“Respect you?”
“Yes. I truly respect you, Mardian.”
Her blood-red eyes shook like never before. Of course, it was only natural for her to be flustered. After all, saying she respects me while knowing I run an illegal gambling den must be utterly baffling from her perspective.
But just as she stared blankly, Mardian soon shot me a glare filled with suspicion.
“Hah, what are you up to? Lady Blanc, I don’t know what you’re after, but don’t underestimate me—”
“It’s not a trick! I really, really like you, Mardian.”
“Ugh….”
I stared directly into her red eyes with sparkling eyes of my own. It seemed I put more pressure on Mardian, as she was the one to shift her gaze away first.
But I didn’t give up, following her eyes with sincere expression and a smile full of excitement.
“…Why?”
In the end, maybe my genuine feelings reached her, as the suspicion in Mardian’s eyes eased away a bit. I felt relieved at her softer tone.
‘Thank goodness, it’s working.’
In my previous life, I was quite emotionally dull. When I took an MBTI test once, my T trait came out at 95%, making me a rather heartless person. In fact, I even heard rumors of being a psychopath back in middle school.
But the reason I managed to blend into the harsh modern society was thanks to a childhood friend I had known since I was very young.
She was the complete opposite of me.
She empathized to the extreme, sharing in others’ sorrows, laughing together, and even crying on their behalf.
Usually, such empathizing felt forced, but her expressions were always filled with genuine care, so no one ever disliked her.
In the end, she became a beloved figure among people of all ages. Having been friends with her for such a long time, I managed to learn her empathy skills.
Isn’t it said that truly close friends become similar? Before long, I too could empathize, smile, and struggle together for others like her.
The difference from my childhood friend was that my acting had no sincerity at all. But if the other person could feel I was genuine, wouldn’t that be enough?
Having perfectly mastered how to empathize with others from my childhood friend, I could blend into society effortlessly. Fortunately, it seemed that this skill of empathy worked in this new world as well, given I could even lower the guard of the notorious villainess Mardian.
However, there was one problem.
Even though she was a childhood friend, she was quite friendly with physical touch, which felt awkward between me and her, who were not lovers. Though she showed restraint around men, she didn’t hesitate to hold hands or link arms with other girls, showering them with affectionate gestures.
I knew that a certain level of affection was permissible between girls, which I had brushed off without a second thought.
I figured that her not being envied by other girls, despite always being popular with boys, was a crucial factor because of that physical contact.
Isn’t it said that the closer your bodies are, the closer your hearts become?
But of course, having lived most of my life as a man, I had no clue how far such touch was allowed; I never once thought about being a woman.
But now, I needed to learn. As the young lady of a declining baron family, what options did I have to survive? Maybe the only way was to lean on the much stronger young ladies than I.
‘Looking at Artasha, it seems even a peck is okay.’
But rather than acting rashly, it would be better to approach slowly. As I organized my cluttered thoughts inwardly, I gently grasped Mardian’s hand.
“You probably don’t believe me…?”
“Of course not. If you’ve heard stories about the Camilia Gambling Den, it’s natural to think that. There’s surely something planned.”
That is indeed true; if I were her, I’d initially doubt it as well. However, this was something I had to overcome. Thinking of Artasha, who works day and night tirelessly for my peaceful life as a freeloader, nothing was impossible.
Throwing away all my pride and solely focusing on gaining Mardian’s favor, I looked up at her with the saddest eyes I could muster and tightly clasped our fingers together.
I spoke in the gentlest, most harmless voice possible, making sure not to upset her feelings.
“But… I really like you, Mardian….”
“…Huh?”
I could do it. Even if I couldn’t become the kind of close friend that felt like a soulmate, I was confident I could at least garner some affection.
So please wait a little longer, Artasha.
I’ll be bringing back good news soon.
*
“Mardian, what about that young lady?”
Young ladies adorned in dresses dripping with jewels all gazed at me. Feeling the burden of all those eyes fixated on me, I was relieved when Mardian stepped in front of me, blocking their stares.
“We got close because we could communicate well. It seems we’ll be seeing a lot of each other from now on, so let’s introduce ourselves.”
“Ah, hello. I am Tina Blanc, undeservingly associated with young ladies like yourselves.”
I shyly nodded my head and greeted them. Upon learning I was from the Blanc family, the expressions of the young ladies flickered, but Mardian quickly intervened to assist me each time.
Looking up at Mardian with grateful eyes, she smiled and nodded. Who called Mardian a villainess? With such a pretty smile, there’s no way she could be one.
