A Successful Social Debut

A thick darkness blanketed the sky, while the lofty moon gently illuminated the earth below. As I opened the carriage door and stepped down, the mansion that now felt so warm and familiar came into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠view.

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"Tina!"

In this peaceful home, the person I felt most comfortable with came running toward me. Her hair was whiter than even the moon floating high above, and her face held a youthful beauty so radiant it was hard to believe she was a married woman.

"I'm home, Mother."

Had she really been waiting for me all this time? I hadn't given her any particular promise about when I'd return, yet seeing her wait like this made it clear just how worried she must have been.

Without a moment's hesitation I dove into Artasha's arms as she rushed toward me. The instant her body enveloped me, two cushions far larger and softer than anything I possessed welcomed me in.

"...Hehe."

The sensation was so wonderfully plush that a silly little laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it. So that was why men, when they were in a foul mood, sometimes got offered a chance to touch a woman's chest. It wasn't just empty talk after all.

Even if Artasha was my biological mother now, the soul that had once lived as a man was allowed at least this much, right?

"Tina, how was the ball? It must have been so hard for you. You really did well."

The worry dripping from Artasha's eyes made my chest tingle. How many times in my life had anyone ever looked at me with such genuine concern? Having a mother like this and still wandering off the way the original Tina had... she really had been pathetic.

"I missed you, Mother."

"...I missed you too."

At my soft smile and those words, Artasha's eyes gentled. She stroked my hair with a mature smile and continued.

"...You must have heard so many insults, yet you overcame them so splendidly. I'm truly proud of you, Tia."

"No? I didn't hear anything of the sort."

"Hm?"

Artasha blinked in bewilderment, looking for all the world as if she were thinking, That can't be right. She really was a woman whose heart showed right through her face.

"I was able to become friends with someone wonderful, you see."

"I-Is that so? Could you tell me that young lady's name, by any chance?"

"It's Lady Mardi-an of the Abreldein Countship!"

Surprise now flooded the blue eyes that had been so flustered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a moment ago. She must have known of Mardi-an's reputation as well.

"Th-That's amazing, Tina. I heard she's a young lady one can't approach lightly... Did you really become close with the daughter of the Abreldein Countship?"

"Of course. She even told me to call her Unnie."

"U-Unnie?"

That had been something said while we were... doing that, of course, but I decided to twist the truth a little to put Artasha at ease. It wasn't a complete lie, so... yeah. It was fine.

"...I'm truly proud of you, Tina. You worked so hard. It must be because you're so lovable that she took a liking to you."

"It's because I take after you, Mother. You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen."

A faint flush rose on Artasha's pure-white cheeks. The praise must have been unfamiliar; she cleared her throat awkwardly, averted her gaze, and answered shyly.

"I-Is that so. Thank you."

"Just words?"

I offered her a light smile and presented my right cheek. She stared in confusion for a moment at my sudden request, glanced around once, then leaned her face toward me.

Chup—

The soft press of Artasha's lips against my cheek made my exhausted body feel just a little restored. For the first time in the months since I'd possessed this body, I truly felt as if I had come home to a place of comfort.

Rest easy, Artasha.

No.

Rest easy, Mother.

For the sake of my peaceful slacker life, if nothing else, I will definitely make this house wealthy again.

There had been none of the lavish dishes from the banquet hall, yet the dinner I shared with Mother had been more than satisfying. Now, having stepped into the bathroom, I examined my naked body reflected in the full-length mirror.

Skin so pure white it was hard to tell whether I was human or ghost, without a single blemish. My frame was rather thin from not having eaten properly, yet the unmistakable curves of a woman still showed clearly. She might have been nothing more than an NPC, but Tina Bland truly was a beautiful woman.

Even if the chest is a bit small.

Still, looking at Mother, there seemed to be promising potential. Someday Tina might grow into a mature, bountiful woman just like her.

"...Ngh."

