Chapter 13: Like a rice cake.

Viviana’s palm was smooth and soft, but the medicine she applied at the end was quite stinging.

“Ow… My lady, please be a little gentler….”

“…”

“Ouch! It, it hurts…”

“Young lady, do you really have to make such a noise?”

“Huh…? But it hurts….”

“…Alright.”

Viviana squinted her eyes and took a deep breath before applying the medicine under my waist again. The expressionless face she had maintained until just a moment ago now showed signs of being somewhat disturbed.

…Does she really hate this?

I told her until the very end that it was okay not to do it, just in case this would happen.

But the one who insisted it was fine and asked me to lift my skirt was you. So why are you making such an uncomfortable face now?

I was lying on my stomach with my belly on Viviana’s lap, using her cloak as a mat. Viviana slowly lifted my skirt and carefully applied the medicine.

It was quite an embarrassing position, but the pain was too severe to have any other choice. Since it was a relationship that would end after today, I could endure the shame. Fortunately, Viviana was applying the medicine with a surprisingly gentle touch, contrary to her usual personality.

“Are you that pet lady?”

While applying the medicine, she asked me. Few people called me a pet lady right from the first meeting, despite my nickname. It seemed our master didn’t care about such things.

“…Yes. But why do you ask?”

“I was curious. Calling someone a pet, are you okay with hearing that?”

What was this question that seemed both rude and not rude at the same time? It felt like she was worried about me, but on the other hand, it also sounded like she was mocking me for not having any pride.

It’s useless, Viviana.

I’ve already experienced countless times words and glances like these with thorns. As always, I replied to her with a bright smile.

“What’s there not to be okay with? It means they’re looking at me favorably.”

“They’re probably looking at you as a ‘pretty animal.’”

“It’s better than looking at the daughter of a declining family.”

“…Indeed.”

Viviana slightly raised an eyebrow and nodded her head as if she understood something. While applying the remaining medicine to my buttocks, she asked again with a playful smile.

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to be careful? If you keep acting so naively, what will you do if you get ‘these’ kinds of injuries again?”

A rather playful voice.

Hmm, is she teasing me?

Considering Viviana’s personality, she would find it boring to have such a long conversation with one person, but it seems she’s quite interested in the title of pet lady.

I didn’t particularly want to gain Viviana’s favor, but habits are really scary. Unknowingly, I flashed a gentle smile and uttered the flattery that came to mind.

“Of course, but thanks to that, I could receive the care of Lady Viviana like this. You have no idea how happy I am right now.”

“……..”

There was no reply.

How strange.

Typically, by now, there should be some gesture of being moved, or at least a smile. However, what Viviana received was neither a smile nor an expression of emotion, but a sharp grip.

Slap!

“Huh?!”

A sharp pain from her buttocks caused a high-pitched sound to escape her lips. As she looked at Viviana in disbelief, Viviana stared blankly at her own palm and muttered softly.

“…Did I lose my mind?”

“What…?”

“…No, I’m sorry, Young Lady.”

What was that?

Although Viviana’s ambiguous attitude left me bewildered, all I could do was smile and nod.

“Young Lady, where did you learn to smile like that?”

“Oh, is it, strange?”

“…No, it looks dangerous.”

“What?”

Not understanding what she meant by dangerous, I asked her again, but Viviana remained silent. An awkward silence fell between us once more.

“It’s all applied. Can you stand up?”

“Oh, yes…”

After carefully lowering my skirt, Viviana helped me to my feet. As I moved my legs, I felt a sharp pain in my lower body, but it was much better than before. The top-quality ointment seemed to be very effective.

“Thank you for your kindness, Lady Viviana.”

Viviana looked at me steadily, then soon gave me a cold smile and extended her hand to me.

“I’ll escort you to the hall.”

“What? Oh, no. I’ll go back alone. You go ahead, Lady Viviana.”

Viviana was the most noble lady in the empire, second only to the princess. Attending the banquet with her could cause unpredictable commotion. I needed the affection of my supporters who sustained my life, but I wanted to avoid unnecessary attention.

