Chapter 15
The meal that seemed never-ending was finally nearing its end.
Something urgent must have come up because Wolfgang left the table when Benjamin called for him, leaving just me and Levi in the dining room.
“Crunch!”
Ah, and of course, Vivi—the ever-present parsley on every dish.
Our Vivi had such healthy teeth. It would’ve been great if she didn’t use them solely to nibble on my milky-white skin.
Throughout the long dinner, she hadn’t let go of her poor handkerchief even once, and the moment Levi pushed his chair back and stood up, she darted forward like lightning.
“You’re leaving? But dessert’s still left.”
I asked Levi, but Vivi charged in like a bull in a fight.
“Master and Young Master don’t like desserts!”
“Oh, that’s not true. The Duke actually loves them.”
I ignored the memory of Wolfgang’s sour expression just now. This situation was far more pressing.
One man, two women. A tense energy sparked in the air.
A classic love triangle!
Just as things were heating up, Vivi made the first move.
“M-Master! I’m so happy you’re back! I… I made this…!”
Blushing, she squeezed her eyes shut and offered him the handkerchief with both hands.
Wow. It was like a scene straight out of an old-school shoujo manga.
In that moment, Vivi was the perfect heroine from such a comic.
And the most important thing? Vivi knew exactly how she looked to others.
‘She’s got talent, alright.’
She’s way too good to be wasted as just a maid.
But Vivi, isn’t that the same handkerchief you kept chewing on?
Upon closer look, you could clearly see the bite marks, and one end was all stretched out.
Realizing it herself, Vivi quickly flipped the handkerchief over.
Revealing, embroidered in messy stitches: “Levi W. Bastion.”
“I embroidered this myself while thinking of you. It’s far from perfect, but I hope you’ll accep—”
Whoosh.
Before she could finish, Levi walked right past her.
As if stepping over a pebble on the road.
Wow. That was harsh. I wasn’t rooting for him to take the handkerchief, but even I thought that was overkill.
He could’ve at least said he wasn’t interested. What is he, the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz? Doesn’t even have a heart?
For a moment, calling him a psychopath felt too kind.
Yes. Levi Bastion truly was like an empty can missing its heart. In both good ways and bad.
Vivi, now left behind with me, buried her face in the handkerchief.
‘Oh dear.’
Thinking she might need some comfort, I reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder—only for her to mutter under her breath.
“…Ha, damn it. So rude… and so hot.”
Right. Strong woman. Vivi doesn’t need comforting.
I quietly removed my hand from her shoulder and tiptoed away from the scene.
“Don’t move.”
But I got caught instantly.
I reflexively gave a sheepish laugh… and froze.
Now’s not the time to laugh? Got it.
I folded my hands in front of me obediently under her deadly glare. Vivi crossed her arms and planted one leg to the side in front of me.
Still felt like a shoujo manga, except now the genre had shifted from romance to school bullying.
Now all that’s missing is for her to shake me down for money.
“I’m telling you upfront, you won’t get a penny out of me, sis.”
“…I can see that just by looking.”
Vivi gave me an incredulous stare, then her expression turned serious.
“Hey.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Duel.”
“…Sorry?”
“Out to the garden. Now.”
I blinked, and before I knew it, the setting had changed.
With grim determination, Vivi dragged me off to the dark backyard garden.
“Let’s settle this here.”
Whoosh—
A chilly breeze blew from somewhere.
Her frizzy hair slapped against my face as Vivi continued.
“Let’s do this cleanly. Whoever loses walks away for good. No more pestering the Young Master—”
“Wait, wait, hold up.”
Vivi paused, mid-wrist-crack, and tilted her head.
I blew the hair out of my face and spoke calmly, rationally.
“Vivi unnie, I really find this situation quite absurd.”
“What?”
“Why should we fight? The choice should be entirely up to the Young Master. Fighting for love? It’s not romantic at all. It’s like we’re treating him like a prize and ignoring his free will—”
“Too many words. What’s your point?”
“Please don’t kill me.”
I’m not a fighter. I’ve got guts and spirit, but no actual strength. I’m just a regular civilian.
Besides, we’re on totally different levels.
A few years’ age difference may not seem like much, but at our age, it’s a chasm.
It’s like she claimed the jungle gym saying, “This is for sixth graders!” and I’m stuck crying while spinning on the monkey bars.
And beautiful girls shouldn’t be getting into fistfights anyway. What if you get a scar? That’s a national loss.
So I surrendered, proudly.
“Take my surrender while I’m still being nice. Otherwise, you’ll be the one begging for mercy later.”
“What the…”
Vivi couldn’t tell if that was surrender or a threat. But I was seriously giving her one last chance.
I shrugged and folded my arms. Vivi’s eyes flashed blue with frustration.
“You think this is a joke, huh? You’re getting it today.”
She came stomping toward me like she was going to beat some sense into a brat.
Sorry, Vivi, but I won’t be the one crying.
I shook my head and raised a finger to my lips, letting out a loud whistle.
Fweeeet!
At that moment, from the edge of the mountain connected to the garden—rustle, rustle—and then:
“Woof!”
Twelve blue wolves burst out and formed a line in front of me.
