Mike had to clean up the aftermath by himself. He was even reluctant to step into the pool again, as if it harbored some kind of beast.
After finally finishing his wash, Mike reached for his clean clothes, only to find they had been taken by the young man. He glanced at the dirty nightshirt lying on the ground and decided to drape himself in his robe instead.
The robe was soft, but not quite comfortable against his bare skin. Mike clutched it tighter around himself, yet still felt the cold wind brushing his legs.
God.
Mike mourned inwardly, feeling a profound sense of guilt and remorse. He had been seduced into committing an unforgivable sin, engaging in an illicit affair with his niece's fiancé.
From the moment he realized he was attracted to men, he felt as if he had been abandoned by God. There was no one left on earth who could forgive him, not even a place in hell for him.
Yet, deep inside, he felt a perverse satisfaction.
Spirit and flesh, love and betrayal. They intertwined, ensnaring people and making escape impossible.
Mike crossed through the forest and came to the shadow of the mansion. He was utterly exhausted, both in body and spirit. Unable to sort through his thoughts or contemplate how to face Luther in the future, he only wanted to retreat to his room and sleep.
Maybe, when he woke up, it would all turn out to be just a dream.
As he passed the stables, he heard voices, startling him so much that he froze, hiding in the darkness and not daring to move. The people over there seemed unaware of his presence, their voices raised in what seemed like an argument.
"Luther! You..."
Hearing Luther's name, Mike grew even more anxious. Had Luther been discovered when he returned? He cautiously approached, peering around the corner.
In the moonlight, a cloaked young woman was speaking to a man. She seemed agitated until the man pulled her into his arms, calming her slightly.
It was Vivian.
The man holding her wore a gold velvet robe, his blond hair gleaming in the moonlight. The sharp light almost pierced Mike's eyes.
He was fully dressed in the same outfit he wore after dinner, as if he hadn't changed into nightclothes before meeting Vivian.
Mike could hardly believe it. He stepped back, accidentally making a noise.
"Who's there!"
The man turned his head, looking in Mike's direction, the moonlight illuminating his face.
It was Luther.
Mike fled in panic.
Vivian stood uneasily in place while Luther went to investigate. He saw a man's figure retreating hastily and frowned.
"Who was it?" Vivian asked nervously.
Luther watched the man's disappearing figure before finally responding, "No one," he turned back to her with a smile, "just a restless bird."
Vivian looked at Luther skeptically. They had shared many pleasant moments, and Luther's behavior had led her to believe he had fallen for her.
Until tonight, on the eve of their departure from Hold Manor, everyone had expected Luther to propose to a young lady, and he had done just that.
He proposed to Jennifer.
At the dinner table, Vivian had to turn her face away to hide her shocked and angry expression.
Jennifer, the eldest daughter of Baron Hild, was only two years older than Vivian. Their close ages should have made them very intimate, but they had been separated from a young age. Jennifer often stayed at Roshar Manor, while Vivian was raised by Lady Hild. Their time together was limited, and their personalities were quite different.
But they were sisters.
During the limited social season, Vivian had struggled to find a suitable husband, eventually capturing Andrew's heart. She was slightly relieved and worried for Jennifer—her sister always seemed indifferent to marriage, now nineteen and still without an admirer.
This era was harsh on ladies. Without inheritance rights or ways to earn money, marriage was their only means of securing their lives. If Jennifer remained unmarried and without a brother to inherit the family estate, she would face poverty after their father's death.
Vivian fervently hoped her sister would find a suitable match.
But why Luther?
He was young, handsome, wealthy, cheerful, and polite—traits that could attract any eligible lady. Vivian had fantasized while accompanying him, eventually believing Luther had fallen for her.
But he hadn't.
He chose Jennifer, without any warning. His gaze upon Jennifer was gentle, devoid of the passion of love.
Engagements didn't always signify love, but a gentleman marrying a lady certainly had some reason.
Vivian, both anxious and angry, violated the code of a lady by secretly meeting Luther at night to question him, only to be interrupted by a noise. Fearful that her reputation would be ruined if discovered, she panicked.
Luther claimed it was just a bird.
She doubted it but desperately wanted to believe. Overwhelmed with fear, she couldn't continue questioning Luther and only wanted to leave quickly.
Before parting, Luther suddenly spoke seriously to Vivian, "Please trust me."
"I can't say I love Jennifer, but love itself is an illusion. I will be faithful to my marriage and make her happy."
Vivian gave him a deep look before finally turning away.
Mike fled, losing his left shoe in his haste. Too terrified to stop and retrieve it, he didn't halt until he reached his room, shutting the door and collapsing onto the floor, panting heavily.
His foot was cut, his body covered in a thin layer of sweat, his heart pounding as if it would leap from his throat.
But he couldn't care about any of that.
The young man at the pool had blond hair and blue eyes. Despite the mask, Mike had felt certain he was Luther.
But he wasn't.
There was no way he could have dressed so quickly and appeared by the stables, much less be conversing with Vivian as if they'd been talking for some time.
He wasn't Luther.