<CHAPTER 5>

Vivian sat inside the lavishly decorated carriage.

She was seated on a chair that was adorned with excessive ornamentation yet lacked any true substance.

She opened her mouth once more.

“Luiza, Bernard.

Which house do these people belong to, where did they come from, what are their respective hobbies, and what recent celebrations or misfortunes have occurred in their family?”

Mariana Pernolain stared blankly.

Her flustered dark-brown eyes spun in circles.

“Well………… um…………”

After opening and closing her lips several times, Mariana suddenly cried out loudly.

“Ah, I don’t know!

My head hurts.

Vivian, you handle it for me.

Like you always do.”

“Of course!

Leave it to me.

But, my lady, these are truly important people, so you must memorize them.”

The place they were heading to now was the estate of Count Odley.

Mariana had received an invitation to a ball hosted by the Countess Odley, and Vivian was accompanying her in attendance.

“Now, please repeat after me.

The House of Snaise, their main family resides in Amin.”

“Tch, I don’t want to…………”

“Luiza Snaise enjoys horseback riding, Bernard Snaise enjoys cooking goose liver, and recently the Snaise family hired a chef who once worked at the Imperial Palace.

However, the chef has a strong pride and is in conflict with the Baroness, so if you have the chance to converse with them, you must avoid that topic.”

“Ugh………………”

“Now, would you like to try saying it yourself, my lady?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know!

I don’t know!”

Mariana covered her ears tightly with her palms and shook her head.

“Come now.”

A faint smile lingered at the corner of Vivian’s lips as she coaxed her.

Sisters who shared the same blood and surname.

Yet their circumstances were entirely different.

One wore a pink velvet dress trimmed with abundant lace and a dainty ribbon in her hair.

The other wore a black dress covered with a pure white apron and a modest cap upon her head.

Vivian envied Mariana, who could whine childishly and refuse even the light responsibilities that were rightfully hers to bear.

Even when Mariana made mistakes in high society, the Viscount and Viscountess Pernolain would merely laugh it off and shield their youngest daughter.

A life one might find in any ordinary household, even setting aside the matter of nobility.

It was also a moment Vivian would never obtain in her lifetime.

‘I already knew that.’

Each time she was newly reminded of it, something heavy rose in her chest and threatened to spill from her throat.

‘Calm down, Vivian.

Even if you are sad and lament that fact, what will change?

Nothing in reality will change.

Focus on what you must do right now.

That is your life.’

Vivian carefully smoothed the edges of that emotion herself and buried it deep within.

She had always been alone.

She had to comfort herself alone and soothe herself alone, without telling anyone.

“You truly won’t memorize it?”

That was why she smiled even more deeply.

To conceal the wounds that grew with every breath.

“No!

I won’t memorize it!”

“If the Viscountess scolds you, I won’t take responsibility.”

“Hmph!

How could Mother possibly scold me?

I don’t know, I don’t know.

I’m relying only on you today, Vivian.”

“Very well.

Please rely on me, my lady.”

Vivian’s gaze slid toward the carriage window.

Beyond the tall iron gates stood a stately mansion.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Ah, how bothersome, this noble honor.”

Mariana let out a deep sigh.

Unlike her indifference in the carriage, Mariana could not hide her excitement.

“Wow!

Countess Odley, your necklace is so beautiful.”

In the banquet hall and in the ballroom, she chattered in excitement without pause.

Though it was basic etiquette among nobles not to display one’s heightened emotions excessively.

The nobles attending the ball seemed to find Mariana adorable.

Or perhaps they regarded her that way because of the splendid dress and glittering jewelry she wore.

Especially with the exceedingly beautiful maid standing beside her, who was itself a symbol of wealth.

“How can one achieve such an elegant neckline like yours, Countess Odley?

Please share your secret.

Ah, I’ve brought you a necklace as a gift.

If I cannot become like your neck, at least I shall find satisfaction through it!”

Mariana beamed brightly as she rephrased what Vivian had whispered to her.

“Oh my, how thoughtful.

How could a young lady still so young think in such a considerate way?

