Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 14: Unhidden Feelings

Chapter 14: Unhidden Feelings

《Maria’s POV》

Lord Cerios, our master, had successfully eradicated the large bandit gang, and now the day of his departure for the academy was fast approaching.

The estate carried an air of restlessness, a quiet unease settling over everyone.

As I watched Liese and Faina making the final preparations for his luggage by his side, I couldn’t suppress the emotions bubbling up within me.

“How envious…”

I muttered softly, embarrassed by my own words. Yet, I couldn’t entirely deny the feeling.

Liese is my precious daughter.

Since the day Lord Cerios saved our lives, my daughter and I have lived in this estate under his protection. Liese, once frail and thin, has blossomed into a beautiful young lady, almost unrecognizable from the girl she used to be.

Now, I often see her laughing happily by Lord Cerios’s side. It fills me with immense joy—but also a pang of jealousy.

Faina, too, has been a dedicated maid, supporting Lord Cerios tirelessly. She treated us with kindness from the moment we arrived and welcomed us into this household.

And now, these two young women stand by his side, sharing smiles and a world I am no longer part of.

I understand their position and feelings all too well.

Yet, when it was decided that they would accompany Lord Cerios to the academy, I couldn’t help but feel as though a hole had opened in my heart.

They are my daughter and a trusted maid.

As companions to Lord Cerios, they will walk new paths together, supporting him as they always have.

Meanwhile, I will remain here at the estate, left behind with nothing to do but wait for Lord Cerios’s return.

“What am I really seeking…?”

That question lingered in my mind.

At first, I only wanted to ease the loneliness Lord Cerios carried.

As a mother, I wished to support his happiness.

I truly believed that. But as I watched the strong, capable man he had become, I could no longer deny the deeper feelings growing within me.

♢

After dinner, I walked through the now-quiet halls of the estate and noticed the warm light spilling from Lord Cerios’s room.

He was still awake. Without thinking, I approached his door, my footsteps soft, and found myself knocking.

“Come in.”

Hearing his voice, I opened the door. Lord Cerios, seated at his desk, glanced toward me.

The soft glow of the lamp cast a gentle light over his features.

“Maria? What brings you here at this hour?”

His question made my heart flutter slightly. I hesitated, unsure how to begin, but retreating wasn’t an option now.

“Lord Cerios… may I speak with you for a moment?”

“Of course.”

He neatly gathered his documents and pulled out a chair, gesturing for me to sit.

I took the seat across from him, taking a moment to organize my thoughts before speaking.

“You’ll be going to the academy with Liese and Faina, won’t you?”

“Yes. They’re close in age, and I believe the academy will be a valuable experience for them. I have high hopes for both of them.”

Seeing Lord Cerios smile brought a small ache to my heart. His bright future should have filled me with joy, so why did it feel like my chest was tightening so painfully?

“…I feel a little envious.”

“Envious?”

I couldn’t help but admit softly, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise. His reaction brought a smile to my lips despite myself.

“Yes. Liese and Faina get to share a new chapter of life with you, in a new place. I think that’s such a wonderful thing.”

Lord Cerios listened quietly, his gentle attention giving me the courage to continue. His kindness filled my heart, and the words flowed naturally.

“I can only wait here. I know that’s my role, but… somewhere along the way, while telling myself I was here to support you, I realized I was the one relying on you.”

I confessed what had been in my heart, guided by the soft understanding in his eyes.

“Just for tonight… would you let me sleep by your side? Think of it as a mother comforting her child.”

“That won’t be possible.”

“What? Of course… it must sound repulsive.”

What was I thinking, asking something so absurd? Someone like me had no right to lean on someone as young and bright as Lord Cerios.

“May I speak honestly?”

“Huh?”

“Maria, you’re an incredibly attractive woman. If we were to share a bed, I wouldn’t be able to control myself.”

“…”

For a moment, I couldn’t comprehend what he had just said.

That I’m attractive as a woman? Me? Someone older than him? That he wouldn’t be able to control himself if we slept together? As the meaning of his words sank in, I felt my face growing hot.

Not even my late husband had ever said such words to me.

He passed away shortly after Liese was born. For over ten years, I had not been intimate with anyone.

At that moment, I felt like an inexperienced girl again. My heart warmed, and despite myself, I couldn’t help but feel… happy.

“I don’t mean to sound childish. But… I, too, want to feel your warmth, just once. Could you give me a memory to hold onto?”

Even as heat rose to my face, I kept my eyes locked on his, refusing to look away.

A brief silence followed as he absorbed the meaning of my words. Then, after a few moments, he sighed softly and smiled gently.

“Alright, Maria. Just for tonight. Will you be my first?”

His words filled my chest with warmth.

Before being a mother who gave birth to a daughter, I am a woman. Lord Cerios saved my life, provided for me, and somewhere along the way, I must have fallen in love with him.

That night, I shared his bed, and together, we drifted into a peaceful sleep.

“Excuse me, Lord Cerios.”

I sat down beside him and pulled the blanket over myself. Just being close to him brought an inexplicable sense of fulfillment to my heart.

“Maria.”

“…Lord Cerios.”

Resting my head on his strong, well-formed arm, I closed my eyes.

“Even Maria deserves to rely on someone sometimes.”

His words sank deeply into my heart. The worries and loneliness I had carried for so long seemed to dissolve with that single sentence.

“…Thank you, Lord Cerios.”

I closed my eyes gently, feeling a peace I had never known before, simply lying beside him.

When morning came and I awoke, I realized just how precious this time by his side truly was. Before Lord Cerios could stir, I quietly slipped out of bed.

This memory will surely sustain me even after Lord Cerios leaves for the academy.

“Please stay safe, Lord Cerios. And may you share your kindness with many others.”

With that silent prayer in my heart, I began preparing for the morning, ready to send him off.