Led by their alpha, January, they all gathered in a blink.
Vivi, now facing a pack of wolves, let out a shriek and landed on her butt.
“Wh-what the heck…?!”
“Say hello. These are my friends.”
I may not be strong, but my friends are.
The wolves who answered my call showed their sharp teeth at Vivi.
“Grrrr!”
January took one step, then another, slowly approaching.
Vivi’s legs gave out. She couldn’t even run—just groaned in fear and finally burst into tears.
“Huwaaaa! Please don’t kill me…!”
“Tsk.”
I clucked my tongue and called January’s name. Instantly, his snarl vanished and he turned to me, looking proud.
I patted his head and sighed.
Vivi crying on the ground broke my heart a little.
‘Maybe I overdid it. She’s still just a kid.’
I couldn’t decide if she should’ve known better or if she really was too young to understand.
After sending the wolves away, I helped Vivi to her feet and dusted the dirt off her skirt.
See? This is what happens when you don’t behave. I might’ve gone too far, but you kind of brought it on yourself.
On tiptoe, I used my apron to wipe her tears and snot, both comforting and scolding her.
“Really, what are we doing? We’re just hurting each other.”
“Sniff.”
“And no matter how much we fight, it’s pointless. The choice is his to make.”
Vivi blew her nose loudly into my apron and muttered weakly.
Her face was a mess, full of tears and resentment.
“What… So, you’re telling me to know my place?”
“Why are you jumping to conclusions…?”
“I know! I know it’s hopeless!”
Why is this turning into yet another genre now?
We’d moved past shoujo and action manga. Back to reality.
Vivi’s ever-angry shoulders slumped.
“I know I’m just a maid. I know I don’t have the right to even think about the Young Master.”
“…Vivi unnie.”
I looked at her sympathetically and whispered.
“If you know, then back off.”
“Oh, come on!”
Vivi snapped, clearly annoyed I was still joking.
But I was dead serious.
Tossing aside the snot-covered apron, I added,
“But I already won anyway.”
“…What?”
“Whether I’m a maid or a slave, I will marry the Young Master.”
Putting extra emphasis on “marry,” I clenched both fists. Vivi took a step back in shock.
Riding that momentum, I declared clearly,
“You lost the moment you hesitated. Now step aside like you promised!”
“You…”
With a baffled expression, Vivi murmured,
“You’re seriously out of your mind, huh?”
I just smiled at the oh-so-familiar reaction.
If she realizes and steps away from me out of pure frustration, that’d be great.
“Wait… You seriously think you can become the Duke’s wife?”
“Well, it’s more realistic than becoming the Crown Princess.”
I mean, I’m Crown Princess material anyway.
Compared to that, becoming a duchess is small potatoes.
“And really, while I’ve got my reasons… I think you’re too good to be just one man’s girl.”
You should just live your best life, breaking hearts left and right.
As I said that with a straight face, Vivi stared at me in disbelief… and laughed.
A stunned laugh, like all her anger just vanished.
“Oh wow. She laughed.”
“Shut it.”
“If you cry and laugh, you’ll grow horns on your butt.”
Vivi shook her head. She didn’t even have the strength to argue.
Seeing my chance, I ran up and wrapped my arm around hers.
“Since I didn’t get to eat dessert because of you, come back with me and let’s have some.”
Though she looked annoyed, she didn’t push me away.
And so, we became friends…
…Okay, maybe not yet, but we’re getting there.
“Eyes down.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“…You mutt.”
Yeah. Probably soon.
* * *
As usual, I was sitting on Wolfgang’s lap and pouted.
“…Father-in-law candidate.”
“Yes, daughter-in-law candidate?”
“Do you raise assassins here or something?”
“We do.”
“Wha—”
A chilling truth casually dropped.
No, what I meant was—
“I barely get to see your son’s face these days.”
“That’s true.”
Wolfgang answered without looking up from his papers.
I folded my arms and protested loudly.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
“What is?”
“He’s been holed up in his room for days. Aren’t you at least worried?”
Exactly. It had already been a week since Levi returned for his sweet spring break.
Aside from that historic first day, he had been hiding like an assassin ever since.
He even had meals delivered to his room, so there was no chance to see that handsome face of his.
I even tried ambushing him in the hallway all day… No use.
‘Damn it. I need to see him before I can make a move.’
But barging into Levi’s room with the same nerve I used with Wolfgang? That was a no-go.
Even the servants warned me: “You’ll die if you try.”
Finally, Wolfgang put down his papers and gently tugged at my pouty lips.
“I’d be more worried if he was out wandering around.”
“Huh?”
“He’s always been quieter at the townhouse.”
What the heck. That’s your explanation?
I puffed out my cheeks and pouted. Wolfgang poked my cheek with his long fingers.
Maybe because I’d been eating well lately, my once-scrawny body had started to plump up just a bit.
Intrigued, Wolfgang took every opportunity to poke and pinch my face.
“What is it? Did he fight with the house or something?”
“Something like that.”
“What happened…?”
I asked without thinking, and Benjamin suddenly froze like he was about to explode.
He waved his arms wildly in an X-shape, as if to say don’t ask.
Just then, a calm voice answered from above my head.
“Katrin died.”
