Chapter 84

“So, let’s talk for a bit.”

Behind the dazzling banquet hall, in the quiet VIP room, Mardian’s crimson eyes gazed down at me.

“When did you manage to seduce the Saintess again?”

Her expression, different from usual, didn’t seem pleased.

I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but it seemed like she had misunderstood.

“Are you just going around seducing people I can’t handle?”

“It’s not like that, Lady Mardian… I’m struggling too…”

“Struggling?”

Mardian raised an eyebrow slightly, staring at me intently.

Lillian Eldoria.

Because of her actions, my social life almost crumbled in an instant.

If her question had been phrased any differently, my hidden secret might have been brutally exposed in front of countless young ladies.

Just the thought sent shivers down my spine, and cold sweat dripped down my neck.

No wonder I was relieved to see Mardian.

For a brief moment, she felt like a savior.

At least Mardian, Lillian’s sworn enemy, would never side with her.

“…Lady Mardian.”

I buried my face in Mardian’s chest and nuzzled lightly.

Caught off guard by my sudden action, Mardian hesitated for a moment before placing her hands firmly on my waist.

“Tina… why are you testing my patience like this?”

“I’m so tired because of that Saintess…”

“…What exactly is tiring you?”

“I don’t know either. But she keeps treating me badly… grabbing my hand painfully, asking strange questions, sometimes saying harsh things…”

“…The Saintess is treating you badly?”

“Yes, so it keeps bothering me…”

This time, I didn’t shy away from Mardian’s touch. Instead, I leaned into her more, gently covering her hands with mine.

“If only the Saintess weren’t around… I wish I could spend more intimate time with you, Lady Mardian…”

I looked up at Mardian with pleading eyes. I could feel her body tremble slightly under my desperate gaze.

“…If our Tina is suffering so much, should I just poison her? Would that make you feel better?”

Mardian joked with a playful smile, but I seriously considered her words.

Poison.

Normally, such a suggestion would have been chilling, but now it felt strangely appealing.

If Mardian could eliminate Lillian, I wouldn’t have to endure this emotional torment anymore.

In fact, in the game’s ending, Mardian’s fate was always poisoning.

If she succeeded in poisoning Lillian, it would be a bad ending. If she failed, Mardian would end up on the execution block.

‘Not bad.’

At first, I was skeptical, but now I was certain.

Lillian is out for revenge against me.

I couldn’t understand why the kind-hearted Lillian, who never spoke of revenge in any route, harbored such deep malice toward me.

What did I do to deserve this?

But one thing was clear: if I left things as they were, my standing in the social circle, built up over time, might crumble.

That can’t happen.

Then, even if it means taking drastic measures, removing her is the right choice.

I gently took Mardian’s hand and guided it to rest not somewhere else, but on my hip.

Then, I softly pressed her hand against my hip and whispered.

“Tina, you…”

“Poison… I’m not sure… But if Lady Mardian would go that far for me, I might just fall for you.”

“What?”

Feeling Mardian’s gaze deepen, I smiled inwardly.

Slowly, I guided her hand under my skirt. The cold touch of her fingertips against my skin sent a shiver through my body.

Carefully placing her hand on my inner thigh, I whispered softly.

“…I might fall so deeply for you that I’d want to give you everything.”

“What… what did you say?”

Mardian looked at me, wide-eyed and flustered.

Her usually seductive and composed face was now in rare disarray.

She must have been shocked by my words.

My statement was a clear declaration of hostility toward the Saintess.

I knew my actions were out of character, but I couldn’t think of any other way to deal with Lillian.

After all, even if Mardian discovered my dark intentions, she would never leave me.

Her obsession with me wasn’t because of my pure and harmless facade.

It was because of my doll-like beauty and my frail, delicate figure that stimulated her perverse desires.

So even if she knew my ugly personality, Mardian would still lust after my body.

Like a pervert.

“Tina, do you know what you’re saying?”

Mardian swallowed dryly.

I carefully moved her fingertips, brushing them against my inner thigh. The cool yet burning touch made my body tremble subtly.

