On a moonlit night, with the gentle glow filtering through the window, I softly patted Viviana’s back as she nestled in my arms.
“Your performance was truly wonderful, Princess. I feel like it will be an unforgettable memory.”
“….”
Viviana merely stared at me with an unreadable gaze, not uttering a single word. I faintly smiled, gently removing her from my embrace, and slowly stood up from the piano bench.
“Well, I should take my leave now. I hope to see you again next time.”
At my farewell, Viviana seemed momentarily taken aback, but soon broke the silence and spoke in a calm voice.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to head back to my mansion. I can’t impose on you all night.”
“Young lady, it’s quite late. Are you really planning to return alone at this hour?”
Hearing her words, I looked outside the window. The sky under the bright moonlight was engulfed in deep darkness. As Viviana said, I had no idea what might happen if I returned at this hour.
So please, tell me, Viviana.
Don’t go home.
“It’s fine; it’s still the Empire. What could possibly happen?”
“Huh?… Am I foolishly naive in this regard?”
“And you must be busy too… I hope I’m not keeping you from anything else.”
I let out a subdued sound, making my voice sound a bit sorrowful. Viviana looked at me with a face full of disbelief, then sighed briefly and brushed her bangs back.
“Stop talking nonsense and go to sleep. We’ll have dinner together; I’ve prepared it.”
At Viviana’s gentle request,
I had to hide the smile that was about to bloom.
*
Sleepover.
This term, derived from America, refers to spending the night at a friend’s house. Of course, I never had close friends in my previous life, so I had never experienced it myself, but according to my childhood friend, there’s something that girls inevitably do when sleeping over at each other’s houses.
The so-called girls’ talk.
A carefree time where they shed their pretenses and reveal the thoughts they’ve been hiding. Thanks to this girls’ talk, friendships among women deepen. Even those who weren’t particularly close would naturally share serious conversations while lying together in bed.
And upon verification, I found that my childhood friend’s words were indeed true; women easily divulged secrets. In short, they were light-mouthed.
I had spent the night invited to the mansions of countless noble young ladies. There, I listened to various stories. Some said their families were facing economic difficulties, while others revealed that their fiancés were cheating, but they couldn’t bring themselves to break up.
All were stories containing their fatal weaknesses.
When lying in bed together, perhaps friendships deepen, and they openly shared stories that could become fatal weaknesses. Maybe they felt comfortable talking because they thought of me merely as a pet.
Pets don’t bite their owners, after all.
“I’ll sleep here.”
At my cheerful declaration, Viviana raised an eyebrow in puzzlement.
“On the sofa?”
“Yes! It seems cozy and comfortable.”
In reality, the sofa I was sitting on was spacious enough that I could stretch out my legs comfortably. It wasn’t as good as a bed, but I felt I could get a decent sleep here.
“No, the bed is spacious too. Why would you choose the sofa?”
Viviana frowned with an expression that said she couldn’t understand. Indeed, as she pointed out, the bed positioned in the center of the room was massive enough for five people to lie down comfortably.
Not just the bed.
I glanced around for a moment. Was this truly not called a duchy? It felt more luxurious than extravagant. The window was adorned with intricate lace curtains, the walls were covered with gold-flecked wallpaper, and countless priceless crystals hung from the ceiling.
Moreover, even the pajamas I borrowed from Viviana featured detailed patterns that screamed craftsmanship. I couldn’t help but think that it was clearly not something I should be wearing.
“No way, how could I lie in the same bed as the princess? To be honest, this sofa is already too much for me.”
“Hmph.”
Perhaps my words displeased her; Viviana crossed her arms, glaring at me with an annoyed expression.
“That’s a bit rude. Do you think our duchy would have a guest sleep on a sofa?”
“Th-that’s not what I meant! I just thought you might not want to feel uncomfortable…”
Viviana sighed briefly, coming closer to me. She grabbed my back and legs, lifting me up and tossing me onto the bed.
“Eeek?!”
The momentary sensation of floating vanished as my body sank into the plush bed. Viviana blew out the candle in the room and quietly climbed onto the bed.
“Sleep peacefully and return tomorrow.”
“Are you going to sleep right away?”
“Yes, young lady, you should hurry to bed too.”
