“Take it.”
A small pouch was placed in front of me. I tilted my head, wondering if it was some new ingredient for food.
“What’s this?”
“What do you think? It’s your pay.”
“Huh…?”
Carefully opening the pouch, I saw it filled with silver coins. Even a rough count showed there were at least fifty.
“Did you think you came here to volunteer? I included last month’s pay too.”
Well, half of me did come here with that intention.
“I thought you’d quit within a month, but you’ve got some grit.”
A faint smile appeared on Grandma Miranda’s lips. It wasn’t her usual teasing smirk. It resembled the warm smile Artasha used to give me.
“……”
For the first time in my life, I held money I had earned myself.
My heart pounded. Clutching the innocent pouch, I couldn’t calm my racing heart.
What is this feeling?
50 silver coins. By commoner standards, it wasn’t a small amount, but to a noble, it was mere pocket change.
Frankly, compared to the gifts I received from a few smiles in social circles, it was laughably insufficient.
But the money in my hand now felt heavier than any precious gem. The seemingly insignificant coins shone brighter than the dazzling jewels in my room.
Just holding them made my chest swell. A sense of freedom, as if I could do anything, enveloped me.
“What will you spend it on?”
Grandma Miranda’s question plunged me into deep thought. While I was happy to receive the money, I couldn’t think of where to spend it.
Should I buy some sweets I couldn’t afford before? With this money, I could indulge my taste buds ten times over.
Or maybe buy a dress from a nearby shop? A fancy dress might be too expensive, but I could probably afford one that’s out of season.
Buying accessories wouldn’t be bad either. The only thing resembling an accessory on me now is the gem on the collar around my neck.
Luxury items for myself. Normally, I would have spent it on such things without a second thought.
But I didn’t feel like it.
‘…I don’t want to spend it on that.’
Even if I bought a dress or accessories, I wouldn’t have a chance to wear them, and sweets would disappear after one bite.
This was the first money I earned through hard work and effort. I didn’t want to waste this precious money on luxuries.
The question circled back. How should I spend this money?
The dilemma didn’t last long. As soon as I thought about where to spend it, one person immediately came to mind.
With a firm resolve, I tightly clutched the pouch.
“Grandma Miranda.”
“Yes?”
“Can I… take a day off?”
※
Artasha’s daily life hadn’t changed much from before.
Though just a few months ago, she was bedridden, slowly dying, after reuniting with Tina, she gradually regained her vitality.
Now that she had a reason to live again, lying pitifully in bed didn’t suit her personality.
At dawn, she would wake up, have a simple breakfast of vegetables, and then greet the hardworking servants as she walked around the mansion.
With a cup of tea handed by Ranihel, she would enter the office and not come out until sunset.
Even though the family’s finances had improved, there was still a mountain of work to be done.
But she never tired. That child’s shy smile was always waiting for her.
“Name…”
The sound of a pen tapping on the desk echoed evenly through the office.
She had decided to give the child a name herself. Fortunately, the child had sincerely thanked her and accepted the name.
After hearing that, Artasha pondered endlessly, day and night. Countless names flashed through her mind.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t think of a name that suited Tina.
In the end, Artasha wanted to name her Tina.
It wasn’t to fill the void of her own daughter. She never intended to project her daughter’s image onto the child.
Even if her own daughter returned someday, she wouldn’t let go of the current Tina. Even if the current Tina disappeared, she would chase her to the ends of hell and hold her tight.
The child was her daughter. She had decided that long ago.
But even so, Artasha wanted to call her Tina.
Even if it was self-deception, the four years they had spent together as mother and daughter were real.
Four years.
The happiest and most beautiful time in Artasha’s life. And during that time, the person by her side was undoubtedly Tina, that child.
If she gave Tina a new name, it felt like burying those four years of happy memories.
“Name…”
As Artasha was lost in thought, a knock came at the office door.
“Excuse me, Madam.”
The head butler respectfully opened the door and bowed.
“What is it?”
“There is a guest here to see you.”
“A guest?”
“Well…”
The head butler’s hesitation suggested the visitor was no ordinary person.
‘I don’t have any appointments today.’
Still, there were those who occasionally visited unannounced, so she thought it might be one of them.
The Blanchard family was still considered one of the weaker noble families. Many saw no need to show them courtesy.
