The formal dinner was tedious. Kian was calculating how long he needed to stay to maintain minimal appearances. At the very least, he would have to finish the meal he had started.

Kian set aside his French rack steak, which he had cut into bite-sized pieces but hadn’t touched, and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Sir, the Duke’s glass is empty,” said the woman seated beside him, gesturing to a maid who promptly filled his glass with champagne.

The Baron’s daughter, if he recalled correctly. The seating arrangement and her somewhat overbearing manner suggested this was more than simple hospitality toward a guest.

“Your Grace, here’s some chocolate. It pairs wonderfully with champagne. Please try it.”

As Kian lifted the glass by its stem, she offered him a dessert plate with a piece of chocolate. He silently put it in his mouth. It was rum-infused chocolate, with a rich sweetness and slightly bitter aftertaste lingering on his tongue.

“Is it to your liking?”

If she was asking about his preference, then yes, it was. He didn’t particularly care for sweets.

“Do you have any without rum?” he asked.

“Pardon?”

“Alcohol-infused chocolate seems rather dangerous for a dessert, don’t you think?”

He remembered Vivianne getting tipsy after eating rum-filled chocolates. She had spoken informally, whined to be held, kissed his mole under his eye saying it was pretty, and nuzzled her cheek against his back.

She had prattled on about mating until he had no choice but to have s*x with her to get her to sleep. Ever since then, whenever he gave her chocolate, he first checked whether it contained rum.

She loved chocolate so much that, if not stopped, she would devour an entire box. She wasn’t a child, yet she required so much attention and could be quite troublesome.

He was the one who first gave Vivianne chocolate, and also the one who ensured she would never eat it again. The thought left a stale taste in his mouth, prompting him to take another swig of champagne.

“I want champagne too,” he murmured, recalling how Vivianne had stared longingly at the drink, claiming to be thirsty despite being intoxicated from such a trivial amount.

“You should stick to water, Vivi.”

“Excuse me?”

Angela, who had been asking the maid to refill her glass, started at his muttering.

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Perhaps he was getting drunk. The champagne he had been continuously drinking on an empty stomach was making his head fuzzy, making it difficult to sit still. He should step outside for some fresh air.

While his body was here, his mind remained in that glass greenhouse where he had dined with Vivianne.

* * *

Leaving the dining room and entering the first-floor lobby, Kian spotted a familiar figure from behind, a round head with a lace ribbon that fluttered with every movement, a thin negligee wrapped tightly with a shawl, and small, hurried steps.

Everything about her resembled Vivianne. Whatever her urgency, the small figure disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Was he hallucinating from the alcohol? What did it matter anyway? It was clearly Vivi… Vivianne.

Kian followed her, entranced. Though he wanted to run and embrace her immediately, he maintained a distance, fearing she might vanish like a mirage if he touched her.

Honestly, he thought she was an illusion. There was no way she would suddenly appear in a place like this. Yet, knowing this, he couldn’t help but follow.

“Vivi…!”

When the woman suddenly disappeared from view, his chest tightened painfully. He didn’t care if he had finally lost his mind and started seeing phantoms. Just a little longer, even for a moment… he wanted to see her.

With that single thought, he frantically searched for traces of her.

When he heard a rustling sound, he discovered a small back crouched in the bushes. He had seen that back countless times, when she dressed in front of the mirror saying she was going out, when she curled up sleeping without responding. That aloof image flickered in his mind.

“Where is it…”

Her sweet voice was exactly the same.

“I definitely dropped it here.”

She seemed to be searching for something.

As she turned around, her face was revealed. Though she looked upset, it was unmistakably Vivianne. His heart began to race.

“Found it!”

When Vivianne stood up after picking something up, their eyes met. Those deep blue eyes were looking at him. The way her long eyelashes fluttered when she blinked, the way her small lips moved slightly, poised to say something, everything was exactly as he remembered.

