CHAPTER 08
Chapter 3 – A Dream
The day felt so long.
It was boring—so boring that even the slow movement of the clouds in the sky felt interesting.
Samuel tapped the table with his pen at a steady rhythm.
Between the soft tapping, a deep silence filled the room.
He didn’t even notice that the people in the meeting had stopped talking.
Noah sighed quietly. Samuel had been like this often over the last 7 years.
Before, Samuel had always been passionate and well-organized. But ever since Vivian disappeared, he became like a broken machine.
“Your Majesty,” Noah said.
“…The flowers are blooming outside,” Samuel mumbled randomly.
“Your Majesty?”
This is no time to be distracted!
Noah called him again, more firmly this time.
“Prince Cornelius from the delegation is asking how much rice we can export next year and for what price.”
Noah spoke quickly and clearly.
Samuel finally looked away from the flowers in the garden and smiled faintly.
“There’s no need to rush. We still have plenty of time.”
It was spring—the season Vivian had loved most.
She used to beg Samuel to let her walk 30 minutes longer during this time of year.
But one day, she had stopped asking.
Was it during their second year of marriage? Or the third?
Samuel gave a bitter smile.
“Maybe my head is starting to break down.”
Just as Prince Cornelius was about to complain about Samuel’s strange behavior, Noah quickly stepped in.
“I believe His Majesty simply meant that the flowers are beautiful today. Why don’t we enjoy lunch in the garden? The royal chef brought fresh lobster just for the Prince. The scenery will make it even more enjoyable. And since lunch is soon anyway, this might be a good time to take a short break.”
Noah smiled politely.
Cornelius paused, then closed his mouth.
To be honest, he was starting to feel hungry anyway.
And with how Samuel was acting, the meeting was likely to go their way regardless.
“Alright,” Cornelius agreed.
“Then please head outside first. His Majesty and I will join you shortly,” Noah said.
He quickly sent the guests and the foreign minister out.
Samuel still stared at the garden.
“Your Majesty? Ah—Your Majesty!” Noah called again.
Samuel slowly turned his head toward him.
“What?”
“This isn’t the time to be like this! Didn’t you hear them? They want to double the price of flour compared to last year. Why are you staying silent?”
“I was enjoying it. I’m curious how much the foreign minister was paid under the table to just agree like that.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?!”
“Because the flowers were blooming.”
Noah got angry and leaned his face close to Samuel’s.
Samuel frowned and pushed him away. “Back off.”
“I had to be rude so you’d snap out of it! Do you think Lady Vivian would like to see you like this?”
“…I don’t know.”
Samuel wiped his dry face with the back of his hand.
He couldn’t remember what she liked anymore. How she laughed, what kind of voice she had…
He used to be able to picture her perfectly even with his eyes closed.
Now he could remember nothing.
Samuel let out a weak breath.
Noah clenched his teeth and turned away.
Seeing Samuel like this for 7 years straight made him feel hopeless too.
Samuel gave a sad smile.
Seven years… wasn’t that too long?
Now, people whispered that maybe Vivian was dead.
‘No, Vivian. Don’t do this to me.’
How could she leave him alone?
How could she?
“Samuel, I’ll always stay by your side.”
She had once hooked her pinky with his and made a promise.
“Until death.”
She had whispered that.
Samuel tightly shut his eyes.
He first met her on a spring day like today.
The sun had been warm, and the garden was full of flowers—Vivian’s favorite.
‘That day was just like this.’
He couldn’t remember everything about her, but he could never forget that first meeting.
“…Please rest a bit, Your Majesty. I’ll take care of the guests and say you had something urgent come up. I’ll come get you after lunch.”
Samuel silently nodded.
This wasn’t the first time he broke down like this since Vivian disappeared, so Noah handled it gently.
He closed the door and left.
Samuel stared at the flowers for a long time.
He felt sleep slowly creeping in.
He hadn’t been eating or sleeping well lately, so he often fell into random naps like this.
Samuel let out a deep breath, and his thoughts began to fade.
That day, Samuel dreamed of being Vivian—for the first time.
* * *
“Someone said we had a visitor today.”
Vivian peeked her head out.
Her dress was covered in green stains from running around the big garden of the Endless Duke’s mansion.
She had skipped her piano lesson again and spent all day among the flowers.
She was smaller than most 9-year-olds and easily hid behind a tree.
“Miss Vivian!”
“Where are you, Miss Vivian?”
She pouted as she ran away from the people calling for her.
“I really hate piano lessons.”
But her mother would never listen.
Her mother hated it when Vivian didn’t follow her carefully planned schedule.
She’d probably get scolded badly later.
Vivian nervously tiptoed through the garden like a squirrel.
Even if it was risky, she wanted to see the guest who had come today.
“I heard he’s 3 years older than me.”
It was her first time meeting someone around her age, so her cheeks were red with excitement.
Her white hair bounced as she ran and soon reached the guest’s room.
She panted softly.
“This must be it, right?”
She had overheard the maids talking, so she wasn’t completely sure.
Vivian pressed her hand to her chest and slowly turned the doorknob.
“Uh… is anyone here?”
She whispered nervously.
Her heart pounded just like when she ran away earlier.
Then she saw red silk shoes in her view.
“Vivian.”
“Ah! M-Mother!”
Vivian gasped and stepped back.
Why was her mother in the guest room?
She tried to back away, but her mother caught her.
Vivian squeezed her eyes shut.
She was so scared of being scolded.
But her mother didn’t say anything.
Vivian peeked one eye open.
Her mother looked like she was trying hard not to cry. Her lips were pressed tightly together.
“Where were you? Do you know how worried I was? Did you take your medicine today? Are you hurt? What happened to your clothes? You didn’t even eat—do you know how that makes me feel…”
The Duchess suddenly hugged Vivian gently.
‘Oh…’
She wasn’t being scolded.
Vivian blinked.
She never imagined the tears on her shoulder came from her mother.
“I was really worried about you, Vivian.”
Vivian answered quietly, her cheeks turning pink.
“I’m sorry…”
Then, over her mother’s shoulder, she saw a boy standing quietly in the room.
He had light blue hair and purple eyes.
He looked very unique.
Vivian smiled secretly and moved her lips.
‘Hi!’
That boy was Samuel.
Samuel remembered that it had been spring when he first met Vivian.
While still half-dreaming, he heard someone call him.
“Your Majesty?”
Noah had returned from taking care of the guests and was calling gently.
Samuel looked pitiful, sleeping slouched in his chair.
Noah raised his voice.
“…What?”
Samuel slowly woke and looked around.
‘Was that… a dream?’
Noah handed him a glass of water.
“Drink this and wake up. It’s time to go.”
Samuel drank it all at once and patted his chest.
In his dream, he was Vivian.
He felt everything she felt. Thought what she thought. Did what she did.
It was like he had truly become her.
‘What was I like the day I first met Vivian?’
Her messy white hair, her shining pink eyes…
Her pure, bright smile.
Everything about her was unforgettable.
That day, Samuel had secretly hidden his hands behind his back.
He suddenly felt ashamed of his dirty hands.
Vivian had looked so clean and bright, like she would never touch something dirty.
She was pure and beautiful—just like spring.
To Samuel, Vivian was spring.
But when that spring disappeared, Samuel was left in winter again.
His heart dried up, and still he couldn’t find her.
Dead?
No. Never.
“…We’ll search again, Your Majesty. This empire isn’t that big. I promise—we will find Lady Vivian and bring her home.”
Noah said it like a vow, but it didn’t bring a smile to Samuel’s face.
