Chapter 73

On the day Duke Tereon returned from a brief trip to Raspol, Vivian was tense from the morning. As Tia brushed Vivian’s messy hair, she subtly tried to gauge the situation, but today’s Vivian was unusually tight-lipped.

“Young Lady, you have a visitor.”

Vivian looked up from her desk, where she had been catching up on neglected work due to wedding preparations.

“A visitor?”

“Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Vivian stood up abruptly and blinked rapidly at the butler. Tia, who had been knitting beside her, put down her crochet hook and looked at Vivian.

“Did he say he was coming today?”

When Vivian shook her head, the butler opened the office door wide.

“Perhaps you should go quickly?”

As Vivian left the office and headed to the drawing room, she pondered why Louis had come to the Dinever Ducal residence without notice, but nothing came to mind. 

Vivian had said she would speak to the Duke, and Louis had readily agreed. She began to worry that something else might have happened in the meantime. 

Arriving in front of the drawing room where Louis was waiting, Vivian spotted Rayden standing there.

“Rayden.”

“Hello, Lady.”

Seeing Rayden greet her with his usual sly smile, Vivian sighed in relief, thinking it wasn’t anything serious.

“Is there something wrong?”

Rayden bent down to meet her eyes, concerned by her sigh.

“It’s not that. I was just worried something had happened since Louis came without notice.”

“Oh, I see… As expected, you are very kind, Lady.”

“Pardon?”

“Honestly, this matter has nothing to do with you, Lady Vivian. It’s surprising that you are so willing to step in, even though it might be dangerous. But then again, that’s what makes you who you are, Lady Vivian. It’s very different from others I’ve known for a long time, which is why I like you.”

Rayden winked and gestured toward the drawing room. Vivian almost burst into laughter and quickly covered her mouth.

At that moment, the door swung open, and Louis appeared.

“If you’re here, why don’t you come in instead of exchanging unnecessary words with Rayden?”

Did he hear that?

Vivian bit her lip and glanced sideways at Rayden.

“Unnecessary? We were just exchanging a few words because you, Your Highness, came without notice. I didn’t say anything untrue.”

Louis snorted, crossing his arms, and glared at Rayden, who avoided his sharp gaze and whistled.

Caught between the two men, Vivian craned her neck to look back and forth between them, then tugged on Louis’s sleeve.

“Has something happened?”

Louis shrugged as he looked at the sleeve Vivian was tugging, then entered the drawing room. When Vivian looked up at Rayden, he gestured for her to go in.

Vivian entered the drawing room and sat opposite Louis.

“It’s nothing serious, but Duke Tereon is coming to the capital today, right?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s meet Duke Tereon together.”

“What? But why… I said I would tell him.”

At Vivian’s words, Louis crossed his legs leisurely and tapped his foot. The gleaming toe of his well-polished shoe caught Vivian’s eye, but she quickly looked at Louis and shook her head.

“I can tell him myself. I’m confident I can persuade my father.”

Louis’s tapping foot stopped abruptly at Vivian’s words.

“That’s why I’m here.”

Vivian furrowed her brow at his cryptic words, and Louis slowly moved his lips.

“Vivian, you will try to persuade Duke Tereon. You’re smart, and Duke Tereon is weak to his daughter, so he might agree.”

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“I told you to get permission, not to persuade your father.”

Vivian felt as if she had been struck in the head by Louis’s words.

Louis hoped Duke Tereon would oppose Vivian’s involvement in this matter. He was essentially leaving it to Duke Tereon to dissuade Vivian from pursuing it.

Realizing this, Vivian turned her head to the side.

“That’s cowardly.”

At Vivian’s words, Louis nodded as he lifted the lukewarm teacup.

“If you think it’s cowardly, then there’s nothing I can do. But I know how stubborn you are, Vivian. I can’t let my fiancée, who will become the Crown Princess in a few months, be put in danger.”

“It might not be dangerous! I’m just a wealthy young lady going to buy a Water Rose, and if that Tristan character shows up, you and Aitor will handle it.”

“The probability of danger is higher. What if something unexpected happens, and you get hurt?”

Vivian clenched the fabric of her dress at Louis’s words.

Watching Vivian’s disappointed, frustrated, and hurt expression, Louis averted his gaze and quietly sipped his tea. In the silent drawing room, the ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece echoed loudly.

Just as Louis was setting down his teacup, someone knocked on the office door. The person who entered was none other than Duke Tereon Dinever.

“Father.”

Startled, Vivian stood up. Duke Tereon, who had entered, greeted Louis and then looked at Vivian with a gentle smile.

“You were supposed to arrive late in the evening…”

“I finished my business in Raspol early and was able to leave quickly. I hurried when I received your message saying you needed to talk.”

The Duke patted Vivian’s shoulder and looked at his daughter and the Crown Prince.

