There Is No Paradise Where You Escaped - Chapter 80

After skimming through all the letters that had arrived at the manor, Edwin picked one from the pile and threw it into the flickering flames. The letter, erased from existence among the firewood, quickly crumbled into a handful of ash.

The afternoon sunlight vanished like the chilly autumn wind. A cool breeze stirred the dry leaves, deepening the melancholic air of a season slowly fading into winter.

Edwin’s gaze lingered until the letter had completely disappeared.

Slumped in his chair, staring intently at the fireplace embers, Edwin looked markedly different from his usual self.

Even if no one else had noticed, Roarke would undoubtedly have recognized the change. They had seen the darkest depths of each other and shared secrets never spoken aloud; their bond was unbreakable. At least, to Roarke, that was how Edwin was from the Port of Olren to here. After all the time they had spent together, he believed he understood Edwin well.

But at times, Edwin’s thoughts became hard to read, and this was one of those moments.

To Roarke, the look on Edwin’s face now was the most peaceful he had ever seen… and yet, the most anxious.

It was impossible to tell what Edwin truly felt, as his eyes held two contradictory emotions in perfect balance. Cracks had formed in this man who so rarely lost his composure, and no one could predict what that might lead to.

“You’ll have to go to Preston alone, Roarke.”

And as if to confirm Roarke’s growing unease, Edwin deviated from their original plan. The reason, without a doubt, was Vivianne Aveline.

“What about you, Your Grace?”

Roarke, who rarely asked questions, spoke up. Edwin’s blue eyes met his gaze. But rather than reprimanding the defiance, his expression was thoughtful, like he was staring into a mirror. He, too, was aware of the cracks he had created.

The letter that had burned so passionately in the fire had vanished without a trace. Edwin silently watched the glowing embers, holding back his answer.

“Do you really intend to kill Miss Aveline?”

The reason he had paid an absurd price for this manor was all because of Vivianne Aveline. He had even moved his base of operations here just to keep her under his control, and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to kill her.

Perhaps, from the start, killing Vivianne Aveline had never truly been part of his plan.

“What do you think would happen… if I didn’t kill her?”

Edwin asked casually, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Roarke pressed his lips tightly together.

It was obvious that sparing her would lead to even more painful consequences. If Edwin truly didn’t understand that, Roarke felt it was his duty to remind him, but the words just wouldn’t come out.

“What do you think will happen if I don’t kill Vivianne, Roarke?”

“Miss Aveline will learn everything. That’s why I believe it’s best to act before she finds out…”

“If she learns everything…”

Edwin’s expression, unmoving, now seemed cold. His slowly shifting eyes played out the possibilities—no, the near future that would come if he chose not to kill Aveline.

“Would Vivianne resent me? Or would she understand that I had no choice? What do you think? What would Vivianne do?”

“… I don’t know her well enough to say for certain.”

Edwin chuckled softly, resting one arm on the armrest and leaning to the side.

His fingers tapped rhythmically—a sign he was deep in thought. He was intensely curious about how Vivianne would react.

“Vivianne…”

His dragging tone carried uncertainty. He, too, seemed unsure what choice Vivianne would make when faced with the worst outcome. But one thing was certain: he hoped for her understanding. Selfishly, he hoped she would embrace him with angelic grace, that she would understand him.

“Whatever she thinks, it won’t change the outcome.”

With that firm conclusion, Edwin made up his mind.

The cold smile tugging at his lips was brutal, merciless.

“I plan to head to Preston around next spring. Until then, make sure everything is properly sorted over there.”

With that, he ended the conversation, and Roarke asked no further questions.

As Edwin quietly watched the embers in the fireplace, he suddenly chuckled.

“Should I take Vivianne with me next spring? To Preston?”

Roarke, who had been about to leave, froze, his eyes widening. A ripple passed through his usually calm gaze—Edwin was the only one who could unsettle or surprise him like this.

“… That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”

“Vivianne would like it,” Edwin murmured in response to Roarke’s objection.

He fell silent again, lost in thought, picturing Vivianne in the springtime streets of Preston, her golden hair blending into the blooming lavender at Harbor Bridge.

He imagined her radiant smile, her face flushed with warmth.

Almost as if summoned by his thoughts, a knock sounded, and Vivianne appeared.

It wasn’t a scheduled meeting, so even Edwin looked mildly surprised. Roarke, on the other hand, was visibly startled by the uninvited guest.

Vivianne, seeing the look on Roarke’s face, seemed equally caught off guard.

Even as Roarke made a swift exit, her gaze followed him, as if observing something curious to the very end.

“… Did something happen with Mr. Roarke?”

Vivianne walked over and, as if she were used to it, took a seat in the wingback chair by the fireplace.

Edwin rubbed his lips lazily and stared at her slender neck.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen that expression on him.”

Vivianne had noticeably changed.

Her face, which once so easily showed discomfort, anger, or unease, now held a calm serenity.

