Why Are You the One Angry?
Why are you the one who's angry?
"Haaah."
Leaving Viviana alone in the reception room, I stepped out into the corridor and let out a long, deep sigh. The clear outdoor air settled my tangled thoughts, if only a little.
"Is she telling me to put on an act or not to… honestly…"
Acting fake would actually be easier for me. I wouldn't have to weigh every single word, and I wouldn't have to shrink away from embarrassment. But Viviana seemed to hate that kind of pretense, so I'd been trying to treat her sincerely—only for her to turn around and tell me to go back to faking it…
"Hmph. Completely self-centered."
Thinking about Viviana's personality, it wasn't all that strange. She had always been the sort of person who lived exactly as she pleased. Dwelling on it any longer would only make my head hurt more.
I looked at my reflection in the window. Uncertain eyes, trembling lips. With an awkward expression like this, I wouldn't win anyone's favor.
I parted my lips with two fingers and shaped them into my usual smile. I smoothed my mussed hair and filled my eyes with bright light. When I checked the mirror again, my beautiful face was shining.
"Mm. Perfect."
The banquet wasn't over yet. Right now, while the other young ladies believed I was heartbroken over the whole Mardian affair, was the perfect chance to wring every last drop of sympathy from them.
Forget that willful Viviana. This was the time to wear a pitiful face and harvest pity. I returned to the banquet hall with light steps. Fortunately, Shari-one and her circle were still gathered in the same spot.
"Lady Shari-one!"
"Oh my, Tina's here."
Shari-one beamed at the sight of me. She patted her lap twice in invitation. I settled onto the sofa as if it were the most natural thing in the world and rested my head on her knee. While I nuzzled against Shari-one's soft lap, the other young ladies crowded closer, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Tina! Hurry up and tell us!"
"Why did the Merdelia Ducal Princess summon you?"
"That was the first time I've ever seen her so close. Wasn't she absolutely stunning?"
They were curious about Viviana, of course. And why wouldn't they be? This was no ordinary person—this was the sole daughter of the Merdelia Ducal House. For someone who normally kept the social world at arm's length to appear at a modest banquet like this, the buzz was only natural.
Even Shari-one was looking down at me with eyes full of curiosity, which only drove home just how popular Viviana was. Some people had to attend every single banquet without fail just to earn a scrap of attention from the young ladies, while others drew every gaze without ever showing their face.
You really are something else, Lady Viviana.
"I never expected the Merdelia Ducal Princess to attend the banquet. Did you happen to hear the reason?"
I hesitated for a moment at Shari-one's question. Of course I knew the reason. Viviana herself had told me, after all.
She came solely to see me.
The Viviana Ducal Princess herself, no less.
I wanted to boast about it—but there was nothing to gain, so I held my tongue. Instead I looked at the young ladies with sorrowful eyes and a strained smile.
"Something small happened to me recently, you know? She just offered a few words of comfort, and that was the end of it."
"Ah…"
The moment Mardian's name entered the conversation, the young ladies' gazes grew even more pitying. I kept the weak smile on my lips and waved a dismissive hand.
"I'm truly fine! It wasn't anything serious, was it?"
"If it weren't serious, your complexion wouldn't look this poor."
Shari-one gazed at me with those same sorrowful eyes, then seemed to reach a decision. She gently brushed my hair back as she spoke.
"This simply won't do. Next week we'll have to hold a tea party at my estate just for Tina."
"Really? Please invite us too, Lady Shari-one. We want to comfort Tina as well."
"Exactly. We can't just sit still when our little pet is this dejected."
At the young ladies' lively reactions, I swallowed a laugh. Shari-one, who had no idea what was going through my mind, looked down at me with a thoroughly pleased expression.
"Come with a light heart, Tina."
"Yes! Thank you so much, Lady Shari-one."
"If it wouldn't be an imposition, I would like to be invited as well."
In the midst of that warm, laughing atmosphere, a sudden chill drifted through the air. I steadied my trembling body and turned my gaze—only to meet Viviana's softly glowing violet eyes.
