Chapter 39: Be my Pet

A quiet stillness enveloped the surroundings.

Viviana was rendered speechless by my logic, unable to respond for a while. I felt a sense of victory in her silence.

Yes, she wouldn’t be able to say anything.

How common could someone as twisted as Mardian be? It’s not as if someone as naive as Sharione would ever harm me, so Viviana’s concerns were unnecessary.

I felt a surge of pride at having won against Viviana. However, as I was basking in the afterglow of victory, Viviana stared at me with cold, distant eyes.

“So, are you just going to keep fawning over the ladies like that?”

Her voice was as cold as ice, and I instinctively shrank back. What could have upset her this time? She was truly unpredictable.

“I will. It may seem insincere to you, Viviana, but this is my way of making a living.”

“…How much do you think you’ll earn by selling your smile?”

“Do you know how much I’ve received in gifts from the ladies? If you did, you wouldn’t say that.”

I tried to lighten the cold atmosphere with a joke, but Viviana’s expression only grew colder. Her mood was impossible to read, leaving me flustered.

Could she not understand my way of life? From her perspective, having lived her entire life diligently in the duke’s household, it might be difficult for Viviana to comprehend someone like me.

Desperate to break the increasingly chilly atmosphere, I forced a fake smile and spoke.

“Of course, living as earnestly as you do is admirable, but my way has its comforts too. All I have to do is smile, and people give me expensive things.”

But Viviana remained distant. Was the problem my insincerity, or was it that she couldn’t accept my way of life? Her expression grew colder by the moment.

“Viviana…?”

“Enough.”

Her voice, devoid of emotion, sent a shiver down my spine. There was no affection left in her violet eyes.

“Do as you please. It seems it’s no longer my concern.”

“What…?”

With those final words, Viviana turned her back on me without hesitation. Seeing her cold figure brought back memories I wanted to forget.

My heart sank. My breathing grew labored. Forcing a smile, I extended my trembling hand.

“Vi…Viviana? Where are you going…”

“I’m returning to the duke’s estate. I have a mountain of work to do.”

“What?”

“Tsk. It feels like I’ve wasted my time.”

Viviana’s cold words shattered the mask of pretense on my face. I quickly covered my face with both hands. Fortunately, Viviana didn’t look back. If she had seen my bare face, she would have scorned me.

Lifeless eyes.

A cowering body.

Trembling lips.

I couldn’t show Viviana the dead face that my mother, once, every day, would beat senseless, saying she couldn’t stand to look at me.

“Is that so? If you’re busy, then there’s nothing I can do…”

An empty emotion washed over me. It felt as if I might collapse from the suffocating pressure, but I barely managed to squeeze out the words, trying to sound normal.

“I hope we can meet again.”

“….”

I couldn’t even remember what I said. Viviana didn’t respond at all. When I lowered my hands, she was already walking away.

In the garden where I was left alone, I blankly stared at the spot where Viviana had stood and muttered to myself.

As Viviana said…

I only dropped my pretense and acted sincerely…

So why are you leaving me?

“…I see.”

As expected, you too…

Must have felt disgusted by my true self.

What was I thinking? It was bound to end like this anyway.

If it was going to be like this, I should have just kept pretending from the start. Then, I wouldn’t have felt abandoned again like this.

In the end, my mother in my past life was right.

After all, someone like me is—

“Ha, this is driving me crazy.”

Suddenly, I was lifted into the air along with a clear, sweet voice.

“Hiyack?!”

My heart pounded in shock at the sudden situation. Looking down with trembling eyes, I saw Viviana’s purple eyes meeting mine as she held me in a princess carry.

“V-Viviana…?”

Wait, didn’t she just leave?

When did she come back?

“I’m not the type of person who changes their mind so easily, really…”

Viviana muttered to herself, frowning slightly. I calmed my pounding heart and looked at her.

“Why, why did you come back…? You said you had something to do at the mansion….”

“You kept bothering me.”

“M-Me…?”

What did I do wrong this time?

Why are you blaming me again?

“This won’t do. Being swayed like this doesn’t suit my personality.”

Viviana lifted me even higher. When our eyes were level, her breath tickled my cheek.

“Tina, do you know? I’ve always gotten everything I wanted. The sharpest sword in the world, the most beautiful jewel.”

“Uh… yes, that’s impressive…”

Viviana frowned. She didn’t seem pleased with my answer, but then she smiled down at me.

