Crack—
The only sound that resonated in the tranquil bedroom was the sound of nails being trimmed.
“Ugh… mmm…”
With a faint groan, Mother’s body trembled slightly.
Then, beneath her long, fluttering eyelashes, her blue eyes gradually came into focus.
“Mother…!”
“…Could it be that I fainted?”
The moment Mother opened her eyes, I felt my racing heart finally begin to calm down.
“J-just drink some water…!”
I quickly poured hot tea into a teacup. After blowing on it a few times to cool it down, I carefully offered it to Mother.
She smiled gently, patted my head affectionately, and took the teacup.
“Are you feeling alright…?”
“Of course. I had a good long sleep, and I feel wonderful.”
While softly stroking my hair, Mother’s expression suddenly grew serious as if she recalled something important.
She then looked at me with a stern voice.
“Tina, that headband is dangerous. Never let anyone else see it besides me.”
“What…? If you say so, Mother…”
In truth, there was no one else I’d wear that headband for. I could just hide it and auction it off in two years.
“Ah, right! Mother, please wait a moment.”
The word “auction” suddenly brought back a forgotten memory.
I had meant to bring this up first, but I completely forgot when Mother fainted.
Leaving behind Mother, who looked bewildered, I quickly dashed to my room.
Opening the wardrobe door in the corner, I spotted a large, heavy sack that weighed down heavily.
It was quite a heavy item, and I struggled to lift it, but I groaned as I finally managed to carry it to Mother’s room.
“Hmm…? What is that, Tina?”
“Hehe, don’t be surprised.”
I struggled to place the sack onto the bed, where Mother looked on with curious eyes.
Then, I turned the sack upside down, and with a clatter, gold coins poured out in a rush.
The amount was enough that counting it seemed like it would take the whole day.
Mother’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open in shock at the sight of the gold coins spilling like a mountain.
“T-Tina… where on earth did you get this money…?”
“Hehe, it’s a gift for you, Mother.”
“Uh, where did you find such money…?”
“Quite a bit of time has passed, and I thought I could sell some of the jewels I received from the Young Ladies. This money was earned honestly from the auction after removing the jewels.”
“A-a… auction…?”
“There’s no way it can be discovered since the original jewels underwent separate processing. So don’t worry, Mother.”
“…..”
“Hehe, and my wardrobe still has heaps of jewels left. Selling them all would amount to a staggering fortune.”
Having flattered and shared smiles with countless Young Ladies over the past two years, I thought this level of compensation was reasonable.
Just by selling the jewels I had collected, Mother and I could live without money worries for the rest of our lives.
Of course, I had no doubt that my mother would multiply that money manifold, so it went without saying.
“Tina…”
However, instead of the bright smile I expected, a shadow of concern crossed Mother’s face.
Her hands trembled slightly, and her blue, sorrowful gaze pricked at my heart.
“Tina, I think it would be better to return this money.”
“…What?”
“Instead of repaying with money, buy comparable jewels and gift them back to the Young Ladies. So that later, at least those children will understand.”
“Wait, Mother…”
“Earning money this way isn’t right, Tina. It could lead to big problems later on. So even now—”
“Ehh.”
Before I could let Mother finish, I climbed up and firmly laid her back onto the bed.
Feeling my chest against hers, I lowered my head.
Peck—
I left a firm kiss on Mother’s forehead.
“Hehe.”
“…Tina, stop this.”
Mother attempted to say something with a flustered expression, but even faster, I showered her with small kisses.
Peck—
Cautiously, I brought my lips near her long eyelashes.
The moment the gentle touch brushed against my lips, Mother momentarily held her breath.
Soon after, I left a gentle kiss on her nose.
Next, I kissed both her ears, then her cheeks.
Leaving tender kisses all over her face except for her lips, I slowly made my way down her neck.
And finally, after leaving a deep kiss there, Mother’s body quivered as she jumped.
“Don’t worry, Mother. Nothing will happen.”
“…Tina, how can I not worry?”
“Hehe, you might not know, but I’m actually quite capable, you know?”
Perhaps the kisses had worked, but there was no sign of her lecturing me like before.
“Tina, you’re still too young for this. Money is not something that can be handled so lightly.”
Mother’s worried tone had become all too familiar by now.
I replied with a light smile.
“Mother, how long are you going to see me as a foolish child? I know everything now.”
In my heart, I wanted to explain what abilities I possessed in detail.
With just a single letter, I could send Viviana to the frontlines for the rest of her life, and with just a few witty words, I expelled the noble Saint from High Society.
I wanted to boast to Mother right away, but for some reason, I held back, fearing she might faint again.
“Still… I’ll heed your words.”
After leaving a poignant kiss on Mother’s cheek, I slowly stood up from the bed.
I put the gold coins back in the money sack and tenderly covered Mother with her blanket.
“Don’t work until you recover. I’ll be right by your side watching over you.”
“…I understand.”
Mother sighed reluctantly and nodded.
“Use this money for yourself!”
I walked out of the room with a sheepish smile.
Leaving the warmly affectionate atmosphere of Mother’s bedroom behind, the cold stillness of the hallway enveloped me.
It felt as if I had stepped into another world, with the temperature inside and outside the bedroom feeling too different.
“Hehe…”
Recalling the warmth of Mother’s skin that touched my lips, I slowly moved my feet.
