Chapter 98

“My health has long been restored. Meeting here feels rather nostalgic, Earl Crowley.”

Lionel replied with a relaxed tone as if nothing was amiss, and a smile appeared on Richard’s face. As always, it was a polite, unreadable expression.

Richard, facing Lionel who stood alone, asked smoothly,

“But why didn’t you bring the painter today? You made her your partner at the last auction party, and had her accompany Lady Jasmine at my hunting tournament.”

“Clarette is busy right now. She’s preparing thoroughly to paint my portrait.”

In fact, Clarette was completely absorbed in sketching for Lionel’s portrait. As Lionel naturally tried to turn away from Richard,

“Your Grace. May I introduce myself now?”

Richard’s partner, Lady Vivian, spoke in a sharp tone. Lionel stared at her but truly couldn’t remember.

When, where, and how had he been involved with this woman?

He nodded reluctantly, and Vivian spoke,

“I am Vivian Moro, second daughter of Earl Moro. Your Grace, you met me in Genoa when you served in the military, didn’t you?”

Lionel felt the situation grow troublesome. If he saw her in the capital during his captain days, there was a high chance he’d spent the night with her.

As Lionel searched his memory, Richard chimed in cheerfully,

“So you two already know each other? Then, Your Grace, I’ll leave Lady Vivian in your care for a moment. I have matters to discuss with Earl Devon, so I’ll be off.”

Before Lionel could object, Richard quickly left them alone. Left together, the man and woman looked at each other with expressionless faces.

“…It seems attention is drifting our way. Shall we step out to the balcony, Lady Vivian?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Her tone was subtly aggressive. Lionel hoped she wouldn’t cause a scene and escorted her to the edge balcony of the banquet hall.

But as soon as he closed the glass door, Vivian spoke as if she’d been waiting.

“It’s been a while, Captain Lionel.”

Her voice was laced with bitterness. Lionel smiled and turned toward her for now.

“They say you’ve been living in the North. Surely you didn’t come all the way here to find me?”

“I did come to find you.”

“Really? What are you hoping for?”

Lionel asked calmly, and Vivian bit her lip. At last, cracks appeared in her mask, and disappointment showed.

“Since you received your title, shouldn’t you at least have written me a letter?”

“A letter? Why would I?”

“Because, among all the women you spent the night with, I’m probably the only noblewoman.”

“How can you be sure…”

“You always associated only with common women.”

Vivian raised her voice, and Lionel finally remembered who she was.

“Ah, now I get it. Four years ago, you jumped me at the hotel near the barracks, didn’t you?”

“Jumped you? Watch your words!”

“Well, am I wrong?”

Lionel recalled the troublesome night four years ago.

He was drinking alone at his usual tavern. That day, heavy snow meant few people were out, so the tavern was quiet.

As Lionel finished a bottle, a stranger in a deep hood sat beside him without asking.

“That day, right? You said you’d wanted to meet me for a long time. That you admired me?”

“It was just talk. I was feeling down that day and wanted to spend a night with a man like you.”

Vivian had been assertive, and Lionel didn’t refuse her approach. As they got tipsy, they naturally headed to a hotel.

But as soon as they entered and closed the door, Vivian clung to him and started complaining.

<Captain, why don’t you often go to noble parties? Other officers do. Don’t you like noblewomen? Are you only attracted to commoners?>

<You’re a noble? Why did you come to such a rough area?>

<Captain, please hold me. I might be forced to marry someone I don’t want. Please save me. Even just one night—make me happy, okay? If you leave now, I’ll jump out the window!>

Recalling that night, Lionel covered his eyes in distaste. Vivian was the type he disliked most.

She acted like a tragic heroine, whined, showed no courtesy to a one-night partner, even threatened s*icide.

And being a noble, it was a recipe for scandal.

But for Vivian, sleeping with Captain Lionel that night seemed to have become her life’s best memory.

“I’ve missed you ever since. If you weren’t illegitimate, I would have proposed first. I really liked everything about you except for that.”

“Is that supposed to flatter me?”

Lionel grumbled, but Vivian continued calmly.

“Captain Lionel only ever spent time with common women, never touched noblewomen. I didn’t understand why then, but now I do.”

Vivian spoke with a proud, aloof tone.

“You couldn’t handle noblewomen like me, right? You had no title then, so you couldn’t marry. That’s why.”

“No. It’s because things like this happen.”

Lionel denied her theory with an indifferent face.

“Nobles like you have strong entitlement. You keep demanding special treatment, so I found it tiresome. We both used each other for fun, but you act like you’re the only one who lost out.”

“But shouldn’t you feel some responsibility, at least as a man?”

“What responsibility? Did you have my child?”

“Of course not!”

“Then what am I supposed to be responsible for?”

Lionel asked dully, and Vivian scolded him,

“You shook my heart with sweet words, then after one night, you acted like you didn’t care at all…”

“Oh, so I led you on? Did I trick your innocent heart?”

Lionel scoffed. His voice grew colder.

“Vivian, did I propose to you? Did I ask to date you? Did I say we should keep seeing each other? Did I say I liked you, or loved you? Did I seduce you with those words and violate your pure heart?”

“No, but…”

“You weren’t serious with me either, so why act like a victim now? If you really cared, you could have proposed. Why bring it up now after four years of silence…?”

Lionel suddenly realized why and chuckled.

“Because now I’m not Captain Lionel, but Duke Valentin?”

Vivian pressed her lips together and replied awkwardly,

“Now we finally have matching status. You have a title, and I’m still unmarried. My family is as old as the Valentin family. And I’m different from other noblewomen. I was part of your past…”

“So, you want to marry me? No thanks. I refuse.”

“Please think carefully and answer! Who else but someone who made the same mistake as me could accept your past? Do you think another woman will forgive you?”

“I don’t expect forgiveness.”

Vivian’s face, so confidently staring him down, showed surprise. Lionel added calmly,

“If my woman blames me for my past, I’ll accept it. It’s already done. I’ll cherish her and atone forever—how could I dare ask for forgiveness first? Wouldn’t that be shameless?”

“Ha, what woman would ever accept you…”

“Think whatever you want. It’s your business, not mine.”

With nothing more to say, Lionel opened the balcony door. He glanced at Vivian’s pale face and spoke,

“Please stay here for a moment, Lady Vivian. I’ll send your partner to find you shortly.”

Lionel left Vivian on the balcony and walked away without hesitation. He waited calmly for Richard to finish his conversation with Earl Devon.

“Ah, Your Grace. Why are you alone? Where’s Lady Vivian?”

When Richard approached, Lionel smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Earl Crowley. Come take a walk with me for a bit.”