“Lady Mardian… I’m not a child who doesn’t know anything.”

As Mardian looked at me with trembling eyes, I leaned close to her ear and exhaled a tender breath.

“How could I not fall for someone who risks danger for me? Since I was young, I’ve wanted to devote my life to such a hero.”

At my whisper, Mardian’s gaze deepened.

Though she still seemed hesitant, her eyes were filled with an undeniable longing. She pressed her hand more firmly against my thigh, caressing my flesh.

“…Tina, but the Saintess now holds power rivaling the royal family. Harming her would be no different than assassinating royalty.”

“Isn’t that all the more reason for me to fall for you?”

I calmly took her other hand and brought it to my lips.

I kissed Mardian’s index finger briefly, then carefully slipped it into my mouth.

“Ah… Mmm…”

Slowly, I moved my tongue, coating her finger with my saliva.

Each time I lovingly serviced her finger with my tongue, the rationality in her eyes faded.

‘Not yet.’

But even so, hesitation still lingered in Mardian’s eyes.

Sighing inwardly, I guided both her hands to my neck, slowly spreading her palms to encircle it.

“…If that happens, I might want to serve only you for the rest of my life.”

“Serve?”

“Yes, any service. You can pour all your desires onto me.”

“…Any desires?”

“Yes, anything is fine.”

Finally, I kissed her ear and whispered softly.

“You won’t need any drugs then.”

With those words, the last trace of reason in Mardian’s eyes vanished.

Her grip around my neck tightened.

“So—ugh—?!”

As my breath was cut off, a moan escaped my lips.

Mardian’s hand tightened around my neck, and a deep pain spread through my chest.

“You bitch… are you testing my patience?!”

“Ugh… Ha, hahk—!”

“Do you have any idea how much I’ve been holding back?!”

Each time her fingers pressed hard against my throat, nausea surged through me.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Unable to breathe, my heart raced, and my whole body trembled in resistance.

Mardian, her eyes burning, bit her lip and bowed her head deeply.

Then, she slowly released her grip and let go of my neck.

“Haah…! Ugh, hahk…”

“…Fine. You want me to make sure the Saintess never appears before you again, right?”

Mardian took a deep breath and roughly brushed back her disheveled hair.

“Tina, I don’t know why you hate the Saintess so much… but now, the reason doesn’t matter.”

She firmly grabbed my chin and looked down at me with blazing eyes.

“You better keep your word.”

With a voice boiling like a beast’s, Mardian strode out of the room without hesitation.

Like a typhoon sweeping through, the VIP room fell into silence in an instant.

I gently touched the marks left on my neck with my fingertips.

“…It’s going to bruise.”

Wincing at the stinging pain, I shook my head.

Lillian, our relationship isn’t great, but this time, I sincerely ask you.

Please die gracefully at Mardian’s hands.

After all, you’ll go to heaven even if you die.

I only have hell waiting for me.

So, for poor me, please step down from the protagonist’s seat this once.

You’re a good person, so you’ll grant my request, right?

※

In the mansion of the duchy, bathed in the faint glow of the sunset.

A woman in a splendid black uniform slowly walked out through the grand front gate.

Her hair, the color of the deep night sky, flowed like silk, and her amethyst-like eyes gazed down at the bouquet in her hand.

The flowers, a harmonious blend of blue and white, bloomed dazzlingly.

They were flowers she had carefully picked one by one from the ducal garden, thinking only of her.

Though she had no expertise in flowers and spent hours in the garden to complete the bouquet, the beautiful colors filled her with a sense of accomplishment.

“Your Grace, the carriage is ready.”

“…Alright.”

At the maid’s words, the woman quietly stepped outside the gate.

A massive black carriage awaited her. As the coachman bowed respectfully, the woman calmly stepped onto the carriage’s stairs.

But just before boarding, she suddenly turned her head to gaze at the slowly setting sun.

Shifting her gaze back to the bouquet in her hand, she smiled faintly and whispered softly.

“…I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Viviana, with a desperate wish on her lips, finally opened the carriage door.

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