There Is No Paradise Where You Escaped - Black Velvet Elegy Web Novel

Vivianne, who returned to the manor in time for lunch, was given a task: She was to find the duke as soon as she arrived. She had tried to return before he woke up, if possible. It had been an uneventful outing, but she didn’t want to risk giving him an excuse to reprimand her.

However, despite returning at dawn with a foggy mind dulled by alcohol, Edwin had woken up unusually early. When she heard that he was still in his bedroom, she worried he might still be lying in bed exactly as he had been that morning.

After all, following a night of youthful indulgence, she had expected him to be groaning, eyes half-open, probably too exhausted to function properly.

Standing before the bedroom door, Vivianne knocked before confidently pushing it open.

She had envisioned a scene of thick darkness, the air heavy with the stench of alcohol and cigarettes, and Edwin sprawled naked on the bed.

Instead, she was greeted first by the bright sunlight streaming in, the silk curtains fluttering in the autumn breeze from the open window, and the gentle scent of Edwin mingled with sweet honey wafting through the air.

Following the fragrance, her eyes landed on Edwin, who was leaning casually by a table.

He looked nothing like a man who had woken up early after a night of drinking. In fact, he was impeccably dressed—so sharp and well-fitted in his suit that he could have been placed in a clothing shop’s display window.

With a glance, he gestured toward the table, where a simple meal was laid out. Feeling guilty about her earlier rudeness, Vivianne sat down without a word. Edwin took a seat across from her.

“… You woke up earlier than I expected. I thought you’d be asleep until late afternoon.”

Vivianne’s voice was dry and distant. Edwin’s gaze lingered on her face—cold yet intent—as she picked up her cutlery. His eyes focused particularly on her eyes.

“For someone who drank so much, you’re surprisingly fine. The duke I saw this morning was… quite a sight. You have no idea how terrifying you looked—your eyes were bloodshot red. You looked nothing like the man I know. I actually wondered if you’d gone out last night to enjoy your youth and somehow ended up selling your soul to a demon.”

Vivianne lifted her gaze, fully intending to provoke him. She wanted to criticize his appearance that morning, to wound his pride. At least, that was her goal.

But when he simply sighed, his expression unreadable, she realized her jab had missed its mark.

“Did you cry?”

Instead of taking the bait, he asked the question casually.

Caught off guard, Vivianne instinctively touched the corner of her eye. She thought she had wiped away all traces of her tears from earlier, but apparently she did not.

“… No. I didn’t cry.”

“Your eyes are red.”

“… They’re not. I didn’t cry.”

“Did you cry because you were thinking about your father?”

Since Humphrey had told him that Vivianne had gone to the post office, it wasn’t a difficult connection to make. But every time Edwin mentioned her father, her heart sank. Today was no different.

By the time she had received her task from Humphrey, she had already forgotten how hungry she was.

“So? Did you find what you were looking for?”

Edwin smirked, satisfied, as he tore his pancake into bite-sized pieces.

But Vivianne, who didn’t find his smile amusing in the slightest, refused to eat. Instead, she lowered her hands beneath the table.

“Nothing at all.”

The post office in Farrington was far larger than expected, and the hope of finding traces of her father within its walls had quickly withered. Rather, it was her mother who, like a detective from a mystery novel, uncovered that the last person her father had corresponded with was a man named Karl Schmidt.

“Forget it.”

That single, piercing command shook the tree of despair that had taken deep root in Vivianne’s heart. Like fallen leaves drifting to the ground, the words sent ripples through her mind.

“Don’t think about it. Just forget.”

If it had been anyone other than Edwin, she would have protested immediately. Instead, she bit her lower lip and lowered her sorrowful eyes.

The untouched plate in front of her slid away, replaced by another—this one holding neatly torn pieces of pancake, ready to be eaten.

“Eat. You don’t even have to cut it. Just put it in your mouth.”

He told her to forget, and now he was telling her to eat.

How could someone ask another to forget a loved one and, in the same breath, urge them to eat?

Vivianne, unable to express her frustration at his cruel indifference, quietly picked up her fork. But after a brief pause, she set it down again, lifted her head, and stared directly at Edwin.

“If I forget…?”

Why did he want me to forget?

If I forgot my father, would that benefit him in some way?

“Your Grace once said that because of a promise we made fourteen years ago, you would kill me. You also said that my father’s fate depended on my actions. But if I forget him, then I would have no reason to obey you anymore, would I? Or… if I forget my father, will you forget him too?”

The sadness welling up inside her crawled up her throat, threatening to spill over.

Edwin’s cold blue eyes grazed against her guilt, scraping at the shamelessness buried in her heart. A sudden pang of regret made him avert his gaze.

The more he grasped the depth of her love for her father, the clearer the image of a young boy, covered in mud, became in his mind. That boy, too, must have loved his father just as deeply.

And remembering the one who had destroyed that love made the sin flowing through her veins all the more undeniable.

“Yes.”

Edwin answered without hesitation.

His expression was calm, so serene that there was no trace of mockery or malice, only an unparalleled gentleness.

“If you forget, then I will forget too.”

