“…Take a bath together?”
“Yes, I want to scrub your back, Mother.”
For a moment, my mother’s deep blue eyes wavered, but she quickly looked at me with her usual calm gaze, gently stroking my hair.
“Haven’t you outgrown the age for taking baths together?”
“…I know, but still.”
“Heh… When I hear from other ladies, they say girls your age are often rebellious, but my daughter is truly filial.”
“Of course. I love you the most in the world, Mother.”
There was a hint of bewilderment in her expression, though she didn’t seem displeased. I could even see the faint blush at the tips of her pale ears.
It was a somewhat embarrassing confession, but there wasn’t a single lie in my feelings. Her loving gaze was something I had longed for in my past life.
That’s why I really adored Artasha.
I guess I could say that the bruises and scars Mother bore from my previous life felt cleansed by Artasha’s pure love.
“…”
For some reason, Mother was looking at me, biting her lip with an unusually intense gaze. It was as if she was angry, so I quickly gave her a bright smile.
“You’re right, Mother.”
Honestly, Mother was right. It would be unreasonable to ask to bathe together. Even between mother and daughter, I was well past the age for such a request. Maybe it was better to just let it go.
But… I didn’t like bathing alone.
Oh, that could work.
“Then I’ll bathe with Ranihel.”
Ranihel had helped me with baths a few times before, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable being with her in the bathroom. It wouldn’t be inappropriate to ask a servant to help me bathe.
“…What? With Ranihel?”
“Yes, I thought I’d ask her to assist me.”
After Mother, Ranihel was the person I felt most at ease with in this mansion. Having served the Blancard family for decades, I believed she would gladly oblige my request.
After making up my mind, I gave Mother a light farewell and was about to leave to find Ranihel—
“Who said you could just decide that on your own?”
Mother firmly grabbed my arm. I looked at her in surprise. Her gaze, usually warm and gentle, felt somewhat subdued.
“Ranihel is a very busy person. It wouldn’t be polite to ask someone already so occupied to assist with your bath. I’ll do it, so let’s go together.”
…Isn’t Mother the busiest person in this mansion?
She was the one working tirelessly every day to pay off our towering debts, so I never imagined she would care so much about not burdening others.
Her heart is truly so thoughtful.
“Really? I’d love that, Mother!”
For me, there was nothing better.
Spending time with my beloved Mother made me far happier than with Ranihel.
As I laughed brightly and leapt toward her, Mother opened her arms, gently supporting my waist and lifting me up. I nestled against her neck, inhaling her familiar scent.
‘…Hm?’
Was she still not fully recovered from her cold?
Mother’s body was trembling slightly.
[It’s just to heal a sense of deprivation… there’s no other meaning…]
For some reason, she was muttering something quietly, barely audible.
But none of that mattered.
Just being able to take a bath with Mother made me happy.
Something felt off during bath time with Mother.
The whole time we were in the tub together, she avoided my gaze, and every time I moved closer, she coughed awkwardly and subtly pulled back.
Hmm… should I say it felt a bit awkward?
There was no way Mother would feel uncomfortable with me. She certainly had no reason to dislike me. There was only one guess I could make.
It seemed her cold hadn’t fully gone away.
[Don’t even think about it, Artasha. Absolutely not. Never.]
Seeing her pinching her own skin and muttering to herself, I could guess the situation. She must have been worried about passing her cold on to me.
Honestly… my mother was so gentle.
But I would have preferred to catch her cold if it meant staying close to her like this.
“You look beautiful when you smile.”
Mother’s voice came from behind me. Perhaps because of the bath, she looked especially tired.
Mother carefully dried my hair, alternating between a towel and a heated magical tool. Normally, this was a job for Lanihel or me, but she said she wanted to do it herself.
“What were you thinking about to be smiling so beautifully?”
“I was thinking about you, Mother.”
“…”
Mother’s hands froze 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 tonight too?”
I looked up at her with slightly softened eyes, and she nodded with a warm smile, gently arranging my hair.
“Of course. You’re welcome anytime.”
Mother opened her arms toward me, and I gladly jumped into her embrace. She carried me like that to the bed.
“Good night, Tina.”
Lying facing each other, she whispered tender words.
“You won’t leave, will you?”
I gently held her hand, asking in a faint voice. She held my hand even tighter, giving me a comforting smile.
“I’m not going anywhere. Tomorrow, next year, and always, I’ll be by your side.”
As I looked into Artasha’s clear eyes, I felt a pang of deep emotion from her unconditional, devoted love.
“I love you so much, Mother… You’re so different from Vibiana, who just grabs at me.”
“I love you, too, more than anything in this world—wait, what?”
