Chapter 123

On the way back after seeing Sasha and Princess Florin off, a wave of loneliness washed over her—the kind she had almost forgotten. The two people who’d always filled the house with noise and warmth were suddenly gone.

Seeing the happiness radiating from her brother and the Princess only deepened the ache in her chest. They’re getting married too… So why does it feel like their world is full of joy, while mine isn’t?

Both the Duchess and her brother had told her Armin had been overwhelmingly busy lately. But hearing about it secondhand only made her more irritated.

Fine. It makes sense for the Duchess to know about Armin’s schedule—she’s family. But why does even my brother know, but not me?

Frustration surged through her. Of course she knew Armin was a busy man, but the fact that everyone seemed to be in on it except her made her feel bitter and left out.

“My Lady, shall we head back to the estate now?”

The coachman asked as she climbed into the carriage. But the thought of returning home filled her with dread. She quickly told him she wanted to stop somewhere else.

Her parents were away today, busy with their own matters, and wouldn’t return until late in the evening. The idea of staying alone in that empty house was unbearable. In the past, it might have felt like paradise—but not today.

“Pardon? Then… where shall I take you?”

There weren’t many options. If she visited the Duchess, the sharp-eyed woman would see right through her mood in an instant—and Vivian couldn’t stand the thought of showing her this pitiful side of herself. If not home, and not the Grey’s, there was only one other place left.

“Take me to the Poster newspaper office.”

“The Poster newspaper… Understood, my Lady.”

The coachman nodded, and as the carriage pulled away, Vivian exhaled heavily. Apparently, even after becoming someone of note, there still weren’t many places to turn when things got difficult.

“L-L-Lady Vivian?! What brings you here…?”

When she arrived at the newspaper office, Poster looked genuinely flustered at the sight of her—like she had shown up somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be.

His eyes, incapable of lying, darted around nervously. Beside him, his secretary Angela welcomed Vivian warmly.

“Oh my, Lady Vivian! I guess even the two of you miss each other now and then, hmm?”

“Miss each other? What are you talking about?”

Vivian furrowed her brows, confused. She was clearly one of the “two” that Angela mentioned—but who was the other?

Just as Poster lunged forward, trying to stop her from saying more, Angela—ever smart but slightly lacking in tact—smiled and spilled the rest.

“Lord Armin was just here! You must’ve just missed him—such a shame!”

“A-Angela…!”

“Oh my! Sir, you’re sweating an awful lot. Here, take this.”

Angela, wide-eyed, handed him a handkerchief before leaving the room, saying she was heading to the print room. When her eyes met Vivian’s, now narrowed into sharp slits, Poster gulped audibly.

“L-Lady Vivian, perhaps we should talk inside.”

“Yes. Let’s.”

Vivian nodded coolly and entered the office first.

There was a lot she needed to hear.

* * *

The moment I sat down, I crossed my arms and legs—assuming the most intimidating posture I knew. Whether it was the pressure I radiated or genuine fear, Poster kept wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked as if he had been wronged somehow, attempting a weak smile while trying to change the subject.

“W-What brings you here today, my Lady?”

“Oh dear, Mr. Poster, your words make it sound like I’ve come somewhere I shouldn’t be.”

“N-No, not at all! I simply asked because it’s not your usual visiting day.”

Once a week, I would stop by the newspaper office to pick up manuscripts from rookie writers and review them with the Duchess. These days, the competent editorial department could handle it all without me—but I still wanted to have a hand in this newspaper I’d grown so attached to.

Seeing Poster fumble around to steer the conversation elsewhere, I decided to cut to the chase.

“Never mind that. Why was Armin here?”

Just hearing his name after so long made my thoughts short-circuit.

What is with that man?

He had time to stop by the newspaper office, and yet the only thing I’d gotten in response to my letter was a curt note saying he was too busy?

My face must have been chilling with how bitter I felt. I could see Poster hesitating in real time—his expression changing every second, debating whether to lie or come clean.

I offered him a slight, knowing smile.

“Mr. Poster, if you’re planning on lying, you’d better drop the idea right now. You might fool people like Armin or Sasha, who can be maddeningly cryptic—but not me. You do know that, right?”

“M-My Lady…”

“And you know I’m the type to give back exactly what I’m given. I’m very upset with Armin right now. Don’t make the mistake of becoming a part of that irritation, Mr. Poster. Just tell me the truth, hmm?”

