Chapter 60

The creaky carriage slowly made its way down the road. The wind seeping through the window cracks felt quite pleasant, and the scenery outside whizzed by.

Before I knew it, as I was getting used to the scenery outside, a mansion I had missed so dearly came into view.

Even though I had only been away for less than a month, I still missed it terribly. Though it paled in comparison to the Merdelia Ducal Family’s estate, the Blanchard Baronet Family’s Mansion was the most comfortable place for me.

As the mansion I longed for gradually drew closer, I almost teared up without realizing it. But since I was in front of my mother, I suppressed the rising emotions and looked at her.

My mother’s beautiful blue eyes looked quite complicated. Sadness, guilt, melancholy—it seemed like a whirlpool of negative emotions was swirling within them.

“Mother?”

“…I’m sorry, Tina. I shouldn’t have allowed you to be sent to the Ducal Family.”

Was she regretting sending me to Viviana’s Mansion? Since I had intentionally acted crazy in front of her, this reaction was somewhat expected.

“…Viviana Merdelia promised to help you under the name of her family, so I trusted her… But I never thought she would do something so disgraceful…”

“Mother, I’m fine.”

I carefully got up and sat next to my mother. Gently placing my hand on hers, I smiled brightly.

I just wanted to make sure I could leave that mansion, and I didn’t intend to make my mother feel guilty.

Even if it wasn’t someone else, my mother would always be on my side. I wouldn’t act badly toward someone like that.

“Actually, you know what? I did it on purpose earlier.”

“…Huh?”

My mother tilted her head in confusion.

“When I talked to the mirror… I said that because I thought you’d take me away if I did.”

“…So you did it on purpose?”

“Hehe… Yes.”

Even if I told her, she probably wouldn’t believe me, so I decided to keep the fact that my friend was in the mirror a secret. But there was no reason to hide the rest.

“I’m sorry… You were really worried, weren’t you?”

I looked up at her with slightly droopy eyes. She stared at me with trembling eyes for a while, then grabbed my hand tightly with a serious expression.

“Then tell me everything. What happened with your wrist?”

“I, I only cut it enough not to die! I didn’t go near the artery, just enough to make a little blood come out…”

*Slap.*

“Eek?!”

A sharp pain on my butt made a high-pitched voice escape my lips.

It seemed she was really angry.

Was she mad that I had cut my wrist on purpose? Honestly, there wasn’t much I could say to defend myself.

It was true that I had cut my wrist and lost consciousness.

‘…But I was really sure that nothing serious would happen!’

I didn’t cut any vital areas, just shallowly nicked a vein. And with Iris waiting outside, I wouldn’t have been left unattended for long.

“I thought Viviana would let me go if I did that…”

But looking at my mother’s still-angry eyes, it seemed my reasoning wasn’t getting through.

Oh well.

Time to pull out the trump card.

With a slight tear in my eye, I wrapped my arms around my mother’s hand. Looking up at her with teary eyes, I spoke in a trembling voice.

“But… I missed you so much… I had to do that to see you again…”

My mother’s cold expression faltered. I didn’t miss the chance and clung even closer, looking into her eyes.

“You said you’d come for me… but you never came… I can’t live without you, Mother…”

“That’s…”

“Do you know how lonely I was in that mansion for a month? They called me a whore… neglected me… said they were tired of me…”

“…Tina.”

My mother’s eyes no longer held any intention to scold me. She just looked at me with sad eyes.

As expected, my mother could never resist her daughter’s撒娇.

To drive the point home, I spread my arms and looked at her with pleading eyes.

“I’m sorry for getting hurt… I won’t do it again… Can you hold me like you used to?”

My mother looked at me for a while, then finally let out a deep sigh and reluctantly hugged me tightly.

As I buried my face in her comforting chest, she gently stroked my head.

“Are you really… okay, Tina?”

“Of course.”

Was pretending to talk to my childhood friend really that shocking? My mother’s anxiety didn’t seem to ease easily.

Maybe I had a bit of a talent for acting.

‘Hehe, Mother, you worry too much.’

I’m really fine.

