A Foolish Person
The soft moonlight of the deep night had given way to a clear sky. Beneath a sun that seemed especially bright today, I wore my usual smile.
"You really didn't have to see me off yourself, Lady... thank you."
"You're a guest I brought here. It's only proper. Don't worry about it."
Viviana crossed her arms. I offered a bright smile at her kindness and bowed my head in greeting.
This was the front gate of the Merdelia mansion. The lavishly tended garden surrounded us like a living work of art.
After finishing a luxurious breakfast and announcing I would return home, Viviana had come out in person to see me off.
"It was a truly precious memory. I'm going to brag about it endlessly once I get home!"
"...Right."
Why was that? Something unsettled lingered in Viviana's expression. I had followed her advice from last night and not once put on any coquettish act, yet I could not tell what had ruffled her mood.
Well, I did not particularly feel like fretting over it.
"Then I'll be going, Lady. I hope we meet again if fate allows."
Viviana's brow furrowed sharply. Had my words displeased her? While I was still puzzling over that unexpected look, she crossed her arms again and spoke in a curt voice.
"About the proposal you made earlier—I'll send a letter soon. Wait for it."
"Ah."
I had offered to share information that might benefit the Merdelia Ducal House in exchange for her protection from Mardian. It had been a proposal meant to rein in Mardian, who was growing more extreme by the day.
"Yes. I'll be waiting."
I spoke to Viviana with a gentle smile. Yet her twisted brow showed no sign of smoothing out. Could even the smile I wore now strike her as artificial?
But contrary to my expectation, Viviana gazed at me steadily before murmuring, almost to herself,
"Are you upset about what happened yesterday?"
"Pardon?"
"...Never mind."
The answer that came back from Viviana was bland. Still, I had no desire to press further, so I simply offered her a polite farewell and climbed the steps of the carriage.
This carriage is practically a house...
The carriage I had received through Viviana's kindness looked several times larger than an ordinary one. At its center was the Merdelia Ducal House crest—two crossed swords—lending it even greater dignity.
"Then may you be well, Lady of Merdelia."
"...Be well."
Receiving Viviana's somehow unsatisfying send-off, I boarded the carriage.
It was time to return home at last.
I wanted to see Mother soon.
At last I arrived home.
I opened the carriage door.
It was not as splendid as the Merdelia Ducal House—it even looked modest by comparison—yet the mansion that welcomed me was comfortingly cozy beyond measure.
"Tina!"
The moment I stepped down from the carriage, her familiar voice reached me. Worry colored her neat tone, and a smile naturally spread across my lips.
"I'm home, Mother."
With a bright smile I hurried toward her. I had told her she need not wait like this... yet here she was again, standing at the front gate. How long had she been waiting?
When I threw myself into her arms, she caught me and held me tightly without hesitation. As my face buried itself in her ample bosom, I finally felt as though I had truly come home.
"Suddenly deciding to stay overnight at the Merdelia Ducal House... do you have any idea how startled Mother was?"
"Hehe... I happened to grow close to the Lady at the banquet. I'm sorry for worrying you, Mother."
"You really are..."
Artasha looked at me for a while with complicated eyes. In the end she let out a short sigh and gently stroked my hair. As I savored her affectionate touch, the fatigue piled up from last night slowly melted away.
"Mother, have you eaten?"
"I... haven't eaten yet. Let's eat together."
Artasha hesitated for the briefest moment. That fleeting pause was enough for me to realize she had already eaten. Yet the reason she had lied was surely because, even full, she still wanted to share a meal with me.
...What a foolish person.
But that was why I loved her.
Even if the love she held was not directed at "me,"
I could be satisfied with this much.
I nuzzled my face against Mother's bosom for a long while, then finally lifted my head with a bright smile and met her blue eyes—so like my own.
"If it's all right with you, Mother... would you like to go on that picnic I mentioned before?"
"A p-picnic? Right now?"
Mother's eyes flew wide and trembled. Something seemed to be weighing on her mind; she could not answer right away.
"Ah... are you busy today? Then we can go another time."
But at my words Mother waved both hands vigorously, then offered a mature smile and answered at once.
"N-no, dear. I happen to be free today, so it's perfect. Go change into something comfortable and come out."
The figure of Mother hurrying into the mansion looked just a little different from her usual noble composure.
A garden near the Bland estate.
