CHAPTER 13
After the day she was strangled by the duke in the carriage, Vivianne wrote to Theo several times. She apologized for leaving so abruptly that day, explained that she hadn’t gone to the village with the duke, reassured him that nothing major had happened, and expressed regret for making him worry unnecessarily. Still, Vivianne gave excuses she knew Theo wouldn’t believe.
Perhaps that’s why she never received a single reply from Theo.
Now, hearing that Theo was at the manor, she rushed out of the room. Standing by the stair railing leading to the lobby, her heart dropped when she spotted the familiar brown hair near the front door.
“Theo!”
Theo immediately looked up at her. As she hurried down the stairs, he flinched, worried she might fall, but as she came closer, he noticed an expression he hadn’t seen before.
Vivianne’s face looked pleased to see him, but her complexion was anything but. Recognizing this, Theo forced a faint smile onto his calm face.
“Theo, how did you get here? You should have told me.”
“You’ve been hard to see. I was worried I might never see you again unless I came.”
Vivianne felt a pang of regret as she saw the innocent gleam in his eyes, a painful reminder of the day she had left him only with worry.
“I’m sorry. You must have been worried. I should have been more considerate.”
Her eyes drooped in a sorrowful curve. Seeing the deep shadows beneath them, Theo felt the need to explain himself.
“I didn’t come here for an apology, my lady. If you apologize like that, it makes me feel even more sorry. It’s enough that I’ve confirmed you’re safe. And here, this is a gift. I didn’t want to come empty-handed.”
Seeing that Vivianne wouldn’t stop blaming herself, Theo quickly changed the subject, suddenly holding out the large box he’d been carrying. Her previously dull eyes sparkled back to life.
“A gift? What do you mean, a gift all of a sudden?”
Feeling relieved, Theo mentally praised himself for bringing out the gift he had prepared long ago. In fact, it served as one of his excuses for stopping by the manor.
When Theo gave Sophie a nod, she stepped forward and took the box but staggered under its unexpected weight with a groan. Startled, Vivianne moved to steady her, but Sophie backed away with a bright smile, insisting she was fine.
“What… on earth is that?”
“You’ll find out when you open it later,” Theo said with an awkward smile.
Vivianne felt a deep sense of gratitude but then realized she wasn’t in a position to host Theo, who had come all this way with a gift. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
“…I’m sorry, Theo. You came all this way, and I can’t even offer you a cup of tea.”
Vivianne’s voice trailed off. Since the ownership of the manor had changed, this was likely her most humiliating moment.
“I didn’t come to drink tea. Why would you think that? There’s plenty of tea at the dress shop. And at my home, too.”
Seeing through Vivianne’s feelings, Theo responded bluntly. His straightforwardness put Vivianne slightly at ease, but she still scratched her forehead awkwardly, feeling self-conscious.
“Theo, you have to head back to the village, right? Let me take you there. You must have had a hard time coming all this way, and I don’t want you to be bored on the way back.”
“No, really, it’s fine. It’s quite hot today. And I came on horseback, so don’t worry about it.”
“Still, at least let me take you as far as the bottom of the hill…”
“Um, Miss? I’m sorry to interrupt, but may I speak with you for a moment?”
As Vivianne and Theo continued their back-and-forth, Sophie cautiously intervened, asking for a moment of her time. Unable to refuse, Vivianne excused herself from Theo and stepped aside with Sophie.
“What’s wrong?”
Sophie readjusted the box slipping from her grasp. Noticing this, Vivianne took it out of her arms and set it on the ground. Sophie reached out hesitantly.
“It must be heavy for you.”
“Yeah, it is. It’s probably very heavy for you, too. Theo won’t mind if you put it down for a while. But, what’s going on, anyway?”
“Um… are you, by any chance, planning to go out?”
Puzzled by Sophie’s secretive tone, Vivianne found the question rather ordinary. Her gray eyes, unable to discern Sophie’s intentions, sparkled innocently.
“A guest has come, so I can’t just send him back empty-handed. I was thinking of taking a short walk outside the manor. It won’t take long.”
“But is it really right to send guests away so quickly after they arrive? There are so many rooms here—over eighty, in fact!”
