CHAPTER 603: CHAPTER 603

"?! Y... y-you?! Aren’t you mute?!"

"How shameful it is that I have to put up with your shameless performance of a good mother." — I said, indifferent to the pale demeanour she gained the more she realised it was my voice responding to her right now. — "If not for I also do not want to go through more embarrassment on a day like this, I would not have let you say all you did today, duchess."

"... hah... e-embarrassment? You are the sole embarrassment to our family. Think properly-"

"? What family?" — I asked, hoping to see the confusion in her eyes. — "Did you not hear what I said a moment ago? I said this is shameful. Everything about it. This attitude you showcase, the unscrupulous lies you continuously say with a seemingly proper countenance... a woman like you demanding things when there she has absolutely no right to do so... hah, the mere fact that you act like my mother when you cannot be even called an acquaintance is offensive."

"??! What are you saying?! I gave birth to you! You were raised under my roof!!" — She retorted managing to leave behind her bewilderment.

"You mean the roof of the Sylfinnier household, the one you fortunately married into." — Annoyed, I said with scorn, disgusted by her words. — "I was indeed raised there, yet have you ever treated myself like your daughter? Of course not. It certainly was not by your care that I was able to grow into a proper woman. Hence, don’t you think I am very merciful, duchess? I have been truly patient and kind towards a scourge like you."

"Sco-!? Hah! Merciful?! What nonsense are you spouting? As if I would need such a thing! The one being patient and kind is myself by not slapping you and cutting the tongue you still haven’t learned how to use!"

"It is not nonsense." — I said following the way she stood to try and belittle me. For it was myself who should look at her from above not backwards. — "I played along with your lousy performance. Letting you paint yourself as a good mother in front of others, making up memories and lying about your care for myself... I allowed it all when I could have easily exposed the truth... I can speak as you can see... and yet you still believe you are above myself in status... however... Let myself remind you, Elenaide. You may be Duchess of Syfinnier, yet I am not only the duchy’s child but also a promise for the Empire by no other than the First Empress. Who do you believe will become the true embarrassment was I to talk with the truth?"

"... Reckless you are... You do not have that kind of influence, stupid disgrace. Know your place!"

"You may believe whatever your heart feels more at ease with. It does not change the reality. Nonetheless, do learn this well: just as you have never treated myself like a daughter... I have never considered you my mother, Duchess. Therefore, what family is there for us to share? As far as I am aware, I only have a soft-hearted father and two strayed siblings. I have no mother... Only a hopeless fool living off of my family’s ignorant kindness."

"... l-living off..." — I saw her become dizzy and pale, yet I was not about to shut myself up.

"I will let you act as if you have some kind of value in front of others. However, don’t let that confuse you, Elenaide. It is you who should know her place and learn it well. Don’t order me around. Save yourself the embarrassment I will make sure to put you through if you keep being unfoundedly confident."

"!? Marianne! How can you say such things and give your back to me!? I am your mother!" — She said as I moved to leave the place as if regaining her senses at my warning. The yell made myself stop in place for its striking sound appeared to say that I should be harsher for her to truly understand.

"You gave birth to me, but that is all. I am sure you actually want to deny that fact as well. Feel delight, I have no ties with you besides ripping you apart to come to life... and I do not wish for any other kind of bond with someone like you. Act however you like before others, yet save such disgrace when only before myself... it is unsightly from a woman your age. I cannot endure the revulsion."

"MARIANNE!"

"If you say it more strongly your facade will fall by your own screeches. I suggest you calm down, duchess. Now, if there is nothing else... the air here became too sour."

Like that, a sense of relief and a void grew within myself. The abuses and indifference I had endured from the one now saying is my mother felt finally released and told to the woman herself... and yet it still hurt how my awareness continued to be correct when it came to her.

’... a true mother would have brightened and fondly smiled when listening to their mute child speak again...’ — I thought as I reviewed our exchange with every step I gave. — ’Yet how crude and dark your heart must be, Elenaide... for instead of brightness I saw gloom and grieving horror in your eyes and whole being...’

It was clear as the sky was above that no hint of delight was in her once hearing my voice. Nevertheless, little did it matter, for I had no expectations of her unlike I did for others.

My walk took me where the other ladies were, followed of course by my guards and chaperons who remained quiet even after witnessing from a safe distance such a scene. The ambience changed completely. Men could be seen flattering the ladies far ahead, within the lovely Garden where flowers were the prettiest, and it was then that at least a nice sensation came back to reign within me, replacing it with the view of how new couples were developing before my eyes at that very moment thanks to the oficialitiation of our courtship.