Chapter 7
Vivian stepped down from the carriage slowly with the help of the coachman. As she did, an older steward with gentle, finely lined features walked up to greet her politely.
“Welcome, young lady of the viscount’s house.”
“Hello.”
“I am Varner, the steward of the Lockberg summer villa. The Marchioness is waiting for you.”
His soft white hair and the calm folds of age in his expression suited the image of a kind man who cared for such a beautiful place.
Vivian thought of Grandpa Len, who was similar in size but had a stricter face. The thought made her smile briefly. When Varner noticed the sudden smile, his eyes showed mild confusion, but Vivian quickly shook her head and said nothing.
Inside the Lockberg residence, also called the Glass Manor, Vivian realized at once that all the stories she had heard were true.
It was stunning.
The entire interior was made of polished white marble, with golden decorations carved so delicately they looked as if light itself had shaped them. She had never seen anything so grand.
For a moment, she thought of the young viscount. The way he had carried himself with such dignity and calm matched this mansion perfectly.
He truly was a Lockberg.
To Vivian, the young viscount she had seen just the day before seemed like a noble in every possible way, someone far above her.
Varner guided her to the drawing room, where the Marchioness was waiting.
When the door opened, she saw the older woman sitting on the terrace beyond the room. It was Catherine, the person who had invited her to visit.
“Madam, the young lady has arrived,” Varner said.
At his words, Catherine turned her head. A soft smile appeared on her lined face. Vivian, stiff with nerves, swallowed hard and lowered her head just as she had been taught.
“Good afternoon, madam. My name is Vivian Mabel.”
“Thank you for accepting this old woman’s invitation.”
“No, thank you so much for inviting me.”
The woman before her was not only the young viscount’s grandmother, but also the mother of the late Duchess of Lockberg. She was the matriarch of the noble House of Anait, one of the oldest families in the empire.
To twelve-year-old Vivian, she was clearly the most important noble she had ever met.
Vivian steadied her voice, held her breath, and stepped forward. She sat gently on the chair across from the tea table and opened her mouth cautiously.
“Your villa is beautiful.”
Start with a simple compliment.
This was the moment for Madam Pourin’s training to shine. Vivian had spoken first, though her hands trembled as she gathered her dress in her fingers. The soft fabric crinkled slightly.
“Other than the Imperial Palace, this is considered the most beautiful place in Argent. Do you drink tea?”
“Yes… I do.”
“Varner, please bring some tea and cookies.”
Her kind voice helped calm Vivian’s nerves. It felt like a good beginning.
A gentle breeze passed through, making strands of her hair flutter. Catherine’s room faced not the garden, but the Taniche Sea. Beyond the terrace, the sea stretched far and wide, glittering like tiny pieces of glass scattered in the sun.
Vivian stared at the view, mesmerized. Catherine glanced at her and smiled.
“It is beautiful, isn’t it? From here, you can see the full curve of the coastline.”
The servants finished setting the tea and stepped back quietly with a small bow.
There were scones on the table, filled with chocolate chips. Vivian hesitated, holding back her instinct to reach out, and looked at the Marchioness. Catherine was still gazing peacefully out to sea, so Vivian turned her eyes to the window and gathered her courage.
She was ready to ask a question.
“Do you know the legend of the Taniche Sea?”
“No, I don’t think I’ve heard it before.”
When Vivian saw that the Marchioness was genuinely curious, her voice grew a little more lively with excitement.
If there was one thing Vivian was truly good at, it was telling stories about Faubert.
“There is one day each year when the stars shine their brightest. On that day, the waters of the Taniche Sea are said to open up.”
“The day when the stars shine brightest… that would be during the Polaris Festival, wouldn’t it?”
Vivian smiled brightly and nodded at Catherine’s gentle voice.
“Yes! When the sea opens, a path appears. And if two people who love each other walk hand in hand to the end of that path, they’ll live happily ever after, loving no one else for the rest of their lives.”
