Chapter 120: My mother’s face had turned red.

The Blanc family boasted a magnificent garden that was as splendid as any other. At its center lay a clear and transparent pond, surrounded by a vibrant array of colorful flower beds.

On a lazy afternoon, bathed in warm sunlight, I sat across from Artasha in a pavilion tucked away in one corner of the garden. A vase on the table held Abelia flowers I had gifted, arranged with care.

How long had it been since I’d had tea time with her, just the two of us? The extravagant selection of treats, which couldn’t be found at Miranda Grandma’s shop, gave off a delightful aroma, while the intricately designed teacups released a sweet fragrance of tea.

“Are you planning to return?”

Breaking the awkward silence, Artasha was the first to speak.

“Yes… I have to leave at dawn tomorrow.”

“I see.”

When I said I’d take a vacation, Miranda Grandma decided to temporarily close the shop entirely. She even rented a carriage and brought me all the way here herself.

I wondered if it was really necessary to close the shop, but Miranda Grandma said she had some business to take care of in the Empire anyway.

I felt like staying here and resting forever, but I couldn’t keep the shop closed indefinitely.

“I heard you’re helping out at the shop. Is it difficult?”

“No. It was hard at first… but now I’ve completely adjusted. I even discovered something I’m relatively good at.”

“Something you’re good at?”

“Uh, well… cooking is kind of fun…!”

Honestly, I wanted to cook for Artasha even now. It made me so happy when ordinary customers praised my food—how joyful would I feel if Artasha tasted my cooking and gave a positive reaction?

But I lacked confidence.

The chefs of the Blanc family were all highly skilled. Compared to their dishes, which were backed by years of experience and expertise, my cooking would pale in comparison.

In the remote frontlines, my food was praised as delicious, but in a renowned Empire, it would probably be considered plain and ordinary.

“I’d like to try your cooking sometime.”

But, as always, Artasha spoke kind words to me. Even though she likely had no great expectations for my cooking, she showed consideration for me.

“Yes…! If, if you’re okay with it, I’ll definitely make something for you!”

“…Artasha.”

Artasha gazed at me quietly for a moment. Her narrowed eyes made me wonder if I had made a mistake.

“You don’t call me ‘Mother’ anymore.”

“Pardon?”

“I think of you as my daughter, but perhaps you haven’t accepted me as your mother yet?”

“N-no, that’s not it…!”

“Then why don’t you call me Mother anymore?”

“T-that’s because… I feel guilty for the wrongs I’ve done to you…!”

Artasha placed her hand on my head. Her fingers gently combed through my hair, and an affectionate smile graced her face.

It was such a beautiful and radiant smile that I couldn’t help but stare in awe.

“Daughter. Can you call me ‘Mother’?”

Daughter.

A name parents use to call their child. Could there be a word that resonates deeper in one’s heart?

Since my father left in my previous life, I’d never heard a word used to refer to me as a child. And now, Artasha was calling me that.

She simply waited quietly for my answer, gazing at me. After moving my lips for a long while, I managed to produce a barely audible voice.

“M-mother…”

Artasha nodded gently, satisfied.

“Fufu, that’s right, my daughter. If you want, you can call me Mom as well.”

“I-I’ll do that once I’m more comfortable…”

My heart pounded violently.

I couldn’t just sit still, so I fidgeted with an innocent teacup. The surface of the tea, rippling violently, seemed to perfectly mirror my restless heart.

“Fufu, that’s right.”

Once again, her hand gently stroked my head.

It was a warm touch I hadn’t felt in so long. In my heart, I wanted to live under that touch forever, clinging to it like a spoiled child.

But I must not forget.

I am a sinner, unworthy of happiness.

“For tonight, why don’t you stay over? I’ve been keeping your room clean all along.”

“Really…?”

“This is your home, after all.”

“……Thank you.”

Her words filled my chest with an overwhelming sense of emotion.

After that, my mother and I quietly exchanged words, asking and answering about each other’s well-being.

She was still busy managing the family’s affairs. I was worried. My mother, being who she was, would lock herself in the office and not budge until sunset once she started working.

Sitting in one place for too long was, of course, not good for her health.

In the past, I used to visit her in between to take walks together, but now I didn’t even have that kind of time. I couldn’t help but be concerned about her health.

We talked about many other things—how society was faring lately, the state of the empire’s finances, and so on. Even when our conversation hit pauses, I forced myself to find new topics just to keep talking with her.

How much time had passed like that?

A strange sensation rising from my lower abdomen made my body tremble slightly.

“Are you alright?”

My mother looked at me with a worried expression.

“Ah, well…”

I bit my lips, hesitating under her concerned gaze. The embarrassment of admitting something I didn’t want to share made my face flush with heat.

