You Can Touch a Little
How long had I been lying in bed?
A crushing lethargy wrapped around my body. The bed was far too large, and that only deepened the solitude pressing in on me. I wanted to sleep, but even with my eyes closed, my consciousness merely drifted on the surface of slumber.
"...This is so annoying."
She claimed she'd fallen for me—so what was with paying attention to someone else right in front of me? What was so great about a blunt woman like Iris that she'd leave me alone?
Liar.
I never thought you were that fickle, Viviana.
I'm disappointed.
If this was the kind of person you were...
"...You shouldn't have been so nice to me in the first place."
A powerless voice slipped out on its own. Without even the strength left to move, I buried my face in the pillow for a while and pressed down on the throbbing of my heart.
The loneliness swelled until tears threatened to come, but I forced a bright smile onto my face and sprang up from the bed.
"...No. This is actually for the best."
I hurried over to the mirror. A pretty little girl was reflected there. When I reached out, the girl in the mirror reached out the same way. As our pure white hands met against the thin surface of the glass, the feeling that I wasn't entirely alone brought me a measure of comfort.
"Viviana was just a cash cow anyway, right?"
And a massive sucker, too.
Who would pledge their family's name to support someone for life just for playing the role of a pet?
A fool. A complete fool.
Come to think of it, getting close to a sucker who couldn't even calculate profit and loss—wasn't that only a loss for me?
There was no reason to get this depressed in the first place. I'd only ever thought of Viviana as a sugar mommy and nothing more, so what was the point of acting so pathetic?
If Viviana wasn't going to care about me, then I just wouldn't care about her either.
I'd just tough out the remaining time in this mansion, then spend the leftover three years of the contract period buttering her up just enough.
"...So does that mean I have to stay alone the whole time?"
...I don't like being lonely, though.
For just a moment, the eyes of the girl in the mirror wavered violently. I hurriedly shook my head and forced a smile onto my lips.
This confinement would only last about three more weeks at most. Of course, I'd still have to play Viviana's pet for another three years... but at least I could go home after three weeks.
Then I could soak up Mother's love to my heart's content. That person would love me no matter what.
Of course, that love wasn't directed at me... but it was still love...
I'd be able to feel enough affection. At least a hundred times, a thousand times happier than this place with someone like Viviana.
And if I got really lonely, I could just go back out into high society. Then I'd be surrounded by pretty young ladies again, showered with love and gifts.
So I don't need Viviana after all.
Knock, knock—
"I'm back, Tina."
"..."
Speak of the devil—Viviana opened the door and walked in. The moment my eyes met her violet ones, my heart sank coldly.
"Tina?"
At Viviana's call, I put on a bright smile and grinned at her.
"You've arrived, my lady?"
"...Yeah."
Viviana looked at me with a strange expression, then slowly took off her coat and hung it on the rack. Yesterday she hadn't even taken her coat off before heading straight back to her room—what whim was this today?
"Oh? Are you planning to stay here?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"No reason. You usually just say a few words and leave. I figured today would be the same."
When I said that with a sunny smile, Viviana looked briefly flustered.
"Tina, is something bothering you?"
"Pardon? Me?"
"Yeah."
Was she really asking because she didn't know?
To be able to ask so shamelessly—what thick skin. But it didn't matter. I'd already decided not to care about Viviana anymore.
"No, nothing like that."
This morning I'd even considered letting her touch my butt once, but now that would never happen even if I died and came back to life. Too bad, Viviana.
"Is that so? Then excuse me for a moment."
With that, Viviana strode straight toward me.
"Huh? Wait—why are you coming closer... Eek?!"
In an instant, Viviana scooped me up in a princess carry. She walked over to the bed, laid me back down on it, and then lay down herself right after.
Her two arms wrapped around my waist, leaving us lying side by side in the odd position of receiving a back hug from Viviana. While I blinked blankly at the unexpected situation, Viviana buried her face in my shoulder and took a deep breath.
"Pets really are the best. I'm already feeling recharged."
"..."
"By the way, did you put on perfume? You smell really nice."
"...I don't wear any."
"Hm? So this is just your natural scent?"
