There Is No Paradise Where You Escaped - Chapter 69

It was a series of shocks. Alice, who came to see Vivianne before she was even remotely prepared, casually dropped a bombshell. The final game of tonight’s party was going to be hide-and-seek — the kind children usually enjoy — where guests would hide throughout the palace, and two seekers would have to find two people within an hour. Since it was a game often played at noble parties in Preston, Vivianne couldn’t understand why Alice was making such a fuss.

“If you hide well, there’s no problem. But if you get caught, you can’t escape the punishment. They tie you up in the middle of the garden so everyone can see, lift your skirt or pull down your trousers, and spank you. In other words, you’re whipped with your bare skin exposed.”

Good heavens. A sigh escaped Vivianne before she even realized it. Could there truly be nobles who would subject others to such humiliation and disgrace — such a barbaric and unjust punishment? And for such a thing to happen in the royal palace, under the Queen’s lead no less — it was incomprehensible.

Fortunately, it seemed less like a deep-rooted cultural practice and more like the Queen’s private indulgence, which was at least somewhat less damaging to Neway’s reputation.

“I won’t take part in such a game.”

She had no desire to endure the shame of exposing her bare bottom in front of everyone. She had already experienced enough disgrace in life just by baring her entire body to Edwin.

“All the women gathered at the palace are required to participate. It was originally a game just among women — meant to put young debutantes or pesky noble ladies in their place. But at some point, it turned into this. Everyone joins in now.”

“It’s a game to humiliate the ones you resent. But to some, it becomes a stage for affairs or flirtation. And everyone just turns a blind eye. That’s the kind of game it is.”

Throughout the meal, Alice continued to relay such appalling stories that Vivianne could barely swallow a bite. 

In Neway, which was more liberal about romance than Preston, it wasn’t unusual for engaged young couples to kiss openly. But since this era of openness was still relatively new, there were older generations who still frowned upon such things. Still, even considering Neway’s customs, for open affairs and romances to take place in the sacred Royal Palace — it made Vivianne feel a profound sense of distance from their culture as if she had suddenly become a middle-aged woman.

“And this time, the target is you, Miss Aveline. They’re going to tie you in the middle of the Grand Garden and lift your skirt.”

The more Alice spoke, the more it felt like some cruel prank — just like when the Duke and Charlotte had once casually said they’d devour her. The piece of egg in her mouth nearly came back up.

She knew why she had become the target: the future Duchess, the engagement with the Duke and Chadwick, the fallen woman who had become a mistress. In the short time she had stayed in Farrington, she had been burdened with many labels, dragging them behind her like a tail. No one was likely to view a fallen foreign noblewoman kindly.

The thought of being tied in the center of the Grand Garden, whipped in front of everyone, left her pale and tearful. Vivianne desperately refused. She firmly stated that she could not take part in such a game.

“Then go ahead and defy the Queen’s command,” Alice said with a low sigh and a disapproving click of her tongue.

Looking pale and sickly, Vivianne gave up on breakfast. Better an empty stomach than risking indigestion from food that refused to go down.

And so, now that the sun had set and the final party had begun, Vivianne trembled with anxiety in a corner of the ballroom, casting nervous glances at the firmly shut doors.

Edwin had yet to appear. The King and several nobles were also absent, suggesting their afternoon meeting was still ongoing.

After hearing from Alice about the secretive game that would take place late at night, Vivianne had gone to find Edwin that afternoon. If anyone could find a way to get her out of this situation, it might be him. The reason she thought of Edwin as her savior was because, in her own way, she trusted him.

“Are you ashamed of me looking at you?

It wouldn’t be okay with anyone else — neither showing yourself nor being seen by them. But I can. You can show yourself to me, and I can look at you. All of it is okay.”

At the time, Edwin had been shameless and unreasonable — an utter rogue. But now, she found herself missing that Edwin. She even thought it was a relief that the one who had seen her body was him. The idea of exposing herself and being whipped in front of everyone horrified her. If anyone could stop it — even against the wishes of the King or Queen — surely it would be him.

But Edwin wasn’t in his room.

Even as the hour of the party approached, he still had not returned. Vivianne despaired.

The orchestra had rearranged and was now playing the Cello and Piano Duo No. 3 in D minor — the piece she and Edwin had performed the day before. As Alice had said, the piece had already charmed the nobility, and it was only a matter of time before it gained wider fame.

Vivianne imagined the saddened face of Sánchez, with his deep-set eyes, transforming into one of joy upon hearing that his music was finally loved.

Then, just as she thought he might never appear, Edwin entered the ballroom. He stood beside the King, listening intently to his words, leaving no chance for her to approach.

Thankfully, their eyes met. She hoped he would understand the desperation in her gaze.

But the smile he gave her offered no certainty — did he understand, or didn’t he?

The music ended. The dancers returned to their seats.

At that moment, the Queen tapped her wine glass with a utensil, drawing everyone’s attention.

Vivianne sensed trouble. The tension in the courtiers’ movements told her that the moment she wanted to avoid was nearing.

While everyone’s attention was on the Queen, she began frantically searching for Edwin, whom she had lost sight of.

She had to reach him before it was too late — before the disaster unfolded.

In the meantime, the Queen gave an order: to turn off all the palace lights.

Her anxiety worsened under the blatantly watchful eyes of the others — as if they were predators staring at prey.

Vivianne started to sneak toward the back of the ballroom.

As she quietly backed away, she gasped as she found herself blocked by something tall behind her.

Someone grabbed her by the shoulders — she froze in place. But then a familiar scent reached her nose, and she turned around in relief.

It was Edwin.

“Your Grace,” she said, her face lighting up.

Tonight, he was nothing short of a savior — or perhaps even an angel sent by God. Having someone to rely on in this crisis felt like her only sanctuary.