“… But I’m also a guest here. It’s impolite to use someone else’s manor as if it were my own, without permission.”
The word “permission” slipped out of her mouth and she immediately regretted it. Vivianne could already imagine Sophie running straight to Edwin to ask for it.
Asking for permission might not seem like a big deal, but it was different when it involved Edwin. That kind of relationship, where one asks and the other grants permission, was enough for their first meeting.
“Then we can just ask the Duke for permission!”
“What? No. Absolutely not.”
Sophie, looking delighted at having mentioned “permission,” seemed ready to dash off. Worried she might do just that, Vivianne quickly grabbed Sophie’s wrist, trying to hold her back.
“It’s fine. I won’t go far, so you don’t need to worry.”
“No, I’ll go ask the Duke right away; I’m sure he’ll give his permission.”
Vivianne tried to calm Sophie with a gentle smile, but it was no use. Completely overpowered, Vivianne could no longer hold her back.
“Sir, if you wait just a moment, I’ll bring out tea and desserts.”
Theo, who had been standing silently behind Vivianne, looked confused as he watched Sophie dart away.
“Miss, I’ll be right back. Please wait just a moment!”
And with that, Sophie flitted up the stairs like a butterfly, quickly disappearing.
Is she trying to stop me from leaving the manor?
Though this strange thought crossed her mind, Vivianne decided not to question Sophie’s warm, kindhearted nature.
A breeze filled with the scent of flowers lingered near the open window. Receiving a report from the butler, Abernathy, Edwin quietly set down his documents and turned his gaze to the scenic view outside.
“Miss Windler locked the door.”
The softly murmured sentence felt emotionless, as though he were reading a passage from a book. Edwin’s gaze, which hadn’t lingered on the garden for long, returned to the financial statement for the Zimmermann Carriage Company he had set aside.
If Charlotte’s engagement and wedding went according to plan, Baron Zimmermann would become his business partner. Of course, even if things didn’t go that way, there would be no problem, but it was important to have a reason to convince her, no matter what.
“What shall we do, Your Grace?”
“Just leave her be. We can’t break down the door and drag her out.”
Abernathy was concerned about Edwin’s reaction, as guests had already arrived.
It was unbecoming and inappropriate for Charlotte, the hostess, not to greet them. Her behavior was rude, deserving even of a severe reprimand, yet Edwin remained calm as if it were someone else’s concern.
“Where are Baron Zimmermann and his cousin now?”
“They’re unpacking and will be heading to the drawing room shortly.”
Edwin nodded briefly, closed a book resting on top of his papers, and leaned back.
The breeze, mingling with the scent of flowers and grass, swayed like the notes of a harp.
Before Gideon crossed the threshold of the manor, Vivianne had been strolling in the garden. She was buried among the brightly blooming flowers, her stained dress swaying gently.
Vivianne had no idea how ridiculous her expression was as she followed me all the way to the rear garden, staring at me with a blank face. She probably doesn’t know how I can’t help but smile whenever that face comes to mind during the day. She should have known that when she asked, face flushed, if I truly wanted to “eat her,” it only made me want to tease her more.
Edwin stood up, feeling pleasantly satisfied by the memory of Vivianne, and made his way to greet the guests. Passing through corridors bathed in sunlight and familiar scenery, he finally arrived at the drawing room where the guests were waiting for him.
“I seem to have kept you waiting.”
Gideon and James, who had been sitting in the drawing room, placed their teacups down and stood up quickly upon Edwin’s arrival.
“You must have had a hard time traveling such a long way.”
“We’re only grateful for your hospitality. This is my cousin, James Zimmermann, Your Grace.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Edwin Bayteness.”
“N-Nice to meet you, Your Grace. I’m James Zimmermann.”
After exchanging handshakes, they all took their seats. James’s gaze lingered on Edwin, who effortlessly drew everyone’s attention with his elegant gestures and demeanor. His good looks brightened the space around him.
Although James had seen Edwin’s face many times in newspapers and had known him to be a great nobleman and a very wealthy man, the newspapers hadn’t captured even five percent of his actual presence.
Moreover, his flawless, clear voice was particularly impressive. The refined tone and dignified gestures explained why the people of Newly loved him and why no objections were raised when the adopted son of the Baytness family was granted a dukedom.
