Chapter 12: First meeting with the protagonist

Countless stories circulated among the young ladies gathered in groups. Stories of disparaging remarks about a disliked lady or boasts about their fiancés came up several times, but the focus always shifted back to Sharione.

“What do you think, Lady Sharione?”

“Hehe, I think it’s fine.”

“Oh my, I agree with Lady Sharione.”

The other young ladies expressed endless agreement with Sharione’s remarks. Seeing their reactions, Sharione felt secretly satisfied. In this group, she was the queen and ruler. The atmosphere changed with her words, and the young ladies’ expressions altered with her gestures, reinforcing her confidence.

Even among counts, reputations vary greatly. Sharione’s family was one of the founding families that had been loyal since the empire was first established. Thanks to this background, Sharione could naturally enjoy all the privileges in the social circles.

But this was only within her own kingdom.

“Hello, Lady Sharione.”

A sweet voice flowed into her ears.

She turned her head in curiosity.

A woman was looking at her, smiling.

Upon seeing the woman with beautifully shining violet eyes, Sharione’s complexion turned pale. In her presence, Sharione was no different from any other young lady.

“L-Lady Viviana.”

Sharione responded with extreme politeness without a moment of hesitation. Viviana, with a graceful posture, returned the greeting, a thin smile on her lips, and looked at Sharione with curious eyes.

“Sorry to interrupt. I have something to ask.”

“O-Of course, please go ahead.”

“Is there someone here known as the pet lady?”

Sharione’s eyes twitched. She thought Viviana was only interested in swords, but never expected her to take an interest in Tina.

“Hehe… You mean our Tina. She’s not here at the moment.”

“Oh, really?”

A cold and chilling voice made Sharione shiver. She tried to maintain her pride, but immediately felt immense regret. Viviana was not someone she could afford to show pride to.

“Sh-Should I call her for you? I think she’s out in the garden…”

“Hmm, no need. I don’t want to bother you. I’m just mildly curious.”

“What kind of curiosity…?”

“It’s intriguing, isn’t it? How does the word ‘pet’ attach to a young lady? Haha.”

“A-Ahaha…”

When Viviana laughed, Sharione also immediately laughed. Her laugh was not out of amusement. Just as the other young ladies forced themselves to laugh at Sharione’s words, her laugh was merely a bow to the powerful presence before her.

In front of Viviana, the renowned Sharione was no different from an ordinary young lady.

“Thank you. I’ll just take a look around the garden, and if she’s not there, I’ll leave. Goodbye.”

Viviana gave a brief farewell and turned around. For another noble, it might have been seen as rude, but Viviana’s actions only highlighted her presence more vividly.

Sharione watched Viviana’s retreating figure and prayed earnestly.

‘Tina… Please don’t catch Lady Viviana’s eye.’

If the princess took an interest in Tina.

Then Tina would no longer be ours.

***

Smack!

“Ahh…!”

A sharp pain rose from her buttocks. It was hard enough to bear the burning pain. But ignoring my feelings, Mardian raised her hand high again.

Smack!

“Aaah! Lady Mardian..! It hurts!”

“Tina, you should call me ‘sister,’ right?”

Smack-!

“Ouch! S-sister, please, a little slower..”

“Ha, what a horny bitch.”

Such words were unthinkable for a noble to say. If Mardian’s rough language and behavior became known to the world, her reputation would be greatly damaged. However, Mardian knew better than anyone that no rumors would spread.

“Fuck, it still makes me angry. You’ve been flirting with other girls with that coy voice of yours. Tina, I told you to cheat in moderation.”

“Lady Mardian, I…”

“I told you to call me ‘sister!’”

Smack-!

“Aaah!!! It hurts!!”

The dizzying pain exceeded what I could endure, and for a moment, my vision blurred. In Mardian’s merciless hands, my tear ducts finally burst.

“Sob, n-no, it hurts too much, please stop now….”

Uncontrollable tears streamed down my cheeks. But my tears only seemed to stimulate Mardian’s sadism.

“Tina, your crying is more melodious than any instrument. So cry your heart out for me.”

“Sob, sob…please, stop now….”

Damn wicked woman…!

Damn sadist…!

Damn perverted bitch…!

If only I had been born a royal, I would crush you beneath me! I’d beat you until you begged for forgiveness a thousand times!

Swallowing my fierce curses, I wept. Despite the raging anger inside, all I could do was beg for her to hit me a little less harshly.

As a man with a macho spirit, I don’t want to cry like this.

But I have no choice.

Tina’s body is so fragile.

Even a slight graze leaves red marks, and light friction causes stinging pain. If it were my previous life, I would’ve brushed off whatever Mardian did with a whistle. But this weak body of Tina’s is to blame!

“Tina… my Tina.”

Mardian slid her thumb into my mouth. Her slender thumb touched various spots inside my mouth, and when it grazed the back of my throat, I almost gagged.

“S-sister, I really can’t take it anymore…please, forgive me now….”

I pleaded, looking up at Mardian with tear-filled eyes. Whether my earnest plea reached her or not, she sighed briefly, brushing her hair back.

“Sigh, alright, since Tina is asking so earnestly, I should oblige.”

“Th-thank you, sister…”

“Hehe…meeting Tina might be the greatest fortune of my life.”

Mardian, who had been stroking my head, handed me a small paper bag. Inside the bag were luxuriously packaged sweets and a small silver container. Opening the container, I found a fragrant yet bitter-smelling medicine.

