Chapter 64
“Vivi, are you still feeling unwell?”
The more Vivian looked at Aitor’s worried expression, the paler her face became.
“S-sorry!”
“Vivi!”
Vivian turned away and started running towards the room. Her dress fluttered as she quickly ascended the stairs, and the door appeared before her eyes.
There was no mouse hole, but she needed to open that door and hide under the covers. It was the first time she sought a hiding place since the winter ball proposal incident when she was ten.
Just as Vivian opened the door to her hiding place, it slammed shut again with a ‘bang.’
“Vivi! Why are you running away?”
“Th-that…”
Vivian’s face turned red once more as memories resurfaced.
“I-I…”
Vivian blushed as the memory came flooding back.
“Th-throwing up…”
Seeing Aitor’s face brought back memories that filled Vivian with despair.
- Oh dear. I’ve made a grave mistake with you, Aitor.
- No, it’s fine. I was just following the Crown Prince’s request. Vivian is a dear friend of mine as well.
Vivian wanted to open her eyes at the distant voices, but for some reason, her eyelids felt heavy.
- I’ll take care of Vivi. I’ll take her to her room.
- No, I can take her…
- No, it’s not something I can ask of you.
It seemed to be the voices of her father and Aitor.
- I… I’m okay…
Vivian wanted to muster her remaining strength to say she was okay, but even that was difficult. Suddenly, her head spun, and something surged from her stomach.
- I, ugh!
Vivian instinctively felt she needed to run somewhere.
- Vivi, don’t struggle. It’s dangerous!
- Vivi!
Startled by Vivian’s sudden violent movement, Duke Tereon and Aitor began to panic.
- I, I feel sick, ugh!
Before she could even say she felt like throwing up and needed to be let go to go to the bathroom immediately, Vivian emptied everything.
In Aitor’s arms.
“Oh, that’s what it was.”
Aitor tried to tell Vivian it was okay as if it were nothing. But seeing Vivian’s face, he hesitated for a moment, stroking his chin.
Her face was so red it looked like it might burst, and she didn’t know what to do. Watching her, Aitor put on a playful expression and spoke.
“What on earth did you eat? Oh dear, the smell last night was…”
Vivian shuddered at Aitor’s words.
“And there was so much of it.”
“Stop!”
Vivian clasped her hands together and bowed her head as if pleading.
“Please, stop. I’m sorry!”
Seeing her earnest apology, Aitor decided to stop teasing her. Crossing his arms, Aitor suppressed the laughter that threatened to escape.
“If you’re that sorry, grant me one wish.”
“A wish?”
Vivian, who had her head down, peeked up at the mention of a wish. Perhaps due to the excessive drinking the previous night, Vivian’s slightly swollen face made Aitor suppress another laugh as he turned his head.
“What wish?”
Aitor finally managed to suppress his laughter and met her anxious peridot-colored eyes.
“First, go see the Duke.”
“My father…?”
“So you don’t remember everything.”
At Aitor’s muttering, Vivian’s face turned pale. Aitor watched her rapidly changing complexion with curiosity.
“The Duke was there too. He must be worried. Go see him.”
Recalling the image of her father carrying her to the room without concern for the vomit-covered clothes, Vivian sat down on the floor.
“Vivi!”
“Just, give me a moment alone.”
Vivian needed quite a bit of alone time.
* * *
Tapeullon Empire.
A nation blessed by the God of Light. A nation that had never suffered a defeat since its founding, and the capital of the strongest power on the Montfrey Continent. In the center of that capital, the Dovelia Palace was enveloped in snow, creating an even more mysterious atmosphere.
The large fountain in the Emperor’s palace, despite it being winter, was gushing water vigorously thanks to the power of magic stones.
In the place with the best view of such a fountain, the Emperor of the Tapeullon Empire, Emperor Henry, and his son, Crown Prince Luideos, were present.
The Emperor’s study was the most modest part of Dovelia Palace. It reflected Emperor Henry’s preference for not displaying too many things.
The stark and almost chilly atmosphere of the study made the distance between the father and son seem particularly vast.
“What about the Mage Tower?”
“There are no major movements.”
“It’s always like that. They cause problems, but when things get serious, they retreat and act like they know nothing.”
Emperor Henry continued the conversation, his gaze fixed on the report Louis had brought.
“Wrap this up quickly. Marquis Cloak has grown too powerful.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Louis nodded and turned to leave the Emperor’s study.
“Louis.”
He had taken about three steps when the Emperor called him.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Louis stopped and responded politely to his father’s call.
“When do you plan to marry? The year has already changed, and both of you are adults now. It might be time to start planning.”
The Emperor’s golden eyes, even sharper than Louis’s, were fixed on him.
“I will proceed with it.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Louis accepted the marriage as if it were another task, prompting the Emperor to tap the large desk with his fingers.
It was a habit that emerged when he was displeased or deep in thought. It was similar to Louis’s habit.
