Idiot Viviana
It was a gently sunlit afternoon. A table embroidered with bright floral patterns, vases carefully arranged with flowers of every hue, sweet fruits and pastries laid out upon the plates. And the laughter of beautiful young ladies spilling softly through the air—this was the tea party hosted by Shari-one.
Yet this familiar place, one I had experienced countless times, felt strangely alien today. Even though I had attended such gatherings several times before, the presence of a single person had shattered that usual peace.
"Princess Viviana, are you not interested in the refreshments?"
"Mm… I don't particularly care for sweets."
The woman with dark hair reminiscent of a deep night sky lifted her teacup slightly and answered quietly. It was merely the act of drinking tea, yet her elegance and lofty bearing naturally drew every gaze in the room.
Ugh… Viviana.
If there was one thing that set today's tea party apart from the usual, it was this: Viviana was here. Just one extra member added to the regular circle, and already the entire atmosphere had shifted onto a completely different current.
Until now, Shari-one and I had been the center of conversation. Now every scrap of attention was focused solely on Viviana.
And I found the situation thoroughly uncomfortable.
She's not seriously trying to block my path, is she?
Today's gathering had originally been arranged to comfort me. If Viviana hadn't forced her way in, there would have been countless gifts prepared just for me… Every plan had been ruined.
…Nothing for it, then.
If I couldn't get the gifts, raising Shari-one's affection was the next best option. Leaving the chattering young ladies and Viviana's warm replies behind me, I carefully rested my head against Shari-one's shoulder.
"Oh my, are you tired, Tina?"
"No. I just wanted to be close to you, Lady Shari-one."
"Hehe… Oh, Tina."
An affectionate smile bloomed at the corners of Shari-one's eyes. A faint flush rose to her cheeks as she gently stroked my hair. The warmth of that touch lifted my spirits, and I nuzzled my face against her shoulder.
"Ah, by the way—have you been using the gift I gave you?"
"Ah… you mean that lovely crystal orb?"
It was a magical tool that glowed with soft light and played gentle music. Something that seemed as though it would grant peaceful sleep and soothe the heart.
"Yes. I heard it has a special effect if you use it before bed. Did you know?"
"O-oh… is that so?"
A special effect? I had no idea. In truth, the moment I received the gift I had shoved it into the wardrobe without even unwrapping it.
The unexpected remark left me flustered for a moment, but I quickly sorted my thoughts. Better to be honest than pretend knowledge and get caught. I looked up at Shari-one with the most tender gaze I could manage.
"Actually… I wanted to treasure the gift you gave me, so I still haven't even opened the wrapping. It's far too precious to me."
"O-oh my, Tina…"
Shari-one pulled me into a tight embrace, her face full of emotion. For a moment I was buried so deeply in her arms that I could scarcely breathe, yet I gave no sign of it and simply nestled into her hold.
"Don't worry about that—use it freely! For you, Tina, I could buy hundreds of those magical tools."
"No. Just hearing you say that is more than enough, Lady Shari-one."
At my words, Shari-one's brows seemed to twitch. She gently pushed me from her arms with a faintly displeased expression and spoke in a quiet voice.
"Why do you think it's only words?"
"Ah, e-even if I'm not the brightest, I know how expensive magical tools are at market. Hundreds of them… I can't even imagine the cost, and I don't want to see you strain yourself just for me."
"Strain?"
The careful words I had offered seemed instead to have pricked her pride. The face that was always so gentle twisted slightly. After staring at me for a long while, Shari-one smiled again and stroked my hair.
"Tina, you don't know much about our Rodaine Countship, do you? That must be my fault."
"Pardon? N-no… I know perfectly well."
"I'll have to show you. Just how vast our family's wealth truly is."
"What?! Y-you really don't have to…! I think I said something unnecessary. I'm sorry, Lady Shari-one."
"Hush. This is a matter of my pride, Tina."
Her serious tone left me looking flustered. Inside, however, I was quietly satisfied with her reaction.
Just as I expected.
Three women stood at the center of high society: Mardian, Versha, and finally Shari-one. Mardian was lavish, but her twisted tastes were a problem. Versha preferred gifting the latest fashionable sweets over expensive jewels.
But Shari-one was different. She was the one I could use most advantageously. She seemed gentle on the surface, yet her pride ran deep, and a little praise was enough to open her heart completely.
"Tomorrow might be difficult… Set aside a day next week, Tina."
