After their meal, Vivianne walked through the rose greenhouse with Kian.

She usually only took walks with Theodore. This marked her first walk with Kian.

Until recently, she could only peek at him from behind rocks. Now, walking beside him stirred strange new sensations within her.

Walking with Theodore came naturally. He always watched from a distance while walking, letting Vivianne go at her own pace.

But today felt different.

When she used to spy on him from afar, he seemed to walk quite leisurely. Perhaps due to his long legs? Actually matching his stride proved challenging.

She couldn’t tell whether her shortness of breath came from trying to keep up with Kian or from nervousness.

Still, her heart fluttered. Walking in step with Kian. And wearing the shoes he gave her too. She had wished for this moment for so long. The thick rose fragrance made her dizzy, making yesterday’s upset feelings simply vanish.

“Um, will you come today too? Kian?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“You waited in my room twice already. If I know ahead of time, I won’t make you wait.”

“So you do know. That I made you wait.”

When she tilted her head to look up at him, Kian kept looking straight ahead while walking.

His expression remained unchanged, making his thoughts unreadable.

“Don’t worry. I won’t come today.”

He answered flatly without any trace of regret, leaving her feeling somewhat disappointed.

“Why not?”

“Because I won’t be home.”

“Where are you going again?”

“Yes.”

This was Kian’s home, yet he seemed to spend more time away than here.

“Where are you going this time? Kian?”

“Would you even know if I told you?”

Though amusement tinged his tone, it carried a certain curtness. She always heard news of Kian leaving the mansion through Matilda.

So she waited without knowing when, and Kian’s sudden appearances startled her. The cycle kept repeating. She wanted it to stop.

“…If I don’t know, you could just tell me.”

“My, you’re quite chatty today.”

When Kian muttered with apparent annoyance, Vivianne stepped in front of him to block his path.

“Tell me before you go.”

Kian looked down at her exasperatedly.

This time, she met his gaze steadily.

“Where Kian is going. What you’re doing. If you leave without telling me…, I’ll keep wondering alone.”

Though she spoke with all the force she could muster, Kian maintained his indifferent expression. Her words seemed to bounce right off him.

“Is that the only fancy dress you have?”

The sudden topic change about dresses confused her. While she blinked in bewilderment, Kian took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“Showing off shoulders covered in bite marks all night. What a sight.”

After buttoning the jacket all the way up, he smirked at her once and walked ahead again.

“…So you won’t tell me?”

“I prefer you keep wondering.”

“What?”

“I like it better when you worry and wait desperately. Your surprised reactions make me soar.”

What kind of twisted mindset was this? Seeing Kian speak so teasingly made her unconsciously clench her fists.

“But that’s…, you’re tormenting me.”

“I thought you knew that already. Were you always this slow to catch on?”

She had somewhat sensed it, but she hadn’t expected him to openly admit he tormented her.

Her steps grew heavy. The distance between her and Kian slowly widened.

Vivianne silently trudged along, watching Kian’s broad back.

“Congratulations, Kian.”

“…”

“Vivi.”

What was he planning now? Without looking back, the back of his head looked wicked while reciting the card’s message.

“Going to the imperial palace to receive that. Happy now?”

He probably meant the medal the emperor planned to give him.

Kian stopped walking but kept facing forward, only slightly turning his head.

Vivianne, who had been following, stopped abruptly.

“How does it feel?”

“What?”

“The feeling of waiting until your neck hurts.”

“…”

“Hmm?”

Looking closely, Kian had his palm slightly extended, inviting her to hold his hand.

Vivianne quickly caught up to him. When she placed her small hand on his palm, he smiled contentedly.

“I think I understand what Kian meant.”

“Right?”

Though he tried to act cool on purpose.

Seeing him keep grinning, his complete lack of effect somehow didn’t make her feel any better.

“Give your hand when asked, come when called. Just like a puppy.”

Puppy? She recalled seeing that in an educational animal guide.

For some inexplicable reason, she felt offended and tried to pull her hand away, but his grip remained so tight it almost hurt, making escape impossible.

“How long will it take?”

“Who knows.”

“Will it take long again?”

“Not sure.”

Kian clearly had no intention of answering no matter how much she asked.

As they walked, they finally reached the entrance of the rose garden.

* * *

After Kian left the mansion, intense lessons began before she could even start waiting for him.

She loved learning letters the most, studying writing every morning, with other lessons scheduled in the afternoon.

The waltz lessons brought her the most joy. Vivianne, who loved dancing even as a mermaid, displayed quite a talent for human dancing.

Spinning round and round to piano music naturally lifted her spirits. They called it a partner dance. Though she danced with the instructor now, she wanted to dance with Kian when he returned.

She earned high praise in vocal lessons too. The vocal instructor expressed overwhelming emotion, declaring her voice exceptionally beautiful. Back in the Mermaid Palace, her father forbade her from singing. She cherished being able to sing freely and receive praise.

However, painting lessons proved challenging. Though she wanted to draw something nice like Kian’s face, the painting instructor kept assigning boring tasks like line drawing, insisting basics were important. When told to draw straight lines with a pencil, she often dozed off and made crooked lines.

Today introduced another new lesson. Countess Spencer, who taught noble young ladies, presented herself as a somewhat strict-looking middle-aged woman. Her skinny frame, rigid posture, and restrained manner made Vivianne’s shoulders instinctively shrink.

“Hello. I’m Vivianne.”

Though unfamiliar with proper protocol, Vivianne greeted her as politely as possible. Countess Spencer gave no response.

Not knowing what to do, she glanced at Matilda, who blinked slowly to reassure her. The signal meant she performed adequately.

“You’re the head maid?”

“Ah, yes. I’m Matilda, Countess Spencer.”

“I see you care for that child like a mother.”

Countess Spencer asked dryly with her parched face.

Matilda’s expression fell slightly.

“…I simply follow the master’s orders to take good care of her.”

“We’ll need to start with independence. For this young lady.”

“What?”

“I mean the lessons will be conducted with just us two. So, head maid, I’d appreciate if you’d leave us.”

Matilda looked at Vivianne with worried eyes. She seemed uneasy about leaving her, similar to a child left alone by water.

“It’s okay, Matilda.”

Vivianne deliberately smiled brightly to reassure Matilda.

* * *

After Matilda left, silence briefly fell in the room with just the two of them.

“…Um, what should I start with?”

Though she felt somewhat lost without Matilda, whom she trusted and relied on like a mother, she could face this if necessary.

“Stay there.”

“What?”

“Stand right where you are.”

Countess Spencer slowly walked up to Vivianne, lifted her chin, and turned it this way and that to examine her condition.

“Your skin is quite fair? And a pretty face too.”

“Th-thank you.”

“Your mouth seems a bit small. Could you open it?”

When Vivianne reluctantly opened her mouth, Countess Spencer examined every corner before setting her chin down with apparent boredom. Vivianne stood there feeling bewildered.

After that, Countess Spencer continued to thoroughly look Vivianne up and down as she stood still.

Why is she… scrutinizing me like this? An inexplicable sense of discomfort made her whole body feel stiff.

“Isn’t serving the Duke overwhelming for you?”

“What?”

“Be honest with me. I’m here to help Vivi.”

She couldn’t immediately grasp what intention lay behind such a question.