Chapter 45: The Unchanging nature of a Women

“…What?”

It’s chilling.

Viviana, who had been speaking as if she would allow anything just a moment ago, was now looking down at me with eyes that had gone cold. Her gaze was so filled with a deadly aura that just being on the receiving end of it sent a shiver through my skin, as if it were freezing over.

“You… want to send a letter to those girls…?”

“Yes…”

At my admission, the atmosphere grew even colder. Normally, I would have withdrawn after gauging the situation, but I couldn’t back down this time. I had to send that letter to them, no matter what.

“You…”

“It’s for you, Lady Viviana…!”

Viviana raised one eyebrow, her face still twisted. From the way she was silently staring at me, it seemed she was telling me to continue.

“Well, it’s a bit awkward to say it myself, but… those ladies seemed to like me quite a lot? And, well, I’ve attended all the banquets until now, but it’s been three days since they’ve heard anything from me…”

“So?”

“They must be worried. And if they hear that you’ve kept me at your estate, rumors are bound to spread. I just want to prevent any problems before they arise…”

Viviana’s face remained cold, but the tension in the air eased slightly.

“No matter how much they end up resenting me, they wouldn’t dare lay a finger on the Duke of Merdeillia’s house.”

Of course. I know that.

Versha, Mardian, Sharione.

No matter how much influence they held in high society, or how deep the roots of their families ran, there are some walls that can’t be overcome.

There are only four great duchies in the empire. And the Merdeillia Duchy household, in particular, might as well be considered from a different world. How else could Viviana have tossed Mardian from a carriage and that infamous villainess not have said a single word?

“Tina, you’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

I flinched.

Viviana’s sharp intuition made me tremble. I forced a smile onto my face, masking my anxiety, and answered.

“What are you talking about?”

“Usually, someone cunning also tends to be clever. They’re quite good at discerning situations.”

Viviana pulled me closer by the waist, and I found myself face to face with her once more.

“I don’t believe that someone as sly and crafty as you would fail to recognize how dangerous it would be to worry about me in front of those ladies.”

“Th-th…”

Her piercing purple eyes swept over me. Flustered by the sudden situation, I glanced around, trying to avoid her intense gaze.

“Be honest, Lady. Why do you really want to send the letter?”

I couldn’t bring myself to speak, lowering my head instead. But Viviana wasn’t having it; her hand immediately lifted my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes again.

“Tina, you need to talk.”

“Ugh…”

I kept my lips tightly sealed. Viviana continued to stare into my eyes, silently waiting for an answer. I wished she would just say something—anything—but the quiet was only urging me on, tormenting me.

Viviana…

You’re really…

I squeezed my eyes shut and whispered softly.

“…Idiot.”

“…What?”

Viviana furrowed her brows, having caught that tiny whisper. Embarrassed, I tried to turn my head away, but Viviana’s hand gently guided my face back into place.

“What do you mean, ‘idiot’?”

“As your pet… I just wish you’d understand my heart a little…”

“Huh?”

From the look on Viviana’s face, she seemed utterly clueless. Normally, she was so sharp—why was she so dull right now?

“No matter how strong the Merdeillia Duchy is… aren’t you underestimating them a bit too much?”

“So what? A cockroach in the house would be more of a threat.”

“Do you really think that? If it looks like you’ve kidnapped and confined me, it’s going to seem like an abduction from the outside. Those three will definitely use that to tarnish your reputation!”

“Wait, hold on.”

Viviana stepped back from me with a bewildered voice. After staring at me intently for a while, she finally opened her mouth, looking utterly confused.

“So… you really want to send the letter because you’re worried about me?”

“O-of course! I don’t want to cause even the slightest harm to you, Lady…”

Viviana’s normally steady amethyst eyes wavered weakly. As if my clumsy words were too hard for her to believe, she stood there, staring at me as if she were in a daze.

There was a few minutes of silence.

“…Write a letter.”

Finally, Viviana broke the silence and gave her approval. But that wasn’t all. With a gentle look, Viviana patted my head and said something I didn’t expect.

“From tomorrow, you don’t have to tie anything around your arm.”

“Pardon…?”

“And I’ll bring you a book. Read it when you’re bored.”

Naturally, my eyes widened in surprise. I blinked in a daze, taken aback by this sudden reward.

“Really…?”

“Yes.”

Viviana is not the type of person to say one thing and then change her mind. She truly intended to reward me. Overcome with joy, I smiled brightly and threw myself into Viviana’s arms.

Swoosh!

“Thank you, Viviana!”

