LIGHTNOVELONLINE The Mardian in the game embodies the typical image of a villainess. A beautiful woman with blonde hair, red eyes, and a fierce gaze.
However, Mardian only plays the role of a villainess when the protagonist is chosen as the priest, Lilian. Mardian disdains Lilian, who is nothing more than a commoner trying to enter high society, and torments her by any means possible.
But in the case where the protagonist is chosen as Viviana, Mardian becomes just another extra NPC like Tina. They hardly ever face each other, and even if they do, they move past each other without any connection.
If a young lady from a count family were to bully a princess, it would merely be a plot error. In other words, it means Viviana and Mardian rarely meet.
At least, scenes where they exchange sharp glances like now were something I had never witnessed during several playthroughs.
“I didn’t expect to see Princess Viviana in such a humble place.”
[Is someone like a princess so free as to come to a corner like this?]
Having been immersed in high society for a long time, I could immediately see the hidden meaning behind Mardian’s polite words. Yet, despite Mardian’s sharp tone, Viviana simply smiled gracefully, maintaining her poise.
“I was surprised to know Lady Mardian had such a hobby.”
Mardian’s red eyes quivered slightly. It seemed she didn’t expect a princess to show herself in such a setting. With her being caught right in front of me, there was no room for excuses.
“…Do you have a reason for being here?”
Ultimately, Mardian lowered her sharp thorns aimed at Viviana. Viviana shifted her cold, shining purple gaze toward me.
“I just need to speak with Lady Blanc for a moment. If Lady Mardian is okay with it, may I take a moment to converse?”
“…Of course. As you wish, Princess.”
“Hehe. Thank you. Then, Lady Blanc?”
Viviana wore a faint smile as she extended her hand toward me. I looked at Mardian with an awkward heart. Mardian nodded and allowed it, but her gaze remained cold.
“Lady Mardian…?”
“Go on, Tina. Ah, your tiara is crooked.”
Mardian smiled gently as she adjusted the tiara perched atop my head. I felt uncertain about leaving like this, but under Viviana’s relentless stare pressing down on me, I had no choice but to take her hand.
Holding the princess’s hand, we walked out of the banquet for quite some time.
Soon, we arrived at a remote spot deep in the garden, far from the banquet hall, where I had first encountered Viviana.
“Viviana, what brings you here…?”
I was flustered. More shocking than Mardian attempting to kiss me was the fact that I had encountered Viviana three times in such a short period.
And every single time, it was Viviana who had actively sought me out, which was confusing beyond surprise. The first time, she found me deep in the garden; the second time, and now this time, it was the same.
The Viviana I knew was not a person who showed interest in others like this. One of the things she hated the most was wasting time. She was a cold-hearted individual who had no qualms about cutting unnecessary relationships that didn’t benefit her.
So much so that there were stories claiming it was much easier to collect all the bad endings than to achieve a love ending with Viviana. She was someone who did not easily open her heart to others.
“I didn’t know Lady Tina had such tastes.”
Viviana suddenly stopped and turned to me, her warmthless smile still on her face. In an instant, I instinctively shivered at her cold aura. But I held back and instead managed to smile.
“Tastes? What do you mean by that?”
“You seem to serve with great dedication. I wondered if Lady Mardian had honey on her fingers or something.”
“….”
While a normal person might say it a bit more indirectly, Viviana was straightforward and honest. I wasn’t sure whether to say that was just like her.
But it was fine. Even though her words were meant to insult me, it didn’t embarrass me to be compared to a prostitute amidst being called such things.
“As you say, I am the pet young lady. As long as that pleases Lady Mardian, I’m happy.”
I approached Viviana with a bright smile. With a faint smile in her eyes, I looked up at her and spoke in a weary voice.
“If you wish, I could do it for you too, Viviana.”
For a brief moment, the usually calm eyes of Viviana trembled, but that only lasted for an instant before she returned to her cold gaze, letting out a slight chuckle.
“…Heh.”
‘Her smile is exactly like in the game and the illustrations.’
To sum up Viviana:
She was a perfectionist with sociopathic tendencies.
She generously supports those beneficial to her but is infinitely cruel to those who aren’t. She never wastes her time and resources and employs any means necessary for beneficial endeavors.
Her brilliance is not limited to her business skills.
