Just a Greeting?
"Is that all? Just a greeting?"
Huh. Would you look at that?
Viviana Merdelia's violet eyes rippled with astonishment. Her gaze fixed on a beautiful girl with pure white hair, crumpled on the floor as pitiful tears spilled down her cheeks.
A hollow laugh tugged at the corner of Viviana's mouth. Anyone else might have missed it. But because she had been watching the girl from the very moment she entered the banquet hall, Viviana barely managed to catch the fleeting shift that flickered across that face in a single instant.
Even she, whose senses had been honed as sharp as a blade through countless trials, had only just managed to notice that minute change. An ordinary person would never have caught it at all.
She was enjoying herself just a second ago.
"What are you looking at so intently, Lady Viviana?"
A lovely, refined voice realigned her gaze head-on once more. Brilliant white hair and golden eyes as noble as the sun itself regarded her with mild curiosity.
"My apologies, Your Highness. There seemed to be a bit of a disturbance, and it drew my attention."
"Hehe. In high society, a little commotion like that is hardly unusual."
Third Princess Astella. She looked up at Viviana with an unbothered smile as she surveyed the stir in the hall.
"Still, I truly never expected the Lady Duchess to attend on the second day as well. I'm touched."
"We are to work toward the same ends going forward. This much courtesy is nothing at all."
"Oh my, hehe…"
Though she said as much, the real reason she had come had nothing to do with the princess. Ever since the previous banquet, that snow-white, glutinous-rice-cake-smooth backside had refused to leave her mind. She could not explain why, but from the first day of the banquet onward, that particular rear end had been impossible to erase from her thoughts.
The obsession circled so relentlessly that it even began to interfere with her usual duties, until she finally found herself returning here. Until now she had never once attended the same banquet two days in a row, yet she could not seem to dispel this confusion without seeing that backside again.
And so she had come…
Only to witness something I never expected.
It seemed their pet young lady was not quite the pure, innocent creature the rumors painted her to be.
And yet, how ironic.
That very fact only sharpened her interest.
Hmm…
She would have to speak with her a little more.
While Rosea fled the banquet as if escaping, a bruise blooming on her left cheek and unjust tears streaming down her face, I was currently being smothered in love and comfort by a throng of young ladies.
"Tina… are you all right? You must have been so startled."
"Hic… n-no… I must have accidentally offended Lady Rosea…"
"That can't be! Tina only tried to speak kindly, and Lady Berdalin must have completely lost her mind."
"Exactly. I've always thought Lady Berdalin lacked manners, but I never imagined it would go this far. It's simply outrageous."
Several young ladies dabbed at my tears. When I wrapped my arms around Versha's waist and buried my face against her stomach, she stroked my hair with a pitying hand and spoke gently.
"Tina, don't worry. I'll make sure that bitch never lays a hand on you again."
"No… I'm really fine, Lady Versha. I just need to be more careful from now on…"
"…Haa. You're so soft-hearted. What am I going to do with you, Tina?"
Judging by the atmosphere, Rosea would not dare show her face in high society for quite some time. With her house already weakened and now having earned Versha's mark, she would never again walk with her back as straight as before.
"If only Lady Mardian had been here. It's a shame we couldn't properly slap that bitch's cheek."
What a terrifying thing to say.
If Mardian had been present, she would never have acted that way. Had Mardian stepped in, it would have been a moment that reminded everyone exactly why she was called a villainess in the game. And then it would no longer have been a simple matter of venting my feelings.
"Have you calmed down a little, Tina?"
"Yes… I'm still a bit sad, but… the moment I saw Lady Versha's face, it all melted away."
"Oh my, is that so?"
"But I also pretended to be gloomy because I wanted to act spoiled with Lady Versha… I'm sorry. Was I a bother?"
Versha's eyes widened to twice their size and trembled. A faint flush rose to her cheeks as she threw every ounce of her strength into hugging me, then began spinning me around and around.
"You could never be a bother, Tina! Act as spoiled as you like."
My breath caught, but I kept the smile on my lips without showing it. The brief uproar was quickly forgotten, and the night of the banquet deepened further still.
The young ladies traded their usual empty chatter and laughter, and I leaned against Versha's shoulder, playing along.
