How long has it been since I lay on this bed?
A terrible lethargy envelops my body. The excessively large bed only amplifies my sense of loneliness. I wanted to at least doze off, but even when I closed my eyes, my consciousness merely floated on the surface of sleep.
“…This is annoying.”
You definitely said you were enchanted by me, so why are you paying attention to someone else right in front of me? What could be so great about a blunt girl like Iris that you leave me all alone?
Liar.
I never thought you’d be such a fickle person, Viviana.
What a disappointment.
If she was really like this…
“…Then you shouldn’t have bothered in the first place.”
A weak voice escaped me. Lacking the strength to move, I buried my face in the pillow for a while, trying to suppress the pounding of my heart.
As loneliness grew, it felt like tears would spill, but I forced a bright smile and jumped up from the bed.
“…No? This is actually a good thing.”
I quickly rushed to the mirror. A pretty girl reflected back at me. As I reached out, the girl in the mirror mirrored my actions. When our white hands touched the thin surface of the mirror, it felt somewhat comforting, as if I wasn’t alone at all.
“After all, Viviana was just a source of money, wasn’t she?”
And a massive fool too.
Who else would stake their family’s name to support someone for life just because they’re willing to play the role of a pet?
What a fool, a complete fool.
Thinking back, getting close to someone who can’t even calculate such gains was only going to hurt me, wasn’t it?
I really shouldn’t be this gloomy. After all, I thought of Viviana as nothing more than a waterer, neither more nor less, so what’s the point in acting so pathetic?
If Viviana isn’t concerned about me, then I shouldn’t worry about her either.
I’ll just endure the remaining time in this mansion until my contract of three years is up, appeasing her adequately during that time.
“…So do I have to be alone for that long?”
I… don’t want to be lonely.
For just a moment, the eyes of the girl reflecting in the mirror seemed to shake. I quickly shook my head and forced a smile at the corners of my mouth.
The confinement won’t last more than three weeks at most. Of course, I’ll still have to play the role of Viviana’s pet for three full years… but at least after three weeks, I can go back home.
Then, I’ll be able to receive all the love from my mother. She will love me no matter what happens.
Of course, that love isn’t directed at me… but still, it’s love…
I can surely feel that affection. It will be a hundred or even a thousand times happier than being in a place with someone like Viviana.
And if I get really lonely, I can always return to High Society. Then, I’d be surrounded by lovely young ladies and be showered with love and gifts again.
So, it seems Viviana is actually unnecessary.
Knock, knock—
“I’m back, Tina.”
“…”
They say if you talk about a tiger, it will come; just like that, Viviana opened the door and walked in. My heart sank coldly when our eyes met.
“Tina?”
At her call, I gave her a bright smile.
“Have you arrived, Princess?”
“…Yeah.”
Viviana looked at me with a strange gaze before slowly taking off her coat and hanging it on the rack. Yesterday, she didn’t even take off her coat before heading straight to her room, so I wondered what had changed today.
“Oh, do you plan to stay here?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“No, it’s just that you usually just say a few words and leave quickly. I thought you’d do the same today.”
As I said this with a cheerful smile, Viviana seemed slightly taken aback.
“Tina, is something bothering you?”
“Me? What?”
“Yeah.”
Is she really asking that out of genuine curiosity?
How can she be so brazen? But it’s fine. I’ve decided to take no interest in Viviana from now on.
“No, nothing like that.”
Just this morning, I was pondering whether to let her touch my derrière, but now I’d rather die than let that happen. Tough luck, Viviana.
“Really? Then excuse me for a moment.”
With that, Viviana strutted over to me.
“Wait—why are you coming closer… eek?!”
In an instant, Viviana scooped me up into a princess carry. She walked toward the bed and laid me back down before following suit herself.
As her arms wrapped around my waist, I ended up in a strange position receiving a back hug from Viviana. While I blinked in shock at the unexpected situation, Viviana buried her face in my shoulder and took a deep breath.
“Being a pet really is nice. It’s quite invigorating, you know?”
“…”
“But, did you put on some perfume? It smells really nice.”
“…I didn’t.”
“Huh? Then is this your natural scent?”
