That Half-Finished Drink Was Lethal— What Happened When I Left My Bottle Behind in a 1:4 Male-to-Female World - 15

Chapter 15: That Signature Is Lethal—Three Hundred Million Despairs and Twisted Affection

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Reika’s POV

The aesthetic of the Ootori family was nothing less than absolute dominion. The cafe “Les Ailes” had been transformed overnight through my personal production. At its center, bathed in the spotlight, sat the three hundred million yen celadon vase. Peering through my infiltration glasses, my eyes held a mixture of cold calculation and an uncontrollable passion.

(Ohohoho! It is perfect! This script, this direction—it is marvelous! Now, let the beautiful show begin, where I shall make Yu-sama mine and mine alone!)

Even while clad in work clothes and hiding my identity with a black wig, my heart beat with a rhythm certain of victory. Then, the innocent prey who knew nothing—Yuu Yuuki-sama—arrived.

“…This is incredible. Is this really the cafe where I work part-time?”

He stood there with his mouth agape, looking up at the exhibition space in a daze. That defenseless profile of his, overwhelmed by the “vase (trap)” Reika had set, was unbearably adorable.

“Yuuki-kun, don’t lose your footing now. I’m told it’s a hidden treasure of the Otori family sent directly from the main office. Its market value… apparently doesn’t fall below 300 million yen. Let’s put up a fence or something later. It’s honestly terrifying as it is now.”

As the manager added her piece in a trembling voice, my loyal shadow, Chihiro Kujo, stepped forward.

《Chihiro Kujo. Exclusive secretary to Reika Ootori. An “enforcer” for the Ootori family who treats Reika’s orders as absolute and excludes all mercy in the pursuit of her goals. Her appearance is equivalent to a final sentence declaring that the target has fallen under Ootori control.》

In a flawlessly tailored suit and wearing an ice-cold smile, Kujo performed the role of the perfect “enforcer” exactly according to the scenario I had written.

“…You must be Yuu Yuuki-sama. You have a face that looks as soft-hearted as the rumors say… no, I mean, you have a sincere countenance. Do your best to ensure you do not damage this ‘pride’ of the Otori family.”

A bone-chilling warning was hidden beneath her polite honorifics.

(I could tell as clearly as if I were holding it in my hands that cold sweat was running down Yuu-sama’s back. Ah, poor Yu-sama. Please do not be so frightened. What is about to happen is not ruin, but my personal favor.)

“…She’s kind of a scary person, isn’t she? Right, Reika-san?”

Yuu-sama spoke to me casually while I was busy with my infiltration mission, pretending to organize menus. Sensing Kujo’s sharp gaze, my back straightened even more than usual.

“That is only natural. Kujo-san is the shadow of Ootori… no, I mean, she is only strict because she loves Reika-sama and the Ootori brand that much. …More importantly, Yuu-sama, a customer has arrived over there. Please go and guide them quickly.”

(…I accidentally called him ‘Yuu-sama’ out of habit.)

I hurriedly brushed it off, acting as if I were rushing him along.

(I wonder if Yuu-sama thought it was strange?)

“Come to think of it, that ‘Reika Ootori’ Kujo-san mentioned earlier…She has the same name as yours, Reika-san.”

My heart gave a violent leap. A moment of silence. I pushed up my glasses and flushed, unable to fully hide the passion overflowing from within.

“Yes, that is correct! Reika Ootori-sama is my lifelong goal, my one and only idol! She is so precious that I even changed my name on the family register to ‘Reika,’ just like her! Ah, Reika-sama… what a noble, beautiful name…!”

(Ohohoho! A perfect comeback… Right?)

“…Uh, ah, I see. That’s some serious enthusiasm…”

Yuu-sama seemed a bit put off, but he appeared convinced for now.

(I have heard that in this world, there are fanatical fans who adore certain celebrities so much they even change their names. That is exactly what I am now. A true fanatic.)

“But the real Reika Ootori-sama seems pretty scary based on Kujo-san. Isn’t it a lot of pressure having the same name as her?”

