Chapter 40

The Blanchard Family’s Mansion, once glorious but now dilapidated due to gambling. In its reception room, a quiet tension flowed between two women.

“Are you saying you will take Tina with you?”

The owner of the mansion, a beautiful white-haired woman who closely resembled Tina, asked in a calm voice. Viviana politely nodded and responded.

“Yes, I plan to have her stay at the Merdelia Mansion for a month.”

“Is this a notification?”

At Artasha’s cold voice, Viviana remained silent. Artasha clenched her fist and continued.

“Thanks to your help, we were able to save our Tina. I was willing to fulfill any request to repay that favor.”

“….”

“But to take a child with a wounded heart and keep her at your mansion for a month—it’s not something a mother can easily accept.”

Her concern was natural as a mother. Viviana looked at Artasha with a serious gaze and listened intently to her words.

“Of course, if you insist on taking her by force, there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”

“I have no intention of doing so.”

Viviana answered firmly. While Artasha was taken aback by the unexpected response, Viviana looked at her with an even more serious expression.

“If you oppose, I will not take Tina. Although I told Tina it would be a kidnapping, in reality, I will respect your decision.”

Artasha couldn’t help but be surprised. Viviana, the princess of the Merdelia Ducal Family, was in a position where she could take Tina at any time if she wished, yet she was respecting Artasha’s wishes. Hearing this, Artasha felt a slight sense of relief in this situation.

“Why do you want to take Tina?”

As a mother, she couldn’t help but ask. Money, status, power—the Merdelia Ducal Family had it all. She wondered why they would go out of their way to take Tina.

“To correct Miss Tina’s bad habits.”

“Bad habits?”

At Artasha’s question, Viviana answered with a serious expression. Her faintly purple eyes exuded an aura that couldn’t be easily ignored.

“Baroness, I am quite quick at understanding a person’s nature. And what I’ve observed about Miss Tina is this.”

“And what is that?”

“Miss Tina is inherently lazy.”

Artasha couldn’t help but be surprised. It wasn’t because Viviana’s statement was out of nowhere. Rather, it was because her words were accurate.

“Miss Tina is well aware of how lovely and charming she is.”

“….”

“And so, she uses that charm to push tasks she dislikes onto others.”

Artasha knew that her beloved daughter had a lazy streak. Since Tina’s personality changed a year ago, she had stopped helping with household chores. She left cleaning her room and tidying up after meals entirely to the maids. Most notably, the girl who used to diligently read books no longer showed any interest in them.

The mansion’s servants all adored Tina and didn’t say much, and Artasha, too, was happy just to have her daughter by her side, so she didn’t scold her. But she was well aware of Tina’s laziness.

“She avoids putting in effort herself and enjoys manipulating others using her charm.”

“….”

Artasha silently agreed. As a mother, she knew that while Tina appeared lovely on the outside, she harbored sharp thorns within.

How could a mother not know?

“Using one’s strengths is good, but inherent laziness is clearly a problem.”

“So?”

“I intend to firmly correct Miss Tina’s habits. If left unchecked, another incident like the past might occur.”

“….”

“Of course, the other party was at fault, but I believe Miss Tina also needs to restrain her charm a bit.”

It implied that if Tina hadn’t overly charmed Mardian, she might not have been kidnapped. It was an uncomfortable statement for Artasha, but she couldn’t outright deny it.

‘But….’

She understood that Viviana had a clear grasp of Tina’s issues. However, Artasha still had one lingering question.

“Why do you care so much about my daughter?”

“….That is.”

Viviana’s eyes wavered slightly. She glanced at her teacup, and after a brief moment of contemplation, she smiled and answered.

“I’ve come to like Miss Tina.”

“….Like her? Surely not.”

“Ah, I have no interest in romantic pursuits.”

Just as Artasha’s thoughts were about to drift in an odd direction, Viviana firmly waved her hand. Her unwavering purple eyes conveyed her sincerity.

“I mean I’ve come to like Miss Tina as a person. Despite her laziness, I found great comfort in her presence.”

“….I see.”

Artasha, too, had found peace of mind thanks to Tina. When she was with her, all her pain vanished, and she attained the happiness she had long yearned for.

Noticing Artasha’s hesitation, Viviana firmly grasped her hand and spoke again.

“Please trust me, Baroness. I, too, genuinely care for Miss Tina.”

“….”

“In return, the Blanchard Family’s debts will be handled by our ducal family. Additionally, we will support all of the Blanchard Family’s future endeavors.”

Artasha was stunned by the unexpected offer. Not only would her long-standing debts be cleared, but her future business would also be supported. She was momentarily speechless.

However, her surprise was short-lived, and soon her gaze turned even colder.

“I must decline. It feels like I’m selling my daughter for money.”

Viviana momentarily showed a flustered expression. The composure she always maintained was shaken.

“I apologize. That was not my intention.”

“….I know.”

Artasha felt slightly relieved by Viviana’s firm resolve, but something still felt lacking. Viviana’s serious eyes were hard to doubt, but the thought of entrusting her daughter still made her uneasy.

Yet, despite that, Artasha felt she could trust the woman before her.

“While I cannot grant that request, may I ask something else instead?”

This time, it was Artasha who took Viviana’s hand. Her blue eyes, so similar to Tina’s, were filled with seriousness. It was a gaze strong enough to make even Viviana tense.

“Please, speak.”

“Promise me that you will act solely for my daughter’s happiness.”

“….Huh?”

“I mean, swear it on your family’s name.”

At the mention of her family’s name, Viviana’s face turned cold. Both women present knew the weight of such a request.

Under normal circumstances, Viviana would have considered this request insolent. A mere baroness demanding that the Merdelia Ducal Family stake their reputation? It was an act punishable as a crime of disrespect. And the usual Viviana would have done just that.

There was no need to cater to the head of a declining baronial family over a single young lady.

But….

Viviana couldn’t refuse the woman before her. In every aspect, Artasha was inferior to her, but in the face of the noble love of a mother that Artasha displayed, even the proud Viviana had no choice but to humble herself.

“….I swear it.”

Viviana slowly rose from her seat and approached Artasha. No trace of her usual composure remained. Only noble etiquette toward the other woman emanated from her.

Viviana knelt on one knee before Artasha. With a serious gaze, she looked at her and spoke in an unwavering voice.

“As the princess of the Merdelia Ducal Family, and as a knight, I swear here and now that all my actions will be for Miss Tina’s happiness.”

“….Thank you, Princess.”

Only after hearing Viviana’s firm oath did Artasha allow herself a relieved smile. She tried to soothe her trembling heart, fearful of losing her daughter again, and swallowed a bitter smile.

‘Tina… Mom just wants you to be happy.’

Tina was lovely and precious. But she was too inadequate to protect her.

But the woman before her would be different.

‘….And Tina, learn to restrain yourself a bit during this month.’

While feeling the bitter reality that she couldn’t protect her daughter on her own, Artasha felt an inexplicable sense of relief toward the princess who was oddly courteous.

Left alone in her thoughts, Viviana clenched her fist tightly.

‘….I did it.’

Though she had shown a moment of uncharacteristic tension, Baroness Artasha had ultimately entrusted Tina to her. For some reason, this fact gave her an unparalleled sense of satisfaction.

[My mother would never allow it, right? You’re just wasting your time, Princess.]

Now, all that remained was to deliver this news to that insolent pet.

Viviana struggled to suppress the smile rising within her, eager to see that defiant face crumble even a second sooner.