villainess chapter 9

Caroline, who had been snapping at Evan, looked bewildered. “What? What are you talking about?” She followed his gaze to Vivian on the second floor. Vivian, catching their eyes, flinched. 

Oh dear, was I staring too rudely? They look familiar… but what did he say to me? She knew staring wasn’t polite and gave a slight bow of apology. As she turned to continue on her way, the man suddenly rushed towards her, so quickly that the lobby attendant didn’t even have a chance to speak before he was halfway up the stairs. He moved with surprising speed, his long legs covering the distance almost soundlessly. 

What? Was my staring that offensive? I apologized… Startled, Vivian instinctively stepped back. The memory of Arthur grabbing her shoulder flashed through her mind, making her tense. While physical contact between strangers of noble birth was unheard of, a deep-seated trauma made her instinctively fear the man’s intense approach. 

Caroline, recovering first, called out, “Evan! Where are you going?!” 

He ignored her and reached Vivian in a few swift strides. He might hit me! Vivian thought, involuntarily raising her hands to shield her face, squeezing her eyes shut in fear. Seeing this, Evan’s eyes filled with shock and sorrow, his eyelids trembling. Though she hadn’t sensed his emotional shift, Vivian lowered her hands, a sudden realization dawning on her. 

Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes, ready to speak, but the man’s expression had transformed into one of gentle warmth. His ears were slightly flushed as he stood before her, a shy, almost wistful smile on his face. Vivian was completely perplexed. His voice, still carrying the distinctive timbre of adolescence, held a deep, bittersweet quality as he greeted her, “Hello, Vivian.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s been a while.”

“I… I beg your pardon?!” Vivian stammered, utterly dumbfounded. She could only manage a confused “Excuse me?” to the boy who seemed to know her. She glanced over her shoulder, avoiding his gaze, her mind racing. When have we met? Why is he using informal speech and my name like we’re close? Before her debut, Vivian had minimal contact with other noble sons, mostly limited to those she attended the academy with.

“Vivian?” the boy repeated. Jet-black hair, obsidian eyes… a noble with twin siblings… 

“Ah!” she gasped, a thought striking her. The only ducal family in the Aeternum Empire… the Grey twins. She’d heard that the sister, Caroline, had married a prince of another kingdom. And the brother, Evan Grey… she’d danced with him once at her debutante ball. After that, rumors of his departure for war had circulated, and she hadn’t seen him again. By then, he had already inherited the title and become the young head of the family. 

At twenty, he had been taller, more powerfully built, his deep voice captivating the hearts of many young ladies. She remembered their dance during the second half of the ball. His strong frame had supported her, his skillful lead making her feel as light as a feather. He had been her most comfortable partner. 

So this is what he looked like four years ago. Before his full maturity, he had possessed a youthful charm, a sensitive air just on the cusp of manhood. Still, informal speech was a bit much, even for someone of higher rank. She couldn’t let such rudeness slide. “Have we met before? I don’t recall ever encountering you, young sir.” Vivian said coolly, establishing a firm boundary. They hadn’t even exchanged proper introductions, and in her past life, she hadn’t known him at this time. Considering their ages and the academy years, they couldn’t have crossed paths.

Caroline, hampered by her long dress, finally reached the top of the stairs. She yanked her much taller brother back by the shoulder, scolding him. “Evan! You can’t just rush at a young lady like that! You startled her. And using informal language… honestly!” She sighed, shaking her head.

“Oh. Right.” Evan said, a foolish sound escaping his lips. A fleeting look of sadness crossed his face; he seemed disappointed that she didn’t recognize him.

“‘Right’ is not the word!” his sister snapped, then turned to Vivian with an apologetic smile. “My deepest apologies, my lady. I am Caroline Grey of the Grey family, and this ill-mannered boy is my younger brother, Evan Grey.”

“My apologies, my lady,” Evan said, his dark eyes downcast, his voice subdued. His usual fierce aura had softened. Vivian quickly composed herself, her initial unease fading. With impeccable grace, she introduced herself in a calm voice, “It’s quite alright. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Vivian Beaufort.”