Forget Vivian

Today Samuel became Vivian in his dream.

“Samuel.”

A small face hidden under the veil was revealed.

This is the memory of the day Vivian and Samuel got married.

‘Why does she look like that?’

Vivian let out a small laugh and took a step towards Samuel, who was standing blankly.

Today she wore a snow-white dress, a dark blue headdress, and satin shoes with pearls.

The guard knights lined up on either side of Vivian, standing on the carpet sprinkled with roses, made arches with their swords.

With each step, the tip of my tongue was dry with tension.

The crushed red roses under her shoes stood out.

With each movement of Vivian, a deep scent of roses wafted out.

As Vivian reached his side, she heard Samuel’s harsh breathing.

“Samuel.”

With those words, Vivian gradually moved away from him.

It was as if Samuel’s soul had been forced out of Vivian.

Now Samuel was watching his wedding from the air instead of inside Vivian’s body.

The pale pink petals artificially falling from the sky looked like feathers dropped by Vivian.

How much effort went into preparing the perfect wedding that Vivian had dreamed of.

Samuel and the Duke of Endless perfectly reproduced Vivian’s imagination.

Lucia, who was in charge of Vivian’s secretary, said that with the money she spent for today, she could buy a corner of the system.

‘Then how is it? Vivian smiles brightly like that.’

Looking at it again like this, Vivian was very pretty.

I liked how she smiled so much that I was so exhausted that I didn’t say anything throughout the wedding.

The affection felt in the young redness on his white cheeks was warm.

Vivian licked her lips.

Samuel knew what Vivian was going to say.

‘Samuel, am I pretty? It is said that the main character of the wedding is the bride. Do you think I’m the main character?’

With a trembling voice, she uttered those long words without a pause. It was proof that Vivian was nervous.

At that time, Samuel was also nervous and couldn’t answer properly.

Samuel waited for Vivian to bring out those words that would make him tremble even if he heard them again.

‘Divorce me, Samuel.’

The dream is broken.

  ***

Samuel jumped to his feet.

It wasn’t a sweet dream, it was just nightmares in a sweet mask.

Vivian, who appeared with a smile after 7 years, presented as hell to Samuel.

Samuel wiped his face harshly.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

He ruffled his sweat-drenched hair.

The little rings on his little fingers gleamed.

Samuel looked down at the empty seat next to the bed and lowered his legs to the floor.

He took a deep breath with his face buried in his palms.

On the day of the wedding, Vivian had a pretty smile no matter who saw it.

“… What happens after that?”

Was it empty just like the one he had when she said goodbye at the end?

Like someone who loses and gives up on something.

With an innocent look that doesn’t want anything.

I didn’t remember.

“Haha.”

It was a cold, short laugh.

“Stupid.”

I forgot.

Vivian is smarter and kind than anyone else.

She would have preferred to give up rather than hope for something that would never happen.

It was Samuel and he who did not notice it and left her unattended.

Samuel took a deep breath as he looked at the ring on the tip of his little finger.

“… Nice to meet you, Vivian.”

Even in such a bad dream, I was happy to see Vivian’s smiling face.

To the point of tears.

Because you are smiling… Thanks to you, I thought I could live today.

  ***

Peek out.

Daniel put his head out of the alley and looked outside street.

Daniel took a deep breath as he glanced through the crowded store.

The people of Rembrandt Street, knowingly and unknowingly, took great interest in the newcomer.

What if that person is not only beautiful, but also has a cute baby?

People gathered to confirm the person in the rumor.

All the gossips of people passing by Daniel could be heard.

“You say the owner of this newly opened restaurant is so pretty?”

“That’s right. Besides, she raised the baby alone. It looks like she came with the kid’s aunt.”

“Oh my gosh. What about her husband?”

“……”

“……”

“How can you be so rude? In this case, two inferences are possible.”

“Two?”

“What else! The husband ran away or died. Isn’t it one of those? But it seems to me that it is the second one.”

“Why?”

“Use your brain… Billy, why would you run away when you have a pretty wife and cute baby?”

“Ah…”

Daniel rolled his eyes.

‘Huh…’

I’ve never heard of the emperor’s death, so her husband is still alive.

It was her who ran away.

