Special Story 8

After several days of being worn down by Armin, Vivian finally won her trip.

Apparently, things weren’t much different in the other households either.

The three women gathered for tea with the Duchess and took turns complaining about just how petty their husbands could be.

For Vivian, it was an ordeal she could barely endure—because she had to listen to her friend’s and her twin brother’s romantic escapades. It was only natural that she struggled with it.

“Sasha really said that?”

Vivian burst out laughing when she heard how her brother had almost sabotaged the trip, saying he wasn’t sure he could bear to be apart from the Princess—even after learning that the entire vacation had been planned for her sake.

But such a reaction from her brother, who now clearly prioritized his wife over his sister, was only expected.

After all, Princess Florin was truly a lovely person—gentle, comforting, and someone who brought peace to those around her.

To be honest, if her brother and the Princess ever got into a fight, Vivian already knew whose side she’d take: the Princess’.

As Vivian laughed brightly, Florin gave a sheepish smile, suddenly realizing how candid she’d been.

“Um… Oh, right. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that, Vivian. He made me promise.”

Her words drew a chorus of light laughter around the table.

***

Their destination was quite a distance from home—understandable, given it was in the southern region of Gellang.

When they arrived at the port, a lavish ship awaited them, not unlike the one Sasha and Florin had used on their journey to Gellang.

“Looks like my brother went to great lengths for us.”

There was also an ample supply of fruit aboard, prepared especially for Vivian. Since the trip had been planned by Florin herself, the Gellang royal family had made sure everything was impeccably arranged. The ship began its journey southward along the sea route.

Vivian thoroughly enjoyed every moment aboard the luxurious vessel.

Each evening, the three of them would gather in the same room, huddled together, chatting late into the night. Time flew by.

When they finally arrived at a port city days later, a set of carriages awaited them—arranged in advance by Prince Garbo.

Just like the ship, the carriages were prepared with comfort in mind: three splendid royal carriages, each flying the crest of the royal house.

But rather than ride separately, the three women all crammed into one, using the other two for their luggage.

A short while later—

“Eeeek!”

Vivian jumped up and down the moment she stepped out of the carriage.

They had traveled by sea for days—and now, here they were in a foreign land. This was the furthest she had ever been from the capital.

They had arrived in Feifrea, located far to the south of where she grew up. The moment she stepped out, the tropical heat swept over her—and the excitement in her chest burst forth.

“Vivian! You’ll hurt yourself!”

Florin, stepping out of the carriage behind her, called out lightly in caution.

From behind Florin came Michelle’s excited voice.

“Eeeek!”

Perhaps because they had spent the most time together, Michelle and Vivian’s reactions were nearly identical.

Florin may have scolded them, but she was just as thrilled about this little adventure. Eventually, she gave up trying to maintain her calm and joined the others, grabbing their hands and jumping up and down as she shouted too—

“Eeeek!”

The place Princess Florin had suggested for their trip—Feifrea—was, just as she had promised, a vibrant city overflowing with every kind of fruit imaginable.

To Vivian, the city felt utterly fascinating. Many of Gellang’s people spoke the Imperial tongue almost as fluently as their own, as if it were their second language. Though the air carried the unmistakable atmosphere of a foreign land, the familiar sound of the Empire’s language gave her an odd sense of comfort.

“How are you feeling, Vivian? Is your body alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“Nothing you’re craving?”

“Nothing comes to mind just yet.”

“What about you, Michelle?”

“Same here.”

Back in the Empire, Florin had often relied on the help of both Vivian and Michelle. Now that she had invited them to her own homeland, she felt a strong sense of responsibility to make this trip worthwhile.

“Well then, shall we take a look around the market?”

Feifrea was a well-known resort town, home to many noble villas. The locals were quite used to dealing with aristocrats. That was one of the reasons Florin had suggested this place as their destination. Upon hearing her idea, both Vivian and Michelle had readily nodded in agreement.

Before heading to the market, they unpacked and took a quick look around the royal family’s villa.

“My brother insisted on building it like an ordinary vacation home,” Florin explained, “saying that if word got out it was a royal villa, we’d end up dealing with unwanted attention even on holiday.”

In terms of size, it was no grander than any other noble’s summer house—but the materials used throughout were clearly of the highest quality, enough to make anyone’s jaw drop. For Michelle, who had never traveled by ship or carriage before, everything was new and fascinating. Her exhaustion quickly vanished as she eagerly explored every corner.