While I was staring into the mirror, a sharp, stinging pain flared in my calf. I turned halfway around and looked again; a vivid purple bruise stood out starkly against the pure-white skin of my lower leg.

Gazing at a bruise so large that even both hands couldn't cover it, the memory of what had happened hours earlier in the deep garden rose unbidden.

"...Fuck."

I spat out a curse as I stared at the raw marks and scars Mardi-an had left behind.

She hadn't stopped tormenting me until tears finally spilled from my eyes. The way she licked those tears away at the end and smiled so seductively had been genuinely chilling.

I'd walked into the tiger's den of my own free will, so I couldn't claim it was unfair—but honestly, it hadn't felt good. Even while she was spanking my ass I'd had to struggle hard to hold back the surge of anger.

You brought it on yourself, didn't you?

But what choice did I have?

One thing I want to make absolutely clear:

I am not into being on the receiving end.

If I had to choose, I was far closer to the type who makes others take it. In typical gender-swap stories people talk about "mats" and "covers," right? Between those two, I was clearly a "cover" kind of person.

Of course I knew my place all too well, and right now I was stuck in a falling house with no choice but to rely on someone like Mardi-an's power. If I'd possessed even a scrap of authority myself, I never would have associated with a sadist like her in the first place.

But reality is cold. I hadn't been reborn as some powerful family's son; I'd possessed the daughter of a declining noble house, so I had no choice but to play the coquettish pet.

Let me say it one more time, just so there's no mistake.

My true self is a man among men. Deep in my chest a fundamental macho spirit still lives and breathes—I have no doubt of that. Right now I'm simply yielding to reality. The masculine heart buried deep inside me is still very much alive.

I'm making this crystal clear in case some outsider peeks in and gets the wrong idea.

"...I'll have to find some medicine without Mother noticing."

I let out a short sigh and looked away from the mirror.

If Mother saw these wounds she would clearly fret herself sick with worry in secret. She already worked day and night; I didn't want to pile another burden onto her shoulders.

I dragged my heavy legs into the bathtub. The moment the warm rose-scented water wrapped around my lower body, a stinging pain shot through my calf.

"Haaah..."

Even so, the languid warmth enveloping my whole body felt stronger than the ache. If I could have, I would have closed my eyes right there and drifted off to sleep.

But then I'd definitely get an earful from Renihel, so I forced the rising drowsiness down, drew a deep breath, and dunked my head under the water as well.

Beneath the surface I calmly settled the tangled thoughts in my head.

I had only just taken my first step into the cutthroat world of high society. Even with the solid backing of Mardi-an, I couldn't keep relying on her alone forever.

I needed to expand my foothold as much as possible, as quickly as possible. Even if it meant grinding my pride into the dirt, in a world where power ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was everything I had to cling to the strong who would look after me.

Someone might call it pathetic. Well, those people could all go get reincarnated as commoners. Let's see how far their precious pride got them then.

I was going to live easy by playing cute and flattering people.

Pride and the masculine spirit sleeping inside me could wait until I was financially comfortable enough to afford them.

"Pwah!"

I sorted through every messy thought and lifted my head out of the water. From now on it would be wise to practice holding my breath longer. Judging by Mardi-an's personality, it wouldn't be long before she came at me trying to choke my neck.

I slapped the surface of the water with my hand; it splashed outward with a sharp pang. Clenching my fist, I made a firm resolution deep inside.

Survive. Survive, and live here comfortably with Mother for a long, long time.

With that vow I slowly closed my eyes above the bathtub. When I opened them again, Lenahel was glaring down at me with a ferociously twisted face, scolding me.

I must have been more exhausted than I realized.

Anyway.

Despite all my resolve, time flowed by with startling speed.

Before I knew it, a full year had passed.

I was still living with a smile on my lips.

And, most fortunately of all, I had managed to win the favor of the high and mighty of high society.

I had thought everything was progressing rather smoothly.

There was just one peculiar development.

At some point, a certain nickname had begun to stick to my name.

Pet Young Lady.