Chapter 141: Outburst – 4

Time passed relentlessly.

Yet Vivian’s world felt as if it had come to a halt.

Sitting idly, staring out the window, a whole day would go by.

She would cry herself to exhaustion, fall unconscious, and when she woke up, the sun and the moon would have switched places.

Sometimes, she would lose consciousness during the day and wake up in the daylight, and other times, she would be frozen at night and come to her senses in the dark.

And in those moments, Vivian couldn’t tell whether a whole day had passed or if only a short time had gone by.

It was daytime now.

Warm sunlight was streaming through the window, settling into the room.

The long winter was ending, and the snow was melting.

The air was gradually warming.

The disappearing chill felt as though it was taking even Kailo’s traces with it.

As the cold scent of the northern winds faded, Vivian’s heart, in contrast, felt as though it were freezing.

Her world was still moving, thanks to Elena showing her Kailo.

Him.

Then, Vivian’s heart came alive again, beating loudly.

Does he know?

That he’s the one with whom she had dreams of building a life with, a vulgar and shallow dream.

That, without shame, she once again pictured a life of happiness with him.

Even so, as she watched him, she couldn’t shake the longing from that dream.

The desire for that sweet dream to become reality surged within her.

Even though she knew it was impossible now… she couldn’t let go.

It felt like holding onto a burnt-out charcoal and wishing it would turn into wood.

She might have lost her mind.

Maybe she had gone mad.

Vivian was aware of this.

She knew it was a dream that couldn’t come true, but she still couldn’t let it go.

Elena again showed her vision of Kailo.

“Today will be fun.”

She didn’t forget to add a mocking tone.

But ignoring the mockery, Vivian sat by Kailo’s side and gazed at him.

At least for this moment, she felt alive again.

Today, Kailo was looking out the window, deep in thought, as if watching something far off.

Was he thinking of her?

… Vivian let out a small laugh.

Maybe he was thinking of her.

With insane hatred in his heart, he was probably dwelling on that hatred.

She would have done the same, after all.

Kailo clenched his fists, his hands seeming awkward.

Even his small movements brought pain to Vivian’s heart.

Kailo sighed, then called for the maids.

The maids, as if they had made an agreement, brought neat clothes and grooming tools.

Was something happening to Kailo today?

Vivian quietly watched him.

Now, Kailo was gradually getting used to the maids’ touches.

The habits from Loctana were slowly being erased.

Seeing Kailo, who no longer suffered, Vivian couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“…I see. This was your life.”

She whispered to him, knowing he wouldn’t hear.

“…Meeting me… it must have been hard for you.”

The maids sat Kailo down and applied ointment to his hair, neatly grooming it.

Looking incredibly handsome, he accepted the maids’ touch.

Vivian remembered the first time she had tidied his hair at a banquet in the castle, only to mess it up again.

She had hoped no one would know how handsome he truly was.

“Oh my! Oh my!”

But now, everyone would know how great he looked.

“You look so handsome!”

Just seeing the maids’ blushing faces made it obvious.

Vivian couldn’t even feel jealousy anymore, despite their compliments.

Instead, she was left only with a sense of defeat as she quietly stood before Kailo.

She placed her hand on Kailo’s cheek as he sat.

It felt as if she was touching empty air, and no sensation returned.

Even so, she spoke.

“…You’re really handsome, Kailo.”

As if she was his wife in a dream, Vivian spoke affectionately.

“More than any man I’ve ever seen.”

His eyes couldn’t meet hers.

There was not even a fleeting glance.

Vivian knew it would feel empty, but still bent forward to kiss his lips.

Once again, the warmth she had loved so much didn’t return.

She didn’t feel the heat she had once felt.

Understanding this, she placed her hand back on his cheek.

“By the way, Kailo. Why are you looking so handsome today…”

At that moment, one of the maids said to Kylo.

“Kailo-sama, someone is here.”

Kailo nodded, then stood up, completely passing by Vivian without a word.

Someone’s here?

Vivian stared blankly as she turned to look.

As the door opened, the guest revealed themselves.
“Ka, Kailo Alan-sama, I am… I don’t know if you remember me, but… I’m Gisela Lute, the eldest daughter of the Lute family.”

With red cheeks, a gentle appearance, and a smile tugging at her lips.

A woman stood there, so shy she couldn’t even meet anyone’s gaze.

Vivian couldn’t blink, stunned.

Why was that woman here?

At that moment, Kailo’s stiff expression softened.

“I haven’t forgotten. I truly appreciate what you did for me back then.”

And with that, he showed a warm, kind smile—one he had never shown to Vivian before.

The Kailo, who only glared at her with resentful hatred, smiled so easily at that woman.

The man who had exploded with rage at her, was now being gentle with that insignificant woman.

“…Ah.”

A hollow laugh escaped her lips as frustration and envy filled her.

She felt that this position should have been hers.

