Make Dark Fantasy Great Again
Chapter 63: Fienne Holds Back

Chapter 63: Fienne Holds Back

0% Fienne had never concerned herself with her appearance. Anyone who had glimpsed her in person—she was recently famed 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 means to care for her looks. And after awakening as a Progenitor, she had no reason to; her body, imbued with supreme 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 time.

It was as if time itself had become her servant, exalting her very existence.

“...”

Yet, Fienne had developed a new hobby as of late. Spending time in front of the mirror—in other words, grooming herself.

Don’t other women 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 memories 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 met the general standard of an ‘elegant lady’, in Risir’s eyes, she fell into the “Ahem, may I see some ID?” category.

“...Still, since that man doesn’t have an eye for anything...”

But all that aside, Fienne was willing to make some 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 became interested in the art of makeup to understand what it meant 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 men 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. Namely, 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 names on their work, famous throughout Bondalles. Artisans with pride bordering on arrogance, claiming “I choose who wears my clothes, not the customers!”

They were overwhelmed by the mere 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 time, it was demeanor 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 me!!! It’s all yours!!!

She ended up seducing them instead.

These women, 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 embodiment 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 mere 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 experimented 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 same went for blood-drinking.

She had promised him she wouldn’t harm humans.

***“Fienne~ Could you please make some time for me, 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 member of this adventurers’ guild. If this continues, I’ll have no choice but to reconsider my investments.”

There was a saying: Whatever you do, stay away from the Dalloa counter.

Ever since Fienne’s fame 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 meetings 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 come.

“Hey Fienne, I’d like you to make some time for me today, at least.”

“...I thought I told you never to come back.”

“Don’t be stu~pid. If you come to me, I won’t have to come here, right? Don’t act so high and mighty. You’re trying to pass yourself off as some ‘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 come to me and turn your fortunes around? Is that so hard to understand?”

Every night, without fail, a man would approach Fienne on her way home.

Tord. Outwardly claiming to be the master of the mercenary guild Foarten, he was actually an executive of a large crime 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 mere bluster.

The influence his crime syndicate wielded in the city was immense. There were even rumors of connections with city council members, meaning that even most city nobles couldn’t treat him carelessly.

So how much worse would it be for an outsider, a mere guild counter girl without any significant backing?

“Isn’t this enough? Playing hard to get I mean. I like feisty women 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 confirmed that her oppressor couldn’t resist her mind control.

The crime syndicate executive might have believed he was in control, but in truth, she held the power to destroy him at will.

This provided some comfort to Fienne. And at the same time, 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 came 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 moment made Fienne realize just how severe her condition had become.

The first moment...

“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 moment...

“You son of a bitch—”

“Oy, fuckface! Who the hell do you think you are?! You think you mean anything to Miss Fienne?!”

A brawl erupted between adventurers at the guild, and for the first time 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 merely a trigger—one that made her think of a particular man’s face.