CHAPTER 7
As the woman’s faint floral scent faded through the humid air, things became quite dull. The carriage, which had nothing to obstruct his stretched-out legs, felt as empty as his neck.
“Sayer… Raven, is it you?”
That name finally escaped her lips and stirred Edwin’s heart. He had thought that this old name, worn down by wind and water, would be unreadable in its original form.
But he was wrong. The name, resurrected on Vivianne Aveline’s lips, still held the horrors of 14 years ago. When he clenched his hand, he remembered the feeling of grasping her frail neck, and when he opened it, he remembered the joy of returning the breath he had taken from her.
“Ah, so you are the Duke of Baytness. I apologize.”
When he finally met those innocent eyes, he felt slightly deflated and disappointed. The sight of Vivianne Aveline, as thin as a dry branch, was not as overwhelming as he had expected.
So, you’ve grown this much. Without remembering my face. After forgetting everything.
Recklessly expressing sympathy, making promises, and recklessly forgetting.
That was why he had grabbed her neck.
As he turned his head toward the window, he found it blocked by the red curtains. He opened them, trying to understand Vivianne’s discomfort with the space.
It was still raining.
Clenching and unclenching his hand again, he recalled the moment he had held Vivianne’s life in his grasp. At the same time, he painted the image of Vivianne Aveline from 14 years ago in his mind.
“Have you eaten anything?”
“What will you do when you get to Neway?”
“I read in a book: that people don’t always have bad things happen to them. So, no matter where you go, the world will be on your side, Sayer.”
The young girl spoke naively, chattering without a care. When he sneered, her ashen eyes, startled by something, trembled weakly in the shadows cast beneath her eyelids.
“Yeah. Since you’ve had nothing but good things, all that’s left for you are the bad things.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted to hear?”
Vivianne Aveline winced at his sharp reply. She admitted her mistake and apologized.
Looking back, he realized that it had been a spring rainy day, yet it felt like it was holding heat. On that day, when he couldn’t feel either cold or warmth, there was only one thing he could sense: the blush on Vivianne’s pure, pale cheeks.
The grass and trees, which would normally boast vibrant colors under the sunlight, were darkened beneath the gray sky. From the dark clouds that enveloped the world, rain fell, threatening to engulf everything. Vivianne swayed precariously under the weight of the thick raindrops. Her wrist, gripping the umbrella handle, ached, and the muddy ground made her steps heavy.
“Stop the carriage.”
Despite her steady steps, Sayer’s voice clung to Vivianne’s ankles.
“Your family destroyed my family. Your father killed my father, my mother, and all my siblings.”
Why only now?
“Why am I running away? To live… To live and kill all the Avelines.”
Why only now?
“If you don’t kill me here and let me live, you’ll regret it. Because I’ll definitely kill you someday.”
The little boy’s voice shook with rage, and Vivianne realized it—fourteen years later.
At nine years old, she was too young to comprehend the horrors of that day fully. She just felt sorry for him. She felt pity and sadness. She didn’t quite understand what it truly meant to lose parents, to lose one’s family.
After realizing the truth, that unpleasant feeling followed her like a shadow. A shadow too large to ignore.
Guilt.
After his father went missing and his mother left for Preston, never to return, the once-harmonious family fell apart, scattered in all directions. Only then did she begin to grasp what Sayer’s heart must have felt like—how utterly devastated he must have been.
What else did I say to Sayer?
The guilt in her heart leaked out with her tears. Sayer’s grip tightened around her ankle, preventing her from moving.
“It’s been a long time, Miss Aveline.”
What thoughts ran through his mind as he saw her for the first time in 14 years? How did he manage to greet her so calmly, even while burning with the desire for revenge? Where did he find the patience to endure that?
“Not today, though.”
“In moderation. When the time is right.”
What kind of pain had tormented him until he could speak so calmly about the horrors of 14 years ago, with a voice as dry as dust?
If it were me… If I were in the Duke of Baytness’s position, what would I have done?
In the end, all the strength left her legs, and she collapsed to the ground as if she were falling. Her umbrella rolled far away, and Vivianne could barely support herself with her arms.
Tears fell into a shallow puddle of water. In the ripples that formed in the puddle of water, Vivianne saw the members of Sayer’s family whom her father had placed on the execution block.
Her younger self, who had no influence over what had happened, was wracked with guilt.
Because she loved her father more than anyone. Because, even though her father had mercilessly destroyed another person’s life, she could not bring herself to hate her father.
What a selfish, hypocritical person I am.
Now, after all this time, she claimed to understand Sayer, feeling guilt only now, yet still worried about the disgrace of her beloved father. She took to heart the scorn of others.
Vivianne cried, clutching the ascot tie around her neck. Inside her heart, a fierce downpour of rain raged like a storm.
An unexpected darkness fell as the sky was covered with black clouds. Charlotte, who was reading a book, began to feel uneasy in the growing darkness. When the servants lit the lamps in the room, she was able to concentrate on the text again.
But her concentration shattered when a sudden flash of light brightened the surroundings. Almost immediately, a deafening crash of thunder roared, as if tearing the sky apart.
I wonder if the Duke is safe.
The rain is getting heavier, and the road must be treacherous. Charlotte let out a heavy sigh.
Today, Edwin had left for the capital. She hadn’t realized that when he told her not to make a fuss, he meant he would leave without a word. Had she known, she wouldn’t have so easily responded that she would comply.
“Miss, shall we prepare dinner early?” Marian asked, noticing Charlotte staring out the rain-soaked window, longing for Edwin.
“Yes, could you do that?”
“Shall I inform Miss Aveline as well?”
