“That’s an expression of affection.”
“…Expression of affection?”
Renihel’s brown eyes glittered with certainty. How confident she was; her words, which would normally be brushed off as nonsense, held a peculiar persuasion.
“Expression of affection? To Mother?”
“Yes. I’m sure she’ll like it! Why not try to act cute?”
“…Ugh.”
With a look of disdain plastered on my face, I stuck out my tongue. What was I, a child? The idea of acting cute for my parents seemed ridiculous. I couldn’t help but doubt whether that alone would make her happy.
“Isn’t there anything else? Like a gift or something.”
“Well… you can’t really give Baron anything like money, can you? Or do you have something that might help Baron?”
“…I don’t.”
What could the daughter of a family on the brink of collapse possibly have? As Renihel said, there wasn’t a chance for me to win Astasha’s favor financially.
“I think even a small gesture would be enough.”
Renihel spoke without hesitation, a mature smile gracing her lips.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Oh, I’ve worked here since you were a baby. I know such things.”
“….”
I couldn’t argue with that.
Moreover, it had only been three months since I got stuck in this body. Renihel would clearly know better than I what Astasha liked.
“But… isn’t that a bit cringy at my age?”
“What does age matter? In the Baron’s eyes, you’ll always look like a baby.”
That might be true. Thinking it over, Renihel had a point. Personally, I felt a little uncomfortable, but I had seen countless mother-daughter duos exchanging affectionate words on TV and social media.
If it were a father and son, it would have been quite awkward, but there seemed to be a wider allowance for such affectionate expressions among women. Of course, how far that allowance stretches, I’m not too sure.
You’d have to have lived as a woman to understand.
And really, if I thought of it as just a way to increase my favorability, it wouldn’t be that hard. In fact, if I could earn Astasha’s favor just through an expression of affection, that would be an incredible bargain.
“Well, I’ll consider it. Thanks, Renihel.”
“But why are you suddenly asking about this?”
Renihel looked at me with a puzzled expression. Given Tina’s personality, it might have sounded like a surprising question.
“Mother looked like she was having a hard time, so I wanted to cheer her up a bit.”
“Oh, oh my.”
Renihel covered her mouth with both hands, her face lighting up with a sentimental expression. Whatever had moved her to such emotion seemed to push tears to the brink. She appeared to have quite an emotional nature.
“I was worried ever since Head Lady passed away… but I guess there’s no need to anymore. You’ve really matured, lady.”
“…Really?”
I suppose calling it maturity would fit. After all, a grown man’s spirit had entered the body of a fifteen-year-old girl.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, please just let me know, lady.”
Renihel smiled warmly, enveloping my hands in hers. It was an overwhelmingly burdensome gaze, but I forced a smile and responded.
“I’ll do that, Renihel.”
“Hehe… Yes.”
Hmm.
Expression of affection…
What would be appropriate?
*
Quietly opening the door, a calm atmosphere and the scent of paper wafted in.
It had been less than a day since I last visited the head lady’s office. Artasha sat, unmoving, at her desk, focusing on paperwork as always. I could barely endure an hour at a desk without fidgeting; she truly seemed remarkable in many ways.
“What is it? I didn’t particularly call for you.”
Artasha glanced at me briefly before shifting her gaze back to the documents without a hint of hesitation. It might be seen as cold indifference. Tina likely thought so too.
‘Of course, I don’t.’
How could she dislike me? She was toiling away just so I could live comfortably. I was, after all, grateful for that. The attention and affection she directed toward me felt much more burdensome and unwelcome.
“If you don’t have anything to say, you can leave since I’m busy.”
“I made some tea since I thought Mother might be tired.”
“What?”
Artasha’s eyes widened briefly, trembling just like before, but this time more violently. It was as if she couldn’t comprehend what she had heard, staring at me with an expression of disbelief.
“…You made tea? Yourself?”
“Yes. I learned how to make it from Renihel.”
Whether it was her inability to hide her expression or the clarity of her pale gaze, I could see exactly what Artasha was thinking. Tina, usually cooped up in her room with her books, was certainly surprising her with such a filial act.
However, it was clear that she wasn’t giving me a disapproving look.
