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Vivian struggled to suppress her confusion and finally collected her thoughts.

I need to stop this.

With that determination, she took a step forward.

“…”

But how?

That thought left her frozen in place.

Kyle and Princess Reina were already drawing all the gazes from the crowd.

How in the world am I supposed to stop them?

Should I just push my way in and tear them apart?

Maybe I should slap Reina’s face just like I used to with other girls?

Every option seemed utterly unrealistic.

Vivian was the only one who couldn’t accept the situation; the other two were already beyond stopping.

She had to stand there helplessly watching the scene unfold.

She had lost Kyle to them and could only stand idly by.

Things would have turned out differently if it had been the old Rondore. Back then, the Duke of Rondore had a power like no other. No one dared disrespect him unless they were a king.

Even a prince had to bow down to his status.

But that was not the case anymore.

Vivian was merely attempting to stand up again. She couldn’t confront a prince or princess in her current weak condition.

Princess Reina was smiling brightly from a distance.

Her smile was even warmer than when she was with Prince Thread.

She was genuinely happy.

…Taking someone else’s place, smiling innocently as if she hadn’t done anything wrong.

The music she had prepared to dance with Kyle continued to play, and beneath that, Kyle and Reina looked at each other slowly.

Kyle, awkward and unsure, figured out what he was supposed to do.

That clumsiness might have appeared adorable when directed at her, but now it was aimed at Reina.

Reina, seemingly enjoying herself, chuckled softly before she took Kyle’s hand slowly.

Whenever their hands intertwined, Vivian’s heart sank.

She couldn’t understand why watching that sight was so painful for her.

What’s worse, it was only the beginning.

Reina placed Kyle’s hand on her waist.

Kyle hesitated for a moment before gripping Reina tightly.

His rough hands touched another woman’s waist.

Reina, too, wrapped her arms around Kyle and slowly placed her hand on his shoulder, as if she found something interesting, grazing his scarred neck.

Ashort question from Reina, a brief response from Kyle.

Reina’s short laugh, and finally, her hand brushing against his scar as if she found it impressive.

“…”

Vivian couldn’t keep still, watching any of it.

Before she realized it, her own hands had begun to tremble.

Had she ever felt such intense rage and helplessness in her life?

Everything she had prepared to share with Kyle was now being taken away by that Reina.

The two of them, holding hands, slowly brought their bodies closer together.

Even from a distance, a close atmosphere was brewing.

Two captives who had left their hometown behind. Two people experiencing the same hardships.

With matching hair colors, it felt as if they were comforting each other through this dance, soothing their previous struggles.

‘Even I miss my hometown.’

Kyle’s words echoed in her mind.

Vivian bit her lip at that voice.

That which she could never comfort about was now being fulfilled by Reina.

Thinking that Kyle would be happier in Reina’s arms only intensified the ache in her heart.

“…ugh.”

Kyle’s awkward dance continued.

At such moments, the crowd watching couldn’t help but burst into light laughter.

That laughter contained more goodwill than animosity.

No matter how few people favored Kyle, it seemed his genuine efforts to dance for the princess were somewhat endearing.

Vivian noticed it too.

Kyle, awkwardly following Reina’s lead and trying his best.

‘Yes, just like that. Good job, Kyle.’

From a distance, Reina praised Kyle, showering him with compliments and sharing smiles.

“…”

Vivian questioned why she wasn’t the one teaching him.

Why was she alone while Kyle was with another woman?

Didn’t Kyle always prioritize her?

Just a moment ago… wasn’t it time to dance together and reconcile?

Wasn’t today supposed to be the day they entered high society together?

“K-Kyle, you stepped on my foot.”

Reina said bluntly, prompting more laughter from the audience.

Kyle awkwardly shrugged his shoulders.

His fresh innocence, cluelessness, and the memories they would create were all hers.

Even the laughter of those people was all within her share.

No, it was all hers and Kyle’s.

Then why was that Reina taking it all away?

“…they’re close…”

At last, her pent-up rage boiled over.

Her fists trembled, nails digging painfully into her palm.

But unbothered by her, Kyle and Reina were inching closer and closer.

Occasionally, Reina whispered something to Kyle that allowed him to dance, and Kyle would whisper something back to her, following suit.

If they got any closer, their lips would practically meet on her cheek.

“…they look good together.”

At that moment, someone muttered from nearby.

Turning her head, she found Prince Thread watching them as well.

