Meanwhile, Vivien hopped out of the carriage, her heart full of hope. Has Rachel been doing okay? Even though she probably wasn't waiting for me, I still really want to see her as soon as possible.
Just as she reached the back of the estate, she spotted Rachel's back. Overjoyed, she threw her hand up to wave.
"My lady!"
However, Rachel didn't even seem to hear her. She just turned and headed straight for the backyard.
Vivien didn't have time to overthink it. She ran straight after Rachel. "Princess!"
Finally, Rachel stopped and glanced back at her. Those blue eyes she was met with — they were as cold as a frozen lake.
"Why did you come back? Did you come to say goodbye to me? There's no need for that. Just go back."
"What?" Vivien asked.
To which Rachel gave a chillingly cold response. "You're obviously terrified of me, aren't you? Afraid to get too close to the child of a traitor. Afraid it might drag you and your family down."
Rachel let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.
Is this how all her friends have left her up until now? So that's why she got so angry when Vivien didn't show up for a few days. She thought she was abandoning her too. She's just so terrified of getting hurt again. That overwhelming fear is exactly why this poor child completely shut her heart away. Even though she was written as nothing more than a villainess in the novel, deep down in her heart, she's really just a child terrified of being thrown away.
She had to tell Rachel. "I'm not afraid of you, and I've never, ever thought about leaving you, my lady."
But Rachel just turned her back and walked away, almost as if she was terrified of hearing the word goodbye.
Vivien stared blankly at her retreating figure. So she bolted after her again.
It doesn't matter if you try to push me away. I'll just be the one to close the distance. I'll keep doing it until that child finally believes me. All I need to do is stay right by her side.
Rachel, who had arrived first, had already started her sword training. If I interrupt her right now, it'll just make her resent me more.
In the dead silence of the training grounds, the only sound was the heavy thud of a wooden sword striking the dummy. Suddenly, with a loud, violent crack, the wooden sword shattered against the dummy. A razor-sharp splinter slashed right across Rachel's cheek.
Vivien instantly sprinted over. She was bleeding. But her outstretched hand was viciously slapped away.
Once she realized what she'd done, Rachel looked just as shocked. She immediately turned and bolted away.
I have to clear up this misunderstanding right now, Vivien thought, stepping forward to give chase. But in that exact second, a horribly familiar, suffocating tightness seized her chest. And this time it came with an agonizing pain far worse than ever before.
Why? Why right now, of all times?
When the girl's terminal illness suddenly struck, Rachel, who had always pushed her away, completely lost her mind. Watching that frail figure collapse to the ground, it completely overlapped with the tragic memory of her late mother.
Without a single second to think, she desperately hauled the girl onto her back and sprinted for her life.
She had planned to cut her losses and walk away before her heart could get broken. But now, looking at this, it was far too late to pull back.
After rushing back to the bedroom, she sat by the bedside praying frantically. Please, even if she says goodbye to me right now, I'll gladly accept it. You can avoid me. You can leave this place. Just please stay alive.
Right at that moment, the head doctor burst into the room. But the one lying in Rachel's bed wasn't Rachel. It was the young lady's playmate.
"Sir Brian, please, I'm begging you, save this child."
Those icy blue eyes were trembling violently. Seeing this, Brian was completely stunned. This was the very first time the young lady had ever shown her true feelings. Especially considering she hadn't shed a single tear, not even at the Duchess's funeral. The young master had drained himself of all emotion, like a fragile doll, to protect himself. He hid both his true identity and his feelings beneath his long hair.
"Well, just looking at her color, it doesn't seem too serious."
After comforting the young lady, the doctor began examining Vivien's condition. Just then, Margaret walked in.
"My lady, it is almost time for your etiquette lesson."
Stepping into the room and seeing Vivien collapsed on the bed, she gasped in fake surprise. "Oh my. What on earth happened to this poor child?"
"She just fainted suddenly," Brian explained. "There are no external injuries or obvious symptoms, so we'll need to keep her under observation."
Hearing Brian's explanation, a sly smirk crept onto Margaret's lips. She then softly suggested the young lady go get some rest.
Rachel refused without a second thought. "No, I'm staying right here until the exam is over."
The woman had no choice but to yield. "Well, if it eases my lady's mind, I can push today's etiquette lesson to tomorrow."
With that, she turned and left.
The young lady almost never stood her ground like that. And to think it was all because of that wretched little brat. But actually, this worked out perfectly. It was the absolute best excuse to throw that girl out for good.
Ever since five years ago, the very day Duchess Isela passed away, Margaret had been slowly manipulating the young master.
"If you step outside this mansion, His Majesty the emperor and everyone else will despise you. If they ever find out you are actually a boy, not just you, but everyone here will be in grave danger. The Duke would likely abandon you to save everyone else. But don't worry too much, my dear. I will stay right by your side until the day I die."
Bound by Isela's dying wish, Duke Carts only cared about keeping Rachel alive. Not about Rachel himself. Brainwashing an isolated, lonely child was simply child's play.
She had only one goal in mind.
Every night, the Duke secretly had Rachel train in magic, so that once he could protect himself, he would shed his female disguise and take his rightful place as the young Duke of Edwin. When that day finally came, Rachel would have no one to rely on but Margaret and her daughter, Sally. Then her daughter would effortlessly become the Duchess.
But Vivien's sudden appearance completely threatened her years of careful scheming. The Duke had only brought Vivien in to help cover up Rachel's true identity. But if she turned out to be a sick child, they would have no choice but to throw her out, just like how she had chased away all of the young lady's other friends.
She marched straight into Carts's office. "Your Grace, it is Margaret. I have something urgent to discuss. Do you have a moment? The new playmate suddenly collapsed while playing with my lady. Sir Brian is examining her right now. My lady insists on staying by her side. However," Margaret paused, feigning deep concern, "I truly hope this isn't the case, of course. But if that child happens to have some sort of severe illness, I worry the shock would be far too much for my lady to bear."
Carts instantly caught the unspoken implication behind Margaret's words. Should they separate Vivien and Rachel?
She had a point. Rachel already fully understood the concept of death. If Vivien were to die, it would absolutely devastate him.
Both Carts's and Owen's expressions grew grim. Seeing this, Margaret flashed a deeply satisfied smile.