Chapter 83: Close to Lady Blanc

My heart pounds heavily.

It feels as if something is lodged in my throat, blocking both my breath and my words.

The usual, insincere words I’d effortlessly toss to the young ladies are now stifled by this damned barrier, refusing to come out.

“Are you all right, Lady Blanc?”

Her pink eyes look at me with a glimmer of concern.

Lillian is a kind person.

This was an unchanging rule in the game, one that held true no matter the situation.

But right now, I can’t tell if she’s genuinely worried about me or if there’s something else hidden behind her gaze.

“This is a reaction that occurs when you attempt to lie. If you speak the truth, you’ll feel at ease.”

Lillian’s words make the heat within me flare up even more.

The truth about how much I like the young ladies.

Am I supposed to reveal that truth here?

“Tina…?”

Versha looks at me with worried eyes. Not only her, but the other young ladies are also staring at me with curious expressions.

“I… I think of the young ladies as…”

Suppressing the pain that felt as though my insides were burning, I forced a smile.

I cleared my throat, then managed to speak again.

“They are incredibly precious to me. To the point where I couldn’t live without them. Of course, I like them very much.”

As soon as my words ended, the transparent wall around us radiated a bright light.

A phenomenon that only appears when words of sincerity are spoken.

Watching the softly glowing wall, Versha and the other young ladies’ faces lit up with smiles as radiant as blooming flowers.

Meanwhile, Lillian continued to look at me with an unreadable expression in her eyes.

‘Thank goodness…’

Cold sweat trickled down my back in the tense atmosphere.

Had the question been even a bit more specific, my carefully built social life over the years would have collapsed in an instant.

If they had asked how much I liked the young ladies as people, I wouldn’t have been able to answer like I just did.

The words I spoke about cherishing the young ladies were, of course, true.

And it’s no lie that I like them.

Naturally, isn’t it? They are my essential means of living nobly, my valuable sources of income.

Why wouldn’t I like those who daily shower me with expensive gifts?

Of course, there isn’t a hint of affection for them as people, but as long as they wear content expressions, there’s no issue.

“…I see. Lady Blanc, you truly are obedient.”

Lillian, who had been watching me for a while, offered a gentle smile.

“Y-Yes. Naturally.”

Fearing that Lillian might ask another question, I quickly gave a short answer and made my way out of the barrier as if fleeing.

Yet, perhaps due to the lingering effects of the barrier, my legs gave out momentarily, causing me to stumble.

“You seem unwell, Lady Blanc. Let me support you.”

“Oh, no. It’s alright. I can walk by mys—”

“Please, don’t refuse. As a Saintess, it’s my duty to help others.”

“….”

Lillian disregarded my words, approaching me with a concerned gaze.

I tried to step back, but Lillian’s pace was far faster than mine.

However, just before her hand could reach me, someone abruptly pulled me back with a strong grip.

“Eek?”

The touch was both commanding and gentle. Suddenly yanked, I found myself wrapped in a warm embrace.

“My little pet doesn’t look happy. What’s going on?”

A sharp voice, as piercing as a blade. Turning around, shimmering blond hair brushed before my eyes.

The beautiful face that once captivated high society.

Her gaze was fierce, but no one could deny her beauty.

“L-Lady Mardian!”

“Hehe, you greeting me so warmly makes me feel quite good.”

As I looked into Mardian’s blood-red eyes, gleaming with an unsettling light, a strange sense of relief washed over me.

I never thought I’d feel this glad to see Mardian.

Before I knew it, I clung tightly to her waist, pressing myself into her arms.

Mardian seemed momentarily flustered, her body trembling slightly, but she soon smiled and gently stroked my hair.

“You’re especially adorable today, Tina.”

“I missed you, Lady Mardian…”

At my words, her crimson eyes widened in surprise, a glint of shock flashing across them.

For some reason, I shifted my gaze to Lillian, who stood behind Mardian, biting her lips hard.

Lillian was watching us with a paler expression than before. Just feeling her gaze sent a chill through my body.

Perhaps noticing my trembling, Mardian stepped forward protectively, smiling at Lillian.

“It’s the first time we’re meeting face to face. I am Mardian Abreldine, eldest daughter of Abreldine.”

“…It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Lillian Endoria.”

Lillian returned the greeting with equal poise, her posture dignified.

Mardian gave a slight nod, shifting her gaze to the crowd where Lady Versha and the other ladies stood.

“May I take Tina with me now? I believe I’ve yielded enough.”

“It’s a pity… but yes. Tina doesn’t belong solely to us.”

“Thank you, Lady Versha.”

With Versha’s permission, Mardian gently wrapped her arm around my waist. Leaning close, her lips brushed near my ear as she whispered in a low voice.