Knowing full well that I never forgot even the smallest grudge, Poster let out a deep sigh in defeat.

“Please understand, my Lady. I won’t lie, but I can’t speak openly either.”

“Oh? So I take it that means you’re on Armin’s side?”

Poster jumped at the accusation.

“On Lord Armin’s side? How could you say such a thing? There are no sides here—surely not between the two of you! You’re on the same side.”

“Nope. Starting today, it’s all-out war. So you might want to pick one.”

“Lady Vivian, please, can’t I be granted neutral status?”

I continued to pressure him from every angle. But no matter what I said, he didn’t cave. He never directly told me what was going on. Despite his unassuming looks, I knew he could be unshakably stubborn when he set his mind to something.

In the end, I had no choice but to let it go—for now.

“Fine.”

“Then… will you be heading home now?”

But Poster, much like his secretary Angela, wasn’t exactly the most subtle type. The way he asked if I’d be returning home right after I said “fine” made it sound as if I was supposed to be there—urgently.

“Is that your way of saying something terrible might happen if I don’t go home right now?”

At my words, Poster’s face flashed with an unmistakable oops. He quickly masked it, but it was too late.

“O-Of course not! I just thought your parents might be feeling lonely with Lord Alessandro gone to Gellang…”

“How thoughtful of you, to worry so dearly about my parents. But no—I’m not going home right now.”

I smiled sweetly, eyes narrowing.

“Mr. Poster, go fetch the manuscripts. I’ve got more free time than usual today, and I think I’d better use it reviewing submissions.”

Poster tried several more times to talk me out of it, but eventually he had to accept defeat. With a heavy sigh, he brought me a towering stack of manuscripts from new authors hoping to be serialized.

I tied up my hair and ordered him to bring me ink and a pen. I told him I wouldn’t be leaving until I had reviewed every single one of those mountain-high submissions.

Poster, nearly in tears, had no choice but to obey.

* * *

Several hours passed, and it was nearly sunset when Angela finally returned to the newspaper office. As she stepped into the editor-in-chief’s room and saw that I was still there, her already large eyes widened as if they might pop out of her head.

“My Lady! You’re still here?”

“Why? Am I not supposed to be?”

“Of course not!”

Angela planted her hands firmly on her hips and started barking orders for me to pack up immediately. I wasn’t the only one startled by her sudden assertiveness—Poster, who had been fidgeting beside me for hours like he was being punished, also froze in place at her bold behavior.

“You need to get back home right now!”

Before I could even begin to argue, Angela had swiftly gathered my belongings and tugged at my arm. I had no idea where she was hiding such strength in that slender frame, but I had no choice but to rise from my seat.

“But the manuscripts… I still haven’t gone through them…”

“Oh, come now! Since when did you personally handle those? The editorial team will take care of it just fine—please, just go home!”

“She’s right! Angela’s absolutely right, my Lady. Please, head home.”

It seemed Angela’s confidence had rubbed off on Poster. Now his voice carried more weight, and the two of them practically pushed me out the door like they were trying to eject me from the premises. Angela’s arm locked around mine so tightly, I couldn’t shake her off. Meanwhile, Poster dashed off to the coachman, telling him to prepare the carriage.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Still caught in Angela’s iron grip, I found myself ushered into the carriage. No woman had treated me like this since Michelle. The ever-gentle Angela, who had always seemed like a delicate angel, now waved at me sweetly as if she hadn’t just forcibly evicted me from the building.

“My Lady, we’ll be sure to do a full feature on this story next time—exclusive coverage from the Poster Gazette!”

“Angela!”

“Oh—was I not supposed to say that? Sorry, sir! Then, Lady Vivian! Please get home safely!”

“Do take care, my lady.”

Seeing Poster wave at me with a look of utter relief made all the strength drain from my body. I’d meant to keep pushing until he told me everything, but now I looked like the villain, didn’t I?

“Fine, fine. I get it. Now go back inside already.”

Those were the only words I could manage. The coachman didn’t even wait for me to finish before setting off.

“My Lady, congratulations!”

“Angela! That, too.”

“Oh no! Did I slip up again? Sorry, sir!”

Angela’s voice shouting after my carriage, along with Poster’s flustered attempts to hush her, grew more distant by the second.