Chapter 18

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: A Story Cisse Doesn't Know 1
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The hem of her dress billowed like a shadow. Her ramrod-straight posture was as dazzling as the pride etched on her face. She was a girl who truly embodied the title of a noble lady.

Pérignole, forgetting the momentary sense of inferiority she had felt, let out a pure gasp of admiration. In truth, it was also a sign of respect for her opponent.

Cisse Vischwartz.

The new young miss of the Vischwartz family was as noble and beautiful as the surname attached to her name. So much so that, were it not for the widely known facts of her birth, one might have mistaken her for a true noble.

And so, though Pérignole had drawn on her experience to easily win their exchange, she couldn't help but feel a profound sense of defeat as she watched the girl retreat like a queen, giving no sign that she had lost.

A typical lady would have thrown a fit, unable to contain her anger, or repeated the same nonsensical arguments until she won, trying to humiliate her opponent. But she had done no such thing.

Astonishingly, the moment Cisse Vischwartz realized she had lost, she maintained her usual haughty demeanor and stepped aside as if she were the victor. She seemed to be someone who knew when to advance and when to retreat. Even when Pérignole deliberately raised her voice to mock her, Cisse Vischwartz's composure remained unchanged.

A placid lake, untouched by the slightest breeze.

Therefore, Pérignole had no choice but to admit it. The young miss of the Vischwartz family was no ordinary person. A woman unlike the baseless rumors that circulated in society.

As soon as this thought crossed her mind and Cisse Vischwartz was completely out of sight, Pérignole poked Theodore Beatrice in the side with her finger. It was a gesture of resentment toward the irresponsible man who had feigned being a drunken lout, leaving her alone to face the Vischwartz lady.

“Get up. She's gone. There's no need to act anymore.”

“I know.”

As if the resentful poke to his side didn't hurt at all, Theodore rose with his usual gentle smile. The man who had been snoring, dead drunk just moments before, was gone. Sweeping his hair back, he replied in a low voice, looking as resplendent as if he were dressed in finery.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Pérignole shot him a sidelong glance, her voice coy. All the while, her hands were affectionately fastening the buttons of his waistcoat.

Accustomed to her ministrations, Theodore shifted slightly to help her fasten his buttons more easily and answered in a low voice.

“Yes.”

The moment he finished speaking, Pérignole began to chatter ceaselessly, chirping like a bird. This was, after all, exactly what her master, Theodore, desired.

“She's an amazing woman. I think I understand why you asked me to deal with her, Master. Despite having only just joined the Vischwartz family, she's more ladylike than any noble heiress. No, she's already a lady through and through. She wouldn't seem out of place at all if she were to make her social debut right now.”

“So it would seem.”

“Her pride as a noble, her elegant demeanor, her self-respect—they all seemed loftier than anyone's. And yet, she showed the audacity not to be ashamed of her defeat. She's no ordinary woman. She's just a young girl who hasn't even had her coming-of-age ceremony, but she's more shrewd than any noble. She's a woman with great potential for growth. If she's like this without proper training, once she learns the proper conduct of a lady, ruling high society would be a simple matter. You saw something special in her, didn't you, Master?”

Theodore did not answer. Instead, he simply gazed at her with inscrutable eyes. At his gaze, Pérignole fell silent.

From past experience, she knew it was better to remain quiet and not press him when he looked at someone that way. Theodore acted the part of a gentleman, showing kindness to everyone, but if one were to look beneath the surface, he was a man more cruel and fearsome than any other. This was something Pérignole, who had served him as her 'master' since childhood, knew best.

So, instead of waiting for an answer to her question, she continued to speak of her impressions of Cisse. It was what Theodore wanted, after all.

“But there was something strange. I'm not sure if I read her correctly, but it seemed as though Cisse wanted to be like us.”

“Us?”

“Yes. Prostitutes, like me.”

“How peculiar.”

“Of course, I don't mean she wants to sell her body. But it seemed she wanted to act and speak like me. It was as if she wanted to emulate the way we handle our clients. Isn't that strange?”

“Why do you think so?”

“It was plain to see. She tried to hide it, but her ears and her gaze were fixed entirely on my gestures and expressions. Every time I made a move, she would flinch slightly, trying to commit it to memory. It was a look that bordered on ‘admiration’.”

“So that's why she didn't refuse my request.”

“Your request, Master?”

Pérignole blinked, looking up at Theodore. Perhaps a habit from dealing with clients surfaced unconsciously, for her action was as subtle and alluring as a seduction.

“An ordinary woman would not sit with a prostitute. But she did.”

“I see. To be honest, I thought she had less aversion to prostitutes because she was a commoner. But I realized that wasn't the case from the way she treated me. Still, I might be mistaken in thinking she wants to be like us.”

