Chapter 64: Who would do something like that?

“Shall we take a bath together?”

“Yes, I want to scrub your back, Mother.”

Mother’s deep blue eyes wavered momentarily. But soon, she looked at me with her usual calm gaze, gently stroking my hair.

“Aren’t you a bit too old to be taking baths together?”

“…I know, but still.”

“Hehe… From what I hear from other ladies, girls your age often rebel quite a bit. But my daughter is truly devoted.”

“Of course. I love you more than anyone else in this world.”

A hint of surprise flickered across Mother’s face, but she didn’t seem displeased. In fact, I could see her pure white ears turn slightly pink.

It was a somewhat embarrassing confession, but there was no falsehood in my feelings. The affectionate gaze from my mother was something I had longed for, even in my past life.

That’s why I really loved Artasha.

Perhaps I should say that the countless bruises and scars Mother had in my previous life seemed to be healed by Artasha’s pure love.

“……..”

For some reason, Mother bit her lip, her eyes more intense than usual, staring at me. She looked almost angry, so I quickly flashed her a bright smile.

“You’re right, Mother.”

In truth, she was right. Asking to take a bath together was unreasonable. Even between a mother and daughter, we were far past the age for such requests. It might be better to just give up.

But I really didn’t want to bathe alone…

Ah, I know!

“Then, I’ll bathe with Ranihel.”

Ranihel had assisted me during baths a few times, so it wouldn’t feel awkward to bathe with her. And there shouldn’t be any issue with a servant helping me bathe.

“…What? With Ranihel?”

“Yes, I was thinking of asking her for assistance.”

Ranihel was the person I felt most comfortable with in this mansion after Mother. Having served the Blanc Baron family for over several decades, I trusted she would be happy to help.

Just as I made up my mind, gave Mother a light bow, and turned to leave the room to find Ranihel—

“Who said you could do that?”

Mother’s hand firmly grasped my arm. I looked at her in surprise. The warm, gentle eyes she always had seemed more subdued than usual.

“Ranihel is very busy. Isn’t it rude to ask a busy person to assist with your bath? I’ll help you, so come with me.”

…Wasn’t the busiest person in this mansion Mother?

The one who stayed up every night, working tirelessly to pay off our mountains of debt— that was Mother. I never imagined she would worry so much about others.

She truly had a deep heart.

“Really? Okay, Mother!”

I was beyond delighted.

Time spent with my beloved mother was far more precious to me than time with Ranihel.

As I jumped up with a bright smile, Mother opened her arms, gently wrapping them around my waist and lifting me slightly. I slowly rubbed my face against her neck, taking in the scent of her skin.

‘…Huh?’

Could it be that she hadn’t fully recovered from her cold?

Mother’s body was trembling slightly.

[It’s for the sake of healing… nothing more…]

For some reason, Mother was mumbling quietly to herself, in a voice I could barely hear.

But it didn’t matter.

I was simply overjoyed at the prospect of bathing with my mother.

***

“Yaaawn…”

The bath time with Mother felt strange.

Throughout the time we were in the tub together, Mother avoided my gaze, and every time I moved closer, she would clear her throat and inch back slightly.

Hmm… It felt a little awkward.

There’s no way Mother was uncomfortable with me. There was certainly no reason for her to dislike me. The only explanation I could think of was one.

It seemed like she hadn’t fully recovered from her cold.

[Don’t even dream about it, Artasha. Absolutely not. Never.]

Seeing my mother pinching her own skin and mumbling to herself from time to time, I could immediately guess the situation.

She must have done that to avoid passing her cold to me.

Really… My mother was so kind.

But I would have preferred to catch the cold if it meant we could stay close like this.

“You look so beautiful when you smile.”

I heard my mother’s voice from behind. Perhaps because she had just bathed, she looked particularly tired.

She was carefully drying my hair, alternating between a towel and a heated magic tool. Normally, it would be Renihel or I who did this, but my mother insisted on doing it herself.

“What were you thinking about to smile so beautifully?”

“I was thinking about you, Mother.”

“……”

My mother’s hands paused for a moment. But soon, as if nothing had happened, she resumed drying my hair naturally.

“…It’s about time to get ready for bed.”

“Can we… sleep together again tonight?”

With slightly sunken eyes, I looked up at my mother. She smiled maturely, nodded, and gently fixed my hair.

“Of course. You’re always welcome.”

My mother opened her arms wide toward me. Without hesitation, I leapt into her embrace. She held me tightly as she walked toward the bed.

“Good night, Tina.”

Lying face-to-face, my mother whispered affectionate words.

“…You’re not going anywhere, right?”

I softly held my mother’s hand and asked in a weak voice. She squeezed my hand even tighter and gave me a warm smile.

“Why would I go anywhere? Tomorrow, next year, forever—I’ll always be by your side.”

An overwhelming love of absolute devotion. As I looked into Artaşa’s clear eyes, a wave of emotion swelled within me.

