Tell Me To Regret, Don’t Tempt Me - Chapter 28
Chapter 28
After the winter banquet ended, Empress Annette expected to have a bit of free time, but she suddenly found herself busier than ever.
“Who would have thought Vivian would propose like that?”
The Emperor, pleased by Vivian’s public proposal, ordered the engagement preparations to be expedited. As a result, Empress Annette found herself buried under a mountain of tasks once again.
“There’s no rule that says the man has to propose first.”
“Like mother, like daughter.”
“The proposal by the Duchess of Dinever has inspired many noble young ladies.”
Empress Annette and her maid Alina exchanged knowing smiles.
‘Knock, knock.’
At that moment, someone knocked on the door of Empress Annette’s office.
“Your Majesty, Hugo Platten is here to see you.”
“Let him in.”
At the Empress’s words, the door opened, and Hugo, wearing his usual friendly smile, walked in.
“Greetings to the Empress of the Empire.”
“Hugo, it’s been a while.”
Annette greeted her son’s tutor and the Empire’s renowned scholar with respect. She asked Alina to prepare some tea and invited Hugo to sit.
Once they were seated, Alina left the office to prepare the tea.
“Sorry for meeting in the office instead of the reception room. Things have suddenly gotten busy…”
“Haha. No problem. It’s a joyous occasion. I completely understand.”
Hugo waved his hand with a kind smile.
“I’m very happy that two of my pupils are getting married.”
“Your happiness makes me happy as well.”
Alina returned and placed fragrant tea cups in front of them.
“The reason I called you today, Hugo…”
Empress Annette trailed off. Hugo took a sip of tea, then quietly set his cup down and nodded at the Empress.
“I understand. You’re worried about your son, aren’t you?”
The Empress looked down at the tea cup in front of her. Her worried violet eyes floated above the dark pink tea.
“The Crown Prince resembles the Emperor very much.”
“That’s why… That’s why I’m even more worried.”
“I understand what you’re worried about, Your Majesty.”
Annette looked up at Hugo. His face now serious, Hugo met her gaze.
“But they are still young. They have the ability to find happiness in a goal-oriented marriage.”
Hugo finished speaking and smiled, wrinkles forming around his eyes.
“It’s been several years since the Empress Dowager passed away. It’s time for you to let go of her shadow in this palace, don’t you think?”
“…I can’t forget the time when Louis was seven years old.”
“You mean the famous runaway incident.”
Hugo smiled playfully as he lifted his tea cup. The tea had cooled to the perfect temperature, and its fragrant aroma filled the air.
“Yes. That’s right. He was the first to defy Emperor Henry because of me.”
“Hahaha. I’m sure the Emperor was quite surprised.”
Empress Annette smiled at Hugo’s hearty laugh. Though her lips curved into a smile, her deep violet eyes still held sadness.
“I hope you don’t blame yourself too much. It’s not unusual for a child to defy their parents, especially for their mother’s sake.”
“That’s what makes it even more heartbreaking. I didn’t want my son to know my sorrow.”
“…Your Majesty.”
Hugo looked at the Empress, who was trying hard to hold back her tears.
“He said he didn’t want to get married. Louis did.”
Hugo, who was about to say something, closed his mouth at Annette’s words.
“He came to me after hearing the rumors about his engagement to Vivian and told me he didn’t want to get married. I coldly sent him away…”
Annette’s face looked like it could crumble at any moment.
“When Louis is with Lady Vivian, he shows a very different side of himself.”
“…What?”
Annette stopped covering her face with her hands and looked up at Hugo.
“Sometimes he looks like a mature older brother, and other times he seems like a mischievous younger brother. Haha. He rarely shows the demeanor of the Crown Prince of the Empire.”
“What do you mean…”
“Because the Crown Prince has been trained to be the ruler of the Empire from a young age, he’s reluctant to express his emotions openly.”
Hugo seemed to recall something and chuckled before continuing.
“But when it comes to matters related to Vivian, he quickly shows his emotions.”
Hugo’s words caused Empress Annette’s eyes to tremble slightly.
“The Crown Prince is someone who finds answers, even if it’s late. He’ll do the same this time, I guarantee it.”
With that, Hugo finished the remaining tea in one gulp.
“I’ll take my leave now, Your Majesty. Ah! That’s right!”
Hugo, who had risen from his seat and was heading towards the door, turned back as if he had remembered something.
“I plan to visit Cloque on the anniversary of your father’s passing. If there’s anything you’d like me to take to his grave, please let me know beforehand.”
Leaving behind a kind smile, Hugo exited the Empress’s office.
“Thank you.”
Empress Annette whispered softly, staring at the spot where Hugo had been sitting for a long time.
* * *
“Brrr. It’s cold.”
Vivian, who had only stayed in Raspol, was experiencing a harsh winter for the first time.
“It doesn’t seem that cold to me.”
Holding Zero, Aitor tilted his head in confusion. Following Aitor’s lead, Zero also tilted his head to the right.
“Not cold? That’s nonsense!”