After that, Viviana turned her back to me and comfortably lay down. I stared at her sensual silhouette visible through her nightgown for a moment, then pulled the blanket up to my chin and hid my smile.
‘What a lie.’
Thinking about how many bedrooms I had seen in this duchy, if her intention was truly just to let me sleep, she would have placed me in a guest room. Yet, Viviana purposely brought me to her own room. Even if she spoke coldly, it was clear she had some fondness for me.
No matter how cold Viviana appeared, she was still a woman at the end of the day. There must be something she unknowingly desired. That was the time shared during girls’ talk, which was essential for women.
Moreover, above all, Viviana suffered from mild insomnia. This fact was clearly revealed even in the game. For someone who could slash countless enemies on the battlefield, if she could sleep soundly, she would be nothing short of a psychopath.
I suppressed the rising laughter and turned towards Viviana, softly speaking.
“Princess, are you asleep?”
“….”
No response came back. But I continued speaking to myself.
“I had a question… Is it okay if I ask?”
Again, there was no answer. However, after quietly waiting, Viviana finally sighed deeply and turned her body toward me.
Lying face to face with Viviana, I instinctively shivered at the chilling violet eyes staring at me from the darkness. It felt unmistakably different from when I was with other young ladies.
“Speak.”
In her reluctant tone, I smiled brightly. Nestling closer from under the covers, I asked her.
“I noticed you mix formal and informal speech when you talk to me… Is there a reason for that?”
“Oh, I’m not used to formal speech.”
Typically, it would be the other way around. It truly was a sign of our princess’s soaring self-esteem.
“If it’s okay with you, could you speak informally to me? I like it when you treat me comfortably.”
“…Well, I was planning to do that. Alright, Lady Blanc.”
Viviana immediately dropped the formalities without a moment’s hesitation. I moved a little closer to her and asked again.
“Do you have any concerns, Princess Viviana?”
“Concerns?”
“Yes, since we’re sharing a bed after all, I’d love to listen if you have anything to share. I might be able to help even a little, you know?”
As I held a harmless smile, I gently took her hand. I expected she would share at least some minor concerns.
However, contrary to my expectations, all I received was a blank stare from Viviana.
“Tina Blanc.”
The atmosphere changed in an instant.
The cheerful mood we had was nowhere to be found; I momentarily stumbled over my words at her infinitely cold tone. As I looked at Viviana with trembling eyes, she gazed steadily at me and continued speaking.
“I’ll admit it, you are a charming young lady. I can see why the ladies in high society take a liking to you.”
“….”
“But don’t overstep your bounds. I despise people who underestimate me.”
I couldn’t respond. It wasn’t simply due to being overwhelmed by her strong energy. It was because her words struck home, rendering me speechless.
“You may have charmed the other young ladies with that annoying smile of yours. But I hope you won’t foolishly think you can manipulate me.”
…Where did I go wrong?
Just a moment ago, when I hugged her at the piano, I had confirmed that she had some fondness for me; so why was everything different now?
Right.
Surely, as she said, Viviana must have opened her heart to me to some extent. And if she were on my side, I intended to curb Mardian’s bold actions through her support.
But ultimately, just as Viviana had stated,
I had underestimated her.
“So, young lady, you can drop the pretense before me now. It’s clear you’re not being sincere.”
“….”
“Rest comfortably. As for the proposal I mentioned earlier, I’ll think it over and decide.”
Viviana stared at me for a while, then chuckled softly and turned her back to me once again.
I blinked in a daze for quite some time. Unknown emotions swirled inside me. Slowly, I turned my head to look at the reflection of my face in the moonlit window.
A pale face with blue eyes. Yet the twinkling, clear gaze that the young ladies loved was no longer there.
“….”
I touched my face with my hand.
I looked at the eyes reflected in the window.
Those were the eyes I had come to loathe in my past life.
Lifeless, dead eyes.
The eyes that suffered from poverty in daily life.
The eyes of a miserable orphan, a failure.
Even from the only friend I had trusted.
The abandoned eyes of a dropout.
But that was only for a moment. I shook my head several times and forced a smile. As if the darkness had vanished, my dimmed eyes were replaced with bright, clear ones.
‘Hmm….’
Perhaps it’s because I’m the protagonist.
It’s not easy.
