What Remains at the End of Regret - Chapter 20

A few days earlier, after returning from the Lockberg estate, Vivian had seemed to be in good spirits. Just as Betty had said, the misunderstanding with the Duke appeared to be resolved, and the Duke himself had reportedly expressed satisfaction with the work she had done in the greenhouse.

Such a proper and graceful ending.

Betty, who had taken care of Vivian since her wild and reckless childhood, was now completely convinced that her lady had grown into a true lady. Her earlier worries had proven unnecessary. Vivian had clearly seen things through to the end.

With a light heart, Betty had shared the good news with the Viscountess and quickly solidified her position as a trusted maid in the household.

“I heard Lord Hayden’s mother and the Viscountess have been meeting often. They must be starting to talk about the wedding, right?”

Betty chattered without pause as her hands continued working through Vivian’s hair. Soon, the braid was finished. As she gently let the plait fall over Vivian’s shoulder and announced she was done, Vivian stood from her chair and walked slowly to the window.

Hayden’s carriage was approaching.

Not wanting to keep him waiting, Vivian quickly left the room and opened the front door of the house. Waiting there with a bright smile was Hayden.

He stepped forward with gentlemanly grace and held out his hand. Vivian smiled warmly and took it, meeting his eyes. Hayden returned her look with a soft and affectionate gaze.

“I’ll be back later, Betty,” she said.

“I’ll be back later, Betty,” Hayden echoed, repeating her words like a parrot. His playful dimples showed clearly on his cheek.

Betty’s eyes sparkled as she watched the young couple walk away. They looked like the perfect pair. To her, there were no two people more suited for each other. If there were ever such a thing as a flawless couple, it was them.

Vivian’s white hair and Hayden’s golden hair blended together as they walked side by side. It reminded Betty of the daisies her lady had so carefully cared for.

A flower-like couple.

Feeling slightly embarrassed at her own thoughts, Betty shook her head and gave a small laugh. A cheerful hum soon echoed softly through the hall.

“Hayden, I think you’ve gotten taller,” Vivian said.

“Men never stop growing. You probably wouldn’t notice, though,” Hayden teased.

“What?”

Vivian gave him a sharp sideways glance and pinched his side lightly. Hayden chuckled, but she couldn’t stay annoyed. A laugh escaped her before she knew it. The sunlight was warm but not too strong. For early summer, it was a perfect day.

Hayden glanced at the watch on his wrist, and a pleased smile formed on his lips.

“A bakery in town has a new dessert. Want to go try it?”

“Sounds good. You really do love sweets, don’t you?”

“I like them because you like them.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Hayden had a playful side, and Vivian always found herself scolding him for it.

“Ridiculous?” he said.

Then came a moment she didn’t expect.

“I’m not joking, Vivian.”

Before she could respond, he pulled her in close, firmly holding her hand. Vivian froze in place. Her mind went completely blank as her cheek brushed against his chest, where his calm heartbeat pulsed gently.

“Okay, okay!” she cried out in surprise.

Flustered, she quickly pushed him away and hurried ahead of him. Her steps, at first small and nervous, grew faster and longer as she walked ahead on her own. Her white hair bobbed and swayed with every step.

Hayden watched her and let out a loud, genuine laugh.

“We’re going to be married soon. You’ll have to get used to this.”

“Be quiet!”

“Wait for me!”

Hayden stepped forward with purpose, chasing after the young lady who had stormed ahead. His tousled blond hair shimmered under the sunlight as the breeze played through it. In the deep green garden, the boy with the golden hair kept running, refusing to stop.

The carriage carrying Hayden and Vivian rolled gently out of the estate, cradled in the warmth of summer. It had been a while since Vivian had gone into town, and she looked out the window eagerly, taking in every detail. She had been born and raised in Faubert, and she doubted there could be a town more beautiful. Hayden looked over at her in silence, a soft smile on his face as she quietly admired the scenery.

Before long, the carriage stopped in front of a bakery. Hayden stepped down and gently offered his hand to Vivian to help her down.

The bakery, once just a small shop where Len used to bring treats for Vivian, had now become a famous spot in Faubert. It was so popular that people from the capital, Litton, and even foreign traders visiting Faubert would stop by to buy their pastries.

When the clerk offered to seat them at the guest lounge, Vivian kindly refused. Instead, she and Hayden chose a plain wooden table near the window that looked out toward the sea. Once seated, they quickly placed their order.

“Two coffees and the new dessert, please,” Hayden said.

The coffee arrived not long after, giving off a deep, slightly bitter aroma. Vivian picked up her cup, then glanced at Hayden, who had not even touched his.

A playful smile spread across her lips.

“You do not even drink coffee. Why do you always order it, Hayden Harper?”

“This is something I am determined to overcome,” he said, trying to sound serious.

Bitter coffee was far from his taste. He much preferred sweets so sugary they made his tongue tingle. But there was one reason he kept ordering coffee.

“Maybe you should just give up,” Vivian said with a teasing tilt of her head, though a part of her did not want the answer.

“I cannot give up.”

Vivian. Do you love me?

A day without Vivian Mabel was painfully dull for Hayden Harper. She made up every piece of his life. That was why he could not bring himself to ask the question out loud.

Some things do not need to be said. It was clear to Hayden that the only reason Vivian loved him, if she did at all, was because they had been together since childhood. Ever since that spring day when Hayden had first started seeing her as something more than a friend, he had wished for one thing.

That she might one day love him back.

Every time he tried to get closer, she moved just out of reach. In all the little moments she never noticed, Hayden had tried harder than anyone to stay near her. When his father’s wine business finally succeeded, and he had proven to the Viscount that the Harper name was worth something, he had finally been allowed to become her fiancé. He was sure no one else would ever be more right for her than he was. That was enough of a reason not to ask.

“You know how persistent I can be,” Hayden said with a faint smile.

Maybe it was better if she never found out the truth.

“You are going to have to get used to it. I am not going anywhere.”

That you do not love me.

“You are going to be my wife, after all.”

Some truths do not need to be spoken.

Even if she did not love him, Vivian would become the perfect bride this summer. She would treat Hayden Harper with love and care. It might not be the future he had dreamed of, but it would still be enough.

Love or not, he could accept that.

So, Hayden hoped this summer would pass quietly and perfectly.

He took another sip of the bitter coffee and winced. Vivian shrugged, as if to say “I told you so.” Hayden looked at her, smiled as always, and tried to hide the anxious knot growing quietly in his chest.

As the weather turned warmer and more humid, the staff at the estate began wearing lighter clothing. The soft crash of waves from Lake Tanique echoed through the air, mixing with the distant sound of a ship’s horn. Under the scorching sun, the emerald surface of the lake shimmered endlessly. Summer in Faubert had truly begun, and the small harbor was bustling with activity as trade ships came and went.

It was the perfect start to summer.

But even in such a beautiful season, Vivian felt uneasy. A tight discomfort pressed at her chest, and she could not understand why.

Maybe it had started after her last meeting with Hayden or perhaps it went back to the day she stood before the Duke.

Her thoughts were as restless as the noisy streets of Faubert. Everything felt loud and unsteady, both outside and within her.

With the full arrival of summer came the final decision. Vivian Mabel and Hayden Harper’s wedding date had been set. Hayden, trying to sound calm, had quietly told her the two families had reached an agreement. Unless something changed, she would soon become his wife. She would become the mother of his children and live the life planned for her.

Vivian walked slowly toward the window, where the surface of Lake Tanique sparkled under the sun. She wanted to cry out, to release the weight in her heart, but she pressed it down instead.

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