Chapter 140 - Maverick's Mother

Maverick finally could visit his mother. He checked from Butler Reinheart if she was awake and he said that she's staying in the gym for her daily exercise. They all stay after all of them have a fun food trip in the kitchen. The maids were even surprised that they were cooking by themselves. Also, he prepared breakfast for his mother, for his butler, and Butler Reinheart. 

The Butler opened the door for him and found his mother having his tai chi exercise. Since her mother gave birth to him at a young age. Probably around nineteen, she still looked young and competent. Anyone could mistake her for his sister. 

"Mom," he called. 

"Hmm?" She only hummed while dancing the martial arts. 

"I made breakfast. You should eat." 

He watched her expertly with tai chi. Then, she stopped and approached him. He bent down and kissed his mother's cheeks. 

"What did you make for me?" 

"Your favorite." He grinned at her. "I don't know if it's still your favorite though." 

His mother's name is Vanessa Grace Edward. She's a daughter of a Viscount. The only one who was still alive. 

"That's sweet of you." Vanessa reached her son's cheek. "You are a man now. Now, let's talk about weddings?"

"Sure, mom. And, I think Stacey will join us for breakfast before we leave. I want her to know that you are my mom." 

"That's fantastic, my little love. Let me clean up first." 

Mave nodded and kissed her forehead. 

He then went downstairs to the garden where Stacey was busy sipping tea with Kaisley and Victoria. Although the three of them don't have enough sleep, they were busy finalizing the plan for the slumber party. It's part of the therapy that they are going to do for Stacey. And it wasn't just for Stacey but for the three of them. Their traumatic past was trying to taint their future. 

"Damn, I need to work out." Caleb stood beside him and yawned. 

"Didn't you get enough work out with Kaisley?" Maverick teased. 

Caleb laughed and smacked his back. 

"We are leaving early, bro. Let's see each other back in Marduque or Westeria?" 

"Sure thing." 

Butler Reinheart approached them. 

"Sir, Madam wanted to have breakfast with everyone before leaving." 

Maverick looked at Caleb and smiled. 

"I'm up for it. Thank you, Sire." Caleb bowed his head to the Butler and he grinned at Mave. "We got to taste this breakfast that you and Kenzo prepared." 

"Let's set up the table then." 

Maverick said as they went to the dining room and checked each of them. He tasted them one by one as the maids set up the foods on the table. 

"The Lady of this house, I haven't thanked her for saving Stacey. What do you think I should give her as my gratitude?"

Maverick turned around to see his mother. Then, the maids were dismissed by Butler Reinheart quickly. Caleb quickly approached the beautiful woman wearing a crimson dress. He bowed at her. 

"Caleb," The woman called and he raised his hand. 

"Milady, I don't thank you for saving my cousin." Caleb sincerely said. 

"It's nothing. I would do everything for my son. Stacey is his happiness." 

Caleb was confused for a while and he glanced at Maverick who was smiling. 

"Wait, Mave is your son?" Caleb almost exclaimed. 

Vanessa nodded with a gentle smile. 

"Wait? You don't look like his mom. I would think that you might be his sister." Caleb said suspiciously as they looked from Lady Vanessa to Maverick. 

Lady Vanessa giggled and reached Caleb's hand. 

"You are also a good friend of my son and saving Stacey is part of my responsibility. You don't have to thank me." 

"But," Caleb smiled and nodded. "Still, thank you." 

"You saved my son many times, Lord Caleb." 

"Okay, the two of you might not have a never-ending thank you. We have to eat." 

The girls were giggling as they entered the dining room as Kenzo jokes. 

"Everyone, please take your seats," Maverick said as he reached Stacey's hand and took her to the second seat on the left. Then, everyone takes their seats.

"So, do you have an announcement?" Victoria asked and looked at the wine in front of them. "What's with the wine?" 

"Well," Maverick smiled at his mother. "I would like everyone to meet my mother, Vanessa Grace Edward." 

Everyone was silent, however, Kenzo knew that Vanessa Grace was alive and she's the one operating the Empress or one of the biggest AIs that was ahead of the Emperor. 

"I thought your name was Rachel?" Stacey asked Vanessa. 

"My dear, everyone knows that I am dead. I use the name Rachel outside, so I could buy things I want." 

Stacey nodded and reached Maverick's hand. 

"You save me…" Stacey mumbled. "And I could also mistake you as Mave's sister." 

Caleb laughed. 

