Episode 106 – Mother and Daughter
by Afuhfuihgs
*
The sunset was painting the world red.
Mela returned to the mansion alone, her footsteps heavy and slow, as if bound by iron chains, treading on the long shadows.
This was because Robin had been dragged away by the Inquisition under the pretext of an investigation due to the commotion at the social gathering in the Imperial City, and her son Edward had also gone to the cathedral to receive disciplinary action for not reporting Daniel’s zombification.
Today, which should have been a joyful day to see her wonderful son, grown into a figure to be proud of, was ending in the worst possible way in an instant.
As it was a time when she was suffering from numerous suspicions created by Jennifer’s death, Mela had a vague worry that something bad might happen.
However, on the other hand, she also had a naive optimism that no matter how much they were suspected, surely no one would openly cause friction in the Imperial City where the Emperor was present.
She thought that if she could just quietly watch her son, who had become a priest and Inquisitor, clapping her hands, express her gratitude to Baron Salvier, and get some hint about the doctor who treated Tess, she would have gotten everything she could from this social gathering.
But who would have thought that the person who would cause friction with them would be Baron Salvier himself?
Mela sighed and thought of him.
Baron Salvier.
He was a man who was always kind to others, couldn’t pass by people in need, and never refused a request for help.
That fierce appearance of the Baron, exposing the tragedy that had occurred in the mansion and Robin’s misdeeds with curses in front of everyone, was not erased from Mela’s mind.
Mela dragged her already heavy footsteps even slower, and soon stopped in the middle of the mansion’s hallway.
,What the hell was I doing… Of course, of course he would be angry.”
Mela muttered, chewing over the Baron’s angry outburst.
As he said that he would have helped if they had asked politely, Robin’s attitude was certainly closer to demanding than asking for help from the Baron.
It was probably because of the lighthearted thought that Baron Salvier would naturally help, rather than coercion based on his status or position.
In addition, the Baron, who was injured trying to protect Dena from Daniel, who had been resurrected as an undead, had gotten away with not paying Mena’s price instead of the treatment fee, so it was clear that Baron Salvier had enough reason to be angry when Robin even justified his demands by mentioning Mena’s payment.
Like the saying that people who are used to receiving help forget gratitude, Mela covered her face in shame at the fact that Robin, or rather, she herself, had at some point taken his help for granted.
But no matter what the reason, his anger was very unfamiliar and bewildering to Mela.
It was also because of the fierce curses he spewed out, and also because his attitude towards her felt colder than before for some reason today.
Moreover, it was also because the Baron, who had been so kind, had committed the act of cruelly exposing things that the other person wanted to hide in front of many people.
Finally, it was an even greater shock to Mela because she could feel the mockery and contempt deeply embedded beyond his anger, even though it was hidden behind a mask.
As the red-tinged sunlight coming through the window shone on her whole body, Mela began to feel an indescribable sense of misery and shame.
Even if Robin did so with his unique pride, wasn’t she a person who couldn’t return any words other than gratitude to the Baron?
Mela staggered greatly and supported herself against the wall, ashamed that she had dared to add a word to Robin’s vulgar request for financial support, spitting and sputtering at him.
Ah, Mela. You worthless thing.
Did I take the things the Baron has done for me so lightly?
Otherwise, how could I have so shamelessly asked for help because the situation was difficult?
How could she have tried to scold him by mentioning her husband’s injury to the man whose arm had been torn to shreds while protecting Dena?
,There’s a limit to how shameless you can be, Mela.”
Mela forced back the tears welling up in her eyes and raised her head.
Why would she shed tears out of sorrow?
Mela deeply repented and slowly began to move her feet again.
Will the day ever come when she can apologize to him?
Mela recalled Baron Salvier, even as she suffered from the guilt that pricked her heart.
She had no complaints about Baron Salvier exposing Robin and her family’s secrets.
This was because Mela herself knew very well that there was not a single lie in the rough sentences he had spewed out like a fireball.
