villainess chapter 18

From what she had heard, Vivian treated others with kindness and without prejudice, yet stood firm against rudeness. She admired that. Surely, Vivian must have sensed the fear in the boutique girl when Evan had abruptly approached her; the girl’s unconscious reaction had betrayed her. And Vivian had responded calmly, putting up a cool facade. Most young ladies would have burst into tears if Evan had behaved that way. A seemingly delicate exterior, but with an unexpectedly strong inner core. Also, graduating early from the academy demonstrated ambition and diligence despite her young age. Other noble sons would have boasted throughout the empire about their achievements and early graduation. In contrast, Vivian remained humble and unassuming. Truly, there’s no better candidate for Grand Duchess.

Meanwhile, Vivian, enjoying her rare outing, wished to savor the fresh air a bit longer. “Oh, thank you for the offer, but if you don’t mind, could I explore the gardens a little more?”

“Of course. Feel free to wander as you please. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask our staff.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Caroline and Flora headed towards the mansion. Vivian sat for a moment, looking around, then rose and strolled through the low, maze-like flowerbeds. The well-maintained plants were uniform in height and harmoniously arranged. The fragrant flowers and fresh herbs tickled her nose. The afternoon sun was gentle and warm. Having satisfied her hunger with the various treats, she felt perfectly content for a leisurely walk.

“I’ve missed this,” Vivian murmured, inhaling the fragrant, fresh air until her lungs felt full. She took several deep breaths, as if such opportunities were rare.

Rustle—

The leaves of the trees lining the path between the main house and the gardens swayed in the breeze. She arrived at a small, inconspicuous herb garden tucked away in a corner. Crouching down, her eyes shone brightly as she examined the herbs.

Rustle—

As she gazed at the plants, she heard a sound. Are the Grand Duchess and Flora back already? She turned expectantly towards the sound. Standing there, in a light shirt, was a tall young man. It was Evan. A few strands of dark hair clung to his forehead. He seemed to have just finished training and come to cool off. His shirt, worn for ease of movement, was slightly damp, clinging to his body. Apparently sensitive to the heat, he had left the top two buttons undone.

Gasp! Vivian cried out inwardly. Unable to tear her gaze away, she could only stare. Even though she had spent intimate nights with Arthur in her past life, this was still embarrassing. She had never seen a man, young or old, so exposed in broad daylight. She felt her cheeks and the tips of her ears flush. No, Vivian, pull yourself together. Her eyes, catching the sunlight, shimmered gold as she looked up at him. Backlit by the afternoon sun, he smiled dazzlingly, his dark eyes fixed on her. He extended a hand to her, still seated, offering a gentle greeting. “Lady Beaufort, I presume. How are you?”

“Well, thank you. And you, Your Highness?” She took his large hand, which completely enveloped her small one, and rose gracefully. A faint scent of sweat mingled with a refreshing fragrance wafted towards her, tickling her heart like a feather. It was a strange, unfamiliar sensation, yet the scene felt oddly familiar. Looking at his face, she felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead again. She pulled a clean handkerchief from her pocket and offered it to him. “Here, please use this.”

Evan didn’t take the handkerchief immediately, but looked down at it, then at her hand – still small and delicate like a maple leaf, but no longer the hand of a child. Vivian, too, felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Why does this feel like something I’ve experienced before? That’s impossible… It must be my imagination. Dismissing the feeling, she addressed the young man who was staring intently at her. “Um, Ethan? Oh!” Vivian quickly clamped her mouth shut at the name that had slipped out. She tilted her head in confusion. Evan’s eyes widened in surprise at the name.

“Vivian, what did you just say?”

“Oh, nothing. The sweat might sting your eyes, so please use this.” Vivian pondered the unexpected word that had escaped her lips. A man’s name she had no memory of, yet a pronunciation that felt strangely familiar and nostalgic. Why had the name of a young lord she’d never met come out so naturally? Had she perhaps crossed paths with someone by that name at some point?

Flustered, Evan was speechless. Vivian, still holding out the handkerchief, called to him again. “Um, Your Highness?”

“Ah, thank you. I’ll be sure to return it after washing it.”

“You can keep it.”

As he accepted the handkerchief, Vivian took a step back, suppressing the fluttering sensation in her chest. She smoothed down her skirt, feeling self-conscious. Sensing the awkward shift in the atmosphere, Evan fidgeted with the handkerchief and tugged at his clinging shirt, pretending to cool himself down. “Where has Lady Beaufort gone?”

“Oh, she went to the dressing room with Caroline after spilling her tea.”

Caroline? He tilted his head at the casual use of her first name. When had they become so close? A pang of jealousy struck him. He took half a step closer. “She lets you call her by her first name?”