At that moment, Kian’s eyes widened with shock. His expression turned desperate.

“When we pulled Vivi from the waves, she was barely breathing. It was a miracle she survived at all,” the Marchioness explained.

She had been staying in Romaunt for some time. If she had rescued Vivianne there, it was already too far from where she had fallen.

Vivianne was neither fully human nor fully mermaid. Since she could temporarily grow a tail but needed to stay on land, they had searched the surrounding ports. Kian never imagined she could have been swept so far away.

Had she wanted to escape that badly? Enough to drift as far as possible until her tail disappeared, to vanish without a trace?

He was speechless.

“I don’t know how she ended up in such a pitiful state while pregnant, and frankly, I don’t want to know the details. I think it’s better not to know,” the Marchioness continued.

“…”

“Vivi doesn’t remember anything yet. As you’ve noticed, she lost all her memories from the shock of nearly drowning. They say she only remembers her name. Do you really need to restore those terrible memories to satisfy yourself?”

A woman who only remembered her name. Ironically, it was exactly the same situation as when he had found Vivianne n*ked on the beach.

“Leave. And if you truly care for that child, never come here again.”

Despite the Marchioness’s clear dismissal, Kian remained seated in a daze for a long while.

“I sacrificed half my soul for temporary legs. But it was truly temporary… When the red moon rises, I needed to be carrying that male’s offspring to become fully human.”

Kian recalled why Vivianne had so desperately wanted a child. This was information he had learned from another mermaid Dante had brought.

“Otherwise, the witch would take my remaining half, and the contracted mermaid would dissolve into sea foam and disappear. In other words, complete annihilation.”

She could disappear into sea foam…

How did she survive in those waves? How did he find her again? He cannot lose you like this.

Fear overwhelmed him like a lost child. He knew his destination was her, but he had lost his direction. Like a broken compass, he couldn’t move at all.

* * *

Kian couldn’t remember how he had left the reception room. He sat numbly in his carriage, which had yet to depart. He couldn’t bring himself to leave for Larson without Vivianne.

After learning she might turn into sea foam, he found it impossible to tear himself away.

There were roughly two months left until the red moon. He had to prevent Vivianne from turning into sea foam by any means necessary. They could conceive again later.

After much deliberation, he reached a relatively simple conclusion. There was no time to hesitate.

However, judging by the Marchioness’s stubborn attitude, she wouldn’t easily let Vivianne go. Should he find some leverage against Baldwin?

The Marchioness was already an elderly widow who had outlived her children. She had no political ambitions, so there was likely nothing that could be used against her. Even if there were, someone of her character wouldn’t fear ordinary threats.

Should he mobilize his knights to intimidate her? Or perhaps kidnap Vivianne secretly?

No, that wouldn’t work. If a bloody conflict broke out, he couldn’t even imagine how much it would distress Vivianne. What if she viewed it as him destroying something she cared about? What if she ran away again?

If Vivianne chose death before his eyes again, could he bear it this time? Having experienced it once, he was even less confident now.

While staring blankly out the window, Kian noticed a figure hanging by the windowsill, looking down at him. It was Vivianne. Just as he couldn’t take his eyes off that window, she couldn’t take her eyes off the carriage.

Vivi.

What should I do with you?

How can I keep you by my side?

How can I protect you, and how can I save you?

Everything seemed obscured by thick fog, vague and uncertain.

Kian habitually caressed the shoes in the box he had brought to give her as soon as he could take her in his carriage. When his fingertips touched the tiny baby shoes, his chest tightened painfully.

That baby was so wanted. If I feel this devastated, how much worse must Vivianne feel?

If she learned about losing the baby, how much more would she crumble? Thinking about it, he almost felt relieved that she couldn’t remember.

If she hadn’t lost her memory, she wouldn’t be curiously looking at him now. She would probably run away without looking back, just like that day on the cliff.

Even now, when he closed his eyes, that memory made his head spin.

* * *

As soon as he returned to Larson, Kian instructed Richard to thoroughly investigate everything related to Vivianne’s current condition and the Baldwin family.

“According to the physician’s report, Lady Vivianne did indeed miscarry.”

Richard’s gaze lowered. Though his tone was calm, he was clearly watching for his master’s reaction.

It was devastating. Until confirmation, Kian had not wanted to believe the news about the miscarriage. Receiving the report in his office, he remained silent for a while.

“Master.”

“…”

“Master, are you alright?”

“What does it matter if I’m not? Continue your report.”

His voice was self-deprecating.

“When Marchioness Baldwin collapsed in Romaunt, Vivianne discovered her and acted quickly. That’s apparently why they became so close.”

“I see.”

Indeed, it made sense that the Marchioness would be so fiercely protective. Vivianne had an amiable personality and was easy to get along with, so the Marchioness would have quickly lowered her guard.

“I’ve also received information that a lawyer visited the mansion recently. It was right after the Marchioness returned to the estate with Vivianne.”

“Most likely about her will. It would concern the distribution of her assets, and the most troubled person would be her nephew, Baron Grieam.”

“Indeed.”

Kian set down his quill and rested his chin on his hand.

“He must have been expecting a substantial inheritance. How unfortunate for him.”

The picture was clear. Not only did Grieam manage the estate’s affairs, but he also hosted large dinner parties, treating the place as his own.

“Well, if we can’t persuade the tiger, we can always persuade the fox.”

“Shall I arrange a meeting with Baron Grieam?”

“Yes. The sooner the better.”

Richard bowed briefly and left the room.

* * *

Baron Grieam couldn’t hide his anxiety at Duke Larson’s sudden summons. Despite trying to maintain his composure, his mouth kept drying up, forcing him to moisten his lower lip with his tongue.

After the Duke’s visit, Marchioness Baldwin had strictly forbidden anyone from allowing Duke Larson into the mansion. If his aunt discovered he was secretly meeting with the Duke, she would be furious.

In contrast to his nervousness, Kian von Larson sitting across from him appeared frighteningly calm.

“Angela, was it?”

“Pardon?”

“Your daughter.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“At the dinner party, Angela sat beside me. Was that intentional?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, the blood drained from Baron Grieam’s face.

“W-well… since you were visiting alone, I thought it would be good to have someone guide you. Th-there was absolutely no other intention. Truly.”

“Truly no other intention?”

Kian smiled wryly. Baron Grieam lowered his head in embarrassment.

Who could have known that the woman his aunt had brought home would turn out to be Duke Larson’s runaway mistress? Moreover, she had lost her memory.

“There’s no need to be ashamed. You’re hardly the only father trying to profit by selling off your daughter.”

Though not incorrect, it was a rude statement. However, Grieam couldn’t show any displeasure.

Duke Larson had seemingly lost his mind, embracing Vivianne without warning and rudely barging in without notice to confront Marchioness Baldwin.

Since he was clearly not in his right mind, engaging in such erratic behavior made his intentions all the more frightening.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Don’t tremble. I brought this up because I have an important proposition for you.”

It would surely be an offer that Baron Grieam couldn’t refuse.

“How about selling me something other than your daughter?”