âShall I take a chair for you?â
âItâs fine.â
âHonestly, it would be fine even if youâre not watching this menial task right now. If youâd like to rest, Iâll just pick you up later when Iâm already done.â
It was just like what Knox had said.
There was absolutely no need for the two of them to watch the process of preparing to return homeâback to each otherâs residence. It was because packing things up had always been the servantsâ duty after all.
As she was watching the maids carry the luggage away, she once again wondered where they had hid them all this time.
However, Vivian just didnât wish to lose any of this rather odd time, still. If Knox was already here, she merely wanted to be here as well.
When all of those luggage had been packed away, it was already the time to wake up from this illusion and return back to reality. Back to being Knox and just another mere maid of a Young Lady.
âIâm just here because I, myself, want to be here.â
Vivian smiled softly as she placed her hand on top of his, which was holding on to her own waist. When her slim yet rough fingertips had brushed against him, Knoxâs gaze straight away turned towards her.
âMy dear, do you have to go back home immediately?â
Vivianâs lips rounded at Knoxâs words.
Do I have toâ¦â¦? Strange enough, Vivian couldnât remember any of those details at all. She never missed a single word that had been said by the Young Lady, but surprisingly, her mind suddenly went blank and nothing popped out.
It must have been because the time which she had spent here was too sweet. If not, there was no way that Vivianâs mind would become that mushy and thought somewhere along the lines of âsuch a trivial thing like Young Lady Alexiaâs orderâ.
âIf itâs alright, Iâd like you to stop by the Grand Duchy just for a moment.â
âWill it only be for a moment?â
âIt will.â
Vivian nodded after listening to Knoxâs words.
Right at that gesture of hers, Knox straight away held her waist firmly before pulling her into an embrace.
âI wonât be doing something that you might be worried about, so you donât have to be wary at all.â
âSomething that Iâm worried about?â
âI wonât embrace you anymore for todayâout of my consideration.â
âKnox!ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Vivianâs voice grew a little bit higher at the embarrassment she felt. Her face was already flushedâcrimsonedâwhile he burst into a nonchalant laughter. As a moment of tension from his words had gradually subsided, Vivian began to smile along with Knox himself.
Vivian then slowly looked for his hand before clasping onto it. She entwined their fingers one by one and proceeded to lean on his shoulderâjust like a sweet lover would.
It feels warm. His fever had already gone all down last night, but he was still quite warm for Vivian.
âBut, I really am fineâ¦â¦.â
âIâm the one whoâs not fine. I feel like I just gave you a very hard time yesterday.â
Knoxâs warm touch remained constantly. She was really fond of the warm sunlight, along with that cozy body of his. Vivian honestly felt like she didnât want this particular moment to end at all.
As all of the luggage had been completely packed up, it would then take only a moment to transfer them to the carriage. First of all, they carried away Knoxâs own luggages, only then did her belongings follow suit. After that, the couple began to turn to the carriage that was only meant for the two of them.
The duration for this trip took much less time than when they arrived before. As soon as they left the dream-like garden, familiar scenes began to successively come into sight.
âWelcome home.â
When the carriage pulled to a stop at the Grand Dukeâs residence, the butler who was already waiting for them, immediately took a bow. Knox was the first one who got off the carriage with the butlerâs help before turning back and reaching out his hand.
Everyone understood that she could easily get off the carriage without any help at all. Nevertheless, Vivian also wasnât pretending to be unaware of Knoxâs own consideration.
She gently took his hand. Then, Knox straight away drew her in before placing Vivian naturally beside him.
âHas the item been prepared already?â
âOf course. It has already been prepared since a few hours ago.â
âItem?â
Vivian, who was wondering about their conversation, started to ask, but Knox was only smilingâobscurely.
âYouâll definitely know once you follow me there.â
The place that Knoxâs hand had taken her, under the guidance of the butler, was revealed to be the living room. When a large box was suddenly placed on the table, Vivianâs curiosity had gotten further increased.
âWhat is this?â
âItâs a present for you.â
âAâpresentâ¦â¦.?â
Vivian closed her lips tightly.
A present for me? Vivian walked towards the table slowly. When she softly touched the luxuriously wrapped box, it seemed to be surprisingly light once lifted.
Vivianâs curiosity eventually led her to shake the box. Despite it appearing to be very large, the contents did not make a single sound at all. In the end, Vivian, who could no longer put off her interest, began pulling the ribbon to open the box.