---

Vivian, taking a deep breath, sat down and had some tea.

Lady Linne followed her lead.

“…I’m sorry. I got a bit too heated.”

Vivian offered an apology to cool down the situation.

Lady Linne shook her head, swallowing hard.

“I-I crossed the line. I didn’t understand your feelings at all…”

“…”

“Let’s, um, change the topic. There was one more reason for my visit today.”

Getting entangled with Vivian wasn’t a good deal for anyone involved. Lady Linne knew this and smoothly shifted the conversation.

“Aren’t you turning eighteen soon? It’s about time for another banquet.”

Vivian nodded silently.

That was true.

Still, it couldn’t be overlooked.

“This time, we should make it bigger than before. We need to invite a lot of guests. It’s a chance to announce the revival of the Rondore Family. We need to show who the real ruler of this place is.”

Once again, Vivian simply nodded.

Lady Linne continued.

“Finding guests shouldn’t be too difficult. You know? A few months ago, Prince Thread and Princess Reina finally got married.”

“…Yes, I know.”

After a long negotiation, Prince Thread and Princess Reina finally tied the knot.

Vivian remembered she couldn’t attend their wedding because she was at war with Robert, but she definitely sent a congratulatory letter.

It felt nice that a troublesome presence was finally gone.

Whenever she thought of Reina dancing with Kyle, her heart ignited with a strange feeling.

Vivian knew there was definitely an unusual vibe between them.

…And that Princess Reina was originally Kyle’s lord, if it weren’t for the war.

“Anyway, since the East Kingdom and the Delum Kingdom are practically in an alliance now… How about inviting the families of the East Kingdom to show our support?”

“…”

Lady Linne, sensing the mood, spoke up.

“If you support peace with the East Kingdom, then it wouldn’t be strange for the Rondore Family to link with the Allen Family. The royal family even arranged a marriage, so why shouldn’t Rondore and Allen?”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

This time, Vivian responded clearly.

She knew the citizens of Roktana suffered under the Allen Family.

But even people at arm’s length often don’t empathize with others’ suffering easily.

The only reason Vivian had to hate the Allen Family was because of her family.

However, now that the truth was revealed about her family’s death, she couldn’t be hostile towards them.

Instead, she felt only deep guilt.

If possible, she wanted to connect with them.

Even if the citizens of Roktana would oppose it, Vivian wanted that.

After all, the ones who helped her reach this position weren’t the citizens of Roktana.

She could be here thanks to Kyle.

She wanted to repay him moving forward.

For all the hardships he endured, she’d be happy to give him anything he wanted.

After all, being tied to him for life is how it works.

It’s always more natural for a man to lead than a woman.

The man who marries her would become the effective ruler of Roktana.

Knowing this, it made sense that so many marriage proposals were flooding in for her.

But Kyle was refusing them all.

Vivian couldn’t understand it from her perspective.

He was pushing away the price for all his hard work.

He was asking to go back to his hometown without giving anything in return.

…And for some reason, that seemed like a deep exhaustion towards her, making Vivian’s heart ache even more.

“…Master. I’d like you to handle this banquet. I’ve been really busy lately…”

There was no need to explain what her busy work was.

Lady Linne nodded, as if trying to make up for her earlier mistake.

“Of course. I’ll do my best to prepare a wonderful banquet. But regarding the guest invitations…”

“I’ll leave that to you, Master.”

“Should we invite the families of the East Kingdom as well?”

“…”

‘There have already been more than enough marriage proposals rolling in.’

Kyle’s voice echoed in her mind.

Vivian nodded in response.

“Yes. Invite as many as you want. Since the royal family has made peace with the East Kingdom, I need to show my actions too.”

She said that, but Vivian only had one thought in her mind.

She wanted to make it clear to everyone who Kyle belonged to.

So that no one would dare to touch him.

****

Snow began to fall in Roktana.

Snowflakes pouring down from the sky covered the ground.

It was the first snow I had seen in seven years.

Though it was a familiar sight I had seen every day back home, it felt strangely unfamiliar after such a long time.

The world spread out in white was unreal like a dream, and I found myself mesmerized, looking up at the sky.

My comrades, maids, and retainers.

For those who hadn’t been up to the cold north, many were seeing snow for the first time.

Even friends who had been part of the Punishment Unit in the past were joyfully running around outside, forgetting their age and the cold.

Wearing thin clothing, they were totally unprepared for the chill, yet none of them seemed to care.

Rolling in the snow until their noses turned red, they threw snowballs at each other.

And as they tossed snowballs back and forth, they unleashed their pure laughter hidden within.

Even the maids exchanged glances over the snowballs being thrown by the soldiers, and little bonds began to bloom among them.

-Thud!

A snowball flew toward my temple and burst, scattering white powder everywhere.

The crushed powder trickled in through the hem of my clothes.

Startled by the sudden chill, I turned to see Vivian laughing next to me.

In the pure white world, her red presence stood out like a rose.

For a moment, I relaxed, completely captivated by her beauty.

“So this is snow.”

Vivian said to me.

Her voice was filled with the excitement of discovering snow for the first time.

She seemed delighted to learn something alongside me.

“…”

I wanted to smile back at her, but in the end, I couldn’t lift the corners of my mouth.

I could no longer return the feelings she was showing me.

I didn’t want to plant false hopes in her heart.

My feelings remained unchanged.

I would return to my hometown and… my feelings wouldn’t change.

Both my words and Vivian’s words were right.

I feared that my feelings might truly be a curse, and according to Vivian, I worried that I would hurt her.

If it were indeed a curse, I wouldn’t be able to have children, and I would die soon.

