Chapter 161: Mother is Stupid

A suggestive night. The hot breaths of my mother and I, lying side by side facing each other, mingle between us.

Mother’s eyes were trembling unusually. Her gaze was fixed entirely on her own hand resting on my chest.

“Compared to Mother, it’s small… but I suppose it’s still pretty enough.”

At my words, Mother’s eyes wavered once again.

Seeing her so deeply unsettled, I could be certain.

Mother sees me as a sexual being. Me—the daughter she once thought of as her own flesh and blood.

Was it strange that this realization pleased me so much?

But unlike Mother, I don’t see her that way.

And it wasn’t just her. I’ve never felt desire toward anyone.

It was true that I loved Mother, as well as the other women who cherished me.

But seeing them as objects of lust was an entirely different matter.

The reason I spoke to Mother like this was simple.

Because I could feel her desire for me so vividly.

Because the fact that Mother wanted me simply made me happy.

The woman who had always sacrificed for me—I wanted her to feel even the faintest happiness because of me.

Mother’s happiness was my happiness.

‘This makes you the second, after Mardian.’

Someone harboring sexual feelings toward me, that is.

But Mother was different from Mardian.

If she wanted me, I would give myself to her without hesitation.

“Tina, you shouldn’t tease your mother like this.”

Mother smiled faintly and gently caressed my cheek.

It was a warning.

A warning that if I provoked her further, she would cross a line.

A warning that things could never go back to how they were before.

But unfortunately, I had no intention of heeding that warning.

I wanted to be closer to Mother than her former daughter—closer than that wretched girl who had tormented her.

So I would lightly disregard Mother’s warning.

I slowly closed my eyes and pursed my lips toward her.

A pleading gesture, asking for a kiss.

Silence fell, but through the sheets between us, I could feel Mother trembling.

She gripped my shoulders, then climbed on top of me, pressing her body against mine.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at her.

Her lips were tightly bitten, her eyes filled with guilt.

Yet despite that, her breath was rough and hot with unrest.

I could see it plainly—she was wrestling with countless thoughts.

It seemed as though physical desire and spiritual love for me were colliding violently within Mother.

‘…If this continues.’

Knowing Mother’s temperament, if she were to give in to her urges and take me now, she would surely regret it later.

No matter how much I reassured her that it was fine, she would torture herself with guilt for laying hands on me, whom she had always treated as her own daughter.

She was frustratingly, almost foolishly, principled. Perhaps that was why I loved her so deeply.

There was no other choice.

I had to shatter that guilt completely.

“Tina… I…”

As I watched Mother hesitate, I slowly raised my upper body.

And then— mwah.

I briefly pressed my lips against hers.

A soft, fleeting sensation brushed against my lips, accompanied by a sweet sound.

Mother flinched in surprise, her fingers instinctively touching her own lips.

Her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush.

My face must have been just as flushed with embarrassment.

“T-Tina…”

“Let’s sleep now, Mother.”

Caught off guard by my words, Mother looked momentarily bewildered, but soon her expression softened into a relieved smile.

“…Yes, let’s get some rest.”

Perhaps she found comfort in the fact that she hadn’t crossed the line in the end.

Her ragged breathing gradually steadied, and the tension between us dissolved into quiet tranquility.

“It’s very late. Get some proper rest.”

“Yes, you too, Mother.”

With one last radiant smile, I closed my eyes in the returned peace.

“…Mother is such a fool.”

Then, barely above a whisper, I let the words slip.

Quietly, as if talking to myself—but just loud enough to reach Mother’s ears.

***

Renihel.

A woman who, even past forty, carried an elegant grace.

She had been a loyal companion to Mother even as the Blanc family walked the path of ruin.

Since childhood, I had relied on her for advice and support, and now, we were close enough to call each other family.

Yet now, she was looking at me with an uneasy expression.

“…My lady, I’m not certain this is a wise idea.”

“Trust me, Renihel. This is for Mother’s sake.”

“It’s not that I doubt your devotion to the Baroness, but…”

Renihel hesitated, her face troubled, as she weighed her thoughts in silence.

“You know how Mother has been lately. I want to break the mental illness tormenting her.”