“And why is that?”

Seeing Theodore's interest in her words, Pérignole broke into a radiant smile and continued. Her generous master remained consistently gentle, never faulting her for her vulgarity. For which she was very grateful.

“The moment she lost the upper hand in our conversation, she showed a sudden loss of interest and left. And despite my subtle invitation to visit my establishment, she wasn't swayed in the least.”

“That's only natural.”

“Pardon? What do you mean? Master, please enlighten this slow-witted girl. I don't understand why that would be.”

Pérignole urged him on, her voice full of a pleading charm.

“Because you aren't the only prostitute. They may be of a lower class than you, but this city is teeming with world-weary courtesans skilled in handling people. In other words, while she may have felt a fleeting interest from a brief encounter, your value to her is not so great that she would risk her reputation to obtain it.”

“Ah, I see. So that's why she could leave me with such confidence. You truly are amazing, Master.”

Theodore gave Pérignole, who was marveling at his words, a profound smile and reached out to stroke her hair. His gesture was affectionate, like petting an animal, yet it also held a clear boundary. For unlike his gently moving hand, his cold, sunken eyes held no warmth at all.

“Pérignole.”

“Yes, Master. Please speak.”

Pérignole answered in a breathless whisper. It was a simple touch, yet she shivered in deep pleasure, as if being caressed.

And for good reason; whenever her master, Theodore, stroked her hair, Pérignole felt an ecstasy akin to a spiritual consummation.

Of the many women who served under him as 'tools', Pérignole was the only one whose hair he stroked like this. And Pérignole knew this very well.

That was why she felt a deep joy and was moved every time Theodore's hand touched her hair. At times like these, she felt as though she were someone important to her master.

“Make contact with Lady Vischwartz.”

“Master?”

“She's a very interesting card to play. If handled well, she might be of use to my ‘great cause’. So, make contact with her somehow, and let her have her way.”

“Yes, Master.”

Pérignole closed her eyes, purring like a cat. It was an attitude of absolute submission. She was more docile and tame than a well-fed beast. The only thing missing was a leash; Pérignole was no different from a tail-wagging dog.

Into her ear, Theodore's voice descended, as soft as a feather.

“But don't do anything too conspicuous. Strike and withdraw at the right moment. Getting entangled with a noble family will not end well.”

Ah, Master. Pérignole nodded, her face filled with emotion. The resentment she had felt toward her heartless master—who, after a long absence, had only come to ask her to deal with a lady—was melting away like snow.

Then again, he had always been like this. Ever since he had saved her from the hands of a nobleman who tried to rape her at the tender age of five, drawn by her natural beauty, Theodore had always been this kind.

Of course, it was true that he could be terrifyingly cruel if she disobeyed his orders, but in retrospect, everything he had asked of her had been for her own good. That was why she had been able to take his hand and leave her hometown, and why she had become a prostitute at his command, tumbling under the hands of men.

It was all for her master, Theodore. Otherwise, she would have bitten her tongue and died long ago, unable to bear the shame and humiliation. If she hadn't known that the more she wallowed in the mire, the more 'information' and 'funds' went to her master.

It was the same now. He was using her for something that would aid his 'great cause'. This meant that she was an important 'tool' to Theodore.

The fact brought her so much joy that tears streamed down her face without her realizing it. She waited in silence for him to wipe her cheek with a gentle hand.

“Don't you worry. I have a way to meet her with confidence. So please, trust in me, Pérignole, and wait. I will shape her into a fine ‘card’ that can aid your work, Master.”

Pérignole threw herself into Theodore's arms, rubbing her cheek against his broad chest as she whispered softly. She smiled like a flower, anxiously awaiting the joy of hearing him reply 'Yes' in his low voice. She smiled like that, oblivious to how cold Theodore's eyes were as he gazed down at the crown of her head.

Her affection for the man grew hotter by the day, swelling to a size she could no longer control. It was like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

But the man, knowing this, did not push her away. He simply stroked the small shoulders of the hot, trembling body in his arms. As if taming a beast in heat.

It was only natural, then, that less than a month later, Pérignole paid an unofficial visit to the Vischwartz estate.

***

When I returned home, it was Marie who greeted me. Though it had only been a short while, she must have been anxious about not accompanying me, for her face was a mask of turmoil.

After all, while she had stayed behind on my orders, she was sure to be reprimanded for not attending to her mistress. She must have been on pins and needles the entire time I was gone, waiting for me to return to the manor. Wasn't she already on thin ice with her superiors because of the previous incident?

Seeing me return from my walk perfectly fine, despite not having a single knight with me, she let out a loud sigh, deeply relieved. It was so heavy it felt as if the floor might sink.