Chapter 231
“Dantère.”
Unlike Dantère, Vivian only offered a faint smile.
Seeing not even a hint of laughter at the corners of her eyes, it was clear she had not come all the way to the Academy hoping to run into him.
‘Of course she wouldn’t.’
He lived however he pleased, but that didn’t mean Dantère was incapable of reading a situation.
To begin with, he knew his place.
‘Because I’ve never done anything to give Vivian a reason to be glad to see me.’
After all, what had he ever done with her except…
‘S*x, s*x, and more s*x….’
Not once had he ever tried to make himself someone she might like.
‘No wonder any affection she had would’ve vanished.’
But just because he realized the problem didn’t mean he had the answer to what he should do.
“Are you here alone?”
All he could hope was that his words and behavior didn’t seem awkward.
“Yes.”
“Why? Don’t tell me you came to see me?”
When he leaned in with a playful smile, Vivian’s smile vanished completely.
Seeing her recoil made him want to tease her more, yet at the same time his chest tightened. Was he really that unpleasant to her?
“I just… wanted to see what the Academy looks like.”
Had she really been that curious about the Academy, enough to wander the vast campus alone without a guide?
Then he remembered. Vivian was an illegitimate child. She’d lived with her commoner mother before being taken into the Luinax family.
Maybe she had longed for this place.
She wouldn’t have been in any position to say she wanted to attend an Academy.
“I hated studying. It would’ve been great if you came in my place.”
When Dantère muttered this, Vivian’s eyes widened as she answered.
“I hate it too.”
“Hm?”
“I studied until I was sick of it. My presence as a guest is exactly the best situation for me.”
‘S-so that’s how it was.’
He’d never known Vivian had studied that hard.
Then again, Lionel would never have neglected a younger sister brought into the family. He must have hired tutors and driven her through grueling lessons so she could adapt to noble society.
‘Pushing her so hard that she ended up hating it. What a ruthless bastard.’
Cursing Lionel inwardly, Dantère naturally slipped his arm around Vivian’s shoulders.
“I’ll show you around. Where do you want to go first?”
“Mm… I want to see the Swordsmanship Department first.”
‘Vivian’s interested in swordsmanship? I wouldn’t have guessed.’
Tilting his head, Dantère still obediently guided her toward the Swordsmanship Department building.
The important thing was that she was letting him be her guide. The fact that she hadn’t rejected his offer outright was already a miracle.
Dantère moved carefully, trying not to make the arm around her shoulders feel bothersome.
Keeping his posture natural so she wouldn’t feel his weight or be hindered in her steps was unexpectedly difficult. Something that had once been effortless now felt clumsy, as if his limbs had broken somewhere inside.
“I didn’t expect to run into you the moment I arrived, Dantère.”
“Hm? Really?”
“Yes.”
He sensed her gaze sweep lightly across their surroundings.
Students who noticed them froze on the spot, staring wide-eyed.
Not only was Dantère the man who had inherited his mother’s beauty that once charmed the late Emperor, but Vivian was also the most celebrated beauty in the capital at present. It was only natural they drew stares.
“I thought you’d be fully enjoying your freedom after so long.”
In other words, she expected he’d be happily rolling around with some other woman.
…Which was actually correct.
He had bolted out of a classroom like a madman the moment he saw her.
“With you here, why would I?”
Dantère forced out a shameless line and tried his best to smile naturally.
But then…
“What are you talking about? A person should be consistent.”
Vivian’s tone was uncharacteristically firm.
“Never lose your original intent. Dantère should remain everyone’s lover.”
‘What is she even saying?’
He didn’t quite understand, but her tone was so uncompromising that Dantère nodded before he could think.
“O-okay.”
Still, it felt strangely like it had been a long time since he and Vivian were alone doing something alone together that wasn’t s*x.
Seeing her, usually so quiet and composed, talk with a slightly excited expression made Dantère feel lighter too.
It almost felt like they were on a date, like ordinary lovers.
“That’s the Swordsmanship building. It’s equipped with private training rooms.”
“Dantère, have you ever used a private training room?”
“Me? Well, sometimes?”
“Then can you describe what it looks like inside…?”
