Chapter 3
Vivian looked around the quiet bookstore with a puzzled expression. Even though she had called out, only her own voice echoed back at her. Curious, she stepped further inside and pushed open the small door that led to the back storage room.
“Not that way.”
A gruff voice startled her just as her hand touched the door. Vivian quickly turned her head.
“Grandpa!”
Standing at the entrance was Grandpa Len, holding a cake box with the logo of the most popular bakery in Faubert.
“Wow! Did you buy that for me?”
“Just sit down and eat quietly.”
“Wow!”
When the box was opened, Vivian’s eyes sparkled. Inside was her favorite strawberry cake. She quickly sat down in a chair and picked up her fork, but then suddenly paused.
“Oh!”
She froze with her hand in mid-air. Len glanced at her from the side, pretending not to care, though a faint look of nervousness crossed his face.
“You don’t like the cake?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
At his sharp tone, Vivian looked around nervously and shrank back in her seat. Her voice turned quiet and hesitant.
“I was told I should never eat before an adult does…”
“And who told you that?”
“Madam Pourin.”
“You don’t need to follow that uptight woman’s rules when you’re with me, whether her name is Pourin or Pudding.”
Vivian’s tightly closed lips slowly relaxed and curved into a smile. Finally reassured by Len’s words, she scooped up a big bite of strawberry cake covered in white whipped cream and took a bite.
Len quietly watched the child, her eyes sparkling as the cream clung to the corners of her mouth. His lips twitched slightly into a smile. Seeing her eat so happily, he realized the cake’s reputation from the capital might really be true. The effort it took to find and buy it had been worth it.
Feeling content, Len opened his newspaper and sat across from her. As he unfolded the latest edition, he glanced down and began scanning through the headlines.
“Honestly, I thought getting scolded by Madam Pourin again today would ruin my whole mood.”
“That woman is not worth worrying about.”
Vivian continued talking, undeterred by whether Len was reading or not, chatting on about how hard her etiquette lessons had been. From time to time, Len responded with quiet, sincere sounds of agreement, listening as she spoke.
Lately, most of what Vivian talked about was her frustration with Madam Pourin, the new etiquette teacher. And as always, Len simply listened to her complaints in silence, knowing that was all she really needed.
Vivian took another big bite of cake, held her fork tightly, and spoke with a slightly embarrassed look.
“But that doesn’t mean I dislike her. Madam Pourin praises me when I do well, and sometimes she gently pats my head.”
Most of her complaints usually ended with that kind of awkward excuse.
“You know what I mean, right?”
Whenever she looked up with her round, rabbit-like eyes, Len would clear his throat and shift his gaze toward the wide stretch of Lake Tanique outside the window.
Vivian would then return to her cake, and Len would go back to reading the rest of the newspaper.
The quiet creaking of the old chair matched the rhythm of Vivian’s swinging feet, filling the bookstore with a soft, peaceful sound.
“It looks like Faubert will be having some visitors soon.”
“Visitors?”
The bold headline of the newspaper was reflected in Len’s eyes.
That day’s edition had been printed as a special release and distributed throughout Faubert. The article shared the news that the young Duke of Lockberg and his mother, Catherine Anait, the Duchess, would be coming to Faubert for a period of rest and healing after the loss of a loved one.
The place chosen for her recovery was the Lockberg family’s summer estate.
That summer estate was located here in Faubert.
Beautiful Faubert. Lively and full of charm, yet still a peaceful countryside village. The unfamiliar visitor expected to arrive was the young Duke of Lockberg, the owner of the summer estate.
The most beautiful place in Faubert was not Lake Tanique, nor the Mabel family’s manor, home of the local viscount. It was the Lockberg family’s summer estate, standing high on a cliff overlooking Lake Tanique. News that the estate’s mysterious owner was returning had quickly spread, stirring excitement among the people of Faubert.
Hopefully, everything would pass quietly.
“Vivian, it’s about time you head back.”
“Already?”
“Lake Tanique is starting to change color.”
It was the hour of sunset. In Faubert, the glowing lake marked the end of the day. As the fading sunlight reflected off its clear surface, Lake Tanique gently colored all of Faubert in soft hues of evening.
