A serene hush enveloped the surroundings.
For a while, Viviana seemed at a loss for words in response to my logic. I felt a sense of victory in her silence.
Well, of course, she wouldn’t have anything to say.
How common could it be to find someone with a twisted personality like Mardian’s? Someone as innocent as Sharione wouldn’t try to assault me, so Viviana’s worries were unfounded.
It was a proud moment to have claimed victory over Viviana. However, while I basked in the aftermath of my win, Viviana was gazing at me with cold, unfeeling eyes.
“So, you intend to keep fawning over the young ladies, huh?”
Her voice was as cold as ice, making me instinctively shrink back. What had I said to upset her this time? She was truly an unpredictable person.
“I will. To you, it might seem like flattery, but for me, it’s a means of survival.”
“…How much can you really earn by selling smiles?”
“Do you have any idea how much I’ve received from the young ladies? If you did, you wouldn’t say such things.”
Trying to ease the frigid atmosphere, I tossed out a light joke, but Viviana’s expression hardened even further. I was flustered, utterly at a loss for her mood.
Did she really not understand my way of life? From her perspective, having spent her whole life dutifully in the Duke’s family, it made sense that she couldn’t fathom someone like me.
I wanted to dissolve the chilling atmosphere, and unconsciously, I forced a hollow smile as I spoke.
“Sure, it’s great to live sincerely like you, Viviana, but my way is pretty comfortable too. Just by smiling like this, people give me expensive gifts.”
Yet Viviana remained as unyielding as ever. Was it my pretense that was troubling her, or was it her inability to accept my way of living? Her face grew even colder.
“Viviana…?”
“Enough.”
Her voice, devoid of any emotion, sent shivers down my spine. There was no longer any fondness in Viviana’s amethyst eyes.
“Do as you wish. It doesn’t seem to concern me anymore.”
“W-What…?”
With that parting remark, Viviana turned her back on me without a second glance. Seeing her cold silhouette brought back memories I wished to forget.
My heart sank. My breath became quickened. I forced a smile and reached out with trembling hands.
“Viv, Viviana…? Where are you going…?”
“I’m going back to the Duke’s residence. There are mountains of work to do.”
“Y-Yes…?”
“Tch. I think I’ve only wasted my time here.”
Viviana’s cold words shattered the mask I’d been wearing. I hurriedly covered my face with both hands. Luckily, Viviana didn’t look back. If she had seen my bare face, she would have surely scorned me.
Lifeless eyes.
A hunched figure.
A mouth that trembled incessantly.
I couldn’t show Viviana that deadpan expression, the kind my mother used to wear, which she loathed and hit every day.
“I-I see. If the princess is busy, then it can’t be helped…”
“….”
An empty feeling washed over me. I felt as though I could collapse at any moment, breathless, but I managed to squeeze my voice out, trying to sound as usual.
“I hope we can meet again next time.”
“….”
I couldn’t even remember what I had said. Viviana offered no reply. Once I lowered my hand, she was already fading away.
Left alone in the garden, I stared vacantly at the spot where Viviana had stood and muttered.
“…Why?”
According to Viviana…
I had just shed my pretense and treated her sincerely…
Why would she leave me?
“…I see.”
So, even you…
Are disgusted by my true self.
What was this? If it was going to be like this, I might as well have acted artificially from the start. If I had done that, I wouldn’t be feeling this forsaken again.
In the end, my mother from my past life was right.
Someone like me—
“Hah, this is driving me crazy.”
Suddenly, a childlike voice rang out, and my body was snatched up into the air.
“Huh?!”
I was startled by the sudden turn of events, and my heart raced. Looking down with trembling eyes, I met Viviana’s amethyst gaze as she held me in a princess carry.
“Viv, Viviana…?”
What the—didn’t she just leave?
When did she come back again?
“I’m not the type to waver back and forth, really…”
Viviana furrowed one eyebrow as she muttered to herself. I steadied my racing heart and looked at her.
“Why, why did you come back…? You said there was work to do at the mansion…”
“You keep getting in my head.”
“M-Me…?”
What did I do wrong this time?
Why was it always my fault?
“I can’t have this. I’m not going to let myself be swayed like this.”
Viviana lifted me even higher. Now at her eye level, her breath tickled my cheek.
“Tina Blanc, do you know? I’ve already got everything I wanted until now. The sharpest sword in the world, the most beautiful jewels.”
