"Lady Vivienne. How about this pitiful child..? "
A maid who appears to be rather elderly approaches her. That woman was her sister's nanny and had cared for her sister since she was a newborn.
Vivienne stared at a little child in the arms of the nanny. Such a tiny and delicate body. Without saying anything, she quietly reached her hands towards the nanny and softly grabbed the little one.
"From now on, I will take care of this child. I beg of you, please announce that he is dead. Silence every mouth and eyes that have seen this child. I will leave with him and live as if we never existed. "
Vivienne has made her decision. She left her husband and is now free to do anything she wants and live the life she has always desired. Of course with this child by her side.
Vivienne knows that if she leaves the child here, he will be treated the same way she was. So it's best to flee with this child now before it's too late. No one knows who the true father of this child is, thus she should take care of him in place of her sister. She is aware of what her sister wants as well.
"I understand. He is such a healthy boy. I'm glad that you are here right now, my lady. You can protect him far better than I can." The nanny smiled softly as she looked at Vivienne with the child in her arms.
"I'm sorry I have to delegate responsibility for Vylarie's funeral to you. Please inform me of the location of the burial. I'm certainly will visit every year without anyone knowing."
The nanny nods her head before extending out her hands to cover Vivienne's head with the robe Vivienne was wearing.
"Please take care, my lady. I wish you both the best."
Vivienne nods her heads with a little smile on her exhausted face. "You too, nanny."
*****
*Seven years later*
"Oh. Vivi. Are you busy dealing with your customer today too? "
Vivienne, who appears more mature as time has devoured her youth, softly smiles at the person who is speaking to her right now.
"Hm. It's the same as it always is, Ray."
Raymond smiles as she speaks. He had always admired the woman standing in front of him. She is a stunning woman with a sharp mind. He's known her for five years and has always been charmed by the way she sees the world.
Vivienne Rhea De Calista, the youngest daughter of Earl Calista, was such a prominent and well-known character in the Ophelia Empire due to her fascinating beauty, which enchants everybody who looks at her for the first time. Even the king of a neighboring kingdom offered a proposal to her, but she turned it down without hesitation. Her response, however, caused quite a stir throughout the empire, almost dragging it into a major conflict.
Fortunately, at that time, the empire won the war because of her 'so-called admirers,' which consisted of young armies, and the king's small country fell into the Ophelia Empire's hands. As a result, no other emperor ventured to make such a request to Lady Vivienne, the empire's most beautiful goddess.
Of course, this was before she married the Duke, and it's all in the past now.
Although she has aged, her beauty has only grown more bewitched. The woman who used to be the most beautiful woman in the empire is now a commoner on the outskirts of the empire. However, because she is a single mother, guys find it difficult to approach her. But, not for one guy.
Raymond scratches the back of his head in doubt before speaking out. "Well, you know, Vivi... Shall we go out-"
"Mom..! Look what I found!"
A child's voice interrupted his conversation. He knows who it is, so he sighed softly as Vivienne's gaze shifted from his to the child's.
"Oh. What exactly is it?" Vivienne spoke to the small child who approached her and pulled her dress with his tiny hands. She reaches out to him with a grin.
Now, the little boy is in her arms.
"Here." The boy reach out something to her.
"...? What is this? "
"A really big man asked me to give this to you, mom." The child's sweet grin caused Vivienne to frown in confusion.
She didn't want to exaggerate anything, but her heart was racing for the first time in seven years.
'It's a ruby tulip. Flowers that could only be found in the duke's garden.'
"Vincent. Can you tell me where you got this?" Vivienne begins to quiver. She took the child from her arms and gripped his shoulders.
The little boy named Vincent
tilted his head slightly before responding. "In the park. I was playing with John when that uncle asked me to offer you the flower. Do you think he's a bad guy, Mom?"
"....! "
Upon hearing Vincent's response, Vivienne instantly gets up and begins preparing to close the store. It is a little store that specializes in sweets and pastries. This was her dream before she became entangled in her family's problems.
"I believe I had to close the store early today due to an unforeseen circumstance. Ray, would you mind assisting me?"
She asks as her hands hastily clean up and organize the store before departing. Raymond, on the other hand, instantly assisted her without saying anything.