Her aimless fury turned toward him.

“…aren’t you going to stop them?”

“Stop them from what?”

“Princess Reina. Didn’t you have engagement talks with her?”

“That’s true, but—”

“Then you should stop them.”

“Why should I?”

Looking at Thread’s absurdly casual demeanor, Vivian felt her patience waning.

“The woman who is supposed to be your wife is playing around with someone else—”

“-Do you really think I’d care about that?”

With a chuckle, Thread silently revealed his true feelings.

“…what?”

Thread said, looking down at Vivian.

“…Do you think we’re tied by love? This is merely a political choice. And you of all people shouldn’t be unaware of that, right? You spent all day with the family enemy Kyle Allen.”

“…”

“Maybe that’s why I’m not too keen on stopping Reina. Look at her; she’s so happy… I’ve never seen her this delighted before.”

“…”

…That’s what makes it so hard to watch.

Vivian gritted her teeth, burying her true feelings.

She didn’t want to see a woman reveling in happiness beside Kyle.

“…Don’t you think so, Vivian?”

Thread asked.

“…think about what?”

“That those two are well-suited for each other.”

Vivian looked back at Kyle.

His hands clasped tightly as if turning red.

The silhouette of Reina’s chest pressed against Kyle’s body.

As if they were engaged in a battle of glances, they were watching each other.

The endless dialogue exchanged between them.

They looked just like a perfect pair of lovers.

In fact, a beautiful couple.

Whom she felt like killing with jealousy.

“…”

Struggling against the pain in her chest, she forced her voice out.

“…Not at all. They don’t match at all.”

“That’s curious. People don’t seem to feel the same way.”

Looking around, she noticed people were completely focused on Kyle and Princess Reina’s dance.

Two Northern youths dancing together at a foreign ball, as if comforting each other.

“You may not know, but Reina once had feelings for Kyle Allen in the past. If you think about it, Kyle’s owner should have been Reina from the royal family, so it wouldn’t be surprising that feelings could blossom.”

“…past feelings, you say?”

“…Princess Reina was fond of Kyle.”

-Crack.

Vivian ground her teeth.

“Did you say that nonsense to the prince who will become your husband?”

Thread chuckled.

“If you understand, then you know Reina can’t help herself. She likely said it to me intentionally.”

Vivian’s breath turned ragged.

She was furious with Kyle who wasn’t pushing Reina away.

Vivian shot a glare at the minstrels.

Oblivious to her signal, they continued their performance, merely sneaking glances.

Time stretched on like it would last forever, and finally, the music came to an end.

All the moves she had practiced just for today were rendered unnecessary.

But now it’s finally over.

Vivian forced down her emotions.

She had poured in countless efforts she had lost count of.

The distance between Kyle and Reina finally broke apart.

Kyle stepped away from Reina.

“…huh.”

Vivian blinked. She had focused so hard that her eyes had dried.

At that moment, Kyle lifted Reina’s hand.

“…”

And then he kissed the back of her hand.

“…ha.”

They said that when rage surpasses its limit, laughter is all that comes out… Vivian felt exactly like that.

“Vivian?”

After letting out a few hollow laughs, her feet began to move of their own accord.

People all turned their attention to her hasty steps.

Ignoring everyone, Vivian marched straight toward Kyle.

Their conversation became clearer than before.

“…anyway, it was fun, Kyle—”

-Smack!

Vivian interrupted Princess Reina’s words, yanking Kyle’s hand away from hers.

“Vivian?”

Kyle called her name in confusion, but Vivian couldn’t hear anything through her red-hot fury.

Instead, she dragged Kyle along as she kept walking.

Everyone looked surprised, glancing around, but Vivian didn’t have the capacity to care.

.

.

.

-Bam!

Vivian entered her room, slamming the door shut and locking it.

-Click!

“What’s wrong?”

Kyle asked, startled, but his nonchalant attitude only brought out a bitter laugh from her.

She laughed like a crazy person for quite a while in front of Kyle.

Vivian was still boiling with barely contained rage.

She roughly tugged Kyle closer.

But Kyle didn’t budge, as if waiting for her to say something.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ha.”

Never in her life had she grown so disgusted with him, unable to control anything.

-Pah! Pah! Pah!!

She turned her anger on Kyle who stood still.

“Die!! Drop dead!!”

She pounded her fists against his chest.

Kyle still looked bewildered.

Immediately after, Vivian pulled him again.

