As Long As Possible
“As long as possible.”
The young lady of House Levantia, her face already taking on a faintly drowsy look, flashed a bright smile.
A radiant smile that retained its elegant poise. She was definitely pretty, no doubt about it.
But this woman... was she misunderstanding something?
Last time, she'd hogged the whole session because all the other maids had bolted. And as her first noble client, I'd been caught off guard too.
There was no rule like 'Unlimited extensions for the Lady of Count Levantia.' So what was this 'as long as possible' business?
“If you mean long...”
“The last session wasn't bad at all.”
She took a step closer to me.
“Like last time, maybe an hour... no, even a bit more—some deeper, more intense conversation. That should be fine, right?”
She tilted her chin up, her lips curving into a slight smirk. She looked utterly confident, as if I'd naturally agree.
Probably because she'd never been denied anything she wanted.
But seeing that, all I felt was the urgent need to establish clear rules.
Otherwise, this woman was going to wreck my wrists.
“Shall we start with the rules first?”
***
After we stepped inside the counseling office.
I sat her on the sofa and began explaining. Partly for her, partly to organize my own thoughts.
“So, you're saying one session ends the moment the counselor declares it over?”
“Yes, and...”
First off, a session—regardless of form—ends when I say it's done. Extensions are entirely at the counselor's discretion.
Even so, it'd still mean three sessions a day—essentially three massages.
'But doing the same three back-to-back without a break? It sneaks up on you and hurts.'
Don't believe me? Try kneading your parents' shoulders for 45 minutes straight.
Your arms will scream.
Anyway, this made it way easier—I could end things mid-conversation whenever.
Sure, I could just say every time the hypnosis wore off that the session was over, but...
'That'd make my lines repetitive.'
Sometimes, adults have their circumstances.
Oh, gotta mention this too.
“And sessions are limited to three per day.”
“Oh, I know. When I came before...”
“Hm?”
A split-second silence.
Chloe Levantia's eyes blinked once. Her lips tightened faintly—the classic face of someone realizing a slip-up too late.
“My apologies. When Helen came before, she said she couldn't get a session because of the three-per-day rule.”
She hurriedly chattered on, throwing Helen under the bus.
“She told me to pass on how disappointed she was...”
Not even blinking while selling out her own maid like that.
'No conscience at all.'
Helen seemed pretty proud of being the head maid of Count Levantia's house.
To think she'd be used so cheaply. What a pitiful life for maids in this romance fantasy world.
The shameless young lady who'd just sacrificed her maid eyed me with subtle anticipation.
Her upper body leaning forward slightly. Slender fingers rubbing the sofa cushion.
She was clearly expecting something.
“Multiple sessions for the same person should be okay, right? Because last time—”
“No.”
I cut her off quick before she could frame consecutive sessions as a done deal and wreck my wrists.
Of course, money-wise, focusing on nobles like Chloe Levantia made sense.
Even if she didn't toss silver coins as generously as before, it'd still be multiples of what maids could pay.
But what if other nobles showed up? Prioritize someone from a duke's house over a count's? Or based on actual power differences even if the title was lower?
'How the hell should I know?'
I'd gotten a good taste of how headache-inducing high society was from Chloe Levantia's complaints.
No reason for me to dive into that mess. I'd stick to my rules.
Better they understand my rules than me understanding their world.
“Even if you feel it's not enough, the basic is one session per person. I hope you understand.”
“Hmm...”
Her face puffed up sulkily at my firm words. Lips pouting slightly, gaze drifting to the ceiling corner.
Then, with a look of stubborn refusal, she stared at me intently. After a moment's thought, her eyes lit up like she'd found a solution.
“I understand your position as counselor, but...”
A leisurely smile. The confident glint of someone who'd cracked the code.
“Last session, it wasn't like that, was it?”
Her eyes probed me, as if to say, right?
Not wrong.
But I ran this place. I set the rules.
