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Chapter 45

“…What?”

It’s cold.

Viviana, who had been speaking as if she would allow anything just moments ago, was now looking down at me with eyes that had turned icy cold. The intensity of her gaze was so chilling that just looking at her made my skin freeze.

“That girl… no, you’re saying you want to send a letter to those young ladies?”

“Yes…”

At my agreement, the atmosphere grew even colder. Normally, I would have backed off after reading the mood, but I couldn’t give up because I absolutely had to send that letter to them.

“You…”

“It’s for Lady Viviana’s sake…!”

Viviana raised one eyebrow with a twisted expression. Her silence seemed to be urging me to continue speaking.

“Well… it’s a bit hard to say this out loud… but they used to like me quite a bit, right? And yet, I haven’t contacted them for three days now, even though I used to attend their banquets every day…?”

“So?”

“They’ll definitely be worried… and if they find out that Lady Viviana is keeping me in the mansion, it might cause some trouble. I just want to prevent that…”

Viviana’s face remained cold, but the tension in the air seemed to ease slightly.

“No matter how much they resent me, they can’t even touch a single hair of the Merdelia Ducal Family.”

Of course. I know that.

Bersha, Mardian, Sharrione.

No matter how much influence they wield in the social circle or how deep their family connections run, there are some walls that can’t be crossed.

The Empire has only four great ducal families, and among them, the Merdelia Ducal Family is practically in a league of their own. It’s no wonder that even when Viviana once threw Mardian out of her carriage, that vicious woman didn’t dare say a word.

“Tina, are you lying to me?”

I flinched.

My body trembled at Viviana’s sharp intuition. I forced a smile to hide my unease and responded.

“What do you mean?”

“Clever people are usually smart. They know how to weigh their options well.”

Viviana pulled me closer by the waist, and once again, I found myself face-to-face with her.

“I don’t think someone as clever and cunning as you would lack the judgment to worry about me in front of those countesses.”

“W-well…”

Her eerie purple eyes swept over me. Caught off guard, I didn’t know what to do and avoided her heavy gaze by looking around.

“Be honest, young lady. Why do you want to send that letter?”

I couldn’t bring myself to speak and lowered my head. But Viviana immediately lifted my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes again.

“Tina, you have to tell me.”

“Ugh…”

I pursed my lips for a while. Viviana silently stared at me, waiting for an answer. I wished she would say something, but the quiet silence only made me more anxious.

Viviana…

You really…

I closed my eyes tightly and whispered softly.

“…Idiot.”

“…What?”

Viviana, who happened to hear that small voice, frowned. Embarrassed, I turned my head away, but Viviana once again turned my face back to her.

“What do you mean by ‘idiot’?”

“If you’re my master… you should understand my feelings…”

“Huh?”

Viviana’s expression showed that she didn’t understand my words at all. She’s usually so perceptive, but why is she so dense now?

“Even if the Merdelia Ducal Family is strong… aren’t you underestimating them too much?”

“So what? A cockroach in the house would be more harmful.”

“Do you really think so? Moreover, from the outside, it will look like you kidnapped and imprisoned me. Those three will definitely use that to attack your reputation…!”

“Ah, wait a minute.”

Viviana took a step back from me, sounding confused. After staring at me for a while, she opened her mouth with a bewildered expression.

“Are you really… writing the letter because you’re worried about me?”

“O-of course. I don’t want to cause any harm to you, Lady Viviana…!”

Viviana’s amethyst eyes, usually so calm, wavered weakly. It seemed my clumsy words were hard for her to believe, as she stared at me in a daze for a while.

After a few minutes of silence…

“…Write the letter.”

Finally, Viviana broke the silence and gave her consent. But that wasn’t all. Viviana gently patted my head and then said something unexpected.

“Starting tomorrow, you don’t have to tie anything to your arm anymore.”

“Huh…?”

“And I’ll bring you a book. Read it when you’re bored.”

My eyes widened naturally. I blinked in confusion at the sudden reward.

“Really…?”

“Yes.”

Viviana isn’t the type to go back on her word. She really intended to reward me. Overwhelmed with joy, I smiled brightly and rushed toward Viviana.

*Thud-!*

“Thank you, Lady Viviana…!”

Viviana easily caught my light body. Unable to contain my overflowing joy, I buried my face in her shoulder and squirmed around for a while.

I’m happy.

