Chapter 49

“Uh, my butt…?”

“Yeah.”

In a strange position, lying side by side on the bed while being hugged from behind by Viviana, I turned to face her, feeling awkward. Her usually calm purple eyes were filled with an inexplicable deep longing.

“Um… why are you touching my butt…?”

“Do you remember our first meeting?”

Our first meeting… When was that? After thinking for a moment, I quickly remembered.

It was deep in the garden of the Imperial Palace banquet. After being hit on the butt by Mardian and unable to walk, Viviana had applied ointment to me, directly on my bare butt.

…Come to think of it, I was the one who asked her to apply the ointment on my butt back then.

“The sensation back then was nice. It was kind of addictive, you know? So I thought maybe touching it would feel even better.”

“Uh, uh… addictive sensation…?”

“Yeah, have you ever touched your own butt? If you try it once, you’ll definitely understand…”

Isn’t it normal not to have touched my own butt? Who touches their own butt with an addictive sensation?

“Well… except when washing…”

“It’s so white and plump. It’s firm and feels really nice.”

I didn’t particularly want to know how my butt felt, but while I was flustered by her sudden words, Viviana stared at me with determined eyes.

“I’m a bit tired today, and I think touching your butt would help relieve my fatigue… Is that okay, Tina?”

For a moment, my heart wavered at the intense desire in her eyes, but I quickly shook my head and regained my composure.

I didn’t really feel like it. My butt isn’t some stress-relief tool… Is it even normal to touch another girl’s butt in the first place?

“Isn’t it a bit weird to touch another girl’s butt…?”

“Huh? Isn’t it weirder to touch a guy’s butt?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Her sharp logic left me momentarily speechless.

But no matter what, Viviana’s request felt off.

I’ve seen close friends kick each other’s butts, but I’ve never seen anyone touch butts for stress relief.

Even among girls who are more physically affectionate, isn’t touching butts a bit much? In fact, among all the young ladies I’ve met, the only one who tried to touch my butt was Mardian.

Perhaps sensing my inner turmoil, Viviana’s gaze grew colder as she pulled me closer and whispered in my ear.

“You let Mardian hit your butt, but you won’t even let me touch it? That’s disappointing.”

Her unexpected words left me stunned.

“How did you…?”

“Young lady, you don’t get those kinds of marks on your butt just from falling.”

She must have been referring to when she applied ointment in the garden. Back then, I was so flustered that I blurted out some excuse, but if I had known it would come back to haunt me, I would have been more careful.

“Tina, so what’s your answer?”

“Uh, uh…”

“Let me touch it.”

Her gaze was so intense that just looking at her made my face burn.

“Uh, my butt is a bit…”

Unable to bear her heavy gaze, I averted my eyes. In an instant, the heat in Viviana’s eyes cooled.

“…Okay, you don’t want to. I understand.”

With that, Viviana released her hold on my waist and got up from the bed. Startled by her sudden action, I quickly got up too.

“Lady Viviana…? Where are you going…?”

“I’m going to sleep. Sleep well, and I’ll see you tomorrow, Tina.”

“Already…? I wanted to talk a bit more or maybe give you a massage…”

Viviana was the only person I could have a proper conversation with here. As such, the time I spent with her was incredibly precious to me.

No matter how fun it was to tease Iris, it didn’t fulfill my fundamental need for genuine human connection.

“No, it’s fine.”

But Viviana just smiled faintly and patted my head. The intense desire she had shown just moments ago was gone, and for some reason, it felt like the affection she usually showed me had cooled.

“Uh… then, good night, Lady Viviana. See you tomorrow…!”

Unable to hold her back, I watched as she left without hesitation.

“Yeah, sleep well, Tina.”

The door closed without a trace of reluctance. Alone again in the silent room, I stared out the window, chuckled, and shrugged.

“Well, it’s just for today.”

I’ve already won Viviana over. I’ve found the perfect flattery that works on her—she must be completely smitten with me by now. She must have been really tired from work today.

She’ll probably ask for a massage again tomorrow.

***

The next day passed just like the previous one.

After eating the breakfast Luna brought, I tried to engage Iris, who gave no response, by talking to myself, and I attempted to provoke Siriel here and there to alleviate my boredom.

But for some reason, today wasn’t as enjoyable. Time seemed to pass slower than usual.

As evening approached, I lay alone on the bed, staring out the window when the door opened, and Viviana appeared, having finished her work.

As always, I put on a timid smile, lacking confidence, and ran over to Viviana.

“Ah, welcome back, Lady Viviana…! You must have had a tough day today.”

“Yeah, thanks. How was your day?”

“It was the same as usual… Oh, except I missed you a lot today…!”

I mixed a high-pitched tone into my slightly trembling voice, trying to flatter her. I was sure Viviana would be swayed, but there was no trace of emotion in her eyes.

“Yeah, I see. Thanks for saying that.”

Instead, Viviana gave me a forced smile. An inexplicable ache shot through my heart.

“Uh, um…! Should I give you a massage? It’ll definitely help relieve your fatigue…”

Trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere, I brightly smiled and took Viviana’s hand. I expected a positive response, but Viviana slowly released my hand and took a step back.

“No, I think it’s better to sleep early. You should sleep early too, Tina.”

“…Huh?”

A weak sound escaped my lips. Viviana smiled softly and patted my head.

“See you tomorrow, Tina.”

“Y-you’re leaving already?”

We barely even talked. She hadn’t even been in my room for five minutes.

But Viviana left after saying her final goodbye. Her indifferent gaze made it impossible for me to stop her.

Once again, alone in the room, I blinked blankly for a while before lying down on the bed.

“…”

I didn’t feel like reading today either.

As usual, I covered myself completely with the blanket, curled up, and tried to force myself to sleep.

For some reason, the bed felt unnecessarily large today.

***

The next morning arrived. I lay sprawled on the bed, staring at the ceiling, muttering to myself.

“…Is she upset?”

The thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Is she upset because I didn’t let her touch my butt? Is she acting cold to show her disappointment?

That could be it.

Viviana knows I let Mardian hit my butt. But when it comes to her, I wouldn’t even let her touch it, so she must feel a bit disappointed.

She even said so herself.

So if she’s been acting cold toward me lately, it’s understandable.

Thinking that, the anxiety I felt earlier vanished in an instant.

Right, there’s no way her affection for me has cooled.

Loving beautiful and cute things is human nature. Who wouldn’t love a cute puppy that always greets you with a bright smile?

“Viviana has her cute side too.”

Showing her disappointment like this is quite childish, isn’t it? Her unexpectedly girlish behavior made me chuckle.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. A lovely face stared back at me. When I reached out my hand, the girl in the mirror also reached out, as if to hold my hand.

“Well, what can I do?”

As the adult here, I’ll have to be the one to cheer her up.

Unlike before, I have no intention of letting Viviana go now.

Who else could protect me as steadfastly as she does? Even if I were to face danger in the future, Viviana is a powerful ally.

Not to mention the wealth she brings.

Just look at me now.

Simply by eating the luxurious meals she provides in her mansion, sleeping in her fancy bed, and occasionally flattering her, all my family’s debts have disappeared, and I’ve been promised substantial support in the future.

Could there be a bigger fool than this?

I have no intention of losing such a top-tier connection, so I’ll have to be the one to bend first.

Really now.

“Viviana, you’re not being honest either.”