There wasn’t even time to waste on resting. Having regained her strength, Vivian changed into her outing clothes. The truth was, Florin and Michelle were just as eager to explore as she was. Florin, excited to be back in her homeland, was visibly elated, and for Michelle—on her first-ever trip—every moment was pure delight.

The market was bustling with life. As Vivian took in the sight of large, fragrant tropical fruits, the appetite she thought she had lost returned in full force. And there was far more than fruit—countless local delicacies lined the stalls.

“These are a specialty here,” Florin said, gesturing toward the food carts. “Eating street food is one of the charms of this city. But if you’re not in the mood, there’s no pressure to try it.”

Even as she introduced the food stalls, Princess Florin hadn’t expected Vivian to actually eat any of it. After all, she had barely touched anything but fruit on the ship. And people from the Empire weren’t exactly used to the concept of street food. Just one look at Michelle’s uncertain expression was enough to confirm that.

This wasn’t just light desserts or snacks—it was real food. Between the rows of vendors stretching down the street, there were seating areas where customers could enjoy their meals.

Florin had just been about to guide them past the food stalls toward a fruit vendor when—

“Why aren’t we eating? There’s so much delicious food around,” Vivian asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

To her, the best part of traveling was experiencing things she couldn’t find back home. Street food? That was something you’d never get to enjoy in the capital. And now, surrounded by all these mouthwatering smells, even Vivian—who had been so picky lately—felt her appetite stir.

“You really think you can eat some, Lady Vivian?” Michelle asked in shock.

Vivian gave a firm nod. “I think I can. Starting with that one over there.”

Following the direction of her pointing finger, they saw skewers of grilled chicken glazed in a rich sauce.

“You mean Yam? That’s really tasty. I had it once with my brother when we came here for a holiday,” Florin explained.

“I figured as much. What do you think? Would you—I mean, Florin—be okay with it too?”

“I’d love to. And Michelle?”

“I’m not picky at all. Everything’s fine with me.”

Unanimous agreement. Besides, they hadn’t eaten anything since leaving the villa.

Now that her appetite had returned, Vivian realized just how hungry she was. The three noble ladies began excitedly ordering dishes as they chatted away. Grilled skewers, stir-fried rice, deep-fried meat tossed in sweet sauce—once they started, the food disappeared quickly.

“Wow,” Michelle laughed, looking at the now-empty plates.

“That was delicious.”

“Seriously. I didn’t expect the food to be that good.”

If they sold this kind of food in the capital, she might’ve eaten it every day instead of fruit. It was the first time in a long while she’d felt truly full.

But her reawakened appetite wasn’t going away so easily. Vivian stood up from her seat.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?” Michelle asked, feeling like her stomach was filled to her throat after eating so aggressively.

Vivian, however, was resolute. “If we’ve had a meal, we need dessert. Let’s go look at the fruit.”

This wasn’t the same indecisive, passive Vivian they had always known—the one who hated leaving the house and approached everything half-heartedly. Seeing her uncharacteristically energetic and assertive left both Michelle and Florin momentarily speechless.

***

While exploring various stalls, Vivian selected a fruit that resembled a peach. The fruit vendor greeted the three well-dressed young ladies warmly.

“Welcome, ladies. What can I get for you?”

“What’s this one called?”

Since they wouldn’t be staying long in this area, Vivian decided there was no need to emphasize her noble status. Smiling, she addressed the vendor.

“You’re not from around here, are you? This fruit is called venis. Would you like to try one?”

“Yes, please. I’ll take enough to fill a paper bag.”

venis was a relatively expensive fruit, and it was rare for customers to buy it in such large quantities. The vendor, pleased with the generous purchase, quickly began filling a paper bag with only the finest specimens.

“Vivian, have you had venis before?”

“No. But it looks delicious, so I wanted to try it.”

“You made a good choice,” the vendor affirmed. “This fruit is very tasty.”

After filling the bag, the vendor offered her a sample.

“Would you like to pick one to taste?”

“Really? That’s okay?”

“Of course.”

Vivian selected a glossy, red piece of fruit without hesitation.

“You picked a pretty one. Just a moment—I’ll cut it for you.”

As she prepared the fruit, the vendor continued speaking.

“Did you know venis has an interesting story behind it?”

“An interesting story? What is it?”

“It’s also known by another name—obstetrics.”

“Obstetrics?”

“Yes. It means ‘birth fruit’ or ‘pregnancy fruit.’ It’s said to inform a woman of her pregnancy.”