Chapter 84: Unleash all your desires onto me

“So, go on, tell me.”

In the VIP room behind the grand banquet hall, Mardian’s crimson eyes were gazing down at me in the silent atmosphere.

“Why did you seduce the Saintess again?”

Her gaze, different from usual, seemed far from pleased.

I didn’t know what she was thinking, but it was clear that she was misunderstanding something.

“Why do you keep charming people I can’t handle?”

“It’s not like that, Mardian… I’m struggling too…”

“Struggling?”

Mardian raised one eyebrow slightly, looking at me with a skeptical expression.

Lillian Endoria.

Thanks to her antics, my life in the social circles almost crumbled in an instant.

Had her question included even one more word, my hidden secrets could have been mercilessly exposed before countless ladies.

Just the thought sent chills down my spine, and a cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.

No wonder Mardian seemed like a welcome sight.

Though it was only a brief moment, she felt almost like a savior.

At the very least, Mardian, Lillian’s sworn enemy, would never take her side.

“…Mardian.”

I buried my face into Mardian’s chest, nuzzling slightly.

Momentarily flustered by my sudden action, Mardian placed her tightly clenched hands on my waist.

“Tina… why are you testing my patience like this?”

“I’m so exhausted because of the Saintess…”

“…What exactly makes it so exhausting?”

“I’m not sure. But she keeps acting so mean toward me… grabbing my hand painfully, throwing strange questions, even using harsh words at times…”

“…The Saintess is mistreating you?”

“Yes, so I can’t stop thinking about it…”

Normally, I would have rejected Mardian’s touch, but this time, I didn’t avoid it. Instead, I leaned into her even more, gently covering her hand with mine.

“If only the Saintess weren’t around… I’d love to spend more time alone with you, Mardian.”

I looked up at her with pleading eyes, sensing the slight tremor in her body in response to my earnest gaze.

“…If our dear Tina is suffering so much, should I poison her? Would that make things easier?”

Mardian offered a playful smile, joking, but I considered her words seriously for a moment.

Poison.

Under normal circumstances, it would have sounded chilling, but right now, it seemed oddly tempting.

If Mardian could eliminate Lillian for me, I wouldn’t have to endure this turmoil any longer.

In the game’s ending, Mardian’s fate was always to be poisoned.

If she succeeded in poisoning Lillian, it would lead to a bad ending. If she failed, the story would end with Mardian on the execution block.

‘Not a bad idea.’

Initially, I was unsure, but now I was convinced.

Lillian is trying to take revenge on me.

In any route, the gentle Lillian, who never once spoke of revenge, was showing such deep malice toward me alone. I couldn’t understand why.

What did I do so wrong?

But one thing was clear: if this continued, the position I’d built in society might crumble.

That couldn’t happen.

If that was the case, perhaps acting a bit boldly and removing her was the right choice.

I gently took Mardian’s hand and guided it, placing it not anywhere else but on my backside.

Then, encouraging her hand to grip, I whispered softly.

“Tina, you…”

“Poisoning… I’m not really sure… But if Lord Mardian would go that far for me, I might just end up falling for you.”

“What?”

Feeling Mardian’s gaze deepen, I smiled inwardly.

Slowly, I guided her hand under my skirt. My body trembled slightly as her cold fingertips brushed against my skin.

Carefully, I placed Mardian’s hand onto the inner part of my thigh and whispered softly.

“…I might just fall for you so deeply that I’d want to give you everything.”

“W-What?”

Mardian looked at me, wide-eyed, as if caught off guard.

It was rare to see her, always so seductive and composed, this flustered.

My words must have shocked her.

My statement was an outright declaration of hostility toward the Saintess.

I knew that my actions today were different from usual, but I couldn’t think of any other way to deal with Lillian.

After all, even if Mardian were to discover the dark secrets I hid, she surely wouldn’t leave me.

The reason for her obsession with me wasn’t my innocent and harmless facade.

She was attached to my doll-like beauty and my frail, slender frame that roused her base, perverse desires.

So even if she knew about my ugly personality, Mardian would still lust after my body.

Like a pervert.

“Tina, do you even know what you’re saying?”

Mardian swallowed hard, her Adam’s apple moving visibly.

Gently, I guided her fingertips to brush along the inner part of my thigh once more. Her touch, cold yet searing, sent a subtle tremor through me.

“Mardian… I’m not as naïve as you think.”

