TNBTW | Episode 39

“Really, the reason… Of course, I requested a meeting for both of them.”

A much softer voice broke the silence. As if Vivianne had not been wearing a rigid expression, she gently placed her teacup down with a modest smile on her lips.

“I am fully prepared to face the consequences of my rudeness that day. I also want to apologize for failing to grasp the situation properly and inadvertently hurting your feelings, Madame.”

Having practiced countless times, pretending to be calm wasn’t tricky. Lowering her gaze slightly, she put on a genuinely apologetic expression, and the Duchess of Devion’s face showed a hint of embarrassment.

Vivianne, hands folded neatly, lowered her head a little deeper.

She had already sensed that the Duchess of Devion was a soft-hearted person.

In fact, this had been easy to tell. The Duchess would never have waited this long if it hadn’t been for that.

No matter how much one claimed to be alone, few nobles would quietly accept an unjust accusation. For someone of the Duchess’s stature, it was even less likely.

With her naturally delicate nature, the newly appointed Duchess, overwhelmed by her sudden rise in status, was no match for Vivianne.

“Of course, I must take the puppy, Becky, back. After all, you were forced into looking after her, and I can’t continue to impose.”

Vivianne said this with a tone that conveyed sincere regret for causing so much trouble.

At this point, even the Duchess of Devion should have let it go. It was only right to be generous toward someone who acknowledged their mistake and asked for forgiveness. Not showing such generosity was unbefitting of a noble.

With that thought, Vivianne slowly lifted her head, only to freeze. The pale green eyes looking back at her were filled with sympathy.

‘That look again.’

Vivianne gritted her teeth. The reason she disliked Edith was because of that gaze.

From the first time they met until now, the Duchess of Devion had always looked at her as though pitying her. It was like gazing at a helpless child needing help, someone who desperately wanted to offer a hand.

It made Vivianne deeply uncomfortable. She was the daughter of the Grand Duke of Valesia and a proper representative of his house.

When she had stepped out into society alone as a proxy for the Grand Duchess, who had disgraced the family name with her many misdeeds, those had mocked her. But after enduring for a year, even they had come to recognize Vivianne as part of society.

Yet, standing before this woman, Vivianne felt herself shrinking. She hated that sensation.

“What will happen to Becky if you take her back?”

The question hit her unexpectedly, causing Vivianne’s fingertips to chill despite her best effort to maintain composure.

“Will you secretly hide her again, to raise her in secret? Surely, at some point…”

“Do you think I’m so foolish as to not know that?”

Unable to endure the soft tone of the Duchess any longer, Vivianne snapped back sharply.

Though she was a little pleased that the Duchess hadn’t blabbered about Becky, she still couldn’t find it in herself to think favorably of her.

“No, that’s not it. I’m sure you, Your Grace, would know.”

Vivianne wasn’t moved by the expected response. All she wanted was for the Duchess to understand what she was saying and withdraw so this conversation could end.

“But at your age, I think it’s something you could still be unaware of.”

Using the last of her patience, Vivianne attempted to smile, but instead froze. Her expression became rigid, so stiff it almost felt as if she might break if touched.

“You’re eleven this year, aren’t you?”

The Duchess did not seem to expect an answer to her question, and she continued speaking.

“At that age, you have so many desires. It’s the perfect age for that.”

How dreamy those words were. Words that could only come from someone who lived in ease, daring to say them to her.

Vivianne, who wanted to snap at her to stop speaking carelessly without understanding, couldn’t open her mouth.

She couldn’t do it. Something hot rose up her throat, and she felt that if she spoke, long-buried emotions would spill out.

“Vivianne, you are different from your mother. You are certainly the future of our family. You will always be that way, won’t you?”

“Of course, Father.”

Vivianne had to be the clever daughter. She must not inherit her mother’s flaw of quickly losing her reason, despite her beauty.

“My Vivi, your blood carries the royal line. No one will dare look down on you.”

“Of course, Mother. How could anyone look down on our Valesia bloodline?”

