His head felt foggy from lack of sleep. In the carriage returning to Larson, Kian leaned his head against the window.

The cool glass seemed to clear his mind somewhat as it cooled his stuffy forehead.

Crushing someone beneath his heel wasn’t difficult, but revealing his loss of composure was tiresome for him as well.

Countess Spencer was one of the well-known gossips. Today’s scandal would soon heat up the social circles.

Indeed, would she be careful after being threatened? No, that would only last for a moment.

“I wasn’t going to say this, but truly, only you should know this, Countess.”

With those words as a start, she would begin spreading rumors. That was the nature of high society.

She was also a woman with excessive pride. That’s probably why she fearlessly participated in this childish provocation against a duke. Since Countess Spencer and Marchioness Steward were close friends, it was obvious without even seeing it. This was Penelope Steward’s handiwork.

Reflecting on what happened to Vivianne, it was like a rite of passage that noble ladies performed when accepting a man’s mistress.

“I respect your territory enough. However, I am the true owner of that person. Know your place.”

An elegant warning and psychological victory.

Though whether it was truly dignified behavior remained questionable.

Besides, was this something to do to an illegitimate child born of a maid? Did they really think he was a noble man just because he wore the perfect mask of Larson? It was utterly ridiculous.

Kian decided to torment Penelope Steward to death precisely because of that absurd psychological victory.

It was the same when Larson’s old fiancée died and he received a new one.

“Because you’re more handsome and taller. Because you’re the first man I’ve admired romantically. It’s a different feeling from before when it was just a political marriage.”

The thought that since she was truly in love this time, it wasn’t abnormal that the fiancé’s brother became her new fiancé—that was unbearably awkward.

He admitted he had used cowardly methods. He had chosen to be cowardly. She kept going on about nonsensical love in front of him. The cruelest way to trick such a woman was to torture her with hope.

Still. Today, there was no need to go this far.

Even Kian thought his reaction to Countess Spencer today was somewhat excessive.

He had stormed in to cause a scene right after receiving Matilda’s report about what Vivianne had experienced.

Well, as originally intended.

He probably appeared like a madman obsessed with his mistress.

What bothered him was that it wasn’t a pre-calculated action but rather a somewhat instinctive response.

Since bringing that woman home, he had been acting impulsively more frequently.

Perhaps that’s why he habitually carried a cigar case with him.

He disliked the smell clinging to his clothes. It was utterly pathetic.

When that woman clung to him like a puppy, she would smell this scent.

As his thoughts reached that point, Kian remembered a schedule he had forgotten.

“…Waltz.”

Truly, he had completely forgotten about it.

“Can you practice with me? The waltz instructor is coming tomorrow afternoon.”

“Tomorrow I want to dance with Kian, not with the instructor.”

Could it be? Had she waited?

No, after that commotion in the office this morning.

She had likely skipped her meal and gone to bed early due to her gloomy mood.

He knew he had shown her a somewhat sharp response. He had been irritated seeing her meddle in a matter he intended to handle alone.

Ridiculously. In that provocative dress.

Did she think that seductive body wasn’t enough?

He had thought someone had deceived her into wearing it, but he hadn’t wanted to involve Vivianne in this matter.

“When Kian goes somewhere, does something, without telling me… I keep wondering all alone.”

“…So you won’t tell me?”

Unfortunately, his answer remained the same this time too.

I prefer you to keep wondering and wait pathetically.

That was Kian’s answer. He admitted to himself that something was definitely broken inside him. He also knew he was so twisted that there was no saving him. Behind the perfect Larson mask were only these ugly cracks.

Looking out the window, Kian suddenly noticed a pastry shop crowded with people.

“Why are there so many people there?”

“That place is famous for being delicious, my lord.”

When Kian casually asked, the aide beside him quietly answered.

It would be more convenient to appease her a bit. Kian smiled slightly and threw out another useless question.