Well, it didn’t seem like a bad public opinion was being formed about her though.

Even in the capital, the middle-class townspeople of Rembrandt Street were known for being sympathetic.

The villagers, who concluded that Vivian’s husband was dead, disappeared for a while, then reappeared.

“Hello, I’m Eve Aetherion.”

“Nice to meet you, Eve. I am Juliet. This is Timothy. You have to say hi to aunt!”

“Ah, hello!”

“This is my moving gift. Maybe it’s a gift for opening a business. Here’s the children’s favorite conch bread, which I baked. Welcome!”

“I’ll eat it well, Juliet. I have nothing to give…”

“Ugh, really. That’s Okay! It’s an opening gift. Timothy, would you like to eat what this pretty aunt cooks for you?”

“Yes! Auntie, I eat everything! Ummm, I eat carrots well too!”

“Oh my gosh. Timothy is brave!”

Vivian’s brightly smiling face was also visible to Daniel.

Smile. She’s smiling again

Daniel banged his head against the wall.

Anxiety overtook him.

The Duke of Endless had initially hired him to protect Vivian’s smiling face.

As much as he receives the money to contribute to Vivian’s happiness.

But the emperor wants to find Vivian.

The problem is that now the entity that pays Danielle has changed from the Duke of Endless to the emperor.

‘Really, why does it have to be me?’

Daniel walked away.

‘Vivian, you know I’m indecisive and full of affection…’

So, shall we watch her one more day tomorrow?

Just one more day.

  ***

Weird.

Eve tilted her head as she looked at the pile of gifts piled up over the counter.

‘Opening gift…?’

“Arianne. When you open a restaurant, are receive so many presents?”

“I know.”

There were all kinds of gifts, but Mr. Jorte, who runs a hardware store nearby, gives us a hammer.

Maybe it will be useful in case of a thief.

Chloe, who runs an embroidery shop next door, brought tablecloths to match the number of tables in a large restaurant.

And Billy, the florist, brought a bunch of dried flowers to decorate the table.

Arianne looked at them all and murmured.

“You don’t have to spend the money, do you? Eve, we don’t have to worry about our interior.”

“That’s it.”

Estella, who had been buried in the gift, lifted her head.

“I like it too, Mom! Hehehe. look at this Timothy gave it to me.”

Estella held a cute stuffed toy in her hand.

Timothy, returning from dinner, presented her favorite attachment doll to Estella.

“Don’t eat too much chocolate, Estella. Sweets too!”

“Uh…  However…”

“You only have to eat five!”

At Eve’s resolute words, Estella gently put down the sweets she was holding with her fingers.

Arianne, who was watching the scene, murmured.

It was the same with Vibraze.

She don’t know why.

Doesn’t the community usually exclude strangers?

“Weirdly, everyone in this town seems to like us.”

“I know.”

It was a strange repetition of a similar conversation.

Arianne tilted her head and snatched the cookie basket from Estella.

“I hate Arianne!”

“Your mother told you not to eat sweets. Right, Eve?”

Eve agreed with Arianne’s words.

“Then. Estella, if you eat all that, your teeth will rot”

“Hing.”

“Then you would have to go to the doctor’s office and get a huge injection and have your teeth pulled out. Estella, would you like that?”

Estella shook her head at Eve’s question.

Eve patted Estella’s head as if she had done well.

The setting sun set on <Stars and White Birds> with a small sound of laughter.

Arianne silently stared at the white smile on Eve’s dry face.

While Eve was laughing and chatting with Estella, Arianne cracked down on the restaurant and closed the door.

It’s time for everyone on the street to go home.

Children running through the alleyways, laughter seeped into the door.

“This neighborhood is so kind, isn’t it?”

Eve, who had come to Arianne’s side, said with her back behind her back.

White hair fluttered near Eve’s cheek.

‘You have a pretty smile.’

“I know, they are really kind. Good enough to live a long life.”

Arianne utters the long word .

“Yes…  I want you to live long. Can Estella be friends with them?”

Eve’s eyes narrowed.

It’s okay to be sick.

It was so painful that I couldn’t breathe, so it was okay to chew and swallow painkillers without water.

I just wanted to stay with Arianne and Estella a little longer.

I can’t, though.