Remaking Of Lady Cruel

Chapter Forty-Four: The Movie Of The Past

Viviene felt like she’s staying in the darkness for a very long time. She recalled what happened before she came into this endless darkness around her. She was talking to Eliza then she suddenly felt a severe pain in her chest then the darkness devoured her easily.

‘Strange, I always end up here in the darkness. Why is that?’

She wondered staring blankly at nothing. She close her eyes for a while and open it again seeing herself sitting on a chair in front of a big screen like something in a movie house. She’s in the middle seat and looking at the screen strangely, then she realized that she is being in her real self the whole time. Her long, messy, black hair hanging in front of her shoulders, she’s wearing her usual faded jeans, her white shirt and her black rubber shoes.

“Did I go back without me noticing anything?” She asked herself. Suddenly, someone speak beside her, she stared at her with bewildered eyes. It’s a child with a long, ginger red hair wearing a white dress. She raise her index finger, put it vertically in front of her lips and hushed her.

“Ssh! The movie will start soon!”

Her eyes open widely as the child look at her. She had a pair of amber eyes and she looks very, very familiar. She is the child Viviene! The one who was in her memory!

“What movie?” She asked both confused and astonished. Little Viviene smiled shyly and responded.

“My movie.”

Before she could ask further questions, the movie she said started. She fix her gaze to the screen and watch with full attention.

A sound of a baby’s cry filled her ears. She saw a girl with the midwife beside her holding a baby wrap in a white piece of cloth. The lady with a ginger red hair and amber eyes took the baby gently and with a smile. She looked like an adult Viviene. Even though she’s smiling, she can clearly see that the lady is dying. A man and a young boy went to her side while the midwife went out of the room.

“Victor, Arthur, look at the baby. Isn’t she pretty as an angel?” The lady ask gently.

“Yes.” The father of the child, Victor, answered with a gloomy tone instead of a happy one.

“Mother.” Arthur called with a trembling voice as tears fell down from his eyes.

‘He is so cute. Unlike the one I saw everyday in that mansion who ‘s personality is like frosty the snowman.’ She muttered and roll her eyes. She shove the idea and focus herself to the movie in front of her.

“My child, I love you and, I’m sorry.” She said between her sobs as she kissed the baby goodbye. After that, the baby was held by the father and the doctor covered the woman’s face who was already dead.

It’s a short and sad story between a mother and her children. An early departure of a loving and caring wife to her husband.

Viviene grew up ignorant of a motherly love but that didn’t bother her at all. She had her father and her brother whom she considered a family despite of their coldness towards her.

The death of Veronica Arianne Cruel brought deep wounds in both the duke and Arthur’s hearts that they didn’t know how to treat little Viviene properly. One day, under a bright day, a solemn face of a child was looking at the children playing in front of her in the plain grass field. She was sitting under the tree when a lady approach her. She had a pretty long golden hair and green eyes.

“Hello. May I sit beside you?” The lady asked.

“Yes you can, Milady.” She answered politely. The lady smiled at her and took a sit beside her facing the children playing.

“Why are you not playing together with them?” She asked.

“Because I don’t like them.”

“Why?”

“They were mean to my brother and father. They’re calling them monsters but they’re not.” She answered while still looking at the children in front of her. “I know they weren’t because I saw their eyes.” She added.

“Their eyes? What did you saw at their eyes?” The lady inquired. Viviene face the lady with a blank face.

“I know monsters in story books don’t have emotions but cruelty and violence. I know that Ma’am because that’s what I’ve read however, when other children called brother and father like that I immediately became angry because, I never saw cruelty in father and brother’s eyes.” She paused and talk again. “They’re just sad.” She sighed.

The lady’s green irises dilated at the words from the child’s mouth. She never thought that a child can have a clear intuition over a sad environment.

“My name is Dorothy Faith Walmeir, you can call me Dorothy. How about you? What is your name?” She asked with a gentle smile.

“My name is Viviene Allyssa Cruel.” She answered as well.

They had a fun and meaningful relationship with each other that Viviene considered her as a mother. They always have tea in the duke’s mansion, read her books and they play chess. She even met Eliza who was one year older than her.

But nothing lasts forever.

On Wednesday, Dorothy never came to see her and that happened until Sunday. With a worried expression she went to the duke’s office.

“Father, may I request something? Can I go to Dorothy’s home?”

“No.” The duke answered coldly.

“But I’m worried about Dorothy, Father. I’ll be back before sunset. Please?”

Due to annoyance, the duke hit the desk hard making Viviene startled.

