Chapter 50
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 50: Reunion (2)
Vivienne stood still for a long time looking down at the man lying on the sickbed.
Faint light coming through the window revealed the outline of the man lying on the sickbed softly.
Blue-grey hair.
Disheveled and scattered on the pillow, and shadow cast under long eyelashes.
Face not feeling real even examining closely looked just asleep.
Breath was even, and expression was calm.
But 'Edom Rivan' in Vivienne's memory wasn't this face.
Boy who was skinny with protruding cheekbones.
Lips always wearing a somewhat misaligned smile on pale bloodless skin.
Smile that was creepy beyond insidious.
Breath standing behind back without saying anything.
Presence always felt a few steps behind when walking the corridor after class.
Just that made goosebumps rise along the spine.
Did not even care about studies, indifferent to experiments, discussions, exams.
Only begged for love.
"I will have you even if I have to break you. Hehe."
Vivienne still remembered the fear when hearing those words clearly.
That gaze, the madness-filled possessiveness contained in it.
When rumor circulated that he was eventually confined underground by his father for smearing mud on the family name, no one doubted it.
Rather nodded saying "Plausible".
He was a dangerous and pathetic noble young master to that extent.
However.
The man lying in front of eyes now felt like a completely different person.
Summoner of the Dark Night.
Savior of Hamelon.
Grand Duke's Man.
Man who protected hundreds on the battlefield, defeated a black mage, and protected her on the cliff.
He of madness who said he would have her even if breaking her, rather protected her who almost broke.
Vivienne gathered her fingertips.
What on earth happened.
During 3 years he disappeared.
In this distant Northern land.
What time and what choice made the pathetic boy begging for love into a cool man leaping towards the future.
Was a little curious.
It was an emotion different kind from fear.
There was no news, nor sign until he disappeared suddenly.
Until the day before, he chased her tail.
Disappearing overnight was strange too, but what on earth gave an inflection point to his feelings that he was leaping brilliantly building overwhelming reputation in Northern Territory.
From the moment acknowledging Iden is Edom, new doubts and curiosity begin to bloom.
Things like shallow curiosity, or interest as an explorer.
At that time.
Iden on the sickbed caught his breath very minutely, then shed a low groan.
Glabella frowned, and eyelids trembled.
"Ugh...."
And he opened his eyes slowly.
Blue deep, clear light entered towards Vivienne.
Breath stopped momentarily.
Heart crashed a beat late then started beating fast.
Is it right to meet those eyes.
Should I run away.
Wouldn't it be wiser to turn back and leave as is.
Countless thoughts passed by like lightning.
But feet didn't move.
Just faced.
Head-on.
Didn't avoid like past days.
Iden's gaze was blurry then became clear gradually.
Eyes trying to recognize situation.
Straight gaze not avoiding nor twisted.
There was no damp obsession and distorted possessiveness of the past in those eyes.
Lips dry, throat burns.
What should I say.
Thanks?
Apology?
Explanation?
Awkward silence flowed with nothing organized.
Eventually.
Vivienne caught breath forcibly, and opened hesitating mouth.
"...L, long time no see."
Careful greeting.
Greeting never offered even once during Academy days.
Greeting thought never to offer even after graduation.
Moment spitting out that greeting, heart beat loudly again.
She was still bewildered.
But this time didn't run away.
**
Face met as soon as opening eyes was Vivienne.
And words from her mouth.
"...L, long time no see."
Short greeting, but strangely heart reacted greatly.
Feeling like suddenly rushing wave crashing against cliff breaking.
I looked at her taking a pause for a moment.
Abandoned Rivan Count territory, abandoned noble status, even changed name and came to this distant North to escape from original work that much.
But facing original heroine alone like this eventually.
Despondency like being played by prank of God of Fate came first, and had to swallow sigh inwardly without knowing.
If fortunate, this is Northern Territory, and Cale Bailus is not here.
Original heroine met in space where original male lead is absent.
Flow is completely twisted.
Hamelon siege warfare, banquet hall explosion, Redric's movement all changed.
Then there would be no guarantee that contact with Vivienne leads directly to ruin route.
Organized so in head.
But.
I know things Edom Rivan committed to her.
Not directly experienced memory, but scenes remaining like afterimages.
Gaze chasing persistently, excessive obsession, possessive words.
Traces of those memories still remain somewhere.
Facing Vivienne's gaze head-on, opened mouth with face erasing emotion as much as possible.
