– To Vivi.

This was Kian’s handwriting. Unlike her own crooked penmanship, his was skilled and practiced.

– I heard your morning sickness is severe. Are you eating properly? Are you feeling dizzy?

It began with simple greetings and concerns.

– After hearing from Matilda, I carefully selected these for you.

– If it’s difficult to eat, don’t force yourself.

– If anything smells bad or makes you uncomfortable, ask to have it removed immediately. Understand?

This is too much. She felt slightly uncomfortable.

– Since this is also a gift for the baby in your belly, please don’t refuse.

– Since you can’t eat well, I’ve lost my appetite too.

– So this is also for my sake.

The letter meticulously listed reasons why she shouldn’t decline, making it seem like she absolutely shouldn’t refuse.

Vivianne looked once more at the fruits and desserts spread before her. Even so, wasn’t this excessive?

– Let me know which ones you particularly enjoyed so I can keep that in mind next time.

After reading this far, Vivianne folded the letter and called for Matilda.

“Matilda, I think I’ll just need gelato and cherries for now.”

“Understood, Vivi.”

“I’ll try to eat proper meals too. Please tell Kian he doesn’t need to do this. It feels a bit burdensome.”

Vivianne’s gaze looked somewhat complicated. Her feelings seemed mixed.

He would probably faint if he saw the baby’s room. What should she do?

Matilda found herself in an awkward position between them.

* * *

Vivianne wasn’t the only one who received a letter from the Duke of Larson.

Marchioness Baldwin stared at the letter addressed to her with furrowed brows.

For a brief moment, she considered burning it without opening it, but she was curious about what exactly the Duke was planning. Eventually, she tore open the letter.

– Actually, Vivi’s memories have returned.

She thought so. When she suddenly said they had separated, she had suspected as much.

– I intend to beg for Vivi’s forgiveness until she softens her heart. Of course, I understand if I’m not forgiven.

– I imagine you’re wondering why I haven’t shown my face while claiming to seek forgiveness.

How did he know? The cunning man seemed to have already read her mind.

– I want to visit the mansion, but Vivi said she wants to be alone and warned me not to come over on my own.

– I apologize for having to communicate in writing, and I hope you understand.

He’s completely anxious.

In the past, he would have already barged in and made himself at home. The fact that he truly hadn’t shown his face meant he must be genuinely afraid of Vivianne.

She didn’t know what had happened between them, but he must have done something terrible to that delicate girl and was now paying the price. No one would rescue him from a trap of his own making. He got exactly what he deserved. Marchioness Baldwin felt a sense of satisfaction and smirked.

– I desperately want Vivianne’s forgiveness more than anything. So please consider this and withdraw your anger.

Though she didn’t like it, knowing the Duke was desperately hanging on somehow put her mind at ease.

She found Vivianne precious. Regardless of public opinion, in the Marchioness’s eyes, she was a beautiful, sparkling girl.

She wanted her to meet a man without flaws rather than such an ill-mannered fellow, but what could she do? The choice was Vivianne’s.

While the parties involved seemed to take it seriously, from what she had observed, their pattern of coming together and breaking apart, unable to live without each other, was quite a spectacle.

“…Youth is nice.”

Marchioness Baldwin knew. This exhausting quarrel was ultimately based on love.

* * *

The letters, which she thought would stop after a few attempts, continued without fail every day from then on. The content was so varied it almost seemed disorganized.

– From the moment I open my eyes until I close them, I think only of you.

– I miss you, Vivi.

Some days it was a passionate love letter.

– I think I acted that way because I was anxious. Afraid you would leave.

– Being an immature person, I tried to confirm my existence in that way. It was petty and childish.

– …I’m sorry.

Other days, he earnestly sought forgiveness for his past mistakes.

– When I was young, I lived in the servants’ quarters in the annex.

– I shared a room with Theo. I wonder if that b*stard still snores. His sleeping habits were the worst.

– The main house looked so huge from the annex. My only wish was to go inside just once.

– I had a much older brother named Joshua. He was kind and cool, and I wanted to be like him.

– But when they told me to act exactly like him, I felt bored to death.

Some days he shared stories from his childhood.

– That day, when I returned to Larson. That look in your eyes asking why you had returned alive… I still can’t forget it.

– It’s childish, but knowing you recognized my footsteps and waited only for that gave me such great comfort.

Kian must have been very lonely when he was young. She felt strangely sympathetic.

He also sent her favorite passages from fairy tales she enjoyed reading, and confessed how he felt after she left.

The letters contained such trivial stories about Kian. Though her heart hadn’t completely softened, Vivianne rather liked these little stories.

Before, she had only strongly wanted to touch something brilliant. Now she felt she was truly facing Kian von Larson properly for the first time.

She didn’t send a reply.