Then he smiled, the corners of his lips curving in a way that was both deep and sincere.

Seeing that, Vivianne was reminded of a long-ago moment when she had looked upon a pure, innocent boy.

There was no lie in his voice—it was as clear and clean as it had been back then.

────── ✾ ──────

Lies.

On a crisp autumn morning, as Sophie’s hands meticulously adjusted her appearance, Vivianne muttered to herself in the mirror.

The dress reflected in the glass was a gift from Edwin. She lived in his manor, wore the clothes he provided, and ate the meals prepared by his servants. She was already dancing in the palm of his hand, and Edwin—the sole audience to this performance—was likely growing tired of the same repetitive steps.

So this time, he had put her on trial, expecting her to struggle, to anguish, to grieve.

Hadn’t she always been deceived by the duke?

She had swallowed the poison hidden within his sweet cakes countless times before—she had no intention of doing so again.

He was a man wrapped in relentless malice, yet he occasionally showed glimpses of disarming kindness. And each time he did, he tightened the noose around her neck.

Vivianne had no intention of being fooled by his good intentions or his smile again. No longer would she play the puppet on his stage, dancing for his amusement.

“If you forget, then I will forget too.”

Perhaps it was the truth—but only for as long as she was alive.

Once she was dead, there would be nothing left to forget or remember. No fool would keep a promise made to a corpse.

After finishing her preparations, she descended to the lobby. As Sophie had mentioned, Edwin was already waiting for her, ready for their planned outing.

Without hurrying her steps, she approached him with measured grace.

Edwin extended his hand toward her.

After a fleeting hesitation, Vivianne took his hand, keenly aware of the watching servants.

As they stepped out of the manor, a coachman bowed to Edwin, who guided her to the carriage with practiced courtesy.

Ever the gentleman, Edwin escorted Vivianne toward the carriage. But just as she was about to step inside, she hesitated and turned to look at him.

“Um… where exactly are we going? Mr. Humphrey didn’t tell me anything.”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

The polite yet enigmatic smile on Edwin’s lips only deepened her unease.

Bound by her inescapable duty to obey him, Vivianne climbed into the carriage without further protest.

────── ✾ ──────

Their destination turned out to be Mrs. Green’s dress shop.

Vivianne had heard of Mrs. Green’s renowned reputation through Theo. It was obvious why Edwin had brought her here—to have a dress made—but she couldn’t understand why he had insisted on accompanying her.

“How long has it been, Your Grace! Do you know how shocked I was when I heard from Mr. Humphrey?”

Mrs. Green greeted Edwin with a beaming smile.

It was clear from their exchange that they shared a long-standing familiarity. Then, Mrs. Green’s gaze shifted to Vivianne, who stood quietly at Edwin’s side, and she offered her a polite nod.

“It seems I am the first in the capital to receive such news. I’m honored, Your Grace.”

“Is everything ready?” Edwin asked.

“Yes, of course.”

Vivianne, who hadn’t been particularly interested in their conversation, idly observed the shop.

Despite its impressive size, it was eerily quiet.

And then—

“Now then, my lady, please step this way.”

Vivianne, who had been feeling sorry for the shop’s emptiness, suddenly found herself the center of attention.

Mrs. Green and Edwin both turned to look at her, their expectant gazes making her eyes widen in confusion.

“… Me?”

Her round eyes flickered toward Edwin for an answer, but he simply turned away as if this had nothing to do with him.

Leisurely, he settled onto a velvet sofa and picked up the morning paper from the table.

“Yes, you, my lady,” Mrs. Green confirmed.

“Why me…?”

“Please come this way.”

“W-Wait a moment. I think there’s been some kind of mistake…”

Vivianne stopped Mrs. Green, who was leading the way, and walked briskly toward Edwin with an awkward smile.

She sat down beside him and, lowering her voice, pressed for an explanation.

“Your Grace, you owe me at least an explanation.”

“Is there anything to explain? Go and have your measurements taken.”

“But why do I need to be measured—”

“To make a dress, obviously.”

“A… a dress?”

“Did you plan to wear Evans’ dress to the Thurstons’ ball and the Royal Palace?”

First of all, Vivianne hadn’t even known about the Thurstons’ ball. And it was true—she had intended to wear Theo’s dress to the palace. It was the only gown in her possession suitable for such an occasion.

“Do you really think it would do you any good to get my attention, Vivianne?”

The warmth in his voice faded. His cold gaze, fixed on the newspaper, seemed to grow even more distant in the slanting sunlight.

Was it because Theo’s dress was too extravagant?

What exactly was Edwin’s reasoning behind ordering her a new one?

Lately, she found it impossible to read his thoughts, and she desperately wanted to pry into his mind to understand.

Vivianne simply stared into Edwin’s clear eyes, filled with an unreadable concern. Their gazes met in quiet stillness under the sunlight.

“Vivianne.”

Edwin whispered her name softly.

“Yes.”

Her response was a little curt, almost impolite.

Edwin reached out and gently pinched her soft, pale cheek, his fingers slightly squashing it under his touch.

“Don’t keep me waiting. Hurry up—we’ll be late for the restaurant reservation.”