“Do they have sweet things too?”

* * *

“C-Captain.”

A knight whispered to Theodore, who was at the training ground. Looking in the direction he pointed, it was near the plane tree. Vivianne. It was that woman. Seeing her standing there alone, Theodore felt anxious.

At least the knights weren’t making a fuss like last time, so their collective scolding had paid off. He silently ran toward the plane tree. Though not noisy, he could feel several men stirring behind him.

“Theo.”

Vivianne spotted Theodore running toward her and smiled brightly.

“You didn’t tell Mother. Why did you come here again?”

“But Theo, you said you’d listen to anything I had to say during our walks.”

“I did.”

“It’s a secret conversation. I was ratted out to Matilda.”

She was still smiling, but her face looked somewhat lonely, showing she had some worries.

Right. I promised, so I should listen.

Theodore decided not to pursue meaningless questioning.

“Where shall we go?”

“Somewhere close since it’s late.”

“Then shall we go to the glass greenhouse? The gardener should be on break around now.”

“Sounds good, Theo.”

A quiet place was indeed perfect for sharing secrets.

* * *

This was the fourth time she had come to the glass greenhouse filled with roses. The first time, she had come to serve tea to Kian and his fiancée; the second time, she had come with Theo to receive roses. Most recently, she had lunch with Kian and walked with him.

This was the first time she had come purely for a walk with Theodore. When walking with Kian, she had to walk quickly to keep up, but Theodore matched his pace with hers, making it much more comfortable.

Moreover, since they had no other business, she thought she might be able to touch the roses she had only smelled until now.

“Be careful, Vivi.”

Theodore cautioned Vivianne as she tried to touch the roses.

“Why?”

“Roses have thorns, so you might get pricked if you touch them carelessly.”

“Really? I didn’t know that before.”

Vivianne opened her eyes wide as if this was the first time she had learned this fact.

“Last time, James trimmed them all before giving them to you. Originally, rose bushes have many thorns.”

“I see.”

She nodded slowly. How strange that something so beautiful could hurt when touched.

She remembered the day she had worn high-heeled shoes and had her ankle bitten.

And she had thought of Kian when she saw those shoes. Comparing the three, there were definitely similarities.

“You’re wearing low-heeled shoes today?”

“Kian told me to.”

“Does the master interfere even with what shoes you wear?”

It seemed like a casual joke, but her mood sank, perhaps because of what had happened today.

“We were supposed to waltz together. He said he didn’t want his feet to become a beehive, so he told me to wear low-heeled shoes. That’s why.”

Vivianne answered with a forced smile. He seemed to sense something was wrong and remained silent.

“He promised to come, but Kian must have been very busy. He didn’t show up. So I just danced with the waltz instructor.”

Vivianne fixed her gaze on the round toe of her shoe.

It was too embarrassing to share this story while looking at Theodore’s face.

“So you were upset?”

“…Yes. A little.”

She forcibly pulled up the corners of her mouth. She thought she might be able to smile a little that way.

“And I was a bit embarrassed. The waltz instructor and the piano instructor… they comforted me saying he would come soon while we practiced… but he didn’t.”

“The master broke his promise then.”

“Yes. I wonder if he was angry? He seemed sharp this morning. I stopped by his office to ask something. I must have disturbed him while he was busy.”

“He usually gets sensitive during work. He wouldn’t be angry about that. So don’t worry too much.”

He offered words of comfort, but her mood didn’t improve.

“Or maybe he forgot? I’ve been thinking about which would be better, but I’m not sure. I understand both, but I’m still upset. Understanding and being upset seem to be separate things.”

She couldn’t bring herself to confide in Matilda. It seemed like Matilda had been summoned by Kian and questioned about Countess Spencer’s story because of her.

“Or maybe… he just doesn’t want to waltz with me.”

Theodore stared at the dejected Vivianne.

“If it’s because of the newspaper…”

“…Pardon?”