I hummed a little tune, feeling the pleasant sensation of the dawn air brushing gently against my skin.
The solitary round moon hanging in the sky exuded a charming ambiance, casting its silver light through the darkness.
“Tina.”
A low, calm voice halted my steps.
Those deeply hued, amethyst-like eyes. Viviana approached, her black hair dancing in the wind, perfectly fitting the morning atmosphere.
“Did you deal with Mardian?”
“…Yeah.”
“Is that really true? Can I check for myself?”
“I swear, she won’t appear before you again. If you don’t believe me, I can show you myself.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Since Mardian had already fallen out of favor with Count Abreldine, she wouldn’t be able to live as grand a life as before.
Honestly, even if she tried to take revenge on me, I wouldn’t care much.
I gently lifted my toes and placed a light kiss on Viviana’s right cheek.
Smooch—
A sweet sound escaped as my lips met her cold skin.
“Thank you for your hard work, Viviana. Thanks to you, I was able to stay safe.”
“…”
“Well, I’ll head inside now. See you next time.”
I lightly turned my back, leaving her standing there. But before I could take more than a few steps, Viviana grabbed my wrist.
“Tina, did you poison Lilian?”
“And if I did?”
I gently cradled Viviana’s cheeks with both hands, looking straight into her eyes filled with complex emotions.
With a faint smile, I addressed her.
“Are you going to throw me in jail? Or will you kill me here?”
“…”
“Viviana.”
I pulled her face close to mine, our breaths almost mingling, and flashed a subtle smile.
“I’ll never forgive you for the rest of my life.”
I whispered in a low voice, teasing her.
In her purple eyes, my gaze was marked with a clear cross.
“…”
After staring blankly at me for a while, Viviana eventually nodded with cloudy eyes.
I smiled at her, the adorable Viviana, who graciously accepted my words.
I figured I should at least offer a parting comment.
“May you live the rest of your life wilted by guilt.”
The soft, full moon illuminated the darkness, and I chanted in a calm voice.
“The saint buries her blood in red wine,”
[And fades away, losing her light.]
“The villainess is stained by her own desires.”
[She must pay the price for her foolishness.]
“The princess can no longer bear the weight of her guilt.”
[She will willingly choose to live as a puppet.]
All of them foolish people.
If they had lived for themselves, they would have walked the path of flowers, yet they fall into the abyss swayed by trivial feelings.
Still, I wondered if it could be so easy for the leading figures of this world to collapse like this.
[There are few beings as suited for corruption as humans, right, Tina?]
“Yeah, that’s right.”
[Hehe, by the way, congratulations. You’re finally able to meet your true family.]
“…Yeah.”
[Hurry up and clear away the last obstacle, and let’s leave together.]
“Hmm?”
[There’s still that one last person, right?]
“…”
My lips trembled with an unidentifiable emotion.
I tried to smile as always, but this time, my lips seemed to lose the will to do so.
[Tina, don’t cling to attachments, okay?]
“…”
[You finally get to meet your mother, and you’re hesitating here?]
“…Well, isn’t it alright to take just a little time? There won’t be anyone to disturb us anymore.”
In response to my words, there was only profound silence.
The thick stillness around me started to tighten around my throat.
After a long silence, she whispered into my ear with a short sigh.
[Do you perhaps want to stay here?]
“Oh, no… that’s…”
[Or do you intend to kill this lifetime’s mother just like you did in your previous life?]
Her low voice sent a shock down my heart, as if it were sinking to the ground.
[Now, look ahead, Tina.]
Slowly lifting my head, I looked ahead.
There stood a woman.
A beautiful figure with hair and eyes that mirrored my own.
And the one person who was a complete fool in this world.
It was early dawn, so why was she out here?
“Tina…!”
She rushed toward me, urgency in her eyes.
[Compared to the previous three, toppling this fool is a piece of cake, isn’t it?]
With her incredibly desperate gaze, I found myself unable to move, merely watching her run towards me.
[All you need is a single phrase, right? Let’s finish this quickly and go meet your real mother.]
Eventually, she reached me and deeply pulled me into her embrace.
“Where have you been at this late hour…? Do you know how worried I was?”
“…”
“I asked where you went…! Speak clearly, Tina Blanc.”
Her voice, sharp as it was, contained deep affection in every tone.
How can a person be this devoted?
What is it about Tina Blanc that merits such love?
“I just couldn’t sleep… so I went for a short walk. I’m sorry for worrying you, Mother.”
I buried my face in her chest and whispered softly.
“Please… don’t worry about me like this again.”
Every time I heard Artasha’s loving voice, countless thoughts flooded my mind.
Couldn’t I start over with this person? Isn’t it okay to lean on her? Wouldn’t something change with her?
But every time such thoughts crossed my mind, she quietly whispered.
[That’s deception.]
It wasn’t that I didn’t know.
[That woman’s love will never reach you.]
I knew it better than anyone.
[And Tina, if you truly care for that woman… shouldn’t you reveal the truth?]
Her words were always right.
Now, just like before.
[You know that your actions are only causing her more suffering, right?]
The cruel truth pierced my heart like a dagger, and my eyes turned red.
[Are you intending to kill your mother’s existence twice, Tina?]
Her last words caused the final shred of attachment lingering in my heart to wilt and fall to the ground like a lifeless leaf.
With tears streaming down my face, I finally burned away that last leaf without care.
“Mother…”
“T-Tina? Why are you crying?”
“You’re truly pathetic.”
I ruthlessly brushed off her warm hand, which had been wiping my tears away.
My action, having never pushed her away before, caused Artasha’s eyes to tremble in surprise.
“Tina…?”
“Pfft, you still… still don’t know anything, do you?”
Looking into her bewildered eyes, I wore a smile.
That smile was filled with mockery and derision, a smile full of malice.
“Do you have any idea how ridiculous it is to pour your love on others while not even realizing your daughter is dead?”
“Uh…?”
“Would you like me to say it again?”
I carefully placed my finger on Artasha’s forehead, pushing her away. Shocked, she fell back and lay on the ground, her spirit lost to the blow.
“Your daughter Tina. She’s been dead for quite some time now.”
Artasha, who had fallen in a pitiful heap, blinked in disbelief before awkwardly smiling and taking my hand.
“T-Tina. You shouldn’t play such mean tricks on your mother.”
“You only show this side of yourself until the very end, don’t you?”
“Tina, dear….”
“Didn’t you seem so happy when I came to you with a mixture of affection?”
“T-Tina….”
“No, the truth is, didn’t you notice that my attitude must have changed dramatically at some point?”
Artasha’s eyes widened in surprise.
Watching her dazed blue eyes, I couldn’t help but show a smirk filled with ridicule.
“To be honest, if it were me, I would have been suspicious. But you welcomed me without hesitation.”
“T-Then, Tina….”
“Perhaps it’s that you preferred the version of me pretending to be Tina rather than the real me? If that’s the case, I’ll be a little disappointed—”
Smaack—!
With a sharp sound that sliced through flesh, my head turned weakly.
A burning pain spread across my cheek, and a metallic taste of blood began to seep into my mouth.
Before me stood my mother, no, Artasha, who was crying.
Tears flowed quietly from her eyes that had always been so steadfast.
As I saw those tears, I finally realized.
‘Ah.’
Now everything is over.
This tiresome play is done.
This false love has finally come to an end.