The thought that Edwin — who held her life in his hands — could be her savior, her angel, or her sole refuge made her wonder if God was testing her too harshly. But for now, she pushed that thought aside.

Edwin gently turned her back to face the front again, toward the ballroom.

The Queen hadn’t even finished speaking yet.

Leaning in close, Edwin whispered in her ear:

“Once you leave the ballroom, don’t look at anyone who tries to talk to you.”

“… Why? Why not?”

“Because they’ll try to hold you back.”

Vivianne swallowed dryly, trembling with fear.

“But… I don’t know where to hide. Are you participating in this game too, Your Grace? They say if you’re caught, they’ll spank your naked bottom in front of everyone. And I’ve been told I’m the target. I… I don’t want to show my body in front of everyone…”

Her face flushed red.

She wanted to plead — to say Please help me, please get me out of this — but the words got stuck in her throat.

“Then you’d better hide really well.”

His playful and indifferent reply threw her into a swamp of despair.

The shameless Edwin she’d seen by the lakeside didn’t seem capable of taking responsibility for his words.

She felt betrayed, but there was no time to be dejected.

If Edwin wasn’t going to help, she had to quickly come up with her next move.

Just as the Queen’s speech ended, the doors to the ballroom swung open.

Whether it was due to the endless parties or the excessive drinking, the Queen, in a pleasant mood, staggered slightly as she sat down. If the King hadn’t quickly steadied her, she surely would have fallen and embarrassed herself.

Vivianne slipped out of the ballroom in haste, pushing past the laughing, chattering crowd. Following Edwin’s advice, she grabbed her skirt and ran, dashing through the darkened corridor.

Then others started running too.

That frightened her. 

She turned at a fork in the hallway and managed to lose some of them.

It felt like everyone was mad — like they were chasing her specifically. Footsteps echoed all around her, terrifying her even more.

With all the noise and the pitch darkness, she couldn’t tell where she was going.

Vivianne found a few potential hiding spots, but each one was already occupied by others.

Those she disturbed looked at her with irritation and left to find new places to hide.

So it was true that she, Vivianne Aveline, was the target — but only a few were in on that part of the game. Those who were as desperate as she was not to have their butts exposed and whipped were doing everything they could to hide.

      Where can I hide? Where can I go where I won’t be found?

Panicking, Vivianne stood in the middle of the hallway, on the verge of tears.

“Where on earth did Aveline go?”

A voice rang out in the distance. Vivianne held her breath. She tiptoed in the opposite direction, but a large shadow approached from there too, trapping her.

But once she confirmed that the lone figure was Roarke — just as when she had seen Edwin earlier — she felt a wave of relief.

Roarke also spotted her and gestured for her to follow.

With him leading the way, she felt incredibly reassured. Thanks to his careful awareness of others’ movements, they arrived at their destination safely.

“If I hide here, do you think I won’t be found?”

When Roarke opened the door and motioned for her to go inside, Vivianne turned to look at him.

“If you hide well.”

“… Aren’t you going to hide too, Mr. Roarke? Stay here with me.”

“I’m not part of the game.”

“… Oh.”

Realizing this wasn’t the time to worry about Roarke, Vivianne quietly stepped into the room and looked around.

There was a four-poster bed, a sofa, a table, a fireplace, and a huge tapestry on the wall — all exuding grandeur even in the darkness.

It was clearly a guest room meant for someone high-ranking.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Vivianne gasped, clutching her chest and stumbling back in fright.

When she recognized the person, she let out a deep sigh of relief.

“… It’s you, Your Grace.”

Edwin stared at her with eyes full of displeasure.

“Why did you run?”

“Huh?”

“I told you not to look at anyone who spoke to you. Did I say to run away?”

“Oh, um… I must have misunderstood…”

As the cold sweat of panic dried, her clarity returned. Vivianne realized that Edwin — who had seemed indifferent earlier — had stayed close to help her all along.

With that recognition came a mix of feelings: guilt for having made him go through the trouble of finding her, gratitude for his presence, and even the sting of disappointment began to melt away.

“Still, we’ve met up now… so it’s fine. Even if it took a while.”

In return, Vivianne smiled brazenly.

Though the darkness was deep, the moonlight was equally bright. Under that bluish glow, Vivianne felt at ease.

“… Thank you… for hiding me.”

“You’re not hidden yet.”

Edwin turned and walked toward the wall where the large tapestry hung.

“Except for a few key rooms, you can enter and hide in almost any room in the palace. So technically, you and I haven’t hidden yet.”

Just then, footsteps echoed outside the door.

Vivianne, now pale as a sheet, instinctively moved toward the one person she had no choice but to trust — Edwin.

He pulled aside the tapestry, revealing nothing more than an ordinary wall.

      Why did he pull it back? 

She wondered — but before she could ask, he turned back to her.

“Go hide. Under the bed, or wherever.”

Edwin grinned playfully.

His unusually drawn-out smile was hard to read — half like a joke, half like a serious suggestion.

“… Huh? What about you, Your Grace?”

She had already checked under several beds while looking for hiding spots earlier but hadn’t considered them seriously.

It just seemed too obvious.

Perhaps because of that, no one had actually looked under a bed.

Still, if she did hide under one, it felt inevitable she’d be caught and dragged helplessly to the Grand Garden to be tied up.

Edwin felt along the wall until, like magic, he opened a hidden passage.

Vivianne’s eyes widened in shock.

Stamping her feet anxiously, she lost track of Edwin as he disappeared into the space behind the wall.

The footsteps outside came even closer.

Just as she panicked, the wall opened again, and the tapestry lifted.

Before she could even recognize who it was, she was yanked inside — and the wall closed behind her.

The tapestry fell back into place, completely concealing the hidden space where the two of them now hid.