Chapter 114: Outing and Feelings [3]

Ambrosia became completely stunned by the question.

For several seconds, she simply stared at Amon as though she had not understood what he had just said.

Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out, and after struggling to find something to say, she finally let out a quiet sigh.

She shook her head. "I can’t do that, Amon."

Sidney immediately frowned. "Why can’t we?"

Ambrosia looked toward her daughter.

"If we can stay together, then why can’t we just move with him?" Sidney asked, clearly unhappy with the answer.

Ambrosia smiled faintly before shaking her head again. "First, you have to go to the academy, and second, I don’t want to become a burden to him."

Amon’s eyebrows immediately furrowed. "You’re not a burden to me."

Ambrosia looked at him, but Amon continued before she could respond.

"Both of you aren’t burdens. If anything, I think of you as my strength. Knowing that you two are safe is one of the reasons I can focus on everything else."

His words made Ambrosia’s expression soften.

She let out another sigh and leaned back against the sofa. "As much as I want to be with you, going somewhere completely different isn’t necessarily the answer."

She picked up her glass of wine and took a slow drink before placing it back on the table.

"There are things I have here that I can’t simply abandon, and you are going to have enough responsibilities once you enter the Royal University. I don’t want you worrying about me every day."

Amon stared at her for a moment. "Then what can I do to convince you?"

"There is nothing you can do." Ambrosia gave him a gentle smile.

"If you take us with you, things might actually become worse for you. You’ll have to worry about our living arrangements, our safety, and everything else while you’re supposed to be focusing on your studies."

Amon remained silent. He kept staring at her, trying to find some argument that would make her change her mind.

Ambrosia eventually leaned forward and reached across the table, gently taking his hand.

"You should focus on your studies for now." Her voice became softer. "You have an entire life ahead of you, Amon. You don’t have to stay stuck with an old lady like me."

"You’re not old." Amon immediately frowned. "You’re actually really beautiful."

For a moment, Ambrosia simply stared at him before a small laugh escaped her. "You should save that flattery for your wife."

Amon shrugged. "I’m just telling the truth."

Sidney quietly smiled from across the table. "I’ll come visit you once in a while."

Amon glanced toward her. For a brief second he caught the clear flicker of lust in her eyes before she looked away.

The short dress she wore had ridden slightly higher on her thighs.

He let out a quiet sigh. ’She really needed to be punished again soon.’

Sidney laughed when she noticed the look on his face. "Don’t worry. I won’t bother you too much."

"Sure you will not."

The conversation continued for several minutes, with Ambrosia repeatedly insisting that Amon should focus on himself while Sidney kept suggesting different reasons why they should visit him.

Before they could settle anything, the door opened.

The waiter returned with several plates of food. "Apologies for the wait, sir."

He carefully placed each dish on the table before them.

The aroma of roasted meat, herbs, vegetables, and freshly baked bread quickly filled the room.

Amon’s stomach rumbled quietly.

He immediately picked up his fork and spoon. "Looks like the important part of the evening has finally arrived."

Ambrosia chuckled.

The waiter gave them one final nod before leaving and closing the door behind him.

Amon looked toward Ambrosia. "Do you want a departure gift?"

Ambrosia blinked. "A departure gift?"

"Something to remember me by while I’m gone."

Ambrosia smiled warmly.

Instead of answering, she picked up a piece of meat with her fork and held it toward Amon.

"You don’t need to give me anything." Ambrosia’s smile became softer. "Just be happy. As long as you’re happy, I’ll be happy too."

Amon looked at her for a moment before leaning forward and eating the piece of meat from her fork.

"That’s not much of a gift."

"It’s enough for me."

Before Amon could respond, Sidney picked up her own fork and placed a piece of meat in front of him.

"Then I’ll give you one too."

Amon stared at her. "You two are competing over feeding me now?"

Ambrosia immediately laughed softly. "When did you become so lovely dovey with him?"

Sidney smiled innocently. "I just don’t want him forgetting me."

Amon sighed but accepted the food anyway.

The dinner continued with the three of them talking about university.

Ambrosia also kept drinking and Amon noticed that she had already finished another glass. "You’re drinking too much."

She ignored him and poured herself another glass. "I need alcohol to cope with the fact that my son is leaving his poor mother."

Amon looked at her with a tired expression. "You’re making it sound like I’m leaving for another planet."

"For a mother, the capital might as well be another planet."

She raised her glass with a completely serious expression before taking another drink.

Amon could only sigh.

---

By the time dinner ended, Ambrosia was far too drunk to walk properly.

Amon supported her by the arm as they made their way out of the restaurant.

"Careful."

"I’m perfectly fine," Ambrosia mumbled.

She immediately stumbled and Amon caught her before she could fall. "Of course you are."

Sidney followed behind them, trying not to laugh.

A staff member brought the car around and stopped it in front of the entrance.

Amon helped Ambrosia into the front passenger seat and carefully fastened her seatbelt before closing the door.

He then walked around to the driver’s side and got inside.

Sidney climbed into the back.

Amon started the engine, and the quiet hum of the car filled the cabin.

Just as he was about to pull away, Ambrosia suddenly raised her head.

"My purse." She mumbled. "I left my purse inside."

Sidney sighed. "I’ll get it."

She opened the door and quickly hurried back toward the restaurant.

The moment she disappeared inside, the car became quiet.

Amon glanced toward Ambrosia.

She was resting against the seat with her eyes half closed, her cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol.

Then she slowly turned toward him. "Amon."

"Hm?"

Ambrosia raised her hand and gently touched his cheek.

Her expression was unusually soft. "I’ll be sad without you."

Amon didn’t answer immediately as he simply looked at her.

Ambrosia smiled. "When did you become so handsome?"

Amon raised an eyebrow. "You’ve been drinking too much."

"I’m serious." She squinted at him as though carefully examining his face. "You look so good."

Amon sighed. "You’re drunk."

"Maybe." She smiled again and slowly lowered her hand. "But you’re still handsome."

Amon shook his head. "You should sleep when we get home."

She leaned a little closer. "You look so good I want to eat you."

Amon still said nothing. The air inside the car felt heavier.

Ambrosia unlocked her seatbelt. The soft click sounded loud in the silence.

She leaned across the center console, the full weight of her upper body pressing closer, the soft pressure of her breasts brushing against his arm.

She kissed him. Her lips were warm and tasted strongly of wine.

She bit down lightly on his lower lip, lingering there for a second longer than a simple kiss required, before the strength seemed to leave her all at once.

She slumped back against the seat, completely unconscious, leaving Amon sitting frozen in the driver’s seat.

The faint taste of her lips still on his mouth.

"Seriously..."

When Sidney finally came back carrying the forgotten purse, she opened the rear door and climbed inside.

She noticed her mother sleeping peacefully in the passenger seat. "She’s asleep?"

"...Yeah."

He was still shock driven to say anything else as the car moved on.