(Snap)

(…What did he just say? Scary? To say that about me, how rude! This is Lese-majesty! Ootori Penal Code, Article 3: ‘Insulting the Ootori Family.’ Verdict—overwhelmingly guilty!)

“-She is not scary at all! She is a person who loves discipline and is purer than anyone else! Yuu-sama, please refrain from making such irreverent remarks!”

“But you know, putting a 300 million yen vase in a cafe… that lady must have a pretty ‘warped sense of reality’ too. She’s probably a cold-blooded ruler who enjoys watching commoners scramble from her high horse—wait, maybe that’s going too far.”

“(Snap… Cra-crack!) …W-Warped…?! Cold-blooded…?! Please be quiet! She… Reika-sama is just a little faithful to her own convictions! That is an act of supreme ‘benevolence’!!”

(This falls under Ootori Penal Code, Article 6: ‘Irreverence toward the Ootori Family.’ Verdict—absolutely guilty!)

As I argued desperately, Yuu-sama looked at me with a worried expression.

“But I think there’s some kind of intention behind it.”

(A-An intention…? There is no such thing other than the ‘script’ to catch Yuu-sama’s attention and monopolize him.)

“Since she’s the successor to the Ootori Group, she probably isn’t someone who acts without thinking. Maybe placing this vase here was Reika-sama’s way of being considerate, so that we employees could refine our sensibilities by coming into contact with ‘true beauty.'”

….

My movements came to a dead stop.

“I-I see! Please, do go on!”

“Well, I guess it means she’s a person with a very noble heart who believes in us and has high expectations for us. Thinking about it that way makes me feel like I should straighten my posture too.”

(…Ah.)

The air around me, which should have been bristling with anger, dissipated in an instant like mist clearing away. In its place, I could feel my lily-white cheeks gradually staining crimson, like an apple bathed in the evening sun.

(Yuu-sama… how is it that you understand me so ‘correctly’…!)

Watching him walk away, I narrowed my eyes behind my glasses. I wore a smile like a spider luring its prey into a web.

(Ohohoho! The preparations are complete. Now, come. My destined ‘instigator’ whom I sent…!)

The shop’s automatic doors opened, and an elderly woman entered. At a glance, she was just a kind old lady found anywhere. However, her true identity was a veteran actress from a theatrical troupe owned by the Ootori Group. The moment she touched Yuu-sama’s “soft-heartedness,” the curtain on the tragedy I had written would be raised with a climax of excitement.

The stage was set.

The elderly extra I had positioned began to stagger toward the three hundred million yen celadon vase with the most perfectly incompetent footsteps, just like the script.

(Now, Yuu-sama. Please show me. Show me that foolishly honest soul of yours…!)

The old woman’s cane caught on the marble pedestal.

“Oh, oh my, whoops…!”

The old woman’s scream pierced the clinical atmosphere. The weight of three hundred million yen began to fall. In that moment, time in the shop stretched out like thick honey.

“Watch out!!”

The one who leaped with a shout was my prey, Yu-sama.

(Ah, exactly as expected. No, it is even better than expected!)

Loathing the idea of injuring the old woman by pushing her away, he wedged himself between her and the pedestal to act as a shield.

CRASH!!!

He collided with the display stand from behind, and the Ootori treasure shattered into countless pieces from the impact. The fragments of celadon scattered across the floor were like confetti celebrating my ecstasy. Even as Yuu-sama grimaced from the pain in his back, he gently released the old woman in his arms and, of all things, tenderly took her hands in his.

“It’s okay. Are you hurt, ma’am? Good. I bumped into it because I was being careless, so please don’t worry. I broke it, so you haven’t done anything wrong.”

―!

(…What is with that smile?)

(While burdened with the despair of three hundred million yen, how can you wrap the woman who set you up in an expression so full of benevolence?!)

“…Yuu-sama…”

A raspy voice that was not in the script escaped my lips. Deep in my chest, it felt burning hot. Because of his overwhelming radiance, my ugly desire for possession trembled with fear for just a moment.

(A-Are you… alright…? You hit your back so hard…!)

Before I knew it, I had forgotten my role in the infiltration mission and was about to run to him. Just as my trembling fingertips were about to touch the hem of his work clothes–.

