Chapter 59

“Oh my goodness…”

Tia was on her way back from the carriage to fetch more blankets, knowing that Ian and Vivian were sensitive to the cold. As she neared the end of the hill leading to the lake, she hurried her steps, eager to see the snow falling from the sky, thinking that one must see snow in winter. She was sure Ian and Vivian would be frolicking like puppies in the snow. Excited to see her adorable masters, Tia quickened her pace.

Panting as she climbed the low hill quickly, Tia sensed danger in the scene before her. On the beautifully frozen transparent lake, two people were dancing, with white snow falling like a blessing upon them, creating a picturesque scene. To an outsider, it might seem like a beautiful couple, but that was the problem.

Tia hurriedly looked around.

“Have they not arrived yet… Thank goodness.”

Tia clutched the blanket she was holding tightly as she watched Vivian and Aitor dance beautifully under the slowly falling snowflakes. Just as she thought she should separate them for someone who might arrive soon, and took a step toward the lakeside—

“Beautiful.”

Tia stopped in her tracks, hoping with all her heart that the voice she heard was not the one she recognized. Turning her creaking neck to confirm the owner of the voice, Tia fell flat on the ground.

“I-I’ve committed a grave sin!”

Louis frowned at the sight of his fiancée’s maid prostrating herself on the stone floor, confessing to a sin as soon as she spotted him. What sin could this maid have committed?

A few hours earlier, after attending the morning assembly and returning to the Crown Prince’s palace, Louis opened the first drawer upon hearing the news from the Dinever estate. On top was a piece of paper given by Rayden, placed haphazardly. After staring intently at the paper, Louis declared that he had urgent business in the afternoon and canceled all other schedules.

And so, he came running to this place. He wanted to strangle Rayden, who recommended this place, but the maid prostrating on the ground was not at fault. Tia had merely informed Louis that her master had decided to go out today, which was a rare occurrence. Louis himself had hinted about this place.

The maid, Tia, who was trembling while lying flat, was not to blame. Upon calm reflection, no one was at fault. However, Louis’s plummeting mood continued to fall endlessly.

“Get up.”

When Tia did not think of getting up at Louis’s frosty voice, Rayden, who was behind her, stepped forward.

“Ahem! His Highness the Crown Prince is telling you to get up!”

At Rayden’s urging, Tia slowly raised herself. Seeing this, Louis quietly turned his back and began to walk back the way he came.

“Y-Your Highness, where are you going?”

“I’m leaving.”

“Leaving? But why…”

Louis, descending the hill, stopped and looked back at Tia, who had her head bowed.

“Do not tell Vivian that I came here.”

Leaving those words, Louis quickly descended the hill again.

“Crown Prince.”

Even at Rayden’s call, Louis did not stop walking. Following Louis, who was striding forward with large steps, Rayden kept looking back.

“At least say hello to the Young Lady. You’ve come all the way here…”

Louis remained silent, saying nothing. Rayden decided to keep his mouth shut, sensing that saying more would not improve his superior’s mood.

Once Louis boarded the carriage, Rayden tidied up the surroundings and gave the signal to depart. The lead guards started moving, and the carriage followed them.

“Aitor, that rascal…”

Rayden, matching the pace of the carriage, bit his lip. He had already noticed that Aitor’s gaze changed when he looked at Vivian. However, he thought there was nothing to be done since Vivian already had a fiancé, and Aitor knew him well.

Rayden, knowing that Vivian’s heart was certainly with Louis and that his superior, though cold and blunt on the surface, showed a different side to Vivian, found the situation regrettable. He just hoped Aitor would sort out his feelings without getting hurt.

* * *

The winter ball was approaching. The ball was set to start in a couple of days, and Vivian’s father was due to arrive in the capital tomorrow. Vivian had suggested the floor decoration for the ballroom based on the inspiration she got from Lake Duroco, and the idea was accepted without much opposition.

There had been a few clashes of opinions, but thanks to the wise Empress, the preparations for the winter ball reached their final stages without major disputes or crises. With the preparations nearing completion, Vivian, now with more free time, sat in front of the fireplace with a book.

Her father was expected to arrive in the capital tomorrow. Although Aitor and Zero had planned to leave the estate upon hearing that Duke Tereon would arrive earlier than expected, they decided to stay a little longer due to Vivian and Ian’s objections.

On the day they went to the lake, a lot of snow fell in the capital. The white snow covered the entire world, and Ian and Zero, who loved it, had been playing outside since morning. Aitor had been leaving the house early in the morning and returning late at night for some reason.

Seizing the rare leisurely time, Vivian opened a book but had to close it before she even read three chapters.

“Tia, did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

Without turning her head, Tia answered while continuing her sewing. Since returning from the lake, Tia had been subtly downcast.

Vivian got up and sat at the end of the long sofa where Tia was sitting.

“Are you really not going to tell me?”

At Vivian’s words, Tia widened her eyes. Looking at Vivian, Tia pursed her lips, then tightly shut her mouth and started pounding her chest with her fist.

