Chapter 7: The Villainess Mardian.

“Admire?”

“Yes. I really Admire you, Mardian.”

Her blood-red eyes, which seemed to be drenched in blood, wavered for the first time. It was natural for her to be taken aback. Knowing she ran an illegal gambling den and still saying I admire her must have been absurd from her perspective.

But after blinking in a daze for a moment, Mardian soon glared at me with eyes full of suspicion.

“Ha, what are you up to, Lady Blanc? I don’t know what you’re aiming for, but if you think I’ll be easy to fool—”

“It’s not a trick! I really, truly like you, Mardian.”

“Ugh…”

With sparkling eyes, I stared directly into Mardian’s red eyes. It seemed that she felt more burdened than I did, as she was the first to avert her gaze.

But I didn’t give up. I followed her eyes with a sincere gaze and a smile full of excitement.

“…Why?”

In the end, my sincere feelings seemed to reach her, and the suspicion in Mardian’s eyes gradually subsided. I felt a sense of relief at her considerably softened tone.

‘Thank goodness, it’s working.’

In my previous life, I was quite an emotionally insensitive person. I once took an MBTI test and scored 95% on the T (Thinking) trait, indicating a lack of emotion. In middle school, I was even called a psychopath.

But the reason I was able to adapt smoothly to the harsh modern society was thanks to a childhood friend I had known since I was young.

She was the complete opposite of me.

She would grieve with others, laugh with them, and even cry for them, embodying extreme empathy.

Usually, in such cases, one might think it was forced empathy, but her expressions always carried genuine feelings, and no one ever disliked her for it.

Eventually, she became a person liked by everyone, regardless of age or gender. To be honest, there was a time when I liked her too.

Anyway.

Putting aside my embarrassing past, having spent so much time with my childhood friend, I learned her empathetic ways.

They say truly close friends become alike over time. Before I knew it, I also became someone who could empathize with others, laugh with them, and share their struggles.

The difference between us was that my empathy was purely an act without a shred of genuine feeling. But if the other person felt it was sincere, that was enough, right?

Having perfectly learned how to empathize with people’s emotions from my childhood friend, I was able to integrate smoothly into society. And fortunately, this ability seemed to work in this world too. Even the harsh villainess Mardian’s guard was lowered by it.

However, there was one problem.

My childhood friend, despite not being in a romantic relationship, would engage in physical affection without hesitation. She showed restraint with men but was freely affectionate with women, holding hands, linking arms, and expressing her affection without reservation.

Knowing that a certain level of affection between women was acceptable, I didn’t think much of it.

I believed the reason why she was always popular with men and never envied by other women was due to this physical affection.

They say that physical closeness leads to emotional closeness, after all.

However, as a man who has lived most of his life, I do not know where the boundaries of physical affection lie. I had never thought about becoming a woman, so I had never considered this before.

But now, I must learn. What ways are there for a young lady of a declining barony to survive? The only option would be to cling to the young ladies who possess much greater power than I do.

‘Seeing Artasha, it seems like a cheek kiss is acceptable.’

However, rather than acting hastily, it would be better to approach slowly. With this thought, I gently took Mardian’s hand.

“You probably don’t believe me…?”

“Of course not. If you’ve heard the story about the Camilia gambling house, you wouldn’t think that way. There’s clearly some ulterior motive.”

Indeed, if I were her, I would be suspicious too. But this was something I had to overcome. When I thought of Artasha working hard day and night for our peaceful idle life, there was nothing I couldn’t do.

I discarded all pride and decided to focus solely on gaining Mardian’s favor. With the most pitiful eyes, I looked up at her and intertwined our fingers tightly.

Speaking in the gentlest, most harmless voice possible to avoid offending her, I said,

“But… I really like you, Mardian…”

“…Hmm?”

I could do it. Even if I couldn’t become a close friend, I was confident I could at least gain her favor.

So, just wait a little longer, Artasha.

I’ll bring you some good news soon.

“Mardian, who is this young lady?”

Young ladies in luxurious dresses adorned with jewels all turned their gaze toward me. The sudden focus made me feel uneasy, but Mardian stood in front of me, shielding me from their stares.

“We’ve found we have a lot in common and became friends. We’ll be seeing each other often, so please introduce yourselves.”

“Ah, Hello. I am Tina Blanc, fortunate to have met you all.”