“Get out right now. I don’t want to hear a word from you.”

Because of the cold glare, Viviene hurriedly went out from the duke’s office. She wipe her tears and went to her brother’s room. With trembling hand she knock the door. The door opened and Arthur face her, not letting her in to his room. Gathering all her courage, she asked him.

“Brother, why is Dorothy not coming here? Is she perhaps mad at me?”

A pair of blue eyes as cold as glaciers met hers.

“You haven’t heard have you? She will not come here anymore.”

“B-But why? Is she mad at me?” She asked again.

“She’s dead.”

His answer struck her like lightning. Water filled her eyes then slowly, fell from it. Seeing her crying face made Arthur extremely annoyed so he spoke in a sour tone.

“if you’re going to cry in front of me, you should leave.”

He close the door in front of her while Viviene cried walking back to her room. Because she was a child neglected by her own family, the servants treated her unfairly. Experiencing this made her feel even sadder and angrier that she hit the servants to ease those unpleasant emotions.

She became a monster in everyone’s eyes without even knowing how she became like that.

It was a movie about Viviene’s childhood full of insults, mockery, sadness, pain and anger. The villainess’ backstory which no one cared to know.

“I never thought I became the monster I hated since I was a child.”

Her gaze went to the person beside her and saw Viviene not as a child but as a teenager. She had a solemn, pale face and a pair of dead and deep amber eyes.

“Are you going back now?” She asked to her but she didn’t answer. She concluded that she wont so she added. “I am not a kind person to help someone, you know. I have my own dramas as well so quit running away and face these shits.” She hissed yet she didn’t answer again. She rolled her eyes at her silence. She calmed herself and asked another question.

“Do you, hate them?”

This time, Viviene face her with a sad expression. A tear fell down from her eye and answered her with her lips trembling.

“I don’t know. I cant do it.”

She can feel how her heart was broken to million pieces as her tears fell like rain in front of her. She felt pity and sorry for the things Viviene experienced. She touch both of her shoulders and look at her in the eyes.

“If you cant hate them, then I will hate them for you.”

And with that she woke up feeling heavy. She roam her eyes and find out that she ‘s in her room. She slowly sit on her bed and fell to a daze.

‘Seriously? I hate having a compassionate heart!’ She fumed inside her head regretting what she said back then in her dream. ‘But I cant stand seeing her so broken like that.’ She added and sigh. The door suddenly opened and Merriam entered her room.

“Milady! Y-You’re awake!”

“Hello, Merriam how many hours did I sleep?” She inquired.

“O-One day and a half. Please wait for a moment Milady! I’ll call Young Master and the doctor as well.” Merriam hurriedly went out from her room. After a couple of minutes, Arthur entered the room with the doctor.

‘This scene is so cliché.’ She thought and refrain herself from laughing while watching at Arthur’s dishevel image in front of her. After the doctor check her, she asked to have a late lunch with Arthur looking at her.

“Did you eat lunch, brother?”

“Yes. Are you really alright now?” Arthur asked.

“Yes. I am fine.” She answered plainly as she took a bite from the food. She look at him and added. “You heard our conversation, right?” Arthur stared at her before answering.

“Yes.”

“I see. I’m glad you’re aware.” She said with a smile. Silence ruled over them before Arthur decided to speak again.

“How, how can you forgive me and father?” He asked with a despair look.

“Just do your best.” She answered casually. “Its hard to fix something that’s broken, brother. Well, you may put it back into whole again but cracks will still be there.” She added.

“I know. I’m glad you’re honest.”

She didn’t answer and just eat her food. After eating, Arthur resume his work and Finnian arrive with a letter from the duke. The letter reads as this;

‘Dear Child,

I’m glad you’re fine. I’m looking forward to the greenhouse you’ve told me with so much pride and confidence. Anyway, you don’t have to ask for my time since I’ll be there by your side soon.

Stay healthy and tell me what you want. I’ll get that no matter what.

Sincerely Yours,

Victor John Cruel’

‘I expect his letter to be long.’ She thought in disappointment but that vanished due to him wishing her a good health.

“I think I should take a stroll in the garden for a while.” She muttered as she took a coat and went outside her room. While walking downstairs, she met Finnian.

“Milady, where are you going?” He asked.

“To the garden.”

“And your maid?”

“No need. I can walk by myself.”

“Actually Miss, I’m really going to your room to tell you that Sir Valor is here.” Finnian reported.

“Sir Valor? For what reason?” She asked.

