There Is No Paradise Where You Escaped - Chapter 94

Vivianne was now able to walk and move around without difficulty. She had regained her strength to the point where there was no noticeable difference from before the accident, and she could eat without issue.

It might have seemed like she was simply going about ordinary, uneventful days, but Vivianne’s worries grew deeper with each passing one.

“Charlotte… hasn’t come to see me.”

Beneath the warm sunlight, Vivianne let out a long sigh.

She remembered everything from just before the accident. Sometimes she wondered if it would have been better to lose her memory instead. She couldn’t recall how she had felt in the moment she fell—only Charlotte’s eyes, staring silently down at her. And that, more than anything, had terrified her.

Since waking from her deep sleep after the accident, Vivianne had purposely never mentioned Charlotte to anyone. And no one had asked. No one had even spoken Charlotte’s name.

At the very least, Vivianne assumed Charlotte must have heard she’d woken up. She had hoped Charlotte would come to her first—explain, apologize, and tell her what had happened after the accident.

But even after all that time, Charlotte had done nothing.

Confronting Charlotte herself, asking her directly, felt incredibly awkward. But pretending nothing had happened between them wasn’t an option either. Even if their relationship had to end because of marriage, Vivianne didn’t believe their friendship had been so weak as to vanish so easily.

In the end, she made up her mind and quietly left her room.

The moment she stepped out, she ran into one of the servants.

Though Vivianne had regained her health, it seemed Edwin still didn’t approve. The doctor had even advised caution, and after that, she’d felt like a prisoner in a cage without bars.

“My lady, the evening air is chilly. You should stay inside.”

“… Actually, I was hoping to see His Grace.”

“I’ll go and speak with the Duke for you. Please wait inside, my lady.”

“No, no. It’s alright. I’ll go myself. I’m sure he won’t be too pleased, but he won’t be that angry. I’ll explain everything. I’ll be back soon.”

Vivianne offered an awkward smile, trying to smooth things over before the servant could stop her.

She pretended to head toward Edwin’s chambers but, when no one was looking, turned and made her way to Charlotte’s room instead.

Vivianne moved quickly down the quiet hallway and stopped in front of Charlotte’s bedroom door. She let out a nervous breath and knocked.

But even after a long wait, there was no response.

She knocked again. Still nothing.

Vivianne cautiously turned the doorknob.

Creeeak— A metallic sound accompanied the opening of the door, and a cold draft slipped out through the gap.

The room was pitch dark, with not a trace of light.

As she stepped fully inside, what greeted Vivianne was an empty bedroom—cold and seemingly abandoned for some time. The fireplace hadn’t seen fresh wood in ages. What was more unsettling, not a single trace of Charlotte remained in the room.

Growing uneasy, Vivianne quickly exited and went to find Charlotte’s maid.

Ignoring everyone’s concerns, she sought out Marian’s replacement and began asking questions.

“Where is Charlotte? Why isn’t she in her room? I didn’t see any of her belongings either—what’s going on?”

“Wh-what?”

Vivianne’s sudden appearance and direct questioning left the maid flustered and stammering. But Vivianne wouldn’t let her go without a real answer. She gripped the maid’s shoulders.

“You know where Charlotte went. I’m asking because she’s nowhere to be found. Where is she?”

“I-if you mean Miss Windler…”

Charlotte had been sent to the prison in Farrington for the crime of attempting to kill Vivianne. She had already stood trial and been found guilty—now imprisoned as a result. The head maid had given strict orders not to say a word to Vivianne, and since that order came from the Lord himself, the maid had a duty to stay silent.

“Did something happen to Charlotte? Or that day… was she in the accident with me? Is that why now, Charlotte…”

Vivianne’s imagination edged closer to the truth, but she couldn’t quite grasp it. Her mind spinning, she staggered and collapsed to the floor, dizzy.

Startled, the maid turned to call for help, but Vivianne stopped her.

“Tell me. Now.”

“M-my lady… please, you’re going to get seriously ill again. Let go of me. I’ll go get help, alright?”

“I need to hear what happened to Charlotte.”

The maid, caught between duty and conscience, froze under Vivianne’s grip. If it had been Sophie, she would’ve run without hesitation—but this gentle, soft-hearted maid didn’t have the strength to shake Vivianne off.

“… M-Miss Windler, she’s currently in Farrington.”

“Farrington? You mean the wedding already happened?”

“No, that’s not it…”

The troubled maid scratched her head and fidgeted nervously. But it seemed the truth could no longer be avoided.

“His Grace… said he was canceling the marriage between Miss Windler and the Baron.”

“C-canceling?”

“Yes. So officially, the engagement has been broken off. But the Baron is insisting on proceeding with the wedding anyway. However…”

Just as Vivianne’s anxiety peaked and she tried to regain her composure, it all came crashing down again.

“Miss Windler was found guilty at her recent trial… and is currently in prison. She received a life sentence and will likely spend the rest of her life there.”

Trial. Guilty. Prison. Life sentence.

The words reached Vivianne one by one, like stories from some far-off land.

Who… who had gotten involved in something so terrifying?

Vivianne bitterly regretted all the time she had spent waiting for Charlotte. Thinking of Charlotte shivering helplessly in that icy cold cell all this time, Vivianne turned and hurried toward Edwin.

────── ✾ ──────

“Please let me go see Charlotte.”

It had already been days. Even on the day she was set to leave Rottermond, Vivianne was still pleading relentlessly. After enduring her whining for several days, Edwin was so fed up that even the sound of her footsteps made his skin crawl.

