There Is No Paradise Where You Escaped - Chapter 56

As the orchestra played a waltz, people danced in time with the music. Vivianne watched them twirl across the floor, holding the champagne she couldn’t even drink. The orchestra’s performance, which she hadn’t heard in a long time, was her favorite part of the evening.

She could count on one hand the number of times she had danced in Preston. She had danced countless times with her father, but as for the men who had asked her to dance in a ballroom, there had been only three. Given that she had barely made her social debut, invitations to balls were rare—and so were opportunities to dance.

Vivianne’s eyes briefly flickered to Edwin, who stood beside her. As he took a sip of champagne, his throat bobbed.

“… Your Grace, aren’t you going to dance?”

There had been no conversation between them, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. The music filling the ballroom and the murmur of voices kept any awkwardness at bay. Still, Edwin’s quietness weighed on her mind, and she mustered the courage to break the silence.

“I have no talent for dancing.”

“Ah.”

Vivianne nodded awkwardly. She was about to take a sip of champagne but, realizing she was holding alcohol, quickly lowered the glass, keeping it far from her mouth.

Once again, an awkward silence settled between them.

“Shall we dance?”

His casual remark sent ripples through her. Startled, Vivianne’s head snapped up. Edwin’s cold, impassive gaze met hers as if he were merely asking for her opinion. His lack of emotion in his expression made her miss the right moment to respond.

“Vivianne.”

Just the sound of her name made her heart lurch. A predator’s call only made its prey more acutely aware of its impending death. Vivianne’s eyes, lost and uncertain, dropped to the golden hem of her dress.

“I—I… also have no talent for dancing…”

Her nape burned, and her heart pounded. The stifling sensation in her chest made her clutch at it. Vivianne longed to return to Rodinia quickly. If she could submerge herself in the icy lake until her head ached from the cold, perhaps the pain would fade.

But then she remembered, Edwin had stolen away her only sanctuary. A long, weary sigh escaped her lips. She wetted her parched lips and lifted her gaze. Just as she took a deep breath, the orchestra concluded its piece.

The dancing men and women on the floor exchanged bows before dispersing.

At that moment, her eyes met Lady Danvers’ piercing gaze.

Her thumping heart suddenly prickled, as if stabbed by a thin needle. Vivianne slowly looked up at Edwin. When she met his blue eyes—uncertain of how long he had been watching her—she startled and quickly looked away.

But she soon changed her mind. Looking at him again, she finally spoke.

“I’ll be on the balcony for a moment. Being around so many people after so long is a bit overwhelming.”

He gave a brief nod and placed his champagne glass down on the standing table.

Vivianne, intending to step away from his side, realized in the next moment that her plan had been thwarted.

When he moved to follow her, she reached out to stop him.

“I’ll go alone.”

Edwin’s gaze was resolute. He had no intention of letting her have her way.

Vivianne gently grasped his arm, her wide eyes pleading. Her eyebrows and lips lowered in quiet supplication.

“Just for a little while… That’s all I need. It’s warm here, but I want to be alone for a bit. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just stay quietly on the balcony, alright?”

It was a calculated move. She knew this kind of plea had a subtle way of working on him, so she made it intentionally.

Gradually, his resistance wavered. Edwin turned his head to look at the balcony beyond the glass window. The darkness outside seemed deep enough to swallow Vivianne whole, never to return her.

As his expression hardened again, Vivianne quickly delivered the final blow to sway him.

“I’m not foolish enough to cause a scene in a place like this. I’ll come back to you soon—I promise.”

His eyes fell on Vivianne’s earnest plea. But soon after, they turned cold and distant, like ice. When Vivianne waved her hand, urging a response from him, he simply stared blankly at her again.

“Go ahead.”

The permission she had been waiting for finally came. Vivianne smiled and gave a small nod before turning away without hesitation.

For the first time since arriving here, she has put some distance between herself and him.

Slipping through the crowd and onto the balcony, she felt her body grow lighter as the weight of the stifling noise lessened. She glanced back through the illuminated window and saw Edwin staring in her direction.

To Vivianne, it felt as if their eyes had met—but to him, it was only a darkened window.

Was this the first time? The first time she had stared at Edwin for so long as he gazed at her?

Without a dance partner, Edwin was soon approached by Lady Danvers and Sarah Chadwick. The three engaged in conversation, but before long, Lady Danvers tactfully stepped back, leaving just the two of them.

Thanks to Lady Danvers, who briefly distanced herself, the two families were able to lay the groundwork for the marriage the Queen was pushing for.

Feeling as though she had been completely cast out of their world, Vivianne turned away and lifted her gaze to the night sky.

A cool autumn wind, devoid of any lingering summer heat, brushed past her shoulder.

“It seems tonight’s protagonist has become the heroine of a tragic story.”

A low voice startled her so much that she nearly jolted in place.

Her wide eyes snapped toward the source—just beyond the balcony beside her.

There, on the adjacent balcony, stood a man with an unlit cigar between his lips. He leaned against the railing, looking toward her side of the balcony.

Vivianne immediately grew wary.

“W-Who…?”

“My apologies, I should have introduced myself sooner. I wanted to greet the Duke of Baytness, but he’s quite popular, it seems. Nice to meet you. I’m Benjamin Quinlan.”

He smiled, stepping closer to the balcony’s edge and extending a hand across the gap between them.

