There Is No Paradise Where You Escaped - Chapter 45

A carriage adorned with the emblem of Baytness passed through the first drawbridge of Rottermond. The tenant farmers raised their hands in enthusiastic cheers for the lord’s return, and the Baytness carriage pressed on through the warm welcome, crossing the second drawbridge.

Susanna, tense from the distant sound of approaching hooves, couldn’t sit still for a moment. She kept glancing at Donnelly, anxiously asking when they would arrive. When the carriage came close enough that she could see it simply by raising her head, she straightened her back and clenched her lips tightly.

As the first carriage stopped in front of Susanna and the servants, the rest of the carriages following behind came to a halt as well. A servant opened the carriage door, and Edwin stepped out first, stretching his long legs to the ground.

Susanna couldn’t hide her joy at seeing her son after so long.

“Eddie.”

She strode toward Edwin and welcomed him with open arms.

“Have you been well, Eddie? Nothing happened, I hope?”

“Fortunately, everything has been the same as always.”

Susanna narrowed her eyes at Edwin, then turned her gaze to the two women stepping out of the carriage one after the other. The first to emerge was Charlotte, but Susanna’s interest did not lie with her.

A strikingly beautiful woman with golden hair that glistened in the sunlight stepped down, supported by a servant. When Susanna finally confirmed the identity of the woman accompanying her son, she was utterly taken aback.

She let out a faint sigh, instinctively recognizing the kind of beauty that could captivate even another woman. Glaring at Edwin once more, she realized that, like most men who fixate only on beautiful women, he had already lost all his attention to the stunning figure before him—one who looked like an angel sent from heaven.

Vivianne, eyes wide with wonder, admired the grandeur of Rottermond Castle. As her gaze swept in a circle, it finally met Susanna’s. Startled, Vivianne straightened upon recognizing the baroness.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Baroness. I am Vivianne Aveline.”

Even her voice was sweet, like a nightingale’s song—soft, kind, and pleasant to the ears.

Susanna felt even more conflicted but concealed her emotions with a warm smile.

“I’ve heard so much about you, Miss Aveline. It must have been a long journey—please take some time to rest.”

Vivianne’s initial perception of herself as a complete outsider to this place began to crumble. The baroness’s warm reception put her at ease, and a gentle smile spread across her face.

After Susanna turned away, Vivianne absentmindedly glanced at Edwin. The moment their eyes met, her smile disappeared.

She must have looked foolish, smiling like that. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks, and she turned to find Charlotte, only to realize that Charlotte, who had been right beside her, was now awkwardly hiding behind her.

Come to think of it, the baroness had completely ignored Charlotte when greeting them. As Vivianne recalled the strained relationship between the two, she hadn’t expected it to be so bad that even a simple greeting would be skipped.

“Are you alright?” Vivianne gently clasped Charlotte’s hand.

Charlotte’s small hand fidgeted in hers, her face reddening.

“… Yes.”

Vivianne smiled softly and lifted her head—only to find Edwin still standing there.

His gaze fell on Charlotte, who was clinging to Vivianne, before settling coldly on her. Then, without saying a word, he turned away.

Vivianne hesitated, ready to speak, but closed her mouth as she watched Edwin’s retreating figure.

Still holding Charlotte’s hand tightly, she followed after him, though the weight of Charlotte’s reluctant steps lingered in her mind.

────── ✾ ──────

Unlike the exterior of Rottermond Castle, which reflected its age, the interior was designed with a cleaner, more sophisticated aesthetic, making it feel far removed from its actual years. The room they were led to was adorned with plaster sculptures and several oil paintings on the walls—further proof of the baroness’s refined taste.

Later, at the invited dinner, Vivianne couldn’t help but admire the atmosphere of the dining hall. The table’s centerpiece was elegant and sophisticated yet exuded a sense of humility, adorned not with bold colors but with muted, delicate floral arrangements. Everything aligned perfectly with Vivianne’s tastes, making her heart inexplicably race.

Though it was her first time meeting the baroness, the emotional walls between them seemed to crumble, as if they had known each other for a long time.

