Chapter 149: You have a Very Strong Masochistic tendency

[There’s no special reason. It’s just that my mansion is close to the temple, so I asked you to come here.]

[Then don’t worry. I’ll take Tina to the temple every morning.]

[No, I can’t take up your busy time, Princess. I’m going to the temple anyway, so it makes sense to go with me.]

[No, it’s fine. If it’s for Tina, I can spare that much time for her for the rest of my life. You don’t have to worry about it, Lillian.]

[…Princess, you want me to stay at my mansion, right?]

[Wouldn’t my ducal estate suit Tina better than the Count’s mansion?]

​creak—

[So, you’re really saying this, right?]

[I don’t understand what you mean. Do you have some hidden agenda?]

After a fierce battle, the result was a draw. In the end, I decided to stay alternately at Lillian and Viviana’s mansions every other week.

This week’s schedule was to go to the temple from Lillian’s mansion.

Honestly, I wanted to go to my mother’s mansion, but the Blanc family mansion is somewhat far from the Imperial Temple, so I had no choice.

“Come in, Tina.”

Lillian reached out her hand.

The mansion, which I hadn’t seen for months, was still as grand as ever.

Holding her hand and passing through the front gate, the familiar hallway unfolded before me. At least this place was something I clearly remembered.

I naturally stepped toward the left hallway. But at that moment, Lillian’s hand grabbed mine.

“Where are you going, Tina?”

“Huh? To the basement…”

“What?! Why there?”

Lillian and I looked at each other with shocked expressions.

“Isn’t that where I should be…?”

“Huh? No, what do you mean—”

Lillian’s eyes trembled. Was she not intending to lock me in the basement?

“It’s fine, Lillian. I actually feel comfortable in the basement.”

“No, why would I lock Tina in there?”

“…Really?”

“Of course, I’ll give you the guest room. The best room in the mansion, too.”

“…That room is too much for someone like me.”

“Tina…!”

Sadness appeared in Lillian’s eyes. Why was she sad? She should know better than anyone that I am a sinner.

Perhaps that’s why she locked me here.

“Please don’t worry about someone like me, Lillian.”

I softly grabbed her hand and asked. I came here to become a believer, not to owe Lillian a favor.

“Please put me in the basement.”

I spoke seriously, looking into her eyes. Lillian silently stared at me. There was a faint sense of guilt in her gaze.

“It might be too late to turn back…”

She said, lowering her gaze as she pushed her hair back. In an instant, her eyes became cold and pierced through me.

I blinked, stunned.

“I forgot what kind of person Tina is.”

“Huh?”

“Did you not know, Tina? You have a very strong masochistic tendency.”

“W-What?!”

Her sudden remark made my face flush. Masochistic tendencies? Isn’t that a completely random and absurd thing to say?

“W-What kind of shameless thing are you saying!”

“Could it be… that you didn’t know?”

“I—I didn’t know anything! I’m not like that! Don’t say strange things, Lillian!”

Masochistic? I never expected to hear such a vulgar word. How could someone like her, a saint, say something like that.

Even though I’m a sinner, being looked at like that is troubling.

“Tina, are you saying that no matter what I say, you still want to go to the basement?”

Lillian asked, stepping closer.

“… Yes. I feel comfortable there.”

“Come to think of it, Tina said that. She said she would take on all the punishment for the sins committed by the devil.”

“Yes. It’s all… because of what I did.”

“So, you’re saying you’ll take the punishment for everything, including being cast out of the social circle and the attempted poisoning?”

“Yes, yes…”

The air around us grew heavier. There was no longer any kindness in Lillian’s pinkish eyes.

“… Yes.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Huh? What don’t you understand…?”

“You say you’re repaying the debt to me, but why do you keep disobeying me?”

Suddenly, Lillian grabbed my hair. She lifted my head, forcing me to face her eyes.

“Talking about the underground prison… Does that mean you want me to treat you like I did back then?”

“Ah, Li-Lillian…?”

“When we’re alone, I told you to call me ‘sister.’ Have you forgotten already, Tina?”

Lillian’s hand forcefully tilted my head back. A sharp pain spread through my head, and I instinctively let out a groan.