This time, Kyle moved obediently.

Finally, she felt like she understood how to control Kyle a little.

Only when she inflicted pain did he comprehend and react.

Yeah, thinking back, that’s always been their dynamic.

It had always been like this.

Vivian sat Kyle down in a wooden chair in her room.

As he slumped into the chair with exasperation, Vivian knelt beside him with one knee.

Kyle groaned briefly from the pain before revealing his annoyance.

“…Vivian, I’m not in the mood to deal with your whims right now—”

“-Shut up. Just shut up!!”

With her body consumed by rage, Vivian grasped Kyle’s face, forcing him down.

With smoldering eyes, she examined him.

She glared at the man who had returned after being someone else’s.

His close proximity to Reina still lingered in her mind.

Even the moment he impertinently kissed the back of that other woman’s hand.

“This filthy bastard. This worthless piece of trash…!”

Without even realizing, she unleashed a barrage of blunt insults.

Kyle puckered his face at her harsh tone.

But Vivian had no intention of holding back.

“You said you liked me… Ha, a filthy Allen. That’s right, it was all just empty words. You filthy Allen…!”

Now, she let out the words she wished to hurl during the ball.

After holding back for so long, her feelings had turned raw and rough.

She shouted almost like a scream.

Kyle’s face twisted further.

Once again, hatred and disgust shone through his eyes, mixed with something lurking in between.

“…Were you planning to fight with me today?”

The man who had smiled at Reina frowned when facing her.

He never offered Vivian even a trace of a smile.

“Ha.”

It felt like something inside Vivian snapped.

She pulled Kyle’s face closer,

And their lips met.

“…!”

Kyle tensed and grabbed Vivian’s arm, but she ensnared his neck, refusing to let go.

None of the techniques she learned from Lady Linne came into play.

In a show of abandon, she even kept her eyes wide open, watching his every response as if devouring prey.

Frustration and overwhelming triumph intertwined with dizzying pleasure.

Vivian’s tongue pushed through Kyle’s lips, ravaging him.

With a singular thought of defilement, she furiously intermingled her tongue with his.

Once the restraints were loosened, they wouldn’t be tied again.

The sounds of their salivas exchanging echoed loudly in the still room.

What started as a clumsy kiss escalated into a heated entanglement.

Vivian drank Kyle’s saliva as if she was parched.

Her strength began to yield to Kyle’s grip as he held her tight.

As he began to accept her, the man who had once shoved her away slowly embraced her.

Yeah.

Vivian thought while glaring at him.

You’re mine. You idiot.

Sharing memories while dancing?

That was no longer necessary.

Vivian was leaving her mark on his life her own way.

“Pah…”

Vivian pressed her lips against his once more.

Even as she roughly forced her lips against Kyle’s, a bit of blood trickled from her mouth.

“Ha… ha…”

She couldn’t catch her breath, excitement and rough actions rendering her gasping.

“This is my first time, right?”

Vivian asked, trying to observe the color of his pupils with her spell.

Instead of responding to her question, he simply called her name.

“Vivian—”

Receiving the wrong answer again, she pressed their lips together once more.

The first kiss was far too brief.

Vivian’s rage showed no signs of waning, and she craved to sink deeper into her frenzy.

Vivian alternated sucking on his upper and lower lips.

Drool smeared messily across their faces, but she paid it no mind.

The second kiss lasted much longer than the first, only pulling away when they found it hard to breathe.

“…Tch.”

She spat the saliva she had exchanged onto the floor.

Kyle’s dark eyes swirled with confusion as they bounced between her own.

Seeing him like that, a devious smile crept onto Vivian’s face.

Vivian giggled.

“…Cute? Nah. I just want to tighten your leash my way.”

She felt pleased at how Kyle stood still.

Exhaling shallow breaths, Vivian spoke one last time.

She preened his dark hair.

“…You’re my tool. You’ll never escape me. I’ll make you forget your hometown.”

“…”

“…I think I’ll just toy with your heart.”

Then she kissed him again.

Kyle didn’t resist this time either.

With a smirk, Vivian pressed her lips against his.

As if he were part of her body, uncaring of guilt, she bit his lips, inflicting pain.

Kyle didn’t push her away despite the pain.

Well, after all, he was the one who shielded her from blades… How much could a mere bite hurt?

Vivian wrapped her arms around Kyle’s neck tightly once more.

That first kiss had been so sweet.

 

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