Truly happy.

How could I not be?

Finally.

Finally, I’ve found a way to flatter Viviana that works.

‘So, Viviana likes it when I show weakness?’

My usual flattery, which had won over countless young ladies, didn’t work on Viviana. In fact, the more I smiled brightly and tried to flatter her, the colder she became.

But with just a slight difference in preference, there was still a side of her that liked certain things.

There was one thing that puzzled me ever since Viviana told me to become her pet.

She said she was enchanted by me.

How could someone who saw through all my pretenses so easily be enchanted by me? If you strip away my facade, all that’s left is fragility and incompetence. Could it be that Viviana actually likes that side of me?

Doubt turned into possibility, and possibility turned into reasoning. And finally, I realized what it was about me that captivated Viviana.

When I asked Viviana to apply medicine to my bottom, when I begged her not to leave because of a bad nightmare, when I felt down after a fight at Sharrione’s mansion.

At those times, Viviana looked at me with eyes full of affection.

The more I let my guard down, the more satisfied Viviana became. The more I struggled to say embarrassing things, the more I lowered my head with a lack of confidence, the softer her gaze became.

Like now.

Sending a letter to the young ladies because I’m worried about Viviana?

Pfft.

As if.

I know better than anyone what kind of person Viviana is.

A monster who earned the title of Evernight at just 15 years old, someone even the Emperor bestowed the title of Sword Saint upon. She’s not someone a mere countess from a prestigious family can challenge.

My reason for sending the letter is simple.

The affection I’ve worked years to earn from those young ladies. I have no intention of letting that go. How could I let go of the relationships I’ve built through flattery?

Viviana is a capricious person. She grabs onto whatever catches her interest and coldly discards it once she loses interest.

How could I rely solely on her, knowing she might tire of me and leave at any moment?

A year? Two years? If I maintain her favor well, maybe I can enjoy prosperity under her for three years.

But what if her interest wanes after that?

For a peaceful life, safety is just as important as money. A guarantee that no matter what happens, my peaceful life won’t change.

For that, I need solid connections as much as wealth. That’s why I can’t afford to lose my relationships with Sharrione, Bersha, and even Mardian.

Admittedly, Mardian is a bit of a concern, but I plan to approach her again someday. Soon, the second protagonist will take my place and satisfy her twisted desires.

Our saintly protagonist will handle the harsh sexual desires, and I’ll just maintain a decent relationship by catering to Mardian’s whims.

But didn’t I promise not to flatter Viviana?

Yes, I did make that promise. And at the time, I meant it sincerely.

But you know what?

A person’s resolve changes dozens of times a day. No one can guarantee that a promise made yesterday will be kept tomorrow.

Laziness is human nature.

There’s a reason sloth is one of the seven deadly sins.

If people lived by their resolutions, there would only be success, no failure.

Why do couples who marry out of blind love end up divorcing or having affairs?

Why do criminals who vow never to commit crimes again end up doing the same things?

Why do most people who try drugs once end up reaching for them again, even knowing the destructive end?

Choosing the easy path is human nature.

No matter how capable and brilliant Viviana is, she can’t change the rotten me.

When Viviana first saved me, I truly felt deep gratitude. But as time passed and I thought more coldly, that feeling inevitably faded.

I wondered why Viviana liked me, why she was interested in me. And the conclusion always pointed to one thing.

A lovely appearance that could make anyone lose their mind just by looking in the mirror. And the personality of my most beloved childhood friend.

Who could dislike the current Tina, with those two things perfectly combined? Viviana must have fallen for me because of that.

And of course, those two things aren’t really mine. Just as Artasha mistakenly loves me as her real daughter, Viviana’s affection isn’t truly for me.

Since I’ve taken over Tina’s body and possessed it.

Everything is bound to be a lie.

If this appearance fades and becomes unattractive, I’ll be discarded like a worn-out rag.

‘Not that I care.’

I just possessed a pretty girl, so I’m using her advantages to gain benefits.

Some might call me despicable and wicked, but that’s just who I am. I’m just instinctively pursuing what all human desires crave—money.

At least money…

Will stay by my side even when I’m no longer Tina.


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The Society’s Pet Daughter

The Society’s Pet Daughter

사교계의 애완영애
Score 8.2
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: , Released: 2024 Native Language: Korean
I thought I could live comfortably. Until the main character tried to imprison me.

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