Chapter 58

Just before her rationality snapped and she rushed to Tina, Viviana left orders with Alphonse to send a messenger and carriage to the Blanchard Baronet Family’s Mansion.

[Wouldn’t it be better to send this secretly?]

Alphonse cautiously asked.

[…There’s nothing to hide. Send a carriage to the Blanchard Baronet Family along with the news.]

Though she didn’t value human life highly, she wasn’t so despicable as to hide the news of her daughter’s self-harm from her mother.

Since this happened because of her, she believed that while others might not need to know, her mother certainly should.

If she didn’t, she would never be able to face her mother with dignity again. She would surely become a pitiful liar, unable to lift her head due to guilt. And that was something the Merdelia bloodline could never tolerate.

About three hours had passed since the letter was sent, so her mother must have rushed over as soon as she read it. Seeing her in casual clothes, unlike her usual self, it seemed she didn’t even have the mind to dress formally.

“…”

Her cheeks throbbed.

But a pain hundreds of times greater ached in her chest.

“Tina…! Ah… Tina!”

Her mother cried out in despair, tears streaming down her face. She gently stroked Tina’s hand, repeatedly calling her name, but despite her desperate pleas, Tina’s eyes remained tightly shut.

“There’s no… threat to her life.”

“Shut up.”

She relayed the doctor’s diagnosis to reassure her mother, but all she received in return were hollow, lifeless blue eyes.

“Even in this situation, I don’t have the strength to hit you, so don’t say anything because I want to tear myself apart.”

“…”

The resentment and anger in her mother’s gaze tightened around her chest. Unable to meet those eyes, she could only bow her head like a criminal.

“…My lady, let’s step aside.”

Iris cautiously spoke from the side. Too drained to speak, she weakly nodded in agreement.

Until Viviana weakly stepped out of the room, the bedroom was filled only with the sound of her mother’s sorrowful weeping.

*

The gloomy atmosphere of the Merdelia Ducal Family was reflected in the gray sky as rain continued to fall.

Three days had passed since then, and Iris hesitated for a long time in front of the bedroom door. She couldn’t bring herself to open it, stuck in indecision.

Even in front of notorious criminals’ dens, she had been unfazed, but now she couldn’t take a single step forward in front of this door.

Her heart was too heavy.

She wanted to run away immediately, but if she did, that would surely be the day she died by her lady’s hand.

Iris let out a sigh that seemed to sink the ground and steeled herself. After all, this too would pass, she thought, and with wide eyes, she opened the door.

The dimly lit bedroom was eerily quiet.

It had been three days since the Blanchard Young Lady lost consciousness. Despite the doctor’s assurance that she would wake up soon, the young lady remained peacefully asleep in bed.

And by her side, the Blanchard Baron was always present.

“…I’ll change the IV.”

There was no response. The Blanchard Baron simply held his daughter’s hand with lifeless eyes. Iris swallowed dryly and slowly walked in with the food and IV she had prepared.

She replaced the IV and placed the food and drink she had prepared for the Blanchard Baron beside him. Seeing that the previous food was untouched, it seemed he hadn’t eaten much.

“…Perhaps the meal wasn’t to your liking?”

Though she knew that wasn’t the reason, Iris cautiously addressed Artasha. Artasha, who had been staring at her daughter, slowly turned her head toward Iris.

Her condition was far from good. She had become significantly haggard. Her face was pale and gaunt from not eating properly, and her originally fair complexion was now devoid of any warmth.

“If you’re dissatisfied with the meal, I can prepare something else…”

“I heard you called my daughter a whore…”

“…!!”

Her weak voice made Iris’s heart sink to the bottom. Her trembling black eyes wavered aimlessly for a while.

‘…My lady must have told her.’

She had expected it. Hiding a crime was dishonorable and went against the nature of the Merdelia Ducal Family. As someone who carried the Merdelia bloodline more strongly than anyone, the princess must have revealed everything to the young lady’s mother.

Including her own sins.

“I… I…”

She tried to open her mouth to make an excuse, but the words wouldn’t come out. In the end, all she could do was lower her head and avoid eye contact.

“I’m… I’m sorry… truly…”

“…”

The Blanchard Baron looked at Iris with empty eyes, then turned his head back and began to slowly stroke his daughter’s hair again. Iris knew her apology wasn’t accepted. It probably meant he didn’t even want to speak to her anymore.

Iris bit her lip and slowly stood up. Knowing no response would come, she bowed her head respectfully to the Blanchard Baron and left the bedroom.

With her spirit in tatters, she stumbled to her lady’s office. After a short knock, she opened the door and was hit by the pungent smell of tobacco.

The princess’s office was filled with smoke, as if she had been smoking nonstop. Waving the smoke away, she walked in to find the princess, looking just as haggard as the Blanchard Baron, reviewing documents.