This would mark the end of the Rondore Family that Vivian worked so hard to establish.

To say it would perish without an heir was a hollow conclusion.

Considering all the hardships Vivian faced, wasn’t it too pitiful to end like this?

Moreover, I believed in Vivian’s words.

If I were to die, she would probably follow me.

I didn’t want that.

In the end, it was a complex reason.

On one hand, my past left me with a sense of emptiness, knowing I didn’t belong here. On the other hand, doubts about my current feelings mixed with concerns about the future.

As I did not smile or look at her, Vivian’s smile gradually faded.

-Thud.

“…”

This time, a weaker snowball hit my shoulder.

It was a small signal from her trying to bridge the gap that had formed between us.

I didn’t react.

With heavy eyelids, I exhaled a sigh that escaped my lips.

“…How could this…?”

Vivian whispered.

“…How is this a curse? You can’t even smile at me right now… How is this a curse?”

Her smile soon shattered, giving way to sadness.

The sharp pain in my heart became unbearable.

I loathed this situation that continued to hurt her.

In that annoyance, I finally faced Vivian.

Fire ignited in my chest.

From the snowball games to her on the verge of tears, it was all too much for me.

I stepped forward and firmly grabbed her arms.

And then, gritting my teeth, I raised my voice slightly.

“So… so please let me go now!”

She seemed to want to say something, but my emotions interrupted her words.

“We don’t have to keep hurting each other like this! Why do you keep making things so difficult?!”

Vivian seemed to swallow back tears with a trembling voice.

Since I declared our separation, she hadn’t shed another tear.

It was as if she knew I would leave if I cried.

Her determination to not give me any reasons to back down only frustrated me.

“I… I can’t let you go…”

I answered.

“You don’t have to let me go. I’ll leave on my own. So please just say it once. Say goodbye.”

I pressed my forehead against hers.

In that frigid air, feeling her warmth was like a flood of memories washing back.

“…Just say that. After that, I’ll handle the rest.”

With trembling eyes, Vivian gazed at me.

In her red eyes, my black ones were reflected.

As I held her forehead, she rose slightly on her toes with a tender and cautious motion.

As her lips hesitated, trying to touch mine, each moment seemed to seek permission.

‘Can we just kiss once?’

‘Can you just give in to me once?’

As I felt her deep emotions, she wavered before my gaze.

Her fragile breath floated into my mouth.

The familiar scent of flowers made my head spin.

Our eyes slowly began to close.

“…Hah.”

But in the end, I pushed her away.

With another rejection, a heavy sorrow filled Vivian’s eyes.

“Let me go.”

That was all I could say.

Vivian tightly shut her eyes before speaking with a smile that looked like it was about to break.

“K-Kyle. I… I’ll be having my birthday soon. I… I’m about to become an adult.”

She didn’t even have to say it; I knew too well.

“…You helped me get this far. From the days when I was just thirteen and so small… Now, at the very least, you have to see me become an adult…”

I shook my head.

“What does it matter…? Vivian, the longer it drags on, the more painful it is. Just let me go.”

“Ugh…! Ugh!!”

This time, Vivian gripped my arm tightly.

With every rejection, another emotion seemed to bloom within her heart.

“If you’re with me…! This entire land becomes yours, so why do you keep refusing me?!”

Her voice cracked with urgency.

“Other men drool over what I have!! Do you know how many marriage proposals I get in a single day? I could reject them all and choose you!! So why do you keep saying no?!”

She stuttered through her frantic words.

“You can’t find someone more beautiful than me. You can’t find anyone prettier, anyone with a better figure or more alluring proportions. I’ve never seen anyone like that… I’m offering you all of this. Kyle, are you an idiot?”

This time, she even laughed at me.

“Do you forget why Robert Rondore died? Do you forget what Count Korod coveted? They died after coveting what I have. This land, this power, and even… me, I’m giving them all to you. You’re going to give this up to go back home? Are you crazy? What about all the hardships I endured?”

Firmly, I replied.

“If you want repayment, it was you who said not to ask for it from the start. Now I don’t need any of that.”

Vivian screamed.

“Ugh…! Kyle!!”

I ached to ignore her pain.

“Besides… it’s you who forgot. The Rondore land isn’t the only one out there. When I return to my hometown, I’ll inherit my land too. So why would I covet Roktana?”

“…”

Vivian’s expression slowly faded.

Her eyes, too, shared the same fate.

As if losing color, her gaze turned hollow.

In that expression, she softly whispered.

“…Do I have to burn your hometown to make my offer sweet?”

“…What?”

Vivian didn’t backtrack on her words.

Instead, she remained silent.

With her shocking statement, I had to doubt my ears.

Was she suggesting a war just because of me?

…Probably not. It was likely just talk.

“…Hah.”

Realizing she had decided to throw tantrums rather than engage in sensible discussion, I shook my head.

There was no room left for rational conversation in this emotional state.

“We said we’d give ourselves a little time to think, right? I’ve thought enough.”

“…”

“…Vivian, I want to return home before your birthday. No, I will return.”

“…”

“…On the day you become an adult, you will stand up and move forward without me. If you really care about me… that is the path for me.”

“…”

When my outburst ended, Vivian became silent like a burnt-out ember.

Thick emotions turned to ashes.

I turned my back on her, who stood still.

My heart raced too quickly, and my chest felt like it was on fire, so I couldn’t stay there any longer.

After walking for a while, I glanced back.

“…”

“…”

And through the cold white mist, I spotted Vivian, still glaring at me with her hollow eyes.

It was an expression I couldn’t fathom; a precarious and dangerous gaze.

 

---