My Fiancée Hates Me
Chapter 26: Duchess in Nariel

I wonder why I dreamt of Mother's death...It is such an ominous sign.

"I am looking for someone," a woman said in a quiet voice.

"Arielle, someone is here for you," Maura said.

I quickly made my way down the stairs from the second floor. At the entrance of Exurbia Library was my mother Duchess Amalie Ira Nereus Maddox. She was wearing a white high collar navy blue dress and had her gentle long pink wavy hair tied back into a low ponytail.

"Greetings, Mother," I said as I formally greeted her with a curtsy.

"Greetings, Arielle," she said as she returned my greeting.

My mother and I had gotten close in our first lives because of her illness. Without the illness, we never really had any chance to talk to one another. We were back to our strained relationship.

I know that she actually loves me a lot under her cold demure from our first lives, but I am unsure if she feels the same way now.

"What brings you to the capital, Mother?" I asked.

"... Your father invited me to come along with him on a business trip. I thought that I might as well show my face to you while I am here," she said monotonously. "Am I bothering you?" "Not at all. The Exurbia Library is not busy around this time," I said.

"Your father will not be out of his meeting for another three hours. I will be free until then," she said.

Did she have to specifically tell that to me?

"I see," I said.

Her bottom lip seemed to quiver a bit.

Is she ill?

"It seems that Miss Arielle is free today," Garett said.

"Is that so?" Mother asked.

"She would like to spend time with you," Garett whispered to me.

Is that so?

Mother is really awkward...Why could she not have said it outright?

"Mother, would you mind accompanying me while I go shopping?" I asked.

Her cold face brightened up like a child for a moment but quickly stiffened right afterwards.

"...I do not mind spending time with my daughter," Mother said with her usual cold tone.

Is she happy or bothered about spending time with me?

"I will take over for you, so go spend some quality time with her," Garett said as he took over my list of duties.

"Thank you," I told him.

"Arielle, who is this young man?" Mother asked.

Is Mother also unaware of Garett's identity? He is literally the carbon copy of Prince Erik if not for his hair color and glasses and is Prince Erik's cousin...

"He is my colleague," I answered.

Mother gave a light curtsy in Garett's direction.

"Thank you for looking after my beloved daughter," Mother said.

She said 'beloved'...I am a little embarrassed now.

"She is not much trouble," Garett said with a smile.

Mother and I left after that.

"I like that boy," Mother said suddenly.

"Come again?"

"He reminds me of your father. He seems cold on the outside but is actually rather warm and sweet on the inside. If he becomes my son-in-law, I would be more than welcome to welcome him into our household."

"M-Mother, I have a fiancé."

"A fiancé is merely a temporary position," she said as she walked ahead of me.

I am unsure if she was joking or not.

We went to a nearby cafe that Maura and I usually go to during breaks. I ordered a slice of velvet cake with some black coffee while my mother ordered bear shaped pancakes and a café au lait with a cat motif.

How cute...

"Has anything new occurred to the fiefdom?" I asked to break the silence.

"... Are governing matters the only thing we can talk about?" Mother asked.

I was suddenly taken back by her response.

"That is not it..."

"All of your letters show concern for the fief. It is admirable about how much you care despite being so far from home. I wish that you would include more things about yourself that are not a report..." Mother was suddenly willing to speak so much to me. As I thought, she has not changed from our first lives. It was not due to her illness changing her into a kind person. She was the same from the very start.

"...What should we talk about?" I asked her.

"...How about love?"

I felt as though someone had thrown a stone at my head. This was the last topic that I ever wanted to talk with my mother with. Since she brought it up herself, if I quickly dismiss it, she might lose confidence in herself again.

"That is an interesting topic, Mother. I would like to hear about how Mother and Father are doing," I said with a smile.

I will throw the oil right back.

Her hand shook a little while her cheeks became flushed.

"O-Oh... Your father and I are doing just fine."

This is good...She is frazzled. I can ride along with this.

I made a triumphant fist under the table.

"It would not be strange for me to have a few more siblings when you are still so young, Mother."

"Your father and I are doing well. He comes home earlier than usual nowadays, so it won't be long until...Are you trying to make this about me in order to avoid talking about yourself?"

The plan fell through...Darn it.

Mother is as sharp as she looks.

"Of course not. I am genuinely curious about whether I will receive a sibling soon enough."

"I have heard that you are attending the same academy as His Highness Prince Erik..."

She changed the topic?

"Yes..."

"...Are you still against meeting with him?"

"When I first came to this country, I was aware that he was here as well. I never thought that we would end up attending school together. It appears that I am not worth that much in his heart as he had completely forgotten my face. With the number of beauties that surround him, it is only natural for him to forget what his fiancée looks like," I said as I placed my cup down.

"If he does not work out, it is not the end of the world...Just replace another man," Mother said.

Mother likes to joke with a cold face apparently.

"Where on earth would I replace another suitor?"

"That young gentleman from earlier seems nice."

"That would be a problem," I replied immediately.

Why would it be a problem? Is it because this involves Garett?

"...Does he have a lover?"

"N-Not that I know of..."

"Is he not intelligent enough?"

"He is the top of his class."

"Does he not like the size of your bosom? It will grow eventually if you have my genes."

"Garett does not look at women in an lewd way!" I said as I suddenly raised my voice.

Mother did not mind my sudden outburst and stared deeply through me.

"Hm... His name is Garett?" she said as if she was confirming something.

"Yes?" I replied to her.

"You call him by his given name without honorifics... How close you two are," she said as if she were investigating me.

"Arielle? Sister Amalie!" Lady Bernadette's voice rang.

It was my aunt traveling around with several shopping bags.

Mother suddenly placed down some money onto the table and pulled me up by my hand.

"Mother?"

We suddenly began running out from the café and away from my aunt.

"Why are you running from me!" my aunt yelled.

"If we get near, you will take my Arielle away from me again!" Mother replied back to her.

Is Mother jealous? I had never seen her so desperate before.

It was almost too cute to believe...

We stopped at a nearby park. My mother released her hold over my hand as soon as she noticed that she was still holding onto me.

"Mother?"

"My apologies for dragging you along," she said as she turned her face away.

"I'm glad...this was the first time that you ever held my hand."

"...It was," she said as she turned towards me. "I am a failure as an adult...I got jealous of my own sister and dragged you here. I did not want her to take my time away from you. You are my precious daughter after all."

Mother is so lovable. I never knew that I had so many people that loved me.

Mother soon took me on a short shopping trip and bought me some ribbon hair ties for me before going back to the library.

I saw my father waiting for us right in front of the Exurbia Library on our way back.

"Take care," Father said as he pat my shoulder.

"Yes, Father."

My mother had her back turned towards me the whole time and never said a word.

"Stay in good health, Mother," I said as I made a light curtsy in her direction.

I was soon tackled by my mother and brought into her strong embrace. My father seemed unsurprised by her sudden action and only smiled in our direction. I returned her embrace with a light hug.

I soon felt that my feet dangling off of the ground.

"Arielle is coming home. That is final," Mother said as she lifted me over her shoulder.

"...Amalie, we talked about this," Father said.

"I will be lonely without her," she said firmly.

"I will spend more time with you after a few more business trips."

"I would like to spend some time with my daughter as well!"

"What about your husband? I will be lonely too if you spend so much time with Arielle!" Father said shamelessly.

My entire family is too embarrassing...¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶☐☐☐☐☐