0% Fienne had never concerned herself with her appearance. Anyone who had glimpsed her in person—she was recently fad as the Lily of Dalloa in Bondalles—would find that hard to believe, but it was undeniably true.
As a street urchin cast out from the orphanage, she lacked the ans to care for her looks. And after awakening as a Progenitor, she had no reason to; her body, imbued with supre dignity, maintained itself in flawless condition.
Her pure white hair remained as lustrous as silk, untouched by dirt or neglect. Her jade-like skin only grew more supple with ti.
It was as if ti itself had beco her servant, exalting her very existence.
“...”
Yet, Fienne had developed a new hobby as of late. Spending ti in front of the mirror—in other words, grooming herself.
Don’t other won do it too? There’s no special reason to it.
Despite what she told herself, the reality was different.
“Do I really look that much like a child...?”
Fienne pretended not to mind Risir treating her like a child, but in truth, it vexed her to no end.
For a girl who could enslave anyone, regardless of age or gender, being seen as a child by the only man whom she fancied was a deep concern.
“At least, it’s certain that my appearance isn’t the problem...”
Fienne was convinced of this, unaware that it was actually the crux of the issue.
How could she know? That man, with his mories of a past life in the modern world, had standards for ‘romantic interests’ far more rigid than the norm in this world.
While her appearance t the general standard of an ‘elegant lady’, in Risir’s eyes, she fell into the “Ahem, may I see so ID?” category.
“...Still, since that man doesn’t have an eye for anything...”
But all that aside, Fienne was willing to make so concessions. After all, the one with the problem wasn’t her, but that man.
She felt a sense of mission, believing that only she could correct his distorted view of relationships(?).
So Fienne beca interested in the art of makeup to understand what it ant to have an ‘adult appeal’.
The result was a failure.
-I don’t know, I just don’t know!!!
-Where do we even start with that face?!
The female staff at an adventurers’ guild, asked to teach Fienne about makeup, wailed like amateur artists faced with a masterpiece.
-...I might need a little more training.
Even the makeup maestro known as ‘Two-Faces’, a silver-ranked adventurer rumored to have brought endless despair to n who spent the night with her, attempted the challenge only to put down her brush in defeat.
So Fienne turned her attention to another aspect. Naly, clothing.
To cut to the chase, this too was a failure.
-My lady, you’d look good in anything! R-rather, have you considered going naked?! Surely there’s no clothing in this world more beautiful than your body!
-Don’t go! Please, please wear my clothes!!!
These were the reactions of master tailors who proudly put their nas on their work, famous throughout Bondalles. Artisans with pride bordering on arrogance, claiming “I choose who wears my clothes, not the custors!”
They were overwheld by the re fact that Fienne showed interest in their clothes. Nearly to the point of seizures.
What could she possibly learn from them when they showered her with nothing but exaggerated praise like “Yooou-loook-hffff-sooo-nnng-beaauutifuul” no matter what she wore?
So Fienne turned her attention to yet another aspect. This ti, it was deanor and conduct.
Fienne sought out the courtesans of Bondalles.
-What business does the Lily of Dalloa have with myself?
It was to learn about ‘adult appeal’ from these high-class prostitutes who only dealt with nobility.
-My lady, you’re too beautiful...
-If it’s you, I’d be willing to quit this life and start a family together...
-Milady!!! Please! I-I have lots of money! I’d sleep with any man for you!!! My entire fortune is yours!!!
-I have a whole carriage of nobles offering mansions just for a night with !!! It’s all yours!!!
She ended up seducing them instead.
These won, who turned countless nobles into slaves of lust, not only failed to teach Fienne about adult allure but ended up becoming her willing slaves, enchanted by her.
This was the result when perfect beauty was combined with an inherently bewitching presence.
Thinking about it, it was rather amusing. For a being who was the very embodint of allure to seek to learn about ‘adult appeal’ from ordinary humans. It was like a predator trying to learn hunting techniques from its prey.
Fienne suddenly realized the critical problem she was facing. In this world, Risir was the only man who could see her as a re child. Consequently, if there was anyone who could point out her flaws and help her improve, it would also be Risir alone.
“How annoying.”