Gideon cleared his throat, pulling James back to attention. James, now alert, awkwardly turned his gaze away.
“By the way, I don’t see Miss Windler around.”
Though his disappointment was evident, Gideon made a visible effort to conceal it as he inquired about her whereabouts.
“Regrettably, Charlotte has locked herself in her room.”
“Pardon?”
“She’s insisting, rather stubbornly, that she doesn’t want to marry.”
Gideon sighed.
“Ah, so Miss Windler doesn’t want this marriage.”
“As you can see.”
“That’s even better. Just as I need a chance to fall in love, Miss Windler needs time as well.”
“I was ashamed to face you, Baron, but you’ve saved my dignity.”
Edwin’s lips curled up in a slight smile.
“By the way, I heard you recently opened one of your nearby manors to flood victims. And on top of that, you took in the Avelines’s only daughter. It must have been a difficult decision.”
Despite Gideon’s praise, Edwin showed neither embarrassment nor arrogance. He simply replied with a composed smile.
“I received the financial statements you sent. The foundation is solid. I understand you’re developing carriage automation.”
“Yes, though there’s still a long way to go. Ah, I hear that Erelem is on the verge of war. With the international situation so turbulent, it’s quite nerve-wracking.”
“Thanks to that, we’re experiencing an unprecedented boom.”
Edwin’s refined smile was almost intimidating, stirring an uneasy feeling in others. Though no one had come to bow down, they found themselves feeling as if they should lower their heads.
“I’d like to hear more about your business. It’s an area of much interest for me. However, talking business right upon your arrival in Rodinia might feel rather dull.”
Gideon and James agreed with a laugh. They knew that to ease their tense minds, drinks and leisure activities would be far more enjoyable than serious business discussions.
“For socializing among men, there are plenty of options, don’t you think?” James chimed in, sensing Edwin might feel awkward without Charlotte present.
“For example, card games would be good—of course, with plenty of money at stake. And if you enjoy hunting, then hunting it is! Naturally, that should involve a wager as well. And then…”
James’s enthusiastic list of options was interrupted by a knock that echoed through the drawing room.
When he confirmed that it was Sophie who had entered, Edwin’s heart began to race with curiosity.
Earlier that morning, something had happened involving Vivianne Aveline, who had filled his view outside his window. If Sophie had come to find him, it could only be for that reason.
“Apologies for interrupting your conversation.”
Unaware of Edwin’s thoughts, Sophie put her hands together and respectfully addressed him.
“Um, Your Grace. Miss Aveline has a guest.”
Who could be visiting Vivianne Aveline?
There was no need to think it over—only one person came to mind.
“But the lady said she would leave the manor with the gentleman. She mentioned that, since she’s not the owner of the manor, she can’t ask him to stay…”
Sophie paused, watching the reactions of the guests.
“And the gentleman’s name?”
Of course, he knew the name, but he asked anyway—not to confirm, but to imprint it in his mind.
“His name is Theo Evans.”
Theo Evans. Slowly rolling the name over in his throat left a scratchy feeling. He could fully understand why Theo had come to see Vivianne, as well as why Vivianne was willing to leave with him.
Then, what he had to do now was clear.
“Inform them to prepare a tea time in the garden for the two of them, and make sure the table is filled with desserts.”
“Oh, yes. Understood, Your Grace.”
Edwin’s generous response relieved Sophie of her uneasy burden. She smiled, bid farewell to Edwin and the guests, and left the drawing room.
“Your Grace, you are truly generous.”
“I wonder if those two feel the same way.”
“Miss Aveline must feel boundless gratitude toward you, Your Grace. I know I would, haha.”
Smiling, he rose from his seat and walked over to the fireplace. The shotgun hanging just above the stone frame had a distinctly different appearance from the other firearms.
“Hunting sounds like a good social activity—somehow, especially today.”
With the new weapon ambitiously prepared by the Baytness Company, the course of war was expected to change. With no need to wait for reloading, it allowed for a frenzy of slaughter the moment one resolved to kill.
“I find myself wanting to see some blood.”
Edwin drew the shotgun and wielded it skillfully, and the sound of the metal clanking made Gideon and James hold their breath.