Charlotte closed the book in discontent and put it down on the table. She didn’t like anything about Vivianne Aveline, from the first to the last, but she did appreciate how Vivianne regarded her and Edwin as a married couple.
Charlotte, who had always felt a deep affection for Edwin but had never seriously considered becoming his wife, was now filled with a faint hope and expectation.
To become the Duke’s wife. To become the Duchess of Baytness.
Even though it was just a fantasy, her heart raced. But Vivianne came to mind ominously, and she felt uneasy.
“Yes. Since the Duke ordered that we all dine together, we should follow that. Please let Miss Aveline know that it’s almost time for dinner.”
It was unusual for Edwin to be so attentive about the meals of a mere guest, especially one living off his charity. Charlotte was curious about Edwin’s true intentions in allowing Vivianne Aveline to stay in the first place.
He wasn’t that kind of person. He wasn’t the type to keep strangers within his walls, be captivated by a beautiful woman, or care about others.
“Oh, right.”
Marian, who was about to turn around, stopped in her tracks as she remembered something.
“I almost forgot. Miss Aveline said she wouldn’t be joining you for dinner tonight. She mentioned feeling unwell and said she’d prefer to rest quietly.”
Charlotte furrowed her brows slightly, letting out a quiet sigh, mocking Vivianne’s ungratefulness. At the first dinner, she had been scolded severely for fiddling with her food. After that, she hadn’t done it again, but now, with no one around to discipline her, she seemed to act as if she owned the place.
“I see. Did she say what was wrong?”
“She didn’t specify, just said she felt unwell and exhausted…”
Since feigning illness is an illness, should I pretend not to know?
“But she really did look sick. Her expression was like a corpse’s.”
“Like a corpse?”
“The rain’s been heavy, so maybe she got soaked on her way back? That could have caused her to catch a cold.”
However, Vivianne rode the Duke’s carriage when she went out.
“If she’s sick, she should eat well to recover quickly, don’t you think?”
“Pardon? Miss, where are you going?”
“I can’t just sit idly by and watch our guest get sick. Will you go down and get Miss Aveline some soup to eat? And some healthy herbal tea?”
“Yes, yes. Understood, Miss.”
After parting ways with Marian, Charlotte headed straight to Vivianne’s room. She couldn’t just stand by and let Vivianne Aveline act as she pleased. If Vivianne still thought she was the mistress of this house, Charlotte would make sure to set her straight.
Today, I’m going to say something for sure. I must stomp on that pride of hers until she behaves.
Standing in front of Vivianne’s bedroom door, Charlotte knocked. There was no answer, but lacking patience, Charlotte opened the door anyway. As soon as her eyes met Vivianne’s, who was hurriedly tying a scarf in front of the mirror, Charlotte was struck by a wave of intense confusion.
“M-Miss Windler.”
Vivianne finished tying the knot she had been struggling with and stood still. Whatever had happened, her skirt was covered in mud, and her usually neatly arranged hair was a complete mess.
And her face—what about that?
Her already sunken cheeks were smeared with dirt, making her complexion look exactly as Marian had described: like a corpse. The moment Charlotte had been ready to confront Vivianne, accusing her of faking illness, she lost all will to argue. She was speechless, and an awkward silence hung in the air for a while.
“… What happened? How did you end up like this?”
“… I fell on my way back.”
“Aren’t you going to change out of those clothes? I heard you’re not feeling well. If you’ve been out in the rain for a while, you should warm up with a hot bath. I’m sure Sophie has the bathwater ready for you.”
Vivianne’s gaze, barely nodding in response, seemed to sink deeper. Her eyes, clouded like the stormy sky, had lost their light and were fading.
“Marian will bring you some soup and herbal tea later. Since you said you wouldn’t eat dinner, at least have that.”
“Thank you, Miss Windler.”
A wave of guilt washed over Charlotte for having doubted and insulted her. Awkwardly clearing her throat, Charlotte rubbed the hem of her dress. She was curious why Vivianne was bothering to wear a scarf that didn’t suit her, but she decided not to pry further.
“I came because Marian told me you were unwell. You really don’t look well.”
“Yes, a little…”
“Well then, get some rest. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
After the polite exchange, Charlotte was about to leave when she suddenly stopped. On top of the cabinet next to the door, a neatly arranged ascot tie caught her attention. Its current disheveled state wasn’t much different from Vivianne herself. Mud stains had significantly diminished the value of the luxurious fabric.
Moreover, Charlotte, who knew everything about Edwin, immediately recognized that this ascot tie was identical to one of his.
“What is this tie?”
“Pardon? Ah, that…”
“Why is a man’s tie in your room, Miss Aveline?”
As Charlotte questioned her with suspicion in her eyes, Vivianne was visibly flustered and fidgeted.
“I-I bought it as a gift.”
Charlotte’s hand, which was about to pick up the ascot tie and inspect it closely, paused.
“I stopped by a clothing shop earlier and bought it as a gift for the Duke. As a token of gratitude for allowing me to stay. But I fell on the way back, so it got dirty…”
Charlotte tilted her head slightly, but soon let go of her suspicion.
To be honest, she wasn’t sure exactly what she was suspecting. There was no reason for Edwin’s ascot tie to be in Vivianne’s hands. She reassured herself that the ties simply looked similar, but weren’t the same.
“The Duke happens to have a similar tie. You should give him something different as a gift.”
“… Yes. Thank you for letting me know.”
“Then, get some rest.”
Even as she closed Vivianne’s door, Charlotte still felt uneasy. She told herself it was simply discomfort from having gossiped and insulted Vivianne. With that thought, she walked away.
