“Alright, please say ‘Ah,’ Tina.”
“Ah~”
As I slowly opened my mouth, a piece of soft cake slid in.
The sweetness spread across my tongue, filling my mouth with a delightful taste.
“Hehe, Tina, you’re just adorable today as well.”
“Lady Sharione, you look so beautiful today too!”
I looked up at her with a bright smile, and in return, I was met with a gaze full of warm affection.
On my left, Sharione was feeding me cake with a radiant smile, while on my right, Versha was kindly brushing my hair with a gentle touch.
“Tina, may I ask you a small favor?”
Versha looked at me with slightly flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. I tilted my head in curiosity as she pulled out a headband from her bosom.
It wasn’t just any ordinary headband. There were no jewels where they were supposed to be; instead, fluffy tufts of fur adorned both ends.
Upon closer inspection, those tufts seemed to resemble animal ears.
“I heard this is a new trendy accessory from a famous workshop, designed to reflect animal characteristics.”
“…Is that so?”
“I thought of you the moment I saw it. Could you try it on for me?”
It was a familiar item.
I had seen several of them in my previous life.
This odd thing was a headband with cat ears.
I never expected such things existed in this world as well.
‘…If you think cats are cute, why not just look at a cat?’
I couldn’t understand why one would go to the trouble of detaching cat ears and making a headband.
Well, how could I possibly understand the tastes of someone with such strange preferences?
“Tina… could you just wear it once for me?”
Versha’s eyes sparkled with expectation as they turned to me. I felt a bit flustered and scratched my cheek.
“I’m not really fond of things like this…”
While I might act cute like a pet towards various young ladies, I hadn’t sacrificed my dignity as a human.
Being coy or cute is something a person can still do, but wearing something like that would be truly resembling an ‘animal.’
I’d rather be coy than actually become a real animal.
“Tina, please just try it on once? I really want to see it.”
With Versha, even Sharione looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Though I was earnestly asked by two of the wealthiest women among my acquaintances, my heart still didn’t waver.
“I’m really sorry… but I have a bit of a fear of animals…”
I lowered my eyes slightly and made a sad expression.
Of course, I didn’t actually have a fear of animals, but seeing their distressed expressions made it feel like a valid excuse.
“Ah…”
“I’m sorry, Lady Sharione…”
“If you have a phobia, there’s nothing you can do about it. Don’t worry about it, Tina.”
Sharione looked at me with a gaze full of regret and gently patted my head.
Her touch was soft and warm, but there was an unmistakable hint of disappointment in it.
Still, I really didn’t want to wear such a strange thing.
This time, when I looked at Versha with damp eyes, she also nodded her head in disappointment.
I thought she would be more persistent in her requests, but she gave up surprisingly easily.
Well, that was fine by me.
“It’s really a shame… I bought it for quite an expensive price, but if you don’t like it, there’s nothing I can do.”
“…Huh?”
My ears perked up unintentionally at Versha’s note of disappointment.
Expensive?
Versha said that?
Versha was the heir of one of the wealthiest Count families on the continent.
She could buy numerous flashy jewels without batting an eye.
For her to say something is expensive…?
“Is, is it that expensive?”
I couldn’t help but ask. There was no way a cat ear headband could possibly be that much…?
“Yes, I bought it at an auction, and I think the price went up to two hundred gold.”
“T-Two hundred gold?!”
My mouth dropped open at the ludicrous amount.
Two hundred gold was enough to buy a much-coveted red diamond.
But that headband was worth that much?
That made no sense.
“I thought it was way too expensive at first, but actually, this headband has a very special magic on it.”
“Magic?”
“Yes, it moves as if the ears are alive, depending on the wearer’s mood! Isn’t it fascinating?”
“……”
“It took a whole month of research and observation of cats at the magic tower to create it. Hehe…”
I blinked in stunned silence at the unexpected words.
It was utterly absurd.
In this world, those who can handle mana are extremely rare, and those who study it to create magic are even more so.
This meant that items imbued with magic were naturally classified as high-priced rare commodities.
And yet, they put such precious magic into just a headband?
How idle must someone be to waste time on something like this?
Or were all mages perverted individuals with bizarre tastes?
“I originally intended to give this to you, Tina… but now I’ll have to put it back up for auction.”
“Wait a moment, Lady Versha!”
Just as Versha was about to put the tiara back, I hurriedly grabbed her arm.
She looked at me with a puzzled expression, raising an eyebrow.
I steadied my heart and looked up at her with the most innocent and obedient gaze I could muster.
“Umm… I really am scared of animals…?”
