Chapter 30

A modest birthday party.

The phrase fit perfectly.

Given the Blanchard family’s precarious situation, the birthday celebration was inevitably humble. Forget expensive alcohol and meat—it was just a simple tea party in a beautifully decorated garden. Fortunately, no one seemed to dislike the atmosphere.

“Tina, how do you like this dress? It’s the latest release from Larien Boutique this month! The moment I saw it, I thought of you.”

A young lady with short brown hair handed me the dress with excited eyes. Though I couldn’t recall her name, I feigned a touched expression, covering my mouth.

“My goodness… it’s so beautiful.”

“There’s no one who could wear this dress as well as you, Tina. Please accept it.”

The brown-haired lady carefully repacked the dress into a box and handed it to me. I awkwardly stammered as I held the box.

“Thank you so much… I’ll treasure it.”

“Hehe, I’m glad you like it, Tina.”

She patted my head with a pleased expression. She seemed to care for me more than I thought. I should remember her name later.

‘…Another dress, huh.’

Behind me, the tea table was piled high with gift boxes from the young ladies. Yet, among all those gifts, there wasn’t a single one I truly liked.

Dresses following the latest trends, newly released expensive chocolates—while they were pricey, their value would inevitably drop once the trend passed.

What I needed wasn’t dresses that these ladies would adore, but something of lasting value. It’s not like I’d ever like such flashy dresses anyway.

“Tina, could you look over here for a moment?”

A soft, melodious voice called out to me. Sharrione and Bersha were looking at me. As the influential figures of the social circle nodded, someone covered my eyes from behind.

“Eek.”

My vision went dark, and my body flinched, but I forced myself to stay calm. Soon, I heard rustling, and a heavy weight settled on my hands.

“We prepared this for you, Tina.”

As Sharrione finished speaking, the hands covering my eyes withdrew, and my vision returned. Slowly, I looked down to see different pieces of jewelry resting on each of my hands.

On my left hand was a silver earring with a pink gemstone I had never seen before.

“It’s a pink diamond. It was quite hard to find since they’re rare, but I put in the effort thinking of you.”

“…It’s truly beautiful.”

Bersha smiled warmly and patted my head. As I stared blankly at the pink diamond, Sharrione cleared her throat to draw my attention.

“Would you like to see my gift too, Tina?”

At her words, I looked at my right hand. There lay a simple headband. While the design was ordinary, the gemstones embedded in it were anything but.

“Of course, the pink diamond is rarer, but mine is more dazzling.”

As she said, the headband adorned with various glittering gemstones was so extravagant it bordered on excessive.

I looked at them with slightly blurred vision. They seemed to anticipate my response, shaking their heads firmly.

“We won’t take no for an answer, Tina.”

“When your Master gives you something, you just accept it.”

Under their affectionate gazes, I bowed my head and fidgeted for a while. Slowly closing my eyes, I waited, and a single tear formed at the corner of my eye.

“Thank you… so much…”

I smiled before the tear could fall. It wasn’t a sad smile, nor was it overly bright—it was a complicated smile. But they seemed to like it, smiling warmly at me.

I slowly approached them and sat on Sharrione’s lap. Then, I spread my arms toward Bersha, looking at her with pleading eyes. Bersha’s eyes trembled as she looked at me, then she hugged me tightly as if entranced.

“I… I don’t know if I deserve such gifts… I’m already happy just receiving your affection…”

At my subdued voice, Sharrione and Bersha spoke simultaneously.

“This is the affection of nobility, Tina.”

“That’s right. Compared to the happiness you give us, this is only a natural repayment.”

I buried my face in Bersha’s shoulder and said nothing. Sharrione and Bersha chuckled, patting my head and back.

As expected, something good was bound to happen. I smiled secretly, my face buried in their embrace.

“Mind if I join in?”

A sharp voice, seemingly annoyed, cut through the warm atmosphere. Blood-red eyes narrowed as they stared at me.

“Oh my, Mardian. Are you jealous?”

Bersha chuckled and pulled away from me. Sharrione also gave my head a final pat before returning to her seat with a satisfied expression.

Mardian, for some reason, stared at me with her eerily glowing crimson eyes for a while before extending a hand toward me. Out of habit, I approached and placed my hand on hers. Only then did Mardian smile contentedly and pat my head.

“Tina, the gift I prepared is a bit too large to give here.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve prepared it separately in the carriage, so I’ll give it to you after the party.”

I blinked in confusion. My heart raced with excitement at Mardian’s words. Just how big was this gift that she couldn’t give it here?

“…Isn’t this too much, Mardian?”

“It’s troublesome if you go ahead like this alone.”

At the slightly irritated voices of Sharrione and Bersha, Mardian smiled faintly and gave my head one last pat.

“There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our beloved pet.”

Today, Mardian seemed even more radiant than usual. The sharp edges of her gaze, which always seemed villainous, now looked endlessly beautiful.

“M-Mardian…”

“Hehe… save your thanks for later.”

Whoever called Mardian a villainous noblewoman was wrong. How could someone with such a caring heart be called a villain? Mardian was an angel.

