So That's How It Is, Viviana
In the game, Mardian was the classic villainess archetype. A beauty with golden hair, crimson eyes, and a fierce, sharp-edged gaze.
But Mardian only appeared as a villainess when the player chose Lillian the priestess as the protagonist. She found it distasteful that Lillian—who was no better than a commoner—was trying to force her way into high society, and she used every means at her disposal to torment her.
When the player chose Viviana as the protagonist, however, Mardian became little more than an extra NPC, no different from Tina. Encounters were rare, and even when they did cross paths, they passed each other without the slightest connection.
If a count's daughter were ever to harass a princess, that would be nothing more than a setting error. In other words, Viviana and Mardian almost never met.
At the very least, a scene like this—the two of them exchanging sharp, cutting glances—was something I had never once witnessed across multiple playthroughs.
"I never expected to see Princess Viviana in a place as humble as this."
[So the princess is idle enough to wander into a corner like this?]
Having spent long years steeped in high society, I could instantly see through the true meaning hidden beneath Mardian's polite words. Yet despite that cutting tone, Viviana simply smiled with lofty composure, never once losing her poise.
"I also never knew Lady Mardian had such... hobbies. I'm surprised."
Mardian's crimson eyes flinched. She clearly hadn't expected the princess herself to appear in a place like this. And now that she'd been caught red-handed right before her eyes, there was no room left for excuses.
"...May I ask what brings you here?"
In the end, Mardian withdrew the sharp thorns she'd been directing at Viviana. Viviana shifted her coldly gleaming violet eyes toward me.
"I have a brief matter to discuss with Lady Bland. If Lady Mardian wouldn't mind, might I borrow her for a moment?"
"...Of course. As Your Highness wishes."
"Hehe. Thank you. Well then, Lady Bland?"
Viviana offered me her hand with a faint smile lingering at the corners of her lips. I looked at Mardian in bewilderment. She nodded her permission, but her eyes remained coldly settled.
"Lady Mardian...?"
"Go on, Tina. Ah—your tiara is crooked."
Mardian smiled sweetly and adjusted the tiara resting on my head. I wasn't sure whether it was truly alright to leave like this, but under Viviana's relentless, pressing gaze, I had no choice but to take her hand.
And so, holding the princess's hand, I walked for quite some time away from the banquet.
The place we arrived at was deep in the garden, far from the banquet hall—the same secluded spot where I had first encountered Viviana.
"Lady Viviana, this is...?"
I was flustered. More shocking than Mardian's attempt to kiss me was the fact that I had run into Viviana three times in such a short span.
And all three times, Viviana had sought me out first—that went beyond surprise into pure confusion. The first time we met, she had found me deep in the garden; the second time as well; and now again.
The Viviana I knew was not the type to take such interest in others. One of the things she hated most was wasting time. She was a cold person who unhesitatingly cut off any unnecessary relationship that brought her no benefit.
There was even a saying that collecting every bad ending was far easier than achieving a love ending with Viviana. She was never someone who opened her heart easily.
"I never knew Lady Tina had such... tastes."
Viviana had been leading me in silence, then suddenly stopped. She turned to look at me with a smile devoid of warmth. For a moment, her merciless aura made my body flinch instinctively. But I didn't show it—instead, I smiled back.
"Tastes? What do you mean by that?"
"You were serving her so diligently. I almost thought you'd coated Lady Mardian's fingers with honey."
"..."
Most people would have phrased it more indirectly, but Viviana was direct and honest. I supposed that was just like her.
But it was fine. She may have said it intending to insult me, yet when you're already being called a whore, words like that hardly register as embarrassing.
"As Your Highness says, I am a pet young lady. If Lady Mardian is pleased by that, then I'm happy."
I approached Viviana with a bright, sunny smile. Looking up at her with a faint laugh in my eyes, I spoke in a sweet, weary voice.
"If you'd like, Lady Viviana, I could do the same for you."
For a brief instant, Viviana's eyes—always so full of composure—trembled. But only for a moment. She soon draped her cold gaze over me again and let out a derisive chuckle.
"...Hmm."
Her smile looks exactly the same as in the game illustrations.
To describe Viviana in a single phrase: a perfectionist with sociopathic tendencies.
She poured support without reservation on those who were useful to her, but was endlessly cold to those who weren't. She never wasted her time or resources, and for anything that benefited her, she spared no means or methods.
Her excellence wasn't limited to her managerial side alone.
