Chapter 30: Mardian, are you a fool?

A modest birthday party. That was the perfect description.

Due to the unfavorable circumstances of the Blanc family, the birthday celebration was inevitably humble. There was no expensive alcohol or meat, just a tea party in a beautifully decorated garden. However, fortunately, no one seemed to dislike the atmosphere.

“Tina, what do you think of this dress? It’s newly released at Larien Clothing this month! I thought of you the moment I saw it.”

A young lady with small brown hair handed me the dress with an expectant look in her eyes. I couldn’t remember her name, but I covered my mouth as if I was moved.

“Oh my… It’s so beautiful.”

“There won’t be another young lady who suits this dress as well as you, Tina. Please accept it.”

The young lady with brown hair carefully repackaged the dress in a box and handed it to me. I awkwardly stammered, holding the box she gave me.

“Thank you so much… I’ll wear it with care.”

“Hehe, I’m glad you like it, Tina.”

She patted my head with a satisfied expression. It seems she cares for me more than I thought. I should remember her name later.

“…Another dress, huh.”

There was a pile of gift boxes from the young ladies on the tea table behind me. But none of them caught my fancy.

Dresses matching the latest trends, newly released expensive chocolates, all of which are quite pricey, but these things lose their value once the trend passes.

What I need isn’t these dresses that girls might like, but something expensive with lasting value. After all, I don’t even like such fluttering dresses.

“Tina, could you look over here?”

I turned my gaze towards the soft voice calling me. Sharione and Versha were looking at me. As the two women, known as the real power in the social circle, nodded, someone covered my eyes from behind.

“Oh.”

My vision suddenly went dark, and I flinched, but I stayed still, trying to remain calm. After a moment, I heard the rustling sound, and a weighty feeling settled in my hands.

“We prepared this for you, Tina.”

As Sharione finished speaking, the hands covering my eyes moved away, and my vision returned. As I slowly lowered my gaze, I saw two different pieces of jewelry lying on my hands.

The one placed in my left hand was a pair of silver earrings with a pink gemstone in the center that I’d never seen before.

“It’s pink diamonds. It was quite difficult to find them as they are rare, but we thought of you and put in the effort.”

“…They’re really beautiful.”

Versha smiled contentedly and patted my head. As I blankly stared at the pink diamonds, Sharione cleared her throat to draw my attention.

“Would you like to see the gift I gave you, too, Tina?”

I looked at my right hand at her words. What was placed there was a simple headband. The design was ordinary, but the jewels embedded in it made it look far from ordinary.

“Of course, pink diamonds may be rarer, but mine will certainly be more dazzling.”

As she said, the headband, studded with jewels emitting brilliant light, felt dazzling.

I looked at them with slightly blurred vision. They shook their heads firmly as if they expected what I would say.

“I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer, Tina.”

“When the master gives you something, you just take it gratefully.”

Receiving their loving gazes, I bowed my head and chewed on my words for a long time. Slowly closing my eyes and waiting for a moment, a single clear tear formed at the corner of my eye.

“Really… thank you…”

Before the tear dried, I lifted my head and smiled. It was a complicated smile, neither sad nor overly bright. But they seemed pleased with my smile and looked at me with a contented smile.

I slowly approached them and sat on Sharione’s lap. Then, I looked at Versha with longing eyes, holding out my arms. Versha looked at me with trembling eyes, then, as if mesmerized, came closer and hugged me tightly.

“I don’t know if I deserve such a gift… I’m happy just receiving the master’s affection…”

At my subdued voice, both Sharione and Versha looked at me and spoke simultaneously.

“This is what noble love is, Tina.”

“Yes, compared to the happiness you usually give us, this is just a natural return.”

I buried my face in Versha’s shoulder and said nothing. Sharione and Versha chuckled softly and patted my head and back.

As expected, I knew something good would happen. I smiled secretly, burying my face in their embrace.

“Would you mind including me?”

A sharp voice, as if irritated, cut through the harmonious atmosphere. Blood-red eyes, narrowed as if filled with blood, stared at me.

“Oh my, Miss Mardian. Are you jealous?”

Versha chuckled and moved away from me. Sharione also stroked my hair one last time and then returned to her seat with a satisfied expression.

For some reason, Mardian’s blood-red eyes were gleaming ominously today as she stared at me for a while, then held out a hand. Out of habit, I approached her and placed my hand on hers. Only then did Mardian smile contentedly and stroke my head.

“Tina, the gift I’ve prepared is a bit too big to give here.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ve prepared it separately in the carriage, so I’ll give it to you after the party.”

I blinked blankly. My heart started beating fast with excitement at Mardian’s words. How big of a gift could it be that it couldn’t be given here?

“…Isn’t it too much, Miss Mardian?”

“It would be troublesome if you go ahead alone.”

At the seemingly sulky voices of Sharione and Versha, Mardian lightly smiled and stroked my head one last time.

“What wouldn’t we do for our precious young lady?”

Today, Mardian looked more dazzling than ever. Her eyes, usually sharp like a villainess, looked endlessly beautiful now.

“Ma-Miss Mardian…”

“Hehe… Save your thanks for later.”

Whoever called Mardian a twisted villainess must have been wrong. How could someone with such a heart for others be called a villainess? Mardian was an angel.

