The rain was pouring heavily. The downpour intensified until visibility became nearly impossible through the thick sheets of water. Despite carrying an umbrella, her shoes and even the hem of her skirt were completely soaked.

If caught sneaking out, she would certainly face the wrath of her mistress. Vivianne knew this well. Yet she had ventured out prepared to face those consequences.

She simply couldn’t ignore the man standing alone in the pouring rain.

She remembered clearly the first time she saw him. She had thought of him as a man radiant like the moon. Even without memories of her past, she had felt this way from the moment they met in the flower garden.

Though he had embraced her without warning and pleaded desperately, she had never pitied him. The reason was simple, no one looks at something brilliant and feels sorry for it. To Vivianne, Kian von Larson was such a person. No, he would be that way to anyone.

She had tried to steel her heart, but… His figure standing in the torrential rain looked so diminished, almost like a different person. He appeared insignificant, like a sand castle crumbling under the downpour.

“Why did you come out?”

The moment their eyes met, he smiled gently. Perhaps from the chill, his voice trembled slightly despite his smile.

“It’s cold because of the rain. Go back inside quickly.”

Who was he to say such things? Seemingly unaware of his own condition, he worried about her instead.

“Kian… why didn’t you leave?”

“After waiting all this time, it would be a waste to just go back. And it would be embarrassing in front of your mistress too.”

His usually composed complexion looked pale. His lips quivered blue as he made light jokes. Seeing him this way made her chest feel unbearably tight.

“Why on earth…”

She opened her mouth intending to question him but found herself speechless. More than sadness, she felt bewildered. Her throat tightened, forcing her to hold her breath momentarily.

“Why go to such lengths? This is strange.”

“Perhaps because I’m such a worthless man. I don’t know any other way.”

She wasn’t in the mood for wordplay. The situation had unfolded because of what she had said, and now she was afraid to speak first.

“Are you worried about me?”

“That’s not it… if you stay in the rain any longer, something terrible might happen to you. So…”

“You’re worried. Ah, that’s right.”

Kian carefully observed Vivianne as she tried to hold the umbrella over him. She was struggling on her tiptoes, likely due to their height difference.

He truly was worthless. Wanting to stay close to her even if it meant exploiting her concern.

“Take the umbrella.”

She must have rushed out, wearing indoor slippers. Both her slippers and the hem of her skirt were soaked up to her knees.

Her appearance reminded him of a young princess who, after saving one sacrifice, became another sacrifice herself.

“…”

“Hurry.”

Realizing that her height made it impossible to properly shield him with the umbrella, she kept urging him impatiently.

“But you’re…”

“Yes?”

“Getting all wet.”

“I’ll take a bath. Before I get angry… stop worrying about me and take it quickly.”

Threatened with her anger, Kian reluctantly accepted the umbrella. Then, to prevent her from catching a cold from the rain, he tilted it toward her side to cover her.

“Why are you covering me when I told you to use it yourself? You’re shivering from the cold. Are you stupid?”

Deciding the umbrella alone wasn’t enough, Vivianne took off the shawl she had brought. She still had the careless habit of coming out in just her negligee.

As she struggled to place the shawl over his shoulders, her small frame wobbled significantly, perhaps slipping on the wet ground.

“Ah!”

Kian reflexively caught her, supporting her body so she wouldn’t slip.

“Oh? Why is your body so hot?”

Did he have a fever? His body temperature felt burning against her skin, like a ball of fire. Startled, she looked up at him, and Kian apologized with a faint smile.

“Because I’m happy.”

“What?”

Perhaps thinking they were already soaked anyway, he suddenly embraced Vivianne tightly. He held her so firmly that it nearly took her breath away.

“Just seeing you… makes me… so happy… that’s why.”

Kian’s strength gradually left his body as he kept mumbling. He staggered and collapsed to the ground.

“Kian, pull yourself together. Kian…? Kian!”

Vivianne turned completely pale. She held the limp Kian and shook him frantically. No matter how much she called him, he only muttered unintelligible words while breathing heavily, unable to regain his senses properly.

She tried to lift him, but supporting a well-built man proved extremely difficult, and she kept slipping.

“What should I do!”

Her eyes stung with tears from the helplessness.

