There Is No Paradise Where You Escaped - Chapter 88

Edwin, who had been cross-checking the territory’s tax ledger, finished his work earlier than expected, thanks to Susanna’s meticulous management, which left little room for error. Though it was a task he performed every year, this year’s records were particularly flawless. He opened his pocket watch, checked the time, and gazed out the window at the falling snow.

After Baron Zimmerman’s arrival, Vivianne, quick to read the look in his eyes, had gone off to fetch Charlotte.  But now, not only was there no sign of Charlotte, but Vivianne was nowhere to be seen.

Just as Edwin was about to ring for a servant to inquire about Vivianne’s whereabouts, a knock sounded and Baron Zimmerman entered.

Fresh from his bath, the Baron, rather than taking time to rest, seemed intent on occupying Edwin’s time, though in truth, he was probably more eager to see Charlotte as soon as possible. Then, a servant arrived in response to the bell.

“Where are Vivianne and Charlotte?”

“… I’m not sure, but I did see them walking down the hallway together earlier.”

“Charlotte left her room?”

“Yes, she did.”

For the past few days, Charlotte hadn’t budged from her room. Understanding that she must be distressed ahead of her marriage, Edwin had admired Vivianne for managing to coax the stubborn girl out.

The Baron, too, had heard that Charlotte was unwell and had been quite worried. Now that he knew she had stepped out with Vivianne, he could no longer contain his curiosity.

“I heard Miss Windler wasn’t feeling well. Is she alright?”

“… From what I could tell, she didn’t look too well. Should I ask her maid for more details?”

“… No, that won’t be necessary.”

After finishing his questioning, the Baron’s expression darkened.

“Should I call them back, Baron?” Edwin asked, watching the Baron’s disappointed face. He spoke with both consideration and a hint of his own hidden wish.

But Gideon responded with a relaxed, almost insincere smile.

“Miss Windler is likely spending meaningful time with her dear friend Miss Aveline—I can’t possibly intrude. I’ll let Miss Aveline have this moment. After all, I’ll have plenty of time with her later.”

Though Edwin disliked Gideon’s overly composed attitude, he forced a polite smile.

He turned his gaze back out the window. The once-thick snowflakes had grown smaller.

The heat within him—fueled by the distance he’d put between himself and Vivianne—was gradually cooling. He had learned how to be satisfied simply by watching her from afar, and no longer felt the need to reach out and touch her.

This was how it should have been from the start. Had he done so, he would have already fulfilled his promise to Vivianne and left for Preston with Roarke by now. Realizing that he had delayed something so simple made him, for the first time in his life, begin to doubt himself.

“… So, when do you think the two of them will return?” Gideon, who had smiled so confidently moments ago, now asked with a hint of unease.

Though he knew he wouldn’t receive a definite answer, he asked anyway, hoping to mask his growing impatience.

“Who knows? I’m sure they’ll appear when the time is right,” Edwin replied indifferently.

The snow was still falling. And it wasn’t likely to stop anytime today.

────── ✾ ──────

“The snow has finally stopped,” Sophie remarked, stretching to loosen her stiff body as she stepped outside the manor.

Vivianne had left her room upon hearing of Baron Zimmerman’s arrival. Left behind, Sophie checked the time just as she finished her sewing. Quite some time had passed, but Vivianne hadn’t returned.

Using the excuse of “looking for Vivianne,” Sophie stepped outside for some fresh air and was relieved to see the snowfall had eased.

      I should head in soon. It’s getting cold. I’ll look for Miss Vivianne inside, too.

Just as Sophie turned to go back, thinking lightly of it, that’s when she spotted something.

      Huh? Isn’t that Miss Windler?

Charlotte, who hadn’t left her room in days, was now outside, walking alone. No—it was more like she was rushing away, almost as if she were fleeing.

Charlotte disappeared from view, rounding the back of the manor.

      What’s going on? Where is she coming from?

Scratching her temple, Sophie followed Charlotte’s path with her eyes and spotted the edge of a forest trail beyond the white expanse.

      No way… did she come from the forest? All alone?

Sophie tilted her head, puzzled, then turned back toward the manor. But once inside, she set her confusion aside and began wandering the halls in search of Vivianne.

Unable to find even a single strand of Vivianne’s golden hair, she began asking the servants.

The one who gave her a useful answer was none other than Charlotte’s maid.

“Miss Aveline came to see her, but by the time I returned to the room, they were both gone. They even took their clothes with them. I’m sure they went for a walk.”

Hmm… Sophie thought hard.

She had seen Charlotte walking outside, not exactly strolling, and certainly not with Vivianne.

      Then is my lady behind the manor with Miss Windler?

Or… maybe not.

Sophie snapped her fingers, and after thanking the maid, she turned away. Her deduction had reached a conclusion. Her light footsteps led her straight to Edwin.

Vivianne had always been quietly frustrated by not being able to spend time with the Duke. Despite Sophie’s encouragement, Vivianne had stubbornly held herself back. She refused to appear desperate by chasing after a man who never came to her first—her dignity demanded it.

But how nice it would be if her heart were as easy as her thoughts.

Vivianne must have finally given in and gone to Edwin, sharing a warm cup of tea to melt the winter chill, talking with him.

Just imagining that scene made Sophie feel better.

Upon learning that Edwin was in the study, she waited there for a while. But when the door finally opened, it wasn’t Vivianne who appeared—it was Baron Zimmerman, who looked startled to see Sophie.