The lush garden, filled with flowers of every color, was more than enough for a picnic. Fresh floral scents filled the air, and the blossoms shone brightly in the sunlight. Beneath the shade of the trees, green grapes and lilacs mingled to block the sun.
"Aaah~ open wide, Mother."
At my request Mother reluctantly parted her tightly closed lips. When I slipped the fork holding a piece of pie into her mouth, she chewed with her pure white cheeks puffed out and swallowed.
I handed her the fork and opened my own mouth. Mother stared at me blankly for a moment, then let out a soft laugh and placed a piece of pie between my lips.
A cool breeze, the fragrant scent of grass, sweet food, and the person who loved me most in the world. A picnic spent with Mother was always a thoroughly satisfying time.
"Tina, I have some good news."
"Good news?"
When I tilted my head in curiosity, Mother cleared her throat a few times and continued with proud eyes.
"As it happens, I settled the entire debt we owed the Mirolián Viscountship yesterday. There are still a few houses we owe, but it seems the most urgent fire has been put out for now."
"What?! Really?"
"Yes. At this rate... I think we might be able to clear the family's debts within about five years."
I blinked blankly at the unexpected good news. I had once seen the amount we owed the Mirolián Viscountship. I remembered it being no small sum.
She truly was an incredible person.
In a house that was collapsing, leaving only debts behind, she was paying them off through her own ability alone. Creating money from nothing was no different from what she was doing—something so difficult that an ordinary person like me could not even begin to judge her capability.
"So I hope you won't worry about the debts, Tina. I want you to grow up bright and happy doing whatever you want."
Mother's hand resting on my cheek was cool, yet the heart it held was endlessly warm. A ticklish feeling filled my chest, and I mumbled while lowering my head.
Tina, you really are a fool.
With a mother like this,
all you managed was running away from home.
If Artasha had been my mother—if I, not Tina, had been Artasha's child....
"Tina?"
At Mother's voice, laced with worry, I lifted my head. Outwardly she seemed unshaken, yet her gaze—warmer than anyone's—was fixed on me. Without a word I nestled into her arms.
"You've worked so hard... I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help."
If I sold all the jewels the young ladies had given me, it would certainly be a great help, but disposing of them without any trouble would take roughly five years. Of course there were illegal ways to sell them... but then I would be lucky to get even half their value.
"What are you saying, Tina? Your very existence is a great strength to me."
"But..."
"Tina, what do you want to do in the future?"
"The future?"
"You, too, will have to leave my arms someday. At least until then, I hope you find something you want to do."
I blinked blankly at the unexpected words. Instinctively I tightened my arms around Mother's waist. Looking up at her with a slightly sunken feeling, I said,
"Where would I go? I'm going to live with Mother my whole life."
"Tina, you have to live your own life. The world is wide. I'm sure there's something that will bring you joy."
Mother mumbled for a moment, hesitating, then squeezed her eyes shut once and continued.
"You should think about marriage, too. Someday a husband who can make your life happy might appear."
"...Marriage?"
Marriage.
A word I had never once considered,
and never would in the future.
"It might still be early, but you're gradually reaching the age for marriage, aren't you?"
"I don't want to. I'm not getting married. I'm going to live with Mother forever, so why would you say something like that?"
The word "marriage" must have shaken my reason; a sharper voice than usual spilled from my lips. Yet even at my sensitive tone, Mother only stroked me gently.
"Tina. I'm not forcing marriage on you at all. Mother has no intention of binding you to marriage."
"Then why say such things..."
"Being able to spend your life with someone you love is a truly happy thing. If you find someone you love later, I hope you'll make the choice that lets you be happy."
"Then I'll marry Mother."
At my answer without a moment's hesitation, it was Mother's turn to blink blankly. Still clinging tightly to her, I looked up with eyes that had begun to well with tears.
"I only need to be by Mother's side. So if I marry Mother, that would work... right?"
"Th-that... but..."
Mother's eyes trembled as if an earthquake had struck. Even her earlobes seemed to have flushed slightly red. She averted her gaze from me and murmured in a small voice,
"...But Tina, consanguineous marriage is a rule the temple strictly forbids. There's nothing I can do about that."
"..."
An unexpected answer. I had thought she would scold me, saying it was wrong, yet for some reason Mother was seriously considering my words.
"...Pfft."
At the sight of Mother muttering so earnestly, the sunken mood from a moment ago vanished at once, and sudden laughter burst from my lips.
"Ahaha!"
Really.
A foolish person who cannot even take a joke properly.
That was why I loved her.