“Yes. If Vivi catches a cold, the Master will be furious.”

So it wasn’t just a casual remark.

Remembering how Kian had mentioned the two of them this morning, she decided not to refuse.

“Ah, right… Mother always calls you Vivi, so I accidentally… I’m sorry.”

He kept stumbling over his words, seemingly flustered by the nickname that had slipped out.

“It’s fine, Theo.”

Vivianne smiled brightly.

Though things still seemed a bit awkward.

Still, she was happy to have made a friend she could talk and laugh with.

“Please keep calling me Vivi from now on.”

That day’s walk was longer than usual.

* * *

After sunset, having finished his daily tasks, Kian headed to the room next door instead of his own bedroom. The room was empty without its occupant.

When he called Matilda to ask about Vivianne’s whereabouts, she said she had gone for a walk. Since she never went far anyway, and would return shortly, he decided to wait.

The fourth floor of the main building originally consisted of two large rooms. They were the rooms used by the previous Duke and Duchess. Kian now used the previous Duke’s room, and gave the other one to Vivianne as her quarters, which could have caused quite a stir among the employees.

What meaning could that have? Even if it was the Duchess’s room, to him it was just like a storage room that had been left empty until just before ghosts would appear.

Though it was a childish story, to some it wasn’t just a storage room but a tomb. Some actually claimed to have seen the previous Duchess’s ghost. Well, it was possible. Her end hadn’t been particularly pleasant. It wouldn’t have been strange if her spirit wandered around Larson.

It was laughable. Just by putting one woman in a room that had only been surrounded by ominous rumors of the previous Duchess’s lingering presence. And now it had quickly transformed into a scene of romance. He could only laugh wryly at how shallow rumors could be. How long had she even been here, yet the empty room now held warmth.

The room was filled with the rich scent of fresh flowers. Kian’s gaze turned to the table. A vase was filled with fully bloomed roses.

Seeing that reminded him of the identical arrangement in his own room. And of the foolish face of the woman who had carried them in with both arms last evening.

He had been informed that she had skipped lunch, having slept all day. If she hadn’t slept well at dawn, she might have needed sleep more than food, but it strangely overlapped with that day. So he had come here early to prevent any troublesome situations.

People don’t easily go back on their decisions. Once she had satisfied her hunger properly, she wouldn’t change her mind.

That’s how it was when inertia took hold of the heart. It would be easier to bribe and keep someone in place. Just look at how inefficient he was being, insisting on this woman.

Taking his eyes off the vase and looking around the room, Kian muttered without thinking.

“Why are there so many ribbons?”

He knew she had some peculiar sides but. The room was full of ribbons everywhere. At Kian’s question, Matilda’s face broke into a full smile.

“Vivi loves ribbons. After I taught her once, she said she wanted to tie them well, so she’s been practicing on her own.”

“I see.”

Ribbons, huh. Not even actual items. It was the first time he’d seen someone like such things.

While examining various things in the room, he discovered a paper bundle tied with a ribbon.

“What’s this?”

“Ah, that, well…”

Matilda hesitated for a moment. She seemed to be wavering.

“It’s something Vivi made by herself to give to you, Master.”

How trivial. Putting lace ribbons on mere newspapers that would be read and thrown away. Moreover, among all the ribbons filling the room, this was clearly the most neatly tied one anyone could see.

An incredulous laugh escaped him.

Kian removed the ribbon and began checking the contents. The newspapers from the day she had fallen asleep in the bathtub until just yesterday were precisely bundled in three sections.

“A gift, huh.”

Kian sat on the sofa and crossed his long legs. Then he began reading them one by one. He judged she would return before he finished reading all this.

It was Vivianne’s week. Considering the effort she put into tying the ribbon, he carefully read even the articles he wasn’t interested in.

Though only one page remained, Vivianne hadn’t returned. As the master’s wait grew longer, Matilda’s expression became increasingly anxious.

After finishing the last fragment of an uninteresting article, Kian put the newspaper down on the table. He gathered and pocketed the removed ribbon, then looked out the window.

By now the traces of the reddish sunset had disappeared, and complete darkness had fallen. Even after that, she still hadn’t returned for quite some time.

* * *

Theodore escorted her to her door and left.

Though nothing had been resolved yet.

Still, she felt somehow refreshed. Vivianne pulled up the corners of her mouth as she opened the door.

When she opened it, Matilda greeted her with an anxious face.

“What’s wrong, Matilda?”

“Well…”

The air was heavy, unlike usual. Matilda seemed to have trouble answering, unable to continue speaking.

“Isn’t it too late for a walk?”

Just then, a low voice came from inside the bedroom.

Time seemed to stop from the shock. Though their rooms were right next to each other, she thought he would call for her if he needed something. She hadn’t expected him to visit directly.

No, come to think of it, he had visited like this on the day he came to return her shoes too. Her heart pounded.

“Thank you for the gift, Vivi.”

