Chapter 69

After returning from a short hot spring trip, Vivian could only return to her room late at night after handling postponed tasks. Instead of heading to bed, Vivian settled near the crackling fire in the fireplace.

Dragging a single-seater sofa, she sat down and tucked her legs under the long skirt of her nightgown. Resting her chin on her knees, she blankly stared at the fiercely burning fire, stoked by the ample logs she had added.

After sitting like that for a while, Vivian’s gaze shifted to the small bookshelf next to the fireplace. It was filled with romance books she had collected whenever she had time in Raspol and the capital.

Vivian slipped her feet into pink furry slippers hidden under her nightgown and stood in front of the bookshelf, scanning the mostly read books.

She had read them quite diligently…

Looking at the titles, Vivian pondered why she had been so eager to read romance books. The answer was easy to find.

She read them whenever she felt anxious.

Whenever she became uneasy due to Louis’s feelings, which were different from her own, she thought that by reading these books, she might end this long and tiresome unrequited love.

Looking at a few unread books, Vivian picked up a thin one titled <How to Succeed in Unrequited Love> and headed back to the sofa she had been sitting on earlier.

She considered turning on the magic stone lantern but decided against it, knowing Tia would surely scold her. Instead, she read by the light of the fire.

Crackle, crackle.

As the flames dwindled, Vivian added another log that Tia had neatly stacked and turned her attention back to the book.

Vivian quickly read through the thin book and closed it with a ‘thud’ after finishing the last page.

Getting up, she went to the desk in her bedroom and turned on the lantern. Opening the drawer, Vivian took out stationery and an envelope and began writing a letter with care.

After checking the contents of the letter several times, Vivian nodded in satisfaction, folded it neatly, placed it in the envelope, and melted the wax. She pressed a rose seal onto it and placed the envelope in a visible spot on the desk before walking briskly to bed.

It was a letter to be sent to the Crown Prince’s palace early the next morning.

* * *

Holding a leather document bag containing a few papers, Vivian glared at the door to Louis’s office.

Rayden, who had guided Vivian, watched her determined back and repeatedly rose and fell on his toes. Vivian’s gaze was so serious that he hesitated to say a word.

But they couldn’t just stand there, so as Rayden was about to speak to Vivian, she moved forward and knocked on Louis’s office door.

“Come in.”

Louis’s voice came from inside, and Vivian grabbed the doorknob and opened the large door.

Upon entering, Allen was nowhere to be seen.

It was a relief.

“I greet the Crown Prince of the Empire.”

Louis, who had been flipping through the last document, looked up at the slightly more formal tone than usual.

“…Would you mind sitting for a moment? It seems I’ll have time after finishing this.”

At Louis’s words, Vivian nodded and sat in the chair closest to Louis’s desk. Louis glanced at Vivian as she sat on the sofa before quickly returning to his documents.

Rayden, who had guided her to the office, mentioned that Louis was busier than ever with the school construction issue for training physicians and the hot spring site issue.

Whether it was true or not, both Louis’s and Allen’s desks were piled with more documents than usual.

Vivian regretted coming to the palace today but shook her head, recalling that Louis was never free.

At that moment, Louis stood up, and the sound of the chair scraping against the marble floor was heard.

When Vivian looked up, Louis was approaching to sit across from her on the sofa.

“Um, not there. Could you sit over here instead?”

Vivian urgently spoke to Louis, who was about to sit across from her on the sofa.

At Vivian’s earnest voice, Louis straightened his back and turned to the sofa closer to Vivian.

As Louis moved, Vivian’s tense expression relaxed, and she smiled slightly.

Louis, sitting down, observed Vivian, who seemed a bit different from usual. However, unable to pinpoint what was different, he simply raised an eyebrow.

“I talked to Father about the marriage issue.”

Vivian opened her mouth to state the purpose of her visit today.

Don’t avoid it, Vivian. Look him straight in the eye, and smile as prettily as possible…

Vivian continued to speak, maintaining eye contact with Louis’s golden eyes, which were slightly raised as he looked at her.

“He said spring might be too soon.”

Normally, Vivian would have quickly looked away. But today, for some reason, Louis slowly blinked while looking at her with his peridot-colored eyes, which met hers resolutely.

“It might be rushed. But it’s not impossible. It’s a wedding that should have happened last year. There’s no reason to delay it further, is there?”

Vivian nodded at Louis’s words. Even as she nodded, she didn’t avoid his gaze, as if in a staring contest.

“Then, I’d like to hear the Empress’s opinion as well. There will be many preparations for Her Majesty the Empress to handle for the wedding.”

This time, Louis nodded at Vivian’s words.