“So, how have you been lately? I heard you rarely leave Rodinia unless there’s a special reason,” Susanna asked, steering the conversation over the otherwise quiet table.

Edwin seemed different tonight. Typically brash and prone to reckless antics that could make people faint from shock, he now carried an air of unexpected refinement.

At the same time, the sight felt strangely familiar to her. After thinking about it, she realized that it reminded her of how he had appeared to her when they first met. Back then, she had naively admired him, unaware of his true nature. If she had known, she would never have offered him such praise.

“My work at the company hasn’t been too busy, so I haven’t had many reasons to leave Rodinia.”

“You should also put effort into social affairs. A person can’t just work. You need to show your face in different circles.”

“I’m… trying,” Edwin replied, his tone even—dry yet affectionate, warm yet devoid of lingering sentiment.

Susanna watched Edwin as he ate, her expression faintly displeased.

When she had received Humphrey’s letter, her worries had been shapeless and vague. But now, seeing things with her own eyes, she knew exactly what she had to keep in mind.

Long ago, even Neway had cared deeply about following proper etiquette, much like Preston, with its strict rules and procedures. However, as many nobles perished in battle and the city was devastated by frequent wars, the etiquette that once upheld dignity gradually came to be seen as an outdated custom.

But as time passed and the traces of war faded, with no threats left in sight, the nobles once again clung to the very etiquette that had once seemed obsolete—using it to reaffirm their social status. The problem was that these traditions had already faded and disappeared, leaving their attempts disconnected from their true heritage.

That was why the nobles of Neway all admired Preston’s etiquette. Sending their children to Preston to study proper manners had already become common practice. This was also the reason why Edwin, an adopted son of unknown origins, had managed to secure a place in Neway so easily. With his flawless grasp of Preston’s etiquette and decorum, no one could look down on him.

Yet, meeting another person who seemed straight out of an outdated etiquette manual left Susanna both anxious and fascinated.

As she watched Edwin and Vivianne dine together, they seemed an exceptionally fitting pair—so much so that an eerie chill crawled down her spine.

“By the way, I hear Windler is getting married. How are the preparations going?”

Out of nowhere, Susanna’s words struck Charlotte like an arrow.

The sudden question made Charlotte drop her cutlery with a clatter, her eyes trembling in dismay.

“Yes…”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that. I was worried you’d completely drain Eddie’s household.”

“Mother.”

Edwin intervened, stepping in between Susanna and Charlotte’s first conversation.

“For Charlotte to drain my household, she’d have to fill Rottermond Castle with diamonds. That’s not going to happen, so you don’t have to worry.”

“You never know. She might ask you to buy enough diamonds to fill the manor.”

Edwin stopped cutting his steak and looked straight at Susanna. Despite her son’s sharp stare, Susanna never lost her graceful, composed smile.

Vivianne, caught in the middle of it all, felt as if she were holding a ticking time bomb. She sat tensely, observing the atmosphere at the table.

“I wonder if Miss Aveline found the room I prepared to her liking.”

The next arrow was aimed at Vivianne, but she responded without the slightest hint of nervousness, smiling gracefully.

“I liked it so much that, if possible, I’d love to stay a little longer, madam. If you don’t mind, I would love to learn the art of selecting artwork directly from you.”

“The artwork in your room was chosen by my husband.”

“I would love to learn about the arrangement of pieces as well.”

Susanna pursed her lips. There was nothing to fault in Vivianne’s manner, much like Edwin.

Feeling slightly frustrated, Susanna lightly pressed a hand to her chest.

“I’m sure your parents must be very proud to have a daughter like you, Miss Aveline… so warm, beautiful, and intelligent. You must have been showered with love growing up.”

“Thank you…”

At that moment, Susanna caught sight of Vivianne, glancing at Edwin, subtly gauging his reaction. Not missing the opportunity, Susanna swiftly changed the subject.

“For some reason, I have a feeling that you and I will get along very well, Miss Aveline. Of course, we’ll need to talk more to know for sure, but sometimes you just get a sense of these things. What do you think, Eddie? Do you feel the same? Hahaha. But what would men know about such things, right, Miss Aveline?”

