Viviana’s palm was delicate and soft, but the medicine at its tip was rather stingy.
“Ouch… Princess, please be gentle….”
“….”
“Ugh! It hurts…”
“Young Lady, must you make such a noise?”
“Yes…? But it hurts….”
“…I see.”
Viviana narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath before applying the medicine again below my waist. The emotionless expression she had previously maintained was now showing signs of wavering.
…Does she really dislike it that much?
I told her all the way through that it wasn’t necessary. After all, she was the one insisting I lift my skirt. So why the uncomfortable expression now?
I was lying on her lap, using Viviana’s cloak as a mat. She was slowly lifting my skirt and carefully applying the medicine.
It was quite an embarrassing position, but with the pain being too severe in any other position, there was no other option. Since this was a relationship I would likely only have once today, I could endure the humiliation. Fortunately, Viviana was applying the medicine with surprisingly gentle hands, unlike her usual personality.
“Are you that pet Young Lady of yours?”
She asked while applying the medicine. Few people would call me that from the first meeting, given the nickname’s connotation. It seemed our protagonist didn’t care about such things.
“…Yes. But why do you ask?”
“I was curious. Is it okay for someone to refer to you as a pet?”
What a rude yet seemingly innocent question. While it felt like a concern for me, on the other hand, it sounded sarcastic, as if asking if I had no pride.
This is pointless, Viviana.
I’ve dealt with countless thorny words and gazes already. As always, I responded to her with a bright smile.
“What’s wrong with it? It means you think I’m pretty.”
“Then you must be seen as a pretty ‘animal.’”
“I’d prefer that to being looked at as the daughter of a declining family.”
“…Indeed.”
Viviana raised one eyebrow slightly, nodding as if she understood something. While she continued applying the remaining medicine to my backside, a playful smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.
“Still, wouldn’t it be better to be careful? Acting so naively, what if you end up with ‘this’ kind of wound again?”
Her voice was quite playful.
Hmm, is she teasing me?
Given Viviana’s personality, I assumed she would avoid talking to someone for too long out of boredom, but it seemed the title of “pet Young Lady” piqued her interest quite a bit.
I had no intention of trying to win Viviana over, but habits are truly frightening. Without realizing, I flashed a warm smile and spouted flattery that had been ingrained in me over the year.
“Of course, but thanks to that, I also get to receive Princess Viviana’s care, right? I can’t tell you how happy I am right now.”
“….”
No response came back.
Strange.
Normally, one would offer a gesture of being touched or at least display a smile by now, right? But what I received from Viviana wasn’t laughter or a grateful expression, but a sharp sting instead.
“Yikes?!”
The stinging pain on my backside caused a high-pitched voice to escape my lips. Looking at Viviana in shock, she stared blankly at her palm and mumbled softly.
“…Did I lose my mind?”
“Y-yes…?”
“No, I’m sorry, Young Lady.”
What the heck was that?
I felt confused by Viviana’s ambiguous attitude, but all I could do was nod with a smile on my face.
“Where did you learn to smile like that, Young Lady?”
“Uh, uh, is it strange?”
“…No, it looks dangerous.”
“Yes?”
I had no idea what was considered dangerous, so I asked her again, but Viviana remained silent. An awkward silence enveloped us once more.
“I’m done applying it. Can you stand up?”
“Ah, yes….”
Viviana lowered my skirt again and carefully helped me to my feet. As I moved my legs, a stinging pain shot through my lower body, but it was much better than before. That premium ointment really seemed to work wonders.
“Thank you for your kindness, Viviana.”
Viviana stared at me intently before putting on a blank smile and extending her hand toward me.
“I’ll guide you to the hall.”
“What? No, it’s fine. I’ll return by myself. Please go ahead, Viviana.”
Viviana was the most noble lady, second only to the princess in this Empire. If I attended the banquet with her, I couldn’t predict what kind of stir it might cause. While I needed the affection of my sponsors to support my life, unnecessary attention was something I wanted to avoid.
“It’ll be chilly at night, won’t it? Let’s go together, Young Lady.”
