villainess chapter 22

“Judging by Vivian’s reaction, they’ve never met. Why is he pretending otherwise? Is this some new courtship tactic amongst young lords?” His well-groomed hair and expensive clothes marked him as a nobleman. If he harbored any designs on Vivian, Flora wouldn’t stand for it. Her breath grew ragged, the warmth in her eyes hardening into a glacial glare. The madame in the room, sensing the shift in atmosphere, lowered her gaze, unsure how to react to Flora’s sudden, chilling aura.

“Oh dear.” Flora, her ear still turned towards the door, addressed the madame in a gentle voice. “I’m worried because Vivian seems to have stopped on her way. Is someone else expected at this hour? It sounds like there’s a commotion outside…”

“Ah! Lady Caroline Grey has an appointment.”

“I see. Perhaps you should attend to her personally, Madame.” Flora offered the suggestion with a thin smile. “Lady Grey. So that’s her younger brother? Or perhaps a servant?” Flora and Caroline had attended the same academy, but they were in different classes. Neither was particularly social, and the academy wasn’t a place for frequent gatherings. They had likely only crossed paths in passing. However, House Grey was the empire’s only ducal house. 

Everyone knew that Caroline had a fraternal twin brother. Flora couldn’t see the boy’s face from her vantage point, but she hoped the madame would hurry and greet Lady Grey so that the boy would leave Vivian alone. “The young lord is said to be frail and didn’t attend the academy. Perhaps he’s a servant or a knight? It’s odd he’s not accompanied by a maid. I should keep an eye on things.” To see Vivian, usually so unflappable, reduced to such fear… Flora ached to pull her sister away from that young man. However, the madame simply smiled serenely.

“Your Highness’s appointment came first, so it’s quite alright.”

“Oh, Madame, your dedication is truly admirable.” Flora sighed inwardly. She was accustomed to dealing with nobles, and she understood the underlying message. With forced composure, she continued, “Still, we must consider the status and reputation of the empire’s only ducal house. I’m happy to work with another designer, so please don’t worry about me.”

“Ah, thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. I’ll inform the head designer immediately.”

“Yes, please do. We can’t keep Lady Grey waiting.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

Finally, the madame seemed to understand. With a brief curtsy, she quickly exited the private room. In the meantime, Vivian, seemingly recovered, had continued on her way. Caroline and the boy, still lingering, followed the madame. The boy’s fleeting profile and the aura he projected bore a resemblance to Lady Grey. “So it is the young lord. But he’s never met Vivian. Why did he act as if they were acquainted? His gloomy demeanor and appearance are unsettling.” The ducal house ranked just below royalty. The current Duchess was the Emperor’s sister, a princess of the realm. No one in the empire could speak against them with impunity. But such considerations meant little to Flora. She couldn’t ignore the terror she had witnessed in Vivian’s eyes.

That evening…

Knock, knock

“Your Grace, Lady Flora is here to see you.”

“Oh, send her in.”

The door to Duke Hugo Beaufort’s study opened, and his eldest daughter entered. The Duke greeted her warmly, ushering her to a comfortable sofa on one side of the room, the same one where Vivian often sat enjoying sweets. Once Flora was settled, Hugo took a seat opposite her. Their matching warm brown hair spoke of their undeniable bond. The Duke’s eyes, the color of a deep sea, shone with warmth.

“Flora, what a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to my study?”

“I have something to discuss regarding Vivian, Father.”

Flora’s eyes held an unusual sharpness. Intrigued by her serious tone, the Duke tilted his head slightly. “Something about Vivian, who just returned from the academy? Has something happened to that sweet, delicate child? She hasn’t been out much besides the trip to the dressmaker with you…” Hugo asked, his voice laced with concern.

“This afternoon, at the dressmaker’s, Vivian had a rather unsettling encounter with one of the Grey twins.”

“Grey?”

The unexpected name caused the Duke’s neatly groomed eyebrow to twitch. He only encountered Duke Grey at occasional meetings in the Imperial Palace. The Duchess Grey’s poor health kept her from attending social events, making the family rather reclusive. Lately, however, they had been sending him rather unwelcome correspondence.

“The ducal house? What about them?”

“The young lord, presumably the Duke’s son, looked at Vivian in a way that… disturbed me. He also greeted her quite familiarly, as if they were acquainted.”

“What?”

The mention of the young lord’s unsettling gaze made the Duke’s eyes flash.