The rattling carriage slowly made its way down the road. The breeze seeping through the window felt surprisingly pleasant, and the landscape outside whisked by in a blur.
Before long, as I became accustomed to the scenery outside, a mansion, one I hadn’t seen in what felt like ages, came into view.
It had been hardly less than a month since I had left, but I missed it dearly. Though it paled in comparison to the Duke of Merdellia’s estate, the Baron Blanc family mansion was the place that felt most comfortable to me.
As the familiar mansion drew closer, I nearly felt tears welling up, but since my mother was next to me, I forced myself to suppress my emotions and looked at her.
My mother’s beautiful blue eyes appeared rather complex. Sadness, guilt, melancholy—various negative forces seemed to swirl within them.
“Mother?”
“…I’m sorry, Tina. I shouldn’t have allowed you to go to the Duke’s house.”
Was she regretting sending me to Viviana’s mansion? Given that I had been acting a little crazy on purpose in front of her, I somewhat expected this reaction.
“…I trusted you when you said Princess Viviana was using her family’s name to help you, but I didn’t think she would commit such a disgraceful act…”
“Mother, I’m okay.”
I cautiously got up and sat next to her. I gently placed my hand over my mother’s and flashed a bright smile.
I simply wanted to make sure I got out of that mansion—I didn’t intend to instill guilt in my mother.
She might not be anyone else, but my mother would always be on my side. There was no way I would mistreat someone like that.
“Actually, you know… I did that on purpose earlier.”
“…Huh?”
My mother tilted her head in confusion.
“What I said while looking in the mirror… I said it that way thinking it would make you take me with you.”
“…So you’re saying it was intentional?”
“Hehe… Yes.”
I figured she wouldn’t believe me anyway, so I decided to keep the fact that my friend was in the mirror a secret. However, there was no reason to withhold anything else.
“I’m sorry… You were really worried, right?”
I looked up at my mother with slightly drooping eyes. She stared at me for a long time, looking quite taken aback, before once again gripping my hand seriously.
“Well then, let’s talk it all out. What happened with your wrist?”
“I-I only did it enough that it wouldn’t kill me! I didn’t even go near the artery; I just made it bleed a little…”
Slap!
“Eek?!”
A sudden pain on my backside made a high-pitched sound escape my mouth.
She seemed quite angry.
Was she upset that I had harmed myself? Honestly, I couldn’t argue with that; there was no excuse for it.
It was true that I had lost consciousness from cutting my wrist.
‘…But I really thought nothing serious would happen!’
I hadn’t actually touched anywhere lethal; I merely nicked a vein. And with Iris waiting outside, there was no way I’d left it for too long.
“I thought it would make Princess Viviana let me go….”
However, seeing my mother’s still furious eyes, it seemed that my underlying reasoning wouldn’t reach her.
I had no choice.
In times like this, it’s time to pull out my secret weapon.
With tears barely welling at the corners of my eyes, I wrapped my arms around my mother’s hands. Looking up at her with a quivering voice, I said, “But… I really missed you… I did it so I could see you again…”
The cold, hardened gaze in my mother’s eyes trembled slightly. I seized that moment to snuggle closer to her and meet her gaze.
“You said you’d come see me… but you never came… I can’t live without you…”
“That’s…”
“Do you know how lonely I was in that mansion for a month? They called me a harlot… left me alone… said they were sick of me…”
“…Tina.”
There was no longer an intention in my mother’s eyes to scold me. She was just looking at me with a sad gaze.
Indeed, no matter what, my mother would be unable to resist her daughter’s charms.
Determined to drive the point home, I spread my arms wide and gazed at my mother with downcast eyes.
“I’m sorry for getting hurt… I won’t do it again… Can’t you hug me like before?”
My mother looked at me for a while, then finally let out a deep sigh and reluctantly pulled me into a tight embrace.
As I buried my face in her comforting chest, she gently stroked my head with kindness.
“Are you really… okay, Tina?”
“Of course I am.”
Was it the shock of pretending to talk to a childhood friend? My mother’s anxiety seemed unlikely to dissipate easily.
I might have a bit of talent for acting.
‘Phew, my mother is such a worrywart.’
Because I was really okay.
—
Before long, as the red sun set and evening deepened around the Baron Blanc mansion, Artasha, freshly bathed, changed into her thin nightgown and tidied her hair.
