Vivianne was leaving.

Kian couldn’t sleep, just like always. The insomnia that began after Vivianne left his bedroom remained even after he found her.

No, it had been going on much longer than that. To be precise, it started after he possessed Vivianne. It was because of the anxiety that he might lose her at any moment.

In the dark bedroom, beside Vivianne who was sleeping soundly, he was checking her diary one last time.

– Tomorrow I’ll leave this place and go to Baldwin.

– Kian told me to do so.

He thought he could do anything if it meant getting her back.

Paradoxically, he ended up abandoning her first.

– I can hardly meet Kian these days.

– I wonder if he’s avoiding me on purpose.

He had been avoiding her on purpose.

He decided not to meet Vivianne before she left because he didn’t have the confidence to say goodbye.

He was afraid that if he saw her face, he might beg her to stay, or even force her to remain by his side.

They said people die if they change overnight. There was still some time left, so maybe that could happen. He couldn’t feel at ease yet.

He had resolved not to meet her until she left. Yet here he was, sneaking into her bedroom again. This was how easily the human heart weakened.

– I thought about going to say goodbye one last time, but I held back.

– I don’t know why, but I felt like I would cry if I said farewell.

Vivianne seemed just as frightened.

Could he accept it calmly if Vivianne said goodbye to him? He couldn’t bring himself to try either.

Instead of giving a final farewell, he had done everything he could.

Vivianne wanted to live with her precious people when she returned to Baldwin. That was all well and good, but she seemed troubled about how she could live together with Matilda.

So Kian had contacted Marchioness Baldwin in advance.

– I shamelessly wish to make a request. Though this plea comes from a worthless man, it’s for Vivianne’s sake, so please consider it.

– I know taking in new people is a difficult matter, but I would like to recommend someone trustworthy to Your Ladyship.

He also attached a formal letter of recommendation for Matilda.

He wrote that she was someone who cared for Vivianne more attentively than anyone else, and since Vivianne relied on and followed her greatly, it would be wonderful if they could stay together at Baldwin.

– Oh, and please take care of the puppy that Vivi adores as well.

He also remembered how she had taken An with her when she first ran away, even though she wasn’t traveling alone.

So he included a letter of recommendation for An as well. The content went something like this:

– Vivianne has a habit of carrying around something that closely resembles me. She sleeps with it and takes walks with it too.

– His name is ‘An’ and he’s male. According to Vivianne, he’s the smartest and most adorable dog in the world.

– He has a very good temperament and is clever, so he’s well-trained. He whimpers a bit, but he’s spirited.

– He loves people so much that he gets a bit lonely. Still, he’s a dignified dog who doesn’t chew on things like slippers.

– Most importantly, he’s absolutely charming. I’m confident that Your Ladyship will fall for him at first sight.

It was all praise, but not a single word was false.

– Very well. Since Your Grace has personally written a letter of recommendation, I’ll take in both Matilda and the dog.

Fortunately, Marchioness Baldwin readily agreed.

– However, our Vivi seems to require quite a lot of attention.

– She’s become quite troublesome in my old age.

He burst into laughter at one line written in Marchioness Baldwin’s reply.

She did require a lot of attention and was troublesome.

It was something they both could relate to.

– So please wait just a little. When the time comes, I’ll dump all these troublesome things back on Your Grace.

– Of course, not right now. Your Grace must not disturb Vivi’s mood during the remaining season.

– Until then, I want to enjoy this troublesome feeling to the fullest, so please don’t interfere.

It was a witty response. Matilda and An were precious to Kian as well as Vivianne.

Even though she spoke that way, it seemed like she would take good care of them, which put his mind at ease.

Kian read the last page of the diary over and over again.

– I want to be happy.

– No, I’m happy even now.

– I’ve decided to think only happy thoughts from now until I turn into sea foam.

– I will definitely be happy.

Vivi was someone everyone can’t help but love, so Kian believed she would definitely be happy even without him. In fact, it might be better without him.

– I still resent and blame Kian a lot.

– But I hope that person will definitely be happy too.

At the same time, she was also a strong person who never lost her goodness in any situation.

“…I’ll definitely be happy too.”

He murmured like making a vow in a low, subdued voice.

“No, thanks to you, I’m happy even now.”

In a life where no one wanted him, Vivianne had been like a gift.

Kian gently pressed his lips to her lips, which were breathing evenly and steadily.

Their wet membranes touched briefly before separating.

Just once more.

Thinking it was the last time made his thirst grow deeper.

After kissing her a few more times, he fled from the room. Even after leaving the room, he stood blankly in front of the door for a while.

