Chapter 71

“What is it?”

Vivian’s heart fluttered momentarily at Louis’s straightforward approach, but she hid her disappointment with a smile. She should be used to his manner of speaking by now, but Vivian still found herself caught off guard.

“I think I need to visit Raspol briefly in February.”

“Raspol? Why Raspol?”

“There are things I need to sort out at the Raspol estate, and I want to see my mother before the wedding.”

“I see.”

Louis stood up and walked over to his desk, looking at the calendar. He frowned, seemingly displeased, and flipped another page, lost in thought.

“It looks like I’ll have time in March… February is just impossible.”

“Were you planning to go with me?”

“I should. I ought to meet the Duchess before the wedding, to formally greet her.”

Louis was always like that. When Vivian took a step forward, wanting to get closer, he would somehow retreat ten steps back. But when Vivian hesitated and stopped, he would suddenly draw near.

“March won’t work. I’ve already made plans to prepare various things with Her Majesty the Empress.”

At Vivian’s words, Louis rubbed his chin and stared intently at the February calendar.

“It’s okay. Please come with me another time.”

Despite Vivian’s reassurance, Louis continued to glare at the calendar as if dissatisfied, eventually nodding when he realized he couldn’t make time.

“After the wedding, let’s make sure to visit Raspol within the year.”

There was a faint hint of apology on Louis’s face, despite the cold expression. Seeing that, Vivian smiled softly, wondering how on earth she could push someone like him, as Rosie had suggested. 

No matter how much she pulled, he never seemed inclined to be drawn in. How could she push such a person? Would he even budge?

Recalling Rosie’s enthusiastic encouragement when Vivian mentioned she was meeting Louis today, Vivian shook her head vigorously.

Louis put down the calendar and poured some cinnamon tea from the trolley always prepared next to the sofa he had been sitting on.

“Would you like a cup?”

“Yes.”

The lukewarm cinnamon tea Louis handed her had an incredible aroma.

“It’s nice.”

Vivian sipped it and widened her eyes in admiration, prompting Louis to chuckle as he brought the teacup to his lips.

“The real reason I came today is because I received a message from Jennifer Moore yesterday.”

“Moore?”

“Yes. A letter came asking if I wanted to purchase flowers, saying the mage who obtained the Water Rose would soon be in the capital.”

Louis set down his teacup and tapped the sofa armrest with his index finger.

“It seems they’ve run out of money.”

“Money?”

“I blocked their source of funds to pressure Marquis Cloak. The Emperor’s order to adjust the mining volume of magic stones must have significantly affected them.”

Louis rested his chin on his hand, staring quietly into space as if in thought. Perhaps it was because his golden eyes looked particularly dark. Seeing Louis’s slightly weary face, Vivian straightened her posture.

“What if I meet with Jennifer Moore?”

Louis slowly moved his head. Seeing his fiancée’s sparkling peridot-colored eyes, Louis shook his head.

“It could be dangerous. According to Aitor, the person who sold the Water Rose to Earl Moore’s family is rumored to be a rather sinister mage from the Mage Tower.”

“Isn’t it because they haven’t been able to catch that mage yet due to a lack of clear evidence?”

Vivian thought of Aitor, who had been coming home late recently. The imperial family and the Mage Tower had identified those involved in the illegal distribution of magic stones, but they were difficult to apprehend, so they were waiting for an opportunity.

“I’ll meet with Lady Jennifer and ask if I can meet the mage directly.”

“Vivian.”

“I won’t do anything dangerous. I want to help too.”

At Vivian’s firm voice, Louis pressed his fingers against his temple. If Vivian could draw the mage out under the pretense of purchasing the Water Rose, it would be a significant gain.

However, the opponent was a ‘viper’ known even in the Mage Tower. An experienced mage, shrouded in mystery and highly cautious, could pose unexpected dangers.

It was certainly a good opportunity, but he couldn’t send Vivian to such a meeting.

Just as Louis was about to refuse, Vivian leaned toward him.

“In the capital, the only families wealthy enough to buy such expensive flowers are the Dukes of Nesman and Dinever. But the Nesman couple went down to their territory two weeks ago, so there are no nobles they could approach except me, Louis.”

At Vivian’s words, Louis squinted and bit his lip.

“I’ll discuss it with others.”

Seeing Louis take a step back, Vivian nodded and sipped the remaining cinnamon tea. She didn’t particularly like tea with such a strong aroma, but drinking it seemed to clear her head.

After finishing his tea, Louis handed Vivian a few documents related to wedding preparations. Knowing he had another appointment soon, Vivian hurriedly stood up.

“Let me know which date works best for you.”

“I haven’t agreed yet.”

The two walked together to where the Dinever Ducal carriage was waiting.

“You’re busy. You don’t have to see me off.”

“I can’t let my fiancée leave alone.”

Louis, who was walking slightly ahead, slowed his pace to walk beside Vivian when he saw her following him.

Vivian had never been so pleased with the vastness of Dovelia Palace as she was today. In fact, she thought it wouldn’t matter if it were a bit larger.

“Sorry for setting a tight schedule.”

As the carriage came into view, they slowed their pace out of regret. Then, at Louis’s words, Vivian stopped and looked up at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just… I didn’t expect you to apologize, Louis…”

As Vivian froze, Louis seemed displeased and turned back to approach her.

