Chapter 59
59
While she was looking at the vineyard, Viktor had breakfast brought to the bedroom. Servants set up their breakfast in front of the window.
Viktor sat with his legs crossed, reading the newspaper with only a cup of coffee beside him, despite the good food in front of him. Scarlett, who had been eating in silence, couldn't stand it and cut the cherry danish she had brought in half, placing it on his plate.
"Eat."
The servants, who were watching from afar, looked embarrassed. Viktor would never eat food from someone else's plate. As expected, Viktor didn't touch the danish Scarlett gave him and turned his gaze back to the newspaper.
As they ate in silence, Scarlett's laughter broke the silence.
"This is what it was like having meals with you."
At those words, Viktor looked at her. Scarlett continued eating without adding anything, and after a moment, Viktor said,
"Not at all."
"Huh?"
"You used to talk a lot more."
"......"
Viktor took a sip of his coffee and said,
"For a while after the divorce, I couldn't get used to it. It was too quiet."
Viktor answered nonchalantly, put down the newspaper, and looked at Scarlett. It was as if he was telling her to say something since he would listen.
Scarlett tried to ignore his gaze, but she couldn't hold out for long and opened her mouth.
"I'm going to braid my hair after the meal, so it will take some time. I'm going to braid it to one side like this."
"You're really choosing a topic that's hard to empathize with."
"I'll give you the answer. Really? That's a good idea."
"Ah."
"And the ribbon will be blue."
"That's a good idea."
When Viktor answered with a slight smile, Scarlett almost laughed but bit her lip to hold it in.
After finishing the meal, Scarlett began to braid her hair as she had said.
Viktor watched her as if he was looking at something fascinating, and Scarlett tied her hair with a blue ribbon. The way she moved her hands diligently, like when tying curtains, was interesting for Viktor to watch.
Scarlett got up, put on her hat, and then the two left the villa. Scarlett, who didn't know the way but was walking ahead, stopped.
"Wow......"
There was a lake so clear that the bottom was visible. The summer of the vineyard surrounding the lake was already being pictured. Scarlett said,
"It's nice......"
The curious Scarlett was completely captivated by this unfamiliar scenery.
Viktor opened his mouth.
"Instead of lending it to the university, if it's just admission, I can take care of it."
At his words, Scarlett paused and looked at Viktor.
There were three ways to enter Salantie University, which had the best facilities and faculty in Salantie. Recommendation admission, which was an admission track for nobles, donation admission, which was an admission track for the bourgeoisie, and elite admission, which was for genuine geniuses.
The Crimson Family was a noble family, but they had earned their title with their outstanding skills as weapons. It was out of the question for them to have the power to go to Salantie University, and even that power had declined after Scarlett's parents, who were the family's greatest assets, passed away.
"I want to learn technology more systematically."
At Scarlett's words, Viktor nodded.
"I understand."
"You understand?"
"No. I'll try to. Just for the sake of politeness."
"Ah."
Scarlett chuckled.
They looked at the vineyard and then returned to the villa. They were scheduled to move back to the capital tomorrow morning.
Scarlett, who had just finished taking a bath, saw Candice standing anxiously next to the bathroom.
She was a senior maid with a strong sense of pride in her work. Unlike unskilled maids, it was difficult to hire veterans who had been skilled in all tasks for a long time. Therefore, they had a strong sense of pride as professionals.
Candice was the same. However, Candice's attitude during this vineyard trip was quite different from what she knew. She could feel that she was putting down her pride and trying to look good to Scarlett.
Scarlett, who had worked as a maid before her marriage, was very familiar with her attitude. The reason why maids were usually at the mercy of their employers was usually one thing: they had nowhere else to go if they left here.
However, the fact that Candice, who should be able to choose anywhere, was at the mercy of others meant that the job market was very unstable.
Scarlett turned her head and looked at the rest of the servants. If Candice was like this, there was no need to mention the others. She could see that they were trying not to even make eye contact in order not to be caught doing anything wrong.
In Salantie, watches were more of a luxury than a necessity, and they were items to be passed down as inheritance. In uncertain times, these items were actually booming.
However, the anxiety about the recession was always lingering like a fog in the 7th Avenue. In particular, the fact that nobles had been hoarding gold recently was no longer even a secret. Now, gold coins could not even be found in the market, and the gold coins that occasionally appeared were literally worth whatever people were willing to pay.
Scarlett discovered the snacks that had been set out on the table, whether she ate them or not, and sat down in front of them. Then Blight asked politely.
"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes. Something that will help me sleep."
As Scarlett answered, Blight bowed his head. Soon after, Viktor sat down in front of her, and two cups of tea were placed.
Scarlett looked at Viktor and asked.
"Do you have any gold coins?"
"Why?"
"No, it's just that these days, the nobles don't seem to be releasing any gold coins."
"Ah, because it's a safe asset."
"So, do you have gold?"
"Pirates like gold coins."
"So, that means you have a lot."
"Something like that."
"You'll be fine even if there's a war."
"Not all nobles are fine."
Viktor reached into his jacket pocket as if he needed a cigarette, then pulled it out with a somewhat nervous face and said,
"The nobles who have been spying from the beginning are fine. If a war breaks out, the Bestina army will somehow bomb the Dumpelt Family in the West Coast."
"So, you're not a spy?"
"I'm not a spy."
Viktor said, then looked at Scarlett and smiled.
"Why? Is it strange that someone as selfish as me isn't a spy?"
"A little."
"And a spy wouldn't say they're a spy."
"......Yeah. I think so too."
Viktor chuckled and said,
"We might be able to relocate."
"Ah."
Scarlett nodded and said,
"The Crimson Family can't relocate, so they have to die with Salantie and live with Salantie."
"I know."
"I hope it's not occupied by Bestina."
"Then we should try to get that scrap metal flying as soon as possible."
Viktor shook his empty teacup, and Blight refilled it.
Viktor continued.
"Stop with the donation admission. There's no need to waste money on useless things. With one phone call, I can have one of the nobles who wants to be indebted to me become a recommender."
"You'll do that for me?"
"It's something I need too."
"......Thank you."
Viktor emptied his teacup again as if he was thirsty and asked.
"Then I'll take care of the admission, so invest the profits from this villa and vineyard in building the Aircraft."
At his words, Scarlett paused and then asked.
"Is it something like patriotism?"
At her question, Viktor laughed and said,
"The navy boards ships from the age of thirteen. I've lived as a soldier longer than I haven't. And all the navies of Salantie are educated with patriotism and hostility towards pirates. And I've fought too many naval battles. I don't want to fight anymore."
After thinking for a while at his words, Scarlett answered.
"Okay."
"Think about it more before you say okay."
Viktor said, looking into Scarlett's eyes.
"If it becomes known that you have the ability to build Aircraft, your life won't be easy anywhere. Bestina will try to drag you away right away."
At his words, Scarlett was lost in thought once more.
She couldn't even hide Viktor's secret and told the Royal Police everything. Could she really keep the technology a secret?
She opened her mouth.
"Then kill me before that happens."
"......"
"Please."
She said, offering a handshake.
Whatever her feelings for Viktor Dumpelt were, this was a good offer for her. She thought of it as an offer not as a divorced couple, but as people living on the same land.
It would be natural to accept a handshake immediately if a lady offered it first, but Viktor only looked at her hand as if he had something to say. Then, after Scarlett shook her hand once as if urging him, Viktor also reached out and accepted the handshake.
