Villainess Mardi-an
"You respect me?"
"Yes. I truly respect you, Lady Mardi-an."
Those blood-red eyes, as if steeped in crimson, wavered in a way they never had before. Of course she would be flustered. To declare respect even after learning she ran an illegal gambling den—from her perspective, it must have been utterly absurd.
Yet after blankly blinking for only a moment, Mardi-an soon fixed me with a gaze thick with suspicion.
"Ha. What kind of scheme is this? Young Lady Bland, I don't know what you're after, but if you take me lightly—"
"It's not a scheme! I really, truly like you, Lady Mardi-an."
"Ugh…"
I stared straight into Mardi-an's red eyes with a sparkling, earnest gaze. It seemed she was the one who felt the pressure; she was the first to look away.
But I refused to give up. With eyes full of sincerity and a smile brimming with excitement, I chased after her gaze.
"…Why?"
At last, whether my genuine feelings had reached her or not, the suspicion in Mardi-an's eyes settled a shade lighter. Her voice had softened considerably, and I felt a quiet relief.
Thank goodness. It's working.
In my past life I had been a person of remarkably dull emotions. Once, when I took an MBTI test, my Thinking score came out at ninety-five percent—I was that cold. Back in middle school I had even been called a psychopath.
The reason someone like me managed to blend smoothly into the harsh modern world was thanks to a childhood friend I had known since I was small.
She was my complete opposite.
An extremely empathetic soul who would grieve with others, laugh with them, and even cry in their place.
People often dismissed such behavior as forced sympathy, yet her expressions always carried true feeling, so no one ever disliked her.
In the end she became someone who won favor from everyone, regardless of age or gender. Having spent so many years at her side, I learned her gift for empathy.
They say truly close friends come to resemble each other. Before I knew it, I too could empathize for others the way she did—smile with them, struggle alongside them.
The difference was that mine was pure performance, without a shred of sincerity. But if the other person felt it as genuine, wasn't that enough?
Having perfectly mastered the art of reading and mirroring people's emotions from my childhood friend, I slipped easily into society. And, mercifully, that same skill seemed to work in this world as well. The fact that I could lower even the guard of Mardi-an—called a ruthless villainess—proved it.
There was just one problem.
My childhood friend had freely offered physical affection even to people who were not her lovers. She held back with men, yet with women of the same sex she unhesitatingly took their hands, linked arms, and never stinted on displays of fondness.
I knew that a certain level of affectionate contact between women was socially allowed, so I had never given it much thought.
Looking back, the decisive reason that a girl so popular with men never drew jealousy from other women was precisely that physical closeness.
They say the closer the bodies, the closer the hearts.
But of course, having lived most of my life as a man, I had no idea how far such contact was permitted. I had never once imagined I would become a woman, so the question had never crossed my mind.
Now, however, I needed to know. What other way was there for a young lady of a declining barony to survive? Only by clinging to young ladies who possessed far greater power than I did.
Judging by Artasha, cheek kisses seem to be within bounds…
Still, better to approach slowly than to rush in. I sorted through the tangle of thoughts and gently took Mardi-an's hand.
"You probably don't believe me…?"
"Of course not. Anyone who has heard about the Camellia Gambling House wouldn't normally think that way. You clearly have some scheme in mind."
She was right. If I were in her place I would be suspicious first. But this was something I had to overcome. When I thought of Artasha, who was fighting day and night for the sake of my peaceful, idle life, there was nothing I could not do.
Discarding every scrap of pride and determined only to win Mardi-an's favor, I looked up at her with the most pitiful eyes I could manage and tightly laced our fingers together.
So that I would not wound her feelings, I spoke in the softest, most harmless voice possible.
"But… I really do like you, Lady Mardi-an…."
"…Hmm?"
I can do this. Even if I never become a childhood-friend-level companion, I was confident I could at least earn her goodwill.
So please wait just a little longer, Artasha.
I'll bring you good news soon.
"Lady Mardi-an. Who is that young lady?"
Young ladies in dazzling dresses dripping with jewels all turned their eyes on me. Having so many gazes fixed on me at once felt oppressive, yet Mardi-an stepped in front of me and blocked their stares.
"We found we have a great deal in common, so we've become close. We'll be seeing each other often from now on, so do exchange greetings."
"Ah—hello. I am Tina Bland. It is an honor beyond my station to form a connection with all of you."
I gave a shy little nod and offered my greetings. The moment they learned I was a daughter of House Bland, the young ladies' expressions wavered, but each time Mardi-an stepped in at once to shield me.
