There Is No Paradise Where You Escaped - Chapter 64

Vivianne’s hand, which had been about to knock, paused in midair. After parting with Sarah Chadwick, she wandered the garden alone.

She realized with painful clarity that she had done something reckless—but it wasn’t something she regretted.

It was simply something she couldn’t fix. And if she failed to make things right here, she’d soon be labeled a vain and shameless liar.

All that remained after the war was ruin.

That place had been stripped bare, leaving nothing behind.

Her bold lies to Sarah Chadwick and the noble ladies felt like a foreign soul had momentarily possessed her.

And that unfamiliar soul had led her straight to Edwin’s bedroom. If she was going to undo what she had done, a conversation with Edwin was essential.

“… It’s the second daughter of Count of Chadwick—a truly lovely and beautiful young lady. I am quite fond of her, and I sincerely hope she becomes the Duchess of Baytness. I can picture it now—she and Edwin, living together in Rodinia, spending a dreamlike honeymoon, having many children who fill their home with laughter.” 

“So please, Miss Aveline. Run away. Let Eddie move forward, get away from him.” 

The voice of Baroness Baytness echoed in her mind, sorrowfully, like a sound lost in an empty room.

The light in her eyes, dimmed with lost confidence, gleamed sadly.

What would Edwin’s adoptive mother think, watching her cling to her son only to save her own honor while condemning another to ruin?

Vivianne closed her eyes, clutching her stifled chest. Her anger faded, replaced by a rising guilt.

      I’m already a dead woman walking by the Duke’s hand. Why make a fool of myself just to protect this shred of pride?

As the emotions from the tea party gradually faded, Vivianne’s head cleared.

Just as she lifted her head—

Clunk.

The door before her opened.

It hadn’t opened from the inside. Looking down, she saw the cuffed sleeve of a man.

Startled, she quickly turned her head and found herself face-to-face with a shadow that seemed ready to devour her.

Instinctively, Vivianne stepped back, and before she knew it, she had stepped into Edwin’s bedroom and froze like a statue.

“Y-Your Grace…”

Edwin chuckled softly and entered the room, closing the door behind him.

Caught off guard and now face-to-face with him, Vivianne’s mind once again went completely blank.

“What brings you here?”

With that brief question, he sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace, crossing his long legs.

His sleek eyes and sharp, high nose appeared especially piercing.

Feeling as though he could see straight through her, Vivianne averted her gaze.

Edwin was composed, overflowing with calm.

If anything, Edwin was the root of all this. He had let people misunderstand and never cleared things up.

Even helping Sarah Chadwick had backfired. If this outcome had been his goal all along, then all her assumptions about him would seem foolish—and he wouldn’t even sympathize with her for showing off her pride.

Then the picture would be complete: the Duke of Baytness, hiding poison in a sweet cake.

“… It’s just… I-I was afraid that if I didn’t come to see Your Grace, you might show up at my room late at night again…”

“So you came just to show your face?”

Played like a pawn in his hands, Vivianne nodded helplessly.

Memories flashed: his firm shoulders, the hand that had wiped away her drool, the hand she had reached for with bloodshot eyes, the bread he had torn into small pieces. The dresses, the jewels, the cello. And the bruises visible when the clothes came off.

Everything had been nothing more than smoke.

A superficial warmth that could vanish without a trace with a single breath.

Perhaps she had even believed it was sincere.

The soul that had so boldly confronted Sarah Chadwick might have been one that still dreamed of fairy-tale happy endings.

“You haven’t forgotten the receipt.”

And perhaps… she had been subconsciously clinging to that delusion for far too long. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have remembered the existence of the receipts until now.

“Right. Can’t forget it. The receipt means so much to you, Miss Aveline, after all.”

Beneath the deliberately sarcastic tone was a hint of scorn, calling her greedy.

But she had no intention of refuting it.

Vivianne had already stepped into the world of the vain and shallow; she wasn’t even worthy of being criticized anymore.

Edwin stood, retrieved his checkbook and fountain pen, and leaned over the table to fill out the receipt.

Vivianne continued to hesitate and waver endlessly.

She had no intention of resolving the scandal with Sarah Chadwick. The realization stung, and in her disappointment, she imagined shredding the check-turned-receipt with furious force.

Edwin’s heavy footsteps halted before her.

When he offered the receipt, her ash-gray eyes moved slowly to read the amount written on it.

“Is this enough? I’ll write more if it’s not.”

Vivianne quietly shook her head and gripped the receipt tightly in her hand.

Edwin turned away and returned to the sofa, sitting down again. His back faced Vivianne.

Vivianne, standing behind him, wasn’t planning to leave, but neither was she ready to say anything decisive. And it was right around that moment when her lingering presence began to wear thin on his patience.

“Why… didn’t you deny it?”

The sudden question flew at him, but Edwin didn’t look back.

“Deny what?”