So I'd do as I pleased.
Saying that outright wouldn't fly, so I paused, picking my words.
The longer the silence stretched to my next line, the more her gaze locked on me.
The look of someone waiting. Expectation laced with impatience.
“That's...”
I dropped my eyes briefly, then raised them again—like hesitating before a confession.
“Because it was you, Lady Levantia.”
“...Pardon?”
Her sapphire eyes quivered faintly.
“I've met many people in my counseling.”
Hardly any, really.
“But you're the first to bear the full weight of high society alone, without letting your struggles show to others.”
First high society person, period.
“Hearing your story, I couldn't help wanting to listen more. Not as a counselor, but...”
I paused again, spilling it out like buried emotion.
“As a person.”
“...”
At those words, Chloe Levantia's hand fanning stopped.
No—not stopped; her whole hand froze mid-air.
Her earlobes flushed red.
A shy pink blooming along her neckline.
“But that was unfair as a counselor. So I've revised the rules this time.”
I added quickly, and her lips twitched.
Like she wanted to speak, swallowed it, then tried again.
“Hmph.”
She turned her head away in the end.
“I see.”
Her voice was calm, but the fanning doubled in speed.
'That should do it.'
People are weak to lines like 'You're special.' Even obvious flattery.
A high society veteran like her wouldn't miss it, but a little visible pandering should smooth things over.
I'd already mentioned no reservations, covered the basics...
'Maybe post a summary of the rules on the door later.'
***
“Shall we begin, then?”
I spoke lightly to refresh the mood, and Chloe Levantia turned to look at me.
Her face a bit flushed.
But the word 'counseling' straightened her posture right away. She'd been waiting eagerly, as expected.
“So, what troubles you today?”
“Troubles...”
She rested her hand on her chin, thinking.
No heavy sigh like last time. Instead, eyes scanning options.
“Counselor.”
“Yes.”
“There's a tea party next week hosted by the Marquis of Sillon.”
“Yes.”
“Honestly, I don't want to go.”
“May I ask why?”
“The marchioness's tea tastes awful.”
...Come again?
“Oh, that's not the only reason.”
She waved her hand again.
“Tea parties are basically info wars, right? Who's close to whom, whose house is on the decline. Sipping tea while stabbing each other.”
With a small sigh, she launched into a rant.
“Some people enjoy it, but I'm just tired. Especially when the marchioness probes me.”
“Probes how?”
“She keeps beating around the bush about whether I have a man in mind.”
“That must get on your nerves.”
“I'm sick of it now. As if anyone would spill that there.”
Her lips pursed in a pout. The elegant smile from before was gone; now it was a childish sulk fitting her age.
But this suited her better. At least it wasn't forced.
“And she keeps asking about the tea's taste. With skills that insult those fine leaves.”
“...”
“Well, I just praised the leaves or the teaware to brush it off.”
After endlessly dissing the marchioness's tea skills, she eyed me expectantly, like she wanted praise for handling it well.
Impressed? See how I managed?
No. Your black heart scares me.
That said.
If there was meaning to what she was sharing now, it had some weight.
Compared to last time, it felt lighter for sure.
She'd vented once before, so things had improved a bit.
My amateur counseling was working, even if just a little. Not a bad feeling.
We chatted back and forth, timing it right.
Just as she'd vented her petty gripes and relaxed, searching for more daily annoyances with a casual 'What else...',
“Lady, but...”
Now.
I drew her gaze and activated the ability.
Hypnosis has been activated.
Relaxes the target's tension and induces light sleep.
Effects amplified on physical contact.
Target: Chloe Levantia
※ Effects accumulate on repeated use on the same target.
I watched her focus on me blur, waiting a moment.
I could only loosen her up once she was fully asleep.
But...
What the hell is that?
※ Effects accumulate on repeated use on the same target.
A translucent screen hovered over her slumping form.
It held unfamiliar text.
Somehow... ominous.