"Ah, yes."
Short and dry answer.
Tone keeping distance, like treating a person meeting for the first time.
It was natural sequence that awkward silence continues.
She blinked eyes for a moment.
"...That's all?"
Puzzle was revealed on face as is.
I nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Silence flowed for a moment.
Vivienne's pupils shook minutely.
"...Don't remember, me?"
I lowered gaze for a moment, then looking at her again answered.
"I do."
Unfamiliar yet familiar red hair, brilliant blue eyes, Academy corridor, laboratory, garden where sunlight shone.
Although blurry, clearly remained.
However, that was it.
Didn't attach any emotion, any explanation, any back talk.
Just wanted to finish confrontation with her quickly with concise, short breath.
Vivienne's eyebrows gathered slightly.
"...And?"
She asks back.
Voice mixed with doubt, and very minute fretfulness.
I closed mouth for a moment.
Should I explain.
Should I apologize.
Or just, push through pretending not to know until the end.
Couldn't make any decision at unprepared confrontation, and looked at her quietly.
Her expression changed to unknown emotion more and more.
**
Vivienne tilted her head looking at him lying on sickbed.
While saying remembers, his tone was excessively careful like treating a person seeing for the first time, and eyes were polite.
Neat, courteous gaze.
Line not to cross somewhere was clearly drawn.
That was stranger.
Didn't offer greeting expecting something.
Didn't have mind to dig up past, nor greed to organize emotions.
Just wanted to exchange greeting ordinarily.
But returned reaction was heterogeneity.
The more facing, he seemed like a really different person.
Of course fortunate change, and fortunate reaction.
Response hundred times thousand times better than making eyes of that time again as soon as remembering her.
Fortunate that it wasn't eyes permeated with obsession and madness, but calm and rational gaze.
However, therefore somewhat strange.
One corner of heart tickled strangely.
Vivienne lowered gaze for a moment, then opened mouth carefully.
Time to solve most important thing among reasons waiting for him to wake up.
"...Anyway really thanks. For saving me."
Vivienne bringing up words had to feel heterogeneity again.
World affairs really don't know an inch ahead.
To think day comes to convey thanks to Edom Rivan.
Iden was silent for a moment, then answered calmly.
"Was in the middle of investigating Redric Ricardo by Grand Duke Your Highness's special order. Just did what had to do so you don't need to worry."
Tone like business report, without emotion intervention.
Businesslike and stiff tone and voice.
Vivienne looked at him for a moment, then nodded small.
"...Still thanks. Then rest."
Finishing greeting shortly, she turned around.
There were too many things curious.
Why in this land, how decided change, what on earth happened during those 3 years.
But decided not to ask now.
Didn't want to give burden more than this to him who needs to rest.
Moving steps towards door.
However...
Low voice heard from behind grabbed toe tip.
"I was really sorry for that time."
Vivienne's steps stopped.
Heart sinks with a thud.
At that voice spat out calmly, she stiffened turning her back.
Feeling like time stopped.
No, feeling like returned to herself and Edom of that day for an instant.
What those words point to.
Towards which time.
Containing what memory.
Because knowing, Vivienne had to stiffen.
Words thought absolutely never to hear.
He who tormented her terribly.
He who always followed adjusting breath one step behind.
He who believed never to apologize until the end.
Short, and thick.
Said so.
That he was sorry.
Moment vision blurred.
Rising emotion becomes moisture, and moisture becomes tears flowing down.
Imprudent tears, unexpected tears, Vivienne tried to control tears not understood, but emotion was already collapsing.
Thought forgot.
Thought fine now as time passed.
Academy corridor, in front of laboratory, breath felt behind back and persistent gaze. Anxiety and fear of that time.
Believed all erased.
But current tears were informing it wasn't so.
Not forgot but just buried deep, and pretending not to know.
Was deceiving herself.
That remaining like lump in one corner of heart sealed, broke at his one word of apology.
Snap.
Completely broken, and dregs of that day contained inside started to disappear cleanly.
Vivienne wiped eyes bowing head.
Through tears, very small laughter leaked out.
Turning back.
Invisible to him.
"...Thanks."
Muttered as if whispering.
Greeting of thanks saying thank you was conveyed to him again.
Mistook as forgot.
Deceived herself as erased.
Memories of that day sealed with shell like that break shell and start flying high into sky.
At one word of short and simple apology saying sorry.