Chapter 121: Mask – 2

Vivian calmed her excitement and put on her mask.

With a smile, she asked,

“Why is the princess looking for Kailo? You two aren’t anything special.”

Reina replied without the slightest hesitation,

“Not anything special? We’re friends.”

Vivian let out a brief laugh.

It wasn’t because she found it funny but to provoke Reina.

“…How many times could you have possibly met to call him a friend? You’ve only met once in the past seven years.”

“Do friendships get judged solely by how often you meet? What matters is the depth of the relationship. After all, we even danced together before. Didn’t Kailo only dance with me at that time? That alone makes us special friends, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Also, you could say we’re kind of childhood friends.”

Vivian struggled to suppress the discomfort stirring deep in her chest at Reina’s boastful words.

Both women already knew without saying it aloud—a subtle power struggle was unfolding between them.

“…Kailo doesn’t seem to think so. Even if you insist on being friends by yourself…”

“Then let’s ask him. Let’s go and find out again. Where is Kailo?”

Vivian feigned ignorance.

“How would I know? Kailo always does whatever he wants.”

“The lady of Rondor Castle doesn’t know where Kailo is? On an ordinary day, I could understand, but… today is the Duchess’s birthday. On such an important day, you don’t know where Kailo is? Or, could it be that Kailo isn’t even here to celebrate the Duchess’s birthday?”

“…It seems you and Kailo aren’t as close as you claim to be, then?”

Reina’s attitude, as if someone closer to Kailo than her existed, struck a nerve.

Touching on such a sensitive point, anger surged within Vivian.

Even so, it became clear Reina was skilled at handling people—provoking and drawing out the answers she wanted.

Considering she had survived in enemy territory for seven years, perhaps it was only natural.

Finally, Vivian sighed and said,

“Kailo is unwell right now.”

“What?”

Reina asked again with a surprised expression.

“So, he’s resting.”

Reina’s expression shifted to one of concern.

Yet along with the worry, Vivian noticed a faint trace of doubt creeping in.

“No way… Kailo, who’s never been sick a day in his life…”

“How would you know whether Kailo is prone to illness or not? What exactly do you even know about Kailo?”

Reina closed her mouth at that remark but soon asked again.

“…Why did you hide this?”

“Let me ask you this instead. Why didn’t you just accept my initial answer? Why are you so persistent? Must I report every single thing that happens in my domain to you?”

Once again, Reina couldn’t find words to respond.

Vivian turned her gaze to Prince Thread.

“Prince Thread, I’m unclear whether the princess has come to congratulate me or to pick a fight. I’m rather confused.”

Vivian’s words were a clear signal—a demand for him to control his wife.

Thread, knowing the extent of Vivian’s power, couldn’t ignore her words.

After all, this was supposed to be a visit to offer congratulations, not to cause trouble.

Reina spoke, almost as if making an excuse.

“I-I just wanted to see my friend…”

“Reina, that’s enough.”

Thread said.

Discontent filled Reina’s expression.

Was it frustration at not being able to meet Kailo?

Vivian felt a laugh of disbelief bubbling up.

Does she still not understand?

That her relationship with Kailo ended a long time ago?

The moment she married Thread, there was no way to maintain the same distance as before.

And Thread, seeing all this, felt nothing?

No matter how little he cared for Reina, from Vivian’s perspective, Thread’s indifference toward his wife’s behavior was utterly pathetic.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen. I feel guilty for possibly upsetting the Duke.”

Thread continued.

“…Reina probably didn’t have any ill intentions either. She was just curious why the eldest son of the great Alan family, even among the prominent families of the Eastern Kingdom, didn’t show up.”

“What?”

“Your explanation has resolved my curiosity. Please convey my regards to Lord Kailo. Then, I shall find you again during the banquet, and I hope you’ll accept my apology then.”

Thread left after pretending to wrap up the situation, delivering one last blow to Vivian.

A demeanor as if asking why she reacted so sensitively to such an obvious question.