“Ugh…!”

“Now, will you call me, Tina?”

“Li-Lili… Lillian… Sister…”

“Good, that’s right.”

Lillian’s eyes gleamed with desire. She gazed at me with half-closed eyes, slowly caressing her chin.

“Listen to your sister, Tina. Don’t argue, just sleep in the room I gave you.”

“B-but…”

“Are you arguing now?”

“N-no…! It’s just that…”

“You’re arguing, huh?”

Lillian’s normally kind and warm gaze, which enveloped everyone with affection, now pressed down on me with a menacing aura.

“If you argue one more time, I’ll punish you.”

“Ugh… I’m sorry…”

“You’ll sleep in the room I gave you, right?”

Lillian’s heavy presence surrounded me, and in the end, I could only quietly nod my head.

“Yes… Yes, I will…”

“Good.”

At my response, Lillian finally gave me a gentle smile.

She slowly loosened her grip on my hair and tenderly fixed my disheveled locks.

“I’ll call for you at dinner. Rest in your room until then, Tina.”

Her soft voice tickled my ear. I clenched my fingers tightly and silently nodded.

“Hehe, I’ll see you later. The maid will guide you.”

I watched Lillian’s back as she walked away.

… Why?

The gaze she had just cast on me, looking down on me forcefully, like she was treating me as an object… that cold, emotionless look…

It wouldn’t leave my mind.

‘… Why is my heart beating so fast?’

In this confusing feeling, I stood there for a while, absentmindedly fidgeting with my fingers.

***

Later.

Lillian’s words about the room being ‘good’ were no exaggeration.

No, it was beyond that.

Not only was the luxurious interior impressive, but there was also a bed large enough to comfortably fit five people. Even the shared bathroom was spacious and glamorous, enough to be mistaken for a private one.

It was a lavish space, more than I could ever deserve.

“Arrival!”

Thud—!

The door opened, and a girl cheerfully ran into the room. Her black hair fluttered like the night sky, and her red eyes sparkled.

“Did you come, Nia?”

My childhood friend, Nia.

After agreeing with Lillian, Nia decided to come here with me on a carriage.

–Kiaa! How dare you take me to such a shabby place—!

–Then do you want to go back to Grandma Miranda’s house instead?

–……

It was almost forced, but since Nia had done many wrongs to Lillian, she had no choice but to follow her words.

“I wonder if having my own body might not be so bad after all!”

Nia spun around and showed off her new form. She seemed quite pleased with the fact that she now had her own body.

Of course, it was a shell far removed from a human’s body. It was a sacred shell created with divine power, the complete opposite of a demon.

“Is this your room? It’s really nice…”

Nia, who had been looking around the room with wide, bright eyes, suddenly plopped down onto the bed.

“The bed is huge! This size would be perfect for two people to sleep without any problem!”

“Don’t say such nonsense.”

A firm voice cut off Nia’s words. Without her noticing, Lillian was standing by the door, leaning against the wall.

“Nia, I will give you a separate room. It’s on the opposite side of Tina’s room.”

“What?! No! Tina and I are connected from our past lives—”

“Shouldn’t you be grateful that I brought you here, after you poisoned me, and even gave you a room?”

“…”

Nia looked at me with pleading eyes. Unfortunately, I had no words to offer, so I silently shook my head.

“…Okay.”

In the end, Nia, defeated, got up from the bed with a sigh. Lillian, who had been watching her closely, let out a deep sigh and spoke.

“…Instead, I’ll take you to the temple with Tina and me starting tomorrow.”

“Really?!”

Her red eyes, which had been downcast just a moment ago, lit up with excitement again. Barefoot, she jumped around happily and then headed out of the room with a light smile.

But… is it really okay for a demon to go to the temple?

…Well, if Nia’s happy with it, that’s what matters.

“Goodbye, Tina! I’ll see you tomorrow!”

With a bright smile, Nia disappeared. Lillian gazed at the spot where she had been.

“…She didn’t even tell me where her room is.”

Hmm.

Even after gaining a physical form, it seems like she still has her clumsy side.