Tell Me To Regret, Don’t Tempt Me - Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Thump, thump.
The sound of her heartbeat echoed so loudly in her chest that her ears felt blocked.
Entering the banquet hall, the first thing Vivian Dinever saw was Emperor Henry, Empress Annette, Duke Tereon, and Duchess Daisy Dinever chatting together.
And right next to them. Listening to their conversation was Louis.
The seat next to Louis.
She didn’t know what qualifications were needed to belong there. Should one be beautiful? Smart or wise? Or perhaps all of the above? Vivian couldn’t precisely answer what kind of person should become the Crown Princess. Right now, her mind was filled with the desire to stand in that place.
At ten years old.
For the first time in her life, Vivian strongly wanted something.
Empress Annette, who was the first to notice Vivian standing with a determined expression, smiled brightly.
“Vivian. It’s been a while.”
At Empress Annette’s voice, both the Emperor and Louis turned their gazes towards her.
“I greet His Majesty, Emperor of the Tapeullon Empire, and Her Majesty, the Empress.”
As Vivian curtsied, the Emperor chuckled.
“I’ve only heard about you until now, but finally, I get to see you. Nice to meet you, Vivian.”
At the Emperor’s words, Vivian bowed her head.
“Hugo said you are very smart. You must have inherited your intelligence and brightness from the Duchess.”
“Haha. Your Majesty, I have some resemblance too.”
Tereon, standing next to them, tried to claim some credit. But the Emperor didn’t even glance at Tereon and continued to smile kindly at Vivian.
Known for being cold and stern, the Emperor’s smile shocked everyone in the banquet hall.
“You’ve been spending time with Louis lately, haven’t you?”
At the Emperor’s question, Vivian quickly glanced at Louis standing behind the Emperor.
“Yes.”
“Haha. Thank you.”
The Emperor affectionately patted Vivian’s head.
“Didn’t I tell you? Vivian is a lovely young lady.”
“Indeed. The Empress was right. Seeing her in person, she is so charming that one might forget she is Tereon’s daughter.”
At the Emperor’s words, Daisy let out a small laugh.
“Well then, since it’s your first banquet, enjoy yourself to the fullest, Vivian.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Vivian curtsied slightly as she greeted the Emperor.
Not wanting to keep those waiting to converse with him any longer, the Emperor reluctantly turned away.
As the Emperor and Empress moved elsewhere, people quickly gathered around Tereon and Daisy, leaving Louis and Vivian alone.
“Vivian, you are a lovely child.”
At Louis’ words, Vivian blushed.
“That’s just something they say.”
“Are you saying the Emperor of the Empire was flattering you?”
“No, that’s not it!”
Vivian quickly closed her mouth upon seeing Louis’ mischievous smile. His face clearly showed he was teasing her.
“Did Arnold escort you to the banquet hall?”
When Vivian nodded, Louis turned his head to look for Arnold. Following Louis’ gaze, Vivian spotted Lady Reina standing at the entrance of the banquet hall.
“Um, Louis. I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Louis was still busy looking for Arnold.
“Tell me quickly.”
“Here?”
“Is it something you can’t say here? Moving to another place now is a bit… Should we talk later?”
Louis took out his pocket watch to check the time.
Vivian looked at Lady Reina, who was glaring at her with her arms crossed. The thought of putting Reina’s pretty, high nose in its place dominated Vivian’s mind.
“Now. I want to say it now.”
“Alright. Go ahead.”
Louis, seemingly having found Arnold, gestured with his hand and gave some instructions.
“That… what we talked about in the garden.”
“What?”
“The thing in the garden…”
Gathering all her courage, Vivian opened her mouth, but the commotion in one corner of the banquet hall caused people to start murmuring. Vivian’s courage was drowned out by the noise.
“What? Say it again.”
Fortunately, the commotion seemed trivial as the gathered people began to disperse, and Louis, who had briefly turned his attention to the noise, looked back at Vivian.
Feeling frustrated, Vivian stomped her foot and spoke.
“What we talked about in the garden. I’ll do it.”
“Scarf? You changed your mind about knitting me a scarf?”
“No, not that…”
“Could you speak up a bit? Vivian?”
Louis’ slightly annoyed tone made Vivian tear up.
“Let’s get engaged!”
‘Always keep your composure.’
Vivian’s grandmother, the Duchess’s mother, often told her that the people of the Dinever family easily lost their temper whenever Tereon wasn’t around.
‘It’s a chronic issue in the Dinever family. We have a quick temper. Your grandfather was like that, and so is your father. Because of that temper, we sometimes… no, quite often, did things we regretted.’
Vivian had confidently assured her grandmother that she would never be like that. Her grandmother would always laugh, deepening the wrinkles around her eyes, as if to say she would believe her because she was cute.
So this is why Grandmother said those things.
Vivian regretted not heeding her grandmother’s words more carefully, but it was now too late. Much too late.
The suddenly quiet banquet hall.
Vivian’s voice, saying “Let’s get engaged!” echoed through the large hall.
In a way, Vivian was unlucky.
At the exact moment when the Emperor stopped the music to make an announcement, Vivian shouted at Louis.
She believed her voice wasn’t that loud. She wanted to believe that.
Yes.
That day, Vivian was the unluckiest she had ever been.
* * *
“Vivian. Are you really not going to have lunch?”
In Vivian’s room. At the time when the sun was high in the sky. The bed in the dark room, where the curtains were not drawn, had a bulging blanket on it.
