“Goodness! What on earth… happened to you, Vivi?”

Matilda was shocked to see Vivianne soaking wet and looking like a drowned mouse. She had thought Vivianne was quietly reading a book in her room.

“I made a mistake. I was just trying to dip my feet in the water when I fell.”

Seemingly embarrassed by her own actions, she wrapped her shawl around herself like a blanket and smiled sheepishly.

“Theo, you really…!”

The arrow of blame immediately turned sideways.

Smack!

Without hesitation, Matilda slapped Theodore’s back with her palm.

“I can understand Vivi not knowing any better. But you? How could you be so thoughtless? You shouldn’t have taken your eyes off her for even a moment!”

“No, Matilda—It was truly my fault.”

Vivianne urgently clung to Matilda’s arm.

“Theo did nothing wrong. He actually tried to stop me.”

Despite her repeated attempts to explain, Matilda didn’t seem to hear Vivianne’s words. At times like this, Vivianne wondered if Matilda’s leniency was reserved only for her.

“I swear, I can’t live like this. Vivi, why do you keep acting so recklessly? I was worried about you.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful, Matilda.”

Though still scolding, her tone was considerably softer compared to how she spoke to Theodore.

“Anyway, I’ll prepare the bath. Dry yourself with this towel for now.”

“Yes.”

“Theo, if you don’t want another beating, go back to your quarters right away. Understood?”

After issuing her command, Matilda entered the bathroom. Vivianne handed one of the two towels she had received to Theodore.

Though not as wet as Vivianne, Theodore was also soaked from helping her up. Despite her anger, Matilda had likely wanted to give him a towel too.

After silently reading the situation, Vivianne and Theodore looked at each other and burst into laughter they had been holding back.

“Does it hurt, Theo?”

“Yes, it does. Mother’s hand is fiercer than it looks. It’s still stinging.”

“Oh no…”

Vivianne’s already pale face grew even whiter.

“You got scolded because of me. I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s fine. At least I’m not cold anymore.”

Despite the loud smack when she hit him, Theodore seemed completely unfazed. He was actually grinning.

“I’m glad the ribbon you gave me didn’t get wet.”

When she shook her head, the ribbon fluttered along with her movements.

Just like a butterfly.

Theodore turned his head slightly away, feeling that if he kept looking, she might fly away somewhere.

“I should go now. You need to take a bath quickly so you don’t catch a cold. Keep yourself warm and rest, Vivi.”

“Wait a moment…!”

As he turned to leave, Vivianne quickly pulled a shawl from the closet and held it out to him.

“Take this with you. You shouldn’t catch a cold either.”

“I’m fine.”

“If you get sick, you won’t be able to escort me. Then I’ll be stuck inside again.”

She deliberately used herself as an excuse, thinking that might make him accept it.

“Hurry.”

When she spread out the shawl, it was almost blanket-sized, just as she had noticed when trying to give it to Kian before. She went behind him and stood on her tiptoes to place the shawl on his shoulders.

“There!”

She looked quite proud, clearly feeling she had accomplished something significant.

“Um, Theo. If you’re not busy tomorrow, shall we pack sandwiches and go to the fields?”

Since she had troubled Theodore by recklessly dipping her feet in the water, she thought it best to avoid going near the sea.

“I’m curious about how the wildflowers are doing. It would be nice if Matilda could join us too.”

She looked extremely eager.

This simple walk served as a lifeline thrown to her.

Could they do that?

That would be nice.

Her excited expression made him indulge in this impossible fantasy.

“I’ll talk to my mother about it. I’ll be going now.”

Theodore couldn’t look directly at her chattering face, which reminded him of a lark, and hurriedly tried to leave the room.

However, just before he grabbed the doorknob, the door opened with a click, and someone’s silhouette appeared.

It was Kian.

Instantly, the air in the room grew heavy.

A suffocating silence and awkward atmosphere descended. Feeling as though time had stopped, Vivianne lowered her head.

She hadn’t expected him to come this early. This was normally the time when he would be in his study.

She felt his sharp gaze. Even without making eye contact, her skin tingled under his scrutiny.

“Theo.”

As expected, Kian was the first to break the silence.

“Yes, my lord.”

“I didn’t realize bodyguard duties were necessary inside the room.”

Kian paused and let out a faint sigh.

“…Am I missing something?”

“No, sir.”

As usual, Kian didn’t show an overtly emotional reaction. Yet somehow, that made his presence even more intimidating.

This was all happening because of her. Yet Kian was interrogating Theodore again. If they remained silent, Theodore, who had done nothing wrong, would suffer the consequences.

“It’s entirely my fault.”

Vivianne clenched her fists.

