Try Acting Cute
"...I greet Her Highness, Princess Merdelia."
Mardian's expression had settled into something ice-cold, yet she forced a smile onto her face and offered Viviana a polite greeting.
"It's lovely to see you again like this, young lady."
"Have you come to see Tina again this time?"
At Mardian's question, Viviana nodded with a captivating smile. That affirmative response made Mardian turn even darker eyes toward me.
"You two must have had quite the enjoyable conversation yesterday, Tina."
"Ah, well..."
Mardian shot me a fierce look, but Viviana stepped naturally in front of me and blocked the pressure. Apparently displeased by that protective move, Mardian furrowed one brow and made her dissatisfaction plain.
"...Even if you are a princess, don't you think that's a little rude?"
"Please forgive my rudeness. But your gaze was so venomous I feared the young lady of House Bland might take fright."
"...Ha?"
At Viviana's blunt remark, Mardian let out a laugh of pure disbelief. It was as good as an open insult, so her reaction was only natural.
"Your Highness has only known Tina for a short while, so you may not realize this, but she and I have shared a very close relationship for over a year. Kindly refrain from making careless assumptions about the two of us."
"Yes. Thank you for telling me."
Viviana gave a short bow of her head, then held her hand out to me. When I stared at the offered hand in confusion, she smiled lightly and whispered close to my ear in a small voice.
"Did you know? You're the first person who's ever made such a bold request of me, young lady."
"Hyaah?!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Viviana slipped her arms under my back and legs and lifted me into a princess carry. My body rose into the air without any warning. Caught completely off guard, I let out a high cry before I could stop myself.
S-startled me...
In my shock I instinctively wrapped both arms around the back of Viviana's neck to keep my balance. Seriously, who just scoops someone up like that out of nowhere? I stared at her with a flustered face, but she only wore a smile that said she was thoroughly enjoying my reaction.
"Your Highness! Did you not hear what I just said properly?!"
Perhaps she disliked the strange atmosphere flowing between Viviana and me; Mardian twisted her face into a deep scowl and shouted. At that sharp cry, Viviana arched one eyebrow and curved her lips into something close to a smirk.
"...Haa."
"You're trying to take Tina away from me again and go somewhere!"
"Young Lady Abreldain."
The instant Viviana's voice dropped to a chilling calm, not only Mardian but even I froze solid. Whether it was my imagination or not, the very air around us seemed to grow colder.
...Cold.
I was stunned that a human body could radiate such an aura. It felt similar to what people call "killing intent"—something I'd always thought was pure fantasy that only appeared in novels and comics, something impossible in real life...
"I'd like you to remember that it's better when I speak to you while smiling."
"Huk."
Viviana gave a gentle smile to the shivering Mardian, then walked out of the hall still carrying me. I turned my head for a moment and glanced back at the receding figure. Her red eyes were trembling emptily, drowned in deep fear.
...I'll have to be careful.
I was freshly reminded of what kind of person Viviana truly was. In the game she had been a familiar, multi-talented playable character; here, simply meeting her eyes properly was already a struggle.
"We're drawing quite a bit of attention, Young Lady Bland."
"Eh...?"
I blinked blankly at Viviana's inexplicable words. When I slowly looked around, I realized we were no longer in a secluded balcony but right in the center of the banquet.
...Come to think of it, I'm currently in a princess carry, aren't I?
Countless nobles stared at Viviana and me with eyes wide as saucers. Their gazes were so overwhelming they felt almost excessive; reality crashed over me and my face burned hot.
"...Would you put me down, Your Highness? I can walk on my own."
"No. I'll carry you all the way, so just relax, young lady."
"But everyone is staring."
Even if people called me a pet, I still didn't want to suffer the humiliation of being princess-carried in front of the entire gathering.
Whether Viviana understood my feelings or not, she only offered that same soft smile. In the end I remained in her arms, receiving every eye in the room, all the way to the reception parlor.
