Chapter 49: A Surprisingly cute side

“Uh, my butt…?”

“Yes.”

It was a strange position—lying side by side on the bed with Viviana holding me in a back hug. Feeling awkward, I turned my body to face her. Her usually calm, violet eyes were filled with an inexplicable depth of desire.

“Wh-why… my butt…?”

“Do you remember our first meeting?”

Our first meeting… When was it that I first met Viviana? I pondered for a moment and quickly remembered.

It was deep in the garden of the imperial palace’s banquet that day. When I couldn’t walk after being hit on the butt by Mardian, Viviana had applied ointment to it—directly on my bare butt, no less.

…Come to think of it, I was the one who asked her to apply the ointment to my butt back then.

“It felt good, you know. It had this addictive feeling to it? So, I thought, maybe it’d feel even better if I touched it.”

“Th-that… an addictive feeling?”

“Yes, your butt. Haven’t you ever touched it? If you try, you’ll surely understand…”

Isn’t it natural not to? Who goes around touching their own butt because it feels ‘addictive’?

“Not really… except when I’m washing…”

“It’s so pale and plump. It’s quite pleasant, all bouncy and soft.”

I didn’t particularly want to know what the texture of my butt was like. While I was bewildered by her sudden words, Viviana stared at me intently with eyes full of determination.

“I’m a bit tired today. I think touching your butt would relieve my fatigue… Would that be okay, Tina?”

For a moment, my heart wavered under her intense, desire-filled gaze, but I quickly shook my head to regain my composure.

I wasn’t exactly keen on the idea. My butt isn’t some kind of stress-relief tool… Besides, is it even normal to touch the butt of someone of the same gender?

“I-I think touching the butt of someone of the same gender is a bit… odd?”

“Hmm? Isn’t it actually weirder to touch a man’s butt?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Her sharp logic left me momentarily speechless.

But no matter how I looked at it, Viviana’s request seemed strange.

I’d seen close friends kick each other’s butts playfully, but I’d never seen anyone do it to relieve stress.

Even among women who are generally more physically affectionate, doesn’t touching the butt seem a bit off? In fact, of all the noble ladies I’ve been with, none, except for Mardian, ever tried to touch my butt.

Perhaps noticing my internal conflict, Viviana, with a much colder look in her eyes, pulled me closer and whispered softly in my ear.

“You allowed Mardian to hit your butt, but you won’t even let me touch it? That’s disappointing.”

I was dumbfounded by her unexpected words.

“How do you… know that…?”

“A lady wouldn’t get such a mark on her butt from just a fall.”

She seemed to be referring to the time she applied ointment in the garden. I had been so flustered back then that I blurted out whatever came to mind, but if I’d known it would come back like this, I would’ve been more careful with my words.

“Tina, so, what’s your answer?”

“Th-that…”

“Let me touch it.”

Her gaze was so intense that just looking at her made my face flush.

“Uh, it’s just that… my butt…”

Unable to meet her piercing gaze, I looked away. The heat I felt from Viviana’s eyes quickly cooled.

“…I see, you don’t like it. Got it.”

With those words, Viviana released her hand from my waist and got up from the bed. Caught off guard by her sudden action, I hurriedly stood up after her.

“Viviana…? Where are you going…”

“I’m going to sleep. Good night, Tina. See you tomorrow.”

“Already…? I was hoping we could talk a bit more, or maybe I could give you a massage…”

Viviana is the only person here with whom I can have a conversation. That’s why the time I spend with her is so precious to me.

As fun as it is to mess with Iris, it doesn’t fulfill my fundamental need for genuine communication as much as direct conversations do.

“No, it’s okay.”

But Viviana just smiled faintly and patted my head. The fiery desire she showed earlier, indicating she wanted me intensely, had vanished. For some reason, it felt like her usual affection for me had cooled even more than before.

“Th-then, g-good night, Viviana. See you tomorrow…!”

With no lingering attachment in her voice, I couldn’t bring myself to stop her.

“Yeah, you sleep well too, Tina.”