Upon entering my room, a heavy silence surrounded me.
Even the sunlight filtering through the window seemed grayed out, and the air inside, which I had hoped would be fresh, felt suffocating.
“Ugh…”
As I spent time in a daze, a sudden headache hit me.
[Tina.]
A familiar voice echoed in my mind.
I raised my head to gaze at the large mirror positioned in the corner of the room.
The woman who faced me in the mirror wore a captivating smile.
[Is there really a woman like that in the world? Isn’t that right, Tina?]
Though the woman’s voice had an oddly mocking tone, I smiled cheerfully and responded to her words.
“That’s right, our mother is the best.”
[Exactly. She gives without expecting anything in return, brings in money, and showers love unconditionally. She will probably continue doing so until she dies.]
“Hehe, our mother is really kind.”
However, at that moment, her tone turned chilling.
[You say you love her so much, yet you may not even realize you might have devoured her real daughter? Isn’t that just hilarious?]
“…Huh?”
[Is there anyone more foolish than that? You’re literally a slave, not a daughter.]
The gaze of the woman in the mirror became sharper, and her smile deepened.
[Hmm? Why that expression? You knew what was up, right? How foolish and dumb that lady is.]
I forced a smile as I retorted to her.
“Th-that’s beside the point. Don’t you want to know what I’ve accomplished? I sent that noble Saint out of High Society. And it was so easy—”
[Don’t you think she would utterly resent you if she knew you killed her daughter?]
My smile cracked.
In contrast, the woman’s laughter in the mirror grew even clearer.
[Tina, don’t pretend you don’t know. Why are you trying to hide it from me?]
“……”
[Tina, you plan to use that woman, right?]
“……”
[You’re aware you’re eventually going to give her money back because you know it all belongs to you, right? You clearly know she would undoubtedly multiply that money.]
“…I’m tired. I want to sleep.”
I didn’t want to talk today.
But even as I tried to turn my gaze away from the mirror, my body wouldn’t move.
As if someone was gripping my scalp tightly.
[You’re going to give that woman everything she desired; her daughter’s love, so she’s utterly reliant on you. You’ll be happy for the rest of your life while hiding behind that woman’s affection, right?]
“Th-that’s…”
[But Tina, if you really cared about that woman, wouldn’t you be taking on the workload she struggles with every night?]
“…….”
[Tina, there’s someone you must go meet. You haven’t forgotten, have you? You’re not truly giving your heart to a woman like her, right?]
I raised one hand high.
[Don’t kid yourself; once she finds out you’re a fake, she’ll be out to kill you.]
My dazed eyes turned into fists.
[You ultimately cannot love that woman either.]
With a mindset of determination, I brought my fists down hard on my head.
Thud—
[The only one who would love you isn’t here, you know.]
Thud—
Once again, I struck my head fiercely.
Thud— Thud— Thud—
The aching pain I felt was it from my hands, my head, or my heart was indiscernible.
I struck my head hard until I could no longer distinguish it.
Hot blood flowed down my cheek.
I stopped my hands and stood dazed, feeling the warmth of blood dripping down my head.
It felt just like the time I had cut my wrist in my previous life.
It was that warm and cozy feeling that made me want to close my eyes right there.
I raised a finger and smeared it with blood.
With the crimson-stained finger, I pressed against the wall and drew a picture.
A round circle.
And within it, the summoning star.
Finally, as the shape was completed, a short light flickered, and something emerged.
[Long time no see.]
She was a woman with black hair.
More beautiful than those who came out of square boxes, her exquisite smile was so captivating it was dizzying.
[Finally, you called for me. I thought you had forgotten about me. I was quite hurt.]
She wrapped around me warmly in a hug. I leaned comfortably into her embrace and closed my eyes.
“Mom.”
She smiled sweetly.
[Okay, if that’s what you want, I’ll be your mom today.]
The only friend who had always been by my side. She held my hand.
[Mom is always here for you.]
Unlike Artasha, her palm felt cold, without any warmth.
It felt akin to the hands of my mother I had touched countless times in my previous life.
Blood continued to flow from my head, and my consciousness grew fuzzier.
Amidst the fading sensations, only her cold palm felt distinctly clear.
“You know… I’ve stolen money from countless Young Ladies, and I’ve ruthlessly trampled on the social lives of several noble ladies.”
[Oh, I know. Hehe, impressive, huh?]
“I used Viviana’s guilt to send her to the battlefield.”
[Yes, she will likely perish there. She still has much growth ahead of her, after all.]
“I even snatched the precious friend of the Saint and drove her out of High Society.”
[That really took me by surprise. My daughter has more talent than I expected?]
The sweet voice of Mother tickled my ears.
As my mind began to fade, I asked her with a trembling voice.
“Then, can I go now…?”
[No, not yet, Tina.]
Her words made my heart sink.
To think that what I’d done wasn’t enough…
It felt truly unfair.
[Don’t worry, just a little more effort, and you’ll surely be able to go. If this life isn’t enough, there’s always the next one.]
“…Really?”
[Yes. Until then, I’ll always be here to help you. So don’t give up, okay?]
“U-uh…”
As she finished speaking, my consciousness dimmed. A warm feeling of disconnect enveloped me.
‘I will definitely find you someday.’
As I live like this, I’m told I can reach you any time.
At that time, you must smile at me.
So…
See you in hell, Mom.
