A throbbing headache crept in. The Duchess adored Vivian’s bright smile, but the bombshell she had dropped earlier lingered like an unwelcome shadow.
Vivian had said she didn’t want to become a duchess. It was a declaration that shut the door on any possibility of her and Armin ever being together.
At the Grey Ducal Estate’s dinner table—
The Duke, noticing his wife’s foul mood, cautiously broke the silence.
“Darling, is something troubling you?”
The Duchess abruptly set down her steak knife with an uncharacteristically rough motion. Her gaze, filled with frustration, landed on Armin, who was calmly eating across from her.
“Why do we only have one son, Your Grace?”
“W-What are you saying all of a sudden?!”
The Duke was taken aback, and Armin, who had been peacefully enjoying his meal, was equally bewildered. He hadn’t expected the conversation to take such a turn.
“Vivian visited today. Do you know what she said?”
The Duchess’s voice wavered slightly. It was never easy for her to find someone who met her high standards. She had never once lost something she set her sights on. And in her mind, Vivian was already as good as her daughter-in-law.
“What did she say that upset you so much?”
Even the Duke, who usually remained composed, now wore a serious expression. His wife had never reacted like this when Vivian was mentioned before.
Vivian Roha.
Armin’s one and only act of filial piety.
For the Grey ducal couple, who were surrounded by nothing but dull, rigid noblemen, Vivian had been like a daughter who had fallen from the heavens. Every night, one of their greatest joys had been discussing when to bring up the topic of Armin and Vivian’s engagement with her parents.
But now—
“She said she doesn’t want to be a duchess.”
The Duchess’s voice was laced with resentment, her expression a mixture of disbelief and dismay.
Armin, in the middle of eating, choked on his food at the unexpected revelation. The Duchess clicked her tongue in frustration.
“Vivian said that?” The Duke’s brows furrowed. “Are you certain?”
“Absolutely! And to think I raised such a fine son, only for him to fail at capturing a young lady’s heart!”
She stomped her foot in exasperation. Had she been too complacent all this time?
Vivian Roha was a pearl hidden in the mud. A girl anyone would covet, yet because she disliked being in the spotlight, few had truly recognized her worth.
But now, everything has changed.
The miracle lady who propelled Poster Newspaper to stardom. The first noblewoman in the Empire’s history to be awarded a Second-Class Medal of Honor.
The Duchess was well aware of the whispers in noble society—Vivian’s name was now frequently mentioned among families with marriageable sons.
“If someone else takes her away from us… Huh? What will we do then?!”
“Darling, calm down,” the Duke soothed, though his eyes glinted with something dark.
“Who in their right mind would dare to claim Vivian before our family? I’ll make sure to secure our position.”
Then, the Duchess turned to Armin, her expression filled with determination.
“Armin, I only ask for one thing from you. I’ve always wanted a sweet and understanding daughter. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
The Duchess glared at Armin. The more she looked at him, the more frustration welled up inside her. How could he fail to win over the heart of the woman he loved? Moreover, she couldn’t even bear the thought of having another daughter-in-law besides Vivian. No matter who entered this household, they would inevitably be compared to Vivian, and that would be a tragedy for everyone involved. Her one and only daughter-in-law had to be Vivian Roha.
Everyone in the Grey Ducal household knew that Armin had feelings for Vivian. Armin Grey, who had inherited his mother’s indifference toward others, had only ever shown interest in one person—Vivian Roha.
Even the servants who stood silently by could not help but share in the frustration of their masters. No one who had witnessed the transformation of the Grey household since Vivian’s arrival could deny her influence. The once rigid and austere atmosphere had softened, and only those who had been there before her presence would truly appreciate the change.
To the staff, Vivian was already the young duchess in everything but name. Though no official announcement had been made, none of them had ever considered the possibility of anyone else becoming Armin’s bride.
The young lady was kind even to the lowliest maid. Her warmth seemed to spread like an infectious joy, softening even the stoic and severe Duke Grey. Whenever she visited, the household was filled with laughter and lighthearted chatter.
Some of the maids had even secretly dressed up like characters from a play upon hearing that Armin and Vivian were going to the theater together. Their subtle efforts did not go unnoticed, and they now cast accusing glances at Armin, silently blaming him for not making a move.
Faced with the mounting pressure from his parents and the staff, Armin let out an irritated sigh.
“Vivian sees me as a friend. I know that well.”
“You knew, and yet you’ve just let things stay that way?” the Duchess demanded.
“What else was I supposed to do? Should I just confess my feelings out of the blue?”
Confess?!
The maids gasped audibly. The Duke and Duchess, equally stunned, widened their eyes.
“Think about it,” Armin continued. “If I confessed right now, how do you think Vivian would react?”
The Duke and Duchess had no answer. After all, they knew that the timid young lady would run away the moment she found herself in a situation she couldn’t handle. If she already refused to become a duchess, then a reckless confession might truly drive her away. And if she rejected him, things would become even worse.
“Don’t worry,” Armin said with quiet confidence.
“I have no intention of letting anyone else take Vivian away from me.”
* * *
“Aren’t you frustrated?”
Armin, who had been focused on his work, blinked in surprise at Sasha’s sudden question. He set down his pen and looked up.
“What do you mean?”
Sasha crossed his arms and let out a sigh.
“My sister likes you. I can say that with certainty.”
Armin’s fingers twitched slightly, but his expression remained unreadable.
“She loves romance novels, but for some reason, she’s completely oblivious to her own emotions. And she’s so skittish—if you approach her too aggressively, she’ll bolt immediately.”
Sasha had been busy scribbling notes just moments ago, but now he set his pen aside and met Armin’s gaze squarely.
“Aren’t you frustrated?” he repeated.
Armin clenched his fists, exhaling slowly as if to suppress the restless emotions rising within him.
He had waited patiently until now—long enough to ensure Vivian never felt burdened by his feelings. But patience had its limits.
At first, he had convinced himself that being by her side was enough. That seeing her smile, hearing her laughter, and watching her find comfort in their friendship would be sufficient. But now, those things only made his yearning grow stronger.
“Vivian…” He murmured her name under his breath, tasting the weight of it on his tongue.
[Night of the play]
A part of him wanted to shake her awake, to make her see him not as a friend but as a man. To force her to realize that his kindness wasn’t just affection between friends, but love.
But the other part of him knew better.
If he moved too recklessly, she would run. And if she ran… he wasn’t sure he’d be able to bring her back.
Armin let out a low chuckle, his voice laced with resignation.
“But don’t make me wait too long, Vivian.”
The patience he had prided himself on was beginning to wane. The more time passed, the harder it became to hold back.
“I don’t know how much longer I can be the gentleman you need me to be.”
Standing alone on the quiet, dimly lit path, Armin’s whisper melted into the night air.