“Oh, by the way, have you heard the news?”

After that, the conversation quickly shifted topics. Though various trivial stories were exchanged, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the gift Mardian had prepared.

What could Mardian’s gift be? A massive gemstone? Or perhaps enough gold coins to live comfortably for a lifetime?

The endless curiosity would soon be satisfied. As the young ladies chatted, the early evening sun began to fade, and it was time to head home.

“Happy birthday, Tina.”

“See you next time.”

With Bersha and Sharrione’s warm words, the young ladies began to leave the mansion one by one. The lively garden soon fell into silence, leaving only the numerous dishes on the table and Mardian’s crimson eyes gazing affectionately at me.

Mardian elegantly sipped her tea, a captivating smile on her lips, and extended her hand to me.

“Tina, let’s go get your gift.”

“Mardian… you really didn’t have to prepare a gift.”

“Don’t say that. Come along.”

Mardian stood up and offered her hand. Suppressing my racing heart, I slightly lowered my eyes and took her hand.

Holding Mardian’s hand, I stepped outside the mansion’s gates to find a dazzlingly luxurious carriage waiting. With one coachman and four horses, the carriage was undeniably grand. As I followed Mardian inside, I couldn’t help but be surprised again.

‘Why is there a bed inside the carriage…?’

The interior was so spacious it was hard to tell if it was a carriage or a bedroom. It exuded a level of luxury reminiscent of first-class airplanes. While it wasn’t as grand as the carriage Viviana had sent, this one seemed like it could be ridden in all day.

But perhaps because it was Mardian, the bed in the center gave me an ominous feeling.

“Tina, would you like to see the gift I prepared?”

However, that unease quickly melted away at the word “gift.” Turning my head with excitement, I saw a box resting on Mardian’s lap as she sat on the bed.

‘…What? It’s not that big?’

The brief disappointment vanished the moment the box was opened. I could only blink in shock for a while. Inside the box were various gemstones emitting dazzling light. Though I had no expertise in gemstones, even I could instinctively tell.

These gemstones were all genuine.

And they were incredibly valuable.

“M-Mardian? What is this…?”

“It’s a small token of my affection for my pet. I heard your family has a lot of debt. If you wish, you can sell these to settle it.”

Mardian’s unexpected words left me stunned. I had planned to sell the gemstones anyway, but I never expected her to say it herself.

This meant… unlike the gemstones hidden in my closet, I could sell these immediately. These gemstones would undoubtedly be a tremendous help to my mother. Perhaps we could even pay off all the remaining debt.

*Gulp-*

I swallowed hard without realizing it. The dazzling brilliance of the gemstones nearly overwhelmed me, but I forced myself to stay composed.

“Mardian… how could I accept this…? I can’t take this.”

I spoke words that didn’t reflect my true feelings. Mardian patted my head and placed the box of gemstones on my lap.

“Take it. I used some of the family’s wealth, but I got full permission from my father.”

*Thump-thump-*

My heart raced wildly. If I sold these, my mother wouldn’t have to work through the night anymore. That meant my dream of a carefree life was within reach.

Stay calm. For such a grand gift, it’s customary to refuse twice.

“Mardian, receiving something like this makes me uncomfortable. Your affection is more than enough for me…?”

“Tina, I know you’re not greedy. But think of your mother, who’s struggling as the family head. Please accept it.”

This confirmed it.

Mardian wasn’t a villain.

She was an angel.

A one-of-a-kind angel.

And… a one-of-a-kind fool.

*Snicker-*

“Mardian…”

I spoke in a sorrowful voice and hugged Mardian. She held me tightly and gently patted my back.

“Tina, for you, I can give so much more than this.”

At Mardian’s intense words, I buried my face in her shoulder and smiled uncontrollably.

Who knew Mardian had such a gullible side?

‘I made the right choice choosing Mardian over Viviana.’

If I had chosen Viviana, I wouldn’t have received such gemstones. Unlike the overly cautious Viviana, Mardian was the perfect master.

“Tina, I truly cherish and love you. You feel the same, don’t you?”

Without hesitation, I answered Mardian’s question.

“Yes…! You’re the most precious person in the world to me!”

Look at how happy she is at such a simple statement. Even a villain can’t resist human instincts.

“That’s right. From now on, I’ll replace these gemstones for you every day.”

“No, Mardian… I’ve already received too much.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

With those words, Mardian hugged me tightly, her bright crimson eyes glowing.

“After all, starting today, you’ll belong to me alone.”

“…Huh? What do you mean—”

*Thud-!*

“Ahk?!”

A sharp, piercing pain shot through me, and my body jolted. I couldn’t help but let out a groan at the sudden pain. I wanted to push Mardian away, but I lacked the strength to break free from her grip.

All I could do was turn my gaze toward the source of the pain.

My pale arm. There, a syringe with an ominous pink liquid was inserted.

“…Huh?”

As Mardian pressed the syringe’s plunger with her thumb, the pink liquid inside slowly began to disappear.

Through the thin needle.

Slowly into my body.

“W-Wait…”