Vivian’s peridot-colored eyes persistently focused on Louis’s golden eyes. Louis, too, didn’t want to avoid her gaze for some reason.

“And this is a proposal I thought of regarding the use of the hot spring site we visited together. I brought it thinking it might be helpful.”

Vivian took a few sheets of paper from the leather document bag she had been holding preciously and handed them to Louis.

Taking the documents from Vivian, Louis slowly opened his mouth while still being intensely watched by her.

“Thank you. I’ll review it thoroughly.”

At Louis’s words, Vivian smiled slightly and shifted her gaze to the documents in his hand, then quickly looked back at Louis’s face.

It’s strange.

Louis leaned away from the sofa backrest and tilted his head to the side.

“Do you want to have a staring contest? Or is there something on my face?”

“Huh?”

Vivian blinked rapidly at Louis’s question.

“Well, that…”

Vivian’s gaze wavered intensely. But only for a moment, as if making a decision, Vivian clenched her fist tightly and scooted closer to Louis.

“Is there anything you want to say?”

Louis furrowed his brows at Vivian’s sudden and strange question. 

What on earth was Vivian trying to do today?

“If there’s nothing to say… Hmm. What did you do today?”

Louis, who had been scrutinizing Vivian’s face, slowly moved his lips.

“I woke up in the morning, did physical training and sword practice, then had a cup of tea while reviewing documents needed for a breakfast meeting, attended the breakfast meeting hosted by His Majesty the Emperor, took a short break, attended a state affairs meeting, had a private audience with His Majesty after the meeting, returned to the Crown Prince’s palace for a light lunch, and reviewed documents for a discussion with the Imperial Academy professors in the afternoon when you arrived, Vivian.”

It was truly a grueling schedule. An ordinary person might not last a day and would run away.

As Louis listed his schedule, Vivian’s eyes gradually drooped.

“But I’m currently pondering why you’re looking at me so intently, as you seem different from usual, Vivian.”

Louis slowly stroked his chin with his fingers, looking at Vivian.

I can’t do it. I just can’t.

Vivian avoided Louis’s languid gaze and bit her lower lip hard. Turning her head, Vivian’s shoulders slumped.

“It must have been tough. Take some breaks while working. I’m worried.”

At Vivian’s voice, tinged with a sense of defeat, Louis chuckled and leaned back against the sofa.

“It’s what I always do. But it feels nice to have you worry about me, Vivian.”

Vivian, who had been staring at the innocent sofa cushion, quickly lifted her head. Louis’s golden eyes held a relaxed smile.

Watching him absentmindedly, Vivian suddenly stood up.

“Well, then I’ll be going!”

Before Louis could even bid her farewell, Vivian quickly left the office.

“Huh? Young Lady, are you leaving already?”

Allen, who was carrying a pile of documents, asked Vivian as she quickly exited the corridor.

“Yes! See you next time!”

Vivian waved her hand dismissively at Allen and hurriedly headed to where the carriage was waiting. Almost running, Vivian climbed into the carriage, and it set off to leave the vast Dovelia Palace.

Vivian placed her hand over her rapidly beating heart and looked at the scenery of Dovelia Palace.

After catching her breath for a moment, Vivian opened the bag she had brought and took out a piece of paper and a pen she had prepared in advance.

“Failure…”

Vivian drew lines across something written on the paper and let out a deep sigh.

[1 – Make eye contact during conversation, 2 – Empathize with what he says, 3 – Meet often; distance makes the heart grow fonder, keep your unrequited love close.]

Several other items were listed, and Vivian crossed out numbers 1 and 2 without hesitation.

“No, how can anyone maintain eye contact for so long?”

Louis’s eyes were like those of a lion. Exotic yet fierce and deep. They were the eyes of a ruler. Holding a conversation without avoiding such eyes was nearly impossible.

Even while talking, she had to clench her fists and resist the urge to avert her gaze. Of course, Vivian’s efforts crumbled with one captivating smile from him.

Empathizing with his stories was even more challenging. Louis handled such a murderous schedule as if it were nothing.

Vivian shook her head and slowly read number 3.

Meet often.

After contemplating for a moment, Vivian slowly drew an ‘X’ over number 3. Asking Louis, who handles an enormous schedule daily, to meet often before marriage was a selfish thought.

Louis would be even busier preparing for the wedding.

The book she read yesterday, <How to Succeed in Unrequited Love>, seemed like something she should discard.

Vivian put down the pen she was holding and looked out the carriage window. The carriage was just leaving Dovelia Palace.

Vivian glanced down at the paper in her hand again, clicked her tongue softly, and crumpled it up. Although the list went up to number 7, she felt none of them would help her succeed in her unrequited love.

Until the carriage reached the Dinever estate, Vivian sighed repeatedly.