"Come to think of it, Tina. You should go visit Lady Mardian."
"Pardon?"
My body flinched on instinct. Whether it was the memory of Mardian spanking my backside repeatedly last time or not, I was not particularly eager to face her.
"I hear she prepared a gift for you? And quite an expensive one at that."
But well!
We had shared a certain bond, so paying her a visit would not hurt. On second thought, I did not actually dislike Mardian, and there was no real reason not to go.
It was absolutely not because of the gift that I changed my mind.
"The gift is fine, but…"
"Hehe. That would be rude to the person who prepared it."
"Mmm… all right, I understand."
I hung a reluctant expression on my face and bowed my head. Versha covered her mouth with a soft chuckle, then stroked my hair as she saw me off.
As I walked through the vast hall of the banquet, a subtle thrill seeped deep into my chest. If it was Mardian, the so-called Queen of High Society, she would never have prepared anything light.
I pressed a hand to my faintly pounding heart and tried to suppress the smile that threatened to spread.
How to put it? It felt rather like receiving a summons from the chaebol chairman who always doted on me and heading up to his office myself.
What on earth is she going to give me?
It could be a necklace set with blue jewels like the one from Shari-one, or a diamond-studded ring like the one Versha had given me before. Whatever Mardian offered, I was certain it would be of tremendous value to both me and Mother.
I was crossing the hall, lost in those excited fantasies, when someone caught my shoulder.
"Ah, we meet again, young lady."
"…Huh?"
My heart plummeted at a face I had never expected.
Sharp, distinct features and luminous violet eyes. Jet-black hair that stood in brilliant contrast to her dazzling white skin. A figure that boldly revealed what should be revealed, soft curves in exquisite harmony.
A woman whose looks would have captivated me at once if I had been born a man.
"L-Lady Merdelia, why are you here…?"
Viviana Merdelia.
She looked at me and offered a soft, smiling curve of her eyes.
"It's Her Highness's banquet. Of course I should attend."
No, that couldn't be.
Viviana never attended the same banquet twice. That was a setting stated outright in the game—a plot point meant to show just how much she found the social world a nuisance.
Even if it was a summons from the imperial family, someone of Viviana's stature could show her face on the first day and leave without anyone daring to complain. So why was she here?
Curiosity stirred in several directions, but I decided not to dig too deep. Right now, the gift Mardian had prepared was hundreds of times more important and exciting than Viviana.
Whatever her reason for being here, it was none of my business. I offered her a bright smile and a polite, proper greeting.
"Ah… I see. It is truly an honor to meet someone so distinguished once again."
"Hmm… is that so?"
Viviana raised one eyebrow and gave a faint smile. She seemed rather pleased, but it was all an act. I already knew full well that Viviana was not the sort to be moved by such empty flattery.
"Yes. Then I shall take my leave."
At my brief words, Viviana's violet eyes trembled ever so slightly. Still gripping my shoulder, she smiled and asked again.
"Hm? Is something the matter, young lady?"
"Yes, I have an urgent prior engagement… Forgive my rudeness, but I must withdraw. May you remain at peace."
I offered another deep, courteous bow, yet Viviana still did not release my shoulder. Caught in the awkward situation, I looked up at her with puzzled eyes.
"…"
"Th-then it was an honor to meet you, Lady Duchess."
When she still refused to let go after a long moment, I finally took a few steps back myself and carefully peeled her hand from my shoulder. Leaving the strangely dazed Viviana standing there, I offered one last polite farewell and retreated.
…Nothing to worry about, surely.
Anyway, what in the world is that gift going to be?
Something expensive would be nice.
"…Ha?"
I stared blankly after the white-haired young lady as she hopped away like a little rabbit.
Just a greeting is the end?
Even if we had only met once, she had carefully applied medicine to a body that could barely walk. Shouldn't she have shown a little more gratitude?
Of course, until yesterday she herself had decided not to pay the girl any particular attention. In truth, she had planned nothing more than a few exchanged greetings if they happened to cross paths. She had no desire to involve herself further.
She was not idle enough to spare time for the young lady of a precarious house.
But even so. Even so.
Even so, shouldn't she have been a little happier to see her than this?
"…Something about this is irritating."