“Oh, by the way, did you hear about that?”

After that, the conversation quickly shifted to a topic started by a young lady. Although various trivial stories were exchanged, all I could think about was the gifts Mardian had prepared.

What on earth could the gift prepared by Mardian be? A gigantic jewel? Or perhaps enough gold coins to live leisurely for the rest of my life?

It felt like I would soon find the answer to my endless curiosity. As various stories were exchanged among the noblewomen, the early evening light gradually faded, and it was time to head home.

“Happy birthday, Tina.”

“See you next time.”

With the warm words from Versha and Sharione, the noblewomen slowly returned to their homes one by one. The once lively garden fell into silence, leaving behind only the numerous dishes on the table and Mardian’s red eyes gazing at me fondly.

Mardian gracefully sipped from a teacup, a captivating smile lingering on her lips as she extended her hand towards me.

“Tina, let’s go receive your gift.”

“Mardian, you didn’t have to get me a gift.”

“Don’t say that. Come along.”

Mardian stood up and held out her hand. Trying to suppress the excitement pounding in my chest, I subtly lowered my eyes and took her hand.

As we stepped out of the mansion’s front door holding Mardian’s hand, a dazzlingly luxurious carriage awaited. With one coachman and four horses, the carriage was extraordinarily grand. And upon entering the carriage with Mardian, I couldn’t help but be surprised once again.

‘A bed inside a carriage…?’

The interior was so spacious it was hard to tell if it was a carriage or a bedroom. It felt as luxurious as first-class flights in Korea. Though not as splendid as the carriage sent by Bibiana, it seemed comfortable enough to spend an entire day inside.

However, perhaps because it was Mardian, the bed in the center gave me an ominous feeling.

“Tina, would you like to see the gift I prepared?”

But that anxiety quickly melted away at the word ‘gift.’ As I turned my head with an excited heart, a box lay on Mardian’s lap as she sat on the bed.

‘…What? It’s not that big?’

The momentary disappointment vanished as the box lid opened. For a moment, I could only blink in a daze. The box was filled with jewels emitting various lights. Though I had no professional knowledge about gems, even I instinctively knew.

These jewels were all genuine.

And they were immensely valuable.

“Ma-Mardian? This is…?”

“A small token of affection for my pet. I’ve heard your family has a lot of debt, so feel free to sell them and clear it if you want.”

Mardian’s unexpected words brought a wave of confusion. Although I had intended to sell the jewels anyway, I hadn’t expected her to say it outright.

This meant… unlike the jewels hidden in the wardrobe, I could sell these immediately. Such large jewels would surely be of great help to my mother. It might even be enough to pay off all the remaining debt.

Gulp—

I unconsciously swallowed dryly. The dazzling glow of the jewels almost made me lose my mind, but I tried to stay composed and maintained my reason.

“Mardian, I can’t possibly accept this… It’s too much.”

I voiced words that didn’t reflect my true feelings. Mardian stroked my head and placed the jewel box on my lap.

“Take it. I used some of the family fortune, but everything was approved by my father.”

Thump— Thump—

My heart pounded fiercely. If I sold these, my mother wouldn’t have to work through the night anymore. This meant my dream of a leisurely life was just around the corner.

Stay calm. With a gift this big, one should refuse at least twice.

“Mardian, receiving such a gift makes me uncomfortable. Your affection is enough for me…”

“Tina, I know you’re not greedy. But think about your mother, who’s struggling as the head of the family, and accept it.”

This confirmed it.

Mardian was not a villainess.

She was an angel.

An angel like no other in the world.

And… a fool like no other in the world.

CacKle-

“Mardian…”

I uttered in a sad voice and hugged Mardian. Mardian hugged me tightly and gently patted my back.

“Tina, I can give you much more than this if it’s for you.”

At Mardian’s strong words, I buried my face in her shoulder and smiled uncontrollably.

I had no idea. I never expected Mardian, who was so vicious, to have such a soft spot.

‘I’m glad I chose Mardian over Viviana.’

If I had chosen Viviana, I wouldn’t have received such a precious gift. Unlike the stubborn Viviana, Mardian was the perfect master.

“Tina, I truly cherish and love you. Don’t you feel the same?”

I answered without hesitation to Mardian’s question.

“Yes…! You’re the most precious person in the world to me, Mardian!”

Look at how happy she is with just a few words. After all, even the most wicked can’t defy human nature.

“Yes, from now on, I’ll replace these jewels every day.”

“No, Mardian… You’ve already given me too much.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

With those words, Mardian hugged me tightly, her bright red eyes flashing.

“Because starting today, you’ll be mine.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that-“

Stab!

“Ouch?!”

I flinched at the sharp pain piercing my flesh. I let out an involuntary groan from the sudden pain. I wanted to push Mardian away, but I didn’t have the strength to break free from her grip.

In the end, all I could do was glance towards the source of the pain.

A syringe was embedded in my arm. Inside the syringe was a suspicious pink liquid swirling ominously.

“…What?”

As Mardian pressed the tip of the syringe with her thumb, the pink liquid inside slowly began to disappear.

Through the thin needle.

Slowly into my body.

“W-Wait…”