It had become easier to talk to her, to feel the shrinking distance between them.

The impact of a mere kiss had been great.

Though his desire to possess her had already faded, he was intensely curious as to how much closer they could become after having possessed her.

He turned his gaze and saw a torn envelope in Vivianne’s hand.

“What brings you here?”

A soft smile played at Edwin’s lips.

“You’re not carrying your cello, so I assume you’re not here to play it for me.”

“Oh, it’s nothing major. I just came to ask for permission.”

“Permission?” Edwin asked.

“I’m planning to visit the town soon.”

Edwin’s smile slowly stiffened. Even the warmth in his eyes grew cold. He could guess why she wanted to go down to town.

That filthy beast masquerading as her friend would surely be waiting there.

Benjamin Quinlan was a clever man, not the type to recklessly cross the line like Caspian Harwood.

But what about Theo Evans? Did he simply not know his place?

Evans’s wild, unrestrained behavior went far beyond even Harwood’s.

“It’s been a long time since I saw Theo.”

Vivianne clearly remembered what had happened long ago because of Theo Evans, so much so that it was hard for her even to mention his name in front of Edwin.

“I haven’t seen him since the time Charlotte was indebted to him. I think I should visit him.”

“Will you die if you don’t see him?”

“… What?”

“Evans is alive and well. You exchange letters. Isn’t that enough? Do you have to see his face?”

One corner of Edwin’s mouth curled upward as his gaze dropped to the letter in Vivianne’s hand.

He didn’t need to read it to know what it said.

He was probably rambling on with pleasantries, ending with a request for her to come to town.

The soft-hearted and timid Evans had likely given up on the idea of coming all the way here himself.

“Reply by letter,” Edwin said with a cold smile.

Vivianne leaned in—anxious and tense—taken aback by his sharper-than-expected reaction.

She had assumed his dislike of Theo stemmed from some past bad blood, but this reaction was far beyond what she’d expected.

I wasn’t even suggesting bringing Theo here, so why is he being so sensitive? 

She had to think about the real reason.

Edwin, making it clear he didn’t want to talk anymore, picked up the book lying closed on the table.

Vivianne had known he might respond coldly, but she hadn’t expected an outright rejection.

“I—I’ll go with Sophie. I don’t need a carriage. While I’m there, I’d like to stop by the music shop to look for some sheet music. Oh, and I’ll be visiting some people too. When my father was alive, he used to go into town often and talk to them. If anyone had trouble, he’d help them when he could…”

“If there’s sheet music you need, tell Abernathy. He’ll get you anything. And you’re not in a position to help anyone right now. So what’s the point of talking to those people?”

Though she’d tried to elaborate in hopes of softening him, Edwin shut it down immediately. He had no intention of granting her request.

Faced with a dead end, Vivianne’s lips turned down at the corners.

Her face hardened as she added coldly:

“I am going to town. I’ll go down and meet Theo.”

She didn’t ask for permission; she simply informed him.

Edwin’s sharp gaze locked onto her.

“I only asked for permission because I’m staying in your house and wanted to be polite. But that doesn’t give you the right to keep me locked up.”

Her expression turned defiant, ready to fight at any moment.

He knew that scowl well—that expression always signaled the start of their battles.

Stopping her from meeting Theo Evans had been Edwin’s true aim.

But more than that, avoiding an annoying and exhausting argument was his top priority, so he had no choice but to give in to Vivianne’s demands.

Edwin held out his hand to her.

She looked at the offered hand with a confused pout.

When Edwin silently urged her, she reluctantly stood and placed her hand in his large one.

Before she realized it, Vivianne found herself sitting on Edwin’s thigh.

Her face flushed red, and she nervously looked around, even though she knew they were alone.

Still, the way he behaved made it all feel wickedly sly.

“You’re too… too much… with your body…”

She trembled as she struggled to finish the sentence, unable to meet his gaze.

“My body is what? Say it.”

“… It’s just that, your body…”

Driven to the point where she couldn’t even speak, Vivianne’s face crumpled, as if she might cry.

Her lips, reddened by the rising heat, glistened temptingly.

“Endure it. How do you think I feel when I have to settle for just your lips?”

“But still, this is too…”

“Are you still going to meet Evans?”

At his question, Vivianne immediately lifted her head.

Even in this moment, her reaction to hearing Evans’ name sparked a flicker of displeasure in Edwin.

“Can I go see him?”

“You can’t meet him alone.”

“I’ll go with Sophie. Or—Charlotte can come too, if that’s better.”

“That’s not allowed either.”

“What? Then what do you expect? How am I supposed to see Theo…”

Edwin cupped her cheeks, which had brightened again, and pulled her closer.

He suppressed the urge to devour her lips immediately.

“You’ll go with me.”

Vivianne’s eyes widened. Her parted lips—ready to protest—were devoured by Edwin’s.