Chapter 32 ❖ ❖ ❖
Vivienne excused herself from Madison and Daniel, who were seated not far away finishing their meal, saying she would step out for a moment. Guided by a crew member, she headed toward the ship’s lounge. Edmund moved with her.
After walking through the seemingly endless banquet hall, they reached a split staircase. Climbing it led to a corridor lined with rooms where guests could rest briefly.
As they walked, Vivienne listened to the crew member explain the ship’s size and scale. Excluding the company’s regular ocean liners and warships, this cruise ship was the largest vessel of its kind. She was also told that the owner of the ship was the owner of the shipbuilding company that had constructed it.
Because she did not want to be conscious of Edmund’s presence, Vivienne focused even harder on the explanation as she walked.
Before she realized it, they had arrived at the lounge door. Judging from the corridor, the rooms seemed endless, but when she opened the door, the interior was dazzlingly luxurious. Vivienne was quietly impressed that such rooms were plentiful aboard this ship. The crew member asked if she would like tea, but Vivienne shook her head, saying she would leave shortly.
Edmund sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette.
Vivienne glanced once at the ashtray between the sofas, then at Edmund, and sat facing him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t contact you again after leaving the count’s estate.”
She sat demurely, her back straight, both hands resting neatly on her knees as she spoke.
“But after taking some time to think, I wanted to tell you that I’ve decided to sort out my feelings toward you.”
“Why—after meeting me again, did that Air Force officer catch your eye more?”
Edmund asked as if he had been waiting for this. He raised one eyebrow slightly and tilted his chin.
“Daniel even offered to take you up in a helicopter with that war correspondent, didn’t he? A girl who likes freedom could use the fresh air—good for a change of mood.”
“No. This is because of you.”
At those words, the expression on Edmund’s face faded. Vivienne continued,
“And yes, that would be nice. Daniel has been kind to me, so it’d be pleasant if Madison and I could ride in a helicopter at least once.”
“I have my own private jet—why ride that bastard’s helicopter?”
“My father may be a vulgar man, but I’m not. When have I ever wanted money from you?”
“Then.”
Edmund lowered his gaze to the jewel box being pushed toward him. When it touched his side, Vivienne withdrew her hand and straightened her posture. Edmund spoke to her then.
“Then you should tell me what you want. That way, I can give it to you.”
“I want us to have nothing to do with each other going forward. And I want you to never speak of what happened between us—to anyone.”
“No.”
Edmund slowly shook his head.
“I’ll make you a real aristocrat.”
Vivienne flinched. A real aristocrat. As she turned the words over in her mind, a hollow smile surfaced on her face.
She had to struggle to hold back tears. What, exactly, was a “real aristocrat” that people talked about?
Perhaps, as Madison had said, it meant someone with enough wealth and power to host grand parties and bestow generosity upon others. If so, then what he was saying now must mean marriage.
The mockingbird’s words that Ludvig had once spoken echoed in her head.
“Poor Vivienne Mergoville. How pitiful must you have been for me to spare your life.”
Even now, it seemed he found her too pitiable to endure.
That was all she had been thinking—yet she suddenly felt something hot against her cheek. A single tear slid down her left cheek. Seeing it, Edmund’s expression grew strangely serious.
“It doesn’t matter. I was never a real aristocrat in your eyes anyway. Why should it matter how I appear to people who mean nothing to me?”
Vivienne spoke, forcing her emotions down.
“I never needed that kind of praise in my life. I lived an empty, hollow existence. Just because you let me live longer doesn’t mean I should be grateful.”
The day she left home—
She had wanted to escape that society full of pretense and hypocrisy. She had learned how meaningless that false recognition truly was.
“So please. I want you to leave me alone. Starting right now. I’ve endured you this much—so now I’d like you to go.”
When Vivienne finished speaking, Edmund straightened from where he had been leaning against the sofa. For a moment she thought he was standing up—but instead, he leaned toward her.
“You should be the one to go.”
As he spoke her name, Vivienne, the cigarette burning at the end of the arm resting on his knee released acrid smoke.
“This is my ship.”
“…….”
“And not just this—every helicopter that Air Force officer flies, every weapon and military supply in this country, they all come from companies I own or hold shares in. Right now, I’m offering you the only weapon of mine that suits your taste.”
When he finished speaking, he tapped his belt buckle twice. Vivienne’s face flushed red.
Edmund continued.
“Was it really the second son of the Rex family that you wanted?”
Vivienne bit her lower lip, clenched her hands atop her knees, and answered.
Don’t waver, Vivienne. You have to abandon this man.
“Yes.”
“…….”
“I’m glad you understand that much, at least.”
