Chapter 60: I love You Mother

The rattling carriage slowly moved along the road.

The wind seeping through the cracks in the window felt quite pleasant, and the scenery outside flew by quickly.

Before I knew it, just as I had grown accustomed to the scenery outside, the mansion I had longed for so much came into view.

Even though I had been away for less than a month, it was a place I missed dearly.

Though it couldn’t compare to the Merdellia duchy, for me, there was no place more comfortable than the mansion of the Baron of Blanc.

As the mansion I had longed for drew closer, I nearly teared up without realizing it, but because my mother was there, I suppressed the surge of emotion and looked at her.

My mother’s beautiful blue eyes seemed quite complicated.

Sadness, guilt, depression—various negative emotions seemed to swirl within them.

“Mother?”

“…I’m sorry, Tina. I should not have allowed you to be sent to the duchy.”

Was she regretting sending me to Viviana’s mansion?

Since I had somewhat intended to act crazy in front of her, I had anticipated this kind of reaction to some extent.

“…I believed her when she said she would help you under the family name… But I never imagined she would commit such a disgraceful act…”

“Mother, I’m fine.”

I carefully got up and sat next to her, gently placing my hand on the back of hers with a soft smile on my lips.

I only wanted to make sure I got out of that mansion.

I had no intention of making my mother feel guilty.

Though others might not understand, my mother has always been the one who would stand by my side.

I couldn’t be mean to someone like that.

“Actually, you know… I did that on purpose earlier.”

“…Huh?”

Mother tilted her head in confusion.

“When I spoke to the mirror… I did that because I thought that’s how you would take me out of there.”

“…So you’re saying you did it on purpose?”

“Hehe… Yes.”

I decided not to tell her that I have a friend inside the mirror.

But there was no reason to hide anything else.

“I’m sorry… You must have been really worried, right?”

I looked up at her with slightly drooping eyes.

She stared at me in disbelief for a while, her eyes trembling, but then she soon clasped my hand tightly with a serious expression.

“Then tell me everything. What happened with your wrist?”

“I-I only cut it just enough not to die! I didn’t even go near the artery, just enough to let a little blood out…”

Slap!

“Haaah?!”

A sharp pain suddenly shot through my backside, and a high-pitched sound escaped my mouth.

It seemed she was quite furious.

Was she angry because I cut my wrist of my own accord?

Honestly, I had no good excuse for that, even if I tried to explain.

After all, it was true that I lost consciousness from cutting my wrist.

‘…But I was really sure nothing serious would happen!’

I had only made a shallow cut on the vein and avoided any fatal areas.

Besides, Iris was waiting outside, so I wouldn’t have been left unattended for long.

“I thought that was the only way the Lady Viviana would let me go…”

But seeing the still-angry look in my mother’s eyes, it seemed my reasoning wasn’t getting through.

There’s no helping it.

At times like this, I only had one trump card to play.

With a slight tear in my eye, I wrapped my arms around my mother’s hand and looked up at her with trembling eyes, my voice quivering.

“But… I missed you so much, Mother… I had to do that to see you again…”

My mother’s cold, stern eyes flinched slightly.

I didn’t miss the chance and moved even closer to her, locking eyes with her.

***

“You promised you’d come to see me… but you never did. I really can’t live without you, Mother…”

“That’s…”

“For a whole month in that mansion… Do you know how lonely I was? They called me a prostitute… abandoned me… told me they were sick of me…”

“…Tina.”

There was no longer any sign of reproach in my mother’s eyes.

She just looked at me with a sorrowful expression.

As I thought, my mother could never resist my affectionate pleas, not even if she were reborn.

Determined to seal the deal, I spread my arms wide and gazed at her with soft, earnest eyes.

“I’m sorry for getting hurt… I won’t do it again… So, can’t you hold me like you used to?”

Mother stared at me for a while, then finally let out a deep sigh before pulling me into a tight embrace.

As I buried my face into the comfort of her chest, she gently stroked my hair with affectionate eyes.

“Really… Are you sure you’re okay, Tina?”

“Of course.”

Was it really that shocking to have pretended to talk with a childhood friend? It seemed that her mother’s anxiety would not easily subside.

Maybe I had a bit of talent for acting after all.

‘Pfft, Mother is just too much. She worries too much.’

I’m really fine, though.

The crimson sunset was slowly deepening, signaling the arrival of night at the Blanc Baron’s residence. After her bath, Artasha changed into a thin nightgown and was brushing her hair.