"Oh my, Merdelia Ducal Princess…"
I wasn't the only one startled. Shari-one also looked at Viviana with puzzled eyes. For some reason, Viviana was staring sharply at the hand Shari-one was using to stroke my hair.
"Are you saying you will attend my tea party?"
"Yes, of course—provided it wouldn't make you uncomfortable, my lady."
"I-I would of course be delighted."
A smile spread across Shari-one's lips as if she were truly welcoming Viviana. She was probably hoping to expand her own standing through the connection. Viviana was no ordinary figure; as the daughter of the empire's foremost swordsmanship family, her mere presence at a tea party would send ripples far and wide.
The other young ladies likewise welcomed Viviana's attendance with bright smiles.
As their faces lit up, mine grew steadily darker. What had originally been a tea party meant to comfort me had, in a single instant, transformed into a glorious occasion simply because Viviana would be there.
What on earth are you doing, Viviana? Interfering with someone else's livelihood like this. I was planning to play the pitiful little thing and collect gifts from the young ladies… and now, thanks to her, I can't.
I glared at Viviana with eyes full of resentment, but she ignored my gaze entirely and continued chatting with the excited young ladies.
In the end I sighed in resignation and rested my head on Shari-one's knee once more. Shari-one chuckled softly and carefully smoothed my hair.
"Hehe… Tina really is a little lucky charm."
"Me?"
"Yes."
Shari-one smiled faintly as she looked at Viviana, who was surrounded by the young ladies.
"To think you've opened a connection with the Merdelia Ducal Princess herself. What an utterly adorable pet you are."
"Ah…"
"Hehe… Meeting you truly has been the greatest fortune of my life."
Seeing the deep affection in Shari-one's eyes, I knew instinctively. This was the perfect chance to raise her favor even higher.
"Hearing you say that makes me so happy, Lady Shari-one…!"
I immediately sat up and settled onto Shari-one's lap. Facing her from such a close distance that our chests nearly touched was rather embarrassing, but in the relationship of pet and mistress it wouldn't look strange.
"I have something I want to say to you, Lady Shari-one."
"Oh my, and what might that be?"
From everything I'd felt so far, Shari-one had quite the soft spot herself. If I struck now, I could definitely raise her affection even more.
"I… actually, with Lady Shari-one—"
"Pardon the interruption."
"—I want to become even closer— mmph?!"
A sudden pair of pure-white hands clamped hard over both my cheeks, forcing a deflated little squeak from my lips. Startled, I turned my eyes—and found that the one sealing my face was none other than Viviana.
"L-Lady Viviana…?"
She had been surrounded by the young ladies just moments ago; when had she gotten here? But there was no time to wonder. With eyes that had gone strangely cold, Viviana lifted me bodily, set me down beside her, and then squeezed herself into the space between me and Shari-one.
"You are… Lady Shari-one of the Rodaine Countship, correct?"
"Oh my, to think you remember our house. I'm honored."
It was only a simple greeting, yet Shari-one's face flooded with emotion. Viviana wore a lovely, radiant smile as she continued.
"How could I forget? The Rodaine family has always upheld an excellent reputation within the empire."
"Hoho, we can't even compare to a single fingernail of the Merdelia Ducal House. I've always wished I could speak with you more often, Your Grace."
After that the two of them began conversing in a world of their own. Suddenly left out, I stared at Viviana in pure disbelief. What in the world was this out of nowhere?
The atmosphere had been perfect just a moment ago—why did she have to show up and ruin it again? Not once, but twice now she had stolen my meal ticket. At this point, wasn't she doing it on purpose?
Watching Viviana keep chatting while leaving me out started to really get under my skin. I planted one hand on her thigh and pinched her with all my strength, venting the grudge that had built up inside.
Viviana, mid-conversation with Shari-one, glanced at me for a moment. Then, with eyes that revealed almost no emotion, she leaned in close to my ear and whispered softly.
"Know when to stop. I'm not in a particularly good mood right now."
"…What?"
No—I'm the one whose meal ticket got stolen…
Why are you the one who's angry?