The forest path that the baroness boasted about endlessly also captivated Vivian’s heart.

The clean and wide path made it feel more like being in a huge garden rather than walking through a forest. The lush trees were not densely packed, and the rich, warm sunlight filtering through the leaves was infused with a deep grassy scent.

Due to Rothermond’s hilly terrain, there was a slight incline to the forest path, but compared to the charm of the forest, such a slight slope was not tiring at all.

The magic of the forest did not end there.

As they climbed the forest path a bit further, a small plaza with a stone-paved floor appeared. In the center of the plaza was a small fountain, and along with the gentle sound of flowing water, one could see small, cute forest birds bathing, drawing all attention.

The birds, startled by the human presence, flew away, scattering water droplets in the air. But when Susanna whistled, the wet forest birds and other birds gathered, flapping their wings. The birds perched on Susanna’s fingers, shoulders, and head, singing along with her whistle.

When a servant distributed grain to Vivian, the forest birds fluttered over to her as well. Amazed, Vivian carefully interacted with the small creatures, afraid they might get startled and fly away.

A sense of confusion, as if being in a fairy tale, came over her.

The clouds in the sky seemed close enough to touch, and the forest birds that followed people without hesitation, along with deer peeking out their faces – everything stimulated Vivian’s happiness.

Contrary to any worries, Susanna loved animals and peace.

Being by Susanna’s side, all concerns and worries disappeared. Vivian, who wanted to briefly and comfortably enjoy this dreamlike moment detached from reality, let go of everything and immersed herself in happiness as if this moment was all that existed.

The two spent time at the tea table set up in the small plaza.

They had lively discussions mostly about nature and landscaping, and also chatted about their favorite flowers and animals.

Naturally, as the topic shifted to artworks, Susanna suggested touring the gallery of Rothermond Castle. Vivian, having no reason to refuse, gladly accepted, and the two finished their tea time and left the forest.

Susanna’s words that they would get along well were not just polite pleasantries. Their likes, hobbies, and even values regarding nature and artworks were similar, so their conversation continued endlessly.

Returning to the castle, Vivian followed Susanna to the gallery. Just as Vivian was expressing her excitement about Rothermond Castle’s gallery, that’s when it happened.

“Oh, Eddie. Where are you going?”

They encountered Edwin coming up the stairs leading to the gallery. The uncomfortable feeling turned into displeasure upon discovering the hat tucked under his arm.

“I was on my way to the gallery. You’re back early?”

“Oh? Yes. Miss Eveline said she wanted to see the gallery.”

“Well, that’s good timing. Let’s go together…”

“No.”

As Susanna refused firmly with a smile, Edwin’s eyes twisted in confusion.

“I’m in the middle of a serious conversation with Miss Eveline right now. So you can look around by yourself later. Is that okay?”

Faced with the inexplicable refusal, Edwin looked at Vivian. He seemed to vaguely hope for Vivian’s persuasion. But Vivian had no intention of granting his wish and pointedly looked away.

Edwin had indeed taken back the hat he had given to Charlotte. Vivian had thought the joke about selling the hat in the carriage was just teasing, but it turned out to be sincere. He truly was an unpredictable and surprisingly whimsical man.

“…Then do as you please.”

Rejected by Vivian as well, Edwin went back down the stairs. Susanna flashed a bright smile at Vivian and linked arms with her intimately.

***

The gallery exceeded Vivian’s expectations. Susanna humbly said that most of the gallery was her husband’s taste, but listening to her talk about the artworks, one could easily tell that this was all Susanna’s collection.

Moreover, Susanna had gathered works of unknown artists rather than those of famous artists of the time, and most of them had now become masters dominating the current art world.

She said that even now, her hobby was to buy paintings and sculptures of still unknown artists, appreciating their artistry.

As Vivian slowly examined the oil paintings on the wall, her steps halted at one particular spot. It was a war painting with a very familiar background.

“Oh? Isn’t this Preston? I know this place. It looks like the square in front of the palace. I visited there a few times when I was young.”

Susanna approached with a gentle smile. After a moment of silence, she slowly scanned the painting.

“That’s right. The person who painted this was from Preston.”

“I see. What war is this depicting?”

Vivian’s eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky. The exquisite and dynamic expression was delicate, and the brave and valiant spirit of the leader defending the castle was destructively powerful enough to pierce through the painting. The figure that was particularly emphasized was probably the subject of this painting.

“This painting is called ‘The Last Stand of Raven’.”

The smile quickly faded from Vivian’s lips as she had been admiring the painting.

“Those attacking the palace are Meyer’s soldiers. This painting commemorates the Raven family, who have faded into the annals of history. It’s to let future generations know that they fought bravely until the very end.”

The work titled “The Last Stand of Raven” depicted the confrontation between two factions with Preston’s palace as the backdrop.

Those who protect and those who seek to take.

For Vivian, who knew what role her father, her family, played in this painting, it was impossible to view the painting with a clear mind.

“If Miss Eveline hadn’t asked, I wasn’t going to mention it. Because I’ve taken quite a liking to Miss Eveline.”

Vivian’s head dropped. The incident from 14 years ago was the reason Susanna and Edwin’s fates intertwined, but it was also the cause that ruined the life of her beloved son.