That flat, dispassionate reply was all she received.

“The rumors. About you and me. That I’m your lover, your future duchess… Why did you let those lies spread? I’m not your lover. We’re not getting married. I’m just the vessel for your… past rage.”

“Then what reason was there to deny it?”

Edwin leaned into the armrest, propping his head up. A deep shadow fell beneath his thick lashes, and his blue eyes gleamed as brightly as the moon.

“Lover, duchess, mistress… What does it matter? You’re mine either way.

So why bother? Why go through the trouble?”

After that cynical remark, silence followed. Even in the long quiet, Edwin didn’t turn to face her.

Just as Edwin saw no reason to explain himself, he saw no reason to look at her face.

“I see.”

Her icy reply hung in the air.

“Then… are you truly going to marry Miss Chadwick?”

Only then did Edwin look at her—prompted by the question that trailed her final words.

For a moment, he studied her face—a child stranded at a crossroads, gnawing on the solitude of her anguish.

Edwin silently looked at her, and to Vivianne, that silence was the answer.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Vivianne bowed her head slightly and turned to go. She still held the receipt tightly, afraid she might lose it.

Quiet seeped into the space she had left behind.

In the perfectly natural quiet, Edwin leaned his head against the sofa’s backrest and closed his eyes.

Wherever Vivianne had been, there lingered a lukewarm floral scent.

Today was no different.

 ────── ✾ ──────

As befitted the Queen’s fondness for parties, the palace was constantly abuzz with festivities during their stay.

Every day, there was dancing, indulgence, and love-struck nobles who seemed to be in a perpetual state of intoxication.

Sweet scents filled the air, and music from orchestras echoed through the palace walls.

Tonight marked the beginning of the second evening’s ball.

Upon seeing a young couple entwined a little too intimately, Lady Danvers clicked her tongue.

“Young people these days…”

Sarah followed her aunt’s sour gaze and laughed lightly.

“Aunt, what’s so scandalous about a kiss between an engaged couple?”

“Sarah. Regardless, until you bear the title of Duchess of Baytness, you should avoid even a kiss with the Duke. The times may be changing, but such things still look improper.”

“Oh, Aunt…”

Sarah chuckled softly and turned her eyes away from the couple.

“And don’t let what Aveline said bother you too much. Mistresses who act like they’re everything just because they have a man’s favor always end up destroying themselves. The Duke is a man of reason—he knows what matters most. He wants to marry you. So his unusual behavior lately is proof of that.”

Sarah didn’t share her aunt’s confidence. She couldn’t help but feel anxious when recalling her encounter with Vivianne that afternoon.

Her family was desperately determined to see her marry the Duke of Baytness. Even seeking the Queen’s help had been her father’s idea.

Furthermore, the Duke—who had turned down every previous marriage proposal through the Baroness of Baytness—had not refused this one.

Not only her own family, but likely all of Farrington’s, interpreted that as a sign of acceptance. And if Edwin gave the Queen the impression his mind was made up, the Queen would publicly endorse the union.

But what if the Duke’s lover, Aveline, really did sabotage the engagement? What if the sensible Duke turned into a fool only when he was with her?

Sarah Chadwick had always walked the path of perfection.

The fact that her engagement to the Duke was about to be finalized only further proved that she was an idol to many—a woman to be admired.

She couldn’t allow a single flaw in her perfect life.

At that moment, the doors to the ballroom opened—and in walked Vivianne Aveline.

Radiant, just as the Duke had carefully ensured she would be, but thankfully, not on his arm. Instead, at her side was Alice, seemingly self-appointed as Vivianne’s chaperone.

“Poor Alice. She couldn’t have picked a worse side to be on.”

“But she’s always been someone who worked hard. That’s how she became a countess.”

“I never imagined she’d turn out to be such a fool. Back when she announced her engagement to the Count of Thurston, I thought she was smart and ambitious.”

Before more pitying words about Alice could be said, the Duke entered. 

Lady Danvers set down her glass, battle-ready.

“Let’s go. Before Aveline convinces herself your place is hers again—oh dear.”

With a teasing nudge to Sarah’s shoulder, Lady Danvers pulled her along.

But they didn’t get far. Their steps faltered as if something had blocked their way.

Alice and Vivianne had already reached Edwin first.

“So fast. Looks like we’re a bit late, Sarah.”

Lady Danvers let her words trail off with a note of regret, but she didn’t seem too worried.

After all, the night had just begun.

Sarah kept her eyes on Vivianne, standing beside Edwin.

The bold demeanor Vivianne had displayed at the tea party had vanished; now she avoided even glancing at her “lover.”

However, the Duke’s gaze remained fixed on Aveline. Drawn to her like a magnet—like gravity.

Sarah needed confirmation.

She had to confirm the Duke’s true feelings about this marriage.

And if it had to be severed, she needed to be the one to sever it first—

There could be no blemish in her life.