Nevertheless, Fienne didn’t give up. She tried on makeup in front of the mirror, practiced her voice and gestures, and experinted with various accessories and clothes—all with the singular goal of making that man her slave.
Indeed, this was solely about getting revenge for the humiliation he had inflicted upon her, definitely not an attempt to win his favor.
Fienne kept convincing herself of this as she poured every ounce of effort into the task at hand.
...And this too could be considered part of those efforts; Fienne absolutely refrained from using her mind controlling power. The sa went for blood-drinking.
She had promised him she wouldn’t harm humans.
***“Fienne~ Could you please make so ti for , if only for today? If not, I’m really going to another guild, you know?”
“Is it not possible to hire Fienne? She is, after all, a mber of this adventurers’ guild. If this continues, I’ll have no choice but to reconsider my investnts.”
There was a saying: Whatever you do, stay away from the Dalloa counter.
Ever since Fienne’s fa as the Lily of Dalloa spread through Bondalles, all manner of vermin had begun flocking to the Dalloa Guild, where she worked. Adventurers and clients begging for etings with thinly veiled threats.
When Fienne first encountered them, she felt an unbearable disgust. But later she learned that they were nothing compared to what was to co.
“Hey Fienne, I’d like you to make so ti for today, at least.”
“...I thought I told you never to co back.”
“Don’t be stu~pid. If you co to , I won’t have to co here, right? Don’t act so high and mighty. You’re trying to pass yourself off as so ‘noble in disguise’ by being all coy, but did you think I wouldn’t notice? Aren’t you just a commoner?
I’ve already done my background check. I know you’re doing all this for money. So why don’t you co to and turn your fortunes around? Is that so hard to understand?”
Every night, without fail, a man would approach Fienne on her way ho.
Tord. Outwardly claiming to be the master of the rcenary guild Foarten, he was actually an executive of a large cri syndicate that controlled the northern part of Bondalles.
When courting Fienne, he emphasized how great a person he was, and when she refused, he stressed how dangerous he could be.
“...”
From what Fienne had learned through the courtesans, Tord’s words weren’t re bluster.
The influence his cri syndicate wielded in the city was imnse. There were even rumors of connections with city council mbers, aning that even most city nobles couldn’t treat him carelessly.
So how much worse would it be for an outsider, a re guild counter girl without any significant backing?
“Isn’t this enough? Playing hard to get I an. I like feisty won too, so I’ve enjoyed it so far. But. Any more than this is a bit, you know...If you want to keep living in Bondalles, you’d better start knowing your place. While I’m still being a gentleman.”
Tord pressed in on Fienne as if he knew all too well how the situation favored him.
How pathetic.
However, the counter girl had already confird that her oppressor couldn’t resist her mind control.
The cri syndicate executive might have believed he was in control, but in truth, she held the power to destroy him at will.
This provided so comfort to Fienne. And at the sa ti, it made her feel even more frustrated.
After all, she had promised Risir that she wouldn’t use her power on humans.
Fienne feared being despised by him more than being disrespected by this pathetic insect.
“Let’s talk on better terms tomorrow.”
Her power of allure was still in effect. Even while dominated by lust, the vile criminal didn’t cross the final line.
And so, the Progenitor let the worthless insect go just like that.
Fienne headed to the Gray Tower to ease her frustration. Watching Risir sleep peacefully in his bed offered her a fleeting sense of relief.
But the insect ca back the next day.
And the next.
And the one after that.
And the day after that too.
Risir’s prolonged absence only made it all worse.
Then, one day, a decisive mont made Fienne realize just how severe her condition had beco.
The first mont...
“Just when are you going to wake? Get up already and spout nonsense like you usually do...Oh! What am I saying?”
She caught herself missing Risir’s silly chatter.
And the second mont...
“You son of a bitch—”
“Oy, fuckface! Who the hell do you think you are?! You think you an anything to Miss Fienne?!”
A brawl erupted between adventurers at the guild, and for the first ti in ages, she saw blood spill.
Thump!
The accumulated stress stirred the hunger she had been suppressing. But if there was any silver lining, it was that the sight of blood left her unmoved.
It was rely a trigger—one that made her think of a particular man’s face.
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