This was simple enough. Having finished my brief, internal thoughts, I sadly lowered my gaze.
“…I guess I underestimated myself. Mother probably disliked it.”
“What? Wait.”
“I’m sorry, Mother. It was my first time, so it must have been bitter and not tasty. It’s not at a level you’d want to drink.”
Her bright blue eyes seemed to shake as if an earthquake had hit. I nervously fiddled with the teacup in my hand, feeling defeated as I turned toward the door.
“I’m sorry for interrupting… I’ll take my leave now.”
“Stop, stop right there.”
A frantic voice called me to a halt. Slowly turning my head, I saw Artasha had risen from her seat and was approaching me.
Taking the teacup from my hand, she quickly sipped it and then wore an awkward smile.
“I thought you only liked books, but surprisingly, you have a talent for making tea. It’s quite drinkable.”
“…Really? Thank you, Mother.”
Hmm.
That’s a lie, isn’t it?
She really couldn’t hide her expression. This pure innocence was quite uncharacteristic for someone I had expected to be always cold and serious. I wondered how she managed in high society with such a demeanor.
After staring at the tea for a while, Artasha spoke in a low voice with a complicated expression.
“Speak. Though it might not be possible… I’ll at least listen.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not doing this just for fun, are you?”
I blinked in surprise at her unexpected remark. That she could not even accept such a small gesture as kindness was a little much. Just how much of a failure must Tina have been in her filial duties?
Poor Artasha.
“Mother, actually…”
“Yes, go on.”
Artasha nodded slowly, her slightly dim eyes encouraging me to continue. I hesitated for a moment, trying my best to maintain an innocent expression as I looked up at her.
“Honestly, I’ve just come to realize how hard Mother has worked.”
“….What?”
Clearly taken aback by my statement, a stunned voice slipped from her crimson lips.
“Actually, I read a book about your love. After reading it, I came to understand just how much you’ve lived for me.”
Of course, I had always despised books. However, considering that Tina was set up as a bookworm, I crafted my words as credibly as possible.
“Y-You read such a book?”
Seeing Artasha’s expression shaking violently, I figured I had hit the mark.
“Yes, I really have acted thoughtlessly, haven’t I? I’m so sorry… I’ve been so awkward that I couldn’t express it properly.”
“….”
“I want to support you from now on, Mother. But I lack the ability… this is all I can do.”
“Oh, no. You’ve really been a great help.”
Watching Artasha hurriedly wave her hands was pretty adorable. I never expected her to be such a doting mother, yet I felt guilty at the same time.
After all, I wasn’t really her daughter.
I might even be the villainess who stole her daughter’s body.
I felt guilt, but I decided not to dwell on it too much. After all, these are just fictional characters created from someone’s imagination in a game.
Moreover, it wasn’t all bad for Artasha. Even if I was a fake daughter, she was going to receive the affection she would never get.
In the game, Tina would live a reclusive life in the imperial library until adulthood, eventually securing a bureaucratic position at the empire’s end. Tina, by that point, would never have suddenly turned around to care for her mother.
People don’t change easily.
This is just my guess, but I suspected that Artasha would have likely spent her entire life alone and lonely in this baron family.
“Is it really okay for something as simple as this tea?”
“Y-Yes. You’re always welcome to bring tea whenever.”
So this is a mutually beneficial exchange. I’m offering the affection the game’s Tina never gave, and in return, she supplies the basics of living I need for my aimless life.
“Still… I want to support you just a little more.”
Gently, I grasped Artasha’s hand. Her hand was rather cold. It seems the saying that those with cold hands have warm hearts was indeed true.
Then my hands must be warm.
‘Honestly, I can’t say for certain if this will please her…’
I really hope this will be of some encouragement.
Raising my heels, I looked into Artasha’s flustered eyes. Given the height difference, I had to elevate my foot higher than expected.
Smack-
I softly pressed my lips against Artasha’s white cheek. The contact of her soft skin and squishy lips produced an awkward sound. After a moment of leaving my mark on her cheek, I gently lowered my feet.
Giving Artasha, who appeared utterly bewildered, a bright smile, I spoke.
“I’m always cheering for you. Hang in there, Mother.”