I must arrange another meeting with you to show you how it looks when worn.”

A promise of a future invitation, all but sealed verbally.

Having achieved her objective, Mariana smiled even more brightly.

She repeatedly glanced somewhere before whispering to Vivian.

“I know.”

“You already know what I’m going to say?”

“Of course.

I’ve been watching you for years, my lady.”

Vivian was perceptive.

The fact that she was the only human doll who had remained in the Pernolain household until now was proof enough.

“You fancy the second young master of the Augustus family, don’t you.”

Vivian glanced at the man who had been staring at them from afar.

When their eyes met, he flinched and hurriedly looked away.

It was the man who had sat beside Mariana during the pre-ball banquet.

It seemed they had shared quite a pleasant conversation in that short time.

“Oh, Vivian!

If you say it like that, it’s embarrassing.”

Mariana playfully struck Vivian’s arm.

Her cheeks were flushed pink.

“I’ve given Countess Odley a gift and received an invitation to return.

I’ve done everything I needed to do, haven’t I?

Let me spend just a little time with Horace, please?”

The night deepened, and the atmosphere of the ball ripened.

Under the warmth of wine, young men and women began slipping quietly toward the garden doors.

‘The Viscountess Pernolain is weak toward her youngest daughter.

If I stop her here, I’ll be scolded worse than if I let her go.’

In truth, no choice could spare her from the Viscountess’s temper.

Vivian merely chose the lesser evil.

Moreover, Horace Augustus did not have a poor reputation in the area.

It would not be a bad match for Mariana.

“Very well, my lady.

I shall keep watch nearby.”

“Yay!

I’ll tell Mother never to scold you.

Don’t worry!”

“You are truly reassuring, my lady.”

Vivian smiled faintly.

Mariana signaled eagerly to Horace with her eyes.

Soon Mariana and Vivian exited to the garden first, and shortly after, Horace followed cautiously.

“Darling!”

Mariana skipped toward Horace.

After whispering briefly, the two walked into the dark shrubbery.

‘How can strangers of barely two or three hours become “darling” so easily?

Ah, nobles…’

Vivian shook her head.

It was a realm she could never understand.

The whispers mixed with rustling leaves eventually faded away.

A full moon hung high in the sky.

Moonlight cast Vivian’s shadow upon the wall of the mansion.

Leaning against it, she shifted her body playfully, changing the shape of her shadow.

Depending on its form, she could become an Empress, a noble lady, a young aristocrat, or even the daughter of an ordinary household.

But in reality, she could become none of those things.

The orchestra’s music from inside the mansion suddenly sounded louder.

Laughter tore through the night sky.

Beneath it, Vivian felt detached from the world.

She belonged nowhere.

She could not enter the ballroom, nor disappear into the depths of the garden.

Her nose stung.

‘Time is passing so slowly today.’

The night was unbearably long.

‘Why does time flow so mercilessly slow for me?’

That winter was especially harsh.

The biting wind froze the night bit by bit.

Yet even so, could it truly be this cold?

Could the world truly feel this cold?

Surely not for everyone.

Vivian trembled and wrapped her arms around herself.

It looked as though she were embracing herself.

Then it happened.

“Ah.

This isn’t the right path?”

Someone stepped into Vivian’s solitary world.

Uninvited.

Her blue eyes widened.

It felt as though time slowed only in the space they occupied.

Neatly arranged silver hair gleamed elegantly.

Clear blue eyes met hers gently.

Eyes the same color as her own.

A high nose, full lips, dimples that appeared when he smiled.

Handsome and pure, angelic in appearance.

He was the most beautiful person Vivian had ever met.

Her heart pounded strangely, as though foretelling turmoil.

In later years, Vivian would never forget this moment.

She remembered even the direction of the wind that stirred her hair and the way the noise of the ballroom faded into distance.

“Could you tell me the way?”

He stepped closer.

Looking back, it could never have been a coincidence.

This was her first meeting with Achero Rodrigo.

If one were to call it destiny.

A deeply tragic one.

The beginning of such a meeting.