Chapter 24: Girls talk

On a serene night, with the soft moonlight streaming through the window, I gently caressed Viviana’s back as she rested quietly in my arms.

“You played beautifully, Lady Viviana. It will be an unforgettable memory.”

Viviana just stared at me with an inscrutable look and didn’t say a word. Smiling faintly, I gently released her from my embrace and slowly stood up from the piano bench.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. I hope to see you again.”

Viviana seemed momentarily taken aback by my farewell, but then broke the silence with a calm voice.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I need to return to my estate. I can’t impose on you so late at night.”

“Young Lady, it’s quite late. Are you planning to return alone on foot at this hour?”

I glanced out the window. The night sky under the bright moonlight was enveloped in deep darkness. Just as Viviana mentioned, it would be unwise to travel at this hour.

So tell me, Viviana.

Tell me not to go home.

“It’s okay. We’re in the Empire, after all. What could possibly happen?”

“Huh?… Are you being naïvely foolish in this regard?”

“Besides, you must be busy too. I wouldn’t want to take up any more of your time.”

I spoke in a slightly melancholic tone. Viviana looked at me with a face full of disbelief, then sighed briefly and brushed her bangs back.

“Don’t say nonsense. Stay here and go back in the morning. I’ve even prepared dinner, so let’s eat together.”

Hearing Viviana’s quiet request, I suppressed the smile that was about to form.

***

Sleepover.

This term, originating from the United States, refers to spending the night at a friend’s house. Of course, I had never done it myself, as I didn’t have close friends in my previous life, but according to a childhood friend, there’s something girls always do when they sleep over at each other’s houses.

It’s called girl talk.

It’s a time when they shed their pretense and talk openly about their true feelings, creating a warm atmosphere. Thanks to this girl talk, friendships between women deepen. Even those who weren’t particularly close become more comfortable sharing serious stories when lying in bed together.

And as it turns out, my childhood friend’s words were true. Women are indeed quick to share their secrets. In other words, they have loose lips.

I’ve been invited to spend the night at the mansions of many noble young ladies. There, I heard various stories. Some spoke of their family’s financial struggles, while others confessed that their fiancé was unfaithful, but they couldn’t bring themselves to break up. These were all stories containing fatal weaknesses.

It seemed that sharing a bed deepened our bond, and they shared stories that could be fatal weaknesses to their reputation. Perhaps they thought of me as nothing more than a mere pet, making it easier to confide in me.

After all, it’s common knowledge that pets don’t bite their owners.

“I’ll sleep here.”

At my cheerful words, Viviana raised an eyebrow questioningly.

“On the sofa?”

“Yes! It seems cozy and comfortable.”

The sofa I was sitting on was wide enough that even if I stretched my legs, there would still be plenty of space. It might not be as good as a bed, but it seemed comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep.

“Why the sofa when there’s a big bed?”

Viviana frowned, looking perplexed. Indeed, the bed in the middle of the room was large enough to accommodate five people comfortably.

It wasn’t just the bed.

I glanced around the room briefly. It was so luxurious it felt almost excessive. The windows were adorned with intricate lace curtains, the walls were covered with wallpaper decorated with gold leaf, and the ceiling was adorned with priceless crystals.

Even the pajamas I was borrowing from Viviana were intricately crafted with delicate patterns, clearly the work of a master artisan. It didn’t seem like something I should be wearing.

“No, I couldn’t possibly share a bed with you, Lady Viviana. In fact, this sofa is more than enough for me.”

“Hah.”

Viviana, seemingly displeased with my words, crossed her arms and glared at me with an annoyed expression.

“That’s rather rude. Did you think our ducal household would let a guest sleep on a sofa?”

“That’s not what I meant. I was just worried that it might make you uncomfortable…”

Viviana sighed shortly and approached me. She slipped her hands under my back and legs, lifted me up effortlessly, and tossed me onto the bed.

“Heek?”

The sensation of floating lasted only a moment before my body sank into the soft bed. Viviana blew out the candle hanging in the room and gently climbed onto the bed.

“Sleep quietly and go back tomorrow.”

“Are you going to sleep right away?”

“Yes, you should sleep soon as well, young lady.”

