After Matilda left, she searched the room thoroughly but couldn’t find the box. Despite checking every corner, it remained missing. Someone had taken it.

Kian, most likely. The thought constricted her chest.

She hadn’t done anything wrong. She simply received a strange gift without knowing its purpose. Why should she worry alone? The situation felt unfair.

Should she feign ignorance? Since Kian stayed silent, perhaps it wouldn’t matter. She tried convincing herself, but even that proved difficult.

During her writing lesson, she couldn’t concentrate on the letters, fidgeting anxiously with her quill pen.

Time passed, and she felt her energy draining. This discomfort would persist until she discovered its whereabouts.

When she asked Matilda, she learned Kian was in his office. She worried urgent business might force him to leave the mansion.

Kian never announces his departures or returns. She might have to endure this state for days. The thought drove her mad.

Rather than squirming like a child awaiting punishment, she decided to confront the situation directly. With this determination, she headed to his office.

“What is it?”

Upon her knock and entry, Kian spoke emotionlessly, his eyes fixed on the document pile.

“……”

Standing before him, her mind emptied, and words failed her.

“If you have nothing to say, leave. I’m quite busy, as you can see.”

His voice carried such coldness, she barely recognized these lips that had shared passionate kisses with her last night.

“I lost something in my room. I, I wondered… if Kian saw it.”

She forced out the words, eyes tightly shut.

Her voice trembled with nervousness. She could have asked casually, yet she behaved guiltily. How embarrassing.

A short laugh broke the silence. Kian set down his quill pen and lifted his gaze.

“Is it that important? Important enough to burst into my office during work hours to look for it?”

“……”

“I’m asking. Is it important to you?”

Vivianne lowered her gaze at his visible annoyance.

“…No. It’s not like that.”

Though she fought against it, resentment rose bitter in her throat.

“I was thoughtless. Sorry for disturbing you when you’re busy. I’ll go now.”

She needed to escape. Fearing she might cry pathetically, she bowed and turned to leave.

“Wait.”

A low voice halted her just before she opened the door.

Vivianne stood frozen, unable to move either way.

“You’re being troublesome in many ways.”

A long sigh followed. Kian put down his quill pen, stood up, and strode over.

Coming right up to her, he closed the open door and pulled her wrist into the room.

“I’ll go. I, I’m really fine. Just later when you’re not busy…”

Ignoring her protests, he lifted her by her armpits, sat her on the desk, and took out a box.

“Here, what you were looking for. Is this it?”

The box she sought lay before her. Opening it revealed the same contents.

Her face flushed hot. Though correct, she couldn’t bring herself to confirm it.

“If it wasn’t, you would have said so. Your silence suggests it is.”

Her hesitation seemed to confirm his certainty. Kian closed the box and took it back.

“This is confiscated.”

Then he returned his focus to the documents.

“Leave for now and we’ll talk later.”

* * *

After Vivianne left, Kian immediately summoned Matilda.

“You called for me, Master.”

Though reluctant to ask such an awkward question, her search for it demanded confirmation.

“Matilda. This came from Vivi’s room.”

Kian placed the box on the desk. Matilda’s face registered shock at the clearly inappropriate item.

“Is this your first time seeing it too?”

“…Yes, it’s my first time.”

Matilda recalled how Vivianne had searched for something since morning. She knew instantly this was it.

Kian watched her intently.

“Vivi wouldn’t have money to buy this, and I don’t think Matilda would dress the child she cares for like a daughter in something like this.”

“You’re right, Master.”

“If you have any idea, tell me.”

Indeed, Vivianne lacked money. She only ventured out for simple walks. Rather than purchasing it herself, someone must have given it to her.

Vivianne had recently met outsiders. With her various lessons, likely one of the teachers gave it.

Among many lessons, only one refused her supervision.

“It’s about Countess Spencer’s lessons. They were etiquette lessons, but she left after two days saying she couldn’t teach, without taking payment.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“I’m not making assumptions, but Countess Spencer refused supervision from the start. It might be good to ask Vivi about that part.”

Though perhaps overthinking, certain aspects raised suspicion.

Hearing Matilda’s words, Kian slowly nodded.

“Right. Ask Vivi about that part and report back.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You may go, and send Richard in.”

Matilda bowed deeply and left the office.

* * *

Vivianne sat hesitating on the bed, eyeing the chocolate box.

He limited her to two pieces. But without something sweet, her mood would plummet endlessly.

Just when her hand reached for one, seemingly drawn by temptation, a knock sounded and Matilda entered.

“Vivi. What were you doing?”

“Nothing. Just thinking about eating a chocolate.”

“Chocolate?”

“Yes. Kian gave it to me.”

Matilda’s expression dimmed slightly at the chocolate box.

“He said not to eat more than two. Would he know if I secretly ate one?”

“Yes. Don’t do that.”

Matilda’s response carried unusual firmness.

So it truly wasn’t allowed. Persisting after being told no would make Matilda uncomfortable. Despite feeling tearful since earlier, she couldn’t burden others with her mood.

“Okay. I won’t eat any, Matilda.”

Vivianne nodded regretfully.

“I’ll bring you a different dessert instead. Something sweeter and more delicious. Put this away.”

“Thank you.”

She stroked Vivianne’s hair, then closed the chocolate box and placed it in the bedside drawer.

A brief silence filled the room.

Matilda’s face showed hints of trouble.

She wanted to lie down, feeling weak. Some time remained before the waltz lesson; even a short nap might help.

“Um, Vivianne. I’m going to ask you something now. I hope you’ll be honest with me and not hide anything.”

Her serious tone suggested knowledge of something. She decided to hear Matilda out first.

“About what?”

“About Countess Spencer. Did she perhaps give you something?”

Vivianne’s trembling lips moved slightly.

* * *

Thirty minutes into the waltz lesson, the pianist and instructor watched Vivianne with concern.

She wore the low-heeled shoes Kian specified – custom-made for her in the capital. She focused on wiggling her toes inside the round-toed shoes.

Embarrassment and regret kept her from meeting the teachers’ eyes.

“Um, Lady Vivianne. Should we practice just among ourselves first?”

The waltz instructor asked carefully.

This slender man had shown consideration since the first lesson. He seemed worried about the continuing awkwardness.

Vivianne lifted her gaze from her shoes to the entrance. The firmly closed door showed no movement.

Would Kian not come? He had definitely promised. Was this morning’s incident the cause of his anger? She should have waited. Why did she rush?

She shouldn’t have gone to his office. Her attempt to ease her mind had made her inconsiderate.

“I’m sorry because of me. Making you wait needlessly. He definitely said he would come. He must be very busy.”

She apologized sincerely to the pianist and instructor.

“We’re fine. Please don’t feel too sorry. He seems to be late because he’s busy, but he’ll surely come.”

“When the Duke sees how well Lady Vivianne dances, he’ll want to dance with you even more.”

“That’s right. And dancing will improve your mood too, Lady Vivianne.”

She offered a faint smile at their attempts to comfort her.

“Alright. Then let’s practice. Shall we?”

When she nodded to the pianist, the dance music began. The waltz instructor bowed politely to Vivianne.

Vivianne quickly surrendered herself to the waltz melody. They claimed dancing would help, but her mood remained heavy. And Kian never came.