Chapter 21: A flirtatious smile

“Shall we test it out, darling?”

Viviana spoke as she placed her finger on my lips. Her voice was utterly cold, and no emotion could be seen in her eyes, but having played this game many times, I knew well. Viviana had a habit of suppressing her emotions whenever she felt deeply stirred.

“Yes, if that is what the Lady wishes.”

I left a gentle kiss on the finger that lightly rested on my lips. Sometimes, when I lightly licked the tip of her finger with the tip of my tongue, I could feel Viviana’s finger tremble slightly.

I carefully wrapped Viviana’s hand in both of mine. Slowly opening my tightly closed lips, I gently drew her finger into my mouth.

Her slender finger slowly entered my mouth. Perhaps Viviana could feel my breath through her finger.

And just as I was about to close my lips, I carefully let go of Viviana’s finger with a slight smile.

“I’m joking. I only do this kind of sweet talk for my beloved masters who take care of me.”

“Instead, I’ll give you some information that will be useful to you, Lady.”

I stood up and quietly sat across from Viviana. She stared at me with dark eyes without saying a word.

I took out a piece of stationery from inside my skirt and handed it to Viviana, but her gaze remained fixed on my face, not on the paper.

Honestly, it was a bit scary, but I gave a small smile. After a moment of silence, Viviana finally accepted the letter and opened it. She slowly read through its contents, then let out a hollow smile as she pushed her bangs back.

“Ha.”

“Will this information be helpful to you, Lady?”

“Miss Blanc, this time it’s not a joke, so I’d like a proper answer.”

Viviana’s eyes flashed sharply like a beast’s for a moment. The suffocating atmosphere made my whole body freeze instantly. In that chilling fear, Viviana spoke indifferently.

“What exactly are you?”

Just that look alone felt like it was piercing my mind with a murderous intent. Yes, this was the true face of Viviana. The butcher of the battlefield, known as the bloodthirsty monster. No one could predict where the tip of this monster’s sword would point.

“Didn’t you like the information?”

“No, it was information I needed. Suspiciously so.”

Viviana glanced over the letter once more, then had a subtle smile that seemed like a sneer. It was similar to Mardian’s expression, but it suited her, making her seem all the more noble.

“Knowing exactly what was needed at the right time… Isn’t it too suspicious for the daughter of a declining baron?”

“Lady Viviana, I am a pet.”

Though I felt a chilling sensation, as if my head could be severed at any moment, I smiled brightly. Despite the cold, I was certain Viviana wouldn’t harm me.

“And people, you know, don’t bother hiding their emotions in front of a pet.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“…Even young ladies who always wear a thorough mask in front of others become quite honest when they’re alone with me.”

Viviana slightly raised an eyebrow, as if catching my intention. I spoke with my usual harmless smile.

“Everyone wants comfort and empathy when they’re going through tough times. And thankfully, they turn to me during those times.”

“Could you elaborate?”

“They don’t hide extremely personal stories from me, like if their fiancé cheated or if they’ve secretly squandered their wealth on gambling. They want my empathy.”

“…..”

“I always empathize. I try to offer at least a small comfort for their sadness or anxiety. That’s my role as a pet, after all.”

Whether they truly see me as a pet or not, they don’t hesitate to confide even their secrets to me. The young ladies share their burdens with me, and I do my best to comfort them, relieving them of their emotional loads.

Because that’s the role of a pet.

“You can’t imagine how many stories I hear in a day, can you, Lady?”

“…So, it’s like you’re holding the weaknesses of many young ladies in your hands?”

“Oh, no, no. How could I use that against them? I wouldn’t want to betray the people who take care of me. And besides, there’s no real evidence, anyway.”

I flashed a bright smile at Viviana. She looked at me with deep, predatory eyes for a long time before finally leaning back on the sofa.

“…You’re terrifying, Lady of the Blanc family. I can’t even imagine how the Blanc family will change in a few years.”

“I’d be happy just to pay off the family’s debts.”

My real goal is a simple life. A peaceful life with my mother, doing nothing with ample finances. Eating when I want, sleeping when I want—a life of freedom.

Hehe, just thinking about it makes me happy.

I wiped the drool from my lips and looked up at Viviana with a bright smile.

“If you ever have any difficult concerns, please feel free to confide in me, Viviana.”

“Are you saying that after just admitting you could use the young ladies’ weaknesses against them?”

“Oh, come on… I wouldn’t do anything to harm you, Viviana.”

“Well, after seeing the hidden side of you, it’s hard to believe.”

It seems that what I did to Rose was a critical mistake that Viviana discovered. But since it’s already out, I can’t avoid it. I’ll just think positively, as it has piqued Viviana’s interest.

“Then we’re secret friends.”

“…Secret friends?”

Viviana raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled. I slowly stood up and approached her. After carefully gauging her mood, I gently linked arms with her.

“I know you play the piano, and you know my secret, so we’re secret friends.”

“It seems like the weight of the secrets is a bit different, though.”

“But a secret is a secret. It’s an intimate and exciting relationship that only you and I know about.”

As I faced Viviana with a bright smile, she looked down at me with endlessly serious purple eyes.

“Young lady, I’ve been curious for a while. That smile—where did you learn to smile like that?”

“Excuse me?”

“I want to know where that sly, flirtatious smile comes from.”

Normally, I’d be flustered and ask, ‘What do you mean?’ But instead, I blinked blankly at Viviana’s sharp remark.

The real me didn’t smile much. There was a reason why I scored 95% on the T scale. The only times I smiled were when I played games alone in my room.

But in social life, smiles are essential. Especially for someone like me, with a gloomy personality, I had to smile to blend in with people.

The smile on my face now is one I’ve crafted after hundreds of hours of practice in the bathroom of my studio apartment, thinking of my childhood friend.

Whether it was the result of my efforts or not, I eventually found myself able to smile naturally. Since then, people gradually began to have a favorable impression of me, allowing me to blend smoothly into society.

But why is Viviana suddenly bringing up the topic of laughter?

“Do you dislike the way I smile?”

“…It’s just a little strange.”

Strange?

I was caught off guard by her unexpected words.

This can’t be happening…?

A natural smile should make me appear as harmless as possible, but could my smile have become awkward with my changed body?

Other ladies had liked my smile until now, but if Viviana found it odd, all my efforts would be in vain.

After all, Viviana is the person I need to persuade the most right now. It seems I’ll need to spend some time practicing my expressions in front of the mirror again.

“…I’m sorry.”

As I lowered my eyes and spoke in a weak voice, Viviana immediately responded with a trembling look in her eyes.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I feel strange… ah, never mind….”

Viviana, usually so composed, muttered as if to herself, then let out a short sigh and looked at me.

“So? What are you going to do now, Lady Blanc?”

“What do you mean…?”

“I don’t attend most social gatherings. I’m saying I can’t protect you forever.”

“Uh-huh….”

That’s true. If it weren’t for a direct invitation from the palace, I wouldn’t have had the chance to face Viviana. She probably won’t come to the next gathering, and if that’s the case, there’s a high chance that Mardian will do something like that again.

“Actually, there’s another favor I’d like to ask of you, Lady Viviana.”

Before that, I need to win her favor. I must somehow persuade her to develop a protective instinct toward me and want to keep me safe from Mardian.

“Could you invite me to your residence?”

“…What?”

Her amethyst-colored eyes wavered momentarily. I glanced at Viviana with a shy blush and spoke in a small voice.

“I really want to hear you play the piano. In fact, I’ve been thinking about you all day, Lady Viviana….”

“Would that be okay?”

Viviana’s residence.

If I could go there.

I could earn her goodwill.