"I said the same," Caleb said as they laughed. 

"I just found it out, darling," Mave said. "Don't get mad, okay?" 

"Why would I get mad?" She creased her brows and Mave kissed her temple. 

"You are so adorable." 

"Hey, respect the food!" Caleb exclaimed as Kaisley kept laughing but Victoria's facepalmed and sighed. 

"I can't believe you," Victoria mumbled.

"If it's possible. I would love you all to stay here even once a month. It's fun having you all around. Mostly you, Caleb." 

"Oh, well. Thank you!" Caleb chuckled. "But we will have a party here in your spooky castle." 

Lady Vanessa only grinned and she already had different things in her mind. Like opening up the east wings for them and building a playroom where they can relax, gamble, and so on. 

"Give me a month and I'll open the east wing only for you. I want to pamper my son and his future wife." 

Stacey flushed a little but Maverick looked at her with those love eyes. 

"I can't wait to visit next month," Caleb said excitedly. 

"Please tell me if you need assistance, your highness," Kaisley said sincerely. 

"Yes, dear. I might need help with the shipment. I want to name it to you if that's alright?" 

"As long as it's not illegal." Kaisley chuckled. 

"It won't be illegal, my dear." Vanessa grinned. 

After their breakfast, Vanessa walked by with Kenzo and Maverick in her supercomputer room. The AI greeted them. Then, they walked into another secret door. To their surprise, it's just a simple napping area. However, the shelves opened and there's a big vault door that was made of titanium and iron. She placed her hand on the left corner of what seemed to be a screen as it scanned. Then, the small drawer was suddenly visible and she typed on the small keyboard. 

The wheel on the door opened and she took them inside. 

"Wow," Maverick mumbled. "Lots of gold and jewels." 

"Yes," She nodded. "After the Queen died, together with the heirs and heiresses, the Prince and the King took all of the family heirlooms and replaced them with fake ones to preserve them. These golds and monies here? They were in our hands for decades. They weren't just after the throne but these." 

"Hmm," Kenzo crossed her arms.

"Now, since that the two of you are the heirs to the throne. I want you to know about this place. Even if they burn down this castle, this place will be safe." She added. 

"I am sure that no one knows that I am here. Or Stacey…" 

"I also made sure that Caleb and Kaisley weren't followed. Aqua castle is our safe house now." 

"That's why I only suggest that you can all come here once a month. People in your castles are already spying on you." 

"That's why I am leaving first with my wife," Kenzo said and looked around. 

In the very middle are the real crown of the King and Queen. It has been passed through centuries now. Together are medals with real gems on them. However, she went to the glass drawers and took out three jewelry collections. She closed the boxes with them and gave the black box to Kenzo. The red one was given to Maverick. 

"And this one is for Kaisley." She said softly. 

"Kaisley isn't a real Etrama," Maverick said. "But is it alright?" 

Vanessa didn't correct him but still, she smiled. 

"She's now a Princess." 

Kenzo noticed that there might be something more and it was covered up. 

"Does it mean that she always meant to be a Princess?" Kenzo asked. 

Vanessa pursed her lips to keep her mouth shut. 

"The truth is, Kaisley is an illegitimate child of Prince Aljur, your uncle." 

The two were shocked by what Vanessa unveiled about their family. They had known Prince Aljur as sterile. So, he couldn't give his wife a baby. But how come that he has a daughter from another woman. And he's old too… but not that old as the King. 

"How?" Maverick asked. 

Vanessa sighed and gave the box to Kenzo as she roamed around the shelves of gems. 

"Prince Aljur found out that his wife was part of the plan on killing every royal. It was said in his diary. He said before he died that he impregnated a woman named Alejandra. She's a maid in the palace. He fell in love with her, and he was afraid that his cunning wife would find out. So, he sent her away to start a small business. The woman married Kean Bolton as per the request of Prince Aljur. He made it come true for Kean Bolton to receive investments and funds in exchange for protecting Alejandra and the baby. However, since he broke something. The contract is now void. I already took everything from him." Vanessa said. 

The King and the Prince know about this story. That's why they kept an eye on Kaisley and hired her as an assistant, and slowly trained her. They were also the ones who funded her scholarship from the very start. 

"Our bloodline won't die easily. Your grandfathers are ready anytime." 

"So, we have to~~impregnate others or what?" 

"You don't have to." She smirked. "We are already controlling the Great Greivania.. However, we still have missions."