Remaking Of Lady Cruel

Chapter Twenty- One: Blooming Love

His forehead wrinkled while trying to understand Viviene’s words but because of her smiling face, he shove it away form his mind.

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for that day, Ms. Cruel.” He answered.

She stare at his smiling and felt awkward. ‘Yeah, I hope Viviene would.’ She thought and glance away from him.

“But why are you here Miss? You didn’t tell me. Was it because of the crown prince?”

“Huh?”

‘What kind of nonsense is that? It’s a very dreadful absurdity.’ She thought while imagining the demonic handsome prince.

“I’m talking about your strong admiration towards the Prince Aleiandro.” He muttered. She cant understand why the pervious Viviene like the prince so much when the only good in him is his handsome face.

‘Well, he healed me before, maybe there’s a little good in his heart and not just his face.’ She thought deeply but its not enough to push away the general concept that he’s a demonic prince of hell who’s having a face of an aesthetic god in her mind.

“Sir Valor, feeling change, alright?” She said and smiled awkwardly.

“Really? That’s unbelievable.” He spoke in disbelief. She felt her cold sweat behind her due to having a conversation about the crown prince.

“Anyway, you should be careful wandering around here in the Enchanted Forest.”

“Why? Are there any scary beasts here?” She asked.

“No, but the crown prince is always here strolling if he’s bored.” He answered.

‘Then there really is a beast! And it’s a very dangerous one!’ She exclaimed inwardly.

“Thank you for your warning, Sir. I’ll keep that in mind.”

She realized that she’s taking too much time talking to him. She stood up and remove the dirt from her skirt.

“You’re leaving?” Sir Valor asked and stood up as well.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Goodbye, Sir.”

She started to walk away when he call her again.

“Miss.”

She glance at him with a puzzled look.

“Lets talk if we meet again.”

She blink before a smile formed her lips.

“Well, I’m not confident to answer that kind of request, Sir.” She muttered truthfully.

“But why?” He asked.

“… Its because of the word ‘if’.”

She turn her back and heard the man laugh before she run away from him. She went behind a tree and teleported immediately. Sir Valor, who’s laughing glance to the lady who’s in front of him suddenly disappeared without a trace.

“Miss? Lady Cruel?” He called but no one answered.

“Who’re you looking for?”

He turn around and saw the Crown Prince. He bowed and face him.

“…I’m looking for you, Your Highness. The meeting will soon start and your presence is badly needed.” He half-lied to him. He feared that the prince might punish her severely for trespassing in his private property. The prince stared at him before answering.

“..Alright. Lets go.” The prince turn his back and started moving away. Sir Valor sighed in relief before following him little did he know that prince knew that he lied.

She arrived at her room safely and smoothly. Her dress was filthy so she decided to change her clothes. After changing to a simple yellow dress, she suddenly felt dizzy and grip the chair on her side. She close her eyes for a moment to ease the dizziness when someone suddenly knock the door.

“Who is it?”

“Its Finnian, Milady.”

“Come in.”

She sits on the chair and face him. Finnian glance at her and notice her pale expression but he hid his expression from the Miss who’s staring at him as well.

“A letter from Mr. McGregor arrived.”

“From Timothy?”

He become stiff as he heard her speaking the first name of the Marquis’ son before nodding.

“Yes, Milady.”

“Put it on my desk. I’ll call you once I wrote my reply.”

“Yes, Milady.”

The butler put the letter on the desk before going out from the room. She touch her forehead and frown at her deteriorating health.

‘This is making me even more annoyed.’ She thought. She stood up and went to her desk to read the letter. As she smiled at his concern to her a*******n. The letter goes as this:

Dear Viviene,

I have heard what happened to you and I am very concern to your well-being. How are you? I apologize for writing you so late. I am at the Endelle for business and the bad news arrived to me yesterday. If you don’t mind, can I visit you once I come back after my business here?

-Timothy Russel McGregor

She felt happy that at least a friend asked for her well-being, to be exact, her first ever friend. Without wasting her time, she grab a pen and paper and started writing her reply. While writing, someone knock the door again.

