Chapter 93
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
Chapter 93
"There's nothing like that at all. You're the only one for me, Rachel."
"...."
Lahedis swallowed hard upon receiving Vivian's response.
'Do I possess no charm as a man whatsoever?'
He'd thought he'd made his feelings quite apparent over these months.
He'd believed Vivian had grown increasingly aware of him as well.
'...Was it all just my own delusion?'
As I derided my own arrogance, Vivian left me with words not to worry too much, saying she would handle it herself, then vanished.
'Tomorrow, when I meet as Lahedis, I should bring up the subject first.'
Regardless of Vivian's feelings toward me, I couldn't simply stand by and watch her enter into some contractual marriage with another man.
With that thought, I fell asleep, and morning came.
"Lord Lahedis, a letter has just arrived for you."
An unexpected letter had arrived addressed to Lahedis.
A letter adorned with a cute rabbit drawing—one I could recognize without even checking the sender's name.
* * *
That evening.
Lahedis had been pacing before the mirror for the past hour.
First, it was the clothes.
After deliberating before the mirror, trying this outfit and that, I finally settled on one.
Next came the hairstyle.
I swept my bangs back completely, then let them down again, and after much deliberation....
'...What on earth am I doing?'
Laughing softly at my own reflection, I finally resolved to wear them half-swept back.
The reason he had been hovering before the mirror for hours was the upcoming appointment with Vivian.
Lord Lahedis, if you're not busy, let's meet at the Clock Tower at 8 o'clock tonight. Please reply if that works!
Since I hadn't met with 'Lahedis' since the Ballroom, she was likely bringing up that contractual marriage business or whatever it was.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, my heart grew impatient.
'I must make Vivian choose me, no matter what.'
Lahedis fastened the cufflinks Vivian had gifted him as a final touch.
As he left his room after finishing his preparations, his expression was markedly different from his usual composed demeanor.
* * *
Upon arriving at the top of the Clock Tower, I saw the familiar figure of Inyoung waiting in the darkness.
Gone was the formal gown from the Ballroom; Vivian wore her usual modest dress and was humming a tune.
As Lahedis pondered that familiar melody, he realized it was a lullaby his own mother used to sing when he was a child.
The one he had sung for Vivian, who couldn't sleep upon hearing the spirit's voice.
'No matter what I do, I can never defeat Rachel.'
Lahedis derided the identity of this formidable opponent he could not overcome, but it was only momentary.
Steeling his resolve, he undid the top two buttons of his shirt and approached.
"Vivian."
Vivian, who had been gazing at the night view, turned around at the sound of that voice.
"Lahedis!"
In those large eyes, an unmistakable warmth bloomed toward me.
Seeing that expression, the bitterness from moments before evaporated instantly. Absurdly so.
"What brings you here at this hour?"
"Did you hear about what happened at the Imperial Palace Ballroom?"
"I did. The Crown Prince proposed to you."
"Well, about that...."
I swallowed the words I'd been about to speak—the proposal for a contract marriage. A sudden thought had stopped me.
'Whether Lahedis likes me or not, he would readily accept my proposal.'
He was naturally that kind of person.
But I didn't want that.
'I wish Lahedis felt the same way I do.'
I wished he would care for me too.
Cowardly as I was, I wanted to confirm his feelings first before revealing my own heart.
I wanted that certainty.
In the end, I hid my true feelings and broached a different subject entirely.
"Could you find me one trustworthy man?"
"...A man?"
"Preferably from a foreign noble house. You must know many people in the Kingdom...."
As Lahedis listened silently to my words, his eyes grew cold and distant.
Recalling everything I'd said, he could roughly guess why I was seeking a foreign nobleman.
'A foreigner would draw less scrutiny from the Imperial Family, and it would explain why I haven't attended High Society events.'
But understanding and acceptance were two different things.
'So you're choosing a complete stranger over someone close to you.'
You're telling me you feel nothing for me—nothing at all.
I felt foolish for having secretly hoped that Vivian might propose the contract marriage first.
The very person who had turned my world upside down seemed to think I'd simply fallen silent because I didn't understand, and began explaining what I already knew all too well.
"Because of what happened at the Ballroom, I need to marry or become engaged immediately. Otherwise, I might end up having to marry that Crown Prince bastard."
"...."
"So I need someone willing to do a contract marriage for just one year... Do you know anyone trustworthy?"
"Ha."
A cold laugh escaped Lahedis's lips.
"So you're really going through with a contract marriage with some other guy?"
Seeing Vivian's confused eyes blink, not understanding why I was angry, my insides burned black with anguish.
Lahedis's blue eyes, fixed upon Vivian, twisted with pain.
"You said you'd spend your whole life with me."
"What?"
"You said you wanted to marry me."
"...Me?"
When?!
Vivian gazed up at him with bewildered eyes.
It was only natural that Vivian didn't remember.
Every word he had just murmured were things Vivian had said to Rachel in childhood—not to Lahedis.
"I never said such things to you—"
Vivian, who had been protesting as if wronged, fell silent.
"Surely...."
At the same moment, those large honey-colored eyes fixed on me began to waver aimlessly.
"Rachel...?"
Vivian whispered that name, then belatedly clapped a hand over her mouth.
As if denying the very answer she had just spoken.
At that sight, Lahedis laughed bitterly at himself.
'...I didn't want to reveal myself so impulsively.'
I had thought I would need to reveal my true identity to Vivian soon, but not today.
Certainly not like this.
But now the milk was spilled.
Lahedis pressed for an answer from Vivian, who stood frozen with disbelief written across her face.
"Answer me, Vivian."
He seized Vivian's defenseless hand.
"Even if it's a contract marriage, once we're married, we hold hands like this."
Vivian flinched at the sudden contact, but rather than release her, he interlaced their fingers completely.
As if he would never let go.
This hand that he had grasped so freely without hesitation in childhood—how he had yearned to hold it without restraint all this time.
The emotions he had so carefully suppressed until now stirred at the mere touch of her hand.
Insatiable desire craved something greater still.
Lahedis, after gazing for a moment at those flushed lips that parted in confusion, suddenly closed the distance between them.
Close enough to feel her breath.
Lahedis cradled one of Vivian's cheeks and met her gaze as he whispered.
"We should kiss too."
Yet despite eyes that gleamed with raw intensity—almost threatening—the hand caressing her cheek was tender, as if handling fragile glass.
"Could you do this with another man?"
At Lahedis's question, Vivian felt tears threatening to spill.
'I can't even do this with you.'
What I wanted was an emotional confession.
'My best friend, whom I believed was a woman, is actually a man!?' was not the kind of confession I needed!
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------