She didn’t know what to write or how to answer. More precisely, she hadn’t decided the direction of her heart.

Just because he asked for forgiveness didn’t mean she had to forgive him, and she didn’t want to force herself to say something just to reply.

He had said she didn’t have to forgive him. For now, she was satisfied simply getting to know him through his stories.

Of course, some cruel facts were mixed in. There were times she didn’t want to hear them, but she decided to face them without avoiding them.

“Baby.”

Vivianne gently caressed her lower abdomen and spoke affectionately.

“My baby. Later, when some time has passed, I’ll tell you what kind of person your father is. It’s too early now. I’m still getting to know him myself.”

With no response, it might have been frustrating, but Kian didn’t come barging in or take her away without warning like before. He wasn’t acting unilaterally as he used to.

Of course, he carefully attended to her needs through Matilda and occasionally sent unexpected gifts.

As long as they weren’t too excessive, Vivianne didn’t refuse them.

– Can I forgive Kian?

– If not now, someday?

She opened her diary and jotted down the questions swirling in her mind.

– Perhaps that’s impossible.

That was the truth. She didn’t want to lie to herself.

– Or, can I understand Kian?

She tried changing the question. Somehow this felt better.

One clear fact was that she didn’t dislike Kian’s letters. She wanted to hear more of his stories.

More than half a year has passed. When her belly had grown quite large, Vivianne decided to send him her first reply.

It wasn’t for any grand purpose.

– These days, my legs keep swelling and hurting because my belly is getting bigger.

– Will Kian come and massage them for me?

* * *

It was refreshing indeed. She had felt it since her time at Larson, but Kian’s massage skills were supreme. His hands applied just the right pressure to precisely knead the aching spots, making her drowsy and her eyelids heavy.

Vivianne nodded off without realizing it, then startled awake.

Pretending nothing had happened, she glanced at Kian from the corner of her eye and saw him quietly laughing.

“Why do you keep laughing?”

“Because you nodding off is cute.”

Caught red-handed. Vivianne’s face turned bright red.

“Matilda said, um, it’s normal when you’re pregnant. Getting sleepy is natural…”

“Who said anything? If you’re sleepy, lie down and sleep. I’ll keep massaging you.”

“No thank you. I won’t sleep.”

Who knows what he might do while she was asleep. Vivianne shook her head firmly.

“Suit yourself.”

“Yes.”

She opened a book with a prim response. After reading every day, she could now read fairly thick novels.

“Vivi.”

“Yes.”

“Do you still dislike me?”

She nodded her head instead of answering.

“You dislike me but you like my massages?”

She nodded again. Kian let out an exasperated laugh. Just like a princess, her attitude was haughty and impudent.

“What about my face? Do you dislike my face too?”

She didn’t answer, seemingly not wanting to respond. Kian deliberately followed Vivianne’s averted gaze, persistently trying to meet her eyes.

“I’m handsome, aren’t I? Hmm? I’m your type. You said you fell for me at first sight.”

“…”

“You said the mole under my eye was pretty. You liked my lips too. Don’t you remember?”

“…”

“If you don’t remember, shall I show you? You can look and tell me.”

His face drew so close their breaths mingled, and Vivianne finally looked up sharply and answered primly.

“D-don’t try anything funny.”

Where did she learn to talk like that?

She stumbled over the unfamiliar phrase, but the princess’s mouth had grown much rougher during their time apart.

“What about my body?”

Vivianne’s face hardened frighteningly. Oops, that was a mistake. It meant she didn’t even consider it worth responding to.

“Sorry.”

He quickly backed down, fearing she might throw him out if he persisted. He diligently and carefully massaged her legs so the princess wouldn’t banish him.

All the while, his eyes busily traced Vivianne’s figure.

How he had missed her all this time. She wouldn’t even meet his eyes. Just looking at her wasn’t enough.

After receiving her message, he had woken up at dawn to prepare and come over. He had tried on every piece of clothing in his wardrobe before taking Richard’s advice on what looked best.

His appearance was his only confidence. Since he was an ill-mannered fellow, he had to use his looks to win her over. If that’s what it took to capture her heart, it was fine. He had slicked his hair back neatly to highlight his features.

He had even applied cologne he never used before, but the heartless Vivianne seemed to regard him merely as a servant giving a massage, not even sparing him a glance.

Could this be unrequited love?

Their positions had completely reversed from the beginning, but what did it matter if it was unrequited?

She grew more adorable the more he looked at her. He had wondered how she had changed during their time apart, but seeing her in person, she was even more charming than he had imagined.

Her small body with only her belly prominently swollen. When she had opened the door earlier, waddling, he had wanted to bite every inch of her body.

Whether she knew about his lecherous gaze or not, Vivianne remained absorbed in her novel.

“Vivi.”

“What?”