Chapter 172: Playing the Part
Although she might have remained calm on the outside, with her face remaining the perfect mask of tranquillity, inside Belladonna was actually freaking out.
’W-what is he doing?! Who does he think I am?! No wait... Maybe I can take advantage of this. He’s a Duke. Those are high up, right? I think so... He looks important anyways. Maybe I can fleece him for so goods, or get sothing good out of this!
Oh god... But what if he kills
when he finds out I’m not this ’Emissary’ person. In fact, why the hell does he think I’m an emissary in the first place?!
Okay... Okay... Calm down Val. You’ve got this. You’ve seen plenty of people as fancy as so ’Emissary’. Just channel your clients, and play the part. I just really hope he doesn’t expect
to have an accent.’
Calming down her mind, Belladonna let it drift back to the mories of the rich people she used to serve during her many shifts as a service android. She had t all sorts; Pop-stars, Hollywood Celebrities, Children who had been made Billionaires through their families Nepotism, and even the odd Reality Show ’Celebrity’.
There was also Percy, but he was such an odd one out when it ca to these types of people, which included the Billionaire children, that he wasn’t in her consideration when constructing her new Persona.
When it ca to these people, the rich and the important, there was one thing that was universal. Arrogance. It was the mindset, the knowledge of the absolute truth of the universe, that everyone in existence is below you.
That you are the most important person in all of existence, and everyone else is nothing but dirt to be stepped on.
There were so nuances beyond that, such as pride in a family na and always throwing it around - which was the preferred habit of the Nepo-baby. But since Belladonna did not know exactly who she was supposed to be, that was a bad idea.
This man was powerful, that much she knew, and he was respected. Yet he chose to bow himself to her, and show total submission. She could tell that It was not out of fear, but respect and desire.
She had sothing he wanted, at least he thought she did. He looked up to who she was supposed to be and it was a deeply held respect almost bordering on fanaticism.
That had to an that she was supposed to be soone incredibly important, or soone incredibly powerful. However since the Pig faced Lord did not show the sa attitude, and looked at her as if she was no one, and considering the Duke’s vague terminology when referring to her then she could only assu that her supposed importance or power was not well known.
Why else would he refer to her as his ’guest’ and not by so kind of title, or hide his intents behind a hunting trip, when clearly it was about their ’deal’ that she was for so reason late for.
This analysis of assumptions and deductions only lasted for less than a second, but that was long enough for Belladonna to form a sowhat clear image of who she was supposed to be, and adapt to that role.
Her back straightened as she corrected her posture, puffing out her chest slightly and raising her chin as she did so, to disguise the action as simply looking down her nose at the Duke.
Her gaze hardened, gaining a perpetual hint of disdain typical of the arrogant, and she pursed her lips ever so slightly. Yet despite how tense her face was, her general presence seed to soften as if she owned the place.
"You may rise." Belladonna said, with a voice that bordered on sounding bored with reality. However the Duke did not seem to mind her lack of manners, instead nodding to himself and keeping his smile, as he quickly rose to his feet.
Channelling her worst clients, she looked over him with little interest, before turning away and slowly walking around the room as she half heartedly inspected it, as if to see if it was up to her standards.
She wanted nothing more than to look at the maid, as she would clearly notice the difference in her attitudes. But soone in her supposed position would never do such a thing, not even if she wanted sothing from the maid. That’s what a snap of the fingers was for, which was sothing Belladonna loathed.
"Your maid tells
that you are still eager to carry out our deal, despite my delay."
She did not apologise, for she could never be wrong. She didn’t even try to sound sympathetic, just bored as always.
"Yes Emissary, I am. Such a deal is sothing many have waited lifetis for and never co close to being able to touch it. Waiting re days... It is nothing in comparison to the decades I will gain in return." The Duke eagerly answered, watching her every move as in his mind, she was even more enchanting than he had expected.
He had heard little of the Emissary, even their exact identity was a mystery to him, but she had to be soone important from within the clan. That much he was certain of.
Belladonna wanted to raise her eyebrow at his ntion of decades, giving her a small hint about this ’deal’ she was supposed to be carrying out, but she refrained. Instead letting her brow crease into a displeased frown as she glanced over her shoulder at him,
"And yet you were so impatient, that you had to interrupt my hunt. Not only dragging
away from my fun, but taking my prey away from . Only one of which you even began to apologise for, and in such a paltry way.
Sending your servant to offer herself to , to grovel for my forgiveness, when it should be you grovelling. It should be you offering yourself to
as my al, and yet here you are... Standing before , begging like a pup that still wants his treat after staining the carpet."
The Duke flinched at her words. This man, who could cut down a dragon and hordes of players like they were nothing, this man who could kill her with little more than a flick of his little finger, actually flinched at her words alone, and paled at her withering gaze.
In her mind, Belladonna smirked.
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