What about the battlefield against rival kingdoms? Viviana was a warrior equipped with exceptional talent inherited from a swordsmanship lineage. Watching her slice through enemy soldiers was like witnessing a ghost, making her a symbol of terror on the battlefield.
In high society, she possesses an elegant beauty and a gentle smile, causing no unease, but those who know her true self cannot dare to lift their heads before her. They know the cruel essence hidden behind her smile.
That’s the kind of person Viviana is.
‘What I find puzzling is why such a Viviana is interested in me.’
For now, since I can’t grasp the true nature of this situation, it might be wise to simply go along with her. I looked up at Viviana with a bright smile on my face.
“I’m glad I could finally see you, Princess, after not being able to properly thank you last time.”
“I would appreciate it if you could drop the pretense, Lady Blanc.”
However, what returned to my flattery was an unexpected cold voice.
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“I saw it all. You enjoying the end of Lady Verdalen’s high society life.”
“…What?”
What did she just say?
I blinked in disbelief at her unexpected words. Did she see what happened with Rose? No, that was a problem too, but she saw me enjoying it?
That couldn’t be.
Even when I briefly cracked a smile, I had thoroughly concealed it. I merely squinted my eyes slightly, and that alone should not have been enough for her to catch me enjoying myself. None of the other young ladies, including Sharione, noticed anything; she wouldn’t be able to detect such subtle changes.
“Viviana, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Young lady, my senses are sharper than those of the average person. I can easily pick up on even the slightest emotional changes.”
“….”
Viviana’s unwavering voice unknowingly unsettled me. I was aware that she possessed acute instincts honed by extreme training. However, I had thought that was limited to combat situations, not something that would also manifest in daily life.
‘…What should I do?’
The implication that she had seen me enjoying myself felt eerily truthful. I wanted to test Viviana, but I knew such attempts would be futile. Viviana knew that I was not as pure as I appeared to the world. If that’s the case, it means it’s likely unnecessary for me to put on any pretense after all.
“You can feel free to act as you wish, young lady.”
“What is it that you desire from me?”
I resolved to go along with her wishes. Letting go of the intention to speak in a cheerful tone, the words that came out went cold and chill-inducing. But rather than being displeased, Viviana showed a satisfied smile at my tone.
“Well… What do I wish from you, I wonder?”
“I have nothing that could possibly help you, Princess. My family is broke, and I possess no power.”
Knowing her nature of coldly ignoring those who do not benefit her, I pointed that out, yet her gaze remained filled with deep interest directed at me.
Why could that be? Why does Viviana take an interest in me? Unless I understand that, I can never escape her grasp.
But it was Viviana who surprisingly answered my deep pondering.
“Well, how about you butter me up like you do with the other young ladies?”
“…Huh?”
With a playful smile on her lips, Viviana lifted my chin with her finger.
“Try doing what you did to Lady Mardian on me. Then maybe I could keep quiet about your lewd intentions, pet young lady.”
“….”
An unexpected request, but it helped me catch the thread of this confusing situation.
Things started to gradually piece together.
The puzzle pieces were slowly aligning.
I finally found the answer as to why Viviana showed such deep interest in me.
Ah, so that’s it.
Why didn’t I realize something so obvious?
Humans cannot deny their primal instinct to be drawn to adorableness. Even those with cold hearts melt before the bright and innocent affection of a puppy, the playful charm of a kitten, or the adorable cries of a baby.
Moreover, if that adorableness offers them goodwill, then they could only be rendered defenseless against its allure.
A truth that has never been denied in history. The cute always wins people’s favor.
“Pfft!”
I couldn’t help but stifle overflowing laughter behind my hand. Possibly caught off guard by my reaction, Viviana frowned and looked down at me.
“Hmm…? The fact that you’re laughing suggests you aren’t grasping the current situation, Lady Blanc.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, pfft… it’s just that a funny thought suddenly crossed my mind.”
I see.
Viviana.
You’re really no different from the other young ladies. Well, after all, you are just another human. I might have trapped myself in the framework of being the protagonist, leading to unnecessary thoughts.
Blushing my smile behind my hand, I stared into Viviana’s eyes. Her beautiful cold purple eyes, which had once struck fear in me, no longer felt intimidating.
“Princess. If it’s not too much trouble, may I call you Viviana?”
Viviana.
You want to love me, don’t you?