“Who is it?”

“Its me.” Arthur said behind the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Arthur entered.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

She smiled at him to ease his worriedness. Somehow, she can see his concern behind his cold looks. She wonder if he’s acting like this due to her health which he heard not too long ago. If does, then she would be very disappointed even jf she’s not Viviene herself.

‘Its just pity..’ She remarked inside her head.

“I’m fine.” She answered. His eyes fell to the pen and paper on her desk and asked.

“What are you writing?”

“A letter.”

“For whom?”

Her forehead creased of his continuous questioning to her. Arthur seems to notice her expression and speak.

“… Its just rare for you to write a letter.”

She know what he meant. Because Viviene has a mean personality of course no one would be friends with her. What’s she’s doing right now seems like a miracle to Arthur’s eyes.

“Well, I guess its not rare anymore. What are you doing here?” She asked

Actually, Arthur didn’t know why he’s in Viviene room. He had the feeling that he needs to be here and without knowing the real reason, he’s already in front of her.

“.. I thought you’re bored so I came here.” He excused. Unfortunately, Viviene can see behind his excuse and chuckled.

“I didn’t know your great at guessing brother. Please take a sit, I’ll tell Merriam to bring some refreshments.”

‘This guy is shy. If I know he just missed me.’ She thought and giggle. She thought she should pay his effort of coning to her room and speaking nonsense things. They sit near the big window while Merriam brought tea and desserts for them. Viviene drink her tea while glancing at Arthur. He had dark bags under his eyes.

“Brother, you didn’t sleep well?” She asked.

“… I had a lot of things to settle.” He answered.

“I see.”

Arthur look at Viviene in front of her. She’s smiling brightly but her complexion is as white as a sheet.

“You should sleep well, brother. Lack of sleep is bad for your health and it can decrease the level of your charms.” She joked.

“Really? How ridiculous.”

“That’s not absurdity, it’s the truth. You looked like someone beat your eyes.”

He knew she’s just telling him these things to lift the atmosphere around them.

“… Are you really alright?”

“Yes?”

“You’re pale.” He said as he averted his eyes away from her and loom at his reflection in the tea. She didn’t respond for a while thinking for the right words to talk to him.

“If you’re not feeling well you can tell me. Don’t lie.” He added.

“My, you should’ve notice my effort in this conversation..”

He raise his head and his eyes went big.

The smile in her lips disappeared and her face went cold in a snap. He really did ruin the mood. That’s the stupidest thing she ever heard ever since she woke up on the wrong bed and in a wrong place.

Because in Viviene’s memories, no matter how she shake her brain upside down, open all the locked doors inside her heart, no matter how she searched deep inside, all she received from asking help was their cold shoulders and hurtful words.

She felt bad and sorry for the real Viviene.

‘I was right. They’re just doing these things because I’m dying.’ She force herself to smile and joke in front of him.

“Don’t be so down, brother. I told you I’m fine!”

Arthur blink to remove his shock face. Did he just imagine things? He thought he saw Viviene looked so…hopeless.

“Brother, you should participate in our conversation in a bright way. Don’t be so low-spirited in front of me.”

“… Yes.”

Once again, she smiled brightly. They talked like until three in the afternoon. Arthur excused himself because there are still documents which need to be examined. She bid goodbye to him as he close the door. Silence took the place and many things came up in her mind.

‘I suddenly feel, tired.’ She thought staring at the door for a while. She shook her head and push those ugly thoughts away.

“Right, I need to write a letter to Timothy.” She mumble and went back to the desk to write the reply. After writing a letter, she asked the butler to send immediately the letter which was obeyed by the butler himself.

Three days had passed, Merriam open the door of her room and told her a good news.

“Milady, Mr. McGregor arrived, he’s in the audience room.”

“Really? I should meet him.”

She stood up from the chair and went out from her room with a bright face. She open the door of the audience room and when she entered, Timothy stood up with a smile.

“Good day, Viviene.”