Moreover, rumors that the Blanchard daughter had assassinated the saintess only made their attitude more dismissive.
Even though the saintess herself had attributed the incident to a demon’s doing and defended the Blanchard family, she couldn’t stop the rumors spreading in the shadows of high society.
“Let them in.”
Artasha slowly tidied her seat. Shortly after, the head butler returned, followed by someone wearing a large hood.
Judging by the small stature, it didn’t seem to be a man. No, even compared to a woman, the figure was quite petite.
The mysterious figure slowly removed the hood. As the hidden face was revealed, Artasha’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Ti, Tina?!”
Between the white hair, identical to her own, shone clear blue eyes. The pale skin was still there, but there was a faint vitality in her cheeks that hadn’t been there the last time they met.
“Ah, hello, Lady Artasha.”
She shyly bowed her head in greeting.
“How did you get here…?”
Where Tina was staying was a half-day’s journey from the empire, at the front lines of the continent. It wasn’t a place one could easily visit.
“I wanted to greet you, Lady Artasha.”
Artasha received reports about Tina from Viviana at least three times a week. Otherwise, she couldn’t rest easy.
The front lines of the continent. Even though the war had ended and there was no great danger, she didn’t want to leave Tina alone in such a harsh place.
In her heart, she wanted to keep Tina by her side. But she had decided to trust the princess one last time.
After all, she truly loved Tina too.
On the day the demon fell, the saintess herself had promised to resolve all the rumors, so Artasha could only wait for that day to come sooner.
“Um, did I disturb you…?”
Tina’s cautious voice echoed in the air. Artasha quickly raised her head.
“Of course not. I missed you so much. It’s been two months already.”
In truth, she had secretly visited the shop where Tina worked once or twice a week, but she decided to keep that a secret from Tina.
“I… I missed you too.”
At Tina’s shy confession, Artasha looked at her with a puzzled expression. Tina’s lips fidgeted, unable to hide her nervousness.
Upon closer inspection, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her hands were hidden behind her back.
Worried she might be hurt, Artasha frowned slightly and asked urgently.
“I heard you’ve been working. How’s your health?”
“Yes…! I’m actually healthier than before.”
Viviana’s reports also mentioned that Tina’s condition had improved.
Though she didn’t want to admit it, perhaps things were going smoothly as Viviana intended.
“Um, Lady Artasha…”
Tina’s voice was still timid.
“Don’t feel burdened, speak freely.”
At Artasha’s gentle tone, Tina hesitated before speaking again.
“I have something to give you…”
Tina slowly brought her hands from behind her back.
“…Flowers?”
In her small, white hands was a bouquet. The petals were white like snow, and the center held a deep blue reminiscent of the ocean.
“It’s called Abelia… I thought of you as soon as I saw it.”
Tina carefully handed over the bouquet.
Artasha stared blankly at the flowers. The sweet, subtle fragrance was neither heavy nor light, strangely soothing her heart.
“Um… I got my salary yesterday. You were the first person I thought of, so I wanted to give you a gift. So… I chose a flower as beautiful as you.”
Artasha silently gazed at Tina’s face.
“It’s… not expensive. I don’t have much money… But when I save more, I’ll definitely get you a more expensive gift…!”
It was unnecessary. Even if she brought all the jewels in the world, they would pale in comparison to this flower.
“I picked it carefully… Is it okay? If you don’t like flowers…”
Tina’s blue eyes wavered anxiously.
“No. It’s lovely. Truly enough. Just that you chose it.”
‘Lovely’ wasn’t enough. Just looking at the flower made her heart swell with happiness.
Had she ever received such a gift from someone, especially a daughter-like figure? Had her heart ever raced like this while receiving a gift?
Artasha’s gaze slowly shifted from the flower to Tina. She was slightly bowing her head, embarrassed.
The faint blush on her pale cheeks. Tina looked even more adorable than the flowers.
“Um, you know… I really like you, Lady Artasha.”
“……Huh?”
“I, I like you… I’m so happy you accepted me again…”
A confession so affectionate it made her dizzy.
‘What, what is this…?’
At Tina’s somewhat suggestive tone, Artasha’s face flushed.
A deep sense of embarrassment seeped into her.
She knew the child was always overflowing with affection, but not to this extent.
Was it just her mood?
In the past two months, Tina seemed to have changed quite a bit.
And quite dangerously so.
cute