“T-Tia!”

“You don’t know, Young Lady. You don’t know how much I want to tell you right now.”

Tia was even on the verge of tears.

Vivian hurriedly handed her handkerchief to Tia, who refused, saying it would get dirty, but Vivian held her face and wiped her tears.

“Why are you crying, Young Lady?”

“I don’t know. Seeing you cry makes me tear up too.”

Seeing Vivian’s pretty peridot-colored eyes well up with tears, Tia rubbed her own eyes with her sleeve.

“Young Lady, your partner for the ball will be the Crown Prince, right?”

“I suppose so?”

Tia grabbed Vivian’s hand with determination.

“Young Lady! You will have the first dance at the winter ball!”

“D-Dance?”

Vivian felt her tears recede at Tia’s words. Pulling her hand from Tia’s, Vivian avoided Tia’s sparkling gaze.

Vivian, rolling her now-dry eyes sideways, nervously started twirling her fingers.

“Do I have to dance?”

At Vivian’s words, Tia started pounding her chest again.

You danced so well on the frozen lake!

Tia had to bite her tongue hard to hold back the words that were about to spill out. After swallowing her words, Tia slowly opened her mouth.

“Of course. It’s your first ball attending as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, you must dance together.”

Vivian sighed deeply at Tia’s words.

“Tia, you know my dancing skills.”

At Vivian’s words, Tia crossed her arms and began shaking her legs.

Indeed.

Having watched Vivian for a long time, Tia knew very well why Vivian lacked confidence in dancing.

Her intelligent, capable, and beautiful master was only bad at one thing: physical activities, especially dancing. The social dance teacher who taught Vivian in Raspol often returned home exhausted after lessons.

The teacher, who doubted her own abilities, was persuaded by the Duke to continue teaching Vivian until the end.

Watching quietly, Tia placed her hand over Vivian’s hand.

“Young Lady! How about practicing in advance?”

“Practice?”

“Yes! If you meet and practice before the winter ball, it should be fine, right?”

Tia wanted to praise herself for the idea.

Thinking of the Crown Prince’s retreating figure at Lake Duroco still left Tia feeling uneasy.

She wanted to shout to Vivian that the Crown Prince had been there, that he had silently walked away after seeing her dance with another man!

But as a mere maid, Tia couldn’t defy the royal command.

“If you practice in advance, you’ll make fewer mistakes on the day, Young Lady.”

At Tia’s words, Vivian slowly nodded.

“So contact your partner in advance, Young Lady.”

“Wouldn’t Louis be busy?”

Vivian was always cautious when it came to Louis.

“Even if he’s busy, I’m sure he’ll come.”

Tia’s words sparked courage in Vivian’s heart.

Vivian stood up and sat at her desk. She hesitated for a long time, wondering which paper to choose, which pen would be best. Finally, she filled a pen with ink.

If he was busy, it couldn’t be helped, but knowing he would be delighted to come, Vivian began writing each letter carefully.

* * *

“I-I feel like I’m dying.”

Allen rubbed his dark circles, which had reached his chin.

Rayden clicked his tongue and looked up at the place where his superior’s office was.

“But is it okay for us to be here like this?”

“I don’t know! I felt like I was suffocating in the office, so I ran out.”

Allen began to huff and puff, his face looking like it was about to explode. Since returning from the lake, everyone serving the Crown Prince had been having a hard time.

From the Imperial Second Knights to the maids of the Crown Prince’s palace, everyone was on alert.

Allen, who spent the most time with him, was the biggest victim.

“What on earth happened that day?”

“Shh! Didn’t I tell you not to even mention that day? If you want to keep your head on your shoulders, keep your mouth shut!”

Rayden’s exaggerated warning was entirely serious.

“Don’t ask, and don’t try to find out.”

Seeing Rayden’s face, Allen began to laugh as if he had given up on everything.

“Assistant Allen, finally…”

Elton approached Allen and Rayden, swirling a finger around his temple. Regardless, Allen laughed madly, even shedding tears.

“Isn’t it time to supervise the new knights’ training?”

It had been just a week since Elton, who had been the youngest, happily passed on the position to the new recruit.

“Oh! I was going to do that, but this seemed more important.”

Training the new knights was Elton’s only joy these days, but something more important had come up. Rayden, with a puzzled expression, accepted the envelope Elton handed him.

“Th-This is!”

Rayden’s pupils shook wildly, as if an earthquake had struck, upon receiving the envelope.

“Wh-What? Why do you look so uneasy…”

Elton and Allen asked Rayden.

“Here. You deliver it.”

Rayden handed the envelope to Allen. It was a letter from Lady Vivian. Seeing Vivian’s name, Allen trembled as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have and handed the letter to Elton.

“I can’t. Elton, you deliver it.”

“M-Me?”

Rayden and Allen nodded, distancing themselves from Elton. It was clear they were being cautious.

“Such terrible superiors!”

Elton, lamenting his lack of luck with superiors, tearfully clutched the envelope and headed to the Crown Prince’s office.