“And to you as well, Timothy. How’s Endelle?”

“Not so good, but I can manage.”

She sits on the chair opposite to him and drink her tea. She glance at Timothy who’s looking at a different direction. She traced where he’s looking and saw that he’s staring at Merriam who’s busy staring at the floor.

‘Oho! Is this love-at-first-sight I’m seeing?’ She thought as she looked at the two with a playful smile. ‘Should I help him?’

“Ouch..”

Timothy suddenly look at Viviene, confused at his distorted face with a painful expression.

“Viviene?” He asked.

“I just have a stomachache. Gosh, I think I need to rest for a while. Would that be alright, Timothy?”

“Oh, of course. I’m sorry, I didn’t know your not feeling well.”

“Its alright. However, I felt bad leaving you behind.”

“No, its alright.”

She smiled like she’s very guilty by leaving him alone.

“How about I asked my maid to tour you around? Will that be alright?”

“W-What?”

His face went bright red and panicked due to her words.

“I would feel very bad to leave you here, Timothy. What will the others say to me if I make my guest bored and disappointed of my poor hospitality?” She fake a tear from her eye which made Timothy even feel more panicked.

“O-Oh no, I accept it Viviene so please don’t feel too bad about me.”

“Alright!”

She called Merriam and ask her to tour Timothy around the garden. Merriam obeyed and bow to Timothy for respect.

“Timothy, she’ll tour you around and please take good care of the guest, Merriam.”

“Yes, Miss.” Merriam answered politely to Viviene.

“Then, I’ll be leaving first, Timothy.”

“Yes. Rest well, Viviene.”

Viviene left the room with a very, very wide grin. She immediately teleported to the garden and hid behind the roses. Not long after, she saw the two talking to each other. She cant help but feel proud of what she did.

‘Oh my gosh! Look at Timothy and Merriam’s smile! Hoho! Love is in the air.’ She giggle while kneeling and hiding behind the roses when someone suddenly speak behind her.

“What are you doing?”

She raise her head and saw Arthur’s face with his eyebrow raise. Fearing that they might discover her hiding spot, she pulled him down and hushed him immediately.

“Sh! Don’t make a noise and stay hidden.”

“Just what are you doing?” He asked irritated. She showed a playful smirked and answered.

“Watching a blooming love story.”

“What?” Arthur who heard her ridiculous answer peek behind the bushes and saw Timothy and Viviene talking with each other.

“What’s good about looking at them? They’re just talking.” He muttered. Viviene rolled her eyes and peek at them as well.

“Cant you see?”

“See what?”

“The flying hearts surrounding them! The bright atmosphere like time just slowed around them!” She explained. He glance at her with an what-does-that-mean expression. She rolled her eyes again and said.

“Seriously? Where’s your romantic side, brother? Its love! L-O-V-E!”

He face her with a cold and strict face.

“Are you aware that a noble and a commoner shouldn’t be together? Its against the law of this empire.”

She close her mouth tightly and a stupid look displayed in her face.

“…Really?”

“Really.”

She pause for a while before speaking again.

“Oh, brother. Don’t be such a grandpa! There’s this saying that love conquers all odds you know!”

“That’s nonsense.”

“Its isn’t. Aren’t you in love with Ms. Walmeir too?”

He didn’t answer to her question. She smirked as she hit a bullseye to him.

“So don’t talk like a thing called ‘love’ is nonsense when you already have it, brother dear.”

She peek again and saw that Merriam and Timothy were already walking away. She stood up and followed them secretly while Arthur followed her like a grumpy old man. A minute ago, he failed to win over an argument with his little sister.

‘This woman, she doesn’t even care about her dress got filthy.’ He muttered to himself as he notice the dirt in her skirt.

“Wait.”

She stopped from walking and glance at him.

“Yes?”

He took a handkerchief from his pocket and remove the dirt in her skirt. Viviene looked at him with a confused look.

“You’re so careless, walking around with dirty clothes.” He scolded and walk pass through her. She looked at him dumfounded.

“.. What a jerk.” She mumble and followed him.