The door closed without hesitation. Left in the now silent room, I stared blankly out the window for a moment, then chuckled and shrugged.

“Well, it’s just for today, I guess.”

I’d already figured out how to win her over. I’d discovered the perfect sweet talk that works on her. She must have fallen for it completely. She’s probably just tired from all the work today.

Tomorrow, she’ll definitely ask me for another massage.

***

The next day went by just the same.

I ate the breakfast Luna prepared, talked as if to myself to Iris, who never replied, and tried to alleviate my boredom by provoking Ciriel here and there.

But for some reason, today didn’t feel as enjoyable. It seemed like time was passing more slowly than usual.

And so, evening came.

As I lay on the bed, staring out the window alone, the door opened, and Viviana appeared after finishing her work.

As always, I put on a hesitant, timid smile and dashed over to her.

“Ah, welcome back, Viviana…! You worked hard today too.”

“Yeah, thanks. How was your day?”

“Same as usual for me… except I missed you more than usual today…!”

I mixed a high-pitched tone into my slightly trembling voice to sound sweet. I expected Viviana to be flustered by my words, but there was no sign of any wavering in her eyes.

“Yeah, I see. Thanks for saying that.”

Instead, she merely gave me a reluctant smile in response to my sweet talk. An inexplicable sting pierced my heart.

“Th-then…! Shall I give you a massage? I’m sure it will relieve your fatigue…”

Trying to change the increasingly awkward atmosphere, I smiled brightly and took her hand. I was expecting a positive response, but Viviana slowly pulled her hand away and took a step back.

“Not really. I think it’s better to sleep early. You should sleep early too, Tina.”

“…Eh?”

A sigh of disappointment escaped my lips. Viviana gently patted my head with a soft smile.

“See you tomorrow, Tina.”

“Y-you’re leaving already?”

We hadn’t even exchanged a few words yet. It hasn’t even been five minutes since she came into my room.

However, Viviana left the room after saying her final goodbye. Her eyes showed no hesitation, and once again, I couldn’t stop her.

Left alone in the room once more, I blinked blankly for a while before collapsing onto the bed.

Today, too, I couldn’t bring myself to touch a book.

As always, I pulled the blanket over my head, curled up underneath, and tried my best to fall asleep.

For some reason, the bed felt unnecessarily wide today.

***

The next morning dawned. Lying spread out on the bed, I stared at the ceiling and mumbled to myself.

“…Is she sulking?”

Suddenly, the thought crossed my mind.

Could it be because I didn’t let her touch my butt? Is that why she acted so cold, subtly showing her disappointment?

It could be possible.

Viviana knows that I let Mardian touch my butt. Yet, she wasn’t even allowed to touch it herself, so she might feel a bit hurt.

Viviana even mentioned it herself.

So, if she’s been rather cold towards me lately, it would be understandable.

With that thought, the anxiety I had just a moment ago vanished in an instant.

Right, there’s no way her affection for me has faded, right?

Loving beautiful and cute things is human nature. Who wouldn’t like a cute puppy that always welcomes them with a bright smile?

“Viviana has a surprisingly cute side too.”

To show her sulking in such a way—it’s quite a childish act, isn’t it? Seeing this girlish side of her, which is unlike her, I couldn’t help but giggle.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. An undeniably lovely face was reflected there. When I reached out my hand, the girl in the mirror also reached out, as if trying to hold my hand.

“It can’t be helped.”

As the adult here, I have no choice but to make the first move to lighten her mood.

Maybe in the past, I wouldn’t have known, but now, I have no intention of letting Viviana go.

Who else could protect me as steadfastly as she does? Even if I end up in danger in the future, Viviana is a powerful card that can protect me.

Not to mention, all the money she has helps.

Look at me now.

Simply by eating the luxurious meals she provides in her mansion, sleeping in a fancy bed, and occasionally acting cutesy, all the family’s debts have disappeared, and I’ve secured substantial support for the future.

Where else would you find such a sucker?

Since I have no intention of letting go of such a top-tier connection like Viviana, I should be the one to yield first.

Seriously.

“Viviana, you can’t be honest either.”