“Yes, that’s the Merderia way. We don’t rest until we get what we want.”

“…What are you talking about?!”

“Congratulations. You’ve succeeded in seducing me, just as you wanted.”

My eyes widened at Viviana’s sudden confession. I seduced her? That can’t be true. Unlike other ladies, I didn’t fawn over her, and I only showed her my awkward, unmasked self… What could she possibly have seen in that?

“This isn’t good news for you. Since I’ve decided to have you, you won’t be able to escape.”

“I-I don’t understand what you’re saying, Viviana…”

“Tina Blanc.”

Viviana called my name solemnly. Her serious demeanor left me speechless.

“From today, you’ll no longer be the social scene’s plaything. You’ll be my pet.”

“…What?”

“If I hadn’t rescued you, you would have been drugged and sold as a slave to Mardian, right? It’s better for you to be my pet than to face that fate.”

It was an utterly perplexing proposal. In fact, I didn’t mind becoming someone’s pet. After all, many young ladies in high society were already treating me like a toy. If Viviana desired it, I was willing to become her pet.

However, I had no intention of just passively accepting it.

“So, what will you do for me, Lady Viviana?”

“What?”

“When you say you’ll have me all to yourself, does that mean you’ll be the one giving me all the gifts and affection that other young ladies have been giving me?”

If she wanted me to give up being the pet of other young ladies, she would have to offer me something equivalent in return. The value of the gifts I’ve coaxed out of other young ladies is considerable, and I can’t just give that up easily.

“Hah. You’re honest, my lady. Quite greedy, aren’t you?”

“I decided to be honest with you, Lady Viviana.”

“Pff… I like that.”

Viviana gave a faint smile. Seeing her smile at me for the first time in a long while slightly lifted my sunken spirits.

“I’ll pay off all of the Blanc family’s debts.”

“…What?”

At the unexpected words, I blinked blankly. Does she know how much debt the Blanc family has accumulated to speak so easily? Even if my mother’s relentless efforts had cut the debt in half, the remaining amount was still considerable.

“Do you even know how much debt there is?”

“Lady Tina, have you forgotten who I am?”

I couldn’t think of a retort to her confident words. Viviana continued speaking, her smile now even more refreshing.

“And if I judge that the Blanc family business has potential in the future, I will generously support it. When I saw your mother last time, she seemed quite capable.”

My mouth fell open involuntarily.

Support from Viviana? Any family, whether baronial or comital, would immediately jump at the chance to receive the backing of the Merdelia duchy.

I’m not so foolish as to not understand how big a privilege this is. However, the greater the privilege, the more I couldn’t help but ask what the price would be.

“So, what must I give in return?”

“As I said, you just need to become my pet lady. I don’t like relationships that are all talk, so it would be best to draft a contract.”

“A contract?”

“Yes. Tina Blancd, a contract that pledges you will make your master happy as her pet.”

A contract… I felt a bit uneasy.

“Your answer?”

“Think carefully. I’m only asking this once.”

However… the temptation was too great to pass up. The chance to save my mother from a mountain of debt was right in front of me. How could I let it slip away?

My mother would no longer have to suffer. No matter how many jewels other noblewomen brought, it would be hard to gain such a privilege. This was an opportunity that I absolutely couldn’t miss.

In the end, after much deliberation in Viviana’s embrace, I made a quick decision and nodded my head.

“…Alright. You must keep your promise.”

“Of course… I promise.”

“I’ll read the contract carefully, and if there’s anything strange, it’s void.”

“Sure, whatever makes you comfortable.”

Viviana smiled beautifully as she patted my head. Though I had just become her personal possession, moving from a socialite’s pet to Viviana’s own, I didn’t care much. I was too happy knowing that I could pay off all of my mother’s debt.

“Then let’s head to my mansion right away.”

But my joy was short-lived. I blinked in confusion at her unexpected words.

“Huh? To your mansion?”

“You’ve become my pet, haven’t you?”

Viviana wore a mischievous yet alluring smile. It was a familiar expression. Having played the game countless times, I knew exactly what that smile meant.

“I can’t stand seeing my pet wagging its tail at others.”

That smile of Viviana’s meant she was very pleased with the situation.

“For a month, you’ll be confined to a room, my little pet.”

“…What?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your needs.”

Her noble smile contrasted sharply with my face, which I couldn’t even begin to control.

…Confinement?