“Uh… yes, that’s impressive…”
Viviana frowned slightly. It seemed my response didn’t please her. But she soon smiled down at me.
“Yeah, that’s the way of Merdellia. If I want something, I must have it, or I won’t feel right.”
“…What are you saying?”
“Congratulations. Just like you wanted, you managed to seduce me.”
Viviana’s sudden declaration left me wide-eyed. I seduced her? No way! Unlike the other young ladies, I hadn’t flattered her, showing only my awkward, unpretentious self… What on earth had I captivated her with?
“It’s a no-no for young ladies. Once I decide I want something, there’s no escape.”
“W-What do you mean, Viviana…?”
“Tina Blanc.”
Viviana solemnly called my name. Her serious demeanor left me speechless.
“From today on, you won’t be a toy of high society anymore but rather my pet.”
“…What?”
“If I hadn’t saved you, you’d probably have been a slave to Mardian, soaked in drugs, right? You’d be better off as my pet.”
The proposal was astonishingly shocking. Honestly, becoming someone’s pet didn’t alone bother me. After all, I was already treated like a toy by many young ladies in high society. If Viviana wanted that, I was willing to be her pet.
But I had no intention of accepting it blindly.
“So what will you do for me, Viviana?”
“What?”
“Does saying you’ll keep me all to yourself mean that you’ll give me all the gifts and affections other young ladies give me?”
If she wanted me to forfeit the affections of the other young ladies, she’d need to provide me with a suitable compensation. The value of the gifts I had received from flattering them was no small matter; I couldn’t just give that up easily.
“Hah. How honest, young lady. Quite greedy, huh?”
“I decided to treat you genuinely, Viviana.”
“Puhah… I like that.”
Viviana smiled faintly. Seeing her smile at me after such a long time slightly lifted my spirits.
“I’ll pay off all the debts of the Blanc family.”
“…Huh?”
I blinked in shock at the unexpected statement. Did she know how much the Blanc family owed? How could she so casually declare that? Even if my mother had worked herself to the bone to reduce half of it, the remaining half would still be an exorbitant amount.
“How much do you think the debt is?”
“Tina, young lady, have you forgotten who I am?”
At her confident declaration, I had no rebuttal. Viviana continued with an even brighter smile.
“And, if I determine that the Blanc family’s business has potential, I’ll generously support it. From what I saw last time, your mother seems quite capable.”
My mouth dropped open.
Viviana’s backing! Regardless of whether it’s a marquis or a count family, there would be countless households willing to step up if they could receive support from the Duke of Merdellia.
I wasn’t foolish enough to not understand how significant this was. However, the larger the benefit, the more I had to question what the price would be.
“So what do I have to give in return?”
“As I said, just be my pet young lady. I’d prefer a formal contract since I’m not fond of empty relationships.”
“A contract?”
“Yeah. Tina Blanc, a contract that binds you to please your master as my pet.”
A contract? I felt a bit unsettled.
“What’s your answer?”
“…”
“Think carefully. This is the only time I’ll ask.”
But… this temptation was simply too great to pass up. The very hand of salvation to pull my mother out of her debt was right before me; how could I let this opportunity slide?
My mother wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. No matter how many gems the other young ladies brought, such a benefit wouldn’t be easy to obtain. This was an opportunity I absolutely couldn’t miss.
In the end, after pondering in Viviana’s embrace for a while, I made up my mind and nodded.
“…Alright. You have to keep your promise.”
“Fufufu… I promise.”
“I’ll read the contract carefully, and if there’s anything strange, it’s null and void.”
“Sure, do as you please.”
Viviana patted my head with a beautiful smile. In the blink of an eye, I had gone from being a pet in high society to being owned by Viviana personally, but it didn’t bother me much. The fact that I could finally pay off my mother’s debts was too joyous.
“Then let’s head back to my mansion right away.”
But the joy was short-lived. Struck by an unexpected statement, I blinked in confusion.
“Huh? Viviana’s mansion?”
“You’ve become my pet, haven’t you?”
Viviana wore a playful yet enchanting smile. It was a familiar one. Having played the game countless times, I understood exactly what that smile meant.
“I can’t stand to see my pet flirting with others.”
That smile of Viviana’s meant she was very pleased with the current situation.
“For a month, you’ll be locked in your room, my pet young lady.”
“…What?”
“I’ll make sure you have everything you need to survive, so don’t worry.”
The contrast between her noble smile and the terror I was feeling left me clueless as to what expression was on my face.
…Locked up?
