Chapter 88

The morning air gently brushed against my skin, and I hummed a tune, feeling pleasant. The round moon hanging alone in the sky cast a silver glow, creating a serene atmosphere in the darkness.

“Tina.”

A low, calm voice stopped me in my tracks. Deep amethyst eyes. Viviana approached, her black hair fluttering in the wind, perfectly matching the dawn’s ambiance.

“Did you take care of Lady Mardian?”

“…Yes.”

“Really? Can I check for myself?”

“I swear, she won’t appear before you again. If you don’t believe me, I can show you.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Since Mardian has already fallen out of favor with Count Everledein, she won’t live her glamorous life as before.

Even if she seeks revenge against me, it won’t matter much.

I gently lifted my toes and left a light kiss on Viviana’s right cheek.

*Mwah—*

The sound of my lips touching her cold skin was soft.

“Thank you for your hard work, Lady Viviana. Thanks to you, I’m safe.”

“…”

“Then I’ll head in now. See you next time.”

I turned my back lightly, leaving her standing there. But before I could take a few steps, Viviana grabbed my wrist.

“Tina, did you poison Lillian?”

“What if I did?”

I gently cupped Viviana’s cheeks with both hands, looking straight into her eyes filled with complex emotions.

With a faint smile, I spoke to her.

“Are you going to imprison me? Or kill me here?”

“…”

“Lady Viviana.”

I pulled Viviana’s face close to mine. At a distance where our breaths could touch, I gave her a faint smile.

“I will never forgive you for the rest of my life.”

I whispered to her softly, teasingly.

In her purple eyes, my reflection had a clear cross engraved.

“…”

After staring at me blankly for a while, Viviana nodded with blurred eyes.

I gave a knowing smile to the obedient Viviana.

I should at least give her a final farewell.

“May you live the rest of your life withering in guilt.”

※

Looking at the beautiful full moon faintly illuminating the darkness, I sang softly.

“The Saintess vomited blood into red wine,”

“[Lost her light and faded away.]”

“The villainess was tainted by her own desires.”

“[She will rightfully pay the price for her foolishness.]”

“The princess couldn’t bear the weight of guilt.”

“[She will choose the life of a puppet.]”

All equally foolish people.

If they had lived only for themselves, they would have walked a path of flowers, but swayed by trivial emotions, they fell into the abyss.

Still, they are the main characters of this world. Is it okay for them to crumble so easily?

“[Humans are quite fitting for corruption, don’t you think, Tina?]”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“[Hehe, by the way, congratulations. You can finally meet your true family.]”

“…Yes.”

“[Let’s quickly deal with the last obstacle and leave together.]”

“Huh?”

“[There’s still one last person left, right?]”

“…”

The corner of my mouth trembled with an unknown emotion.

I tried to smile as always, but this time, my lips seemed to have lost the will to do so.

“[Tina, you shouldn’t have any lingering attachments.]”

“…”

“[You can finally meet your mother, are you hesitating now?]”

“…Can’t I take a little more time? There’s no one left to interfere now.”

Only deep silence answered my words.

The heavy stillness around me seemed to tighten around my neck.

After a long silence, she whispered in my ear with a short sigh.

“[Have you developed a desire to stay here?]”

“Ah, no… that’s…”

“[Or are you planning to kill this life’s mother just like the previous one?]”

Her low voice sent a shock through my heart, as if it had plummeted to the ground.

“[Now, look ahead, Tina.]”

I slowly raised my head and looked forward.

There stood a woman.

A beautiful person with hair and eyes just like mine.

And the only fool in the world.

It must be the deep hours of dawn, why is she outside?

“Tina…!”

She rushed toward me.

“[Compared to the previous three, breaking that gullible human will be a piece of cake, right?]”

Her desperate gaze made me unable to move, and I could only watch as she ran toward me.

“[Just one word, right? Finish it quickly and let’s go meet your real mother.]”

Finally, as she reached me, she pulled me into a deep embrace.

“Where have you been at this late hour…! Do you know how worried I was?”

“…”

“Where have you been…! Answer me properly, Tina Blanchard.”

Her voice was sharp, but each tone was filled with deep affection.

How can someone be so devoted?

What exactly is Tina Blanchard, to deserve such love?

“I couldn’t sleep… so I went for a walk. I’m sorry for worrying you, Mother.”

I buried my face in her chest and whispered softly.

“Really… don’t ever make me worry like this again…”

Every time I hear Artasha’s affectionate voice, I can’t help but think.

Maybe I can start over with this person. Maybe I can lean on this person. Maybe… something can change.

But every time such thoughts arise, she whispers quietly.

“[That’s a deception.]”

I know.

“[That woman’s love will never reach you.]”

I know better than anyone.

“[And Tina, if you truly care for that woman… shouldn’t you tell her the truth?]”

Her words were always right.

Before, and now.

“[You know that your actions are only killing that woman more cruelly, right?]”

The cruel truth pierced my heart like a dagger, and my eyes turned red.

“[Are you planning to kill your mother’s existence twice, Tina?]”

With her last words, the last bit of lingering attachment in my heart withered and fell to the ground like a lifeless leaf.

With the tears flowing weakly, I burned the last remaining leaf in vain.

“Mother….”

“Ti, Tina? Why are you crying?”

“You’re really pathetic, Mother.”

I coldly pushed away her warm hand that was wiping my tears.

My action, which had never pushed her away before, made Artasha’s eyes tremble slightly in surprise.

“Tina…?”

“Pfft, you still… still don’t know anything.”

I smiled as I looked into her bewildered eyes.

That smile was filled with sarcasm and mockery, a smile full of malice.

“Do you know how funny it was to see you, not knowing your daughter was dead, pouring love on someone else?”

“Huh…?”

“Shall I say it again?”

I gently placed my finger on Artasha’s forehead and pushed her away. Shocked, she fell back and lay on the floor without resistance.

“Your daughter Tina. She died a long time ago.”

Artasha, sitting awkwardly, blinked her eyes and soon smiled awkwardly, grabbing my hand.

“Ti, Tina. You can’t play such a mean joke on your mother.”

“You keep showing this side till the end.”

“Tina….”

“You were so happy when I approached you with a bit of aegyo, weren’t you?”

“Ti, Tina….”

“No, didn’t you feel it too, Mother? At some point, my attitude changed drastically.”

Artasha’s eyes widened in surprise.

Looking into those dazed blue eyes, I smiled with a sneer.

“Honestly, if it were me, I would have been suspicious. But you accepted me without any hesitation.”

“That’s… enough, Tina…”

“Maybe… you preferred me, not Tina, pretending to be Tina and catering to your whims? If so, I’m a bit disappointed—”

*Slap—!*

A sharp sound of flesh tearing, and my head turned weakly.

A burning pain spread across my cheek, and a metallic taste of blood seeped into my mouth.

The mother before my eyes, no. Artasha was crying.

Tears flowed quietly from her always steadfast eyes.

At that moment, I finally realized.

‘Ah.’

It’s all over now.

This tedious play.

This false love.

Finally, it’s all over.

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