A modest birthday party.
That phrase couldn’t be more fitting.
Due to the Blanc family’s difficult circumstances, the birthday banquet inevitably turned out to be rather meager. There were no expensive drinks or meats, just a casual tea party in the beautifully decorated garden. Fortunately, no one seemed to dislike the atmosphere.
“Tina, how do you like this dress? It just came out at the Lariyon clothing store this month! The moment I saw it, I thought of you.”
The young lady with small brown hair handed me the dress with bright eyes. I couldn’t recall her name, but I covered my mouth, pretending to be touched.
“Oh my… it’s so beautiful.”
“There’s no one who would wear this dress better than you, Tina! Please accept it.”
The brown-haired young lady carefully repackaged the dress into a box and handed it to me. I held the box close to my chest, stammering awkwardly.
“Thank you so much… I’ll cherish it.”
“Hehe, seeing you happy makes me glad too.”
She gently ruffled my hair with a satisfied expression. It seemed she cared for me more than I expected. I should remember to at least learn her name later.
‘…Still, another dress, huh.’
On the tea table behind us, gift boxes from other young ladies were piled high. However, among all those gifts, not a single one caught my fancy.
Trendy dresses, newly launched expensive chocolates, the prices were quite high, but such items often lose their value once the trend passes.
What I needed wasn’t the kind of dresses these girls would love but rather expensive items that maintain their value over time. I never liked those trumpet-shaped dresses in the first place.
“Tina, could you come over here?”
I turned my attention to the sweet voice calling me. Sharione and Versha were looking at me. When the influential ladies of high society nodded, someone behind me covered my eyes.
“Uh.”
In an instant, my vision went dark, and my body jolted, but I tried to maintain my composure and sat still. Before long, I heard some rustling sounds, and a heavy weight was felt on my hands.
“I prepared this for you, Tina.”
As Sharione’s words ended, the hand that covered my eyes withdrew, restoring my sight. Slowly glancing down, I saw different accessories laid out in each of my hands.
On my left hand, there was a silver earring. In the center, a pink jewel that I had never seen before was embedded.
“It’s a pink diamond. It was quite difficult to get since there weren’t many available, but I pulled some strings thinking of you, Tina.”
“…It’s truly beautiful.”
Versha smiled brightly as she gently patted my head. While I stared blankly at the pink diamond, Sharione cleared her throat to draw everyone’s attention.
“Would you look at the gift I gave you too, Tina?”
I glanced at my right hand. There was a simple headband. While the shape was ordinary, the jewels embedded in it looked anything but average.
“Of course, the rarity of the pink diamond is higher, but mine is definitely more extravagant.”
As she said, the headband adorned with jewels that each emitted different brilliant hues gave off a sense of luxury that felt almost excessive.
I looked at them with slightly dull eyes. It was as if they were anticipating what I would say, shaking their heads firmly.
“I won’t listen to you say no, Tina.”
“You should graciously accept what our lady gives you.”
Receiving the affectionate gazes from them, I hung my head and muttered for a while. Slowly closing my eyes and waiting a moment, a single clear tear welled up at my eyes.
“Really… thank you…”
I raised my head and smiled before my tears dried. It was a complicated smile, neither too sad nor too bright. But perhaps they liked such a smile, as they looked back at me with warm smiles.
I slowly approached them and sat on Sharione’s lap. Then, I opened my arms toward Versha, gazing at her desperately. Versha looked at me with trembling eyes, then came over and hugged me tightly.
“I… I don’t know if I deserve to receive gifts like this… I’m happy just to have the love of my lady…”
At my subdued voice, both Sharione and Versha looked at me simultaneously and spoke.
“This is the affection of a noble, Tina.”
“Yes, compared to the happiness you usually bring us, this is merely a natural return.”
I buried my face in Versha’s shoulder and said nothing. Sharione and Versha chuckled softly, patting my head and back.
Just as I expected, something good was bound to happen. I buried my face in their warmth and secretly smiled.
“Can I join in, ladies?”
A sharp voice that sounded irritated pierced through the pleasant atmosphere. Blood-red eyes, looking as if dripping with crimson, gazed at me with narrow slits.
“Oh my, Mardian. Are you feeling jealous?”
Versha chuckled as she let go of me. Sharione also ruffled my hair one last time before returning to her spot with a satisfied expression.
For some reason, Mardian looked at me with unsettlingly bright blood-red eyes for a while before she extended one of her hands. I instinctively stepped forward and placed my hand on top of hers. Only then did Mardian smile with satisfaction and stroke my hair.
“Tina, the gift I prepared is a bit too big to give here.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve kept it ready in the carriage, so I’ll give it to you after the party.”
I blinked my eyes in confusion. My heart raced with excitement at Mardian’s words. What kind of huge gift could it possibly be that she couldn’t give it to me here?
“…Isn’t that a bit too much, Mardian?”
“It would be troublesome if you rush ahead like that.”
With a hint of annoyance in Sharione’s and Versha’s voices, Mardian wore a faint smile and gently ruffled my hair one last time.
“What can’t I do for my beloved young lady?”
Today, Mardian seemed even more dazzling than usual. Her sharp eyes, always appearing like a villainess, looked infinitely beautiful.