Vivian also wanted to experience an easy love with Kailo.

Why could that woman have Kailo without any hardship?

Why, after overcoming so many trials, could she not have Kailo?

“…And besides, didn’t I invite you? You don’t need to be so polite.”

So Kailo invited her.

Vivian’s heart darkened.

Did Kailo like Gisela?

He must have, otherwise, he wouldn’t have singled her out to invite.

He must prefer a woman who seemed so pure.

Did he dislike someone like her, full of scars and thorns just to survive?

Vivian’s heart ached so much at the fact that he approached Gisella directly.

“Ah, ahaha… I… I see. Thank you so much.”

Vivian realized that screaming or making a scene would not change anything at this point.

So, instead, she slowly approached Kailo and tried to take his hand.

Once again, all she felt was emptiness.

Gisela spoke up.

“I… I just want to make sure… Is it because you wanted to express your gratitude for that incident… or were you hoping to respond to my letter…?”

By now, Vivian understood why Gisela had come to Kailo.

Gisela was one of the women who had shown particular affection toward Kailo.

She had always kept a close eye on him, especially considering that Kailo was Vivian’s prisoner.

The letter she had sent him would surely have been about a proposal for marriage.

“…Isn’t it, Kailo?”

Vivian, despite knowing she had no chance, didn’t want to believe it.

No matter what the outcome, the feelings she had shared with Kailo could not easily disappear.

Even to this day, Vivian had not been able to let go of Kailo.

Despite knowing that the witch hunters were closing in and that her life was in danger, she clung to him.

So, surely Kailo… surely Kailo would…

“…Both.”

KAilo whispered.

At those few words, Vivian’s heart dropped.

“I am seriously considering the marriage proposal as well.”

Gisela, her face flushed with excitement, looked at Kailo, holding his arm.

Kailo did not avoid Gisella’s gaze.

They exchanged a long, quiet gaze.

Vivian wondered if this scene was some false illusion created by Elena.

But, knowing Kailo’s expression, tone, and actions, she could tell it wasn’t.

This was reality.

Kailo’s hand passed through Vivian’s desperate one and moved on.

At the same time, he bent his arm and offered it to Gisela.

Gisela’s face turned bright red, but she grabbed Kailo’s arm.

Vivian didn’t feel the warmth, but Gisela did.

“Let’s move to another location for now.”

Kailo said.

Kailo, looking perfectly polished, and Gisela, unable to calm her flushed face, moved away together, gently.

If it weren’t for Kailo, Vivian might have thought they made a beautiful couple.

Vivian couldn’t follow them.

Her legs wobbled, and soon she collapsed in place.

Kailo was steadily erasing himself from her life.

Swooosh…

The scenery that had unfolded in front of her eyes disappeared.

Elena’s mocking laughter echoed in her head again.

“You’re really trying to forget, Vivian. While you cling to the memories, weighing your life in the balance, Kailo Alan is trying to throw those memories away like trash.”

Drip, drip…

Tears flowed from Vivian’s eyes again.

This never-ending torture was becoming too much to bear.

“Do you really still want to hold onto that memory? The other side is desperate to forget you. It’s a real talent to torment yourself like this.”

When Vivian didn’t respond, the demon whispered even more excitedly.

“The witch hunters are closing in. You might be caught at any moment. Are you really okay with meeting a powerless death? Didn’t you fight all this time to survive?”

At those words, this time Vivian mocked Elena.

“Maybe…”

Vivian whispered.

“Maybe now, I just want you to kill me quickly.”

Upon receiving that mocking, Elena fell silent.

Elena seemed to have no words to reply, and remained silent.

This torture was too painful.

She wanted to see Kailo happy, but seeing him happy because he had abandoned her was too cruel.

The thought that he would find someone else to cherish more than her was unbearable.

At the same time, she couldn’t stop feeling jealous, and she hated herself for not being able to let go of her greed.

All of this felt like hell to Vivian.

She closed her eyes.

But even with her eyes closed, the tears continued to fall.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Vivian murmured, as if her last breath was escaping.

“Maybe Kailo is fine without me, but I can’t be okay without Kailo.”

Elena said nothing more.

Vivian, lost in deep despair, made a soft declaration.

“Then I’d rather die. It seems like it would be sweeter that way…”

“…It’s a lie.”

“Do you think I’m lying?”

Knock, knock, knock!

A sound that broke the silence was heard.

A familiar voice came from outside the door.

“Lady Vivian, it’s Valon. A guest has arrived. It’s… the Las Order.”

They’ve come.

Vivian thought.

They had finally found her.

She was a bit scared, but she could endure it.

This was the right thing to do.

While Kailo was heading toward happiness, she was heading toward death.

She thought that Kailo, who was good, would be rewarded, and she, who was bad, would be punished.

That karma had come back to her as the right price, Vivian thought.

And yet, the tears in her eyes didn’t stop flowing.