The attack was so polite that Vivian could only sigh instead of getting angry.

Thread left with her arm around Reina’s shoulder.

Though Reina kept glancing at Vivian, Vivian decided to let it go and calm her mind.

For now, she decided to conceal Kailo.

Nothing was more important than that.

Vivian wandered around the banquet hall, engaging in conversations and eating just enough to stave off hunger.

She nibbled on bite-sized snacks—small pieces of meat on bread topped with crushed nuts—and lifted her eyes slightly.

Tasty.

She thought to herself.

I should bring some of this to Kailo.

“…Pack some of these too.”

Vivian instructed her head maid, who was following behind her.

The maid understood immediately what Vivian was doing this for.

She subtly signaled the other maids to prepare a meal for Kailo.

Whatever she experienced, Vivian’s thoughts always turned to Kailo.

Lately, it had been like this continuously.

Whether the experience was good or bad, Kailo always came to mind.

The birthday banquet was proceeding successfully.

Even so, it had its challenges—most notably, the endless stream of men who approached Vivian throughout the event.

The pretexts for striking up a conversation were too solid to brush off.

Since it was her birthday, men approached to wish her a happy birthday, which opened the door for conversation.

Vivian greeted them with a smile and gently turned them away.

There were especially many men offering drinks, but Vivian kept her promise to Kailo.

If she wasn’t with Kailo, she wouldn’t drink.

Otherwise, her memories of drinking with Kailo might fade.

She could have engaged in constructive conversations if any of the men didn’t exude a certain intent to woo her… but there were none like that.

Recently becoming an adult, possessing power rivaling that of royalty, and being overwhelmingly beautiful, Vivian was a target that made every man drool, something she knew very well.

Eyes drawn to her chest even though it was covered.

Gazes lingering on her hips despite her modest attire.

She could feel their desperation to touch her but pretended not to notice.

At one point, she let out a small laugh.

Though she garnered such overwhelming admiration, the man she wanted most was the one who firmly rejected her.

Everyone was desperate to touch her, yet Kailo wouldn’t even take the opportunities she gave him.

…What would these men think if they knew she had essentially confined Kailo and was begging for his love?

She couldn’t help but wonder.

Vivian chose to seek out women over men.

They, too, represented their families, and it wasn’t lacking for fostering inter-family relationships.

From behind, Nestor continued feeding her information.

“You know her, don’t you? That’s Isabelle Richto of the Richto family. I hear they’ve recently been in a dispute with the Marsdel family over ownership of an iron mine.”

“That’s Ingrid family from the Eastern Kingdom. She’s the second daughter, Elvira Ingrid and doesn’t get along well with the Alan family.”

Using Nestor’s information as a basis, Vivian approached them, shared smiles, and struck up conversations.

She continued the duties of a head of the family that she was obliged to perform.

“…That’s…”

How many more people had she approached?

By the time she grew tired and began to miss Kailo, Nestor froze at the sight of a beautiful woman.

Brown hair.

She didn’t seem to be from the Delrum Kingdom.

If she was from Delrum, there would surely have been rumors about her beauty.

Even Vivian felt a slight attraction toward the lovely, charming woman.

Sensing Nestor’s hesitation, Vivian felt a momentary unease.

It was her intuition.

“Speak, Nestor.”

She urged him.

Nestor reluctantly replied.

“…The Lute family. From the Eastern Kingdom. That beautiful woman is Gisela Lute, the eldest daughter of the family…”

When Nestor hesitated further, Vivian turned her head to glare at him.

Unable to hide it any longer, Nestor continued.

“…She’s one of the women who openly expresses her love for Lord Kailo. Rumor has it that when Lord Kailo returns, she is the most likely candidate for his wife…”

With a thud, Vivian felt her heart sink.

…Kailo’s wife?

The fondness she had felt moments ago turned into hostility so sharp it felt like a lie.

Nestor went on.

“…I suspect the reason she attended this banquet is to build a connection with Lord Kailo.”