The meaning of that light was always the same, time to say goodbye.
“If you go back now, maybe Betty won’t scold you too much.”
“Yikes!”
“Betty must be worried sick since her young mistress disappeared without a word. Be careful on your way back.”
“Yes! I’ll come again, Grandpa Len!”
Vivian’s slow steps were filled with reluctance. She turned back, smiling brightly and waving with both hands as she left behind the familiar scent of the old bookstore.
Len’s eyes followed her until she became a small figure in the distance.
The beloved young lady of this quiet little town. Mischievous Vivian.
Her shining blond hair grew smaller and smaller as she climbed the hill, disappearing into the light of the setting sun.
Once he was sure she had completely vanished from sight, Len finally turned away from the hill and walked back into the bookstore.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Young Miss!”
“Betty!”
Betty came stomping in with heavy, angry steps. As the sun began to set, she spotted Vivian quietly slipping through the mansion doors. Her face turned bright red as she shouted.
“All the exits were supposed to be locked!”
Vivian looked down and quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry, Betty.”
“Madam Pourin waited for you, but she left before sunset. Of course, she said she’ll be returning tomorrow.”
“What?”
“This is what happens when you run off. She’s coming back early in the morning.”
With a sharp huff, Betty turned away in frustration. Vivian hurried up beside her and grabbed the edge of her skirt with a worried expression. It was truly the worst news she could hear.
“Complaining won’t help. The other young ladies take their etiquette lessons just fine. Why is it only you who hates them so much? You do just fine in every other subject.”
“Vivian!”
At that moment, a loud voice shouted from behind, and Vivian’s shoulders jumped in surprise.
Vivian’s face turned pale, and her expression froze.
Seeing Betty’s proud face, as if she had found support, Vivian slowly let go of her skirt and turned her head.
This was serious. Really serious.
It was time to take responsibility for the trouble she had caused.
Vivian tightly closed her eyes.
Her mother’s face, full of anger, was coming straight toward her. She had already walked up close. Vivian peeked carefully at her mother’s expression, then quietly moved behind Betty, trying to hide.
“I… I didn’t mean to…”
“I told you that if you went outside again, the punishment wouldn’t end in just two days.”
Vivian said nothing.
“And now you’ve even made the teacher wait for nothing. This time, you truly need to be disciplined.”
Her mother’s stern and frightening voice made Vivian panic. She quickly grabbed Betty’s arm and shook it gently. It was her silent way of asking for help.
Noticing the signal, loyal Betty let out a soft sigh and blinked slowly.
“My lady, perhaps it would be better to scold the young miss after she’s been washed up a little,” Betty suggested gently.
At her words, the viscountess looked down at Vivian’s dress, which was completely covered in dirt. Placing a hand on her forehead, she let out a quiet sigh, then gave a small nod, signaling that they should go.
Vivian had been smiling, but when her eyes met her mother’s, she quickly looked away and pretended to whistle, as if nothing had happened.
As her mother walked off toward her room, Vivian and Betty also began to move. Betty hurried to help clean up her young mistress, who was now a mess from head to toe.
“Young miss, your bath is ready.”
“Okay!”
Vivian sat in the tub, lightly swishing her hands across the surface of the water. As Betty gently washed her, a tiredness she hadn’t noticed before came rushing in like a wave.
“So, where did you go today?”
“Grandpa Len’s bookstore. I even had the most delicious strawberry cake!”
“It must be from the new bakery in Faubert, the one from the capital.”
“I wish you had come and tried it too, Betty.”
“I’ll be sure to ask them to include it in our snack deliveries from now on.”
A soft, fluffy towel rubbed against Vivian’s round cheeks.
“Ugh.”
Betty’s hands moved with a bit more force than usual, almost as if getting revenge, and the rough rubbing made Vivian quickly grab her arm in protest.
Her damp hair, still wet from the bath, swayed down past her waist, dripping gently.
“Hey, Betty.”
“Yes?”
“Grandpa Len said someone important is coming to Faubert soon.”
“Oh?”
“Do you know who it is?”
