Chapter 15
I’m the Villain Family’s Real Powerhouse, a Munchkin
Tionis had no way of realizing Marianne’s inner thoughts.
After all, he had only been anxiously waiting for her for several years.
And besides, all he had done was secretly watch Marianne collapse after overusing her abilities. He couldn’t bring himself to meet her eyes directly.
When Tionis had met her in the past, he had been an extremely timid boy.
Now, no one would believe that the cold, piercing aura of the Grand Duke of Cabellug once belonged to such a child.
Tionis felt relieved that Marianne was, at least for now, not looking at him.
“Marianne, I’m quite disappointed that you’re not a cat.”
However, because he had hastily forced out a lie, his voice sounded stiff, as if he were acting.
Even the finger he pointed at Marianne trembled slightly.
Everything about his behavior was suspiciously jerky and unnatural.
Marianne, for her part, didn’t notice any of this.
She was completely consumed by terrifying thoughts of how she might be executed.
Hugging the blanket made her already ridiculous form even more larva-like.
On top of that, her whole body, tense with nerves, was dripping with cold sweat.
At the word ‘disappointed,’ she nearly gave up on life entirely, thinking, if it comes, it comes.
‘Should I tell him that the woman wrapped in gray bandages wandering the mansion at night wasn’t me?’
Even such ridiculous thoughts crossed her mind.
“But… if you can release my magic, I suppose I can trust you.”
It was Tionis’s voice that pulled her out of the depths of her anxiety.
“Is that so…? Right?”
Marianne, who had almost sighed in resignation, asked belatedly.
She peeked out from under the blanket that nearly engulfed her face.
“……”
The moment her face suddenly appeared, Tionis didn’t speak right away.
“…Then it would be good if you stayed at the Grand Duke of Cabellug’s residence and released my magic.”
Hearing this positive reply once again, Marianne’s eyes widened.
“R-Really? Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
Could it really be resolved this simply?
…Really?
Thinking she must have misheard, she shrank back inwardly. Yet the voice of Marianne, which had been holding strong until just now, quickly began to quiver with tears.
“I’m so relieved… wow… thank you so much…”
Although Tionis couldn’t see it, her large eyes were brimming with relief.
“Yes. You may… call me ‘Tini’ if you like.”
Meanwhile, Tionis cautiously offered his nickname, seemingly with a selfish little motive, glancing at her.
However, Marianne, who had just been happy, was now visibly anxious, fidgeting and opening her mouth.
“Um… could we keep it a secret from the servants for now?”
“Huh?”
“Well…”
Tionis, not understanding her intent, squinted one eye, prompting Marianne to speak in a small, hesitant voice some time later.
“They all think of me as a cat and like me that way. Later… I want to reveal it slowly.”
Her head, bowed deeply, seemed to emit faint steam in the imagination.
“Ah.”
Tionis couldn’t help but sigh. Even in her human form, how could she still seem so much like a small, anxious animal?
Not only was her face tiny and her body completely hidden by the blanket, but her behavior wasn’t much different from when she had been a cat.
Even her height seemed unchanged. She had matured slightly, but hadn’t grown at all.
Standing next to her, he guessed, there would be at least a 30 cm difference.
Yet he couldn’t just regard her words as cute.
She probably spoke out of fear of losing the attention and love she had not experienced in the Fontine Count family.
‘I already… told a few people, though.’
It was a very awkward request, but not impossible.
Most people didn’t know yet, though those he could trust had long been informed.
Even the servants who didn’t know wouldn’t be disappointed or treat her differently once they found out she was human.
He could be sure of that. The atmosphere of the Grand Duke’s residence had clearly changed since Marianne arrived.
“I’ll tell only those I care about.”
Even if he had already informed them.
“…Is that alright?”
“It’s fine. There are many people here with their own histories. Everyone has at least one or two secrets they wish to keep.”
Tionis smiled widely for the first time. By now, his cheeks were flushed as he looked at Marianne.
Now that her ability was revealed, thoughts of execution were far-fetched.
Still, he should have shown signs of betrayal or disappointment.
Yet, despite claiming to be disappointed in her, Tionis remained gentle.
He didn’t make much eye contact, perhaps out of shyness.
No, that wasn’t just her imagination.
His voice was endlessly kind, and his expression… look, he was smiling fully.
Even when she had been a cat, he had rarely smiled like that.
‘Like a big puppy.’
If he had a tail, it would probably be wagging to express his mood.
Her own lips naturally curved at his smile. Flushed, she fanned her face with her hands.
Tionis had accepted her.
Not as a cat, but as a human, without disdain, smiling and accepting her.
It was a ticklish, fluttering sensation.
…No! Before that feeling completely overtook her, she quickly shook her head.
This wasn’t a time to daydream and giggle.
It meant her ability was essential to Tionis. How joyful must he feel to react like this?
Even if Tionis was gentle with her, it didn’t guarantee everyone at the Grand Duke’s residence would accept her as he did.
At least, if not loved, she could avoid being hurt by someone’s disdain.
She would reveal herself to the other servants at that time.
Tionis said he would tell those he cared about.
Organizing her thoughts, she watched as Tionis’s red lips parted.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll introduce someone to you again.”
…Excuse me?
She hadn’t expected him to introduce someone so quickly.
At Tionis’s firm tone, her mouth fell open in surprise instead of replying.
She wasn’t ready at all.
While she was lost in thought, just how far had he planned everything alone?
Her mind, which had just calmed, was thrown back into chaos.
And that wasn’t the only problem. She wiggled her fingers and finally spoke.
“B-But… I don’t have any clothes?”
Look at me right now!
After some time had passed, Tionis seemed accustomed to seeing her rolled up in the blanket.
“Ah.”
As if realizing this fact, Tionis slowly scanned her body.
The sighing man suddenly stood up.
…Wow, he’s huge! So tall!
Her body instinctively shrank. She hadn’t noticed before, being too disoriented when she first returned to human form. His height was really… immense.
Even as a cat she had known he was big, but everyone looked big from that perspective, so she hadn’t realized the extent.
Even moving, his solid build showed clearly beneath his uniform. When sitting, she had thought him slender.
At this size, even a playful punch could break a wall.
Unaware she was watching his back, Tionis headed confidently somewhere.
He entered the dressing room, opened the small attached door, and, lost in thought, rubbed his chin with his index finger.
Soon, his golden eyes were filled with delight. As always, his expressions were more varied than expected.
Standing there blankly, she watched as Tionis emerged from the dressing room holding a yellow dress that seemed to carry a floral scent.
“……?”
“Make sure to wear this tomorrow morning.”
Why was a women’s dress coming out of his room?