What about on the battlefield against enemy kingdoms? Viviana was a warrior armed with the exceptional talent inherited from a renowned sword lineage. The way she cut down enemy soldiers was like a demon incarnate, making her a symbol of terror on the battlefield.
In high society, she wore an air of lofty beauty and a gentle smile that didn't raise much wariness—but those who knew her true nature didn't dare lift their heads before her. Because they knew the merciless essence hidden behind that smile.
That was the kind of person Viviana was.
What I can't figure out is why someone like her would take an interest in me.
Since I couldn't yet grasp the true intent of this situation, it would be wise to play along with her for the time being. I looked up at Viviana with a bright smile on my lips.
"I never properly thanked you last time, so I'm truly glad to have the chance to see Your Highness again like this."
"I'd prefer if you dropped the act, Lady Bland."
But what came back in response to my coquetry was an unexpectedly frigid voice.
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
"I saw everything. The way you looked so pleased after ending Lady Verdallin's social career."
"...What?"
What did she just say?
I blinked blankly at the unexpected words. Had she seen what happened with Rose? No—that was a problem in itself, but she'd seen me looking pleased?
That couldn't be.
Even when a laugh had nearly burst out, I had thoroughly covered my mouth to hide it. My eyes had merely curved slightly—that alone shouldn't have been enough for anyone to notice I was enjoying myself. Not even Shari-one or the other young ladies had caught on. There was no way she could have perceived such a minute change.
"Lady Viviana. I don't understand what you're saying."
"My lady. My senses are several times sharper than an ordinary person's. I can pick up even the slightest shift in emotion."
"..."
Viviana's unwavering voice shook me despite myself. I knew she possessed a sixth sense honed to a razor's edge through extreme training. I'd thought it was limited to combat situations, but apparently that keenness extended to everyday life as well.
...What should I do?
The claim that she'd seen me looking pleased felt true. I considered testing Viviana, but I knew full well that such attempts would be meaningless with her. Viviana already knew I was different from the pure image the world saw of me. Which meant that, just as she said, there was no need to keep putting on an act.
"You may relax, my lady."
"What is it that you want from me?"
I decided to go along with her wishes. Dropping the intention of speaking in a cheerful voice, the sound that came from my mouth was cold and frigid. But Viviana smiled with satisfaction at that voice of mine.
"Well... what might I want from you, I wonder."
"There's nothing I can offer Your Highness. My family has no money, and no power either."
I said it knowing her nature of coldly ignoring those who brought her no benefit—aiming for that very point—but her eyes still held a deep interest directed at me.
Why on earth? Why was Viviana interested in me? Until I knew that, I couldn't escape her grasp.
But it was Viviana herself who answered my deep pondering.
"Well then, how about trying some of that coquetry on me the way you do with the other young ladies?"
"...Pardon?"
Viviana wore a playful smile on her lips as she lifted my chin with her finger.
"Why don't you try doing to me what you did to Lady Mardian? Then I might just keep quiet about the pet young lady's sordid little secrets."
"..."
It was an unexpected request, but thanks to it, I could finally grasp a thread of this confusing situation.
Things began to fall into place.
The puzzle pieces slowly fitted together.
I finally found the answer to why Viviana had shown such deep interest in me.
Ah. I see.
Why hadn't I realized something so obvious?
The primal human instinct cannot deny the pull toward cuteness. Even someone with a merciless heart will find that heart melting before a puppy's bright, pure affection, a cat's clever charms, or a baby's adorable cries.
And if that cuteness bestows its favor upon them, they are utterly defenseless before its charm.
A truth never once disproven throughout history: cute things always win people's favor.
"Pfft!"
I covered my mouth to stop the laughter overflowing. Viviana, apparently not expecting that reaction, frowned one eyebrow as she looked down at me.
"Hmm...? Judging by that laugh, it seems you don't grasp the situation, Lady Bland."
"Ah, I'm sorry, pff... it's just, a funny thought suddenly came to me."
I see.
Viviana.
You're no different from the other young ladies after all. Well, of course—you're human just like them. Maybe I'd trapped myself in the frame of "she's a protagonist" and overthought things unnecessarily.
I covered the laughter spilling out with my hand and met Viviana's eyes. Those cold violet eyes that had once only inspired fear no longer seemed so frightening.
"Your Highness. If it wouldn't be too forward... may I call you Lady Viviana?"
Viviana.
You want to love me too, don't you.