But I couldn’t delay any longer.

“I… I need to use the restroom… Is that okay?”

My hips twitched instinctively, and my legs kept closing together.

It was a clear signal of a physiological need.

To be honest, I had felt it for a while now. But I had been holding it in, wanting to spend even a moment longer talking with my mother. Now, however, my body wouldn’t stop sending urgent signals that I couldn’t ignore anymore.

“Didn’t you go not long ago?”

“Th-that’s… um…”

“I know. There’s no need to feel embarrassed.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve heard about the mark the saintess engraved on you. About what she did to you. None of this is your fault. I must have been thoughtless, keeping you for so long.”

My mother stood up and extended a hand to me. I cautiously took her hand and rose from my seat.

The moment I stood up, the pressure in my lower abdomen became even stronger, and my legs trembled with the increasingly intense sensation.

To have held it in until it got this urgent—I must have really wanted to keep talking with her.

“It seems quite pressing, doesn’t it?”

It wouldn’t have been strange if she looked at me with disdain, but she only smiled gently, as if she understood everything.

“I’ll take you there, so follow me slowly.”

“Ah, um… That’s…”

“Don’t refuse. It’s something I’m more than willing to do for my daughter.”

Fearing I might make a mistake if I went alone, I ultimately decided to accept her help.

Holding my mother’s hand, I slowly stepped into the mansion. With each step I took, the signals rising from my lower abdomen grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, after enduring a moment of patience, I reached the bathroom. My mother let go of my hand and quietly stepped back.

“Fufu, my daughter can use the bathroom on her own, right?”

“M-Mother!”

My face flushed hot. Sometimes, my mother would tease me like this with her playful antics.

Overwhelmed with embarrassment, I hurried into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

“Ugh, haah…”

Leaning against the door, I let out a suppressed groan. My trembling legs seemed to protest, as if they could no longer endure.

But I already knew.

Despite the urgent state of my body, I wouldn’t feel completely relieved even after finishing.

For the past few months, I hadn’t been able to properly resolve a single physiological need. Even after finishing, the lingering discomfort would remain.

This was all because of Lillian’s training, which had been disturbingly effective.

Now, I had become so pitiful that I couldn’t even fulfill basic bodily functions without someone pressing on my lower abdomen.

There was no way I could ask Grandma Miranda for help. She would undoubtedly think of me as pathetic and ridicule me for being unable to handle something so basic.

But Artasha… I thought, maybe she would gently accept even this humiliating side of me.

As much as I hated the thought of asking for such help, if I didn’t, I’d have to live with this lingering discomfort for months again.

‘Just this once… just one time is all I need…’

It was so shameful, but just this once…

Artasha would understand… wouldn’t she?

As my body grew more restless, my rationality started to blur. Logical reasoning faded, and my body’s primal instincts to resolve this matter took over.

Eventually, I opened the bathroom door. On the other side, my mother’s puzzled eyes met mine.

“Tina? Are you done?”

“Ah, no… It’s just, my body doesn’t feel well…”

“What?!”

Mother was startled and rushed to me in alarm. Her hands, full of concern, carefully touched me, examining me with worry.

“Where does it hurt? Did you injure yourself? Or is it an upset stomach?”

“M-Mother… It’s just…”

“Don’t hesitate. Tell me, my dear.”

Seeing the love, devotion, and care in her eyes, I felt a sense of certainty.

If it’s Mother, I could ask for help.

I gently held onto her pinky finger and slowly pulled her along.

Even though she was bigger than me, she followed my touch so easily, letting herself be led into the bathroom.

I quietly closed the bathroom door and looked up at her.

“Um… Could you… help me?”

“I’ll help with anything. Just tell me.”

“Well, it’s not that I’m normally like this… but my body… it can’t take care of things on its own anymore…”

“What?”

Mother’s eyes widened in confusion.

I gently took my mother’s hand in mine. I lifted the width of my skirt and pressed my mother’s middle finger under my navel.

“Here, can you press here… under my belly button.”

“Uh….?”

My mother’s hand made a circle. Her white fingers rubbed my even whiter lower belly.

“Mmm…”

“Oh, daughter…”

The mere sensation made me feel as if the tickle that had been building up was about to explode.

“Here, here…can you press it with your mother’s touch…?”

In the transparent gaze of my mother’s eyes, my face reflected back, bright red.

Well, isn’t that only natural? After all, I ended up making this kind of request to my mother.

Yes, it was only natural for my face to be flushed.

“Y-you mean, press here…?”

And yet, strangely enough.

Even my mother’s face had turned red.

Why was that, I wonder?