Chapter 58: Mother’s affection

Just before losing her senses and running to Tina, Viviana left Alphonse with an order to send a carrier pigeon and a carriage to the House of Baron Blanc.

[Wouldn’t it be better to handle this matter secretly?]

Alphonse asked cautiously.

[There are things you should hide and things you shouldn’t. Send a carriage to the House of Baron Blanc along with the message.]

Though she didn’t usually place a high value on human life, she wasn’t despicable enough to hide the news that her daughter had harmed herself from her mother.

Since this situation had occurred because of her, she believed it was something she should not conceal from her mother, no matter what. If she did, she would never be able to face her mother with dignity again.

She would surely become a pathetic liar, unable to even lift her head under the weight of guilt. And that was something she, as a Merdellian, could never accept.

About three hours had passed since she sent the letter, and her mother had likely rushed over as soon as she saw it. Judging by her simple, casual attire, it seemed she didn’t even have the time to dress formally.

Her cheek stung.

But the pain in her chest was hundreds of times worse.

“Tina…! Ah… Tina!”

Her mother wept, crying out in despair. She gently caressed Tina’s hand, calling her name repeatedly, but despite her mother’s desperate calls, Tina’s eyes remained tightly shut.

“Her life… is not in danger, they said.”

“Shut up.”

In an attempt to reassure her mother, she conveyed the doctor’s diagnosis, but what returned was a pair of lifeless, blue eyes.

“Right now, the fact that I don’t even have the strength to hit you makes me want to tear myself apart, so don’t say anything.”

Her mother’s gaze, filled with resentment and fury, tightened the grip on her heart. Unable to meet those eyes, she could only bow her head like a sinner.

“…Master, let us step out for now.”

Next to her, Iris spoke cautiously. Lacking the energy to even speak, Viviana weakly nodded in agreement.

As Viviana left the room with heavy steps, the only sound that filled the bedroom was the sorrowful weeping of a mother.

Reflecting the grim mood of the House of Duke Merdellia, rain continued to fall beneath the gray sky.

Now, three days later, Iris stood hesitantly before the bedroom door. She couldn’t bring herself to open it, stuck in indecision.

The woman who had been unfazed before the hideouts of notorious criminals was now unable to take even a single step in front of this door.

Her heart felt unbearably heavy.

She wanted to run away at that very moment, but doing so would surely mean her death at the hands of her master.

Iris let out a deep sigh, trying to steady herself. She reminded herself that this, too, would eventually pass, then opened the door with a determined gaze.

The faint sunlight filtering into the bedroom did little to dispel the cold, quiet atmosphere.

It had been three days since Lady Blanc had lost consciousness. Despite the doctor’s diagnosis that she should have woken up by now, the young lady remained asleep, lying still in her bed.

And by her side, Baron Blanc sat, ever watchful.

“…I will change the IV drip.”

There was no response. Baron Blanc simply held his daughter’s hand tightly, his eyes devoid of life. Swallowing nervously, Iris slowly walked in with the food and the replacement IV drip.

She changed the IV drip and placed the food and drink she had brought for the Baron beside him. Noticing that the previous meal remained untouched, she realized he had barely eaten.

“…Is the meal not to your liking?”

Even though she knew that wasn’t the reason, Iris cautiously addressed Artasha. Slowly, Artasha turned her head from her daughter toward Iris.

Her condition was far from good. She had grown noticeably gaunt, her face pale and hollow from days without proper meals. Her already fair complexion had lost all warmth.

“If the food isn’t satisfactory, I can prepare something else…”

“I heard… you called my daughter a whore…”

“…!!”

The weak sound of her voice felt like it sank Iris’s heart to the depths. Her dark eyes trembled, lost for a moment, unable to find their focus.

‘The master must have told her.’

She had expected this. Hiding one’s sins went against the nature of the House of Merdellia. The young lady, who bore the strongest traits of the Merdellian bloodline, would have likely confessed everything to her mother.

Even her own guilt.

“I… I…”

She opened her mouth, trying to offer an excuse, but no words came out. In the end, all she could do was avert her gaze and bow her head.

“I… I am truly… sorry…”

Baron Blanc looked at Iris with hollow eyes before turning back to stroke his daughter’s head gently. Iris knew he hadn’t accepted her apology. It was clear that he didn’t want to exchange any more words with her.

Biting her lip, Iris slowly stood up. Though she knew there would be no reply, she bowed deeply to Baron Blanc and left the bedroom.

In a daze, she wandered to her master’s office. After a brief knock, she opened the door, and the pungent smell of tobacco greeted her nose.

The office of the young lady was filled with smoke, to the point where it was hard to tell how much had been burned. As I waved the smoke away with my hand and walked further in, the sight of the young lady, staring at the documents with a face as haggard as Baron Blanc’s, came into view.

“…No matter how much you’re the master, smoking like that is bad for your health.”

“…How is mother?”

A voice as cracked as her blue lips escaped from her mouth. Seeing her still call Baron Blanc ‘mother’ made me wonder if she hadn’t given up on that foolish hope.