Tia, standing next to the bed, was anxiously tapping her feet. Daisy sighed deeply and slowly walked to the bed. Sitting by the head of the bed, Daisy gently patted the bulging blanket.
“You need to eat. Do you know how worried your father and Tia are?”
The blanket twitched at Daisy’s touch, but Vivian didn’t show her face.
“I’ll eat later.”
Daisy wondered if she should be thankful that there was at least a response. Daisy looked at the huddled-up blanket that showed no intention of coming out and spoke to Tia.
“Tia. Open all the curtains.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
Tia nodded and hurriedly opened each curtain.
On an unusually bright day, as soon as the curtains were drawn, sunlight poured into the room as if it had been waiting to do so.
“Vivi. Will you get up?”
Two days had passed since the banquet. Since Vivian Dinever’s sudden proposal, she had not thought of leaving her room after hastily returning home.
The atmosphere in the Duke’s household was dark and gloomy, as if overshadowed by storm clouds, due to Vivian and Tereon.
Since the winter banquet, Tereon had been in a half-dazed state.
Barely touching his breakfast, Tereon left the mansion with his aide, glancing back several times towards Vivian’s room.
“Vivi. A letter has arrived for you from someone named Aitor?”
At Daisy Dinever’s words, the blanket began to stir. Shortly after, Vivian’s brown hair popped out from under the blanket.
Vivian’s eyes were swollen.
“Vivi.”
At Daisy’s call, Vivian emerged from the blanket and sat on the bed. Her curly hair was so puffed up that it hid her face.
Daisy tucked Vivian’s hair behind her ears. Watching Vivian stare intently at the letter on the silver tray Daisy had brought, Daisy felt grateful to whoever this Aitor was.
As Daisy handed over the letter, Vivian, who was fiddling with the corner of the envelope, asked Daisy.
“Mother. When are we going down to Raspol?”
Daisy barely managed to suppress a laugh at Vivian’s first words. If she laughed now, Vivian would surely hide under the blanket again and not come out until the day after tomorrow.
“Hmm, perhaps we’ll go down in the coming summer?”
“That late?”
The peridot-colored eyes hidden within the swollen eyelids trembled violently.
“Do you want to go to Raspol?”
Vivian’s fluffy hair bobbed as she shook her head vigorously.
“Hmm… But shouldn’t you get engaged first before going?”
Daisy swiftly pulled the blanket off and tossed it aside.
“Vivi, did I raise you without a sense of responsibility? I don’t recall raising you without a sense of responsibility.”
Vivian stared at the blanket that had left her side so easily, her eyebrows drooping.
“If you’ve proposed, you need to get an answer.”
Daisy stood up from the bed and looked at Tia.
“Tia, please help Vivian wash up and brush her hair.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
Daisy nodded in satisfaction and walked toward Vivian’s door. Before leaving Vivian’s room, Daisy turned back and smiled at her.
“If you’re embarrassed about proposing, there’s no need to be. Vivi, I also proposed to Tereon first.”
Hearing about Daisy’s unexpected past, Vivian blinked.
She looked at the firmly closed door, then at Tia standing beside her. Tia was looking at the door Daisy had exited and giving a thumbs-up.
With a look of admiration for Daisy, Tia led Vivian to the bathroom.
Sitting in a bathtub filled with warm water, with Tia and another maid attending to her, Vivian recalled her mother’s words.
“Father said he liked Mother first.”
Vivian scooped some foam from her head and placed it on her palm.
“Did he?”
“Yes. But I didn’t know Mother proposed first.”
“Somehow, that seems like something Lady Daisy would do.”
Smiling at Tia’s words, Vivian blew on the foam in her palm. Her still-swollen eyes folded prettily.
“Louis doesn’t like me.”
At Vivian’s words, Tia, who was diligently washing her, paused.
“But is it okay for me to propose?”
Vivian turned to Tia and asked. Tia nodded while looking at Vivian.
“You’ve already proposed.”
Tia pointed out. When Vivian squinted at her, Tia shrugged and continued.
“How common is a marriage based on love among nobles? The Duke and Duchess are an exception. And, I assure you.”
Tia gently pinched and released Vivian’s red nose with her wet hand.
“Surely, one day, His Highness the Crown Prince will come to like you, Vivian.”
“That’s just because you like me, Tia.”
Pouting, Vivian watched as Tia scooped clean water and said,
“Or, you can make him like you.”
“How?”
“I don’t know… But I’m sure you’ll figure it out since you’re smart. Now, close your eyes.”
As Vivian closed her eyes, lukewarm water poured over her hair.
After washing up, Vivian picked up the letter from Aitor. Curious about why Aitor had sent a letter, she carefully opened the envelope with a knife.
[Come to the Emperor’s Forest. -Louis-]
The letter was not from Aitor but from Louis.
Startled by the sight of Louis’ name, Vivian dropped the letter. The letter slipped from her hand and fluttered to the floor.
“Miss, what kind of letter is it…”
At that moment, someone knocked on Vivian’s door.
“Miss, it’s the butler. A carriage has arrived.”
“A carriage?”
“Yes, it’s a carriage sent from the royal palace.”
At the butler’s words, Vivian tightly grasped Tia’s arm, who had been diligently brushing her hair.
“Haha. Miss, it seems it’s time to get an answer, just as the Duchess said.”
Tia said, giving Vivian an encouraging nod and a clenched fist.
“Love is something you seize, Lady!”