“M-Mardian…”
“Hehe… save your thanks for later.”
Who called Mardian a twisted villainess? How can one call her a villain when she possessed such a caring heart for others? Mardian was an angel.
“Oh, by the way, have you heard the news?”
After that, starting with one young lady’s words, the topic of conversation changed in an instant. Various trivial stories were exchanged, but all that occupied my mind was what Mardian had prepared as a gift.
What could the gift from Mardian be? A gigantic jewel? Or perhaps enough gold coins to last a lifetime?
The endless curiosity felt like it would soon find an answer. As various tales flew between the young ladies, the light of the sun softened, signaling an early evening that indicated it was time to head home.
“Happy birthday, Tina.”
“See you again next time.”
With warm words from Versha and Sharione, the young ladies began to return to the mansion one by one. The once lively garden fell into silence, leaving behind only the many dishes on the table and Mardian’s red eyes gazing at me affectionately.
Mardian elegantly took a sip from her teacup, a captivating smile playing on her lips as she extended her hand to me.
“Tina, let’s go get your gift.”
“Mardian, you really don’t have to give me a gift.”
“Don’t say such things. Just follow me.”
Mardian stood up and extended her hand to me. I suppressed the racing heart with excitement, holding onto her hand with my eyes slightly narrowed.
As I held Mardian’s hand and stepped out of the mansion’s front door, a splendidly luxurious carriage awaited. One coachman and four horses stood with the carriage, which was undeniably of remarkable size. Following Mardian into the carriage, I was once again left in awe.
‘Is there a bed inside the carriage…?’
The inside was so vast that I could hardly tell if it was a carriage or a bedroom. It radiated an elegance reminiscent of a first-class flight in Korea. While it wasn’t as splendid as the carriage Viviana had sent, this one looked like it could be ridden all day.
But perhaps it was because Mardian was there. The bed placed in the center gave me an ominous feeling.
“Tina, would you like to see the gift I prepared?”
But that unease quickly melted away at the word “gift.” Turning my head with excitement, I saw a box resting on Mardian’s lap, where she sat perched on the bed.
‘…What’s this? It doesn’t look that big?’
The brief disappointment I felt vanished as soon as the lid of the box opened. I found myself blinking in astonishment for a while. Inside the box were jewels that emitted a variety of brilliant colors. I didn’t have specialized knowledge about gems, but even I instinctively understood.
All those gems were genuine.
And extremely valuable at that.
“Ma-Mardian? This is…?”
“It’s a small token for my beloved pet. I heard your family is in debt, so if you want, you can sell them to settle the debts.”
An unexpected statement from Mardian made me feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me. I had planned to sell all the gems anyway, but I didn’t expect that to come directly from Mardian’s mouth.
If that’s the case… it means I can sell these gems right away, unlike those hidden in the wardrobe. This much worth in gems would definitely help my mother a great deal. Perhaps we could even pay off all remaining debts.
*gulp*
Unknowingly, I swallowed hard. The dazzling colors of the gems nearly made my mind spin, but I managed to keep my sanity intact.
“Mardian… I can’t accept this… I really can’t.”
I uttered words that didn’t reflect my true feelings. Mardian stroked my head and laid the jewelry box on my lap.
“Accept it. I might have used some family funds, but I got permission from my father for all of this.”
*thump-thump*
My heart raced heavily. If I sold this, my mother could finally stop working all night. That means my dream of living an easy life was right around the corner.
Stay calm. Such a large gift should be declined at least twice.
“Mardian, receiving something like this makes me uncomfortable. Your affection is more than enough for me…?”
“I know you aren’t greedy. But think of your mother who is struggling in the family business and accept it.”
This settled it.
Mardian was not a villainess.
She was an angel.
An irreplaceable angel.
And… an irreplaceable fool.
*snicker*
“Mardian…”
I uttered those words in a sorrowful tone as I hugged Mardian. She hugged me tightly and gently patted my back.
“Tina, I can give you much more than this if it’s for you.”
At Mardian’s intense words, I buried my face in her shoulder, unable to contain my smile any longer.
I never knew that such a foolish temperament existed in the villainous Mardian.
‘I chose well, leaving Viviana and going with Mardian.’
If I had chosen Viviana, I surely wouldn’t have received such jewels. Unlike the unnecessarily cunning Viviana, Mardian was the perfect owner.
“Tina, I really cherish and love you. You feel the same, right?”
Without hesitation, I answered Mardian’s question.
“Yes…! You are the most precious to me in the world, Mardian!”
Just look at how happy those words made her. After all, even a villainess cannot go against human instinct.
“Yes, from now on, I’ll replace jewels like these every single day.”
“No, Mardian… I’ve already received too much.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Mardian finished her words, enveloping me tightly in her glowing red-eyed embrace.
“From today on, you will belong to me.”
“…”
“Excuse me? What do you mean—”
*thud!*
“Ugh?!”
A piercing pain shot through me, making my body jolt. I let out a noise I didn’t even want to. I wanted to push Mardian away, but I was too weak to shake off her grip.
In the end, all I could do was shift my gaze in the direction where I felt the pain.
My white arm. There, without any apparent cause, a syringe was stuck. And within that syringe, a horrifyingly ominous pink liquid was swirling.
“…Huh?”