The young lady denied having any feelings toward the pet lady beyond viewing her as a lovable animal, but she couldn’t hide the affection buried deep within her intense gaze.

Anyone with a keen eye wouldn’t miss it. How could they not notice the honey dripping from her eyes, which usually looked at others with cold detachment, whenever she gazed at the pet lady?

“…Baron Blanc seems alright for now, but I don’t know how long he’ll last since he’s been skipping meals.”

It was still difficult to accept this image of a powerless master. In such a short time, how deeply had she fallen for the pet lady?

Although the master had placed her here to make her completely hers, I started to think it might be the master who had been drawn in. Like not realizing you’re getting soaked by a drizzle, perhaps she had been enchanted by her smiling eyes.

…Well.

Even I, who barely exchanged words with her, feel this aching in my heart, so how must the master, who spent every night with her, feel? In the end, Iris suppressed her nagging with a short sigh and opened the window in the office.

“Tina… You should be waking up soon… Why aren’t you waking up…? The doctor clearly said you’d wake soon…”

Viviana’s voice sounded incredibly weak. Upon closer inspection, her hands were trembling slightly. Iris frowned at the sight of her master, who had become so fragile.

I understand, but…

I still couldn’t be completely accepting. This wasn’t just a personal matter but also an issue for the entire ducal family. If Viviana, the next duchess, faltered, it meant that all of Merdellia would also waver.

Yet, even knowing this, I couldn’t say anything. After all, I knew I wasn’t entirely blameless either.

In the end, today too, we could only wait in the endless swamp of regret, hoping Tina would wake up as soon as possible.

***

The cruel silence weighed heavily on Artasia. Only the faint pulse from Tina’s wrist provided her any comfort.

With a sad smile, Artasia gently brushed aside Tina’s hair. Her long eyelashes cast shadows around her eyes, yet even in this moment, she exuded an irresistible charm.

“Who did you inherit such beauty from, even when you’re sleeping? Isn’t that right, Tina?”

Even knowing there would be no reply, Artasia spoke with a heart full of longing.

When the answer didn’t come, tears finally welled up in Artasia’s eyes. She tightly shut her eyes and buried her face into the bed.

As a mother, she couldn’t show her daughter the sight of her breaking down.

Struggling to calm her trembling heart, Artasia firmly grasped Tina’s hand and whispered softly.

“Tina… Mother can’t live without you…”

In a bleak, colorless world, Tina was her only light. The one precious treasure left in her worn-out life. Tina was her everything, her reason for living. Without Tina, Artasia wouldn’t be able to find any more meaning in life.

So now, while Tina slept, Artasia could only be consumed by helplessness, waiting by her side, hoping her daughter would open her eyes.

Praying desperately to see that lovely smile once more, Artasia clasped her hands together, day and night, without rest for three days.

Perhaps that desperate prayer was answered.

“…Ah?”

A faint tremor was felt in the hand she was holding.

With wide eyes, Artasia quickly raised her head.

Tina’s tightly closed eyelids began to tremble.

Slowly, they started to open.

At last, Tina’s blue eyes were revealed once again.

“T-Tina…!”

Artasha urgently called out her daughter’s name.

Just moments ago, her heart had sunk to the very bottom, but now it soared to the heavens.

I’m so relieved you’re safe. Thank you so much for opening your eyes again.

The thought of seeing her daughter’s smile once more made Artasha’s heart pound fiercely.

However, in contrast, Tina was staring blankly at the ceiling, blinking slowly.

“…Tina?”

Artasha called her daughter’s name once more. Tina flinched slightly, then suddenly sat up straight in bed.

Artasha was startled by her sudden action, but she quickly regained her composure. If she had been in such a desperate state as to attempt self-harm, then she must have been driven to a psychological extreme.

Artasha thought that perhaps what Tina needed most right now was a warm hug, and she opened her arms wide, preparing to embrace her.

And just as she resolved to give her a loving hug—

“Tina…!”

Tina flinched again, then stood up from the bed and suddenly stretched out her arms, running forward.

Like a baby bird running towards its mother.

She rushed forward with her small, adorable body.

But.

She wasn’t heading for Artasha’s arms.

Instead, she ran towards the mirror in the corner of the room.

“…Huh?”

Artasha blinked in confusion.

As Tina passed her by, Artasha’s outstretched arms were left hanging in the air, filled only with emptiness.

Turning her trembling head, she saw Tina standing in front of the mirror, placing her hands on it with a smile on her face.

“I’m not alone anymore… Right? Hehe, I’m happy too…”

“T-Tina…”

“It didn’t hurt that much. It’s okay, because now we’ll be together forever, right?”

As if someone were inside the mirror, Tina kept touching it, smiling, and speaking.

Her voice sounded eerily calm, and she seemed disturbingly joyful.

“Ah… Ah…”

Her mind went blank, all strength drained from her, and she felt as if her legs were about to give out.

Artasha, who had been watching the scene in a daze for quite some time, was filled with nothing but despair and a deep sense of loss.

She collapsed weakly onto the floor.