Chapter 122

“Vivi, do you really think that’s possible?”

“But… if that’s not it, then why else would Armin avoid me?”

Vivian’s tone held a hint of frustration.

“I mean, sure, I had a bit to drink—but from what I heard, I didn’t even do anything wrong. Just got a little too excited, chatted away, and then passed out. Why on earth would Armin be angry?”

“No, Vivian. Armin really is just busy these days. That, I can promise you.”

The Duchess gave a soft shake of her head, recalling the son who came to see her every night. It is almost finished now. Just a little longer and everything will fall into place. But at this rate, she feared Vivian might do something reckless if left in the dark much longer.

She called for a butler, who arrived promptly. The Duchess instructed him to bring that from her room. The butler didn’t need any further explanation. He seemed to understand exactly what she meant.

“That? What do you mean by that?”

“Hehe. Just wait a little moment.”

Soon the butler returned, carrying a small jewelry box. When the lid was lifted, it revealed a ring set with a clear violet gem. It was a familiar sight.

Vivian’s gloomy mood evaporated the instant she recognized it.

“It’s finished already?”

“Of course. When the Grey family puts their mind to something, nothing is impossible.”

The ring was a match for the one that had once been found inside a fish’s belly during their engagement. The Duchess had urged Vivian several times to have a better one made, but Vivian’s mind had been firm. That ring carried meaning between her and Armin. It had marked the beginning of her seeing him in a new light—the start of their closeness.

Since the original ring had been Armin’s and the other had been lost, they’d decided to make a new one just for Vivian.

The Duchess gently took the ring and slid it onto Vivian’s ring finger. Like Cinderella’s glass slipper, it fit perfectly.

“It looks truly beautiful on you.”

The Duchess couldn’t take her eyes off her hand. She’d cherished Vivian like a daughter for some time already, but seeing her wear the ring used only within the Grey family stirred something deeply emotional inside her.

Vivian hurried to take it off again. She might’ve once been unaware of its value, but now she knew the ring was worth three barrels of gold coins. And after losing it once before, she didn’t want anything to happen to it before the wedding.

But the Duchess gently stopped her. As Vivian looked on in confusion, the Duchess gave a warm smile and twisted the gemstone on the ring.

— You truly look beautiful with it on.

“Huh?

Vivian had known the ring had a recording function—but she’d been told it only worked for members of the Grey family.

The Duchess gave Vivian’s cheek a playful pinch and said softly,

“Vivian, you’re already part of our family.”

An engagement could be broken, depending on circumstances. It was a fragile bond. But within the Grey family, Vivian was already more than just a fiancée. She was family.

“Armin, angry at you? How dare that arrogant brat! I should kick him out of this house. I’m always on your side, after all.”

It was a flourish worthy of a bestselling romance novelist—a dramatic bit of playful teasing, really. Of course, there was no way she’d actually throw out her only heir. But Vivian, swayed by the Duchess’s over-the-top sympathy, was nearly in tears.

Seeing her so endearing, the Duchess pulled her into a tight hug.

“Aww, you’re just too adorable.”

“Thank you so much. I think I should take the ring off now. It’s far too valuable.”

“No, Vivi. I think it’s best if you keep it with you for a little while.”

A sparkle lit up the Duchess’s eyes—the telltale sign that something delightful was about to happen. She couldn’t hide her excitement when something joyful was in store. Despite Vivian insisting on removing the ring, the Duchess pressed it back into her hand, saying she would need it soon.

Left alone in the parlor, the Duchess stretched with a satisfied sigh. Young love was always so fresh and charming.

She thought back to the first time she met Vivian—how the girl had come clutching two of her books under one arm, shyly confessing she was a fan. From that very moment, Vivian had felt special.

She hadn’t crumbled under all the little trials she’d faced. Now, all that remained was a happy wedding.

With a pleased smile, the Duchess rose to her feet. The butler who had been quietly attending to her side spoke softly.

“Will you be writing again tonight, madam?”

Lately, the lights in the duchess’s room never went out before dawn. Inspiration had been overflowing—she’d hardly been sleeping, typing away deep into the night. And between that and her son constantly popping in for advice, she was thoroughly exhausted.

Yawning, she nodded.

“I should.”

She longed to show Vivian her study—just to prove how silly it was to think Armin was angry. If the girl saw the pile of manuscripts on her desk, she’d surely drop that idea at once.