“It’s a top-grade ointment. You must apply it to avoid scarring. Also, have some sweets to replenish your sugar levels.”

“…Thank you.”

Is this what they call giving a disease and offering the cure?

Experiencing it firsthand feels quite unpleasant.

“Well then, I’ll head back inside. Take your time and come in slowly after applying the ointment.”

Mardian gave a bright smile and withdrew. Left alone in the depths of the garden, I patted my sore bottom and wiped away my tears for a while.

“That wretched woman…that wretch….”

How much time had passed like that?

After sobbing for a long time, I sighed briefly and got up, thinking I should head back.

“Ouch…!”

The sharp pain radiating from my lower body made me collapse back onto the ground. The pain was far more severe than I expected, making my mind foggy. I desperately wanted to check the state of my bottom but was too afraid to move, fearing it would only worsen the pain.

How hard did she hit me?

So frustrating, being treated like a game character.

The throbbing pain wouldn’t subside, and I didn’t have the courage to return to the banquet hall. I wanted to apply the ointment Mardian gave me, but I couldn’t see the condition of my bottom, nor did I know where exactly the injuries were. Moreover, lowering my skirt again would surely bring back the pain, and I didn’t want to inflict more suffering on myself.

“…What should I do?”

Should I wait until the pain eases? But delaying any longer would only make it later, and I couldn’t just sit there indefinitely. Being left alone in this deep garden made me feel eerily uncomfortable.

I swallowed dryly and looked around.

The silence made me unconsciously tense up.

‘I’m not really scared.’

There was no way someone like me, a macho, would be afraid of something like this.

It wasn’t that I was scared of ghosts or anything like that.

It was just that there were no human sounds.

I was only worried that a bad criminal might appear.

I was just concerned for my own safety.

Coo- Coo-

The sound of an owl’s hoot in the quiet night sent shivers down my spine, which would normally be a calming sound.

Feeling gradually more anxious, I glanced around nervously. I swallowed dryly again and cautiously called out.

“H-hello? Is anyone there?”

“Young Lady?”

“Eek!?”

The unexpected response made my entire body shudder. In shock, I instinctively let out a scream. As I quickly lifted my head, I met a pair of eyes staring at me from the dense darkness.

“W-what…?”

I stared blankly at the woman who appeared before me. It was surprising enough that someone was there, but what shocked me even more was the woman’s identity.

Her amethyst-like purple eyes shone as if they held magical power, captivating me. Her jet-black hair contrasted with her pristine, white skin, enhancing her elegant aura.

Viviana Merdellia.

One of the protagonists of this world.

Why is she here?

Viviana isn’t the type to venture into such a secluded part of the garden out of curiosity.

“Lady Viviana?”

“The ground is cold, please get up, my lady.”

She smiled briefly and extended her hand to me. In my dazed state, I grasped her hand. Viviana tried to help me up, but as my folded legs straightened, the forgotten pain surged through my entire body once again.

“Ah!”

I groaned in pain and sat down again.

Viviana looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“Lady? Are you hurt somewhere?”

Viviana seemed genuinely concerned, but as someone who has played this game, I know better.

It’s all an act.

As if I don’t know what kind of personality Viviana has. Maybe she already knows I’m hurt and is just watching my reaction.

But I have no choice but to pretend to be fooled. If I get on Viviana’s bad side, it will be an ordeal I can’t handle, just like with Mardian.

So, as always, I looked up with the powerless, trembling eyes of a weak person and spoke in a feeble voice.

“I accidentally fell into a thorn bush… my backside is pretty scraped up….”

“…A thorn bush, huh.”

Viviana looked down at me with an unreadable smile on her lips. An awkward silence thickened between us.

Viviana gazed at me with a look of interest, like she was observing a rare creature. That gaze made me feel shame and discomfort rise from within, but I steeled myself and hid my feelings.

Yes, there’s no other way.

It was difficult to even return on my own. Rather, it would be better to endure the embarrassment this one time and accept Viviana’s help. Viviana is not the type to pay much attention to others, so she will soon lose interest in me. Today’s incident will be forgotten by tomorrow.

“Lady Viviana, may I ask you a favor, even if it might be a bit presumptuous?”

“Of course, feel free to ask.”

Viviana replied with a bright smile, but the thought that she might be enjoying my reaction sent chills down my spine.

“Could you, um, apply some ointment for me? I want to do it myself, but I can’t see the wound….”

“Ointment?”

“Yes… just a little on my backside….”

Viviana’s eyebrows twitched, and the smile vanished from her face, revealing her subtly glowing purple eyes.

“…What did you say?”

“Can’t you? I promise to repay you, just a little on my backside….”

“……..”

No response.

Anxiety gripped me. Had I crossed a line? It was a rash request. How could a noble lady like Viviana view the daughter of a fallen baron?

She might find it disgusting. Realizing my mistake, I reached out to Viviana with trembling hands and a desperate voice.

“Oh, um, it must seem dirty to you, right? I’m sorry..! If you just tell me where the wound is, I’ll apply it myself… is that not okay either? Oh, it’s fine if you can’t!”

“…..”

“No, it’s okay! You can just ignore me and go. Someone as insignificant as me shouldn’t be taking up your time….”

“……..”

What’s wrong.

Why isn’t she responding?

It’s scaring me.