"Is something the matter, Vivi?"
Raymond asked her the question after Vivienne had close the shop. He was perplexed but nevertheless offered assistance.
"You appear to be running away from something. If there is anything I can do to assist you and Vincent, please let me know."
Vivienne throws him a glance before reaching out to take Vincent in her arms.
"It's nothing particular. It's just something I had to deal with on my own. Just... Would you mind looking after the store for me if I weren't able to open it?"
Raymond smiles slightly before nodding his head as he looks at Vivienne, who appears to be hesitant to tell him the truth. "I see what you're saying. But remember, Vivi, if something happens, don't hesitate to contact me."
His remarks make Vivienne grin. "Thank you."
*****
Click.
When she reaches home, Vivienne promptly closes all the windows and locks the door. Vincent, who had been sleeping for a long time in her embrace was gently placed on his bed. Vivienne brightens as she places a kiss on his forehead.
"Good night, Vincent."
Vivienne sat on the couch in the living room after closing the door to Vincent's room. She sighed deeply at that point.
Her hands reach for her forehead, which she softly pinches. It's aching. Her mind was racing. She hasn't felt this anxious in quite some time.
The possibility of him appearing here frightens her. She didn't want that man in her life any longer. She is no longer under his authority. She had forgotten even the man's face. Vincent is the only person in her thoughts right now.
'Even if he were around, what would he want to do with her? They were done a long time ago. She no longer has anything to do with him. She didn't even take the alimony she should have and left everything he ever provided her behind. Nothing should bind him to her in any way.'
"Mom...? "
Vincent approached her, rubbing his sleepy eyes and dragging his blanket over the ground.
"Oh. Vincent. Look at you, you are so sleepy. What made you wake up?"
Vivienne inquired as she held him in her arms.
"Because mom didn't sleep with me..." As Vincent spoke, he rested his head on Vivienne's shoulder.
"Ah. I am sorry. I couldn't sleep since I was thinking about something." She tenderly pats Vincent's back to soothe him.
"Is it because of that bad guy? Does he bother you, Mom?" Vincent inquires gently.
"Hm? What made you think that?"
"Because you step on the flower that guy gave you..."
Vivienne flinched at Vincent's words. She had no recollection of stepping on the flower. In front of Vincent, no less.
'Must have been when I was about to close the store. I need to be extra cautious since Vincent is watching everything I do...'
Knock. Knock.
"...? "
Vivienne looks in the direction of the door. Someone is standing in front of it. She could sense it since her curse made her more aware of her surroundings.
"Vincent, could you please stay in your room for a few minutes? I'd like to see who's at the door." Vivienne smiles as she releases Vincent from her arms.
Vincent ran inside his room and shut the door after nodding as an answer to his mother's order. This isn't the first time he's had to flee. Every time someone came around, his mother had him stay in the room. He had no idea why, but like a good child, he just followed his mother's instructions.
"Who is it...?"
Vivienne inquires before approaching the door, but the person in front of it does not respond. She had a doubtful expression on her face. These incidents occurred so frequently when Vincent was a baby that she had no choice but to utilize her abilities to keep such freaks from entering their home. Because she didn't want Vincent to discover about her curse, Vivienne became more vigilant whenever she was at home.
"I asked who it was. Are you muted or what?" She acted cold when she opened the door but when she realized who was standing in front of her, she instantly tried to close it again.
"I'm not muted. For a moment, I was just surprised by your voice."
The man speaks as his large hand prevents Vivienne from closing the door.
"I have absolutely nothing to do with you, sir." Please leave this instant before I use force." Vivienne continues to try to lock the door by pushing his hand away, but their strength is obviously different. She couldn't fight a war hero.
"Make me."
"Tch. I've already warned you. But, as usual, you never attempt to listen." Vivienne frowns in irritation as her entire body is engulfed by the grimace aura. She let out the cursed right in front of him. It's pointless to hide it from him now. What is most important right now is Vincent's safety.
"...?! What exactly is this?! Vivienne!"
"I told you several times. You never listen. So, don't ever show up in front of me again."
"...No, I-ugh."
The only thing he remembered before falling consciousness was Vivienne's harsh looks towards him.