If there was a sin, she should bravely accept the price for it, and if the family became difficult, it should be resolved by the efforts of the people in this family.
Besides, she firmly believed that Robin was not involved in Jennifer’s case, so she was not too worried even though Robin had been arrested.
Mela comforted herself that even if she fell, she could start again as long as Robin stopped wandering.
However, the fact that her son, who had tried to cover up his parents’ faults, would be punished was like a huge thorn in Mela’s heart, causing a choking pain.
She felt ashamed and sorry that her parents’ lack of virtue would adversely affect Edward’s future, let alone benefit from being the son of a Saintess, so Mela couldn’t lift her head.
Mela always lamented that her realization was late.
She regretted losing Ed 20 years ago due to a wrong decision to the point of destroying herself, fell into despair and self-blame, caused trouble to her colleagues and Robin, and even after overcoming Ed’s loss with their help, she missed the opportunity to prevent many misfortunes by falling into memories and lethargy.
And she continued to maintain that attitude until now, angering her benefactor and hindering her son.
Mela lamented her pathetic appearance.
What Saintess, what member of the Hero’s party?
She was just a pathetic and lacking old woman, more shameful than her younger self who was just a country girl.
It shouldn’t be like that anymore.
Mela’s lament and determination stopped in front of her other child’s room.
Mela slowly grabbed the doorknob and opened it.
,Hello, Mom.”
A voice calling Mela was heard before the door was fully opened.
Mela was startled and widened her eyes, pushing the door open.
Tess, who had been lying down for days, had gotten up from the bed and was sitting, looking at the sunset.
No, she might have just been feeling the sunlight, as she couldn’t see.
Mela screamed at the voice and appearance she had heard and seen in so long.
,…Tess? Oh my god!”
,Mom…”
Mela ran to the bed and hugged Tess tightly.
Her daughter, who had been sleeping continuously because she had become so weak even though her body had recovered after the doctor visited.
Tess had woken up.
,Ah, Goddess-nim, oh my god. Tess, are you okay? Thank you, Goddess-nim. Really.”
,Mom, I can’t breathe…”
Tess patted Mela’s back, making a sly sound as she always did.
Mela gently released Tess’s body and stroked her daughter’s pale cheeks.
The tears she had been holding back until just now burst out.
,You’re crying again, Mom. You always cry when you see me. It makes me feel like I’m a bad daughter.”
Tess’s voice was also full of moisture as she said that.
Mela shook her head and said.
,Why are you a bad daughter? No. Tess, our pretty daughter. Good daughter. How’s your body? Are you okay?”
Tess nodded and said.
,Yeah, something’s different. I don’t feel that terrible thing that I always felt inside my body anymore.”
,…Really?”
,Yeah, I think this is the first time I’ve felt like this in my life. It feels refreshing and cool.”
,Oh, Tess, that’s a relief… I’m so glad.”
Mela held Tess’s hand tightly.
Compared to Mela’s hand, it was a very cold and thin finger, but even so, she could clearly feel the pulse beating.
Mela rubbed her cheek against Tess’s cold hand as if trying to breathe warmth into it, or as if trying not to miss even a faint warmth.
Tess wiped away the tears that flowed down Mela’s cheek with her thumb and said.
,I’ve been lying down all this time, but I still know everything. Mom and Oppa have been sticking by my side.”
Mela sobbed at Tess’s words.
Tess put her chin on Mela’s shoulder and leaned her face against it.
Mela released Tess’s hand and gently hugged her back.
,Mom, thank you. I’m okay now.”
Mela couldn’t hide her emotion at Tess’s whisper, which came directly into her ear thanks to her leaning on her shoulder.
Mela felt like her daughter was a being with the form of hope.
In this time when a big crisis was coming and this family was full of bad things, her recovery felt like some kind of revelation.
Mela called her daughter’s name in a voice full of tears.
,Tess…”
,You’ve had a hard time because of me, haven’t you?”