“Well, I suppose…”

“While you’re in Rottermond, I hope we can spend a lot of time together. I really want to get to know you better, Miss Aveline.”

Susanna’s introduction grew long, and Vivianne instinctively sensed that behind such an extended preamble, a difficult request or suggestion would surely follow.

Yet she couldn’t quite pinpoint Susanna’s true intentions—was she testing Vivianne, or was this about Edwin?

The only thing she was certain of was this: Susanna had deemed her an unnecessary presence around Edwin—someone who should disappear.

“What if, instead of leaving after the royal event, you stayed in Rottermond indefinitely, Miss Aveline?”

At that moment, Edwin, who had shown little interest in the conversation, suddenly froze.

More than being surprised by Susanna’s suggestion, Vivianne was intrigued by Edwin’s reaction.

Her heart pounded.

This could be her only legitimate way to escape him.

The thought that she could flee Rodinia—and him—through his adoptive mother stirred complicated emotions within Vivianne.

“Isn’t it better to trust a woman who understands rather than a man who is clumsy in caring for a lady?”

“Miss Aveline will not be leaving Rodinia.” Edwin intervened, his voice deepening—cold and unyielding.

He made no effort to mask his displeasure, each word laced with authority.

“Eddie, I was asking Miss Aveline.”

“Miss Aveline has no choice in the matter. So you should be asking me.” 

Edwin refused to yield as if he were competing with his own mother. Vivianne stared at him, stunned. She had thought he only asserted ownership over her in private—but here he was, asserting his ownership openly, regardless of the audience.

────── ✾ ──────

A few years had passed since Susanna’s son, Frederick, had died.

One early morning, Susanna awoke suddenly. It had been so long since she last dreamed of Frederick picking daffodils.

Without properly dressing or fixing her hair, she searched every corner of the house in the early morning fog, looking for a place where daffodils might be blooming.

Because that was where her son would be.

It was a sign—a call from her beloved child to come find him. An opportunity.

Then, she remembered something—the gardener had once mentioned planting daffodils outside the main gate. Without hesitation, she ran.

And there, she found her son.

Crying, crushing the daffodil petals beneath him.

────── ✾ ──────

Late at night, Susanna lay awake, lost in an old memory.

Standing by the closed window, she gazed out over the Rottermond territory beyond the clear glass.

This was the land her proud son had built.

The land where he had poured his blood, barely surviving countless near-death experiences.

The land he had given his life for.

Yet, in the end, this land was nothing more than a stepping stone.

A mere foothold for a greater dream.

She knew better than anyone that living as someone’s son was just another step in that process.

And yet, she loves him.

She would love him always. In life and death, she would protect him.

If he asked for her back, she would give it to him. If he asked for her throat, she would offer it without hesitation.

“My lady, are you not sleeping?”

Noticing the light still on beneath Susanna’s door, Donnelly stepped inside.

Susanna wrapped her arms around herself against the chill creeping through the open doorway.

“I can’t sleep. I’m too worried about Eddie… My heart aches.”

Humphrey had been strangely optimistic about Edwin and Aveline.

Well, it would make sense since he hadn’t seen them together.

“Are you concerned because of Miss Aveline? From what I’ve observed, there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual between them. I don’t think you need to worry, my lady.”

“… That’s exactly why I am worried. Because it isn’t love.”

Her voice stretched weakly, like a sigh too heavy to bear.

“Miss Aveline has no choice in the matter. So you should be asking me.” 

If it were truly love—if there was genuine affection—then no amount of resistance, no opposition from ghosts of the past, could sever their bond.

Love should be strong enough to erase even the deepest pain.

But was what Edwin felt really love?

It was blind. It was controlling. It was nothing but dominion.

To take and to claim without question—that was not love. It could only lead to destruction, tearing at each other until they both crumbled into ruin.

And perhaps… perhaps Edwin wanted that.

The product of resentment and hatred was trampling and destroying the child she loved most.

The storm clouds, heavy with rain, needed to clear—before the downpour began.