“What a fascinating legend.”
“But it’s just a story. The Taniche Sea is enormous, and no one knows where that path appears or what lies at the end of it.”
The legend of the Taniche Sea was well known among the people of Faubert. To Vivian, it was more romantic than any fairy tale she had ever read.
She glanced at the Marchioness’s face. When she saw Catherine looking calm and at ease, Vivian smiled with quiet satisfaction. She was glad she could repay the kindness of being invited to the villa in even the smallest way.
“Thank you so much for inviting me. Everyone says being invited to the Lockberg summer villa is a rare and special honor.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Mr. Peter gave me a rose and said congratulations.”
Catherine rested her chin on her hand and listened quietly as Vivian spoke.
The child holding a scone and chatting cheerfully was like a lark, chirping in the sunlight. To Catherine, who had grown up in the capital as the daughter of a powerful noble family, the stories told by this countryside girl were full of youthful nonsense. But to an aging woman who had lived through a long and fleeting life, the stories had a gentle and pleasant charm.
Vivian seemed to love Faubert as much as Faubert loved her.
Catherine thought of the kind viscount and his wife who had introduced Vivian as their twelve-year-old daughter.
In the capital, girls of that age were already searching for better tutors, learning etiquette, and preparing for their debut in society.
But this girl did not seem to belong in that kind of rigid world.
She was a warm child, raised by loving parents.
A child who knew how to love.
Unlike the girls in the city who often used pretty words just to make a good impression, Vivian still had something rare and sincere in her.
She would never be able to marry Edmund because of her low status. But for a quiet summer in the countryside, she was more than enough.
“This was the only place in Faubert I hadn’t been to.”
“It really is a shame to keep such a beautiful villa only for the men of Lockberg. You are welcome to visit any time.”
It was an invitation Catherine had not planned.
It was a sudden offer, born from the simple wish to keep hearing the child’s cheerful voice.
Vivian’s eyes widened, round with surprise.
There was no deeper reason behind the offer.
Just a gentle kindness, given to a child who was genuinely lovely.
Catherine didn’t mind the little bit of commotion the visit had brought. In fact, it had been refreshing.
“Really?”
Vivian asked with innocent wonder, and Catherine gave her a warm smile.
There were many noble girls in the capital who had waited for years for such an invitation. In that sense, it was clearly favoritism. But this was Faubert. And in Faubert, there should be no place that a child of Faubert could not go.
Catherine gave a small nod.
“I heard you like flowers.”
“I do!” Vivian answered brightly.
“There are many lovely flowers blooming in the garden greenhouse. You should take a look before you leave. There’s even a daisy that reminds me so much of you.”
Goodness.
Vivian leaned forward over the tea table and quickly grabbed the Marchioness’s hand.
It was clearly against proper etiquette. But in that moment, Vivian couldn’t think about rules or manners. All she wanted was to express her heartfelt thanks.
“Thank you so much!”
Beaming with joy, Vivian looked up at Catherine and asked excitedly,
“May I go see them as soon as I finish my tea?”
Catherine noticed the eagerness in her voice and gave a gentle nod. She lifted her teacup with grace, pretending not to notice the bright smile bubbling out of the girl’s chest.
Their quiet midmorning tea time passed peacefully, filled with light conversation and fresh air.
“You may go anywhere you like, except beyond the arched gate that leads to the sea. That path is for the master of Lockberg alone.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
When Catherine glanced at Vivian’s teacup and saw it was empty, she raised a hand to tell the girl she was free to go.
Vivian’s cheeks were glowing pink, the color deepening as her excitement grew. She gave a quick bow, then stepped out from the terrace. At first her pace was slow, careful, almost restrained. But as she moved farther away, her steps became quicker and lighter.
Catherine watched as Vivian’s dress fluttered with every step she took, heading toward the greenhouse in the back garden. The soft fabric danced in the summer breeze, and the sight filled Catherine’s eyes completely.