With her nose turning red, Vivian hurriedly opened the door of the cabin and went inside. The small cabin was filled with warmth, thanks to the burning firewood.
Feeling like she could finally breathe, Vivian took off her thick coat.
“Woof!”
As soon as they entered, Zero started fussing for food. Sighing, Aitor set Zero down on the floor and took out the treats placed high up.
“Zero has all that fluffy fur, but why aren’t you affected by the cold, Aitor?”
Vivian asked while petting Zero, who was eagerly wagging his tail in anticipation of his treat.
“Hmm… The place where I used to live was much colder than here, so this doesn’t feel that cold to me.”
Vivian stopped petting Zero and looked up at Aitor with a serious expression.
“Come to think of it, I’ve never heard where you and Lily lived.”
At Vivian’s words, Aitor paused from cutting the jerky for Zero.
“Well… It’s not really an interesting story.”
“Hmm… If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.”
Vivian raised her hand to pet Zero again. However, Zero ran over to Aitor, who had stopped cutting the jerky, and tapped his leg with his paw.
Prodded by Zero, Aitor resumed cutting the jerky and began to speak.
“It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it…”
As he placed the appropriately cut jerky into a bowl and set it on the floor, Zero’s eyes sparkled, and he dashed toward the bowl.
“My foster father took me in after finding me abandoned on the streets.”
Vivian’s eyes widened as she watched Zero devour the jerky with great enthusiasm.
“My father was a wizard, so he often used magic. He taught me a little bit too.”
Aitor knelt in front of Zero and gently rubbed Zero’s head with his index finger. Zero, engrossed in eating, didn’t care about Aitor’s touch and continued to devour the jerky.
“Lily was with my father. Even before he brought me in.”
“I see…”
“When my father passed away, Lily suddenly disappeared. I came here while searching for her.”
Vivian quietly watched Aitor for a moment before getting up and approaching Zero, who had already finished eating the jerky and was now licking the empty bowl.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing, Vivian?”
“Because I made you remember sad memories by asking.”
“It’s not like that…”
Realizing that the bowl was empty, Zero kicked it away with his paw and started rubbing his face against Aitor’s hand.
“It’s sad that my father and Lily are no longer with me, but I have Zero and you, Vivian.”
Aitor picked up Zero and smiled brightly.
“I’ve never left Raspol until now. It’s my first time in the capital, and even in Raspol, I rarely left the mansion.”
Vivian gathered the hem of her dress spread on the floor and spoke.
“My mother was very ill. She was so sick that she couldn’t leave her bedroom for a long time.”
Aitor, who had Zero licking his hand, set him down on the floor and listened intently to Vivian.
“I always thought my mother might die. So, I think I understand your feelings a little, just a little.”
Zero, not pleased with being put down, began tugging at the hem of Vivian’s dress with his teeth.
“Is he trying to comfort me?”
“No way.”
Aitor and Vivian burst into laughter at the same time.
“My mother only recently regained her health, and since I stayed in the mansion all the time, I had no friends. Oh! I have one now. Rosie, whom I met at the winter banquet recently.”
“I’m jealous. I only have Zero.”
At Aitor’s words, Vivian blinked rapidly and then spoke.
“Aren’t we friends?”
“Huh? But… You’re a noble lady, and I’m just a commoner…”
Vivian suddenly stood up at Aitor’s words. Zero, who had been playing with the hem of her dress, was startled and stumbled backward.
“That doesn’t matter! You and I are friends. Or do you not want to be friends with me?”
This time, Aitor stood up and waved his hands.
“Of course not!”
“Really? Then I’ll allow you to call me Vivi!”
“Huh?”
“Nicknames are only for close friends!”
Vivian placed her hands on her hips and spoke. Her sparkling peridot-colored eyes were as fresh as spring.
Aitor lived in a small village in the cold north. Spring came later there than in other places, but it lasted longer. Aitor loved that spring very much.
“Go ahead, call me!”
“V-Vivi?”
When Aitor called her Vivi, Vivian smiled brightly, like a flower in full bloom in spring.
“Since we’re friends, you can speak informally.”
Vivian, pleased with Aitor calling her Vivi, allowed him to speak informally, as if granting a favor. Aitor quickly glanced around, wary.
“But if I do that, Rayden will scold me!”
“It’s fine!”
“Do you know how painful Rayden’s scolding is?”
Aitor frowned and covered his head with both hands.
“I’ll… I’ll protect you!”
Aitor didn’t know that until recently, Vivian would run away whenever she saw Rayden. Slowly, he lowered his hands from his head at Vivian’s confident declaration.
“Really…?”
“Yep!”
Aitor looked at Vivian for a moment and then nodded.
Vivian, pleased with Aitor’s response, sat down and hugged Zero, who had been looking up at them.
“Zero! We’re all friends now!”
As Vivian hugged and rubbed her face against Zero, he wagged his tail happily, barking.
Watching the smiling Vivian, Aitor recalled the spring flowers that Lily had once brought him. He didn’t know their names, but they were very beautiful.
The flowers that bloomed on his favorite spring days.