Chapter 22

‘Wow…’

When I first laid eyes on the mansion where Viviana stayed, the first thought that came to mind was, ‘A directionally challenged person could never live here.’

The place was so massive that it was hard to tell if it was a mansion or a castle. Even though I was just standing outside the main gate, gazing at it from a distance, I could still feel the overwhelming presence of the ducal family.

“Aren’t you coming in, Lady Blanchard?”

Viviana looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I couldn’t just stand there dumbfounded forever. Pushing aside my bewildered feelings, I approached Viviana with a bright smile on my face.

“The mansion is really huge, Princess.”

“Other ducal families are about the same.”

Though the fact that there are only four ducal families in the empire is a bit of a flaw.

Late at night, when the thick darkness had settled, I visited Viviana’s mansion. Viviana, after some hesitation at my request to listen to the piano, suggested we go to the mansion together, saying she would play for me right away.

It’s true that I asked to be invited to the mansion… but I thought she would send an invitation later. I never imagined she would invite me over so late at night.

Having left behind the last banquet night, I arrived here. I had already sent a letter to my mother saying that I was invited by Princess Viviana, so it should be fine. Moreover, since I sent a letter with Viviana’s personal seal, she probably wouldn’t worry too much.

Swallowing the disappointment of not being able to be in my mother’s warm embrace tonight, I gave Viviana a sly smile.

“It seems ten times bigger than our mansion… As expected, Princess, you’re amazing.”

“This is the achievement of the previous duke, not mine.”

“But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re amazing, Viviana. And you’re so humble too.”

Naturally, I sidled up to Viviana and casually linked arms with her. Viviana glanced at me with calm eyes but, thankfully, didn’t shake off my arm.

‘Good, Viviana isn’t so different after all.’

Back in South Korea, where I used to live, linking arms between women was a sign of friendship. I wondered if that would work in this medieval world, so I tested it a few times.

And the result was that, if anything, the range of acceptable physical contact between women was quite broad. While it would be disgustingly inappropriate between men, whether in South Korea or here, there seems to be a unique atmosphere between women.

I tried linking arms, holding hands, hugging tightly, resting my head on their laps, stroking their hair, pressing my face against theirs, and even licking their fingers. And thankfully, no young lady has disliked my flattery yet.

And now that I’ve realized Viviana isn’t so different from the other young ladies, I believe she’ll like it too.

“Do you always cling to others like this, Lady?”

“Ah, was it uncomfortable…? I couldn’t help but get close because I like your scent, Princess.”

“…Just don’t overdo it. I generally don’t like touching others.”

See?

Even Viviana, who has such a cold personality in the original story, is reluctantly tolerating it. In the end, her fundamental desires aren’t so different from an ordinary person’s.

“Okay! If you tell me to stop, I’ll stop right away.”

“…”

With our arms linked, Viviana and I entered the mansion’s main gate side by side. Numerous servants waiting inside bowed their heads to us.

“Welcome back, Princess.”

A man who seemed to represent the servants approached Viviana with a kind smile. The white hair on his head indicated his age, but his dignified presence was undeniable.

“You’ve worked hard. Attending three banquets in a row, the duke would be very surprised if he knew.”

“Nothing happened, right?”

“Yes. But it seems something did happen to you, Princess.”

The old man’s sharp black eyes stared at me. His experienced gaze made me feel as if I were being stripped bare. But to such a gaze, I just smiled brightly and greeted him.

“Hello. I’m Tina Blanchard.”

“Oh… I see. Nice to meet you. I’m Alphonse Fredo, the head butler.”

The head butler of a ducal family must be quite an important figure. He’s probably from a family with more power than mine. I slightly lowered one knee and gave him a polite and respectful bow.

“It’s an honor to meet you. May you be well under the goddess’s care.”

“May you be well. Since Lady Blanchard is a distinguished guest brought by the Princess herself, you don’t need to lower yourself to me.”

In other words, if I weren’t Viviana’s guest, I should be bowing my head right now. Though he might not have meant it that way.

“No. How could I hold my head high in front of someone who has devoted themselves to the Merdelia Ducal Family?”

“Haha… Your heart is as beautiful as your appearance. Please, come inside.”

“Yes! Thank you.”

Guided by Alphonse, we walked further into the mansion. Even from the outside, it seemed enormous, but once inside, I realized the exterior was nothing compared to the interior.

The vast hallway was adorned with luxurious decorations and intricate interiors. The scale of the ducal mansion was on a completely different level, even surpassing the banquet halls of the imperial palace.

“Wow…”

“You might get lost if you’re not careful.”

At Viviana’s words, I quickly followed her. We climbed stairs so high it was exhausting, passed through expansive hallways, and arrived at an office that, while not as lavishly decorated, exuded a noble atmosphere.

“What about dinner?”

“Prepare it.”

When Alphonse politely asked, Viviana handed him her coat and gave a short reply. As Alphonse left after receiving the order, only Viviana and I remained in the office.

Viviana sat in a chair and naturally took out a cigarette from the desk, lighting it. The sight of her smoking with her long eyelashes closed was something I had seen many times in the game.

Viviana and cigarettes were inseparable. In her life, where playing the piano was her only joy, she never let go of her cigarettes.

By the way… I don’t really like people who smoke, but seeing Viviana smoke makes it seem a bit sexy-

“Cough, cough.”

As the pungent cigarette smoke reached my nose, a sharp, dry pain in my throat triggered a coughing fit. I tried to cover my mouth and stop the coughing, but it didn’t end with just one.

“Cough! Cough! Hack!”

The coughing showed no signs of stopping. With my breathing gradually becoming blocked, tears welled up in my eyes. How weak is my body that I can’t even handle a bit of cigarette smoke?

Viviana, with a panicked look, immediately put out her cigarette, hurriedly opened the window, and handed me a glass of water from the desk.

“Drink.”

“Cough… Gasp…”

“I didn’t realize it out of habit… I’m sorry, Lady.”

The cool water soothed my throat. Feeling a bit better, I wiped the tears from my eyes with the handkerchief Viviana handed me and awkwardly smiled.

“I’m sorry, Princess…”

“It’s my mistake, why are you apologizing, Lady?”

Come to think of it…

She threw away the cigarette.

In the game, there was never a scene where Viviana threw away a cigarette mid-smoke. But seeing her throw it away without hesitation because of my condition felt strangely unfamiliar.

“Ah… I’m fine now. You can smoke if you want.”

I let out a few short coughs and smiled as usual, but despite my words, Viviana put the cigarette back under the desk.

“No, I’m not so addicted that I’d smoke in front of a delicate Lady.”

“Hmm…”

I felt bad for making her hold back, but the fact that Viviana cared enough to give up smoking for me made me feel oddly happy.

Before the atmosphere could get awkward, I looked around for a conversation topic and noticed the mountain of documents piled on Viviana’s desk.

“You’re really busy… Are all these things you have to handle?”

“Well, yes. But most of it just requires a signature, so it doesn’t take long.”

“I’d love to see you handle your work! You must look really cool doing it.”

“…”

Perhaps flustered by my words, Viviana stared at me silently for a while before letting out a short sigh and brushing her hair back.

“Isn’t there something else you wanted to see, Lady?”

“Huh?”

For a moment, I didn’t understand her words and tilted my head in confusion. Seeing that I couldn’t answer easily, Viviana, seemingly frustrated, turned her head and spoke briefly.

“The piano performance. You said you wanted to hear it.”

“…Ah!”

With a shyly turned head.

The faintly reddened tips of Viviana’s ears.

And her shyly spoken words.

I couldn’t help but break into a wide smile.