“Is it a serious matter?”

Seeing Vivian’s slightly subdued expression, Duke Tereon asked, and Louis gestured for him to sit first.

“Father. So…”

Vivian had thought over and over about how she would talk to her father when she met him. She had written and rewritten her lines on paper, memorizing them.

But before Duke Tereon arrived, Louis’s words had rendered all her efforts useless.

Glancing at Louis, Vivian plainly explained the facts to Duke Tereon.

As she explained, Vivian watched her father’s expression, but his unreadable face drained the strength from her voice.

“I see.”

When Vivian finished explaining, the Duke nodded and looked at Louis.

“Perhaps, the reason Vivian is explaining this to me now is at the behest of His Highness the Crown Prince.”

At the pointed remark, Vivian flinched.

“Vivian. Why do you want to do this?”

Staring into her father’s still expressionless brown eyes, Vivian cautiously opened her mouth.

“You said being born a noble is not to enjoy all the benefits, but to stand in the face of danger and protect the people of the Empire and our territory.”

At Vivian’s words, a faint smile appeared on Duke Tereon’s face.

“That’s what Daisy used to say.”

Nodding, Vivian lowered her head and clasped her hands. Daisy often told young Vivian:

• Nobles are born with much in their hands. But these things are not placed in your hands without reason, Vivian.

Therefore, one must use that power for good. One must not ignore those in difficulty.

After her mother passed away, as Vivian took charge of the household affairs of the Ducal family, she often faced difficult choices. Each time, she recalled her mother’s words and chose her path.

Though that path sometimes made things difficult for Vivian or resulted in losses for the Ducal family, she never regretted it.

Duke Tereon always respected Vivian’s choices, offering advice but never criticism or control.

So Vivian naturally thought Duke Tereon would allow it this time as well. When she heard it could be dangerous, she saw her father’s expression harden for a moment.

“Vivian. Why are you bowing your head? Don’t lower your head for something that’s not wrong.”

Perhaps it was time to step back, Vivian thought, as a warm voice fell on her head.

Lifting her head, Vivian felt a surge of emotion. The unreadable expression was gone, replaced by warmth on her father’s face.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, if Vivian wants to help with this matter, I will support her.”

Both Vivian and Louis were surprised by the unexpected permission.

“Duke, it’s not a decision to be made lightly…”

“It’s not an easy decision. Although the time to consider was short. Haha.”

The Duke, who had laughed heartily, patted Vivian’s head. Vivian suppressed the tears that threatened to spill at the familiar touch of her father’s hand.

Watching this, Duke Tereon asked Vivian to leave the room for a moment. Nodding, Vivian left the drawing room, and the Crown Prince spoke first.

“This could be dangerous. I didn’t expect you to so readily agree to your daughter getting involved in such a matter.”

“I didn’t agree easily. Nor do I intend to let it go that way.”

The Duke looked at the man who would be the future ruler of this country and his daughter’s spouse. Having watched him grow up, the Duke regarded him with a gentle gaze.

“I am grateful to you, Your Highness. I know that Vivian has become bright again, thanks to you.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I haven’t done anything…”

“If you don’t know, there’s nothing I can do, but that doesn’t erase my gratitude.”

As the Duke took a deep breath and exhaled, the kindly expression on his face vanished, replaced by a steely look.

The Iron Man, Duke Tereon Dinever.

That was his nickname. The man who led victories in difficult wars, always cold and meticulous.

“I will let my daughter do as she wishes, as long as it doesn’t destroy her or break the law. Vivian can do that.”

Even under the piercing gaze of Duke Dinever, which would have intimidated others, Louis didn’t flinch.

“Vivian can do as she wishes. If there’s a chance she might be in danger, I’ll eliminate that danger completely. That’s my job.”

Louis still didn’t avoid Duke Tereon Dinever’s eyes. Tapping his finger on the sofa, Louis slowly spoke.

“That’s quite a confidence.”

“It’s not baseless confidence, so you don’t need to worry.”

Thus, the two men stared at each other, neither willing to concede. It was Louis who first broke the gaze. Uncrossing his legs, Louis stood and buttoned his jacket.

“I’ll request support from the Dinever Ducal family for this matter. I’ll contact you once the date for Vivian’s visit to Earl Moore’s family is set.”

As Louis stood, the Duke followed suit.

“No need to see me out. You must be tired, having just come up from Raspol.”

As the Duke bowed his head, Louis moved to leave the drawing room. Just as Louis was about to open the door, the Duke called out to him.

“When you marry Vivian, would you be willing to take on the role I’ve held?”

At the Duke’s question, Louis turned to look at him. And Louis spoke as he looked at him.

The Duke bowed deeply at Louis’s words.

Born as the young Duke of the Dinever family, becoming a Duke, and living to this day, it was the most heartfelt bow of his life.