Chapter 49

Winter had arrived in full force.

Ian, spending his first winter in the northern capital instead of the warm southern city of Raspol, was suffering from a cold.

One of the reasons Ian caught a cold was Zero.

Having quickly become friends with Zero, Ian ran around the garden without realizing the time and eventually caught a severe cold that confined him to his room for two days.

Ian’s nanny, who had come up to the capital late, was thoroughly monitoring him to ensure he didn’t sneak outside.

“His fever has gone down a bit.”

“Yes. So, he seems to be doing a bit better now. He keeps trying to come up with ways to go outside.”

At the nanny’s words, Vivian let out a small laugh. Ian, lying in bed, pouted, saying he was fine now and could go outside to play.

It wasn’t just Ian who was sulking under the nanny’s strict watch. Zero, lying on the fluffy carpet newly placed for winter in Ian’s room, was also listlessly sprawled out.

The nanny glanced at Zero and began knitting even faster.

“Still, having that here seems to have calmed Master Ian a bit.”

The nanny, who had initially been alarmed and watched Ian play with Zero with anxious eyes, had dropped her guard after three days and was now knitting a scarf for Zero.

“I have to go out today… Nanny, please take care of Ian.”

“Yes, Young Lady. You must be busy preparing for the winter banquet, so don’t worry about this place.”

Vivian kissed Ian’s warm forehead and approached Zero.

“Zero, take care of Ian.”

After petting Zero, Vivian left the room and walked slowly towards the waiting carriage.

It had been five days since Aitor and Zero arrived at the mansion.

Aitor had been very busy with something, and it had been three days since Vivian last saw him.

“What on earth is he doing to be so busy?”

Vivian felt a bit disappointed that she could hardly see Aitor before they could even catch up.

“Young Lady, what did you say?”

Tia, who was following behind, asked upon hearing Vivian’s muttering. Vivian shook her head and got into the carriage. After Vivian and Tia boarded, the carriage slowly started moving.

“Why are we going to Earl Moore’s residence today instead of the royal palace?”

“Empress Annette suggested we meet and talk before preparing for the winter banquet together.”

“I see.”

Although she answered Tia’s question, Vivian anxiously bit her lower lip as her unease grew.

Today’s meeting had been suggested by Reina.

Reina had also suggested meeting at Earl Moore’s residence instead of the Bynes Marquessate.

“What kind of person is Jennifer Moore?”

“It seems even Rosie doesn’t know much about her.”

When Vivian had asked Rosie about Jennifer Moore, who was to help prepare the winter banquet, Rosie had said she didn’t know much either.

All she knew was that Jennifer Moore had recently become close to Reina. That was all.

Earl Moore’s residence was not far from Duke Tereon Dinever’s mansion in the capital. Though smaller than the Dinever mansion, it was no less splendid.

“Welcome, Lady Dinever. Lady Reina is also here.”

Following the maid’s guidance, Vivian headed towards the glass greenhouse where Jennifer and Reina were.

“Has Lady Rosie Langdne not arrived yet?”

“No, she has not arrived yet.”

Vivian, who had timed her arrival to avoid being alone with Reina and Jennifer, realized her efforts were in vain.

The greenhouse was neither large nor small. As she entered, the warm and fragrant air tickled Vivian’s nose.

In the most lavishly blooming part of the greenhouse, a tea table was set up.

“Welcome.”

Jennifer, who had been chatting with Reina with a bright expression, stood up upon seeing Vivian. Reina also rose gracefully and greeted her.

“It’s such a beautiful place.”

“Thank you. My mother put a lot of effort into maintaining it.”

After exchanging formal greetings, Jennifer poured fragrant tea and began to speak.

“Lady Reina, do you remember last year’s winter banquet?”

“Hoho. Of course. The large, white tree still lingers in my mind.”

Since Vivian had not attended last year’s winter banquet, she had no idea what the magnificent white tree they were talking about was.

I should have at least asked Rosie for a rough explanation…

Vivian could only listen to their conversation while sipping the rose-scented tea.

“His Highness Crown Prince Luideos was also remarkable then.”

Just as Vivian was growing weary of their exclusive conversation, her ears perked up at the mention of Louis by Reina.

“Yes. The contrast between his white jacket embroidered with gold thread and his hair color was so striking.”

Did he wear such clothes?

Vivian’s heart began to race as she imagined Louis in her mind.

Should I be glad I didn’t see him in person?

If she had been there, Vivian thought she might have wanted to gouge out the eyes of every woman in the banquet hall.

“Yes. When he asked me to dance, I felt like I was flying in the sky.”

Vivian, about to put down her teacup, looked at Reina.

Reina, blushing as if shy, was looking at Vivian. The corners of Reina’s mouth were curled up in a smug smile.

“Surely, you’re not upset, right, Lady Vivian? Since you were in your territory and His Majesty the Emperor was delayed by sudden business, His Highness the Crown Prince had no choice but to lead the first dance.”

