Chapter 34

Herietta blushed and became embarrassed. Vivianne looked at her happily. Aside from her outward appearance, she looked really lovely.

After a while, Vivianne raised her head and saw the man standing behind Herietta. She could recognize at a glance who he was, even though he was wearing a mask. She bowed briefly towards him.

“Sir Edwin.”

“Lady Vivianne.”

Edwin also respectfully responded to Vivianne.

“Thank you for coming, Sir Edwin. It must have never been easy to decide to come here in this situation.”

“I just followed Miss Herietta.”

Edwin replied in a tone that seemed a little blunt.

“And I am no longer a duke. So there is no need for Lady Vivianne to address me with the title of Sir, and you can be less respectful.”

At Edwin’s words, Vivianne bit her lip. They were all right things and things they ought to agree on. But why does it sound so cold to her? It was as if he wanted to ensure the sense of distance that existed between the two of them.

“Of course, in crowded places, I will be careful.”

Vivianne said quietly.

“But that doesn’t mean I want to treat you like that right now. Even for a moment, we were once engaged, weren’t we?”

‘Even though I don’t know what that meant to you.’

Vivianne thought as she swallowed the bitterness in her heart.

“Lady Vivianne, in your last letter, you wrote that you had a story to tell about the Redford family, can you tell me what it is?”

Herietta, noticing that the atmosphere was moving strangely, hurriedly tried to change the subject of the conversation. Vivianne nodded.

“Of course, Miss Herietta.”

She turned her gaze to Edwin and looked at Herietta.

“I’m sorry, Miss Herietta, would you mind stepping out for a moment?”

“Yes? Out…?”

“I think Sir Edwin and I should share this story alone.”

Herrietta, who thought she would join the conversation with them, was perplexed. But Vivianne’s attitude was firm. Hearing her words, Edwin took a step forward and stood next to Herietta.

“There is nothing I need to hear from Lady Vivianne that Miss Herietta should not hear. If that’s not allowed, I don’t think I need to have this conversation either.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I am not doing this to distrust or reject Miss Herietta.”

Vivianne maintained her calm demeanor and explained.

“This is purely for Miss Herietta. Miss Herietta, I don’t want to put you in danger. This is not a small private talk. It’s not just a conspiracy theory. It’s not a very pleasant story about those who sit at the top of power. If this story leaks and things go wrong, people who know about it will be in big trouble. You never know what dangers will come in the future.”

“I don’t mind though. If I can help in any way, I am willing to accept whatever happens later.”

Her expression showed enthusiasm as she spoke with eyes full of determination and sincerity. But Vivianne only shook her head silently.

“I know your feelings well, but my thoughts remain the same. There is an old saying that sometimes not knowing is medicine. If you had been so precious to me, I would never have wished you would have known about it.”

“Even if it were…”

Herietta trailed off and clenched her fists.

“Sir Edwin, I’ll let you decide. I will follow your will.”

Vivianne, who had a foreboding that the difference between Herietta and her would not be able to narrow it, passed the decision over to Edwin. There were three people currently present in the room. If the will could not be united, someone had to take responsibility and draw the line.

Edwin was worried. This was not something that could be easily answered without thinking.

“I…”

Naturally, he wanted to say that he would listen with Herietta. But he knew Vivianne well. She was very careful and logical in everything she did.

He thought that Herrietta might be in great danger because of her hasty reply, so he couldn’t say anything.

Edwin looked at Herietta. Herietta was also looking at him. She had very troubled eyes. She had a lot to say, but it was clear that she was holding off because she didn’t want to cause trouble.

‘Maybe it’s better to choose to not listen to both.’

After all, she was reluctant to come here from the beginning. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious about what Vivianne was trying to say about his family, but he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to find out the truth about it.

Edwin, who had decided in his mind, was just about to speak his mind when…

“That’s fine. I’ll just walk away.”

Herietta spoke before him,

“Miss Herietta?”

Would she like to go? Edwin was bewildered by Herietta’s sudden change in attitude. But she was a quick-acting person. As soon as she showed her intentions, she quickly curtsied simply to Vivianne and strode towards the door.

Edwin, who was looking at her blankly, quickly followed after her.

“I will go with you.”

“No, Edwin. You must stay here and listen to Lady Vivianne.”

“All I have to do is stay by Miss Herietta.”

Edwin insisted. Herietta, standing in front of the door, turned around to face him. She lifted her head and met his eyes. Eyes that look somewhat anxious. His eyes moved to and fro as if examining her intentions.

He is a man who appears bold to anyone, but why does he look so pathetic in my eyes? Herietta shook her head.

“Edwin, I know your heart. And thank you. But this won’t do. What you need to do right now, you know better than I do.”

“Because I can’t make decisions quickly…”

Is that why you are doing this? Are you doing this out of regret? The questions hung over the tip of his tongue.

“You know it’s not like that.”

Herietta took a deep breath. She then took Edwin’s hand.

“I’ll wait. So, just take your time and talk.”

Herietta looked directly into Edwin’s eyes and said. And when she said that she would wait, she deliberately gave him strength.

Edwin was speechless. As if he was still in conflict, the inside of the blue wall visible through the eyes in the mask trembled. But he soon accepted her will and nodded helplessly.

“Could you take the mask off, Sir Edwin?”

These were the first words Vivianne spoke to Edwin after only the two of them were left. But Edwin did not grant her request. He didn’t even respond in any way. He was just standing still, like a stone sculpture carved out of a thousand-year-old rock.

Vivianne narrowed her brow that was as white as white jade.

“I know that you don’t like the situation right now. But believe me nonetheless. It’s just that in my opinion, this is the best option for everyone.”

“…”

“Sir Edwin, don’t make me say it three times. Please take off your mask. You can have that kind of courtesy.”

Vivianne expressed her thoughts to Edwin over and over again. Even in the face of his energy, which had sunk as low as the mist of dawn, she didn’t shudder at all. Her gaze on him was straight.

After thinking for a moment, Edwin slowly put his hand behind his head. Then he untied the string that held his mask on. The mask was removed, revealing his handsome face hidden behind it. His soft hair ran down his forehead.

“Now… It really feels like I’m seeing you again.”

Edwin raised his head to face her, and Vivianne muttered with a faint smile on her face.

“I never thought the day would come when I could stand here again, Sir. No, I thought we might never see each other again.”

She thought a lot had changed, but looking at Edwin standing in her room, he looked exactly the same way she remembered. Time passed, but it seemed as if the space in the room had slipped away. He was as cool as ever, and he had an unusual atmosphere. He had that kind of power that was hard to find in men of his age.

Unlike most people who flirt, joke around, and have fun, Edwin always seemed calm and indifferent. There was a sense of distance as if he had isolated himself, the people around him, and everything.

Someday, as time goes by, when she spends the time together with him, then maybe she can narrow the sense of distance little by little.

It seems that she once had a wish like that.

“I know it will sound rude.”

Edwin opened his mouth. A cold voice as if ice water was dripping down. He was quite different from the appearance she had shown in front of Herietta.

“Tell me simply, Lady Vivianne. I don’t have time.”

“I don’t have time… Are you in such a hurry to go to Miss Herietta?”

Seeing Edwin’s urging, Vivianne asked with a smile. Seeing that he didn’t respond, she realized she was right.

‘He has changed, Vivianne. You are wrong. Even if you got it wrong, it’s too wrong.’

The smile disappeared from Vivianne’s face.

‘I don’t know of a man who is so unreasonable and emotional. I swear I’ve never seen this man burn with such a desire for another person.’

“She’s a very lovely woman, Miss Herietta.”

Vivianne rolled her eyes and said.