DUKE HAMPTON'S HOLIDAY HOUSE IN MAPLE MEADOW
"Welcome back young master"
The butler greets me taking my coat as I enter the house.
"Your father would like to have a word with you in his study".
I nod and head towards my father's study, after taking a deep breath I finally open the door to see my father looking through some documents.
He notices me and smiles standing up from his chair to sit on a sofa in his study.
"How was the event? Did you enjoy it?"
He asks taking off his reading glasses.
"The event was fun. Nothing much happened."
He chuckles lightly and stands up slowly walking towards me.
"I heard you got involved in a fight between Count Sullivan's second daughter and Sir Cobham's daughter, is that nothing?"
I scoff internally. He knows everything, I wonder who he's put in charge of stalking me this time.
"You did well. That probably made a good impression on Letitia, it would have been better if you had talked to Letitia more."
"It's fine if you can get the eldest by being friends with the youngest. You can leave now."
I bow and make my way to the door when he calls me.
"Carlos. You know how important this is to us right? I'm trusting you won't mess it up."
I walk out of the door not responding. Walking through the hallway lighted by candles, I stop by a window.
"The moon is especially bright tonight, they remind me of her eyes."
"Is she also looking at the moon?"
I touch my right hand smiling to myself.
"She's finally noticed me."
~~~~~
Why am I running?
My throat is soo dry I can taste blood in my mouth.
I look down to see these F*CKING black shoes with a bow again but this time they are tattered and I'm only wearing the left shoe and my right leg is bloodied and dirty.
I'm so scared. What am I even running from?
I come to a pause when I realize I'm almost at the edge of a cliff, I couldn't control the running earlier and it seems stopping is not made by me but by my body.
Who's that? Why is he holding a bloodied sword? I try to run but my body is not moving.
The man run towards me and before I knew it, his sword slashes me. Tears fall from my eyes as pain surges through my body.
Like that's not enough, I fall to the ground to scoot away, the man piercing my back with his sword.
Gasping for breath trying to hold on to life, I feel my body get turned around.
Is this the killer trying to check if I'm dead? The person has a necklace with a bird drawn on its pendant.
There's something written on it...I can't see it. I'm trying hard to see the person's face but everything is blurry. As pain engulfs my body I feel myself lose consciousness.
.....
"Vivian.."
"Vivian! Try opening your eyes!"
A deep voice I've never heard before says as I gasp for breath opening my eyes that felt like it's been sealed shut.
"WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THAT YOU STUPID BASTARD!!!"
I shout out as soon as I open my eyes launching at the person in front of me.
"Calm down Vivian! It's me!"
I look around to realize I'm back in Vivian's room not in the spooky dark forest with a cliff. Tears stream down my eyes as an unknown fear runs through me.
"It was just a dream."
The person in front of me says removing my hand from his collar and patting my back. My body shivers at what just happened. It felt so real.
I look properly at the person in front of me. The man looks like he's in his fifties, he also looks like a neighborhood uncle that everyone likes.
His he perhaps?
"Father?"
I ask in a shaky voice fearing that I may be wrong.
"You must have had a very scary nightmare. Your father is back."
The man extends his arm open and hugs me. Not knowing what to do, I just let him hug me. Vivian must have a nice relationship with her father.
Well, I Hye Rin doesn't. My father was a cheat, liar, gambler and everything in between, this eventually led to his and my mum's divorce. He was never caring when he lived with us and he completely ignored us when he left.
"You must be really shocked judging by the tears in your eyes. Calm down and take a bath, I'll be waiting for you outside."
He wipes the tears off my face with his sleeve and walks out of my room with a gentle smile on his face.
"Why did Vivian disappear? She has such a loving father here."
Standing up from my bed a thought struck me.
Is the real Vivian dead by chance? Is that dream her memory?
"Did she die on the cliff that night?"
"Ahhh. I should have just read the Manhwa when everyone did!!!"
I jump around ruffling my hair and having a fight with myself.
~~~~~
LATER THAT DAY, BALCONY, COUNT SULLIVAN'S MANSION
I get to the balcony to see everyone is already there sitting around a glass table with baked goods and tea. I sit on the empty chair beside Letitia.
"Now that everyone's here, it feels like I'm at home. Have you all been doing well in my absence?"
Countess Della smiles and holds the Count's hand.
"Nothing has happened. Vivian has been more outgoing a few weeks now and Letitia is well, the usual."
I'm stunned at how Countess Della is acting like she doesn't want to fling me off the balcony.
"I heard Vivian even attended the charity event this year. How was it? Did you meet a lot of people?"
Count Sullivan says as the Countess pours him a cup of tea.
"I met a lot of people and even made friends. Sister's method of leaving me alone to start a conversation with other people worked."
"Even I didn't know I was so social but sister must have seen that in me before I discovered it."
Letitia gives me a side-eye before taking another sip of her tea. Count Sullivan coughs awkwardly before talking.
"It's good to see you both getting along. I have something to say to you both, as you all know I'm supposed to be heading to Erton City but I stopped here to talk to you myself."
"Her royal majesty the queen will be choosing the ladies to help and accompany her and the princess in the palace."
"I'd like you to go. You might think you're going to the palace to be her maid but no, you'd be a friend and also in charge of other things in the palace."
"This will also open a door of greater opportunity for you. You can get posts in the royal court if you do well and meet greater suitors than you would here."
"Letitia, you'll be going to Renztead in 3 days. Start getting ready to leave."
Letitia looks stunned at her dad's words. I don't know if hm not mentioning me is a good or bad thing. I don't have to worry about dealing with strangers and being alone with Letitia.
"Thank you, Father. I promise to uphold our family's honor. I won't disappoint you"
Letitia hugs her father smiling.
"This is the first time I've seen her smile without seeming to have an intention behind it."
I take a sip of my tea admiring the overview of the house. Letitia runs back inside with the Countess Della leaving the Count and me on the balcony.
"If you have nothing to do, how about you go to town with me?"