CHAPTER 05

“Arianne, should we put this up? I found it outside,” said Eve.

“What is it?”

Arianne handed a warm teacup to Eve and took the flyer.

Estella was running around loudly, excited to explore the new shop.

“Wow!” she kept shouting with excitement from all directions.

“They’re looking for someone?”

Arianne’s face turned pale as she read the flyer.

‘This flyer is still being handed out all the way out here?’

The story about the missing crown princess had already faded from public interest.

At first, people gossiped—Vivian ran away with her bodyguard, died, or was kidnapped. But now, people had forgotten that Vivian Endless Rubentas had ever disappeared.

Yet, the flyer was still circulating.

Arianne quickly checked the bottom of the flyer.

‘……Samuel Rubentas.’

That was the name of the person looking for Vivian.

“Arianne, Arianne!”

Eve shook Arianne, who was lost in thought.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong? Can’t we put this up?”

“Let’s not. It’s better not to put up something this old and worn.”

“You think so too?”

Eve nodded without any doubt.

Her eyes glanced past the flyer—without much interest.

A gentle breeze passed by sleeping Samuel’s head, and cold sweat covered his skin.

It had been a long time since he took a nap.

The two rings on his fingers gave off a faint light, like they could vanish at any moment.

Samuel was sleeping uncomfortably in a chair, frowning from a dream.

“Vivian…”

He called out her name with a desperate voice.

It was the first time.

In the past 7 years, he had never once dreamed of Vivian.

His lips trembled.

And the dream wasn’t even a happy one.

Samuel was standing in Vivian’s empty room.

Everything in the room had been chosen by him for her.

He picked only the softest and most expensive fabrics for the sofa, bed, curtains, and carpet to avoid hurting her delicate skin.

All the furniture had rounded corners so she wouldn’t get hurt.

This was the best Samuel thought he could do for her.

And he believed Vivian understood his heart—even without him saying it.

‘Thank you, Samuel. I really… like it.’

That’s what Vivian had said.

But he couldn’t remember her expression when she said it.

He thought it was obvious she would be happy, so he hadn’t paid close attention to how she really felt.

He had made her room look just like the one she had in Endless, so of course she would like it… or so he assumed.

Samuel sat down on a chair next to the tea table she had left behind.

His hand touched the table.

Clink—

A quiet sound came from the carpet.

He looked down.

Rolling on the floor was the wedding ring he shared with Vivian.

A tiny ring that barely fit on his pinky finger.

“Hah…”

Samuel picked it up and tightly gripped it in his hand.

Then he called out with a tense voice, “Noark!”

“Yes, Your Highness?” Noark answered, entering nervously.

When he saw Samuel’s cold, shining eyes, he swallowed hard.

“Bring Lucia Pond here. Right now.”

Noark nodded and rushed out at the sharp order.

It didn’t even take ten minutes for Noark to return with Lucia Pond.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought her.”

Samuel gave the pale-faced Lucia a quick look and motioned to Noark.

Lucia grabbed his arm in fear.

“You’re leaving me alone?”

Lucia had served as Vivian’s secretary for a long time.

But Noark brushed her off without reacting.

Lucia curled up like a frightened mouse.

“Lucia Pond,” Samuel called out.

“Y-Yes!” she answered, trembling.

“Did Vivian… ever have another man?”

“…What?” Lucia looked up in shock and quickly shook her head.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she clutched her skirt tightly.

She still couldn’t believe Vivian had disappeared.

“Absolutely not,” she said again. “She would never do something like that.”

Samuel stared at her coldly and asked again,

“Maybe… your memory is wrong.”

Lucia went blank for a moment.

“Are you saying you suspect Vivian?” she asked, eyes filling with tears.

“This is why she left! She could never be at peace—not even until the end! Why don’t you trust her? What exactly was so untrustworthy? Do you think she fooled me? Fooled everyone in the palace?”

Samuel flinched.

The grip on the ring in his hand loosened.

He silently watched Lucia as she burst into tears.

‘Suspect…’

He rested his hand on his lap.

“She was kind, always understanding,” Lucia went on angrily. “But everyone just used that! Watching her all the time, pressuring her! You said giving her a good house, nice clothes, and food was enough—but what good is that if she was trapped? You’re the one who pushed her away…!”

“Enough!” Samuel snapped, his face stiff and cold.

But his voice wasn’t as threatening as before, so Lucia only fell silent with a sigh.

She wiped away her tears.

‘Was it really me…?’

Samuel’s lips trembled.

He had done everything for her… but was it all wrong?

Lucia spoke again in a shaky voice.

“Vivian was right.”

Samuel looked up at her.

“She said… her gift as a memory sorcerer wasn’t a blessing, but a curse. And she was right.”

Lucia buried her face in her hands and sobbed loudly.

The ring fell from Samuel’s hand—and so did his heart.

Clink

Samuel woke up slowly when the ring slipped off his finger.

Without emotion, he picked it up and put it back on.

He washed his face, stood up, and sighed deeply.

‘Why now…?’

It was something that happened not long after Vivian left.

If he was going to dream about the past, he wished at least she would appear.

But in all seven years, Vivian had never shown up in his dreams.

Not even once.

Even if it would break his heart, just seeing her again would be worth it.

‘Did she hate me that much?’

Samuel’s purple eyes looked dark and heavy.

There had been no clues about Vivian for the past seven years.

It was as if she had turned into a bird and flown away.

Outside, night had already fallen.

Samuel brushed back his sweat-soaked hair.

Even tonight, Vivian was probably wandering somewhere he didn’t know.

Maybe she didn’t return because she couldn’t find her way back.

That useless hope rose inside him—then faded like a wave.

‘Vivian… do you ever think of me?’

Samuel thought of her every moment.

Not a single day passed without her in his mind.

‘I miss you, Vivian.’

So much, it hurt.

Eve lay down on her bed.

It was a bed carefully picked by Arianne, soft and warm.

In the dark room, Eve’s pink eyes glowed faintly.

“…I’ll do well, right?”

Her heart beat fast with excitement.

Tomorrow would be her first day in Rembrandt.

It reminded her of when she opened her first restaurant in Vibraze.

After so many ups and downs, she had come this far with Arianne.

They were in Rembrandt for Estella—and to prepare for the end.

But her heart fluttered anyway.

Eve let out a soft sigh.

“Where could he be…”

She looked out at the night view.

Somewhere in this city, Estella’s real father was supposed to be.

She hoped it wouldn’t be too late to find him.

Yawn…

Her eyes grew heavy.

She slowly fell asleep, slipping into yet another dream—like always, one she would forget in the morning.

Eve dreamed.

In that dream, she became a woman named Vivian.

Vivian had once dreamed of being happy with her husband too.

Even though she knew it would all disappear like a bubble, she kept hoping.

Today was one of those days.