Mela shook her head and said.
,No, rather, my daughter had a hard time because of her incompetent mother. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Mom.”
,I don’t know a better mom than you,”
Tess slowly took her head away from Mela.
Her unfocused eyes were not facing Mela’s face, but her faint smile was clearly directed at her mother.
Tess slowly smiled playfully and said.
,Mom.”
,Yes, Mom is here.”
,Mom, you know.”
,Yes, tell me.”
,I’m. Hungry.”
*
Mela cooked milk porridge, put it on a tray, and brought it in.
This was because she judged that too much food would not be good for Tess, who had not woken up for a long time.
Despite the maids’ dissuasion, Mela went down to the kitchen herself and prepared the food with all her heart for Tess.
Mela, who had spent many years as a Countess, could easily make just milk porridge.
Of course, the maids’ skills might be better, but even so, she wanted to make it herself this time.
The memories of her childhood were already dim, so she could no longer remember the taste and appearance of the food her mother used to make, but she clearly remembered the fact that her mother made milk porridge when young Mela caught a cold and was sick, and the warm atmosphere.
Tess, who had escaped the threat of death, would be able to continue living in the future, even if her body was uncomfortable.
Mela hoped that her daughter, who had regained her future, would one day remember that her mother had cooked milk porridge for her, just like she did now.
Tess received the milk porridge that Mela was blowing on and ate it, moving her small lips.
Mela loved how her daughter was regaining her vitality with each bite, and she couldn’t stop wiping Tess’s lips and bringing the spoon to her daughter’s mouth, unaware that the sun had set and the room was getting dark.
Tess emptied a bowl of milk porridge made by Mela and smiled contentedly.
Only then did Mela realize that the room was dark and lit the candle to light up the room.
,Was it delicious?”
,Yeah, a lot.”
,Tess, now that you’re all better, I’ll let you eat more delicious things. No, not just food, you’ll be able to do everything you haven’t been able to do. Look forward to it.”
,Hehe, I can’t see the scenery anymore,”
,…Can you stop making jokes that break my heart?”
,Still, this is something. Mom. I’m really grateful even now. Oppa worked hard for me…”
,…Yeah, Edward worked really hard. Instead of his lacking mother.”
,We should thank Baron Salvier-nim too.”
Mela trembled slightly when Baron Salvier’s name came out of Tess’s mouth.
It was also thanks to Baron Salvier that her daughter had a future.
As much as she was happy that Tess had recovered, her guilt towards the Baron began to grow even bigger.
At the same time, questions about the doctor who possessed her divine power also swelled up.
Why did the Baron refuse to give information about the doctor in such a firm manner?
The Baron’s words that he didn’t know anything about the doctor were clearly a lie.
For some reason, Mela could be so sure.
Mela suppressed her complicated feelings between questioning and thanking the Baron and opened her mouth.
,I guess… Baron-nim must have worked very hard to find a doctor to treat Tess.”
,Hmm? Didn’t Baron-nim do it himself?”
,What?”
Mela widened her eyes at Tess’s absurd words.
Tess also made a puzzled expression and said.
,I’m sure it was Baron Salvier-nim’s presence?”
,…What?”
Tess’s body had been weakening for a long time, and eventually even her eyes went blind, but perhaps as a substitute, she had gained an inexplicably sensitive sense.
Her senses always accurately identified who had visited her room before the door was even opened, and Edward had once told her that Tess was the first to sense Daniel when he appeared as an undead.
Mela opened her mouth in shock, as if she had been hit in the back of the head, and asked Tess in a trembling voice.
,Tess…is, is that…really?”
,…Uh, yeah, at least that’s what I felt. It was definitely Baron Salvier-nim. I felt that sharp and rough presence of Baron-nim put his hand on my forehead.”
,…Could it be…”
Tess heard Mela take a big breath.
Mela stood there for a long time without saying a word, unable to breathe.
.
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