I Love You, Mother
The rattling carriage advanced slowly along the road. The breeze seeping through the cracks in the window felt quite pleasant, and the scenery beyond whipped past in a blur.
By the time I had grown accustomed to the landscape unfolding outside, the mansion I so dearly missed came into view.
I had been away for less than a month at most, yet it was a place I had longed for desperately. Compared to the Merdelia Ducal House it was shabby, yet nowhere in the world felt more comfortable to me than the mansion of the Bland Barony.
As the longed-for mansion drew steadily nearer, tears nearly welled up unbidden—but Mother was right there, so I forced down the surging emotion and turned to face her.
Mother’s beautiful blue eyes looked rather complicated. Sorrow, guilt, melancholy—all manner of negative feelings seemed to swirl within them.
"Mother?"
"…I’m sorry, Tina. I never should have allowed you to be sent to the Ducal House."
Was she regretting having sent me to Viviana’s mansion? Given that I had deliberately acted unhinged in front of her, it was a reaction I had more or less expected.
"…I believed her when Lady Viviana swore on her family’s name that she would help you… but to think she would commit such a disgraceful act…"
"Mother, I’m fine."
I carefully rose and sat beside her. Gently laying my hand atop the back of hers, I hung a bashful little smile on my lips.
I had only meant to make certain I could leave that mansion; I had no particular intention of planting guilt in Mother’s heart.
She wasn’t just anyone—Mother was always the one who would take my side. I couldn’t bring myself to be cruel to someone like that.
"Actually… earlier, I did that on purpose."
"…Hm?"
Mother tilted her head, eyes puzzled.
"When I was talking to the mirror… I said those things because I thought that was the only way you’d take me out of there."
"…So that means you did it deliberately?"
"Hehe… yes."
I decided to keep the fact that my friend lived inside the mirror to myself—she probably wouldn’t believe it anyway. But there was no reason not to tell her the rest.
"I’m sorry… you must have been so worried."
I looked up at her with slightly drooping eyes. She stared at me for a long while with trembling eyes, as if dumbfounded, then gripped my hand tightly once more with a serious expression.
"Then let’s hear it all. What about cutting your wrist?"
"Th-the wrist—I only did it enough so I wouldn’t die! I didn’t go anywhere near the artery, just enough to draw a little blood…"
Slap.
"Eek?!"
A sudden sting on my bottom made a high-pitched cry burst from my lips.
She seemed quite thoroughly angry.
Was she furious that I had cut my own arm of my own free will? Honestly, unlike everything else, there wasn’t much room to make excuses for this one.
It was true that I had cut my wrist and lost consciousness.
…But I really was half-convinced that nothing major would happen!
After all, I hadn’t touched anything fatal—just a shallow slice across a vein. And with Iris waiting outside, I couldn’t possibly have been left alone for long.
"I thought that was the only way Lady Viviana would let me go…"
But looking at Mother’s still-angry eyes, it seemed my true intentions weren’t getting through at all.
No choice, then.
At times like this, I had to pull out my secret weapon.
With the barest hint of tears gathering at the corners of my eyes, I linked my arms around Mother’s hand. Looking up at her with teary eyes, I spoke in a trembling voice.
"But… I missed you so much, Mother… That was the only way I could see you again…"
Mother’s eyes, which had been coldly settled, flinched. Seizing the opening, I clung even closer and met her gaze.
"You said you’d come visit… but you never came even once… I really can’t live without you, Mother…"
"That’s…"
"Do you know how lonely I was in that mansion for a whole month…? They called me a whore… neglected me… said they were sick of me…"
"…Tina."
There was no longer any sign of wanting to scold me in Mother’s eyes. Only sorrowful eyes looking down at me.
As expected—even if she died and came back to life, Mother could never resist her daughter’s charms.
With the intent of driving the nail home, I spread both arms and gently looked up at her with subdued eyes.
"I’m sorry I got hurt… I won’t do it again… Can you hold me like before?"
Mother looked at me for a while, then finally let out a deep sigh and reluctantly hugged me tightly to her.
As I nuzzled my face into her comfortable bosom, Mother at last stroked my head with gentle eyes.
"Are you… really okay, Tina?"
"Aw, of course."
Was pretending to talk to my childhood friend that shocking? Mother’s anxiety didn’t seem like it would fade easily.
I might actually have a bit of talent for acting.
Pfft, Mother really. She worries too much.
I’m perfectly fine, though.