“I really love you, Mother… You’re so different from Viviana, who always grabs my butt.”

“I love you too, more than anything in this world—…what did you just say?”

My mother’s eyes widened. She grabbed my shoulders with both hands and looked at me with her blazing blue eyes.

“What did you just say? Did the young lady of Merdellia touch your butt?”

“Ah… well, that…”

“Tell me the truth. Nothing hurts me more than a lie from my daughter.”

Her voice was so serious that I couldn’t bring myself to lie. Thinking it wouldn’t matter to tell her, I let out a sad sigh and began to speak.

“…Viviana touched my butt every night.”

“Every night?”

“Yes… and then one day she suddenly said she was tired of it… Saying something like that…”

Thinking back to that time made my chest sting a little. How painful it was to be told that someone had grown tired of me—I never wanted to experience that again.

If a day came when my mother grew tired of me, I thought I might just die.

“Tired of you? Really?”

Was it just my imagination?

Until a moment ago, my mother’s voice had been gentle, but now it felt as though a cold, deadly calm had settled into it.

“How dare she… speak so harshly to my daughter…”

My mother clenched her fist, her eyes glimmering with anger. As the atmosphere grew more ominous, I forced a smile and grasped her hand.

“It’s okay, Mother. Even I think it would get tiring if someone touched me every night.”

“Tina!”

My mother suddenly raised her voice. Startled by her unexpected outburst, I flinched. It was rare for her to speak so loudly. I glanced up at her in confusion, and her face was filled with anger.

“Don’t you ever say something like that again. You are not some disposable object. In my eyes, there is no one in this world more lovable and beautiful than you. That Viviana, who dared to say such a vile thing, is nothing more than a lowly and wretched person. Forget the words of someone as worthless as her.”

Though my mother’s voice was cold and sharp, like a fierce anger, I could feel the boundless warmth of her love within it. Just hearing her words made my heart melt, her warmth was overwhelming.

“…Really?”

I found myself smiling at the flood of love and care. If I could continue to receive this kind of affection, I thought, then even hell would be bearable.

“So, you’re saying you’ll never grow tired of me, Mother?”

My mother raised her voice again, her expression incredulous.

“Of course not! Who could ever grow tired of you? Don’t associate with people who lack the sense to see your worth.”

It was rare to see her this angry, and the fact that she was furious on my behalf filled me with happiness.

Her love was too much, too overwhelming. I wanted to give something back, even just a little.

But with my terrible personality and utter incompetence, I was a useless, pitiful person.

Aside from my somewhat pleasant appearance, I had nothing to proudly show off to others. What could someone like me possibly do for her?

Even when I tried to give her gifts, like jewels I’d taken from other noblewomen, she always refused.

In the end, there was nothing I could do to repay her.

My mind drifted to one thought.

The only thing I had to offer was my small, passable body.

It was the only thing I had.

“At least my face is pretty…”

Though I didn’t want to remember it, Viviana had once told me she felt happy when she touched my butt.

I didn’t really understand, but apparently it had a more addictive sensation than drugs.

Before, I hadn’t cared at all.

However… if only Mother could be satisfied like Viviana, then the story would be different.

If Mother desired it, I could even offer my body.

‘Not that Mother would ever ask for something like that in the first place.’

Of course not.

Because she’s Mother.

I knew better than anyone that she would never do such a thing. Maybe that’s why I could even think this way.

Would she like it…?

Maybe she would hate it…

What if she thought I was some kind of perverted daughter…?

But… I just want to make Mother happy…

This is all I can do for her…

I swallowed hard and carefully looked at Mother. Unlike my tense feelings, Mother was gazing down at me with eyes filled with pure affection.

“Mo-Mother…”

My voice trembled.

Noticing something was off, Mother gently held my hand with a worried look.

“What’s wrong, Tina? Are you feeling unwell?”

“That’s… not it…”

“Then?”

Timidly and cautiously, I took my mother’s hand gently, and very slowly, I guided her hand to my waist and pulled it back even further.

Further back.

She just looked at me with questioning eyes. She didn’t suspect anything.

I spread her hand open, pinching her knuckles between my fingers, and placed it on my hip.

Cackle-!

I pressed her palm against my butt with all the strength I could muster.

“T-Tina?!”

“Well, see, I know you’re not going to like this, but…I thought it might make you feel better, just in case…”

“…Such.”

“Da, I’d never do this to anyone else, uh, because I love my mother so much…”

While speaking carefully, I slowly moved my mother’s hand to squeeze my ass. My mother’s hand was cold and stiff at first.

Her hand now naturally squeezed my buttocks, as if my touch was a nail.

“Uh, what do you think…?”

“…….”

“Good… I want you to…”

I finished my request, a chilling silence hovered around us.

I could usually see the emotions in my mother’s eyes so clearly that they seemed almost transparent, but for some reason, I couldn’t read the emotions in her eyes this time.

How long did that awkward silence last?

Creak—

A sound I had only heard often from Mardian.

It came from my mother’s mouth.