Her small hands clutched the shawl over her bodice tightly. She was probably afraid of being scolded for wandering around in her negligee in the middle of the night. Even that was so quintessentially Vivianne, so undeniably her, that his chest tightened.

“Um, are you… lost?”

Vivianne asked cautiously as she stepped out of the flower bed.

“The mansion is quite large, isn’t it? No need to be embarrassed. It’s natural when it’s your first time here. I almost got lost myself when I first arrived.”

A gentle smile spread across her fair face. But something was off.

Why wasn’t she running away? Why did she look at him like they’d never met before?

“You’re… Duke Larson, aren’t you?”

Why would she address him that way? Like a stranger she was meeting for the first time?

“I heard from Angela that an impressive person would be coming. You’re here for the formal dinner, right? May I help you?”

She was still the same, always trying to help someone whenever possible.

“…Vivi.”

Her name flowed from his lips involuntarily. Surprised to hear her name, her blue eyes widened slightly.

“Do you… know me?”

Of course I know you. Since meeting you, there hasn’t been a moment when you weren’t on my mind. Since you left, there hasn’t been a single moment when I’ve forgotten you. How could I not know you?

Vivianne remained frozen in place, her eyes still wide open.

Kian staggered toward her slowly and embraced her tightly. Her round shoulders trembled slightly, startled. So you’re not just an illusion. You’re really in my arms.

“Vivianne, Vivi…”

He called her name repeatedly. Even though she was right in front of him, even though he was holding her tightly, he felt anxious. Wanting to make absolutely sure it was her and no one else, he called her name again and again.

“Yes?”

Since she responded, she must be Vivianne, but why didn’t she recognize him?

It didn’t matter. Whatever had happened, she was here before him. He had finally found her. He would never lose her again.

“…I missed you.”

Fearing she might disappear, he embraced her more tightly. He could feel her heart beating against his. That frantic beating couldn’t be his heart, it had to be hers. He continued holding her until he was certain.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Her heart beat faster and faster.

He felt Vivianne taking shallow breaths and twisting her head buried against his shoulder.

You’re alive. You’re alive. That was enough. He couldn’t ask for more.

“W-why are you… hng… doing this suddenly?”

Vivianne twisted her shoulders, struggling desperately. She tried to push against his collarbone, but she was no match for his strength.

“I can’t… ack… breathe. Please… hic, please let… let me go.”

“…You’ll leave. You’ll disappear…”

He pleaded, holding onto her. His usually composed voice was trembling.

Just then, something cold touched Kian’s nape.

“Let her go.”

A familiar voice came from behind, along with a blue blade.

“Theo…!”

Vivianne called his name urgently, finding salvation in his presence.

“She says she can’t breathe.”

“Theo, I-I’m fine. He-he’ll let me go now. D-don’t hurt the D-Duke. Please…?”

Though she trembled at the sight of the knife, somehow she still tried to protect him.

Even in this situation, you’re still the same, Vivi.

A short, hollow laugh escaped him.

His arms went limp. As soon as the pressure around her released, Vivianne quickly escaped from Kian’s embrace and hid behind Theodore.

It was her habit, automatically hiding when she saw something frightening.

Yes, she had done the same thing back then. When she saw him sitting next to Penelope Steward at the opera house, she had hidden behind Theodore’s large body. Just like a small animal hiding from a predator. It was exactly the same as then.

The sight made him sick, but this too was his fault. Who else could he blame?

“P-please forgive the rudeness, Duke Larson.”

Baron Grieam and his daughter Angela appeared, having followed them outside.

“Are you insane? Do you know who this is? Put that sword away immediately!”

As Baron Grieam berated Theodore with exaggerated outrage, Theodore finally sheathed his sword.

“Are you hurt, Your Grace? He’s a newly appointed bodyguard, a former mercenary with no sense of propriety. I will ensure appropriate punishment…”

“…Enough. Stop making a scene.”

Hearing Kian’s muttered words, Baron Grieam closed his mouth with a stunned expression.

Kian’s gaze remained fixed on Vivianne, who was still hiding behind Theodore.