Chapter 122

She felt that it had been very close by when she first came here, but even after walking for such a long time along the darkened road at night, she could hardly find any familiar buildings.

Step step. Every time she stepped ahead, a trail of footsteps soon followed from behind. Whenever she paused to fix the position of her child in her arms, the sound of footsteps shadowing from behind also stopped.

After a few more times, Vivian could no longer stand it as she eventually turned her head back.

“You don’t have to accompany me back.”

“But……”

“I can leave on my own. So please, do not follow me.”

Ah—she exclaimed before pausing for a while and shot an icy glare towards him.

“It’d be better for you to not visit my inn any longer in the future. If you’d like a refund, I’ll hand it over tomorrow. After that, I’d prefer if you don’t come anymore.”

“Vivian.”

The moment her name was called out faintly from his lips, she gulped in a breath. It had been a name that she desperately wanted to hear then, but now, it was only inciting her own anger.

“Are you that happy to have deceived me? Was it amusing for you to make fun of me?”

“No. I only……”

“Only what, sir? You were disgusted by me who had run away until you couldn’t even relieve your anger if you didn’t check up on how I live?”

He didn’t utter a single word. He couldn’t even rush to relay his apology to her, who was holding her child dearly while taking on a defensive stance.

“Your Highness.”

At that remark, Knox took off his robe slowly.

When his face finally came into view, a sign of despair flashed across Vivian’s face, but it lasted only for a split second. Knox then drew a sorrowful face at her expression, which had returned as hostile as usual.

“Please go away. I don’t want to get involved with you anymore.”

“Am I not even allowed to just come over and see you?”

“Yes.”

Her cold tone of voice had made Knox’s face turn even more apologetic. Vivian blinked before turning around.

I just can’t believe that I’d imagine those red eyes being filled with tears. She was reminded once again that she hadn’t been seeing him in such a long time.

When she turned her back, he quickly clutched onto her shoulder.

“I won’t annoy you anymore.”

He didn’t use his strength to turn her around forcefully. Instead, it was as if he felt enough with merely stopping her steps while he quickly added before she vanished into thin air.

“If you hate it, then I won’t even speak with you.”

“……”

“So please, just let me see you. I beg of you.”

Knox’s words started making Vivian waver. His voice that she longed for all this time and his gentle words had perturbed her firm will. As if her heart had reverted back to one and a half years ago, she just couldn’t shake Knox off like that.

“Please—just let me stay by your side.”

Vivian slowly turned her head and saw the hand that settled on her shoulder.

Ah. The moment she saw the ring on his left ring finger, she immediately felt that her barely softened heart had gone cold at once. While one of her hands was still holding on to her child, she shook off his hand abruptly.

“I feel uncomfortable.”

“Vivian.”

“Why don’t you understand that the more you act like this, the more I feel uncomfortable, Your Highness? Is it that you can’t read my mood because you always think only about yourself?”

“No. It’s not li—”

“The one who should be by your side isn’t me but Young Lady Alexia, sir. But seriously, why do you keep……!”

“Waaah!”

It was right when Vivian’s voice had grown higher. When the child in her arms suddenly burst out in tears, she began to hug her again while soothing her child—feeling flustered herself.

“Alright, alright. Were you surprised when I yelled? I’m sorry.”

“…is the child yours?”

Knox’s careful question slowly reached Vivian. She looked back at him with an extremely wary expression.

“Yes.”

“Then, is that child…”

“She is not yours.”

Vivian straight away cut through Knox’s words. He shouldn’t know the truth. Vivian denied him with a sharp expression on her face.

“This child has no relation with you.”

“…Is that true?”

“Yes, sir.”

With her firm answer, Knox no longer said anything else. He only gazed at her endlessly until Vivian finally decided to make a move first.

“Then, excuse me. Thank you for helping today.”

She held the whining child in her arms and quickly turned away. Then, she darted as if she was running away before he could even say anything.

Vivian kept on running until she eventually saw the inn. Although she was aware that she would’ve gotten caught the instant Knox chose to run as well, she still didn’t cease her quick steps.