I shyly nodded and greeted them. Upon learning that I was from the Blanc family, the young ladies’ expressions wavered, but each time, Mardian stepped in to help me.

When I looked up at Mardian with grateful eyes, she gave a slight smile and nodded. Who would call Mardian a villainess? Someone who smiled so beautifully couldn’t be one.

Well, looking at the current situation, it’s clear.

I succeeded in getting close to Mardian.

Slowly unfolding the story I had prepared, I eased her wariness. I explained that I learned about the Camilia gambling house because of my father, Bonnie Blanc, who was so addicted to gambling that he squandered the family’s entire fortune.

I mentioned how he spent his days wasting his life at the Camilia gambling house and one day, drunkenly revealed to me that the Camilia gambling house was connected to the Viscount of Abreldine.

I added that since he passed away shortly after, I was probably the only one who knew this information. I assured her that I didn’t want any harm to come to Artasha.

Mardian suspected that I came to avenge my father, but I clarified that I had always hated him to the point of disgust and was rather grateful that the family disowned him.

Most of the story was fabricated, but in truth, I never liked Bonnie Blanc personally. Seeing Artasha suffer because of the debts he left behind, I only felt resentment.

After exchanging a few empathetic skills I learned from a childhood friend and some flattering remarks I picked up in social interactions, Mardian was looking at me with much softer eyes.

In the end, I secured Mardian’s active support. However, in return, I agreed to fulfill a personal request of hers.

Honestly, it was a request I was reluctant to fulfill, but I had no other choice since Mardian’s support was indispensable for maintaining my peaceful unemployed life.

Now, having returned to the banquet holding Mardian’s hand, I was enjoying refreshments and sharing laughter with people I could never have befriended on my own.

“I’ve never seen someone with hair as white as yours, Tina. It’s beautiful, like a lily.”

“Thank you. Hearing such a compliment from someone as lovely as you, Everlyn, makes me really happy!”

“Oh my…”

She was the daughter of the Arberri Viscount, well-known in social circles, though not as much as Mardian. Her eyes, filled with goodwill, were gazing at me blankly.

“Tina, I know this might be rude to ask, but could I touch your hair?”

“Of course. It would be an honor if you did, Lady Everlyn.”

With a faint smile, I bowed my head. Everlyn, without hesitation, placed her hand on my head and started gently stroking my hair.

“Oh my… Your hair is so soft. It’s quite addictive.”

“Thank you.”

“Hehe… Can I touch it again sometime?”

“As much as you want, Lady Everlyn!”

Nodding with a bright smile, I saw her face light up with joy at my unhesitant response. If something as simple as this could make her happy, I was grateful.

‘This might be easier than I thought…’

Like Artasha, it seemed that women were quite simple. At first, I was uncertain, but my confidence was growing. Maybe I had a talent for charming women.

While feeling proud of myself as Everlyn stroked my hair, Mardian approached and grabbed my hand.

“Excuse me, Lady Everlyn. We have a prior engagement, so I need to borrow Tina. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh, of course.”

Everlyn immediately withdrew her hand and stepped back, her face quite frozen, likely due to Mardian’s significant influence here.

“Come with me, Tina.”

Mardian led me out of the hall, her grip on my wrist growing tighter and more painful, but I matched her quick pace without showing any discomfort.

We soon arrived at the garden of the banquet hall, in a secluded area away from the moonlight. Before I could even take a breath of the cool night air, Mardian pushed me against the wall, smirking wickedly.

“Tina, as you saw, I can help establish your place here.”

“Yes. Thank you, Lady Mardian.”

“I’ve kept my promise, so now it’s your turn to fulfill your part of the deal, right?”

The favor I promised in exchange for Mardian’s support.

It was to satisfy her ‘special’ desire.

“Tina, you’re not going to back out now, are you?”

“No, of course not… I’m just a bit nervous…”

Honestly, I wanted to refuse. But I couldn’t go back on my decision now.

In Mardian’s twisted smile, she held a leather belt in her hand. When did she even bring such a menacing item?

“Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle at first.”

Mardian’s tastes were mentioned in the original game.

It was one of the reasons she was called a villainess.

She relentlessly tormented Lilian, one of the protagonists. Until the day she was punished and exiled from the empire, she never left Lilian alone.

Both mentally.

And physically.

“Tina. Lift your skirt.”

The Villainess Mardian.

She was a sadistic pervert with extreme sexual desires.