“…What a magnificent display of self-sacrifice.”

Chihiro Kujo’s voice, as cold and clinical as ice. That sound forcibly dragged my sanity back to the present world.

(T-That’s right.)

I prepared this stage specifically to bind this “soft-hearted man” to me for the rest of his life. Kujo’s voice held not a shred of mercy. She stared coldly at the wreckage on the floor and pulled out a “contract” whose wording I had carefully deliberated over last night.

“Yuu Yuuki-sama. I have clearly confirmed with my own eyes that you shielded the elderly woman and destroyed this item as your own fault. …Manager, please state the value of this vase once more.”

The manager, foaming at the mouth, shouted the lines I had prepared.

“Three… three hundred million yen…! It’s a supreme treasure that the Otori family has protected for a thousand years…!”

“Three… hundred…?”

Yuu-sama stood there in a daze. Seeing the light vanish from his eyes, I danced with joy in my heart.

(Now, this is it. The moment to offer the trap known as my ‘mercy’!)

“Oh my! How pitiful…! Kujo-san, is there not some ‘other form’ of repayment method?”

I played the “sympathetic colleague” perfectly and passed the ball to Kujo.

“…Let me see. My master, Reika Ootori-sama, is a person who values ‘sincerity’ over money. …Yuki-sama. If you are willing to dedicate your ‘entire life’ to the Ootori family, I suppose it would be acceptable to… grant a moratorium on this debt as a ‘special exception.'”

“…My entire life…?”

《The “Service for Life” contract with the Ootori family. It meant that as Reika Ootori’s exclusive butler, he would be placed under her management both publicly and privately. It was a legal and absolute transfer of “ownership” under the guise of salvation.》

“Yes. You will work as Reika Ootori-sama’s exclusive butler. Naturally, you will not be permitted to run away. …Now, sign here.”

What I presented was a legal… no, an Ootori-style slave contract. It was the ritual for me to purchase every single part of the man known as Yu-sama.

“…I understand. …I was the one who decided to save this person. I will accept the consequences.”

Ah, he signed it! He actually signed it!!! With trembling fingertips, he placed the chain around his own neck.

(Ohohoho…!! I have caught you, my dear little bird! From this day forward, you are my possession alone…! For the rest of your life, I shall keep you in the palm of my hand!!)

There was I, burning with a mad joy behind my glasses, and there was Yuu-sama, his shoulders slumped in the belief that he had lost everything. In the twilight of “Les Ailes,” the beautiful show called salvation had begun.

◇◇◇◇

“…Ohoho! Be prepared, Yuu-sama. From tomorrow, your world shall be dyed in my colors…!”

The silence of midnight. I let out a maddened, loud laugh from the bed in my mansion. However, in the silence after my laughter died down, I suddenly noticed that my own fingertips were trembling slightly.

(…Ah. What a despicable, irredeemable woman I am.)

Burned into my mind was Yuu-sama’s face when he moved the pen across the contract. A debt of three hundred million yen that an ordinary person could never carry in a lifetime. That expression of despair, as if the light had vanished and he had given up on everything―

The moment I saw that, a hair-raising, sweet numbness leapt within me.

(Ah, this precious person has now been completely broken and snatched away by my hands.)

I felt a pleasure of cruelty that made my skin crawl… I trampled the “goodwill” he tried to protect with my muddy boots, and I burned away his free future and the peace he loved with the flames of my ego. If… if he ever learned this truth, those eyes full of benevolence would freeze in an instant and paint me over with the color of contempt.

“…………I do not care.”

I gripped the sheets tightly and whispered in a trembling voice as if to convince myself.

“Even if you hate me, even if you resent me for the rest of your life… the one who snatched away your ‘entire life’ is me. Because that is the only way I know how to love…!”

As if forcibly overwriting guilt with possessiveness, I opened the back of my desk drawer. I gazed entranced at “it”—a sweet device passed down through the generations of the Ootori family, resting on a silver tray. I pressed my flushed face into the pillow and writhed repeatedly in anticipation of the joy of tomorrow. The flame of obsession in my eyes would not go out, even after staying up all night.

However, the trembling of my fingertips did not stop.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー