Chapter 63:You are Mine

In the office of Philsi, located on the top floor of Labrium General Hospital, Reina carefully pulled out a document and placed it on the desk.

“It’s perfectly normal.”

At her brief words, both Artasha and even Philsi showed surprised expressions, as if they hadn’t expected it.

“Really…?”

Artasha’s blue eyes trembled greatly. When she asked again, suppressing her trembling heart, Reina delivered the good news with a gentle smile.

“There are no pathological causes at all. Even the previous self-harm attempt doesn’t seem to be due to psychological collapse, but rather a choice made under extreme mental pressure.”

In the end, it meant that Tina cut her wrist solely because of Viviana.

Though Artasha harbored growing resentment towards Viviana, she felt deep relief knowing her daughter had no major issues.

“However… there are slight signs of emotional deprivation. It seems she might need more love from her parents.”

Upon hearing those words, Artasha’s eyes subtly twitched. As if something came to mind, she tightly clasped her hands with a sorrowful expression.

“…Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Looking back, it might have been too obvious. Tina lost the father she trusted and relied on the most at a young age.

While other children grew up basking in the love of both their father and mother, Tina grew up without fully receiving her father’s love.

Though he may have been a meaningless man to her, parents are precious beings, more than anything in the world. Surely, it must have been the same for Tina.

And yet, the thought that Tina had been emotionally deprived had never crossed her mind.

For the past two years, Tina had embraced her with a lovely smile, but deep inside, there had been such a profound wound. As a mother, she resented herself for not noticing it.

No.

Perhaps, she had known but had chosen to ignore it.

‘…I must try harder from now on.’

Tina still didn’t have a partner, and only she could heal her daughter’s heart.

She could do it.

Though the way wasn’t clear at the moment, with time and effort, there would surely be a way.

With a firm resolve to give Tina enough love, even to the point where it might overwhelm her, Artasha looked at Reina.

“Where is my daughter right now?”

“She’s sleeping in the rest room.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll―”

“Baroness.”

Just as Artasha, who desperately wanted to hold her daughter in her arms, took a step forward, Phils’s deep voice stopped her in her tracks.

“…Before that, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Though her heart urged her to run to Tina right away, Philsi’s gaze, which had become more serious than before, caused her to stop.

In her hand, she held a single document.

***

In my hazy consciousness, I could feel someone gently stroking my head. The touch was so soft that I thought it would be nice to lie like this forever.

“You’re awake?”

A refreshing yet seductive, mysterious voice whispered into my ear. My heart ached with longing as I opened my eyes wide and looked for the owner of that voice.

There stood a face I knew all too well. A face I was more familiar with than anyone else—my own.

It was once me, but no longer, a face I could no longer confront.

Flowing black hair like the night sky, contrasting pale skin, a sharp nose, long and thick eyelashes, and plump lips tinged with red.

A doll-like appearance that inherited the beauty of the woman I used to call ‘mother.’

Despite being a man, it was a face that had been mistaken for a woman countless times.

It was my face from a previous life.

But, there was one distinct difference.

A clear feature that distinguished me from her.

A black cross embedded at the center of crimson eyes.

The cross was dark, yet to me, it was the most dazzling thing in the world.

“It’s been a while.”

“H-How…? That form…?”

I jumped to my feet and looked around.

The endlessly sprawling dark space reminded me of my room from a past life.

“…I guess I should call you Tina now.”

My childhood friend, who had been stroking my head, suddenly buried her nose in the nape of my neck, deeply inhaling as her eyes gleamed.

“Tina, remember this.”

At her words, my body slowly began to sink into the darkness. In my blurring vision, the image of my childhood friend gradually faded away.

“You’re mine.”

I wanted to say something, but the tendrils of darkness rising from the ground coiled around me, stealing my voice.

In the end, I could only stare at her with vacant eyes.

Eyes filled with madness, crimson as blood. And that eerie voice, as though whispering directly into my brain.

She was the one I had longed to see.

“In your life, after death, and even after the next death… for all eternity.”

With a light push of her finger, my body sank down, swept away beyond the surface of consciousness.

[I’ll never let you go.]

