Chapter 124

An unexpected confession.  

Vivian opened and closed her mouth like a fish at the sudden confession.  

“When I’m here, I’m not Crown Prince Luideos Lindez Tapeullon, just Louis. So I intend to think only about you and me.”  

Louis took another step back to put more distance between them as he spoke.

“I want to get closer to you, but if I do, I might want to touch you.”

At Louis’s words, Vivian felt as if she were burning from her toes to the top of her head. She thought, “He probably can’t see clearly since it’s nighttime,” but she still felt embarrassed and curled her toes tightly.

“Vivian.”  

Louis called out to Vivian, who had lowered her head in embarrassment. His soft, low voice reached her, carried by the spring breeze.  

“Can I ask you something?”  

His slightly nervous tone made Vivian look up. Five steps away, Louis’s bright golden eyes were fixed intently on her.  

Vivian, clutching the blanket wrapped around her shoulders with both hands, nodded.  

“That time you said you wouldn’t love me… Was that true?”  

At his somewhat fearful and cautious question, Vivian’s eyes widened. 

Hadn’t I already told him it wasn’t true?  

Oh no.  

As she searched her memory, Vivian realized they hadn’t had a chance to talk leisurely like this since then.  

Just as Vivian was about to explain that she hadn’t meant it,  

“Young Lady! Miss Vivian!”  

Tia’s voice echoed as she called for Vivian. When Vivian turned her head, she saw Tia, holding a lantern, running toward her.  

“What are you doing out here at this hour? I’ve been looking all over for you! Oh my goodness!”  

Tia, who had been running in a hurry, froze in shock when she saw the Crown Prince and dropped the lantern. Watching her reaction, Louis clenched his teeth and forced a smile.  

Even though he was now living under the same roof as Vivian, he thought he might not get much time alone with her.  

***

Vivian woke up a little later than usual. She sluggishly sat up in bed, blinking her still-heavy eyelids.  

When she pulled the bell cord, Tia and Charlotte entered shortly after, carrying a basin of water.  

“You woke up a bit late today.” 

Charlotte remarked, setting down the basin. Her face showed concern, as if she were worried Vivian might be unwell. Vivian yawned and shook her head.  

Reaching for her slippers under the bed, Vivian noticed they were dirty and suddenly remembered why she hadn’t fallen asleep until late last night.  

Because of a certain “adorable troublemaker,” she hadn’t been able to answer Louis and had returned to her room.  

After sending Tia away, she had lain in bed, staring at the ceiling, blinking, and wondering when, where, and how she should talk to Louis. The thoughts had kept her awake for quite some time.  

Now, unable to come to a clear decision, Vivian sighed deeply as she washed her face.  

“Young Lady, a letter arrived for you early this morning.”  

Tia, who had opened the curtains and flung the windows wide, handed Vivian an envelope.  

Vivian wiped her dripping face and hands with a towel before taking the envelope. She checked the sender’s name.  

“Hugo?”  

The letter was from Hugo, her childhood master, the head of the Imperial Academy, and someone who had helped her without hesitation during the recent events.  

Vivian hurried to her desk and pulled out a knife to open the letter.  

[To my beloved student, Lady Vivian Dinever.]  

The letter was written in neat, elegant handwriting. It began by recounting what had happened yesterday, followed by a story about his time with Dean, and ended with his joy at Aitor’s acquittal. At the very bottom of the letter, the reason Hugo had sent it so early in the morning was revealed.  

[Is His Highness the Crown Prince there with you?]  

Vivian read through Hugo’s letter again. In the end, what Hugo wanted to know was whether Louis was there. That was what he was curious about.  

Could it be that Louis had packed his things and left without telling anyone?  

Still in her nightgown, Vivian quickly sat at her desk and began writing a reply. After sealing it with wax, she exhaled deeply and turned to Tia.  

“Please help me get ready quickly.”  

Thanks to the quick hands of Tia and Charlotte, Vivian was able to finish getting ready in no time. She was about to head straight to Louis but stopped, turning instead toward the first floor.  

As Vivian reached the first floor, she spotted Aitor and Louis entering the lobby. Behind them, Zero followed lazily, his expression full of dissatisfaction.  

“Vivi!”  

Aitor, drenched in sweat as if he had been exercising, waved at her.  

“Where are you two coming from?”  

At Vivian’s question, Zero stepped forward and rubbed his face against her hand. As Vivian petted Zero, she looked at them expectantly, urging them to answer.  

“I suggested we exercise. If I don’t work out in the morning, I feel off all day.”  

Unlike Aitor, who was drenched in sweat and looked exhausted, Louis appeared refreshed.  

“How about it? Don’t you feel great?”  

“Y-yes! Hahaha.”  

Aitor laughed exaggeratedly, saluting with a trembling hand. He had clearly been swinging a wooden sword, and knowing Louis’s workout routine, Vivian couldn’t help but feel sorry for Aitor.  

Zero, seemingly displeased with Louis’s good mood, snorted loudly.  