Viviana quietly closed the parlor door and set me gently onto the sofa. I glared at her sharply, my mood thoroughly soured, but she simply let my gaze slide past and kept smiling.
"This is the first time I've ever attended the same banquet three times. Do you realize that's entirely because of you, young lady?"
She drew a single sheet of letter paper from her breast and waved it in front of me. It was the letter I had secretly slipped into her coat yesterday.
"Will you explain the letter for me?"
"Ah, that?"
It seemed I had successfully piqued her curiosity.
The contents of the letter weren't anything special. One part was a request that she protect me from Mardian; the second was a promise that I would repay her with a corresponding price.
With Mardian's behavior growing rougher by the day, I needed insurance of my own. Seeing someone twisted enough to kiss her pet made me wonder what else she might eventually do to me.
A spanking or a hand around my throat I could endure if I just gritted my teeth through the pain, but kisses or any more disgusting skinship than that were absolutely unacceptable.
The very reason I only approached other young ladies and flattered them was precisely that. If they were women like me, they might feel fondness, but at least they wouldn't feel sexual desire.
I had never predicted Mardian's repulsive tastes, though. Alone I couldn't resist her, but if I made Viviana my ally, the story would change completely.
So I had given Viviana the letter.
I'll give you a price, so please help me.
It would have been nice if Viviana simply acted for my sake the way the other young ladies did, but we had only just met; pure goodwill alone wouldn't be enough to move her.
In any case, I had sent a kind of warning to Mardian through Viviana. I have someone else to rely on now, so stop treating me so roughly.
Of course, the favors I had received from Mardian were not few, so I still intended to remain her pet. But if she kept looking at me with those sexual eyes...
"So then, what exactly is this 'price' the young lady spoke of?"
Viviana's curious voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She waved the letter in one hand and smiled as she spoke to me.
"I was so looking forward to the price you mentioned that I couldn't sleep. I do hope you'll live up to my expectations."
That act of hers...
I already know you're not that kind of person. But if she was going to play it that way, there was no reason I couldn't match her.
I moved to the seat beside Viviana and took her hand. When I slowly layered our fingers and laced them together, her normally calm violet eyes wavered faintly.
Come to think of it, Viviana had said something like that before. A playful smile rose to my lips as I looked up at her.
"Previously, Your Highness told me to try acting cute the way you did toward Lady Mardian, didn't you?"
"...And?"
From our joined hands I lifted just her middle finger. Viviana's finger was pure white and slender. I gently brought my lips to its tip.
Smooch—
Lips met fingertip with a soft, embarrassing sound. When I lightly flicked my tongue across the end of her finger, a fresh cherry flavor bloomed. Mardian's fingers had only ever tasted salty; Viviana's were nothing but sweet.
I lowered her hand again, slipped into her arms, and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you for helping me, Lady Viviana... This wouldn't be enough for a price, would it?"
"You..."
Her voice came out quite clumsy, and my body gave a little start. I had acted on habit and instinct without thinking, but we had only just met; this stage was still too early for that to work.
I immediately sat up and smiled at her.
"I'm joking. Actually, I have something else to offer you as payment, Lady Viviana."
I knew a great deal of information. Past information that had already gone by, and future information about things yet to happen. To someone as weak as me it was useless, but to someone as powerful as Viviana those pieces of knowledge would become an infinitely precious force.
If I used them, I would be able to move Viviana for a while, at least.
"Lady Viviana, did you know? Actually—"
"...Interesting. Do it once more."
Her voice, flat and impossible to read, cut across my words. Those usually composed violet eyes looked somehow a little faded.
"Pardon?"
"Try acting cute once. I don't know whether that can serve as payment or not."
She held her hand out to me with a leisurely smile, yet I could catch the pitch of her voice, higher than usual.
I lifted my gaze to her ear.
"..."
Not as much as mine, but on Viviana's pure-white earlobe...
a faint flush of red had risen.