“Ha.”
Leaving Viviana alone in the reception room, I stepped out into the corridor and let out a deep sigh. The fresh outside air calmed the chaotic thoughts in my head, even if just a little.
“Am I supposed to act fake, or am I not? Seriously…”
Being fake is comfortable for me too. I don’t have to pay attention to every little thing she says, and I don’t have to hold back my embarrassment. But it seems Viviana dislikes insincerity, so I tried to be genuine, and now I’m being told to act fake again…
“Hmph, completely self-centered.”
Thinking about Viviana’s personality, it wasn’t all that surprising. She always lives life according to her own whims. The more I thought about it, the more complicated my head became.
I looked at my reflection in the window. A gaze lacking confidence and trembling lips. With such an awkward expression, there’s no way I could win anyone’s favor.
I pried my lips apart with my fingers and forced a smile that was just like any other day. I tidied up my disheveled hair and let bright light fill my eyes. Looking in the mirror again, my beautiful face was shining.
“Yeah, good.”
The banquet wasn’t over yet. Now that other young ladies think I’m heartbroken over Mardian, it’s the perfect chance to stir up as much sympathy as I can from them.
Forget about the self-centered Viviana. It’s time to put on a pitiful face and gain some sympathy. I returned to the banquet hall with light footsteps. Thankfully, Sharione and her clique were still gathered in the same spot.
“Sharione!”
“Oh my, Tina is here!”
Sharione smiled brightly at me. She tapped her legs twice to greet me. Naturally, I sat on the sofa and leaned my head against her lap. While I rubbed my head on Sharione’s warm lap, other young ladies approached me with curiosity in their eyes.
“Tina! Hurry and tell us!”
“Why did Princess Merdellia call you?”
“I’ve never seen her up close. Wasn’t she really beautiful?”
Viviana seemed to have piqued their curiosity. I suppose so. She’s the only daughter of the Duke of Merdellia, and she showed up at such a modest banquet. It was only natural that she’d be the talk of the town.
Seeing Sharione, too, looking down at me with curious eyes, I could really feel how popular Viviana was. Some have to show up at every event to garner attention from young ladies, while others simply don’t even need to appear to grab everyone’s attention.
Truly impressive, Viviana.
“I didn’t expect Princess Merdellia to come to the banquet. Did you hear why?”
I pondered for a moment at Sharione’s question. I obviously knew the reason. After all, Viviana herself had told me directly.
She came solely to see me.
That Princess Viviana, mind you.
—I wanted to boast like that, but I decided to hold back since it wouldn’t really benefit me. I gazed at the young ladies with a sorrowful expression and forced a strained smile.
“There was just a small incident with me, and she offered some brief comfort, that’s all.”
“Ah…”
When the topic of Mardian came up, the young ladies looked at me with even more pity. Still wearing a weak smile, I waved my hands at them.
“I’m really fine! It was nothing, right?”
“It can’t be nothing if your complexion looks so bad.”
Sharione, looking at me with a sad gaze, seemed to hesitate for a moment before she made a determined expression and lightly tossed my hair aside, speaking.
“This won’t do. We’ll have a tea party at my mansion next week for Tina.”
“Really? Please invite us too, Sharione! We want to comfort Tina as well.”
“Right! We can’t just leave our poor pet looking so down.”
Holding back laughter at the lively reactions of the young ladies, I could see that Sharione looked at me with a pleased expression, completely unaware of my true feelings.
“Come with a light heart, Tina.”
“Yes! Thank you so much, Sharione.”
“If it wouldn’t be rude, I’d like an invitation too.”
In the atmosphere filled with warm laughter, a sudden chill lingered around us. Trying to calm my shivering body, I turned my gaze and met Viviana’s softly glowing purple eyes.
“Oh my, Princess Merdellia…”
I wasn’t the only one who was flustered. Sharione also looked at Viviana with a puzzled expression. I didn’t understand why Viviana was glaring at Sharione’s hand that was playfully messing with my hair.
“Are you saying you’ll be attending my tea party?”
“Yes, of course, if it wouldn’t be inconvenient for you, Lady.”
“Why, I’d be delighted.”
Viviana actually looked welcomed, as a smile spread across Sharione’s face. She was likely trying to expand her position through Viviana. After all, Viviana wasn’t just anyone—she was the daughter of the Empire’s finest swordsmanship family, and simply attending a tea party could have massive implications.
The other young ladies also brightened up, welcoming Viviana’s attendance with cheerful smiles.
While their faces brightened, mine grew darker. Originally meant to be a tea party to comfort me, it had suddenly transformed into a grand occasion with Viviana attending.
What is this, Viviana? Damming someone else’s bread bowl like this? I initially planned to act pitiful and receive gifts from the young ladies… but now I can’t do that because of her.
I shot a resentful glance at Viviana, but she ignored me and chatted with the excited young ladies.
In the end, with a sense of resignation, I sighed and leaned my head back onto Sharione’s lap again. Sharione gently fixed my hair, smiling to herself.
“Hehe… Tina’s a lucky charm.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Sharione looked at Viviana, surrounded by the young ladies, with a gentle smile.
“To think you’d bring me into contact with Princess Merdellia. What a lovely pet you are.”
“Ah…”
“Honestly, meeting Tina has been such a blessing in my life.”
Seeing the deep affection in Sharione’s eyes, I instinctively realized this was the perfect opportunity to raise her favor even further.
“I’m really happy to hear you say that, Sharione…!”
I straightened up and sat in Sharione’s lap. It was quite embarrassing to face her from such a close distance, but it shouldn’t look strange in the context of a pet and owner relationship.
“I have something to tell you, Sharione.”
“Oh my, what is it?”
From my experiences so far, I felt there was a more than enough gullible streak in Sharione. I could definitely raise Sharione’s favor even more at this point.
“Umm… actually, with you, Sharione—.”
“Excuse me.”
“To be closer—Ugh?!”
Suddenly, a pale white hand pressed firmly on both my cheeks, causing a deflated sound to escape my lips. Flustered, I turned my gaze to find none other than Viviana covering my face.
“V-Viviana?”
She was just surrounded by young ladies, so when did she slip in? But there was no time to ponder that. Viviana coldly lifted me, awkwardly seating me beside her and squeezing herself into the space between me and Sharione.
“Surely… you are Lady Sharione of the Rodain Count family, right?”
“Oh my, how lovely of you to remember our family. It’s an honor.”
Viviana’s simple greeting turned Sharione’s face to a blush of excitement. With a beautiful, radiant smile adorning her face, Viviana continued.
“How could I forget? The Rodain family has always showcased wonderful prestige within the Empire.”
“Haha, we are nowhere near the Duchess of Merdellia. I can’t express how much I’ve wanted to talk with you, Princess.”
From there, the two began chatting in their own little world. Left out in a moment’s notice, I stared at Viviana in disbelief. What on earth was happening here?
The vibe was so pleasant just a moment ago; why did she have to show up and interrupt? Not just once, but twice, she snatched my bread bowl away. At this point, it felt deliberate!
Annoyance began to brew toward Viviana, who kept talking and leaving me out of the conversation. I placed one hand on her thigh and pinched her with all my strength to release my pent-up frustration.
Viviana, who was talking to Sharione, briefly glanced at me before leaning in with an unreadable expression and softly whispering in my ear.
“Take it easy. I’m not in a good mood right now.”
“…What?”
Wait, I’m the one who had my bread bowl taken away…
Why are you the one who’s upset?
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