As Mardian looked at me with trembling eyes, I leaned closer to her ear and let out a tender breath.

“How could I not fall for someone willing to risk everything for me? I’ve wanted to devote myself to a hero like that my whole life.”

My whisper deepened the longing in Mardian’s gaze.

She still seemed hesitant, yet her eyes bore an undeniable desire. She gripped my thigh more firmly, her touch pressing into my flesh.

“…Tina, but the Saintess now holds power rivaling that of royalty. To harm her would be akin to challenging the royals themselves.”

“And wouldn’t that make me fall for you even more?”

I calmly took her other hand, drawing it towards my lips.

Leaving a brief kiss on her forefinger, I carefully slid her finger into my mouth.

“Haa- Mmm…”

Slowly, I moved my tongue, coating Mardian’s finger with my saliva.

Each time I tenderly caressed her finger with my tongue, the remaining flickers of reason in her gaze gradually faded.

‘…Not yet.’

But still, there was a hint of hesitation in Mardian’s eyes.

Swallowing a sigh internally, I guided both of her hands around my neck and slowly spread her palms, inviting her to encircle my throat.

“If it comes to that, I might want to devote myself solely to you, Mardian.”

“Devote?”

“Yes, any form of devotion, you can unleash all your desires onto me.”

“…Any desire?”

“Yes, whatever you wish.”

Leaning in for one last whisper as if leaving a kiss on her ear, I murmured softly.

“In that case, you won’t need any potions.”

At those words, the last traces of reason disappeared from Mardian’s eyes.

The grip on my neck tightened.

“So–cough–?!”

A strangled moan escaped my lips as my breath was cut off.

As Mardian squeezed my neck harder, a deep, burning pain radiated through my chest.

“This wretched bitch… Are you trying to test my patience?!”

“Gh… Ha, hkk!”

“You don’t even know how much I’m holding back!”

Each time her fingers pressed hard against my throat, nausea surged as if my insides were being turned upside down.

“Kh… khh…”

As I struggled to breathe, my heart began pounding fiercely, and my entire body trembled in resistance.

With a blazing glare, Mardian, who was strangling me, bit her lip and abruptly lowered her head.

Then, she slowly released the grip on my neck.

“Haa…! Hk, haak…”

“…Fine. So, in the end, you want me to make sure the saintess never shows up in front of you again?”

Mardian took a deep breath, roughly running her fingers through her disheveled hair.

“Tina, I don’t know why you hate the saintess so much… but now, that reason doesn’t matter.”

She grabbed my chin firmly, tilting it up, and looked down at me with eyes glowing red.

“Your words… you’d better keep them.”

With a voice simmering like a beast’s growl, Mardian left the room with a determined stride.

Like the aftermath of a storm, the VIP room of the banquet hall fell into silence.

I gently touched the marks left on my neck with my fingertips.

“…It’s probably bruised.”

Feeling the sting of pain, I frowned slightly and lowered my head.

Lillian, although our relationship isn’t great, I’m sincerely asking you this one time.

Please die peacefully by Mardian’s hands.

After all, even if you die, you’re going to heaven.

I, on the other hand, have nowhere to go but hell.

So, for the sake of poor me, I hope you’ll step back from the protagonist’s spot just this once.

You’re a good person, right? You’ll grant my request… won’t you?

***

The soft, sunset breeze rustled through the estate of the duchy.

A woman dressed in a striking black uniform slowly stepped out toward the grand entrance.

With hair that held the color of a deep night sky flowing down like silk, she looked down at the bouquet in her hand with eyes as radiant as amethysts.

The dazzling flowers, a blend of blue and white hues, bloomed vibrantly.

They were carefully picked, one by one, from the duchy’s garden with her in mind.

Although she spent hours in the garden to complete the bouquet despite her lack of knowledge about flowers, she felt a sense of accomplishment from its beautiful colors.

“Lady, the carriage is ready.”

“…Yes.”

At the maid’s words, the woman quietly moved past the front gate.

Beyond the gate, a large black carriage awaited. The coachman greeted her politely, and the woman calmly set foot on the carriage’s steps.

But just before stepping inside, she turned her head, gazing at the slowly setting sun.

She glanced back at the bouquet in her hand and wore a faint, somber smile as she whispered softly.

“…I hope you can forgive me.”

Viviana, carrying her earnest wish upon her tongue, finally opened the carriage door.