“He said he will tell Miss personally.”

“Oh. Then I think I should meet him.”

She resume walking and met Sir Valor who’s waiting for her. Alexander saw her and bow slightly before greeting her.

*Good day, Lady Cruel. I apologize for the inconvenience but can I take your time?” He asked.

“Good day to you as well, Sir Valor. Of course but would you mind if we walk to the garden? I’ll ask a servant to bring some refreshments and desserts for us.” She said wirh a smile.

“I don’t mind at all, Lady.”

After asking the servant, Viviene and Alexander started their walk.

“How are you, Milady?” He asked.

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern Sir and I apologize for showing you my weak side.” She answered without looking at him.

“No, not at all rather, I admire the lady for bravely showing herself in front of us despite your body’s condition.”

“You flatter me Sir. Compare to you, you’re braver than I am.” She chuckled.

“You think so, Milady? I am only brave because that’s my only choice.” He joked trying to deny the compliment for him. Viviene watch his expression.

“Oh? Then you are not just brave Sir, you are also a strong one. Believe me Sir, you are greater than what you think you are.” She added that increased his embarrassment.

“You praise me so much, Miss. But thank you.” He beamed.

They arrive at the garden and that everything was prepared. Sir Valor assist her in taking a sit then went to the other side and took a sit in front of her. The servant pour tea in their teacups.

“What brings you here Sir?” She asked directly.

“I want to apologize to you Milady, for causing you a headache. I would like to compensate Milady for acting without thinking.” He remarked seriously.

“Compensate me? How can you compensate me?” Viviene asked with a puzzled look in her face as she sips her tea.

“That depends on you, Milady.” He answered.

There’s something she really wants but the man in front of her cant give her that. On the other hand, she’s so rich she can do what she wants to do.

“I know Sir Valor didn’t know Lady Walmeir’s intention. Well, I understands Lady Walmeir’s doubt about my illness. I was a foolish and wicked woman before.” She shrug her shoulder.

“Milady is not wicked at all after I had spend my time with Miss sometimes.”

“Oh? How can you tell?”

“Well, your eyes showed an inscrutable light in it.” He answered with a confident smile making him even more handsome in front of her.

‘One thing good here is I always spend my time to pretty boys.’ She shriek inside her head but calmed it afterwards.

“Well, since I am short of time—”

“Milady please don’t say that. The duke, young duke and his highness the crown prince were trying their best to cure Milady.” He muttered in a crestfallen tone.

“I am aware Sir. Everyone is doing their best.” She responded brightly. “However, I am beyond saving, Sir.” She added dourly.

His eyes dilated and went big because of the latter. Her cheerfulness disappeared and turned to something very cold in a blink of an eye.

‘I am not bragging but no one really succeeded in compensating my feelings and I just made a promise that I’ll hate you guys for the real Viviene’s sake.’ She thought heavily. ‘I hate dramas but dramas always came to me.’ She added in disappointment.

“Milady, how can you think darkly like that?” Alexander asked in disbelief. Viviene blink and smiled sheepishly at him.

“What’s wrong about thinking like that? That may happen though. Right?” She asked for confirmation yet he didn’t answer and his lips pressed close tightly. “So how about buying me a chocolate cake from Heavenly Bakeshop?” She immediately said to eradicate the heavy atmosphere between them.

“If that’s the lady’s wish, I will gladly do so.” He answered and drink his tea.

Viviene sighed and sip her tea as well when a servant arrived.

“Excuse me Milady.” The servant muttered and lean to whisper something. “The duke has arrived.”

Her eyes widen in shock and choke at her own tea.

“Milady, are you alright?” Alexander asked.

“Yes. J-just a little shock.” She answered as put the teacup on the plate. She was about to speak when someone interrupted them.

“I apologize for the interruption.”

The two of them looked at the duke and Arthur who were watching at them. Viviene felt her blood flowed backwards. Her smiled turned awkward as she stare at her brother and father.

“Father welcome back!” she greeted brightly.

“Greetings, Duke.” Alexander

“Hello, Sir Valor. If you don’t mind, may we join you?” The duke asked and stare at Viviene.

‘Just as I thought..’ She muttered inwardly and sighed.

“Sir? Is it alright with you?” Viviene asked Alexander.

‘No. Don’t say yes! Say no! No! NO!’ She blurted inside her head aiming at him indirectly.

“Of course, Duke, Young Duke.” He answered.

‘May the Goddess of heaven protect me from stress.’ She prayed truthfully and whole-heartedly to the heavens above.