“You have no right to stop me from seeing Charlotte. I’m the one who got hurt, remember?”

“Hurt?”

Edwin stopped in his tracks and scoffed as he turned to look at Vivianne. Her bold, defiant eyes faltered for a moment.

She needed to understand that calling it merely “hurt” was an understatement—for her, it might have felt like waking up after a long night’s sleep, but for others…

There had been moments when her body went cold as ice, and others when it burned like fire. Someone had watched all of that and sensed death approaching—had even considered letting go.

“That day, your head almost split open like the snowman’s head you two were building. You barely survived—only because you fell onto snow. But because you were buried in it, if Sophie hadn’t stayed by your side until her arm nearly broke, you would’ve frozen to death from hypothermia. So tell me—because you were the one hurt, I should forgive Charlotte?”

“… I’m not asking you to forgive her.”

With her naïve and optimistic nature, Vivianne wasn’t built to survive in this harsh world, perhaps it would have been better if she had died that day. Still, she didn’t give up and followed after Edwin as he turned to leave.

“Edwin.”

This time, Vivianne boldly reached out and grabbed his arm to stop him. Standing in front of him, she looked up with pleading eyes.

It was calculated, cunning, and she threw her entire being into getting what she wanted from him. As she stepped closer, a heavy floral scent clung to her. Fidgeting with the lapel of his coat, she let out a trembling breath.

Edwin covered her hand resting on his chest with his own.

“I know Charlotte did something terrible. I almost died because of her. I also know that the way I’m acting must be frustrating for you. But I just… I just want to hear her explanation. I deserve that much, don’t I? Why haven’t you let me see her even once since the accident? I’m not asking for much. Just let me see her one time.”

“You want an explanation. Just once, you say. But after that, you’ll ask me to forgive her, won’t you? I know you. That’s why I kept quiet about Charlotte.”

Edwin had always been easily swayed by Vivianne’s pleas—and Vivianne knew it. If she begged, if she pleaded, he would grant any request. But this time, it didn’t work.

“Anyone else can try. But not you, Vivianne. You’re the one who can’t try to change my mind.”

There was a faint anger simmering in Edwin’s eyes as he pulled Vivianne’s hand toward him.

“Even if others call me cruel—you’re the one who can’t.”

The warmth of his hand vanished from hers.

Vivianne couldn’t come up with a single excuse. She couldn’t follow him.

All she could do was rub the lingering warmth between her palms, clinging to the traces he had left behind.

 ────── ✾ ──────

╔═

Miss Aveline, you’re the only one I can rely on now. I know this is shameless of me. The wound Charlotte inflicted upon you is likely unforgivable. But I earnestly ask you—please, at least grant her the chance to ask for forgiveness. Please don’t give up on Charlotte, Miss Aveline.

                        ═╝

In the morning, they were set to leave Rottermond, a letter from Baron Zimmerman arrived. Had it come a day later, Vivianne would have left without ever reading it.

Thanks to the newly opened railway, Rottermond and Farrington were now relatively close. Still, Vivianne knew that once she left, the chance to meet Charlotte would drift even further out of reach—but all she could do was board the carriage.

The weight on her heart grew heavier, like a sponge soaking up water.

Vivianne quietly watched Edwin, who sat across from her with his eyes closed, gently swaying with the carriage.

“Edwin.”

At her soft call, he opened his eyes.

“I received a letter from the baron this morning.”

The moment Vivianne spoke, a weary sigh filled the carriage. Her heart sank along with it. Seeing his unyielding expression, she realized just how easily he had indulged her before.

“I also believe Charlotte should be given a chance to ask for forgiveness. I know how that incident turned the entire Rottermond manor upside down, and how everyone was on edge. But even so, I don’t think it’s right for you to decide Charlotte’s fate all on your own.”

Vivianne spoke slowly and clearly, making sure her words carried the sincerity of her heart.

“So? What, then? How exactly do you expect her to beg for forgiveness?”

“That’s up to Charlotte.”

“Up to Charlotte?”

Edwin scoffed.

“You act as if doing a few menial tasks under me has given you some profound understanding of human nature.”

At his continued harshness, Vivianne’s face burned with embarrassment. For the first time, she found herself truly resenting Edwin for his cruel condescension.

“Everyone makes mistakes. And Charlotte has already made one before. Being thrown out of the manor should’ve taught her something, don’t you think, Vivianne?”

“That time, it was Marian who—”

“It doesn’t matter who caused the trouble. What matters is that Charlotte should’ve learned her lesson then: what happens when you lay your hands on what’s mine. What it costs to ignore a warning. If she had really learned, she should’ve put it to use. That she didn’t—that’s her fault. Which means even a second chance at forgiveness wouldn’t matter. Sweet, naive girl… People don’t repent so easily.”

“Please don’t give up on Charlotte, Miss Aveline.”

Baron Zimmerman’s kind voice seemed to echo from far away.

If she wanted her request not to be rejected, she would need something irresistible, something Edwin Baytness could not say no to. Something he wouldn’t, couldn’t refuse.

One possibility shot through Vivianne’s mind like lightning.

It might be the only way to sway him, the key to turning his heart.

The thought made her uneasy, but the moment her eyes met Edwin’s, that unease faded, replaced by a quiet sense of relief.

Because it wasn’t just anyone—it was him.

Because it was that man.

Her heart, full of trust and belief in him, grew stronger.

There was nothing to fear.