“You’re acting rather enticing today. Is this your signal, inviting me to reach out to you?”

“Eek… N-no?”

The whisper sent a shiver down my spine, and Mardian, with a seductive smile, drew me close to her side.

“Lady Abreldine.”

As Mardian and I were about to leave, Lillian’s slightly lowered voice stopped us.

“What is it, Saintess?”

“You seem… very close to Lady Blanc?”

At Lillian’s question, Mardian furrowed one eyebrow.

She narrowed her eyes, looking between me and Lillian, then fixed an unfeeling smile on Lillian.

“Of course. We are closer than anyone.”

Squeeze-!

Mardian’s hand slipped down from my waist and suddenly gripped my rear firmly.

“Hah?!”

Startled, my body trembled, and though I tried to cover my mouth, a high-pitched sound had already escaped.

“M-Mardian…!”

“Then, if you’ll excuse us. I have some private time to spend with my pet.”

Mardian wrapped her arm around my waist and gently guided me.

With no sign of regret, she led me out of the banquet hall.

Left behind in the spot where we had been, Lillian silently watched us leave.

***

After Tina and Mardian left, the young ladies shifted their gazes, stealing glances at the Saintess.

Though a beautiful smile still graced her face, everyone could sense her displeasure.

Being someone with a status rivaling that of royalty, the young ladies were cautious, fearing that the Saintess might form a negative impression of them.

“…May I ask you a question?”

Finally, Lillian parted her lips, her bright, melodious voice breaking the silence.

The young ladies let out a small sigh of relief and offered faint smiles.

“Of course!”

“I heard there was some unpleasantness between Lady Blanc and Lady Abreldine… Yet they seem rather close?”

At Lillian’s words, the young ladies couldn’t hide their momentary surprise.

No one wanted to bring up a story that might leave a negative impression on Mardian, but now that the Saintess herself had mentioned it, they couldn’t avoid answering.

“H-Haha…! Our Tina is so generous and gentle that perhaps such a thing simply happened.”

“No matter how generous, isn’t such a matter hard to forgive?”

Lillian’s gaze was calm yet piercing. Within her eyes lay a silent warning, demanding the truth.

While the young ladies exchanged glances under her pressure, Versha took a brief sip of tea before calmly beginning to speak.

“To be honest, we don’t know the exact details of their relationship, Saintess. But we speculate that, after that incident, the two may have formed an even deeper bond.”

“A bond? Can a relationship grow closer after such an incident?”

What Mardian had done was rape. It was hard to believe that such an event could make a relationship more affectionate.

“Who knows? Perhaps our lovely Tina has a rather unique taste.”

“Although relationships between the same sex are typically forbidden, I can’t help but find myself wanting to support Lady Tina and Lady Mardian, given how beautiful they both are.”

At Versha’s words, the other young ladies blushed faintly and nodded.

“Exactly! It seems like their contrasting personalities only make them look better together.”

“Really, it’s like the love between a lamb and a wolf, isn’t it? Ah, how romantic!”

“Come to think of it, how deep could their relationship have become?”

“They might have already shared everything with each other by now. After all, Mardian has such a bold personality.”

“Oh, my… Just imagining it is thrilling…”

As the conversation turned to romance, the young ladies, as if a spring had burst, eagerly discussed Tina and Mardian’s relationship.

Amid their whispers, Lillian quietly clenched her fist, her eyes empty.

‘You must be so lucky, Lady Blanc.’

Someone had to bear endless criticism and rebuke because of you.

Dozens of dresses were stained with wine, and I had to hold my bruised cheek every day without fail.

Even the friend I once trusted most betrayed me, leaving me to cry and suffer in the corner of the temple’s prayer room all day.

In the end, I lost even the courage to step into high society, gradually fading away and being forgotten.

And yet, you’re fraternizing with that rapist, leaving me behind.

I can’t ignore my intuition, Tina Blanc.

There may be no evidence, and you may still hide behind that radiant smile…

But you did it all.

You were the one who tormented me.

Then, if it was going to end like this…

If you were going to throw me aside so easily…

If you were going to turn your interest away from me and go to that rapist instead, then why did you torment me so?

If you’ve broken me this much, shouldn’t you have seen it through to the end?

So that I could hate you without guilt—

Lillian stared at the ground for a moment, then clenched her fist tightly.

She had learned over years of harsh battles that letting emotions get the best of her was never beneficial.

Now was the time to suppress her feelings.

‘…This is no time to get distracted.’

Suppressing the resentment boiling within her, Lillian put on a smile as she looked at the young ladies.

“Everyone, do any of you know about beings called demons?”