

Her breathing was ragged in her ears, her heart racing in her chest.

The double doors to Cleora’s office were in sight and Coco didn’t waste any time rushing to them, flinging them open with a forceful push.

"Mama! What is this I’ve heard from Kairo that the Crown Princess is going to officiate my wedding with him?!" Coco asked, her eyes wild as she stepped into the room, her words spilling out in one breathless cry.

The outburst echoed off the stone walls, a look of surprise flickered across Cleora’s face as she froze mid-sentence, her quill hovering over the parchment.

The Duchess’ reading glasses slid off the bridge of her nose and clattered onto the desk— her breath hitching at the sudden interruption, not expecting any visitor at her office in the wee hours of the night.

For a second, she just blinked, processing her daughter’s question, then let out a slow sigh, pinching the spot between her eyes with her forefinger and thumb.

"Oh dear." She muttered, her gaze flickering to her obviously distraught daughter. "I told Kairo not to tell you yet because it’s not confirmed.. How can he go against his words? Well, it’s not like he actually.."

The older woman slowly paused, lifting an eyebrow once she noticed Coco’s disheveled state.

"Did you run all the way from your house to here?"

Coco nodded rapidly, her chest rising and falling with the effort of her sprint.

She stepped inside the office and shut the doors behind her, before collapsing onto the couch that was situated beside Cleora’s desk, sprawled in a dramatic heap of hanging limbs and shimmering outrage.

"I was so shocked that he heard about it first." She sniffled, faking a sob. "Why didn’t you tell me? I asked you to help me with the wedding— not for some princess to officiate!"

Cleora watched as Coco gestured her hands wildly while complaining.

A small smile tugged at one corner of her mouth, amused despite finding herself annoyed at her daughter’s unannounced intrusion at first.

Cleora shook her head and rose from her chair, crossing the short distance to where Coco was sprawled on the couch, before crouching beside her daughter, her green eyes soft and serious as she took a moment to just study her, a flicker of affection passing over her features.

Then, Cleora gently rested a hand on Coco’s knee, causing Coco to pause on her ramblings.

"Do you remember when my people started gossiping about you being my long-lost family because of how much we look like?" Cleora asked, her voice soft and eyes gazing into hers.

Coco nodded her head slowly, a look of cofusion dawning in her eyes.

She took a shaky breath to calm herself down and Cleora simply watched the shift in her expression, her mother’s hand still resting gently on her knee.

"Well.." Cleora murmured, lowering her gaze to the floor for a moment. "I’ve been hearing the same thing from people I sent to the city.. They reported to me that the crown princess looked exactly like me.. And you."

She paused, a small smile emerging. "A carbon copy, and I’ve told you before that I was aware of her location, yes? This time.. I’m certain that it is exactly who I think it is."

The words hovered in the air, heavy and meaningful.

Coco’s breath hitched in her throat, her eyes widening, this new information swirled in her mind like smoke, confusing and dizzying.

She sat up slightly, turning to face Cleora fully.

The older woman rose to her feet, a small, satisfied smile curving on her lips as she crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Coco. "I was planning on asking to see Her Highness, but.. Well, I know myself. I can’t rest easily if I leave you alone here, especially not with my grandchildren’s life on the line."

"So.." Coco started, trailing off as she shot her mother a confused look. "..You invited her to the wedding as the officiator?"

"Mhmm." Cleora hummed, nodding. "I’m planning to officially adopt you as well, and it cannot be done without a royal member around to witness it, so I used that as a reason also. Aren’t I clever?"

"Sure.."