Chapter 108

The letter sent by Princess Viviana mentioned that there was an important matter regarding her daughter that needed to be discussed.

For a moment, I wondered which daughter she was referring to. Was it her own biological daughter, or—

“Of course, she must be talking about Tina. Where else would I have another daughter?”

I shook my head vigorously.

There was no need to overthink it.

I only have one daughter.

And that child is not here right now.

“…That child is not my daughter.”

She is merely the product of a twisted love, a relationship born of hatred.

There was no need to care about her.

Steeling her heart, Artasha hurriedly prepared to go out.

But things in the world rarely go as planned. The Empire’s Streets, the location mentioned in Princess Viviana’s letter, were already in chaos.

Rumors had spread that the main culprit behind the saintess’s poisoning was boldly walking the Empire’s Streets.

Some were seething with anger, grinding their teeth, demanding justice.

Others, filled with disgust, avoided the area as if it were contaminated.

Following the sounds of countless curses and accusations, my gaze eventually landed on one person.

Snow-white hair, just like mine.

Eyes as clear as the ocean.

A face so lovely, it was impossible to hate.

But she was not Tina.

Just someone I didn’t know.

Yet, why was she here?

Didn’t the saintess say she would handle it personally?

Why was she so helplessly surrounded by hostile onlookers, suffering?

“What, is she really the murderer?”

“How can she walk around so shamelessly?”

“Did she… escape? Shouldn’t we report her to the guards?”

The child was in pain.

Why wasn’t she running away?

If she didn’t want to be insulted, she should run.

Why was she sitting there, enduring the suffering?

Frustration welled up in my throat.

But I closed my eyes tightly, shook my head, and suppressed those feelings.

‘What a trivial matter…’

I think I understood why the princess had summoned me here.

To show me the pitiful state of that child.

A shallow attempt to tie me back to that child.

But that child is not my daughter.

Whatever happens, it’s none of my business.

In fact, if this leads to my daughter returning, I wouldn’t object.

If my daughter comes back, nothing else matters.

Yes, if only that could happen…

If I could be with my daughter again…

‘……’

Then, would I never see that child again?

Crash—!

A chilling sound, as if flesh were being torn.

I opened my eyes in a daze and looked toward the source of the sound.

“Ah…!”

She crumpled to the ground in pain.

At that moment, my heart raced wildly.

That child is not my daughter.

She’s a complete stranger.

There’s no need to intervene, no reason to step in.

I tried to convince myself.

But I saw the tears in her eyes.

Blood slowly trickling down her pale face.

After seeing that, all reason crumbled.

“What is this?!”

Without realizing it, my feet moved.

I rushed into the crowd without hesitation.

Perhaps I realized it then.

No matter what happens.

I could never hate that child.

※

In a space so silent it was almost deafening.

Only the clinking of utensils echoed around.

The delicious pasta in front of me.

Next to it, a glass of exquisite wine.

The luxurious interior made it clear that this was one of the Empire’s finest restaurants.

And the seat I was in was a special VVIP spot. A treatment I could never have received on my own.

The reason I was sitting here was because Viviana had personally reserved this seat.

Originally, it was supposed to be just the two of us, but upon seeing my mother, Viviana quietly stepped back, suggesting we spend some time alone.

Clink—

Embarrassed, I fidgeted with my fork, poking at the food.

I cautiously glanced up at her.

Artasha was staring at the pasta with an unreadable expression.

It was awkward.

But strangely, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

In fact, I cherished this moment.

It was the comfort I had longed for, deep in my heart.

Perhaps that’s why. I wished this moment could last forever.

“Why aren’t you eating? Go ahead.”

Artasha broke the silence.

Her calm, gentle voice made me jerk my head up.

She elegantly twirled a strand of pasta and brought it to her lips.

“Aren’t you hungry? It’s a bit awkward eating alone.”

“Ah, yes… I’ll eat!”

I hurriedly picked up my fork and followed her lead, putting food in my mouth.

An awkward but precious meal had begun.

‘…It’s delicious.’

Was it the restaurant’s culinary skills?

Or was it because I was with Artasha?

The flavors filling my mouth felt deeper and richer than ever before.

“How’s your head?”

During the meal, Artasha quietly asked.

I smiled as brightly as I could and answered.

“Yes, of course…! Thanks to the collar the saintess gave me, most wounds heal quickly.”

“…I see.”

Artasha quietly observed the collar around my neck, then took a slow sip of wine with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

I cautiously followed her lead, taking a sip of wine.

The sweet yet bitter aroma of grapes brushed my nose.

The wine, cold yet warming as it went down, spread a strange happiness within me.

“Can my daughter come back?”

I wished this moment would never end.

Until Artasha’s voice broke the silence.

“…Huh?”

“My daughter, Tina. I want to know if she can ever come back.”

My breath caught.

The food I had just eaten felt stuck in my throat, a suffocating discomfort.

Yes, I mustn’t forget.

I am the murderer who took her daughter away.

How could I, feeling happiness beside Artasha?

I truly am a despicable human.

Artasha’s earlier defense of me on the streets wasn’t for my sake. She probably just couldn’t bear to see Tina’s body hurt any further.

“…I don’t know, maybe she can’t come back.”