“…Even for you, my lady, smoking that much is harmful to your health.”

“…How is Mother?”

A voice as cracked as her blue lips escaped her mouth. The fact that she still called the Blanchard Baron “Mother” suggested she hadn’t given up hope.

The princess had denied that she felt anything but affection for her pet, but she couldn’t hide the deep affection in her intense eyes.

Anyone with a keen eye would notice. Whenever she looked at her pet, her usually cold gaze dripped with honey.

“…The Blanchard Baron seems to be holding up, but I’m not sure how long he’ll last without eating.”

“…”

It was still hard to accept her lady in such a weakened state. In that short time, how deeply had she fallen for her pet?

Her lady had brought her here to make her a perfect servant, but perhaps it was her lady who had been subtly ensnared. Like getting soaked in a drizzle without realizing it, she might have been captivated by her pet’s smile.

…Well.

Even I, who had barely spoken to her, felt a pang in my heart, so how much more so for my lady, who spent every night with her? In the end, Iris swallowed her scolding and opened the office window with a short sigh.

“Tina… you need to wake up soon… why aren’t you waking up…? The doctor said you’d wake up soon…”

Viviana’s voice sounded incredibly fragile. Upon closer inspection, her hands were trembling slightly. Seeing her lady so weakened, Iris frowned.

I understand but…

Still, it wasn’t something to be entirely pleased about. This wasn’t just a personal issue; it was a matter for the ducal family. If the next duke, Princess Viviana, wavered, it meant the entire Merdelia would be shaken.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She knew she wasn’t blameless either.

In the end, still sinking in the endless swamp of regret,

She could only wait for Tina to wake up as soon as possible.

*

A cruel silence weighed heavily on Artasha. Only the faint pulse from Tina’s wrist offered any comfort.

Artasha smiled sadly and gently brushed Tina’s hair aside. Her long eyelashes framed her eyes, exuding a captivating loveliness even in this state.

“Who do you take after to be so beautiful even in sleep… right, Tina?”

Knowing there would be no answer, Artasha spoke with a heart full of sorrow.

When no reply came, tears finally welled up in Artasha’s eyes. She clenched her eyes shut and buried her face in the bed. As a mother, she couldn’t show her daughter her breaking down.

Struggling to calm her trembling heart, Artasha tightly held Tina’s hand and whispered softly.

“Tina… I really can’t live without you…”

In this gray, monotonous world, Tina was her only light. The one precious treasure left in her worn-out life. Tina was her everything, the reason for her existence. Without Tina, Artasha couldn’t find any meaning in living.

So, in this moment while Tina slept, Artasha was consumed by helplessness, only able to stay by her side, hoping her daughter would wake up.

Praying fervently to see that lovely smile again, Artasha spent three days and nights with her hands clasped.

Perhaps her desperate prayers were answered.

“…Huh?”

A faint tremor was felt in their clasped hands.

Artasha’s eyes widened as she quickly lifted her head.

Tina’s tightly closed eyelids were trembling slightly.

Then, slowly, her eyes began to open.

Finally, Tina’s blue eyes reappeared.

“Ti, Tina…!”

Artasha urgently called her daughter’s name. Her heart, which had sunk to the bottom just moments ago, soared to the heavens.

Thank goodness she’s safe. Thank you so much for opening your eyes again.

The thought of seeing her daughter’s smile again made Artasha’s heart beat fiercely.

But in contrast, Tina blinked blankly at the ceiling.

“…Tina?”

Artasha called her daughter’s name again. Tina’s eyes fluttered open, and she suddenly sat up in bed.

Artasha was startled by her sudden movement but quickly composed herself. If she had attempted self-harm, she must have been pushed to a psychological extreme.

Thinking that what Tina needed most now was a warm embrace, Artasha spread her arms to hug her.

And just as she decided to hug her with love.

“Tina…!”

Tina’s eyes fluttered open, and she immediately got up and stretched out her arms, rushing forward.

Like a baby bird rushing to its mother.

She ran forward with her adorable little body.

But.

Her destination wasn’t Artasha’s embrace.

She ran to the mirror in the corner of the room.

“…Huh?”

Artasha blinked in confusion.

As Tina coldly passed her by, Artasha’s outstretched arms were left hanging in the air, filled with emptiness.

Turning her trembling head, she saw Tina placing her hand on the mirror and smiling.

“Now, I’m not alone… right? Hehe, I like it too…”

“Ti, Tina…”

“It didn’t hurt much. It’s okay, now we’ll be together forever, right?”

As if someone was in the mirror, Tina kept touching it, smiling, and conversing.

Tina’s voice was eerily peaceful and bizarrely joyful.

“Ah, ahh…”

Her head felt numb, and all her strength drained away, her legs feeling like they were melting.

After staring at the scene in a daze for a while,

Filled only with despair and loss,

Artasha weakly collapsed to the floor.