The once glorious Blanc family mansion, now dilapidated due to gambling, was filled with a quiet tension between two women in the reception room.
“Are you saying you want to take Tina away?”
The owner of the mansion, a beautiful white-haired woman resembling Tina, asked calmly. Viviana politely nodded and replied.
“Yes, I intend for her to stay at our Merdellia mansion for a month.”
“Is this a notification?”
Viviana remained silent at Artasha’s cold voice. Artasha clenched her fists and continued.
“Thanks to the Princess’s help, we were able to save our Tina. I was willing to grant any request to repay that kindness.”
“….”
“But to keep a child who has been hurt for a month at your mansion, as a mother, it’s not something I can easily accept.”
Her concern was understandable from a mother’s perspective. Viviana looked at Artasha with a serious gaze, listening intently to her voice.
“Of course, if the Princess were to take her by force, there would be no way for me to stop it.”
“I have no intention of doing that.”
Viviana responded firmly. As Artasha was taken aback by the unexpected answer, Viviana looked at her with an even more serious expression.
“If the Baron opposes, I won’t take Tina. Though I might have jokingly said kidnapping, in reality, I will respect the Baron’s opinion.”
Artasha could only be surprised. As a princess of the Duke of Merdellia, Viviana was in a position to take Tina whenever she pleased, yet she chose to respect Artasha’s wishes. That sentiment provided Artasha with a bit of relief in this situation.
“Why do you want to take Tina?”
It was a question that couldn’t go unasked from a mother. She was curious why the Duke of Merdellia, who had everything – money, status, and power – would want to take Tina.
“To correct some of Young Lady Tina’s bad habits.”
“Bad habits?”
In response to Artasha’s question, Viviana answered with a serious expression. The subtle purple hue in her eyes created an aura that could not be easily dismissed.
“Baron, I tend to grasp people’s natures quite quickly. Noticing Tina from this perspective, I sensed something.”
“What is it?”
“Young Lady Tina’s nature is lazy.”
Artasha could only be astonished. It wasn’t that Viviana’s claim was sudden; rather, it was because her words were spot on.
“Young Lady Tina is well aware of how charming and attractive she is.”
“….”
“And she often uses that charm to pass off the things she doesn’t want to do onto others.”
As a mother, Artasha was aware that her lovely daughter had a lazy character. Since Tina’s demeanor had changed a year ago, she had not lifted a finger around the house. She left everything, like cleaning and tidying up after meals, to the maid. Most importantly, the child who used to diligently read books had lost all interest in them.
The mansion’s servants doted on Tina, so they did not say much, and Artasha was simply happy to have her daughter nearby, so she refrained from scolding her. Yet, she could undoubtedly feel Tina’s laziness.
“She is reluctant to put in effort and enjoys manipulating others using her charm.”
“….”
Artasha inwardly agreed. As a mother, she understood that Tina appeared lovely on the surface but harbored sharp thorns within.
How could a mother be unaware?
“Using one’s advantages is fine, but that fundamental laziness is undoubtedly a problem.”
“And then?”
“I wish to firmly correct that habit of Young Lady Tina’s. If it continues like this, another incident like the past may occur.”
“….”
“Of course, it is true that the other party was at fault, but I believe Young Lady Tina needs to restrain her charm a little.”
Implying that if Tina had not overly charmed Mardian, she might not have been kidnapped, was an uncomfortable thought for Artasha, yet she couldn’t outright deny it.
‘But…’
Artasha understood that Viviana had seen through Tina’s issues. However, she still held one question.
“Why does the Princess care so much for my daughter?”
“…That’s.”
Viviana’s eyes flickered slightly. She glanced at her teacup and after a brief contemplation, smiled and replied.
“Because I have come to like Young Lady Tina.”
“…Like? You don’t mean…”
“Oh, I have no taste for romance.”
Before Artasha’s thoughts could veer into an odd direction, Viviana firmly waved her hand. Her steady purple eyes conveyed her sincerity.
“I mean, as a person, I have grown fond of Young Lady Tina. Although she is lazy, I gained much comfort when I was with her.”
“…Is that so.”
Artasha too had found peace of mind thanks to Tina. All her sorrows vanished when she was with her, and she finally grasped the happiness she had long desired.
Noticing Artasha’s hesitation, Viviana strongly grasped her hand and spoke again.
“Please believe me, Baron. I genuinely care for Young Lady Tina as well.”
“….”
“In return, we at the Duke’s house will handle the Blanc family’s debts. Furthermore, we will support all future matters of the Blanc family from the Merdellia Duchy.”
Artasha was taken aback by the unexpected proposal. Not only were they willing to pay off the debts she had carried for so long, but they also intended to support her future endeavors, leaving her momentarily speechless.
However, that shock was fleeting as Artasha’s eyes turned colder.
“I’ll refuse. It feels like you’re buying my daughter with money.”
Viviana displayed a momentary look of surprise. On her usually composed face, an expression of bewilderment began to surface.
“I apologize. That wasn’t my intention.”
“…I understand.”
Artasha’s heart lightened slightly at Viviana’s firm resolve, yet she still felt something was amiss. While it was hard to doubt Viviana’s sincere eyes, the thought of leaving her daughter in someone else’s hands still made her uneasy.
Yet still, Artasha felt she could trust the woman before her.
“Instead of granting that request, may I ask for another favor?”
This time, Artasha took hold of Viviana’s hand. The blue eyes, reminiscent of Tina’s, harbored seriousness within them. It was a gaze strong enough to make even Viviana tense.
“Please promise to act only for my daughter’s happiness.”
“…What?”
“I meant to ask for a vow in the name of our families.”
Upon mentioning the family name, Viviana’s expression turned chilly. The weight of the request to use the name of their family was something both women understood.
Had it been the usual Viviana, she would have considered this demand presumptuous. What kind of audacity did a mere Baron have to demand that the name of the Duke of Merdellia be betted? It was an offense punishable by law. And indeed, normally, she would have reacted that way.
There was no need to appease the head of a declining Baron family for the sake of a single young lady.
However….
Viviana could not refuse the words of the woman before her. Though Artasha seemed inferior to her in every way, before the noble, maternal love that Artasha displayed, even the proud Viviana ultimately had to humble herself.
“…I shall swear.”
Viviana slowly stood up and approached Artasha. She no longer displayed her characteristic composure. Only a noble courtesy toward the other person flowed from her.
Viviana knelt before Artasha, gazing at her with seriousness and spoke in an unwavering voice.
“As a princess of the Duke of Merdellia, and as a knight, I swear here that all my actions are for the happiness of Young Lady Tina.”
“…Thank you, Princess.”
Only after hearing Viviana’s solemn pledge could Artasha manage a relieved smile. She tried to soothe the trembling heart that feared losing her daughter again, swallowing a bitter smile within.
‘Tina… all I want is for you to be happy.’
Tina was lovable and precious. However, she felt woefully inadequate to protect her.
But the woman before her would be different.
‘…And for a month, I want you to learn a bit of restraint, Tina.’
Artasha felt bitterness at the cold reality of being unable to protect her daughter on her own, yet was oddly reassured by the princess before her, who displayed such remarkable courtesy.
Leaving Artasha in deep thought, Viviana clenched her fist tightly.
‘…I did it.’
Despite showing some signs of being flustered due to the inexplicable tension, Baroness Artasha ultimately entrusted Tina to her. For some reason, the fact filled her with immeasurable satisfaction.
[My mother would never allow it, would she? You’ll only end up making useless efforts, Princess.]
Now, all that was left was to deliver this news to that arrogant pet.
Viviana was eager to see that haughty face crumble, and she stifled a smile rising within her.