Kian approached slowly with empty eyes. The bundle of newspapers lay messily on the table.

Her heart beat wildly as he came close enough to touch.

“But it would have been better if you had brought it to me yourself.”

He whispered while his slender fingers played with the outer coat draped over her shoulders. With a thud, Theodore’s jacket fell to the floor.

Was it a mistake? Even so, dropping Theodore’s borrowed jacket on the floor like that. Besides, Matilda was right there.

She felt uncomfortable.

When she reflexively bent down to pick up the coat, Kian firmly stepped on the jacket with his well-polished shoe.

This was clearly intentional, anyone could see that.

Vivianne’s gaze automatically turned to Matilda. Matilda was just staring at the floor with a pale face.

Regardless, he grabbed Vivianne’s wrist and left the room.

* * *

Bang! The door slammed shut violently.

Unlike his expressionless face, his movements were somewhat agitated. Vivianne’s body stumbled as she was pulled along by his rough grip.

“Was my answer this morning not clear enough?”

“What?”

“I’m asking if you didn’t understand what your position is in this house right now.”

She had a sense of it, of course. But she couldn’t understand why he was showing such an irritated response.

Yes, it was a bit late, but. She had just gone for a walk, and. It’s not like she had made any prior appointments with Kian.

“It seems my explanation wasn’t sufficient. I should start with that day’s story. The day you fell asleep in my bathroom.”

Kian rubbed his face irritably.

“Usually, after serving tea, I leave the bedroom and start my work immediately. Then three maids clean my bedroom during the morning.”

“…”

“You said you woke up around noon. Then, daringly sleeping late in my bed, you were seen by probably four people, including Matilda.”

As he deliberately reminded her of facts she’d rather not know, Vivianne’s face turned bright red.

“I was planning to empty the mansion, so I deliberately gave you a separate room. I assigned Matilda to prevent the maids from bothering you, and even Theodore. Now, up to here. Did I do anything wrong?”

“…No.”

“If I return and don’t look for you, what do you think will happen to you? That’s why I acted. Spending the night kissing and sucking, pretending to dress you.”

“I understand perfectly well what kind of existence I am in this house. So please, stop talking about that part.”

Though she felt like crying, she spoke each word clearly and firmly. She felt that if she cried here, she would feel utterly pathetic.

As if he hadn’t expected this reaction, cracks appeared in Kian’s arrogant gaze.

“And you’re not doing this because of me.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you told me before that there’s no kindness without reason. So the reason must lie with the one showing kindness, not with me.”

“Interesting.”

Since she wasn’t easily swayed, it became more intriguing.

Kian didn’t bother to deny Vivianne’s words.

“You have a fiancée, Your Grace. The risk you’d have to bear is too great just to protect someone like me.”

“Vivi.”

“Yes?”

“Are you concerned about my fiancée?”

“…”

She let her guard down and was struck right at her core.

Of course she was concerned. She had even cried alone because she was upset, but having fallen for him one-sidedly, she didn’t dare reveal her true feelings.

“Your silence means yes, I suppose. Since you didn’t answer, I’ll just interpret it as I like.”

“Yes, I am concerned. Just, just because you might face unnecessary misunderstandings because of me.”

“Would it make more sense if I told you I want to cause misunderstandings on purpose?”

Kian stepped closer.

“My goal isn’t marriage, but breaking off the engagement. Vivi, if you’re going to be concerned about my engagement, I want you to understand that first.”

Despicably enough, she felt somewhat relieved at hearing the words ‘breaking off the engagement’ from Kian’s lips.

Was it okay to feel this way?

Even though he was openly saying he was using her deliberately to cause misunderstandings.

Why did her heart flutter at the mention of breaking off the engagement?

No, what else could she do anyway? Was there another way?

Though she tried to respond coolly and intelligently for the sake of her pride, her heart was in complete chaos.

She had finally gotten a proper answer. If she lost herself now, she felt she would be swept away again.

Vivianne struggled to maintain her composure.

“So you’re asking me to act for you?”

“I never said anything about acting.”

He cut in sharply.

Not acting? Then was it genuine?

At this unexpected answer, Vivianne’s gaze wavered back and forth.

“Our relationship is inappropriate, that’s true. Even now, being together in my bedroom like this.”

Kian brushed Vivianne’s disheveled hair with his long fingers.

As his fingertips barely grazed her earlobe and nape, she felt every hair on her body stand on end.

“And I was curious that day.”

His large hand had already cupped her flushed cheek. His face drew closer and closer until he whispered wickedly in her ear.

“What it would feel like to hold you.”

Thump thump, thump, thump.

Her heart beat irregularly.

No, it was beating so hard that it just felt that way.

While she stood frozen in place, Kian skillfully pulled her waist close with one arm.

As their bodies drew suddenly closer, his soft lips briefly touched her earlobe before pulling away.

“Of course. I’m still curious now.”