“I’m not sure if this will truly solve anything, but…”

“Trust me.”

After my persistent persuasion, Renihel finally let out a sigh and decided to follow my lead.

Perfect.

The best way to shatter Mother’s guilt is to bury it under another emotion.

For example—something like jealousy.

“Then, let’s go right now.”

“…If I judge that this won’t actually help the Baroness, I’ll stop immediately, my lady.”

“Mhm, don’t worry.”

Lightly grasping Renihel’s hand, we headed toward Mother’s office.

The current time was 2 PM—when Mother would be deeply immersed in her work.

After a neat knock, her calm voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

Renihel opened the door, and I hurried in after her.

Mother looked at us alternately with puzzled eyes.

“How unusual. The two of you together.”

“Yes, the young lady and I had some personal matters to discuss.”

“Personal matters?”

“Ah, nothing for the Baroness to worry about.”

Mother raised an eyebrow slightly, looking bemused, but soon withdrew her gaze as if deciding not to dwell on it.

After that, a formal conversation between the head maid and her mistress continued.

Since Renihel had long managed the household affairs, there was much to discuss between them.

And all the while, I stayed quietly clinging to Renihel’s back.

“…Tina.”

Mother’s voice lowered subtly.

Her gaze, tinged with something uncomfortable, turned toward me.

“Yes?”

“Come here.”

She gestured to the spot beside her.

I wanted to run to her immediately at that beckoning.

But I suppressed the urge and instead tightened my grip on Renihel’s sleeve.

“No, it’s fine, Mother.”

Mother blinked, her eyes widening slightly in a daze.

The hand she had stretched out trembled faintly.

“I don’t want to interrupt your work. Please don’t mind me and continue your conversation.”

“……”

She looked genuinely shocked. Of course, she must have expected me to rush over.

As much as I wanted to, now was the time to endure.

“You two seem to have grown quite close.”

Mother’s gaze shifted to Renihel.

Though her stare was sharp, Renihel straightened her shoulders and answered confidently.

“The young lady has an especially lovable side to her, you see.”

At Renihel’s shameless reply, Mother’s eyes narrowed further.

Well, at a glance, it might seem like Renihel was being insolent.

But I knew Mother didn’t truly dislike her.

The two had spent many long years protecting this family together.

When the Blanc family was drowning in debt and walking the path to ruin, Renihel was the one who remained loyally by Mother’s side.

Though there was a difference in status, the affection Mother held for Renihel was no less than that for family.

“I see. That’s good. You’ll be a great help to each other.”

Mother forced a composed smile.

Unfortunately, it seemed I had to drive the nail deeper into her composure.

“Mother.”

Peeking out from behind Renihel, I looked at her.

“What is it, dear?”

“I’m going to sleep in Renihel’s room with her tonight.”

Mother’s arm suddenly dropped onto the desk with a thud.

Her once-lifted eyes trembled without context, and her gentle smile could no longer hold its shape.

“Tina… You’re with Ranihel?”

“Yes, I wanted to get closer to her personally.”

What thoughts were passing through Mother’s mind right now?

Judging by her gradually chilling gaze, they certainly weren’t positive ones.

“…Ranihel.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Could you give me a moment alone with my daughter?”

Her voice, unlike usual, was cold and sharp.

“Of course. I shall do so.”

Realizing she could push no further, Ranihel nodded and stepped back.

Turning away from Mother, Ranihel gave me a brief wink before leaving the room.

For a moment, only the two of us remained in the office, with nothing but heavy silence hanging in the air.

“Daughter.”

It was Mother who broke the silence first.

I tilted my head with an innocent look, as if knowing nothing.

“Yes?”

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Meaning of what?”

“I want to know what your intention is—deliberately choosing Ranihel over me.”

“My intention?”

I paused, resting my chin on my hand in a thoughtful gesture.

Then, with a harmless smile, I spoke to Mother, whose anxious eyes waited for my answer.

“Well… I think I can be of help to Lady Ranihel?”

At my composed reply, Mother clenched her fist.

Just wait a little longer, Mother.

All the pain inside you—I’ll take care of it all.