Viviana effortlessly caught my light frame as I rushed toward her. I couldn’t contain my overflowing happiness, so I buried my face in her shoulder and rubbed against her for a while.

I’m happy.

Truly happy.

How could I not be?

Finally.

Finally, I’ve found a way to charm Viviana.

‘So you like seeing vulnerability, huh, Viviana?’

The pretense that so many noble ladies adored in me didn’t work on Viviana. On the contrary, the more I smiled brightly and acted charmingly, the colder she pushed me away.

But while our preferences were a bit different, in the end, there was still something she liked.

From the moment Viviana asked me to be her pet, there was one thing that puzzled me.

She said she was fascinated by me.

For someone who saw through all my pretenses like a hawk, what exactly had enchanted her about me? Without my facade, all that’s left of me is weakness and incompetence. Could Viviana really like those traits?

Doubt turned into a possibility, and the possibility became a theory. And finally, I figured out what it was that drew Viviana to me.

When I asked her to apply ointment to my sore bottom, when I begged her not to leave because of a bad nightmare, when I was feeling down after a conflict at Lady Sharione’s mansion—

It was then that Viviana looked at me with eyes full of kindness.

The more I let go of myself, the more satisfied Viviana became. The harder it was for me to say embarrassing things, and the more I lowered my head in insecurity, the softer her gaze on me became.

Just like now.

Worried that Viviana is concerned about me sending letters to the noble ladies?

Heh.

As if that could be the case.

I know better than anyone what kind of person Viviana is.

A monster who earned the title of Evernight at just 15 years old, the very person the Emperor himself called ‘Sword Saint’. There’s no way a lady from a prominent count’s family could challenge her by asserting her power.

The reason I want to send letters is simple.

The love I’ve garnered from the noble ladies over the years—I’m not going to let that go. After all the effort I put into building those relationships, how could I just give them up?

Viviana is willful and unpredictable. She grabs onto whatever catches her interest, but once that interest wanes, she heartlessly discards it.

How could I rely solely on her when I never know when she’ll tire of me and leave?

One year? Two years? If I manage to maintain her favor well enough, maybe I could bask in her riches for three years.

However, what if Viviana loses interest afterward?

Guaranteeing safety is just as important as money for a peaceful life of leisure. It’s the assurance that no matter what happens, my tranquil life won’t be disturbed.

In order to achieve that, as much as wealth is needed, so is a strong network of connections. That’s why I can’t let go of my ties with Versha, let alone Sharione.

Honestly, Mardian was something I hesitated about, but I plan to approach her again someday. Soon, the second protagonist will take over and satisfy her twisted desires instead of me.

Our holy protagonist will take care of her overpowering lust, and all I need to do is maintain a moderate relationship with Mardian.

But didn’t I promise that I wouldn’t pretend in front of Viviana?

Yes, I certainly made that promise. And when I made up my mind back then, I was somewhat sincere.

But do you know what?

A person’s resolve changes dozens of times in a single day. No one can guarantee that a promise made yesterday will be kept tomorrow.

After all, laziness is a fundamental instinct of humans.

There’s a reason why sloth is one of the seven deadly sins.

If people lived strictly by their resolutions, there would only be success, and no failure.

Why do couples who blindly believe in love get divorced, and why do affairs happen?

Even criminals who swear never to commit another crime after being released end up doing the same thing.

Most people who have tried drugs, even knowing the ruin that awaits, eventually return to them.

Choosing the easy path is human nature.

No matter how brilliant and competent Viviana is, she won’t be able to change someone as rotten as me.

When Viviana first saved me, I genuinely felt deep gratitude. But as time passed and I thought about it more coldly, that feeling naturally faded.

I wondered why she liked me, why she was interested in me. And eventually, the conclusion pointed to just one thing.

It was none other than Viviana who pointed to it.

A lovely appearance that would mesmerize anyone who saw it. And a personality that reminded me of my childhood friend, whom I found the most lovable in my life.

Who could possibly dislike the current Tina, with her charming blend of both traits? Viviana likely fell for me because of those qualities too.

And of course, neither of those qualities truly belong to me. Just as Artasha mistakenly believes I’m her real daughter and showers me with false love, Viviana’s favor is also not genuinely directed at me.

Since I’ve stolen Tina’s body and possessed it.

Everything is false.

Once this appearance withers and becomes unattractive, I’ll be discarded like an old shoe.

‘Not that it really matters.’

I’ve merely possessed a pretty girl, so I’ll just take advantage of that and reap the benefits.

Some may call me vile and ruthless, but that’s just who I am. All I’m after is money, something every human instinctively desires.

At least money…

…will still be by my side when I’m no longer Tina.