I stared blankly at Viviana's hands wrapped around my waist. After days of indifference, I had no idea why she was suddenly acting like this.
Was she just toying with me?
"...This is uncomfortable, Lady Viviana."
My voice came out quite subdued. Viviana lifted her face from my shoulder and pulled me even closer against her.
"Is the position uncomfortable?"
"...Yes."
"Bear with it. You're my pet, aren't you?"
Irritation surged at her overbearing tone. This was the same woman who'd given Iris those honeyed looks while pushing me away—and now she was doing this?
Did she just see me as some kind of energy drink?
So selfish.
"...Fine, whatever."
But I had no right to resist. She was the one in power, and I was just the subordinate. All I could do was answer in a voice laced with annoyance.
Not long after I'd settled into Viviana's embrace while suppressing my irritation, she let out a sigh and broke the awkward silence.
"I'm sorry, Tina. I've left you lonely a lot lately, haven't I?"
"Pardon?"
I hadn't expected her to suddenly apologize, so I lifted my head in surprise.
"I've had a lot of work. Winter preparations, and it's time to restock the supplies for the soldiers on the front lines."
"..."
"I should have a bit more free time for a while, so I can focus just on you."
"...Is that so? You seemed pretty close with Iris for someone so busy. Don't you need to pay attention to her too?"
The moment the words left my mouth, a wave of regret washed over me. There was absolutely no need to use such a sarcastic tone.
Besides, getting irritated in this situation wouldn't do me any good. It was a slip of the tongue I never would have made normally. But the milk was already spilled—I couldn't take back words that had already left my mouth.
Viviana looked at me as if briefly startled. Meeting her violet eyes head-on was uncomfortable, but I didn't look away, forcing a smile while suppressing the emotions piled up inside me.
"Please don't mind what I said."
"No, Tina... are you talking about me being with Iris this morning?"
"No, it was just a slip of the tongue. Please don't mind it."
"..."
Viviana hesitated, working her lips for a moment, then took my hand gently with a look of resolve.
"...Tina, the truth is, we were talking about you."
"Pardon?"
Huh?
About me?
Wondering what that was supposed to mean, I made a puzzled face.
"I was busy. So I couldn't come see you myself, but that doesn't mean I wasn't thinking about you."
Looking somewhat embarrassed, Viviana scratched her head lightly as she continued.
"I asked Iris all sorts of things. Whether you were eating properly, if you were feeling unwell, if you needed anything."
"...Pardon?"
"Of course I would. You're my precious pet—there's no way I'd just leave you alone."
Viviana stared at me intently for a long while. Those violet eyes weren't cold and extinguished like before—they were once again kindling a warm flame directed at me.
...Was that really true?
I'd thought her affection for me had cooled...
Had I simply misunderstood?
She'd clearly told me to just leave earlier.
"Tina, did you mistakenly think I'd left you for Iris?"
"...Wasn't that the case?"
"Tina, something like that could never happen."
...What? She'd been paying so much attention because she was talking about me?
So that affectionate look she'd given Iris was because of that?
So... her affection for me hadn't faded?
Had I really misunderstood?
...Really?
"Heh... heheh."
My stiff lips slowly began to move. Before I knew it, my chest no longer ached—instead, a strange pleasure spread through my whole body.
I see. Just as I expected. Viviana, you've fallen completely for me, haven't you?
I almost made a huge misunderstanding.
I should be more careful from now on.
"I'm sorry. Were you hurt?"
Viviana spoke in a warm voice as she gently stroked my hair. Feeling my heart gradually warm at her touch, I lifted my head to look at her.
Looking at her again, she really did have a beautiful face. To maintain such a perfect appearance even while lying down—I'd thought Iris was pretty too, but I could see why Viviana was the protagonist.
Just moments ago I'd been thinking of her as a sucker to exploit, but now I felt I could see her as a somewhat decent person.
So maybe I could grant her a little special privilege? I carefully wiggled my fingers and turned my body. Facing Viviana directly while lying down brought a rush of embarrassment.
"Y-you can touch."
"Hm?"
Viviana tilted her head with a puzzled look. Unable to meet her eyes, I turned back around and wiggled my fingers.
"Um, my butt... you can touch it a little..."