Before long the red sunset had faded and night deepened over the Bland Barony. Having finished her bath, Artasha changed into thin nightclothes and was arranging her hair.
…Is she really all right?
When Tina had muttered to herself while staring into the mirror, a despair that made Artasha’s heart plummet had washed over her—but according to Tina, it had all been an act.
Indeed, after returning to the mansion they had eaten together as usual and chatted. Even while exchanging all sorts of stories, she had found no major change in Tina.
She was still lovely. Still beautiful.
…I’m truly glad.
Artasha closed her eyes and lay down upon the bed. Seeing Tina’s bright appearance, she thought she could set her greater worries aside.
Though she felt a twinge of disappointment that her daughter had deceived her so, it was none other than herself who had permitted sending Tina to the Merdelia Ducal House, so she could not greatly blame her.
Simply deeply relieved that there was no serious problem with her daughter, Artasha closed her eyes to ease the day’s fatigue.
"Mother…?"
At Tina’s voice from beyond the door, Artasha bolted upright.
"T-Tina?"
Just as her heart sank wondering if something had happened, the door opened a crack and Tina quietly slipped inside. She approached holding a white pillow the same color as her own in her arms.
"I-I wanted to sleep with Mother for the first time in a long while."
Tina spoke as she carefully stepped into the room. Her voice was full of affectionate longing.
Artasha sighed and patted her chest.
It wasn’t unusual. Tina had often asked to sleep together.
Having been reunited after nearly a month, there was nothing sweeter for Artasha either than sharing sweet sleep with her daughter.
With a soft smile she warmly embraced the approaching Tina.
"Of course, my daughter. Mom always welcomes you."
She gladly held her daughter close, feeling her small body and warmth as she lay back down upon the bed.
"Hehe, I love you so much, Mother."
It was her daughter’s charms after a long absence, yet still unchangingly adorable.
Tina nuzzled her head this way and that against her, smiling brightly.
As Artasha stroked that cotton-soft hair, Tina carefully pressed her face close, then left a light kiss upon her neck with a soft smooch.
At the feel of Tina’s lips after so long, Artasha unconsciously held her breath. Her heart began to beat softly at the warm, gentle sensation.
Tina slowly lifted her face, then this time kissed Artasha’s cheek. As if wanting to draw even closer, her small hands clung to Artasha’s arms.
Mwah— mwah—
"Heheh… my lovely daughter."
The affection in Tina’s lips was endlessly pure and sweet. At the loveliness of Tina clinging to her like a cute little puppy, Artasha hugged her tightly.
She was happy.
As if she held the entire world in her arms, she felt as though she possessed everything. She even resented herself for having failed to feel this happiness for nearly a month because of her careless judgment.
If they greeted tomorrow morning together like this, she would surely be even happier.
With a tender smile, Artasha left a short kiss upon Tina’s forehead and closed her eyes.
To fall asleep together with her daughter just like this.
Mwah— mwah—
Mwah—…
Mwah…
Mwah.
"…Tina?"
But Tina, whom she had expected to fall asleep at once, for some reason would not stay still.
As if endlessly craving affection, Tina kept pressing small kisses to Artasha’s face, trying to snuggle even closer into her arms. Sometimes she buried her face against Artasha’s chest and rubbed her cheek there.
Actions that were ordinary yet somehow different; Tina’s behavior seemed as though she wanted continuous confirmation of something.
"I love you, Mother…"
Because Tina’s face was buried against her chest, Artasha could not see her expression. Yet even without looking she was certain that mischievous face was there, and so she chuckled softly while patting Tina’s bottom.
"Heheh, I love you too, Tina. Now let’s stop and look forward to tomorrow."
"…Are you telling me to stop?"
"Yes. Aren’t you tired?"
But contrary to her intention, Tina’s body began to tremble little by little. Wondering if she was cold, Artasha drew the blanket more snugly around her—yet the trembling did not stop.
As Tina slowly raised her head, empty blue eyes appeared beneath a shadowed face.
Seeing those eyes, Artasha’s heart plummeted.
"M…Mother is sick of me too?"
"T-Tina?"
Eyes with the light extinguished.
Looking into those eyes, Artasha felt that something was terribly wrong.
"I-if Mother is sick of me, i-if Mother is sick of me too, i-it’s okay, I have my childhood friend, y-yeah, it’s okay, I’m not alone, y-yeah it’s okay. I’m okay. Yeah, of course it’s okay, hehe it’s okay."
At the sight of Tina muttering with vacant, wide-open eyes—
Artasha’s own eyes began to tremble without reason.