* * *

He sent Richard to see her off, and though he had resolved not to watch, he absolutely couldn’t bear not seeing her.

He heard she had packed almost nothing. It seemed she had only taken the notebook she used as a diary. Since she had come with almost nothing, it was perhaps natural.

He watched Vivianne walking across the garden with her small frame. She was heading toward the carriage that had been prepared in advance.

She chatted with Matilda and even laughed. She looked happy. His heart felt a little more at ease.

He had thought she was slow, but her steps were quite quick. Kian couldn’t take his eyes off her round head the entire time she walked through the garden.

When An came running and jumped into her arms, she hesitated for a long while.

‘Should I go out and hold her back even now?’

Such futile thoughts crossed his mind.

When Richard handed over An’s belongings, she finally seemed to make up her mind.

When Theodore extended his hand to escort her, she paused briefly as she was about to board the carriage.

After a moment passed, she got into the carriage. Even after the door closed, the carriage didn’t depart for a while.

‘Are you perhaps looking at me too?’

‘Like I did from the carriage that day when I went to Baldwin to find you?’

She used to act surprised, asking how he knew when she had been watching so obviously. Thinking of that made him smile.

“…Goodbye. Vivianne.”

Kian bid a cowardly farewell while clutching the compass necklace engraved with ‘Vivianne von Larson.’

The name she had written in her diary was definitely ‘Vivianne.’

Finally, Vivianne had left.

He watched the moving carriage until it was out of sight. Even after the carriage disappeared from view, he stood by the window for a long time.

How much time had passed? Only when he heard a knock could he step away from the window.

“Master, it’s Richard.”

“Come in.”

As soon as permission was granted, Richard entered the room and bowed politely.

“Did she leave safely?”

“Yes, Master.”

Even though he had watched everything from the window, he still asked.

“Can I trust it went well?”

“Of course. You were watching the entire time.”

Since Richard had noticed too, it seemed he had been watching too obviously, which made him a little embarrassed.

“How did she seem to you?”

“She looked comfortable. Please don’t worry too much.”

“Really?”

A small laugh scattered from the corners of his mouth.

“Then that’s a relief.”

“However, before boarding the carriage, she seemed to hesitate for a moment.”

Even though he knew Richard was saying this to please his master, hearing it from someone else’s mouth didn’t feel entirely unpleasant.

He knew it was futile. But somehow, even all those futile moments felt precious if they were about Vivianne.

She’s gone now. Even though he had watched the entire process with his own eyes and heard it from Richard, it still didn’t feel real.

Kian was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.

“Master, shall I prepare lunch?”

Richard asked carefully, reading the mood. He was probably worried that his master had been skipping meals.

“I’m not hungry. I’m having trouble digesting what I ate.”

“If I may say so, haven’t you eaten nothing at all?”

“…Did I?”

He hadn’t been in the right mind to eat anything. In a dazed state, he couldn’t sleep or eat. He was just enduring, counting the passing time.

“Master, this.”

Richard carefully held out a small bundle. The appearance of paper tied with a ribbon looked somehow familiar.

When he untied the ribbon, he found small cookies inside. Their shape was crooked and terrible.

Just by looking, he could guess whose hands had made them.

“What’s this?”

He asked on purpose, even though he knew.

“I received it as a gift. I don’t really like sweet things.”

“Neither do I.”

“…I know cookies are an exception for you.”

Kian raised his eyebrows and looked Richard over carefully. Even after saying it, he seemed a bit embarrassed and couldn’t meet his eyes.

“I wasn’t the only one who received it. It was just, by chance…”

His somewhat restless appearance wasn’t typical of Richard.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy them.”

“Shall I prepare tea to go with them?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Kian put one cookie in his mouth and chewed. This time it seemed to have nuts in it.

Her skills must have improved. Despite how they looked, the taste wasn’t bad at all.

Kian chewed one cookie for a long time, savoring the taste, then wrapped the paper again and even tied the ribbon.

“Aren’t you having more?”

“I should save them. One at a time.”

He retied the ribbon several times so it would be tied prettily.

“Richard… what would you want to do if you left Larson?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if there’s anything you’ve wanted to do all this time.”

Perhaps it was an unfamiliar question. Richard hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never imagined leaving Larson.”

“Think about it.”

“Pardon?”

“Well, you might suddenly be fired someday. Thinking that could never happen would be your arrogance.”

Unable to grasp his master’s intentions, Richard looked puzzled.

He should start organizing things one by one. There really wasn’t much time left until the red moon rose.

He didn’t have time to sit around in a daze.

Kian gripped the quill pen on his desk.