A cold, dry voice escaped me.

At those words, Artasha’s eyes slowly dimmed.

“Was it intentional?”

“Huh?”

“Was taking over my daughter’s body an intentional act?”

My heart began to race.

I wanted to scream that it wasn’t.

In my past life, I ended my own life.

And when I opened my eyes, I was in this body.

I had no intention of taking your daughter.

But that’s just an excuse.

The fact remains that I took her daughter.

Perhaps it’s better for Artasha to resent me fully.

Nothing drives a person mad like lost emotions.

“Yes, it was intentional. I wanted to be your daughter for once.”

“……”

Artasha silently stared at me for a while.

Just meeting her gaze made my chest feel heavy.

Surely, she was looking at me with contempt.

Unable to bear it, I lowered my head and fixed my gaze on the pasta in front of me.

Fidgeting with the fork in my fingers.

“So, did you enjoy your time with me?”

But an unexpected question came back.

For a moment, I was stunned and looked up at her.

Artasha’s eyes were unwavering, staring straight at me. So calm, so beautifully shining, unlike mine.

“…What about you, Artasha?”

It was a question I didn’t need to ask.

The answer was obvious. Surely, it was only regret and pain.

The time spent with a stranger pretending to be her daughter.

Days filled with nothing but false affection.

“It was enjoyable.”

But Artasha’s response was different.

“Huh?”

“It was enjoyable. I was happy.”

“Th-that can’t be…”

“Yes, I know. Saying this makes me an unworthy mother. But, child…”

Artasha’s voice paused for a moment.

A hesitant air passed around her.

But the hesitation didn’t last long.

Soon, she looked straight at me and spoke in a firm voice.

“The time I spent with you was far more colorful and bright than all the days I spent with Tina before you came.”

I placed a hand on my chest.

My heart was racing wildly.

Uncontrollable beats. Short breaths.

Her words were shaking me to the core.

“How about you?”

Artasha quietly asked.

Her eyes were unwavering, staring straight at me.

Waiting. For my answer.

I shouldn’t believe it.

I am the murderer who took her daughter.

There’s no way she could truly accept me.

Surely, there’s some ulterior motive.

Everyone lives with desires hidden within.

All kindness is just a mask.

That’s why I must never, ever believe.

I mustn’t believe, but…

“I… I was happy too.”

The words slipped out unintentionally.

As soon as they left my mouth, I regretted it.

The feelings I tried to hide until the end.

The confession I had to suppress.

But the emotions surging in my chest could no longer be contained. The words I held back finally burst out.

“I knew it.”

“…Huh?”

“I knew you cherished the time we spent together.”

Artasha’s voice was calm.

“You’re not good at lying, child.”

I froze, staring at her.

The truth I had tried to hide flowed so easily from her lips.

“The lie about intentionally taking my daughter’s body, that was a lie too.”

“……”

My heart sank.

How did she know?

It was always like this.

Normally, she wouldn’t budge at my words. But when it mattered, Artasha always saw through my lies.

Neither Viviana nor Lillian ever noticed my hidden feelings. The truths I most wanted to hide, Artasha always saw through effortlessly.

As if she could see right through me, always.

“You enjoyed the meal.”

Artasha set down her utensils and gently wiped her mouth with an embroidered handkerchief.

I stared blankly at her plate.

The pasta on her plate looked almost untouched since it was first served.

Had she barely eaten since the first bite?

Was she feeling unwell?

“Let’s get up.”

She said quietly.

“Ah… where are you going?”

“I need to sort out my thoughts. Let’s go back to the princess together. There are things I need to discuss with her.”

Leaving? Already?

My heart ached sharply.

So soon?

How long have we even been together… already?

And you barely touched your pasta.

“W-wait a moment…!”

My body moved reflexively.

I quickly grabbed Artasha’s hand as she was about to get up.

Artasha was startled, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Th-the desserts here are really delicious, I hear. Can’t we just have dessert before we go…?”

“Dessert?”

Artasha tilted her head slightly, looking at me.

“Yes, I, uh, really wanted to try it…”

I couldn’t meet her gaze, mumbling weakly.

It was a pitiful excuse, but I wanted to hold onto something.

Artasha was silent for a moment.

She just quietly, yet sharply, looked down at me.

Soon, she slowly sat back down.

Then, she lightly rang the bell on the table.

A neatly dressed employee in a black suit approached and bowed respectfully.

“Bring us all the best desserts in the house.”

“Excuse me…?”

The employee looked puzzled.

Artasha sharply looked at him.

“Desserts. All of them, every single one, without exception.”

The employee hesitated for a moment, then replied with an awkward expression.

“Um, we don’t actually sell desserts separately…”

Artasha’s eyes went blank for a moment.

Her blue eyes blinked slowly.

She slowly turned her gaze to me.

‘Oh no.’

I couldn’t meet her questioning eyes and hung my head low.

Shame rose to my throat.

My face burned, and a hot sensation spread through my body.

The best restaurant in the Empire, they said.

But they don’t sell desserts?

This doesn’t make sense…!

“Uh, so… that is…”

My lips trembled, but no words came out.

I couldn’t think of any excuse.

And Artasha just quietly stared at me.

‘What… what should I say?’

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