He stretched his hand over the railing toward her. Since it was too far for her to reach, Vivianne simply stared at the extended hand. He quickly withdrew it.

“I—I’m Vivianne Aveline,” she introduced herself, her voice carrying both caution and suspicion. But even in such a moment, she didn’t forget her manners.

“It’s an honor to meet you in this place.”

Benjamin Quinlan’s easygoing smile had a way of swiftly melting away Vivianne’s distrust.

It was the complete opposite of Edwin’s.

Benjamin’s smile was lighthearted and playful—like someone who wouldn’t mind the flaws of others—but not frivolous. It was the kind of smile that effortlessly won trust.

“By the way, I noticed you weren’t dancing. Did you have a fight with your lover? You’re out here alone while your lover is over there… enjoying the company of another lady.”

Benjamin gestured beyond the glass window, pointing at Edwin and Sarah Chadwick, but Vivianne didn’t follow his gaze.

“… W-We’re not lovers. You’re mistaken.”

Yet, despite her denial, Vivianne’s eyes drifted helplessly to where Edwin and Sarah stood. They were still talking. Edwin’s lips moved, and then Sarah’s did as well. Their conversation flowed easily, uninterrupted. Sarah Chadwick covered her mouth with her fan, giggling.

What could possibly be so amusing? Edwin wasn’t the type to make jokes.

Perhaps the public’s perception of Edwin was different from what she had seen. To this lovely lady, he could be both fascinating and a true gentleman.

“I thought so.”

Vivianne, unable to tear her eyes away from the two people she wished she could ignore, finally turned away.

“As you can see, the Duke treats Miss Aveline differently than he does other young ladies.”

“…”

“Rumors are just rumors, aren’t they? Miss Aveline is probably just indebted to the Duke in some way. But still, rumors can be persistent, can’t they?”

Vivianne made no reply and simply gripped the balcony railing.

“But if it’s just a ridiculous rumor, why hasn’t the Duke bothered to refute it? Everyone already believes Miss Aveline will become the Duchess.”

“… He’s the kind of person who doesn’t concern himself with trivial things. It’s not important enough for him to go out of his way to explain.”

For a moment, it had seemed as though Vivianne would never answer at all. But then, she spoke calmly.

“But it is important for Miss Aveline’s future. Your name is already tarnished.”

“I’ve lived with people’s gossip about me for a long time. This is nothing.”

Vivianne no longer appeared merely calm—there was a hint of anger in her voice now.

Standing before this absurd little farce, Benjamin barely held back a chuckle.

He glanced through the glass again at Edwin, who was preparing to dance with Sarah Chadwick, and a mischievous thought crossed his mind.

“Miss Aveline, since it seems fate has brought us together, why don’t we dance as well? I’ll formally ask you to dance.”

Vivianne, who had been staring into space, suddenly turned to look at Benjamin—but by then, he had already left the balcony.

Certain that he would come this way, she instinctively turned around.

And beyond the glass, she saw Edwin.

He was escorting Sarah Chadwick onto the dance floor.

Their hands clasped together as they stepped forward, preparing to dance.

“Miss Aveline.”

Benjamin’s voice pulled her back.

He had already opened the balcony door, standing there with an outstretched hand.

“It looks like the dance is just about to begin. Let’s go dance too.”

“What? B-But I…”

“Come on.”

“I… I don’t know how to dance. I’ll definitely step on your feet.”

“I promise not to show any signs of pain.”

Vivianne smiled brightly enough to seem at ease, but she had no intention of dancing and was about to decline. However, Benjamin took her hand first and led her forward.

Before she even realized what had happened, she found herself standing at the edge of the dance floor with him.

“Relax, my lady. Just follow my lead.”

“Ah…” 

I had promised to return soon. I had promised to go back to him.

And yet, she had failed to keep that promise.

Vivianne glanced toward where Edwin and Sarah Chadwick stood.

For the briefest moment, their eyes met.

But Edwin looked away as if it meant nothing, then took Sarah Chadwick’s hand with a soft smile and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Vivianne’s gaze, which had slowly drifted downward, eventually landed on Benjamin.

“You look even more beautiful up close.”

“… Thank you.” 

Benjamin took her hand and gently placed his arm around her slender waist, pulling her small body closer.

“You’re free to step on my feet as much as you like—no need to apologize.”

A hand that wasn’t his.

An embrace that wasn’t his.

A warmth that wasn’t his.

It all felt so unfamiliar.

How had things come to this?

It was just a dance.

Something as fleeting as the passing wind.

And yet, she found herself defining the man before her as nothing more than another man.

Vivianne looked up and met Benjamin’s warm gaze.

Her steps, guided by him, followed the very movements her father had once taught her.

Even Edwin, who had always claimed to have no talent for dancing, was skillfully leading Sarah Chadwick with confidence.

His blue eyes gazed down at the young lady, who resembled a refreshing summer fruit. His expression, firm and unwavering, was filled with affection for the charming woman in his arms.

Had he fallen in love?

Had he ever felt love?

As she watched his blue eyes linger persistently on the young lady, she was reminded of Sayer from fourteen years ago.

Back then, Sayer had never taken his eyes off her for even a moment.

Just as Edwin was doing now.

Just as he was now, holding another woman in his arms and looking at her with those very same eyes.