Flustered, Sophie stepped into the study, saying she had something to discuss with the Duke.

But Vivianne wasn’t there.

“What brings you here?”

“Uh… I thought Miss Vivianne was with Your Grace…”

“Vivianne is with Charlotte.”

At that moment, Sophie’s heart sank—not because Vivianne was with Charlotte, but because she wasn’t.

An old nightmare flashed through her mind—the day Vivianne had silently left the manor in Rodinia, Jefferson, the gatekeeper’s shocked face, and Vivianne’s anxious expression because of it.

      No… it couldn’t be.

“… I see.”

The reason Sophie left out the part about seeing Charlotte walking alone was because of that past incident. She couldn’t risk someone else being fired and causing Vivianne distress.

After leaving Edwin’s study, Sophie returned to her bedroom. Vivianne still hadn’t come back. Sitting in front of the fireplace, she shook her leg, trying to focus on the ticking of the second hand. But the image of Charlotte walking alone grew more ominous with each passing minute.

When Sophie stepped outside the manor again, the snowflakes were even thicker than before.

Worried now, she hurried back to the place where she’d last seen Charlotte. Brushing through the snow, she stood at the spot and looked around. Then she traced Charlotte’s footprints, following them back along the way she had come.

“Just as I thought.”

Charlotte’s trail led from the forest path. Sophie also noticed other footprints nearby.

“Wait a second… Miss Windler wasn’t alone on that path, was she?”

Though much of the trail was now covered in snow, faint traces still remained. Two sets of footprints had gone up the forest path.

“So Miss Vivianne went with her…”

Sophie tilted her head, trying to piece it together—then froze. Her face instantly paled.

She hurried back to where Charlotte’s footprints had continued behind the manor. Then again, she retraced the path toward the forest, carefully following both sets of prints.

“Ah… My lady…”

There were two sets of footprints leading into the forest.

But only one set is coming back down—Charlotte’s.

“My lady!”

Without hesitation, Sophie dashed into the woods, desperately praying that her persistent fears were nothing more than needless worry.

────── ✾ ──────

Darkness had fallen. Outside the window, everything was white again. The snow, which had seemed ready to stop, had intensified since the afternoon, falling in thick, heavy flakes.

The manor’s servants were locked in a battle against the snow.

As dinnertime approached, Edwin headed to the dining room. After exchanging brief greetings with Gideon, who had arrived early with Susanna, Edwin scanned the table for the two missing women—Vivianne and Charlotte.

“You haven’t seen Charlotte yet?”

Sensing something was off, Edwin asked as he sat down.

“… No, I haven’t,” Gideon replied.

Susanna took a sip of her rich wine and said,

“The Baron must be so troubled. Such stubbornness from a grown woman. But as you know, Baron, the Windler bloodline is—”

“Mother.”

Edwin cut her off. The sharp warning in his eyes made Susanna scowl and turn her glass around in her hands.

“It’s quite alright, madam. I love Miss Windler for who she is… I must’ve done something wrong. Maybe it’s because I didn’t tell her beforehand. Or perhaps, as a bride, she simply didn’t want to see me before the wedding—I can understand that.”

“Sometimes brides get a bit depressed before the wedding. Windler must be having one of those moments, so don’t fret too much. She’ll surely show herself by tomorrow, if only to see her guardian’s face. Won’t she, Eddie?”

Instead of answering, Edwin called for Donnelly and ordered him to bring Vivianne and Charlotte immediately. Donnelly quickly left the dining hall, a look of urgency on his face.

Edwin’s sharp reaction made even Susanna feel the ominous tension hanging over Rottermond Castle.

Unable to sit still and wait, Edwin finally rose from his seat. Gideon also stood and followed him.

As the two men headed upstairs, they ran into Donnelly coming down alone.

Before Donnelly could even speak, Edwin turned back toward the first floor.

“Your Grace, I…”

“Baron, go find Charlotte. They’re gone. Both of them. From this manor.”

He didn’t show the slightest sign of agitation, even at the disappearance of the two women. He simply issued orders to the servants: search the manor thoroughly to find Vivianne and Charlotte.

After parting ways with Gideon, Edwin headed straight to Vivianne’s room.

Without ceremony, he threw the door wide open—only to find the room empty. Neither Vivianne nor Sophie was there.

Edwin sat on the edge of Vivianne’s bed and leaned his head back.

      She couldn’t have run away.

What kind of fool would choose to run away in this weather?

Vivianne might be foolishly sentimental at times, but she wasn’t so dim-witted that it made one frown. She’d already experienced the Queen’s twisted tastes—there was no way she’d be playing a game of hide-and-seek.

      Then where did she go?

As he slowly followed his train of thought, he arrived at one conclusion: Vivianne must be in a situation where she desperately needed help.

A place where something could go wrong.

A place where she might have let her guard down.

A place where she might plausibly be with Charlotte.

“Miss Aveline said she wanted to take a walk along the forest path, so she asked us to clear the trail.”

Edwin rose from the bed and immediately left the manor.

The servants, carrying lanterns, also seemed to suspect the forest path and were already heading in that direction.

Without hesitation, Edwin began climbing the trail.

The servants, alarmed, tried to stop him, warning him that it was dangerous, but Edwin snatched a lantern and took the lead.

Because this was where Vivianne would be.