“Treat Lady Vivian well. She is a bright and intelligent child. She is suitable to become the Empress of this country, isn’t she?”
Louis quietly observed the Emperor. The man was more of an emperor than a father. Seeing this human side of the Emperor stirred a sense of rebellion in Louis.
“I’ll handle it.”
At Louis’s words, the Emperor, who had returned his gaze to the documents, looked up.
“If I marry Vivian, I will focus solely on her.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Emperor tilted his chin as if to encourage Louis to continue. Unlike usual, Louis had more to say.
“I have no intention of taking a royal concubine.”
The Emperor’s expression remained unreadable. Louis couldn’t tell if his father was angry at his unusual defiance or if he dismissed it as youthful bravado.
“Very well. You may leave.”
After observing his son for a while, the Emperor issued a dismissal.
Louis bowed to the Emperor and left the study. In the quiet corridors of the Emperor’s palace, Louis’s heavy footsteps echoed.
“What did His Majesty say?”
Rayden, who had been waiting outside, approached and asked.
“He wants Marquis Cloak brought down quickly.”
“As expected, the relationship between the two has been deteriorating for years, and now it’s come to this.”
Originally, Marquis Cloak was a representative supporter of the Emperor’s faction and maintained a close relationship with the previous emperor before Henry. However, fourteen years ago, a small incident caused a rift between them, and now they were on the brink of a breakdown.
Rayden followed Louis into the carriage to return to the Crown Prince’s palace.
“Is there anything to report?”
Rayden hesitated for a moment, glancing at Louis’s unusually low voice.
It was never pleasant after returning from the Emperor’s palace, but today he seemed even more displeased, leaving Rayden uncertain whether to speak or not.
“Hurry up.”
Perhaps sensing Rayden’s hesitation, Louis urged him.
“Aitor contacted us.”
“Why hesitate over something like that?”
Annoyance tinged Louis’s voice, prompting Rayden to quickly add more information.
“It’s not about the magic stones. He asked if you could spare some time tomorrow.”
“If it’s not about the magic stones, then what?”
“That, I’m not sure… He said he wanted to give the answer he couldn’t at the winter ball, and that you’d understand if I mentioned it.”
Hearing it wasn’t about business, Louis’s expression grew even more displeased.
“Tell him I’ll go.”
“Understood.”
As soon as they arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace, Rayden disappeared into the training grounds. Alone in his study, Louis handed Allen some work and sat down.
If he had to take a day off tomorrow, he needed to work busily now. Louis picked up the topmost document from the mountain of papers on his desk and flipped through it.
Then he paused, tapping his finger on the desk.
Taking Vivian, who had fallen asleep on the terrace after getting drunk at the winter ball, out without anyone seeing.
The only person who could accomplish that was Aitor.
He knew, but Louis couldn’t easily call for him. He didn’t want to. But he had no choice but to call him when Vivian, who was starting to sober up, began to shiver from the cold.
Louis watched Aitor, who looked at Vivian sleeping on the terrace with her makeup smudged and his jacket covering her.
Why hadn’t I realized it sooner?
Louis couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
- No, how much did Vivi drink? Wow! Did she empty all these glasses?
- I’ll inform Duke Dinever, so please take care of Vivian.
Louis said to Aitor, who quickly masked his emotions with a playful, boyish face.
- Yes, understood.
At Aitor’s response, Louis slipped Vivian’s shoes back on her feet and gently placed her slender arms into the jacket.
The jacket was too large for the small Vivian. Louis lifted Vivian and approached Aitor.
Aitor raised his hands to receive Vivian.
- Um, Your Highness?
No matter how long he waited, Louis showed no intention of handing Vivian over. Aitor, feeling awkward with his empty hands, lowered his arms.
- Just one question.
Louis adjusted his hold on the restless Vivian and looked at Aitor.
- Do you like Vivian Dinever?
Louis didn’t get an answer from Aitor that day. And tomorrow, Aitor had said he would provide an answer.
In truth, even without hearing the answer, Louis could clearly see Aitor’s feelings for Vivian.
Nevertheless, the reason he wanted to hear the answer was because he had something to say to Aitor if he admitted to liking Vivian.
Louis stood up, rubbed his throbbing forehead, and poured himself some cinnamon tea from the trolley. The scent of cinnamon quickly filled the study, causing Allen to look up.
“Want a cup?”
Louis offered the tea to Allen, who adjusted his glasses perched on his nose. Allen stood up, indicating he would serve himself, and approached Louis.
As Allen poured the fragrant cinnamon tea into an empty cup, Louis spoke.
“Contact the temple. Ask for the earliest wedding date next year.”
“What?”
Allen exclaimed in surprise at Louis’s words.
“Whose wedding?”
“Whose do you think?”
Louis replied indifferently, returning to his seat, sipping his tea, and resuming his paperwork.
Drip, drip, drip.
The fragrant cinnamon tea overflowed from Allen’s cup.
AyraRedwood
🥰