“But Miss Eveline, you’ve pulled out this work as if by fate.”

Susanna knew about Edwin’s true identity. So the meaning of this painting must be clear to Susanna.

Vivian couldn’t say a word and just swallowed her breath. Indeed, the feeling of being a dagger to someone else in turn became a dagger piercing her own heart.

“I heard that Eddie stayed in Miss Eveline’s room last night.”

So it had been found out after all.

Vivian quietly exhaled a fragmented sigh of frustration.

Susanna’s statement, without raising the end of her sentence, was not doubt but certainty. She seemed to have some foresight about what had happened in that room that night, and there was a hint of bitterness in it.

Vivian needed to make excuses. She should have indignantly protested that while it was true Edwin had visited her bedroom late at night, there was nothing to worry about.

Did we really do nothing?

She had read his desire, and he had readily admitted it. He had been in her embrace for quite some time, they had rolled around on the bed together, and she had pressed her cheek against his.

She didn’t have the courage to tell Susanna, who knew Edwin’s past and loved him, that the adopted son she pitied and loved was actually a shameless person who felt desire for the child of his enemy.

“Is it love?”

In front of the grand word ‘love’, it was as if her soul had switched with an ant passing by her toes. A dry relationship without affection. No, under an impure relationship where only instinctive desires were fulfilled with eyes full of hatred, the word love seemed enormous and solemn.

“The armies of Bannister and Meyer in this painting don’t look like they’re in love with each other, do they? That’s right. The long-standing grudge between Bannister and Meyer is unlikely to develop into love.”

Vivian was bearing the weight of a sinner. That weight pressed down on her head and trampled her heart.

“I need Miss Eveline’s answer. Are you two in love?”

Susanna’s straightforward question made Vivian shrink. The moment she shook her head, the despair deepened and the dishonor of a lady took clear shape.

“I see.”

Susanna’s dry and concise answer choked Vivian. Susanna’s eyes, which had now turned away, fell on ‘The Last Stand of Raven’.

“This time, Her Majesty the Queen has agreed to arrange a match. It’s the second daughter of Count Chadwick. She’s a very lovely and beautiful lady. I like Miss Chadwick very much. So I hope Miss Chadwick becomes the Duchess. I imagine them living together in Rodinia, enjoying a dreamy newlywed life, and having many children who resemble them both, filling the mansion with the laughter of children.”

As Vivian followed along with Susanna’s story, she faced confusion. It was strange.

Was the future Susanna was describing for Edwin after all his revenge had been fulfilled? Or was it Edwin falling in love with Miss Chadwick, giving up on revenge and letting go of himself?

Whatever it was, Vivian couldn’t picture Edwin treating a loving wife and children as if nothing had happened.

“If you two are in love, if you say it’s love despite the long-standing grudge, I’ll support you both. If that’s what will make Edwin happy, what’s the big deal about kissing the feet of an enemy?”

Vivian’s lips were tightly sealed.

Her wavering eyes didn’t reveal what emotions they held. On one hand, she seemed sad, and on the other, anxious. It seemed difficult to find where to begin untangling the knot of intertwined emotions.

“There’s such a thing as fate. There are relationships that stick together no matter how much you try to separate them, and there are relationships that fall apart no matter how much you try to keep them together. My husband and I were the latter. What do you think, Miss Eveline? What kind of fate do you think you have with our Eddie?”

If we were to discuss fate, it was a series of coincidences due to the biased favor of the gods. They say every effect has a cause, but we’ve come this far through a series of coincidences.

The family’s downfall due to the incident 14 years ago, Meyer wanting the daughter of a fallen family as his mistress, choosing to exile to Newway of all places, and the business started there collapsing.

Father and mother disappearing one after another, and throughout the sequence of debt and auctions, every situation flowed as Edwin wanted.

“I…”

Vivian couldn’t give an answer and her words trailed off.

“Does it feel like a relationship that sticks together even if you try to separate it?”

Susanna laughed elegantly. There was no malice visible in it. Vivian, having composed herself, let out a rough breath.

“What you’re worried about won’t happen. I can’t be certain when, but I will leave the Duke’s side, and then the Duke will forget everything and start anew. That’s what I believe.”

She tried to reassure with a bitter smile, but that wasn’t what Susanna wanted.

What she wanted was only Edwin’s happiness. To see her son happy in ordinary everyday life, meeting a loving partner, getting married, and starting a family.

“So you two really aren’t in love.”

Unanswerable questions filled her mind. If Edwin achieves his revenge, will he really be able to be happy? After fulfilling the promise from 14 years ago and his hatred for her father, will he be able to escape from the pain of that time?

“There’s only one thing I want. I want Eddie to forget. I don’t want him to live carrying such a great pain. But with Miss Eveline by his side, Eddie will always be reminded of the pain from that time.”

Reaching the conclusion that there was nothing she could do for him, Vivian crumbled. Knowing that the end of this revenge could not be happiness.

“So, Miss Eveline. Please run away so Eddie can move forward. Away from our Eddie.”

Susanna’s warm hands enveloped Vivian’s. The earnest plea reached deep into Vivian’s heart.