CHAPTER 28
Stay strong but don’t let worries weigh you down.
Vivianne, who had woken up before Sophie could wake her, sat on the edge of the bed, silently repeating the phrase her father had left as an incantation, countless times in her mind.
Yesterday, Edwin had concluded their conversation by saying that he had heard enough for now and that the details would be discussed tomorrow morning—in other words, this morning. Though she didn’t get confirmation, judging by his expression and tone, she dared to predict that he was enjoying the situation.
This groundless confidence led her to believe he would readily accept her request to give her work.
Vivianne scanned the room, relying on a single ray of light filtering through the curtains. There would be no more use for this room today. There would be no one to caress her hair, dress her, bring her food, or treat her with care.
She took a step toward the bottom she had never reached before, ready to embark on a difficult journey to stand firm again.
After spending her last morning in this room, Vivianne headed to the study at Edwin’s call. Standing before the study, she knocked with courage.
When she opened the double doors and entered, Edwin, who had been waiting, was sitting at his desk. Vivianne took a deep breath and approached him confidently, only to find his blue eyes fixed on an unexpected spot.
Hesitantly, Vivianne followed his gaze to an empty chair a few feet away from the desk.
Her plan had been to sit directly in front of him, greet him, demonstrate her resolve to take on her tasks in the manor, and express her determination to repay her debt. But now that her plan was disrupted, she couldn’t hide her embarrassment.
“What are you doing?” He asked.
“What?” She responded.
“Go sit down.”
Still uncertain of his intentions, she obeyed, sitting in the chair he had indicated, feeling bewildered. From her seat, she could see the entirety of the study’s interior. What caught her attention the most was a portrait of herself hanging directly in front of her, making her face flush with embarrassment. Unable to endure the awkwardness, she glanced at Edwin.
He was twirling a fountain pen in his long fingers while his attention seemed to be absorbed in the documents before him.
Ah… he must be busy right now and just had me sit here to wait.
Realizing she was about to face another test of patience, Vivianne remained calm, though she felt like she might be growing accustomed to it. The only sound breaking the silence was the faint scratching of the fountain pen against paper. Edwin’s concentration was so intense that it felt almost suffocating.
As she silently observed him, Vivianne endured her boredom by scrutinizing Edwin. He was a man with a strikingly sharp nose, full lips, and a defined jawline leading down to his Adam’s apple. Her gaze followed the neatly aligned collar of his clothing to his hand gripping the fountain pen, veins visible beneath the skin.
Vivianne flinched as she remembered what else those hands had held.
Edwin opened his pocket watch to check the time. Then, breaking his focus, he wiggled a finger at Vivianne. Startled by the unexpected motion, she blinked in surprise.
“Go and fetch Sir Corbin.”
Vivianne was dumbfounded by the order, which came without context. Unfamiliar with such abrupt commands, she began to wonder about the reason behind it.
Who exactly was Sir Corbin, and why was Edwin asking me to bring him?
Realizing she wouldn’t find an answer on her own, Vivianne knew she had to ask.
“If you mean Sir Corbin… who exactly—”
Edwin, who hadn’t been looking at her, finally turned his gaze toward her.
“Go to the drawing room. By now, Sir Corbin should have arrived. Tell him to come here.”
Instead of a clear explanation, all she got was a repeated command. Still unsure and with no idea what was going on, Vivianne hesitated as she rose from her seat, moving reluctantly. Edwin leaned back in his chair and gave a cold smile.
“That’s how it was at first. I was like that too.”
Vivianne’s thoughts froze at the sight of his flawless smile.
“It’s not easy, is it? Being someone who used to give orders and now having to take them from someone else.”
Once again, memories from fourteen years ago came flooding back, tightening around Vivianne’s chest.
“Even as the youngest son of a duke, life seemed so fresh when I first arrived in Neway and was told I was worthless.”
Vivianne’s wavering eyes dropped to the floor. The youngest son of the House of Raven. The prestigious Preston Duchy. Edwin—or Sayer—had probably never placed anyone above himself, save for his family and the Royal Family.
“I had to constantly prove my usefulness to survive, and your situation is no different.”
Such was the way of the Raven family. The House of Raven had been so powerful that, had the Duke of Raven wanted to ascend to the throne, he would have been in a strong position to claim it. But in the face of a combined effort by Mayr and the House of Aveline, the House of Raven was brought to ruin.
“So prove your usefulness, too.”
It was a pain like a well-sharpened blade stabbing her heart—playfully, yet cruelly.
“If something as simple as summoning one person makes you feel embarrassed or ashamed, you won’t be able to handle the work of a servant.”
Prove your usefulness.
Without time to dwell on her hurt, Vivianne left to prove her worth and headed to the drawing room. There, a middle-aged man sat, looking extremely tense. As soon as she entered, he sprang to his feet, removed his hat, and greeted her politely.
This was something Vivianne wasn’t used to.
What should I say in a situation like this? Should I tell him the Duke of Baytness is summoning him and ask him to follow me? Or should I greet him first?
For Vivianne, who had always been the one giving such orders, playing this role felt immensely difficult.
“… The… the Duke of Baytness is requesting your presence.”
She stammered and barely managed to say the words, but the feeling of deflation hit her. The man put his hat back on and bowed his head slightly.