"You really don't have to go that far…"
It seemed she intended to put on a grand display of noble wealth next week. Of course she wouldn't pour money on me directly, but if I simply played along from the side, a few crumbs would fall my way. That was more than enough.
I suppressed the smile rising to my lips and looked up at her weakly.
"If Lady Shari-one says so, then I underst— mmph?"
Just as I was about to accept her proposal, Viviana suddenly seized both my cheeks in her hands. Startled, I turned my gaze and found cold violet eyes staring down at me with chilling intensity.
"I'm sorry, but Young Lady Tina will have no free time next week."
"Pardon? Whatever do you mean?"
Shari-one looked at Viviana with wide, surprised eyes. I glared at her in equal disbelief, yet Viviana merely smiled and gazed back at me.
"Young Lady Tina, it seems you've forgotten our promise that you would visit my estate next week."
"Ah… is that true, Tina?"
Shari-one looked at me with open disappointment. I was so stunned I could only blink blankly. What on earth was she talking about? I had never promised to visit any estate, nor even held such a conversation with Viviana.
"Don't you remember, Young Lady Tina?"
There was no warmth in Viviana's smile—only a sharp warning, as if she were telling me exactly what would happen if I refused. Unable to overpower her, I swallowed the rage boiling inside and spoke to Shari-one in a defeated voice.
"…I'm sorry. I was so excited about spending time with you, Lady Shari-one, that I completely forgot."
"These things happen. Don't worry about it."
Fortunately, Shari-one accepted my apology with good grace. I forced a smile toward Viviana while crushing the irritation rising in my throat.
"Princess Viviana, might I speak with you for a moment?"
How many times had she sabotaged me like this? I could no longer endure it. This was deliberate interference, plain and simple.
Whether she failed to notice my irritation or simply didn't care, Viviana answered with an untroubled smile.
"Of course."
Deep in the garden not far beyond the main gates of the Rodaine Countship, I checked several times that no one was nearby before fixing Viviana with a gaze full of resentment.
"Princess Viviana… just what do you think you're doing?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
Her nonchalant reply only stoked my anger further. To play ignorant now was truly beyond belief.
"You… you're asking because you don't know? You're doing this on purpose! You keep getting in my way!"
"And what exactly have I interfered with?"
"Th-that's…!"
Rage surged to the tip of my tongue, yet the moment I tried to speak honestly, the words stuck in my throat. I could hardly blurt out, "You stopped me from fleecing affection and money from a rich sucker!"
While I fretted over how to phrase it, Viviana instead jabbed a sharp fingertip against my forehead.
"You're the one who should explain what you're doing. Have you learned nothing?"
"…Pardon? A-are you seriously getting angry at me right now?"
I was the one who should be furious—why on earth was Viviana the one losing her temper?
"Even after what Mardian did to you, you still haven't come to your senses? Do you need to go through that again before you wake up?"
The sudden mention of Mardian left me blinking in confusion. Why bring her up out of nowhere? What was she trying to say?
"What in the world are you talking about? Why is Lady Mardian suddenly part of this?"
"Didn't you get kidnapped because you were cooing and fawning over Mardian? And now you're throwing the same tantrums at another woman?"
"Excuse me…?"
It was utterly absurd. The way she spoke made it sound as though Mardian's kidnapping me had been my own fault—no different from a molester claiming the victim had seduced him.
"That sort of thing isn't going to happen again!"
"And why not? Looking at the way you act…"
"Of course it won't! That whole incident only happened because Lady Mardian was an unspeakable perverted piece of trash who lusted after another woman!"
"P-perverted trash?"
For a moment, Viviana's usually calm eyes seemed to tremble.
"Unlike Mardian, who was enslaved by those twisted tastes, the other young ladies simply dote on me with pure hearts, treating me like a pet. So of course nothing like that will happen again."
Who would harbor sexual desire for their own pet? Aside from Mardian, who appeared in the game as a deranged villainess, no one would commit such madness.
"Or what—Princess Viviana, are you looking at your pet with sexual eyes?"
Viviana took a startled step backward. Even she must have realized how ridiculous her own thoughts sounded.
"Of course not."
"See? So what exactly is the problem?"
"Well, obviously…!"
Viviana opened her mouth in an irritated voice, yet no counterargument came. Or rather, she simply couldn't produce one—because what I had said was true.
In the game she had been portrayed as perfect in every way. In reality she was a complete fool.
Idiot Viviana.