When I looked up at her with grateful eyes, Mardi-an smiled faintly and nodded. Who ever called Mardi-an a villainess? Someone who could smile so prettily could never be a villainess.
Well, looking at the present situation, it was clear enough.
I had succeeded in befriending Mardi-an.
I had carefully unspooled the story I had prepared and gradually eased her wariness. I told her that the reason I knew about the Camellia Gambling House was Boni Bland, who had been so mad for gambling that he squandered the entire family fortune.
While wasting his life away at the Camellia Gambling House, he had one day overheard by chance that the Abreldein Countship was connected to the place, and in a drunken haze he had told his daughter—me. I added that he had died not long afterward, so I was the only one who knew. I could not risk any harm coming to Artasha.
Mardi-an had suspected I might have come seeking revenge for my father, but I told her I had always hated him enough to despise him, and that being able to strike him from the family register had actually been a favor.
Most of it was fabricated, yet I truly had never liked Boni Bland. Watching Artasha suffer under the debts he had scattered everywhere after losing every last coin left me with nothing but resentment.
After that I applied the empathy skills learned from my childhood friend and a few flattering lines polished through social life, and before long Mardi-an was looking at me with noticeably gentler eyes.
In the end I secured her active support. In exchange, however, I had agreed to grant one personal request of hers.
Honestly I had not wanted to, but Mardi-an's backing was indispensable to my future peaceful, idle life, so I had no real choice.
And so, hand in hand with Mardi-an once more, I had returned to the banquet. Now I was sharing tea and laughter with people Tina alone could never have approached.
"I've never seen hair as pure white as Tina's. It's as beautiful as a single lily."
"Thank you. Hearing such praise from someone as kind as you, Lady Everin, makes me truly happy!"
"My…"
She was not quite on Mardi-an's level, yet she was still a well-known figure in high society—the daughter of the Arbery Viscountship. Favor glimmered in the eyes that stared blankly at me.
"Tina, I know this may be rude, but may I stroke your hair a little?"
"Of course. It would be an honor if Lady Everin did so."
"…"
I bowed my head with a soft smile. The woman named Everin placed her hand on my head without hesitation and began stroking this way and that.
"Good heavens… hair this soft. It's addictive."
"Thank you."
"Hehe… may I stroke it again next time?"
"As often as you like, Lady Everin!"
I nodded with a bright smile. At my completely unhesitating answer, a flower of laughter bloomed at the corner of her lips. If something this simple made her happy, I could only be grateful.
This might be easier than I thought…?
Artasha was the same. Looking at things like this, women seemed rather simple. At first I had been uncertain, but confidence steadily grew. Could it be that I actually had a talent for charming women?
While I was basking in the pleasant feeling of Everin's petting, Mardi-an stepped forward and snatched my hand.
"Forgive me, Young Lady Everin. We have a prior arrangement, so I'll need to borrow Tina for a while. You'll allow it, won't you?"
"O-of course."
Under the eerie red gleam of Mardi-an's eyes, Everin immediately withdrew her hand and stepped back. Judging by how frozen her face had become, Mardi-an's standing here was considerable.
"Come along, Tina."
Still holding my hand, Mardi-an led me straight out of the hall. My tightly gripped wrist throbbed a little, yet I showed nothing and matched her swift strides.
We arrived at the banquet garden—specifically a secluded corner where the moonlight barely reached. Without even giving me time to breathe the cool night air, Mardi-an pinned me against the wall, then tilted her head with a villainess's crooked smile.
"Tina. As you saw, I can look after your standing to a certain degree."
"Yes. Thank you, Lady Mardi-an."
"I kept my promise… so now Tina will grant my request, won't she?"
The request I had agreed to in exchange for Mardi-an's support.
It was to satisfy a "special" desire of hers.
"…"
"Oh my. Tina. You're not saying you dislike it now, are you?"
"O-of course not… I-I'm just nervous…"
Honestly I wanted to refuse. But I could not take back the choice I had already made.
In the hand of Mardi-an, who wore a twisted smile, hung a single leather belt. When on earth had she prepared something so vicious?
"Don't worry. I'll go easy on you the first time."
Mardi-an's tastes had been mentioned even in the original game.
It was one of the reasons she was called a villainess in the first place.
Mardi-an had tormented Lillian—one of the protagonists—nearly to death. Right up until the day she was finally punished and banished from the empire, she never left Lillian alone.
Mentally.
And physically as well.
"Tina. Lift your skirt."
Villainess Mardi-an.
She was a pervert possessed of extremely sadistic sexual desires.