‘…I really hope this is okay.’
While speaking to the mirror, a feeling of despair clutched at her heart, but according to Tina, it was all an act.
Once she came to the mansion, they had shared meals and conversations just like normal. Even amidst their many discussions, Artasha had not notable differences in Tina.
She was still charming, and still beautiful.
‘…I’m really glad.’
Closing her eyes, Artasha lay on the bed. Seeing Tina bright and cheerful made her feel like she could relieve her heavy burdens.
Though she felt a twinge of disappointment for being deceived by her daughter, it was she who permitted sending Tina to the Duke’s house, so she couldn’t blame anyone else.
Relieved that her daughter didn’t face any major issues, Artasha closed her eyes to unwind from the day’s fatigue.
[Mother…?]
At the sound of Tina’s voice from outside the door, Artasha shot up.
“T-Tina?”
Just as she feared something had gone wrong, the door cracked open, and Tina quietly entered. She was holding a white pillow matching her own color and approached her.
“I-I just wanted to sleep with you for the first time in a while.”
Tina spoke as she carefully stepped into the room, and her voice was filled with affectionate warmth.
Artasha sighed, relieved.
It was no strange thing. There had been times before when they’d slept together.
After nearly a month apart, sleeping sweetly beside her daughter felt like a wonderfully sweet desire.
With a soft smile, she warmly embraced the approaching Tina.
“Of course, my daughter. You are always welcome.”
She willingly took her daughter into her arms, feeling her small body and warmth as they lay back in bed.
“Hehe, I love you so much, Mother.”
Though it had been a while since she’d seen her daughter’s cuteness, it still remained unchangingly adorable.
Tina snuggled her head against Artasha’s shoulder with a bright smile.
As Artasha stroked Tina’s soft hair, the little girl, with cautious eyes, moved closer and left a light kiss on her neck.
After so long, the feeling of Tina’s lips made Artasha inadvertently hold her breath. The warm and soft sensation made her heart start to beat gently.
Tina slowly raised her face, and this time, she planted a kiss on Artasha’s cheek. As if wanting to get even closer, her small hand gripped Artasha’s arm.
Smooch… Smooch…
“Hoho…. My lovely daughter.”
The affection contained in Tina’s kisses was endlessly pure and lovely. Just like a cute little puppy, Tina’s cuteness made Artasha hug her tightly.
She felt happy.
As if holding the world in her hands, she felt like she had everything. It made her resent the previous month’s naive judgment where she had not felt this happiness.
Surely, waking up together tomorrow morning would bring even more happiness.
With a tender smile, Artasha quickly pecked Tina on the forehead before closing her eyes.
To fall asleep alongside her daughter just like this.
—
Smooch… Smooch…
But, unexpectedly, the Tina who was supposed to fall asleep soon didn’t stay still.
Continuously seeking affection, Tina would kiss Artasha’s face lightly, trying to snuggle closer. Sometimes she buried her face in Artasha’s chest and rubbed against it.
Her actions were somewhat usual yet strangely different, making it seem as if she wanted constant reassurance.
“I love you, Mother…”
Because Tina’s face was buried in Artasha’s chest, she couldn’t see her expression. But she figured that even without seeing it, Tina must be making a charming face, and Artasha chuckled while gently patting Tina’s bottom.
“Hehe, I love you too, Tina. Now let’s get some sleep and look forward to tomorrow.”
“…Are you telling me to stop?”
“Yeah, aren’t you tired?”
However, for some reason, Tina’s body started to tremble slightly, contrary to Artasha’s intentions. Thinking she might be cold, Artasha covered her daughter with a blanket, but the trembling didn’t stop.
As Tina slowly lifted her head, her vacant blue eyes peeked out from beneath a shadowed face.
Seeing those eyes made Artasha’s heart plummet.
“Um… Mother, are you getting tired of me?”
“T-Tina?”
Dull eyes devoid of light.
Looking into those eyes, Artasha sensed that something was wrong.
“Um, if you’re tired of me… I-It’s okay. I have a childhood friend, so… I’m okay, I’m not alone, I’m okay. I’m fine, it’s okay, hehehe, it’s fine.”
In disbelief, Artasha watched as Tina muttered mindlessly with wide-open eyes.
Her eyes began to tremble without context.