But her usually dull son had finally come up with something brilliant. He was putting his whole heart into this once-in-a-lifetime proposal. The Duchess couldn’t bear to spoil it.

“Steward.”

“Yes, madam.”

“Vivian will record it well, don’t you think? That girl’s clever.”

“Young Miss will do just fine.”

Her bashful son would probably be mortified if he knew, but she felt entirely justified in eavesdropping on the proposal. What parent wouldn’t be proud to support their son’s grand romantic gesture so thoroughly?

“Alright then. Time to get to work.”

Stretching again, the Duchess told the steward to bring her a strong cup of coffee. He hesitated, as if about to scold her again, but gave up on it.

The Young Miss and the Duchess really were alike—utterly devoted to what they loved, stubborn as mules. It was almost like they were mother and daughter.

“Just one cup,” the steward said.

The Duchess chuckled. That old man still seemed to see her as the twenty-year-old girl who’d married into the family long ago.

With a soft smile, she agreed, and headed off to her room—both of them as headstrong as ever.

* * *

Armin continued avoiding Vivian for over a week after that. During that time, Sasha and Florin were busy preparing for their journey to Gellang.

It was a relief to have something to focus on. It felt as though Armin had been scooped out of her life with a ladle, vanishing completely. The more it bothered her, the more Vivian threw herself into helping with Sasha and Florin’s departure.

It was a marriage decreed by divine prophecy. According to Prince Garbo, there was no need for an official engagement. Once Princess Florin and Sasha received approval from the King and Queen of Gellang, they would immediately begin preparing for the wedding. Two ceremonies were planned—one in this kingdom, and another in Gellang.

And finally, the day came when Princess Florin and Sasha were to leave for Gellang.

Vivian sent Armin another letter that morning, asking if he would go with her to the harbor. As always, the reply was that he was too busy.

Holding onto the reluctant Princess Florin’s hand, Vivian promised that she would be the bridesmaid for both weddings.

They were each other’s closest friends, soon to be family, becoming one another’s bridesmaids. As Sasha called up from the ship, urging Florin to board, Vivian gave her brother the biggest, childish “bleh,” sticking her tongue out as far as she could. Sasha looked at her with exasperation, then burst out laughing.

He patted her head twice and said,

“Behave while I’m gone.”

“I’m not a child, you know.”

“You’re not a child, but you are a troublemaker.”

Vivian huffed through her nose and whipped her braid around as if insulted, but Sasha spoke softly as he turned away.

“Thank you.”

The unfamiliar word stopped Vivian mid-huff. She looked at him, forgetting to keep up the act of being annoyed.

“What… what was that?”

“Are you really the Alessandro Roha I know? Or is this someone who just looks like him?”

“Shut up.”

Florin had refused to tell him anything, no matter how many times he asked, but the look on her face when she came to visit the Viscount Roha estate at dawn – that had told Sasha all he needed to know. If something had gone wrong, it had gone very wrong. And maybe, just maybe, this peaceful life he was enjoying now was something his reckless younger sister had helped make possible

Sasha had always meant to thank her, but between his busy days and the awkwardness of saying something like that to his partner-in-crime sibling, he had kept putting it off.

Knowing exactly what her brother was like, Vivian grinned and waved him off.

“Go already. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

“Since I’m thankful, I’ll give you a little hint.”

He should have kept the secret, but blood is thicker than duty. Watching his sister quietly suffer because of Armin, Sasha figured this much, at least, he could share.

“A hint?”

To Vivian, who had no idea what he meant, Sasha left a cryptic remark.

“When you get home, make sure you’re wearing your engagement ring.”

“My engagement ring? Wait—how do you know about that? I hid it really well! Did you go through my room or something?”

“Why would I go through your room? Just—something’s going to happen. That’s all I’ll say. I definitely gave you a hint.”

A voice behind him called out that they had to depart. Sasha quickly waved in acknowledgment and boarded the ship with Florin.

“When we return, I bet we’ll hear something fun from Vivian,” Florin said from the deck, waving to Vivian with a bright smile as she leaned lightly against Sasha.

Florin, who knew Sasha kept no secrets from her, had heard Armin’s plan from him. She had watched from close by as Vivian struggled with her feelings about Armin, yet she had said nothing.

Even considering how much heartache Vivian had gone through, Florin had held back—because the plan was sure to move her deeply. The only pity was not being able to witness that heartwarming story unfold firsthand.