I blankly stared at the hands of Viviana that were wrapped around my waist. I had been indifferent for several days, so I couldn’t grasp why she was suddenly acting this way today.
Could she be trying to toy with me?
“…I’m uncomfortable, Lady Viviana.”
My voice came out significantly subdued. At that, Viviana lifted her head from my shoulder and pulled me even closer to her.
“Is it the position that’s uncomfortable?”
“…Yeah.”
“Endure it. You’re my pet, remember?”
I felt a wave of irritation at her forceful voice. She had pushed me away while giving Iris sweet gazes, yet now she was acting this way.
Does she just see me as a fatigue remedy?
How selfish.
“…Well, what can I do about it?”
But I had no right to rebel. She was in a position of power, and I was merely a subordinate. The only thing I could do was respond in a somewhat irritated tone.
Not long after I was forced to endure, Viviana sighed and broke the awkward silence.
“Sorry, Tina. I’ve left you feeling lonely a lot recently, haven’t I?”
“What?”
I was taken aback by her sudden apology and looked up, surprised.
“I’ve had a lot going on. I need to get ready for winter and find supplies to send to the soldiers on the front lines.”
“…”
“I think I’ll have some time now, so I can focus on you.”
“…Hmm, considering that, you seemed pretty close with Iris. Shouldn’t you be worried about her too?”
As soon as the words left my mouth, a wave of regret washed over me. There was no need for me to speak in such a mocking tone.
Moreover, getting upset in this situation wouldn’t benefit me at all. I would have never said such a thing normally. But with spilled milk, I couldn’t take back the words I had already said.
Viviana looked at me, momentarily surprised. It was uncomfortable to meet her amethyst eyes directly, but I didn’t look away, suppressing my emotions as I forced a smile.
“Don’t mind what I said.”
“No, Tina… Are you talking about this morning with Iris?”
“No, I just misspoke. Don’t mind it.”
“…”
Viviana hesitated for a moment, chewing her lips before grabbing my hand gently, as if she had made a decision.
“…Tina, actually, I was just talking about you.”
“What?”
Huh? About me?
I was puzzled and furrowed my brows.
“I’ve been busy. So I couldn’t visit you directly, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about you.”
Viviana scratched her head bashfully and continued.
“I asked Iris various things. Like if you were eating well, if you were sick, if you needed anything.”
“…What?”
“Of course! You’re my precious pet, there’s no way I’d just neglect you.”
Viviana stared at me intensely for quite a while. Her amethyst eyes were no longer cold like before, but were radiating a warm flame directed at me.
…Could this really be true?
I thought her feelings toward me had cooled…
Did I just completely misunderstand?
She told me to leave earlier, didn’t she?
“Tina, did you perhaps think I turned my heart to Iris because I abandoned you?”
“…Wasn’t that the case?”
“Tina, that could never happen.”
…What does that mean? Was she so concerned about me that she was always thinking about it?
And that’s why her gaze toward Iris was filled with affection?
So, does that mean… her feelings for me haven’t changed?
Did I genuinely misunderstand?
…Really?
“Hehe.”
My lips, which had been stiff, slowly began to smile. My heart no longer throbbed painfully; instead, a strange pleasure spread throughout my body.
Oh, I see, just as I anticipated. Viviana, you’ve completely fallen for me, haven’t you?
I was on the verge of making a terrible misunderstanding back there.
I need to be more careful from now on.
“Sorry, did I make you feel slighted?”
Viviana said in a warm voice while gently patting my head. I felt my heart warming a little more and lifted my head to look at her.
She really was a pretty girl upon a second glance. Even lying down, she maintained such a perfect look. While I thought Iris was beautiful, it made sense why Viviana was the protagonist.
Just a moment ago, I thought of her as a fool to use, but now I felt she was someone I could consider a bit better.
So perhaps I can give her a special treatment, right? I cautiously wiggled my fingers and turned my body. The position of lying face-to-face with Viviana made me feel shy.
“I-I guess you can touch me.”
“Huh?”
Viviana tilted her head in confusion. I couldn’t bring myself to meet her gaze, so I turned back again while wiggling my fingers.
“Uh, y-you can touch my… my behind… a little…”