Did feelings of care and love remain? It felt like something settled had been stirred up. Her heart was as murky as muddy water. Even without her memories, seeing Kian ill made her heart ache sharply, not knowing what to do.

She wanted to quickly get him up and out of the rain, but despite her best efforts, it was beyond her strength. There was no time for complicated thoughts.

Vivianne frantically caressed Kian’s cheeks and shook his body.

“…Kian.”

At that moment, she saw a familiar figure.

“Are you alright?”

It was Theodore. Someone trustworthy had appeared in this frightening, difficult situation.

Perhaps from relief, her vision blurred and tears streamed down her face.

“I think Kian is sick. His, his body is terribly hot.”

“What?”

Theodore’s expression darkened rapidly when he saw Vivianne sitting on the ground, holding Kian.

“It’s all my fault. Because of me… because I said those things…”

Vivianne began pleading desperately with a tear-streaked face.

“He might die like this. Please… please help us.”

* * *

Theodore observed the two figures in the dark, quiet room. Kian lay asleep on the bed with a pale face, while Vivianne had fallen asleep bent over at his bedside. She must have dozed off while nursing him.

When Kian collapsed, Marchioness Baldwin had no choice but to admit him to a guest bedroom. The physician had rushed over, and he heard that the high fever had subsided.

He knew Vivianne had been coming here. Kian was still unconscious, and she seemed to feel guilty about the incident.

The usually stubborn Marchioness had strangely said nothing. Seeing Vivianne cry until her eyes were swollen, she seemed to have half given up.

The night air had grown quite cold since the rain, yet Vivianne was breathing evenly in her sleep, having dropped her shawl on the floor.

It was nighttime. He had told her not to go out alone and to call him.

She had promised countless times, yet she had gone out alone again.

Theodore felt resentful toward Vivianne. But at the same time, he knew that his desire for her to need him was merely his own selfish wish.

As Theodore approached the bed and picked up the fallen shawl, spreading it wide to cover Vivianne, he heard a familiar voice.

“Theo, you haven’t changed.”

It was a slightly hoarse voice, having just awakened. The tone was dry, devoid of any particular emotion. Theodore gave no response.

Kian rose from the bed, lifted Vivianne into his arms, laid her on the bed, and pulled the covers over her. Vivianne remained deeply asleep, apparently exhausted.

“Did the Marchioness send you? Or were you just curious?”

“…”

“Whatever your reason, keep watching if you want.”

Telling him to watch while brazenly putting her in his own bed. Theodore couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

“Kian.”

Their eyes met as he called the name.

“When her memories return, what will you do then?”

“Who knows.”

Leaning his upper body against the headboard, Kian fixed his gaze on Vivianne again and stroked her hair.

He would endure what needed to be endured. For now, saving her by any means necessary was the priority.

“When we were young, I never thought we’d have the same taste in women.”

“…”

“You know me. I never give up what’s mine.”

Kian murmured casually.

“So either give up on your own, or struggle to the end. Do as you please.”

* * *

When had she fallen asleep?

Vivianne, suddenly awake, rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. A pale light surrounded the window. It was dawn, before sunrise. Her last memory was nursing at Kian’s bedside, but now she found herself lying in bed.

“You’re awake?”

The quiet voice made her blood run cold. It was Kian’s voice. Vivianne sat up with a start.

“When did you wake up?”

“Not long ago.”

“Why am I… lying here?”

Seeing his mischievous smile, she knew he was hiding something.

Nothing happened, did it? She hastily checked her body, and finding no traces of anything, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“That’s harsh. Treating a patient like garbage.”

“No, no. That’s not it.”

When he complained, she seemed to realize her mistake and checked on Kian’s condition.

“Are you alright now? Does anything still hurt?”

“Well…”

“Let me see.”

Vivianne touched his forehead to gauge his temperature. Thankfully, it wasn’t hot.

“I think you’re the one with a fever.”

As he said, her palm felt flushed. It was from embarrassment. After all her worry, Kian’s casual joking felt frustrating.

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

He gently pulled Vivianne’s wrist and lightly kissed her palm.

“Your palm is hot.”

“I, I should go. If the mistress finds out I’m here…”

As Vivianne tried to get up hurriedly, Kian held her back.

“I have something to show you.”