“Yes, I completely understand Tina’s feelings. It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped…”
“But I like you, Lady Versha, that much…”
Versha’s eyes widened in surprise, her expression turning shocked.
I subtly blushed, turning my head shyly while carefully gripping the edge of her clothing.
“If you wish for it… I’ll try it on…”
“Really, Tina?”
Nodding timidly, Versha’s eyes lit up with excitement again. She carefully lifted the headband with trembling hands and looked at me.
As I nodded my head in consent, Versha placed the headband on top of my head.
For a brief moment, a jolt ran through my mind, but it was far more comfortable than I had expected.
Versha and Sharione stepped back a bit and started to look at me closely.
“Umm… how do I look?”
I slowly lifted my eyes to look at them.
With those cat ears on, I felt more like a real animal and my face grew warmer.
The reactions of the two people facing the blushing me were unexpected.
“Oh my…”
Sharione placed a hand on her forehead and fainted onto the sofa.
“This is a crime, Tina.”
Versha trembled much like Sharione, reacting exaggeratedly.
Their over-the-top responses left me flustered, prompting me to shyly bow my head even more.
“I-I did not expect this. Oh, my, to be this adorable…!”
“Really! Two hundred gold is not a single cent wasted!”
…Is it really that much?
“Goodness… just look at those perky ears! It’s a strain on my heart!”
“Ugh… I want to kidnap Tina like this and take her to our mansion!”
Their exaggerated responses left me feeling disoriented.
Honestly, it was becoming a burden, but I couldn’t possibly say anything.
“This should be recorded in history. I must call an artist right away!”
“No, there’s a better way. There’s a magical tool that captures the scene just as it is. It’s expensive, but with that…”
Hmm…
It seemed like this would go on for quite a while.
While they engaged in a heated discussion, I just awkwardly smiled and looked over at the blue-haired woman sitting opposite me.
“Um… Lady Arien, how do I look?”
Arien, who had been staring at me blankly, widened her eyes and lowered her head deeply.
“Y-you look so cute, Tina…”
“I’m really happy that you think that, Lady Arien.”
As I smiled brightly, Arien’s cheeks flushed slightly. Seeing her face blushing made me secretly chuckle.
Yes, Arien ultimately chose me over Lilian.
Under normal circumstances, she would not have made it to this gathering; it was all thanks to Sharione and Versha accepting her into their circle.
Typically, nobles from opposing factions wouldn’t socialize, but exceptions could occur.
There was no need to be enemies just because they belonged to different factions.
With Arien abandoning Lilian, she naturally escaped the disgraceful rumors that had surrounded her.
And thanks to that, the Count family of Caltri was able to regain its reputation.
Lilian, shocked that Arien had turned away from her, left high society entirely.
Her face, filled with despair from being betrayed by a friend she trusted so much, was truly a sight to behold.
Come to think of it, expelling Lilian from society was something Mardian couldn’t accomplish either.
And yet, I managed to do it.
Thinking of it that way… I might be a bit of a great person.
I wasn’t worried or concerned about potential backlash.
Even though Lilian had a temperament that caused her to be angry for others, she wouldn’t be the kind of person to take revenge for herself.
Moreover, Lilian probably wouldn’t even realize that I was the cause behind her being ostracized from high society.
I had never directly spread any rumors about her.
All the slander against Lilian came from the mouths of other young ladies.
I merely created the atmosphere that allowed it to happen.
At first, Arien suffered from guilt over abandoning her friend, but as time passed, she became accustomed to our group, and now she appeared to have nearly forgotten about Lilian.
In fact, I couldn’t fault Arien for this.
Being selfish is just part of human nature; we always tend to think and act in ways that are convenient for ourselves.
In any case, Lilian disappeared from society without a trace.
And already, a month has passed.
Without Lilian around, I was surprisingly at ease.
Not having to face her allowed me to once again smile brightly and occupy the position of the pampered young lady at the banquet.
My life in high society seemed to flow smoothly once more. I continued to capture the attention of the distinguished young ladies.
I had paid off all the family debts. Now, all that remained was to gather funds for me and my mother to enjoy a comfortable life full of gifts and affection from the high-ranking ladies.
As long as I put in a little effort to act cute and keep the mood pleasant, expensive items came to me without any struggle.
I gently touched the cat ears nestled on my head.
The sensation of the ears against my fingertips was surprisingly addictive.
‘Should I show this to Mother?’
I knew she wouldn’t react as dramatically as Sharione or Versha, but still, I was curious about her response.
‘…I hope she finds it cute.’
Still, I lived each day yearning for my mother’s false love, craving affection.
And I would continue to live like that going forward.