“It’ll be chilly at night. Let’s go together, Young Lady.”

“I like the cold. I’ll take a little walk and then go in. You go ahead, Lady Viviana.”

Was it my imagination? It seemed that Viviana’s face, usually a perfect poker face, slightly frowned. Was she upset that the daughter of a baron, whose family was in decline, refused her offer?

…No, that couldn’t be.

Viviana had an arrogant personality, but she was never discriminatory. At least, she wouldn’t look down on people because of their status.

“Alright. It was nice meeting you, ‘Pet Lady.’ You really do obediently follow others’ hands as the rumors say.”

Viviana emphasized the word ‘Pet Lady’ and spoke in a mocking tone. Judging by her mischievous smile, it seemed she wanted to provoke me for some reason, but I maintained a clear smile.

“Thank you for your kind words. It was an honor for me to spend time with someone as great as you, Lady Viviana.”

“…Alright then.”

Apparently not the reaction she expected, Viviana gave me a cold look, turned, and walked out of the garden. I kept smiling until she was completely out of sight. After waiting alone for a long time, I finally sighed deeply when I was alone.

Looking up at the sky, all I could see was the dark night, thickly shrouded. It was time to return home.

“Today’s banquet is a bust.”

I had hoped to receive at least one jewel.

Oh well.

Nothing I can do about it.

***

The mansion of the Grand Duchy of Merdellia.

As Viviana opened the entrance of the grand mansion and entered, numerous servants bowed their heads in welcome.

“Welcome back, my lady.”

An elderly man of dignity stepped forward and bowed his head in greeting. Viviana naturally took off her coat and handed it to him, then walked towards her office.

“Parties are indeed tiresome and bothersome.”

“Did you greet the princess well?”

“Yes. She has clearly sided with us. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Since everything was going according to her plan, it wouldn’t be long before she could secure the active support of the royal family. If that happened, the Duchy of Merdellia would gain even greater power.

“You’ve worked hard.”

The elderly man smiled contentedly, expressing his respect. As soon as Viviana arrived at her office, she sat down and picked up a cigarette.

Through the gray smoke escaping Viviana’s mouth, the elderly man named Alphonse asked with curious eyes.

“How was the party? Was the information I provided helpful?”

“It was all wrong, Alphonse. I heard that white chocolate has been out of fashion for a long time, and dark chocolate is the current trend.”

The fact that his information was wrong seemed quite shocking to Alphonse, as his face filled with a sense of loss.

“Th-that can’t be… I’m sure it was the latest information I had.”

“The trending color code wasn’t pink, but pink violet. Thanks to that, I became a lady out of fashion.”

“…I’m sorry.”

With a mischievous, sarcastic smile on her lips, Viviana took another drag of her cigarette. As she watched the white smoke rise, she recalled the white, fluffy hair that shone in the night.

“Oh, and I met the pet lady too.”

“Oh, did you?”

She was lovely and obedient. Of course, whether she was genuinely like that or it was all an act remained to be seen.

“Haha, if it was an act, she would be quite a frightening lady, wouldn’t she?”

Indeed.

No matter how good the act, without sincerity, it couldn’t move people’s hearts. While it could form a mutually beneficial fake relationship, nothing more could be gained.

But that lady, from the beloved daughter of a renowned baron to the razor-sharp queen of society, gained favor from everyone with her charm, making them provide her with benefits.

If all her actions were indeed an act, it meant she possessed the ability to truly move hearts. That was akin to a hypnotic power.

‘Well, in any case…’

But that’s all there was to it.

There was nothing significant to worry about.

Initially, she had approached out of curiosity about the term ‘pet lady.’ After talking to her a few times, she understood why such a nickname could arise, but what did that have to do with her?

Now that her curiosity was resolved, there was no reason to pay attention to her. The next time they met, it would just be a casual greeting at most.

“Was there anything else?”

“Oh, and she was quite plump.”

“…Pardon? Plump?”

Recalling the memories, she clenched and unclenched her hand. The red wound on the white snow was quite a sight.

A plump, white bottom like a rice cake.

I wonder what it would taste like if I bit into it.