※

The night deepened at the Blanchard Baronet Family’s Mansion as the red sunset faded. After finishing her bath, Artasha changed into thin pajamas and was tidying her hair.

‘…Is she really okay?’

When she muttered to herself while looking in the mirror, she felt a sinking despair, but according to Tina, it was all an act.

After coming to the mansion, they had a normal meal together and talked like before. Even during their conversation, she didn’t notice any significant changes in Tina.

She was still lovely, still beautiful.

‘…Thank goodness.’

Artasha lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. Seeing Tina’s bright demeanor, she thought she could let go of her worries.

Though she felt a bit hurt that her daughter had deceived her, she couldn’t blame herself too much since she was the one who allowed her to be sent to the Merdelia Ducal Family.

Relieved that her daughter was okay, Artasha closed her eyes to rest after a tiring day.

*[Mother…?]*

Artasha jolted up at the sound of Tina’s voice outside the door.

“Ti, Tina?”

Her heart sank, fearing something had happened. The door opened slightly, and Tina quietly entered, holding a white pillow of the same color as hers, and approached her.

“I, I wanted to sleep with you tonight, Mother.”

Tina spoke as she cautiously entered the room. Her voice was filled with affectionate longing.

Artasha sighed and patted her chest.

It wasn’t strange. They had often slept together before.

After being apart for almost a month, there was nothing sweeter than sharing a peaceful sleep with her daughter.

With a soft smile, she warmly embraced the approaching Tina.

“Of course, my dear. You’re always welcome.”

She happily held her daughter in her arms, feeling her small body and warmth as they lay back down on the bed.

“Hehe, I love you so much, Mother.”

Though it had been a while since she last saw her daughter’s撒娇, it was still as endearing as ever.

Tina rubbed her head against her mother’s chest, smiling brightly.

As Artasha stroked her soft hair, Tina cautiously pressed her face closer and lightly kissed her neck.

*Peck.*

The warmth and softness of Tina’s lips made Artasha unconsciously hold her breath. Her heart began to beat faintly.

Tina slowly lifted her face and this time kissed Artasha’s cheek. As if wanting to get closer, her small hands gripped Artasha’s arm.

*Peck. Peck.*

“Hehe… My lovely daughter.”

The affection in Tina’s kisses was endlessly pure and adorable. Artasha tightly hugged Tina, who clung to her like an adorable puppy.

She was happy.

It felt like she had the whole world in her arms. She almost resented herself for not feeling this happiness for nearly a month due to her poor judgment.

Surely, she would feel even happier waking up together tomorrow morning.

With a tender smile, Artasha kissed Tina’s forehead briefly and closed her eyes.

To sleep peacefully with her daughter.

*Peck. Peck.*

*Peck…*

*Peck.*

“…Tina?”

But Tina, who she thought would fall asleep soon, kept fidgeting.

As if constantly craving affection, Tina kept giving small kisses on Artasha’s face, trying to get closer. Sometimes she buried her face in Artasha’s chest and rubbed her cheek.

Though it seemed normal, there was something different about Tina’s actions, as if she wanted constant reassurance.

“I love you, Mother…”

Tina’s face was buried in her chest, so Artasha couldn’t see her expression. But without needing to see, she imagined Tina’s pouty face and chuckled, patting her bottom.

“Hehe, I love you too, Tina. Let’s sleep now and look forward to tomorrow.”

“…Are you telling me to stop?”

“Yes, aren’t you tired?”

But contrary to her intentions, Tina’s body began to tremble slightly. Thinking she might be cold, Artasha covered her with a blanket, but the trembling didn’t stop.

As Tina slowly lifted her head, her hollow blue eyes appeared from the shadows.

Seeing those eyes, Artasha’s heart sank.

“Mo…Mother, are you tired of me too?”

“Ti, Tina?”

Her eyes were lifeless.

Looking into those eyes, Artasha felt something was terribly wrong.

“Mo…Mother, if you’re tired of me, it’s okay, I have my childhood friend, so I’m not alone, it’s okay. I’m okay. Hehe, it’s okay, right?”

As Tina muttered with a blank expression.

Artasha’s eyes began to tremble uncontrollably.