The Duke’s voice, floating in her mind, etched deeply into Vivianne’s heart. When she imagined what young Sayer had to go through, pain choked her throat.
While she was curious about his past—trampled by the House of Aveline—that same past seemed to tighten around her neck, suffocating her.
Vivianne recalled Sayer Raven stepping into her carriage. His disheveled appearance had made it hard to believe he belonged to a noble family that had once rivaled the throne, second only to the Royal Family.
Vivianne had wished for his survival when she learned of Sayer’s true identity.
What kind of feelings did I have back then?
Now, at rock bottom herself, she realized that what she had shown Sayer at that time wasn’t kindness but authority. A sense of superiority—the belief that it was her duty to help someone pitiable—and the self-righteousness that she could save him. It all felt laughable now.
After enduring a storm of self-reproach, Vivianne stood before the study door and knocked. Once she opened the double doors and gestured to the man, he thanked her once more and entered.
When her eyes met Edwin’s, he gave her a slight nod. It felt like a gesture of praise, briefly lifting her spirits—only to make her feel worse.
After closing the door, Vivianne, overwhelmed by a tangle of emotions she couldn’t explain, leaned against the wall and slumped to the floor.
Exhausted, she stared blankly into space, unable to think about how much time had passed. Her clearest memory was of Sophie repeatedly checking her complexion and expressing concern after finding her crouched on the floor.
Suddenly, the study door burst open. Startled, Vivianne jumped to her feet. Sir Corbin, now looking more at ease, smiled warmly and greeted her. But after glancing at Vivianne’s face, his expression shifted to one of visible concern before he quickly excused himself.
Drained of energy, Vivianne cautiously peeked into the study. Edwin, slouched in his chair, nodded toward her.
“Come in.”
That low, resonant voice snapped everything back to reality. Vivianne, her shoulders drooping, stepped inside.
Vivianne entered the study and chose a seat. As her gaze fell on the distant chair from earlier, Edwin pointed to the chair in front of his desk. Letting out a short sigh, Vivianne sat down.
“I prefer principles to be followed. So, allowing someone like you, Miss Aveline, to work as a maid in my manor would mean breaking that principle,” Edwin remarked.
Vivianne swallowed nervously. He had told her to prove her usefulness. While she hadn’t demonstrated anything extraordinary, she had bet on a sliver of hope.
“But it must not have been an easy decision for you. Considering your efforts to repay your debt, I’ve decided to hire you.”
Edwin maintained a cold smile throughout. Whether it was a good or bad sign, Vivianne couldn’t tell. Yet, the fact that she could now work filled her with immense relief.
Earning money meant she could repay her debt. That also meant that, even if she ceased to exist in this world, Edwin Baytness wouldn’t have a reason to demand repayment from her mother.
The idea that she could shoulder even a fragment of the shadow hanging over her family allowed her to see herself not as a useless, incapable person, but as someone with considerable ability.
“I’m curious to see how long you’ll last,” Edwin said, leaning back in his chair with an air of indifference as if he had already decided she wouldn’t succeed.
“I’ll endure. I can do it,” Vivianne declared.
“Really?”
Vivianne’s gaze was resolute, while Edwin’s smile carried both intrigue and doubt.
“I’ll persevere. After all, this is something I must do. If I repay the debt I owe you, Your Grace will be able to dispose of me more easily. However…”
The languid tone of her voice sank, heavy and cold.
“What will happen to my parents after I die? If they return someday and happen to meet you… what do you intend to do then?”
The hand holding the fountain pen moved fluidly. His blue eyes were fixed on the pen rolling between his fingers, while her gray eyes carefully observed him.
“I know it won’t be easy, but I’ll do my best. So, can’t you end your revenge with me?”
Her gray eyes, carrying so many emotions, began to bring Edwin a subtle pleasure.
Would he genuinely feel regret when those eyes, brimming with such expressions, disappeared for good?
Considering all the time he had spent to reach this point, ending Vivianne Aveline’s life wouldn’t be that difficult.
“Who knows.”
Vivianne’s expression faltered, unsatisfied with his ambiguous response.
“There’s one thing you’re misunderstanding. The reason you and I are entangled is simply because of the promise you made 14 years ago. It’s your fault for making a reckless promise you can’t even remember.”
“…”
“So, you’re not the target of my revenge. My revenge is for…”
The sharp clarity of his words sent Vivianne’s heart plummeting into despair.
“Your father… Lawrence Aveline.”
The name of her father, slipping from Edwin’s lips, deepened Vivianne’s pain.
“With Mayr, he joined forces to overthrow Bannister, destroying my family and my house—your father.”
Was it truly impossible for the Aveline family to escape his grasp? Was their future destined to be one of hopelessness, where all hope and expectations were crushed, vanishing without meaning?
“But then again, who knows?”
Vivianne raised her head at the faint twist in his voice. She couldn’t discern what lay behind the practiced smile. Edwin’s smile was perfectly suited to conceal his true intentions.
“Depending on what you do, Lawrence Aveline could end up with nothing more than the sorrow of grieving the loss of his daughter.”
Edwin didn’t forget to plant a seed of hope. The innocent lady, unaware that this single thread of hope might, in truth, be despair in disguise, boldly reached out with determination and swore an oath.
“I’ll truly do my best—with all my might—to win your approval.”
