Chapter 34: Thank you like that is unfair

“Tina!!”

The door burst open as my mother ran towards me. Just how worried had she been? Her eyes were already red with tears.

“Oh… Tina… I’m so thankful you’re safe.”

She cried as she gently hugged me. Worried she might hurt me, she didn’t hug me too tightly, but her deep affection was clearly conveyed. I wrapped my arms around her waist, burying my face in her shoulder as I swallowed tears of relief.

‘…Thank goodness.’

She still loves me.

I can still rely on my mother’s love.

She must have been very worried. She held me for a long time, trembling slightly. I also stayed silent in her embrace. A tender warmth lingered between us.

But maybe it was because it was too tender.

“Ahem. Ahem.”

Viviana, who had been sitting awkwardly beside us, let out a rather forced cough. Only then did my mother release me, hastily tidying her disheveled clothes before bowing politely to Viviana.

“Thank you so much, Lady Viviana… I don’t know how we can ever repay this kindness….”

“No, I helped because I personally know Lady Tina.”

At my mother’s gratitude, Viviana shook her head with a bright smile. It was surprising to see such a different expression from the one she usually had when talking to me.

She always frowned at me, yet she could smile so brightly. Knowing Viviana’s personality, she wouldn’t normally smile like that, so I wondered who was pretending to be nice.

“Please, let us repay you. You saved my life.”

“Repayment…”

Viviana put a finger to her chin, contemplating for a moment. She glanced at me once, then gave my mother another beautiful smile.

“In that case, may I ask a personal favor in the future?”

“Of course. Though our home is humble… the Blanc family will always welcome you.”

“Thank you, Lady Blanc.”

My mother responded to Viviana’s smile with one equally beautiful. For some reason, the friendly atmosphere between them felt strange to me.

“Well then, I should be going, Lady Tina. I’ve been away from the duchy for too long.”

“Oh, yes. Just a moment….”

I tried to get up to see Viviana off, but she gently pressed my shoulder, keeping me in bed.

“Rest. I’ll accept the gesture.”

“Oh…”

“We’ll see each other again soon. I still have things to discuss with you.”

Her serene purple eyes made me shiver slightly. But without doing anything more, she said goodbye to my mother and walked out the door.

“Uh, Lady Viviana……!”

At my call, Viviana raised an eyebrow and turned to look at me. I opened my mouth to thank her for saving me.

“Th-thank you…….”

But why?

All I wanted to do was thank her, but I couldn’t get the words out. My mind went blank as if I had become a fool.

‘How do you say thank you?’

It wasn’t hard.

I had thanked others countless times. Whenever other ladies praised me or gave me gifts, I always gave them harmless smiles and slightly coquettish thanks in return.

I should just do that.

You just need to smile at the other person and satisfy them with a harmless atmosphere mixed with a bit of coquettish behavior.

However…

[I’d appreciate it if you’d stop being so fake, Young Lady.]

At Viviana’s firm words, I couldn’t maintain the smile I’d been wearing until now. Unable to produce the smile I had practiced hundreds, thousands of times over the years, I couldn’t think of any expression to make.

I don’t know.

How do you say thank you?

How do you smile without being fake?

How can I… make Viviana believe my gratitude is sincere?

Trying to remove the smile I had worn all my life left me at a loss. My eyes wandered aimlessly as if they had lost their way, and my lips just trembled without forming any words.

“…Are you still unwell?”

Seeing my unusual demeanor, Viviana placed her hand on my forehead with a slightly concerned look. Her palm was colder than I expected, sending a shiver through my body.

“You don’t have a fever.”

“Well, it’s just that…”

I closed my eyes tightly to avoid her gaze. Not knowing what expression to make, I lowered my head to hide my face.

“Th-thank you… truly….”

With an uncertain gesture, I grabbed the lapel of her clothes. Forcing my reluctant lips to part, I struggled to voice the words from my heart.

There was no reply. What expression was Viviana making? Considering her personality, she was probably expressionless. I squeezed my eyes shut again and spoke to her.

“Th-thank you… Viviana. I will repay this kindness… definitely….”

Creak—

I heard a sound like teeth grinding. Surprised by the unexpected noise, I looked up to see Viviana’s violet eyes glaring fiercely at me.

What did she find displeasing? She bit her lip for a moment, then turned and walked out of the room.

‘Is she angry…?’

Viviana’s unfeeling gaze couldn’t hide her emotions. There was only one reason she would be angry. With a slightly sinking feeling, I lowered my head and fidgeted nervously with my fingers.

Again….

She thinks I’m being insincere.

It’s no wonder.

Even I don’t know what expression and tone I used to speak, so how awkward must it have felt to her?

Still…

However…

‘It really wasn’t insincere…’

The grand mansion of the Merderllia Duke’s family, rivaling the imperial palace in magnificence.

The front gate opened, and numerous servants bowed their heads to their master. As Viviana walked inside, receiving their greetings, an elderly man with a dignified air came out to meet her.

“You’ve worked hard, my lady. The coat is quite dirty today.”

As usual, when she handed over her coat, Merdelia’s head butler, Alphonse, received it politely and greeted her.

“I had to ride a horse for a bit.”

“I see.”

Nodding, Alphonse quietly followed Viviana. Soon after arriving at her office, Viviana sank into the sofa and put a cigarette in her mouth. Seeing the displeasure on her face, Alphonse asked curiously.

“Did you successfully sever ties with the Blanc family?”

“What?”

Alphonse felt a sharp discomfort at Viviana’s piercing gaze. He wondered if he had made a mistake, but there was nothing specific, so he continued nonchalantly.

“Didn’t you say you would cut ties with the young lady of the Blanc family? You left, saying you’d make her pay for mocking you.”

Viviana remained silent. As the atmosphere grew colder, Alphonse couldn’t help but feel deeply unsettled.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

But he clearly remembered Viviana saying so herself. He couldn’t think of any reason for her to be so displeased.

Leaving the confused Alphonse behind, Viviana took a deep drag from her cigarette and nodded to him with a calm gaze.

“I have something to think about alone. You may leave.”

“…Yes.”

Despite his reservations, the command of his master was absolute. Without another word, Alphonse bowed to Viviana and left the office. Once alone, Viviana struck the desk with her hand, her face contorted in frustration.

Bam!

With narrowed eyes, Viviana took another deep drag from her cigarette, then ran her hand through her hair, covering her mouth with her palm.

“Ah, what the hell…!”

For the first time, a flush of red appeared on Viviana’s usually pale, emotionless face. It was a blush that was both fitting and unfitting for her, the blush of an eighteen-year-old girl.

Ever since leaving the Blanc family, one girl’s face had been constantly in her mind.

A shy blush, eyes unable to meet hers, trembling body trying hard to stay composed, and a thin voice barely managing to say,

“Thank you like that is unfair…”