Chapter 101

Vivian was the one who opened the door instead of Amanda, who was tossing her body as she couldn’t really wake herself up. As she revealed herself, she was met with a firm gaze from the maid.

“The Young Lady is already waiting. Prepare yourself quickly and come out.”

“I understand.”

Right after Vivian had dressed herself in a rather simple manner, she followed quietly behind the maid.

Unlike the clamoring kitchen that was busy preparing breakfast, the hall was rather subdued as she entered. The warm sunlight and the sound of birds chirping made her feel like she had just set foot in an entirely different place.

“My Lady, I’ve brought her.”

“Send her in.”

As she cleared out her rather cracked voice, Vivian entered. In contrast to her thought that she might still be very drowsy, Alexia was actually looking at Vivian with such sharp eyes.

“You were sick?”

“Yes.”

Vivian bowed politely.

“Why did you get sick?”

“I think it was because of the difference in temperature.”

“Not because of anything in relation to the Grand Duke?”

Vivian lifted her head in response to Alexia’s question. As soon as she met with her eyes, she quickly lowered her head once again.

“No, My Lady. The Grand Duke has no connection to this.”

“Then, what talk did you have yesterday until you needed to send me back first?”

“That……”

Vivian wavered for a moment before expressing the excuse, which she had thought endlessly last night as she couldn’t catch a sleep at all.

“I was a bit late because he wanted to set an appointment for both of the two families to meet with each other since he believed that his body was gradually getting well.”

“Are you saying it took a long time to the point you have to send me back first?”

“It was just an arbitrary decision on my part since I thought My Lady wouldn’t like to wait that long. Please forgive me.”

“Hmm……”

Alexia’s gaze was directed intently at her.

However, her voice that was loaded with complaints could be heard soon after.

“Now that you’re already sick, how about you just stay ahead and be sick for a long time! What do you have in plan if you’re suddenly all well? It feels like Father will definitely be happy while he starts to proceed with the marriage in a hurry.”

Vivian didn’t reply to Alexia. Instead, she lowered her head while ignoring the throbbing pain in her heart.

“Anything else? Did he utter any other words?”

“I suppose he’d like to have the meeting at the county itself.”

Vivian recalled the memories when they had the talk with each other as she roughly informed her. Alexia, who still had her brows furrowed, tapped restlessly on the chair’s armrest.

“This has turned out to be quite annoying. I’ve been planning to enjoy a little bit more freedom by using you.”

Alexia then stood up from her seat before grasping Vivian’s chin mercilessly. As her head was naturally raised according to the force of Alexia’s hand, she immediately met Alexia’s piercing stare.

“You didn’t get caught, right?”

“Yes.”

Alexia released Vivian’s chin at those words which she had blurted out without any hesitation at all. Alexia’s long nails had grazed her chin a little, but the red tint soon faded away.

“Then, it’s fine. Go to the Grand Duchy in my stead for today as well.”

Vivian instantly nodded at Alexia’s order.

Her opinion was never even there. It was because, even if she didn’t wish to go, she was merely an existence that would still be required to go as long as the Young Lady had ordered her to do so.

Vivian, who had already transformed into Alexia, eventually left the County a little earlier than usual. When she finally reached the Grand Duchy after leaning her body against the carriage that had rattled even more than often while still holding off the vertigo, she could feel that her body had begun to grow stiff—setting out right from her foot.

She tried very hard masquerading as Alexia by raising her chin, but it lasted only for a moment. Right after having met the butler and proceeded to enter the Grand Duke’s room, her mask immediately shattered to pieces.

“The Grand Duke is still not fully recovered yet. So, please be careful.”

As the door closed after the butler had left with that comment, a surge of hot air soared at that moment. She couldn’t really discern whether it was the natural air of this room or even the air that was released by Knox himself.

However, the only thing that she could realize was the fact that his eyes were already gazing tenaciously towards the sight of Vivian alone at that same time she had entered.

The moment she had set foot in the room, she was quickly hurled on the bed. Without any chance to cry out, her lips were immediately blocked by a suffocating kiss.