Aitor, feeling sticky from sweating so much, headed upstairs to wash up, with Zero following behind. Now, only Vivian and Louis remained in the lobby.  

“You didn’t leave without saying anything… did you?”  

At Vivian’s question, Louis confidently nodded and ran a hand through his hair.  

“I left a letter before I came out.”  

Saying this, Louis added that he needed to wash up and quickly ascended the stairs. Watching his retreating figure, Vivian clutched her head.  

If Empress Annette, Rayden, or Allen hadn’t found that letter… Vivian raised her head abruptly and rushed to the study.  

“Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?”  

“Just bring something simple to the study.”  

Once in the study, Vivian began writing letters to Hugo, Rayden, Allen, and Empress Annette, informing them that Louis was there and that they didn’t need to worry.  

As she wrote, someone knocked on the study door.  

“Who is it—”  

“Miss, you need to come quickly.”  

The butler’s urgent voice made Tia and Vivian exchange glances. Tia opened the door, and the butler, wiping sweat from his forehead, spoke.  

“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”  

***

Vivian was miserable, stuck in the middle of it all.  

Looking to her right, she saw Louis sprawled casually on the sofa, resting his chin on his hand with his arm draped over the backrest. Turning to her left, she saw Empress Annette, gripping her teacup with trembling hands, visibly trying to hold back her anger.  

Apologizing for arriving unannounced so early in the morning, the Empress had asked to see Louis. This was a side of her that Vivian had never seen before.  

Despite her presence, Louis remained indifferent, and only Vivian was left anxiously pacing.  

“This is a nuisance.”  

“I know.”  

“If you know, why are you here?”  

“Because Vivian is here.”  

“You can see Lady Vivian in Dovelia Palace, can’t you?”  

“I can’t run away from home while staying in Dovelia Palace. I’m not seven years old.”  

“…Running away from home. Yes, running away. My son, at 21 years old, has run away from home.”

Behind Vivian, Allen and Rayden couldn’t hide their dissatisfaction with Louis. Leaving behind a single letter amidst a mountain of documents to announce he was running away—how absurd.  

Rayden, remembering how he had searched for Louis all night, felt tears welling up in his eyes.  

“The sentencing of the criminal only concluded yesterday. While we’re busy stabilizing the disrupted order, you decide to run away?”  

At Empress Annette’s words, Louis flinched. Not missing a beat, Allen began listing all the urgent tasks Louis needed to handle.  

“Let’s go back. His Majesty doesn’t even know yet. Please, Your Highness.”  

Allen’s desperate plea made Louis close his eyes briefly before sitting up straight.  

“It’s my fault for leaving behind important duties, so I will handle them.”  

Allen’s face brightened at Louis’s response, but his expression darkened again at what Louis said next.  

“However, I’ll handle them here. I won’t return to the palace.”  

Empress Annette raised her delicate eyebrows and quietly placed her teacup back on the saucer. Just as she opened her mouth to persuade him, Louis interrupted.  

“Until I find the answer to whether it’s truly right for me to become Emperor, I won’t return.”  

Everyone in the drawing room widened their eyes at Louis’s declaration. Ignoring their reactions, Louis continued.  

“I’ve never questioned whether I should become Emperor. Isn’t that strange? Just because I’m the Emperor’s son, does that mean I must automatically become Emperor? There could be someone better suited for the role.”  

“Louis!”  

Empress Annette clutched her chest in shock as she called out to him. Vivian, too, felt her heart freeze at his words.  

“I need time, Mother.”  

Louis stood and walked over to Empress Annette. Sitting beside her, he gazed at his small, delicate mother.  

Her beautiful violet eyes were now glistening with tears. Louis gently embraced her frail shoulders.  

“Mother, do you want me to be happy?”  

In her son’s unexpectedly broad and firm embrace, Empress Annette barely managed to nod. Tears spilled down her pale cheeks, soaking into Louis’s shirt.  

“The leader of Inferna, who was captured recently, turned out to be a relative of Consort Violet.”  

At Louis’s words, Empress Annette flinched. As her shoulders stiffened in shock, Louis gently patted her back.  

“His resentment was deeper, more reasonable, and more tragic than I expected. But even so, I cannot blame you, Mother. I know how much you’ve suffered.”  

In Louis’s warm embrace, Empress Annette’s shoulders began to tremble. A faint sob escaped her lips.  

To Vivian, the Empress no longer looked like the ruler of an empire but simply a woman.  

“He’s dead now. But I don’t think his resentment has disappeared. The same goes for Aitor’s case… That’s why, Mother, I’m not sure anymore if the image of the Emperor I’ve held onto is the right one.”  

That was why he had found it difficult to stay in the Crown Prince’s palace. He couldn’t stay there anymore, Louis explained.  

Empress Annette’s sobs seemed to intertwine with past wounds, spilling over uncontrollably. Vivian quietly stood and left the drawing room.  

It was much later when she finally emerged, her eyes swollen from crying.