Chapter 20: A Beautiful Girl’s Troubles

“Violet, I want to become a Surveillance Officer!”

Dounia stood on the bed, one hand on her hip, pointing forward full of confidence.

“That’s… a bit difficult, isn’t it?” Violet’s gaze was as gentle as rippling water, yet it held a hint of playful amusement.

“I’m serious, you know.” Dounia nodded her little head quite solemnly and got off the bed.

“Is that so?” Violet blinked, seemingly a little surprised.

“Does Dounia know anything about psychology?” Violet tilted her head slightly, her somewhat dazed and cute expression exceptionally adorable.

“Uhm…”

Dounia was at a loss for words.

‘If she said she did, she would likely have a hard time explaining where she got all that knowledge.’

‘If she said she didn’t… it seemed becoming a Surveillance Officer would be quite difficult.’

“Never mind that for now. Come and eat first.” Violet placed the platter she was holding on the table and patted her lap.

“Eh!?”

Dounia’s nose twitched; her craving for food was immediately triggered.

“What delicious thing is this? It smells so good!” Her eyes lit up, and she was practically drooling.

Violet swiftly lifted the cloth covering it with both hands.

“Ta-da—!~” she introduced the dish she had brought with great energy. “It’s Berkov Seafood Rice!”

The golden grains of rice on the plate were plump and full, still emitting a faint steam; it looked like it had just been cooked.

Atop the rice was a dazzling array of seafood.

In this ice age, this was a rare delicacy indeed.

The bright red shrimp were like hidden gems embedded in the golden rice grains.
The white shrimp meat was slightly curled, its red skin making it look all the more appetizing.
The squid rings beside them were like tiny lifebuoys, soft and springy; a single gentle bite would surely reveal their unique chewiness and delicious flavor.

Dounia was so tempted she subconsciously bit her lip.

“Dounia, you’re so cute. You can’t even take your eyes off it.” A hint of slyness appeared in Violet’s eyes, as if she was delighted by Dounia’s expression of unbearable craving.

Her bright eyes curved into crescents, the corners slightly upturned, revealing a youthful and innocent charm unique to a young girl.

“Come on, come on.” Violet patted her lap again, urging Dounia.

Dounia swallowed a mouthful of saliva, resisting her craving for the delicious food.
Her gaze instead turned to Violet’s world-stunning beauty.

The young girl’s profile seemed to glow faintly under the bright light, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, as tempting as ripe apples.
Her slightly raised eyebrows held a cute, chiding look, as if playfully scolding Dounia for not hurrying over to eat obediently.

‘Dounia swallowed, trying her best to hide the affection and admiration in her eyes.’

‘Sometimes, beautiful girls are truly unaware of their own charm.’

‘Be it her gentle, considerate, kind, and egalitarian affability, or the trace of cunning and slyness in her pure, clear eyes, everything about her was so heart-stirring.’

‘It’s no wonder the original protagonist, Alicia, saw Violet as the unattainable white moonlight¹ of her life, and had a complete personality change, turning to the dark side after she died.’

‘If that were me, I’d turn to the dark side too!’

“Miss Violet, I praise you…” Dounia sighed from the bottom of her heart.

“Mmph… hurry up and sit down!” Violet puffed up her cheeks, looking like she was about to get angry.

“Who… who wants to eat this stuff…” Dounia awkwardly turned her head away, but the shy crimson blush on her cheeks had already silently betrayed her thoughts.

Violet blinked, keenly catching Dounia’s change in expression.
The corners of her mouth lifted into a sweet arc as she brought her face closer.

“If you don’t sit down quickly, I’ll have to ask Miss Adelle to punish you…” The gentle and kind young lady tried to make her expression look fierce, but it only revealed her lively and adorable girlishness.

“S-since you’re so insistent, I’ll reluctantly have a bite.” Dounia slowly sat down, trying her best to hold a horse stance, hovering over Violet’s lap.

‘Even without an extra chair, she really didn’t dare to sit directly on Violet’s lap.’

‘To put it bluntly, their relationship was far from being that intimate.’

Dounia picked up the spoon with a trembling hand, nearly shaking off a few grains of rice.

‘I’m going to die—!’

‘Who the hell holds a horse stance like this!’

‘This body… is just… too weak, too weak!!!’

Her calves trembled ceaselessly, causing her entire body to shake slightly.
This embarrassing state was seen clearly by Violet, and she had no idea what she might be thinking…

‘Don’t let my favorability drop over something like this…’

‘For a beautiful tomorrow, hold on, you bastards!!!’

Dounia’s little face was flushed from the strain, while her dear calves, under Dounia’s strong willpower, struggled to stay straight, trembling like soldiers unwilling to easily put down their rifles.

The spoon tremblingly neared her cherry-colored lips, and Dounia slowly opened her small mouth.

Unable to hold on any longer, Dounia’s body went limp and she sat down, experiencing firsthand why a beautiful girl’s skin is called “flawless and delicate” and why it can be described as “ice-pure and tenderly smooth.”

“Oh my,” Violet let out a not-so-surprised “gasp.”

“S-sorry!” Dounia apologized in a panic. “I… I really didn’t mean to!”

‘It happened last time, and it’s happening again. Is this fate’s cruel joke!?’

“Dounia-chan, I don’t recall saying you could sit on my lap~” Violet’s tone changed as she narrowed her eyes slightly.

But the irrepressible smile on her lips and the cunning glint in her eyes all pointed to one thing—she had long anticipated this situation and calculated Dounia’s reaction.

“Uii—!” A trembling Dounia was pulled into Violet’s embrace.

Violet rested her head against her back, and through the fabric, Dounia could almost feel the girl’s slightly scorching, moist breath.

“Dounia-chan, do you know what kind of mistake you’ve made…? You’ll have to sell everything you have to earn my forgiveness…” Violet chuckled lightly, tilting her head back slightly, the lines of her long neck graceful and smooth.

“Guh…” Dounia didn’t know what to say to smooth things over, and could only tremble in fear in Violet’s embrace, the tips of her ears turning red.

Violet, satisfied, inhaled Dounia’s scent of fragrance and fear through the fabric.

“Don’t be so scared~ I was just teasing you, Dounia-chan.”

She blinked rapidly and gently poked Dounia’s cheek with her rounded, pink fingernail.

“Come now, since Dounia doesn’t have the strength to eat, I suppose I’ll reluctantly help a person in need~”

Violet, smiling, supported Dounia’s waist and turned her sideways.

She picked up the spoon and scooped up a heaping spoonful of seafood rice for Dounia.

The translucent rice grains glistened brilliantly, and the tender red shrimp tempted Dounia, who hadn’t tasted such fine food in a long time.

“Here you go—~”

“Ah~” Violet held the spoon in her right hand, carefully and considerately holding her left hand underneath it to prevent any food from falling.

A maternal radiance briefly appeared on the young girl.
The calm and serene young lady easily tugged at Dounia’s heartstrings.

‘Who’s the real Pleasure Follower here…’ Dounia squeezed her eyes shut, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

“Ah~” she guiltily and shyly opened her small mouth, imitating the sound in a small voice.

Footnotes:

1. White Moonlight: A Chinese internet slang term for an unforgettable, idealized love from one’s past that one can never attain, much like the moon in the sky.