With those words, Viviana turned her back to me and lay down comfortably. I glanced at her sensual back, exposed through her nightgown, and pulled the blanket up to cover my mouth to hide my smile.

‘She’s lying.’

I’ve seen several bedrooms in this duke’s house. If she really just wanted me to sleep, she would have had me stay in a guest room. But Viviana brought me to her own room. Even though she spoke coldly, it was clear she had a favorable opinion of me.

No matter how cold she seemed, Viviana was still just a woman. She, too, must have something she subconsciously desires. Perhaps a typical girl’s talk, a conversation that women inevitably share.

And most importantly, Viviana suffered from mild insomnia. This was clearly shown in the game. Considering she had slain numerous enemies on the battlefield, it would be psychopathic if she could sleep peacefully.

Suppressing my laughter, I turned towards Viviana and spoke softly.

“Are you asleep, Lady Viviana?”

No response. But I continued speaking alone.

“I was curious about something… May I ask?”

Again, there was no answer. But as I quietly waited, Viviana finally sighed deeply and turned towards me.

Facing each other in the dark, I instinctively shivered at the sight of her cool violet eyes staring at me. It felt different from when I faced other young ladies, confirming she wasn’t the protagonist.

“Go ahead.”

Her reluctant voice sounded annoyed, but I smiled brightly. Wriggling under the blanket, I moved a bit closer and asked.

“You sometimes mix formal and informal speech when talking to me… Is there a reason for that?”

“Oh, I’m just not used to formal speech.”

People usually say the opposite. As expected, our Lady Viviana, with her sky-high self-esteem.

“If you’re comfortable with it, could you speak informally to me? I like it when you treat me casually.”

“…Well, I was going to do that anyway. Alright, Lady Blanc.”

Viviana dropped the formalities without hesitation. I moved a little closer again and asked another question.

“Do you have any worries, Lady Viviana?”

“Worries?”

“Yes, since we’re sleeping together for once, if there’s something you can share, I’d like to hear it. Maybe I could help, even just a little?”

I gently held Viviana’s hand with a harmless smile, as I did with other young ladies. I thought she might share some trivial worries, even if not anything deep.

But contrary to my expectations, Viviana’s response was a cold, emotionless gaze.

“Tina Blanc.”

The atmosphere changed in an instant.

The friendly atmosphere vanished, replaced by her infinitely chilly voice, leaving me momentarily speechless. As I looked at her with trembling eyes, she gazed at me steadily and continued speaking.

“I’ll admit it, you are a charming lady. No wonder the ladies of society are so fond of you.”

“But don’t get ahead of yourself. I really dislike people who underestimate me.”

“….”

I couldn’t respond. It wasn’t because I was overwhelmed by her strong aura. It was because Viviana’s words hit the mark so precisely that I couldn’t say anything.

You might have bewitched the other ladies with that playful smile of yours, but I hope you don’t think you can handle me as you please.

…Where did I go wrong?

Just a moment ago, when I was hugging her in the piano room, I could clearly see that she had feelings for me. So why did things change like this now?

Yes.

She’s right. I was certain that Viviana had opened her heart to me by now. And if she was on my side, I planned to use her to suppress Mardian’s bold actions.

In the end, Viviana was right.

I underestimated her.

“So, my lady, you don’t have to be fake in front of me anymore. I know it’s not genuine anyway.”

“…..”

“Feel free to stay the night. I’ll think over the offer you made earlier and make my decision.”

Viviana looked at me for a while, then let out a small laugh and turned her back to me, lying down again.

I blinked blankly for a long time. Unknown emotions swirled inside me. I slowly turned my head to look at my face reflected in the moonlit window.

The blue eyes set in a pale face. But the bright and clear eyes that the ladies loved were no longer there.

I touched my face with my hand.

I looked at the hand placed over the eyes reflected in the window.

They were the eyes I’d grown tired of seeing in my previous life.

Dead eyes, devoid of life.

Eyes that would suffer from poverty in daily life.

The eyes of a miserable orphan, a loser.

The eyes of someone abandoned by the only friend they trusted.

But it was only for a moment. I shook my head a few times and smiled. As if nothing had happened, the lifeless eyes disappeared, and the clear eyes returned.

‘Hmm…’

Is it because she’s the protagonist?

It’s not easy.