‘…Will everything really be okay?’

Although a sinking feeling of despair filled her chest as she spoke to herself while looking in the mirror, according to Tina, it had all been an act.

In reality, they had returned to the estate, dined together, and talked just like before. Even as they exchanged various stories, Tina had not seemed particularly different.

She was still lovely, and she was still beautiful.

‘…I’m really glad.’

Artasha lay down on the bed, closing her eyes. Seeing Tina’s bright demeanor, she thought that perhaps she could set aside her worries.

Though Artasha felt a bit hurt by the fact that her daughter had deceived her, she couldn’t blame her too much, as she was the one who had allowed Tina to go to the Duke of Merderlia’s house.

Relieved that her daughter was safe, Artasha closed her eyes to relieve the fatigue of the day.

[Mother…?]

At the sound of Tina’s voice from outside the door, Artasha quickly sat up.

“T-Tina?”

Her heart dropped in fear that something might have happened. The door opened slightly, and Tina quietly entered, holding a white pillow just like her mother’s.

“I… I just wanted to sleep with you tonight since it’s been a while.”

Tina’s voice was filled with affectionate desire as she carefully stepped into the room.

Artasha let out a sigh of relief, placing a hand on her chest.

There was nothing strange about it. They had often slept together before.

It had been nearly a month since they were last together, and there was nothing sweeter than falling asleep beside her daughter again.

With a gentle smile, Artasha warmly embraced Tina as she approached.

“Of course, dear. You’re always welcome with me.”

She gladly took her daughter into her arms, feeling the warmth of her small body as they lay back down on the bed.

“Hehe, I love you so much, Mother.”

Though it had been a while since she’d seen this side of her daughter, Tina’s affection was still as endearing as ever.

Tina snuggled against her mother, smiling brightly as she rubbed her head against Artasha’s chest.

As Artasha stroked Tina’s soft, downy hair, Tina pressed her face gently against her mother’s neck and left a light kiss there.

Artasha found herself holding her breath, her heart softly thumping at the warmth and tenderness of Tina’s lips, which she hadn’t felt in so long.

Tina slowly lifted her head and gave Artasha a kiss on the cheek.

As if wanting to get even closer, Tina’s small hand held onto her mother’s arm.

Smooch—smooch—

“Fufu… My sweet daughter.”

The love conveyed through Tina’s lips was so pure and adorable.

Like a cute little puppy, Tina clung to her mother, overflowing with affection, and Artasha hugged her tightly.

She was happy.

It felt as if she held the entire world in her arms, a feeling so complete that she resented herself for not having experienced this happiness for nearly a month.

Surely, waking up together in the morning would make her even happier.

With a tender smile, Artasha left a brief kiss on Tina’s forehead and closed her eyes.

She was ready to fall asleep, cuddled close to her beloved daughter.

Smooch, smooch—

Peck-

Peck-

“…Tina?”

However, Tina, who Artasha thought would fall asleep quickly, for some reason, didn’t stay still.

As if constantly craving affection, Tina kept giving Artasha little kisses on her face and tried to pull herself closer into her arms.

Occasionally, she buried her face in Artasha’s chest and rubbed her cheek against her.

Tina’s behavior, while seemingly normal, felt somehow different, as though she was seeking reassurance.

“I love you, Mother…”

Because Tina’s face was buried in her chest, Artasha couldn’t see her expression.

But without even needing to look, Artasha assumed that Tina must be wearing a mischievous smile, and with a chuckle, she gently patted Tina’s bottom.

“Haha, I love you too, Tina. Now, let’s go to sleep and look forward to tomorrow.”

“…Are you telling me to stop?”

“Yes, aren’t you tired?”

But contrary to her intention, Tina’s body began to tremble slightly. Worried she might be cold, Artasha pulled the blanket over her, but Tina’s shaking didn’t stop.

When Tina slowly lifted her head, her hollow blue eyes appeared beneath her shadowed face.

Seeing those eyes made Artasha’s heart sink.

“Am… am I tiring you too, Mother?”

“T-Tina?”

Her lifeless eyes.

As Artasha looked into them, she felt something was terribly wrong.

“If M-Mother gets tired of me, if, if even Mother gets tired of me, it’s fine, I have my childhood friend, yeah, it’s fine, I’m not alone, so yeah, it’s fine. I’m okay. Yeah, it’s fine, heh heh, everything’s fine, right?”

Seeing Tina muttering absentmindedly with vacant eyes,

Artasha’s gaze began to tremble uncontrollably.