–.

+++

++/////////////////////////////////+++

+++++

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

/////////////////////////////////////////

//////////////////

//////////////////////////////////////

…………………..

“Tina!”

At the sound of a desperate voice calling me, my deeply submerged consciousness slowly resurfaced.

The dark space I had just been in vanished, replaced by the blinding sunlight that made me squint.

“…Mother?”

A woman stood in the bright sunlight. The one I love and rely on the most in this world, my mother. She smiled at me with relief.

“You were sweating so much. I got worried and ended up raising my voice.”

It was then that I noticed the dampness clinging to my entire body. My back was soaked in sweat, and my whole body felt sticky.

“Am I… back at the estate?”

The surroundings felt familiar.

The room wasn’t as lavish as the duke’s bedroom, but the light blue curtains and bedding softly embraced the space.

It was my bedroom.

“Yes, you were sleeping so deeply that we brought you back without waking you.”

I slowly began to trace my memories.

The last thing I remembered was sitting on the sofa to receive treatment. I also recalled Reina suddenly swinging a pendulum back and forth in front of me.

But beyond that, my memory was blank.

‘…Wait, was it really hypnosis?’

Even so, is it okay to put someone under hypnosis without warning like that? If the person had been someone with unsavory tastes like Merdellia, I would’ve been helplessly caught.

“Nothing much… happened, right?”

“Nothing at all. But more importantly, the results from the check-up are out. Aren’t you curious?”

Oh, right, the check-up results.

I suddenly remembered that my mother had been ill. The only reason I went through the trouble of visiting the hospital was because of her.

I grabbed my mother’s hand tightly with a startled expression.

“You’re okay, right, Mother…? There’s no problem or anything like that… right…?”

I asked desperately, looking up at her. My mother stared at me with a dazed look for a moment, then gently patted my head, her trembling lips finally calming down.

“They said it’s just a simple cold. I got some medicine, so I’ll get better soon.”

“Oh… that’s such a relief, really…”

Thank goodness.

To others, it might not seem like a big deal, but when it came to my mother, I couldn’t help but be sensitive.

After all, as long as I was Tina Blanc, she was the only person in the world who would love me without any ulterior motives.

“Tina, aren’t you curious about your own results?”

“I’m sure I’m fine.”

“…Yes, you are.”

As expected.

Though I am a bit sensitive to loneliness, there wasn’t really anything else that would be considered problematic. It seems my mother had been worrying needlessly.

I held my mother’s hand and slowly got up from the bed. Perhaps because I had slept deeply, I felt more refreshed than I expected.

My mental state wasn’t bad either.

Maybe it was because I was able to see my childhood friend after a long time, or maybe it was thanks to my mother’s loving gaze, always filled with affection for me.

Either way, the loneliness that had been tormenting me didn’t seem to be there now.

“Ugh, but I need to wash up…”

Since I had been outside for a long time, my hair felt sticky, and the thin dress I was wearing was slightly damp with sweat. It didn’t smell, but as someone called a ‘beloved young lady,’ I couldn’t allow myself to be this unkempt.

“I’ll tell Renihel to heat up the bathwater for you, so rest a little longer.”

As always, my mother gave me a warm smile overflowing with affection. Gazing at her absentmindedly, I felt my heart start to tickle.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

Usually, when I take a bath, it takes about an hour. That would mean I’d have to be alone during that time…?

I don’t want that.

Loneliness is a pain worse than death for me.

I hate being alone now.

And besides… I like my mother so much… I can be sure she wouldn’t do anything strange.

Also, my mother had been outside too, so she must feel a bit uncomfortable…

“Mm? What’s wrong?”

As I timidly grabbed my mother’s sleeve, her clear green eyes widened in confusion. With her waiting for my response, I chewed my lips for a while.

Even though I was old enough to know better, my ears and cheeks reddened with embarrassment at the thought of acting so childish. But I couldn’t help it.

I really didn’t want to be alone.

“Um, would you… take a bath with me, Mother…?”

Shyly, bashfully, and with no confidence.

At my small, hesitant words, my mother’s eyes began to tremble.

“Nothing much… happened, right?”