“We went to the beach, and I put my feet in the sea on my own. Then I accidentally fell, and Theo got wet while helping me up. Since he got wet because of me, I was worried he might catch a cold… so he came in briefly to get a towel and shawl. That’s the truth.”

She spoke deliberately and clearly. She knew that if she trembled, he would suspect she was lying.

Did her plea work? After a moment of silence, he slowly approached.

Her heartbeat quickened with each step he took toward her. Vivianne kept her head down and curled her toes.

“Vivi. When we talk, you should look at me.”

With a tone like someone coaxing a child, he lifted her chin.

“Don’t be afraid. Hmm?”

Strangely, his reassuring words made her feel even more chilled. Vivianne’s lips trembled silently.

“I don’t think I said you did anything wrong.”

He moved his hand from her chin and skillfully caressed her frozen cheek, gently thawing it. His fingertips carried not warmth, but heat.

“What’s wrong?”

In the blink of an eye, his lips descended and lifted again. With a moist sound, he took away even the trembling in her breath.

“Am I going to… eat you alive?”

His dark eyelashes moved slowly. His glistening eyes followed her trembling gaze. When they fixed on something, goosebumps rose on her skin.

The hand that had been touching her cheek moved past her heated earlobe to her nape. His fingertips traced her snow-white neck upward, reaching the ribbon that hung alongside her high ponytail.

“I haven’t seen this before. It’s pretty.”

That characteristic contemplative look in his eyes.

She couldn’t bring herself to say Theodore had given it to her. Though she had plenty of clothes, she didn’t particularly enjoy elaborate decorations, so her accessories were somewhat limited.

She had thought he wasn’t interested since he never paid attention except when they were intimate. Surprisingly, he seemed to have been observant.

If that was the case…

That made her even more anxious.

“Still, we’ll need to untie it for your bath.”

As expected, the ribbon came undone, and her bound hair cascaded over her shoulders. The ribbon seemed to fall to the floor in slow motion.

“Shall we have dinner together after you bathe?”

“…”

Just then.

The door clicked open, and Matilda emerged, drawing everyone’s attention to the bathroom door.

Of course, Kian looked at Matilda too.

“Theo, you’ve done enough.”

“Pardon?”

Theodore, who had been standing blankly at the entrance, asked in surprise.

“It hasn’t been long since your knighthood ceremony. This is a crucial time to maintain discipline in the knights’ order.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll assign someone else to accompany Vivi on her walks from now on. Focus solely on your duties as a knight. If you understand, you may leave now.”

Kian sealed his decision with a slight curl of his lips. Theodore remained rooted to the spot, his expression bewildered, seemingly unable to leave.

“Matilda. Was I unclear in my instructions to Theo?”

When Theodore didn’t respond, Kian immediately changed his target.

“…No, my lord. Theo must be flustered.”

Vivianne looked back and forth between Matilda and Theodore. Both appeared dumbfounded.

“I’ve prepared the bath. My lord, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to help Vivi bathe right away before she catches a cold.”

“I’ll handle that. Go attend to your other duties.”

Matilda bowed respectfully and then pulled Theodore out of the room. After they left, the room fell deathly silent.

…I’m alone now.

No, Kian is here.

Before her eyes was only Kian.

No one but Kian.

“…Why.”

Feeling suffocated, she unconsciously blurted out a question.

“Why did you do that?”

“I told you before. When something happens to you, the people who care for you take responsibility.”

Kian answered without changing his expression, showing not the slightest guilt about the matter.

“I’m not hurt. I’m not… sick yet.”

“If you stay like this, you soon will be. Let’s bathe. Quickly.”

“…Kian.”

Was she dumbfounded? A faint smile spread across his lips.

“I didn’t punish them or kill them. What’s the problem?”

“…”

“Why are you so attached? What exactly do you expect from them?”

Even while asking these cutting questions, his hands were methodically undoing each knot, removing her wet garments.

“But you’re always busy. When you’re not around, they’re the only ones who—”

“I am currently…”

His voice sounded like he was suppressing it to avoid raising his tone.

“…showing incredible restraint.”

Their gazes locked intensely, and his hands gripping her clothes tightened with force.

Vivianne’s spine froze stiff.

“They’re my people, Vivi. Don’t be mistaken. If that weren’t the case, do you think Theo would have left this room safely?”

Kian stared directly into her eyes, speaking deliberately to imprint his words on her.

“I am your only one. There is nothing else, don’t you dare think otherwise.”

His black eyes seemed both to contain all colors and to be completely empty. Looking into them gave her a distant feeling, drawing her into an unfathomable darkness.

“My patience isn’t very long. Remember that.”

When she could only look at him from afar, she had longed for Kian so desperately.

Yet now that he was close without any distance between them, she felt like her air passages were blocked, making her gasp.

Somehow, she felt isolated.