Well, given the situation, I guess I can understand.
I had succeeded in getting close to Mardian.
I gradually unraveled the story I had prepared to alleviate her suspicions. I explained that I became aware of the Camilia Gambling Den because of Bonnie Blanc, who was so addicted to gambling that she wasted our family’s entire fortune.
I mentioned how, during his life wasting time at Camilia’s, he randomly overheard that the Count Abreldine family had some connection to the gambling den, and in a drunken stupor, he told me.
I added that not much later, he passed away, so I was the only one who knew about it. Just to make sure Artasha wouldn’t be implicated.
Mardian had her doubts about whether I wasn’t here to take revenge on my father’s enemy, but I said that I despised him to the point of hating him and was rather grateful that he would be disowned from the family.
Most of it was fabricated, but I personally didn’t like Bonnie Blanc. Seeing Artasha suffer, accumulating debts, all due to him losing our entire fortune, I could only feel resentment.
Eventually, I found myself offering several complimentary remarks, learned from my childhood friend’s empathy skills and social experiences, and before I knew it, Mardian was looking at me with much softer eyes.
In the end, I had Mardian’s active support promised. But in exchange, I had agreed to fulfill one of Mardian’s personal requests.
Honestly, it was a request I was reluctant to comply with, but I had no other option, as Mardian’s support was essential for my future peaceful life as a freeloader.
Thus, now holding Mardian’s hand, I stepped back into the banquet, enjoying refreshments and sharing smiles with those I could never naturally get close to as Tina, alone.
“I’ve never seen anyone with hair as white as Tina’s. It’s as beautiful as a single lily.”
“Thank you. It feels really good to receive such compliments from someone as lovely as you, Everlyn!”
“Oh my….”
Although not as much as Mardian, she was the daughter of the much-talked-about Marbury Baron family in high society. The goodwill reflected in her eyes, gazing at me blankly.
“Tina, I’m sorry if this is rude, but may I stroke your head?”
“Of course. It’d be an honor if it’s you, Everlyn.”
“….”
I tilted my head with a faint smile. Without hesitation, Everlyn placed her hand on my head, moving it around as she stroked my hair.
“Oh my… such soft hair. It’s addictive.”
“Thank you.”
“Hehe… may I stroke it again next time?”
“Of course, if it’s you, Everlyn!”
I nodded with a bright smile. The eagerness at my response caused a smile to bloom on her lips. If she would like me just for this little thing, I could only feel grateful.
‘I might have it easier than I thought…?’
Looking at Artasha and this, it seemed women were quite simple beings. I was initially uncertain, but my confidence began to swell. Unexpectedly, perhaps I have a talent for charming women?
As I felt a sense of pride while being stroked by Everlyn, Mardian approached and snatched my hand.
“I’m sorry, Everlyn Young Lady. I have a previous engagement, so I’ll need to borrow Tina for a moment. You won’t mind, right?”
“Of course not.”
With Mardian’s eyes glinting ominously, Everlyn quickly pulled away her hand and stepped back. With her face frozen, it seemed Mardian’s standing here was quite significant.
“Come along, Tina.”
Holding my hand, Mardian led me outside. My wrist being firmly gripped was starting to ache, but I didn’t show it and followed her swift pace.
Having arrived in the garden of the banquet hall, we were in a secluded spot where the moonlight didn’t reach much. Before I could enjoy the cool night air, Mardian pinned me against the wall, smirking like a true villainess.
“Tina, as you’ve seen, I can take care of your standing to some extent.”
“Yes. Thank you, Mardian.”
“I’ve kept my promise, so now it’s time for you to fulfill mine, isn’t it?”
The request I agreed to in exchange for Mardian’s support.
It was to satisfy her ‘special’ desires.
“….”
“Oh? Tina, don’t tell me you’re going to say no now?”
“N-no way… it’s just that I’m a bit nervous….”
Honestly, I wanted to say no. However, I couldn’t reverse my choice now that it was already made.
On top of Mardian’s twisted smile sat a leather belt. When on earth had she brought such a sinister thing?
“Don’t worry. I’ll take it easy on you at first.”
Mardian’s tastes were mentioned in the original game.
It was one of the reasons she was referred to as the villainess.
Mardian tormented one of the protagonists, Lilian, mercilessly. Until the day she was punished and exiled from the empire, she never let Lilian off the hook.
Mentally.
And physically as well.
“Tina. Lift your skirt.”
The villainess Mardian.
She was a pervert with extremely sadistic sexual desires.
