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Before Seraphina could respond, the woman strode into the room with surprising speed and punched Seraphina squarely in the stomach. The force of the blow doubled Seraphina over, but instead of anger, a look of resigned acceptance crossed her face.

"Mother," Seraphina managed to gasp out, clutching her stomach.

The woman turned to me, her stern expression melting into a warm smile. She crossed the room and enveloped me in a surprisingly gentle hug. "It's nice to meet you, daughter-in-law," she said, her voice now soft and affectionate.

I stood there, still reeling from the shock of her sudden entrance and the bizarre sequence of events. "Um, nice to meet you too," I stammered, unsure of what else to say.

The woman released me from the hug and stepped back, scrutinizing me with a critical yet approving eye. "You're quite lovely, Elara. Seraphina has good taste."

"Thank you," I replied, still feeling off balance. "But, um, who are you?"

She let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm Valeria, Seraphina's mother."

I blinked, trying to process the information. "Valeria... It's nice to meet you."

Seraphina had recovered from the punch and was now standing upright, though she looked a bit pale. "Mother, you didn't have to hit me," she said, a hint of frustration in her voice.

"Nonsense," Valeria replied, waving her hand dismissively. "You deserved it for not telling us about your marriage."

The rest of the evening passed in a whirlwind of introductions and explanations. Valeria was a force of nature, commanding the room with her presence and alternating between scolding Seraphina and doting on me. It was both bewildering and oddly amusing.

And then after she left the atmosphere was a bit weird but we didn't continue what we had started but just decided to sleep.

---

The next morning, I woke up to find Seraphina's side of the bed empty. I stretched and got up, wondering how the day would unfold with Valeria around. As I dressed, I couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension about Seraphina's formidable mother.

I made my way to the dining room, where breakfast was already being served. Valeria was sitting at the head of the table, sipping tea with an air of regal authority. Seraphina was next to her, looking unusually subdued.

"Good morning, Elara," Valeria greeted me warmly as I entered the room. "Come, sit next to me."

I obeyed, taking the seat beside her. "Good morning," I replied, glancing at Seraphina, who gave me a small, weary smile.

"Did you sleep well?" Valeria asked, her tone genuinely concerned.

"Yes, thank you," I said. "I hope you did too."

"Oh, I slept like a log," she replied with a chuckle. "But enough about that. Tell me, Elara, how are you finding life here with Seraphina?"

I hesitated, not wanting to speak ill of my situation but also feeling the need to be honest. "It's... different. I'm still adjusting, but Seraphina has been very supportive."

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Valeria nodded approvingly. "Good to hear. Seraphina, you should take note of that."

"Yes, Mother," Seraphina muttered, clearly uncomfortable with the scrutiny.

Throughout breakfast, Valeria continued to alternate between kindness towards me and sternness towards Seraphina. She asked me about my interests, my background, and how I was finding palace life. Every so often, she'd turn to Seraphina with a pointed remark or question, often leaving her daughter looking exasperated.

After breakfast, Valeria insisted on giving me a tour of the palace, despite my having lived there for some time now. Seraphina trailed behind us, looking like a chastened child. Valeria pointed out various architectural details and historical tidbits, her knowledge of the palace's history impressive.

"Did you know, Elara," she said as we walked through the grand hall, "that this palace was built on the ruins of an ancient fortress? It's said to be haunted by the spirits of warriors past."

I nodded, fascinated despite myself. "I didn't know that."

Valeria smiled. "There's so much history here. It's important to understand it if you're going to be a proper queen."

Seraphina, following a few steps behind, sighed audibly. "Mother, Elara already knows most of this."

"Nonsense," Valeria replied sharply. "It's always good to have a refresher."

As we continued the tour, Valeria's demeanor towards me remained warm and encouraging, while her treatment of Seraphina stayed critical. I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Seraphina, though I also found the dynamic somewhat amusing.

During lunch, Valeria continued to dominate the conversation, regaling us with stories of Seraphina's childhood and their family's history. She was a captivating storyteller, and despite the occasional barbs directed at Seraphina, I found myself enjoying her company.

"So, Elara," Valeria said at one point, leaning in conspiratorially, "what are your plans for the future? Any thoughts on how you'll handle being queen?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I... I haven't really thought that far ahead," I admitted. "I'm still trying to get used to everything."

Valeria nodded sagely. "That's understandable. But remember, it's never too early to start planning. The role of queen comes with many responsibilities, and you must be prepared."

"I'll do my best," I said, feeling the weight of her expectations.

"Good," Valeria said with a smile. "I have faith in you."

After lunch, Valeria announced that she would be staying for an extended visit, much to Seraphina's dismay.

"Mother, you can't be serious," Seraphina protested. "You have your own responsibilities to attend to."

"Nonsense," Valeria replied with a wave of her hand. "I can manage my affairs from here. Besides, I need to make sure you two are settling in properly."

I glanced at Seraphina, who looked utterly defeated. "It's alright, Seraphina," I said softly. "It'll be nice to have your mother around."

Seraphina sighed, clearly unhappy with the arrangement but unwilling to argue further. "As you wish, Mother."

Valeria patted Seraphina's cheek in a rare show of affection. "That's my girl. Now, Elara, why don't we continue our tour? There's still so much to see."

As we walked away, I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Seraphina's mother was a formidable woman, and it was clear that her visit would make life even more interesting around the palace. Despite the challenges, I felt a strange sense of excitement about what the future held.