She had to mature quickly. She had inherited the noble blood of the imperial family. She had to act elegantly and nobly as a royal, for it would please her mother, as if she too had become part of that lineage.

Thus, she had lived for them. Vivianne’s eleven years of life had been solely for her parents. To become her father’s future and her mother’s ideal, Vivianne had worked tirelessly.

But had she ever wanted that?

Confronting the question she had been avoiding, she felt confused, yet the answer was clear. She had never desired that.

What she had truly wanted was…

“Woof! Woof!”

At that moment, with the familiar sound, someone hurriedly scratched at the door. As if she had been waiting for it, the Duchess of Devion stood up.

With a clatter, the door swung open, and something raced across the carpet with a tap tap tap. Vivianne instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.

“Woof!”

In an instant, Becky jumped onto her lap. Unable to hold back her joy, Vivianne tried to push the excited puppy away, but when its warm tongue licked her cheek, she couldn’t help but relax.

“Fool, I told you not to act like you know me…”

It would be a lie to say she hadn’t projected herself onto this little dog. It might be something to laugh at if someone heard, but Vivianne truly thought Becky resembled her.

So, she couldn’t just stand by and watch as that puppy, born against its will, was discarded for not meeting others’ expectations.

That’s why she had taken it in. She had hidden it and raised it. Though she knew that, before long, she would have to send the growing puppy away, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“You foolish thing…”

She had already fallen in love with this silly puppy that didn’t understand no matter how many times she repeated the same thing.

It didn’t matter that it didn’t guard against strangers or perform tricks. It wasn’t because it resembled her. Even after realizing that the puppy didn’t resemble her at all, she still loved it.

Vivianne simply loved Becky. For the first time in her life, she loved someone unconditionally, and was loved in return. She didn’t know such a thing was possible.

“There must have been a reason you had to raise Becky secretly. I’m sure that Your Grace already knew that it would be discovered someday. Even so, you saved her because you wanted her to live well.”

Lick lick. Along with the busy sound of lapping at her face, a kind voice added.

“I believe your heart was right.”

Beyond the wagging tail that kept disturbing her blurry vision, Edith smiled.

‘Ah, yes. So that’s why.’

It was then that Vivianne finally realized why she had hated Edith so much. It was because she always felt like she could act like a child in front of her.

She felt that if she behaved like that, Edith would understand her, that if they became closer, she could rely on her.

She knew that the pity in Edith’s eyes was actually concern. She couldn’t have failed to notice how kind Edith was. Especially after the whole Viscountess Standen incident

“Still, if you take Becky back like this, Your Grace might be troubled again. If you’re okay with it, I can take care of her until you can bring her home.”

Swish swish. The clear sound of tea being poured filled the air, and a sweet aroma lingered. It was definitely hot chocolate.

“So, don’t worry. Would you like to try this? And some dessert too. I wasn’t kidding, our chef really is excellent! I’m sure Your Grace will be so happy if you try it.”

The pretty little treats were nothing more than decorations to set the mood for conversation, not actual food.

And hot chocolate! If she accidentally got some on her lips or stained her tongue, it would be embarrassing. No one would offer such things unless they treated her like a child.

“Well then.”

For some reason, Vivianne couldn’t outright reject the hand bringing over the delicious-looking dessert.

Hesitating, she gently petted the now-calmed Becky with one hand and cautiously raised the teacup.

The sweet, savory taste spread across her mouth, feeling incredibly warm and comforting. Unlike the coffee she usually drank just to keep up with trends, this was truly sweet and delicious.

She had to be mindful of her diet, but even so, she found herself filling her stomach with sweet and warm things.

“You can come visit anytime if you want to see Becky.”

Though she knew the Duchess of Devion was watching her with a pleased look as she ate, she kept on doing so.

“There’s plenty of cocoa and cookies at the Duke’s mansion.”

By the time her teacup and plate were empty, she no longer minded the look. In fact, perhaps it was even before that, she didn’t mind anymore.

Maybe, just maybe, this kind Duchess would understand her feelings?

A wish that had been hidden deep inside her finally came true.