Reina added an explanation, as if to imply that Vivian would be petty if she were upset.

“So, His Highness asked me to dance. It was an unparalleled honor for me.”

Reina reminisced, smiling with her eyes as if she were in a dream.

“You asked if I was upset?”

Vivian slowly put down the teacup she had been holding. The sound of the cup clinking against the saucer was unusually loud, causing Jennifer to flinch slightly.

“To be honest, it doesn’t feel great.”

Reina’s expression froze at Vivian’s unexpected response.

“No matter how long we’ve been apart, and even though I wasn’t at that banquet, wouldn’t it be stranger if I weren’t upset that my fiancé danced the first dance with another lady?”

Vivian smiled elegantly.

“Is… is that so?”

Reina’s lips trembled slightly at Vivian’s words. To hide her quivering lips, Reina raised her teacup.

“Still, I should thank you for taking on the role I should have played. Thank you for dancing with my fiancé, who had no partner.”

Vivian emphasized the word “fiancé” with particular strength.

Reina’s face turned red at Vivian’s words. The hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.

“Lady Rosie is late. Before we start discussing the winter banquet preparations in earnest, may I take a look around this beautiful garden, Lady Jennifer?”

“Of course.”

With Jennifer’s permission, Vivian stood up. The sound of the chair scraping the stone floor was unusually loud.

Vivian walked to a place where they couldn’t see her.

“When is Rosie coming…”

Blaming Rosie for still not arriving, Vivian walked in the opposite direction of the tea table.

“There’s a place like this here.”

A small pond inside the greenhouse. The water was about as deep as an adult’s thigh. In the middle, a small statue dribbled water.

“It’s pretty.”

Since Raspol was warmer than the capital, houses with greenhouses were rare. The artificial pond in the greenhouse particularly caught Vivian’s eye.

Watching the small, unnamed flowers floating on the artificial pond, Vivian took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

Trying to soothe her sulking heart, Vivian stared at the flowers for quite a while. Then she realized that the flowers appeared to change color slightly depending on the light.

The small flowers floating on the water were something Vivian had never seen before. Wanting to see them up close, Vivian leaned forward.

In that moment, she lost her balance.

Vivian flailed her arms to regain her balance, but it seemed inevitable that she would fall into the pond.

How embarrassing. Why did I try to look at them up close instead of just watching from afar… This will spread throughout the capital’s social circles by tomorrow, won’t it? I’m doomed. Sorry, Tia. You must have had a hard time doing my hair today… Of all places, why here, where Reina is!

In that split second, many thoughts flashed through Vivian’s mind. She was about to be drenched in the cold pond water. Feeling the cold water seeping into her shoes, Vivian tightly closed her eyes.

At that moment.

“You should be careful.”

A familiar voice echoed in Vivian’s ear. She opened her eyes slightly.

“Aitor?”

“Shh!”

Aitor placed a finger to his lips and winked. He pulled Vivian’s waist towards him.

Vivian, who had been leaning precariously, was pulled back effortlessly. After safely placing her on the ground, Aitor quickly scanned their surroundings.

“How did you get here…”

Vivian whispered, looking around with Aitor.

“That’s a secret.”

After confirming that no one was around, Aitor spoke to Vivian. His playful expression almost made her forget the danger she had been in and burst into laughter.

“Oh no, your pretty shoes are ruined. I should have caught you sooner.”

Aitor frowned at Vivian’s shoes, which were soaked in pond water. Her pink shoes were dripping wet.

“How did you really get here?”

Vivian asked again, looking at Aitor in Earl Moore’s greenhouse. Smiling awkwardly, Aitor knelt down in front of her.

“If I clean your shoes, do I not have to answer?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Aitor placed his large hand over her shoes and began to murmur softly.

A small, clean light gathered in Aitor’s palm, and Vivian’s soaked shoes began to dry slowly.

Watching Aitor’s magic, Vivian was speechless, staring blankly at her shoes. Her shoes were soon dry and looked as good as new.

“That flower comes from a country in the east. It changes color near magic stones. It must have been hard to get…”

Aitor, removing his hand from her shoes, looked at the pond. Following his gaze, Vivian pointed to the flower she had tried to see up close.

“Is that flower really that rare?”

“Yes. It must have cost a lot. Probably as much as a mansion.”

Vivian’s jaw dropped at Aitor’s words.

“Is Earl Moore’s family that wealthy?”

Vivian began to sift through her knowledge of nobility in response to Aitor’s musing.

She didn’t know all the nobles of the Tapeullon Empire, but she had a basic understanding.

Earl Moore’s family.

They were known to have amassed some wealth in the capital through magic stone mines, but having a flower worth as much as a mansion in a greenhouse was certainly not normal.

“Lady Vivian.”

At that moment, Jennifer’s voice interrupted Vivian’s thoughts. She turned her head to hide the fact that Aitor was there.

“Huh?”

But Aitor, who had been beside her just moments ago, had disappeared without a trace. Only the refreshing forest-like scent of Aitor lingered in the air.