“Ugh!”

Though it didn’t hurt, the sudden pressure on her forehead made Vivian close her eyes tightly.

“I’m human too.”

Watching Louis turn and start walking again, Vivian quickly followed him.

“I never said you weren’t human.”

“At least you’ve thought my blood might be blue instead of red.”

When Vivian paused at Louis’s words and then answered no after a beat, Louis quickened his pace.

Is he sulking? Surely not.

Watching Louis’s neatly groomed back, Vivian found the thought absurd and let out a small laugh. Wondering if Louis had heard her laughter, Vivian quickly covered her mouth and hurried her steps to catch up with him.

“You’re too fast!”

Vivian, who quickly closed the distance, grabbed Louis’s arm and pulled. However, Louis didn’t budge, and instead, Vivian was dragged along.

Realizing belatedly that Vivian was being pulled along, Louis suddenly stopped, causing Vivian, who had been putting in all her strength, to lose her balance and stagger.

“Louis!”

Vivian, teetering and on the verge of falling backward, flailed her arms wildly in the air. It was her last desperate attempt to avoid falling in front of Louis.

Just as Vivian half gave up and closed her eyes.

‘Thud.’

A strong force pulled her wrist, and Vivian’s eyes snapped open. She saw Louis’s white, long neck, and the prominent Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.

“Are you okay?”

At Louis’s voice pouring down from above her head, Vivian looked up. Louis, looking down at her with slightly widened eyes as if surprised, was very close.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Seeing Vivian looking up at him with a dazed expression, Louis cupped her cheeks. Vivian felt all the strength leave her body at Louis’s touch. She let her arms hang limply at her sides.

“Did you faint with your eyes open?”

Louis shook Vivian’s limp body and adjusted his hold on her, glancing around. Vivian, cradled in Louis’s arms, thought she should say she hadn’t fainted, but for some reason, her voice wouldn’t come out.

As she slowly blinked in his arms, Vivian managed to turn her head. And at that moment.

“Your Highness, there you are. Oh, oh my!”

Vivian’s eyes met Hugo’s, her old teacher from childhood.

Hugo, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have, quickly turned his head and continued to clear his throat.

“Of course, you two are about to be married, but showing affection in the corridor in broad daylight… Well, it looks nice, but it’s a bit embarrassing for this old man.”

Hugo clasped his hands behind his back and chuckled. Hearing Hugo’s laughter, Vivian startled and pushed Louis away with all her might.

‘Thud.’

An enormous sound echoed from Louis’s chest.

“Ah!”

“Your Highness!”

After Louis’s short but pained voice, Rayden, who had been far away, called out to Louis and quickly ran over.

“Ugh…”

Louis, who had landed hard on his backside on the marble floor, grimaced deeply.

“Lou, Louis!”

“Your Highness!”

Vivian and Hugo approached Louis.

“Are you alright? That was quite a loud sound…”

“Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?”

The flustered Vivian looked at Louis’s backside, pulled his arm, and placed her hand there.

“Does it hurt a lot here? How…”

“Wh-where are you touching?”

Louis, startled, grabbed Vivian’s wrist.

“Oh, uh… Right. What am I doing…”

Watching from the side, Hugo quietly got up and gestured to Rayden, who had approached.

“Let’s give them some space.”

“What?”

“Oh, come on! How can you be so oblivious? How can you have less tact than this old man? Stop talking and follow me.”

Hugo, suppressing Rayden with a look, left the corridor quietly with him, even as Louis and Vivian continued their squabble.

Why are you touching my backside? Have you always wanted to touch it?

No, my hand just went there unconsciously. 

That’s even stranger. 

I was just trying to check where you were hurt, but you’re the one thinking weird thoughts.

The tense exchange between the two continued for quite some time, leaving everyone in the Crown Prince’s palace unable to pass through the corridor, feeling awkward.

* * *

The Dinever Ducal mansion was bustling with people coming and going without pause. Most of them were merchants and people from the imperial family. Vivian, who had been greeting guests non-stop since the morning, was given a brief break.

“Your face doesn’t look good. Will you be able to have a proper face for the wedding in April?”

“Is it that bad?”

Rosie, who was helping with the wedding preparations, looked at her with pity. Vivian rubbed her face and asked in response to Rosie’s comment.

“Look at how rough it is. How can a noble young lady have skin like this?”

Rosie wrote down ‘skin care’ on the paper filled with Vivian’s schedule.

“Are you doing what I told you?”

“What you told me?”

When Vivian tilted her head in confusion, Rosie put down her pen and gave her a stern look.

“Push and pull! You’re going to see him often because of the wedding preparations. Don’t just pull; you need to push too.”

As Rosie explained, extending her arms forward, Vivian’s expression darkened rapidly.

“I did push…”

Hearing Vivian’s words, Rosie praised her, patting her shoulder. But then, noticing Vivian’s still gloomy expression, Rosie cautiously asked.

“You pushed, but he didn’t react well? Did you push a little, and he ended up far outside the capital?”

Vivian shook her head and spoke.

“I discovered I had hidden strength inside me for the first time.”

Blinking in confusion, Rosie opened her mouth in shock.

“Don’t tell me, you really pushed him?”

Vivian quietly lifted her teacup and stared blankly into the distance. Seeing her friend’s demeanor, Rosie was left speechless, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, until the next guest entered the drawing room.