“I like to walk in the cold. I’ll take a little stroll and go in; you go ahead, Princess.”
“….”
Is it just my imagination? It felt like Viviana’s expression, which had been stoic, was slightly frowning. Did the daughter of a declining baron insult her by refusing her offer?
…No way.
Viviana had an arrogant personality, but she wasn’t discriminatory. At the very least, she wouldn’t look down on someone because of their status.
“Alright then. It was nice meeting you, ‘pet Young Lady.’ You really do follow someone else’s lead obediently, just as the rumors say.”
Viviana emphasized the words “pet Young Lady” with a mocking tone. With a mischievous smile, she seemed intent on provoking for some reason, but I simply maintained my bright smile.
“Thank you for seeing me positively. I was honored to spend time with someone as great as you, Princess.”
“…I see. Well then.”
It wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for; Viviana shot me a cold glare before turning her head and walking toward the garden. I kept my smile until she vanished from my sight completely. After waiting alone for a long time, finally left alone, I let out a deep sigh.
Looking up at the sky, all I could see was the thick darkness of the late night settling in. It was gradually becoming time for me to return home.
“…This banquet is a bust.”
I was hoping to receive at least one jewel.
*sigh*
Well, it can’t be helped.
*
The mansion of the great Duchy of Merdellia.
As Viviana opened the grand entrance of the massive mansion, numerous servants bowed their heads and welcomed her.
“Welcome back, Princess.”
An elegant elderly man stepped forward and bowed respectfully. Viviana naturally removed her coat and handed it to him as she walked toward her office.
“Indeed, banquets are tiresome and bothersome.”
“Did you have a good conversation with the Princess?”
“Yes, she definitely sided with us. I don’t think we’ll have to worry.”
Since things were proceeding according to her plans, she would soon gain the Imperial Family’s active support. If that happened, the Duchy of Merdellia would wield even greater power.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
The elderly man expressed his respect with a satisfied smile on his face. As soon as Viviana arrived at her office, she sat in a chair and took a cigarette in hand.
Amid the white smoke streaming from her lips, the man named Alphonse asked with curiosity glimmering in his eyes.
“How was the banquet? Did the information I provided help you?”
“All wrong, Alphonse. I heard that the trend for white chocolate is long past; now, dark chocolate is in vogue.”
Alphonse’s face turned color with a sense of loss upon realizing that his information was incorrect.
“That can’t be… I’m sure it was fresh information I’d gotten recently.”
“The trending colors weren’t pink, but pink-violet pink. Thanks to that, you’ve become a lady behind the trends?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Viviana wore a smirking smile as she took another drag on her cigarette. As she exhaled the white smoke, the image of her cottony white hair glowing in the night came to mind.
“Oh, and I met the pet Young Lady.”
“Oh, really?”
“She was as lovely and obedient as the rumors say. Of course, whether she’s genuinely like that or just putting on an act remains to be seen.”
“Haha, if she is acting, then she must be quite the formidable Young Lady.”
That’s likely true.
No matter how excellent the act, without authenticity, one cannot move people’s hearts. A fake relationship formed for mutual benefits can be established, but nothing greater can be achieved.
However, that lady was the daughter of a renowned Count and the endlessly sharp queen of high society. Just by being charming, she managed to win over everyone and had them willingly provide her benefits.
If all her actions were an act, then it would mean she truly possessed the power to move hearts.
That was a power akin to hypnosis.
‘Well, it’s nothing much…’
But it was simply just that.
Nothing worth worrying about.
To begin with, I had approached her out of curiosity about the dissonance of the term “pet Young Lady.” After talking to her a few times, it wouldn’t be strange for such a nickname to arise since she truly was charming. But what did it have to do with me?
Now that my curiosity was satisfied, there was no reason to concern myself with her. When we meet again, a brief greeting would suffice.
“Were there any other matters?”
“Oh, and she was quite plump.”
“…Huh? Plump?”
I repeatedly clenched my hand, recalling the memory that came to mind. The red wound on the white snowy field had appeared rather picturesque.
Her backside was as white and plump as a rice cake.
I wondered what it would taste like if I took a bite.