Mother’s eyes widened. She gripped my shoulders with both hands and stared at me with fierce blue eyes.
“What did you just say? The Lady of Merdelia touched you?”
“Ah… well, that’s…”
“Please, tell me honestly. There’s nothing more painful to me than my daughter lying.”
I couldn’t bring myself to lie in the face of my mother’s deeply serious tone. Thinking it wouldn’t matter if I told her, I spoke with a sad look in my eyes.
“…Vibiana touched my bottom every night.”
“…Every night.”
“Yes…and then suddenly said she was tired of it… and said something like that…”
Remembering it made my heart sting slightly. Knowing that someone had grown tired of me hurt deeply, and it was something I never wanted to experience again. If a day ever came when Mother grew tired of me, I felt I’d rather die.
“…She said she was tired of you?”
Was it my imagination?
The once-gentle tone of my mother’s voice now felt calm yet filled with a fierce intensity.
“How dare she… speak so disrespectfully about my daughter…”
With eyes brimming with anger, Mother clenched her fists. As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, I forced a smile and held her hand.
“…It’s okay, Mother. Even I’d probably get tired if I touched someone every night.”
“Tina!”
Mother suddenly raised her voice, and the unexpected outburst startled me. She rarely raised her voice like that. Looking up, I saw her face filled with intense anger.
“Don’t ever say that again. You’re not some disposable thing. In my eyes, there’s nothing in this world more precious and beautiful than you. That Lady Vibiana is not only petty but downright vile. Forget the nonsense of someone like her.”
Her tone was cold, and the intensity of her words seemed almost like fierce anger, yet they were filled with endless warmth. Her voice, so filled with love, melted away my worries and softened my heart.
“…Is that really true?”
Overflowing with love and care, I found myself smiling. If I could keep receiving this kind of love, it wouldn’t matter if I were in hell.
“Then, you’re saying you’d never grow tired of me?”
Mother looked at me with an incredulous expression and spoke loudly once more.
“Of course not! Who could ever grow tired of you? Never associate with people who can’t even see that!”
Seeing her get so angry on my behalf made me feel incredibly happy.
Such overwhelming love. I wanted to give something back, even if just a little.
But I was a troublesome, incompetent person without much to offer. Aside from having a relatively nice appearance, I had no qualities worth proudly showing others. What could I possibly give my mother in return?
Even when I tried to give her gifts, like jewels taken from other young ladies, she firmly refused. In the end, I had nothing to offer her.
In the end, my mind was drawn to one thought.
My small frame was the only somewhat redeeming quality.
This was my only advantage.
‘At least I have a pretty face…’
Though I didn’t want to remember it, Viviana said she felt happy when she touched my bottom. I don’t really understand, but she said something about it being more addictive than drugs.
I never cared about it before.
But… if Mother could be satisfied like Viviana was, then that would be different.
If Mother wanted, I could even give her my body.
‘Though Mother would never ask for something like that in the first place.’
Of course not.
Because she’s my mother.
I knew better than anyone that Mother would never do such a thing. Perhaps that’s why I could think this way.
Would she like it…?
She might hate it…
What if she thinks I’m a perverse daughter…?
But… I want to make Mother feel good…
Because this is all I can do for her…
I swallowed hard and carefully looked at Mother. Unlike my nervous heart, Mother was looking down at me with eyes full of pure affection.
“M-Mother…”
My voice trembled.
Noticing something was off, Mother gently took my hand with a worried look.
“What’s wrong, Tina? Are you hurting somewhere?”
“That’s… not it…”
“Then?”
I timidly and carefully held Mother’s hand. And very slowly, I guided Mother’s hand to my waist, and pulled it further back.
Mother just looked at me with puzzled eyes. She didn’t suspect anything at all.
I interlaced my fingers with Mother’s to spread her hand open. After spreading her hand like that, I placed it on my bottom.
Squeeze-
I pressed her palm down so that Mother would grip my bottom with all her strength.
“T-Tina?!”
“Y-you might hate this… but I hoped this might make you feel good too…”
“…Such.”
“I-I would never do this with anyone else! Because I really love you, Mother…”
While speaking carefully, I slowly moved Mother’s hand to make her grip my bottom. Mother’s hand, which was stiff and cold at first, now naturally kneaded my buttocks as if giving in to my touch.
“H-how is it…?”
“…”
“I hope… you like it…”
After my plea.
An infinitely cold silence lingered around us.
Though Mother’s eyes were usually transparent enough to see the emotions within them, for some reason, I couldn’t read the emotions in her eyes right now.
How long had this awkward silence lasted?
Grind-
A sound I usually only heard from Mardian.
Came from Mother’s mouth.
