Chapter 60
60
*
After returning from the vineyard, Scarlett talked about the vineyard for days. Andrei, annoyed, said,
"Please stop talking about that vineyard. I'm already tired of it, and I haven't even been there."
"No, I'm just so excited... I'm going as soon as the grapes are ripe."
"Bring work with you."
"...That's too much, really."
Scarlett said, but Andrei was firm.
Because she hadn't traveled much, Scarlett was immersed in the memories of her vineyard trip for a while.
As they were talking, a servant from the Dumpelt Family arrived with a gift box. Scarlett, puzzled by the Dumpelt Family crest on the box addressed to her, tore open the wrapping paper. Her eyes widened as she opened the box. Inside were beautiful skates, white with silver blades.
Andrei, who glanced at the box and Scarlett's face, which couldn't hide her excitement, said,
"What are the skates for?"
"I don't know."
She thought about throwing them away since they were a gift from her ex-husband, but she couldn't easily discard the skates, which were full of childhood memories. Why skates of all things...
And there was a letter on top of the skates.
[If you're going to skate, meet me in front of the shop at nine.]
"...What is this, doing whatever he wants?"
Scarlett muttered to herself, and Andrei chimed in.
"Nine o'clock is after work, so you can go."
"I'm the boss, why do I need permission?"
"I told you, my salary is on the line."
At Andrei's nagging, Scarlett reluctantly went upstairs to continue working.
She had been working so much lately that she minimized her sleep. Scarlett continued working and checked the time. It was close to midnight. She paused for a moment.
Scarlett couldn't understand why Viktor kept appearing by her side. He was truly, truly a selfish man.
When he sought her out, it was clearly because he needed something. She didn't know what it was, but...
As she was thinking, she heard a voice calling from outside the window.
Scarlett opened the curtains, and Liv, in her pajamas, said from the next building,
"Scarlett, do you know there are navy soldiers in front of your house?"
"Now?"
"They've been there since earlier. I woke up in the middle and saw they were still there, you know?"
"Thank you."
After the conversation, Scarlett quickly grabbed a coat. She ran down outside the building and saw Viktor standing in front of the building.
Scarlett stood at the door, looking straight ahead instead of at Viktor beside her, and said,
"People feel threatened."
"That's good."
"What's good about it?"
"At least no one will underestimate you."
At his words, Scarlett sighed deeply and asked,
"How long are you going to be here?"
"I was going to leave before you woke up."
"Why?"
"Staying until you wake up would make me look like a madman."
"I don't know what you're talking about... Where are you going?"
"The lake. To skate."
"Why go at this hour?"
"There are people during the day."
Although Viktor had suppressed the pirates, some of them had already entered the capital, and those pirates sometimes caused trouble in groups at night.
This kind of bustling area where many people lived was fine, but the paths that became deserted at night were avoided. However, it was Viktor Dampfelt who made those pirates tremble and run away at just the sight of the Dumpelt Family crest.
Scarlett glanced at Viktor, who was waiting in the sub-zero weather, and reluctantly said,
"Okay."
"You didn't buy a coat, did you?"
"...No."
Then Viktor gestured, and Blight took out a coat from the carriage and brought it over. It was a white cashmere coat.
Scarlett accepted the coat in a daze and said, surprised,
"It's really pretty. And warm."
While she was surprised, Viktor stood in front of the carriage and held out his hand.
Scarlett reluctantly followed him and got into the carriage.
A short while later, they arrived at the lake, which was deserted. Still, the gas lamps around the lake were lit, so they could see.
Scarlett hugged the skates tightly and looked at Viktor before sitting on a bench and putting on the skates. As soon as she stepped onto the frozen lake, she almost slipped, but Viktor put an arm around her waist to prevent her from falling.
Scarlett said, embarrassed,
"It's hard since it's been so long..."
She quickly took Viktor's hand away and tried to move forward little by little, but she fell and landed on her bottom.
"Ah..."
It hurt, but the embarrassment was so overwhelming that Scarlett covered her face with both hands.
"Why can't I skate... I used to be really good when I was young. I guess my athletic ability disappeared from sitting and working every day."
She said, unable to get up for fear of falling again, and Viktor grabbed her arm and pulled her up, saying,
"I don't think you ever had any athletic ability to begin with."
"It just looks that way because you're comparing me to you."
Scarlett resented Viktor for bringing the skates that were full of her memories. He seemed to know so well how to seduce her.
What did he want to do by seducing her like this, making her fall in love with him again?
Scarlett felt pathetic for following him so easily.
As she was trying to get used to the skates, another group of people appeared in the distance.
Scarlett recognized one of them at once. It was Nina Hunter, the Crown Prince's lover and once Viktor's lover.
Scarlett remembered how she had acted like a crazy person the last time she saw Nina, and her face turned pale.
She took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"Viktor."
"Yeah."
"If you're trying to provoke jealousy, this isn't a good way."
At those words, Viktor tilted his head slightly as if asking what she meant. Scarlett wanted to whisper in his ear, as there was a big height difference between them, and she lifted her foot, but the skate blade slipped. Viktor caught her again as she was about to fall again.
Scarlett, barely standing straight, continued,
"It's going to be hard to provoke jealousy by skating with your ex-wife."
At her words, Viktor belatedly turned around. Only then did Viktor find Nina Hunter and looked back at Scarlett, saying,
"What would I gain by provoking the Crown Prince's lover's jealousy?"
"Just, to feel good?"
"Nina Hunter is already struggling just because I don't like her. There's no need for me to wait until dawn and bring you out here."
"At least say hello..."
Viktor ignored Nina Hunter's group, but Scarlett was uncomfortable. Nina Hunter was watching them.
Eventually, a member of the royal family approached Viktor and politely requested,
"Ms. Hunter requests a brief conversation."
"Tell her I refuse."
"She said it would only be for a moment."
At those words, Viktor's expression rarely frowned. Then Scarlett quickly said as if to mediate,
"Go. I'll be practicing."
"You'll fall."
"Other people will catch me. I can't skate if I'm this tense."
"Are you making excuses?"
At those words, Scarlett glared at Viktor, dumbfounded.
Soon, Viktor chuckled and left, heading towards Nina Hunter. Viktor's shoes stopped in front of Nina's skates, and she opened her mouth.
"Your ex-wife, I heard she's still having memory problems?"
At her words, Viktor was silent for a moment before saying indifferently,
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I saw it with my own eyes, and everyone who needs to know already knows. That your wife forgot she was divorced and went to your house."
"How did you find out?"
Viktor's voice dropped.
Nina felt fear without realizing it as his gaze momentarily froze as if he were looking at pirates. She said,
"I told you, everyone who needs to know knows."
"Who did you hear it from?"
"At the ball. I don't remember exactly."
"Remember. Who it was."
"Are you ordering me now?"
"Does that sound like a request?"
Nina was speechless at Viktor's question.
She soon replied.
"I heard it from the group Mrs. Harland was with."
"I see."
"But what does that matter? Do you feel some kind of responsibility between divorced people? Why are you taking care of a woman who isn't in her right mind?"
"I've always loved women who aren't in their right mind."
Viktor had returned to the polite Viktor Dumpelt as usual, as if he had never been fierce.
He continued,
"You must have been talking together too. About how my wife was talking nonsense while drinking tea."
"Is that even worth mentioning? She seemed really crazy. What are you doing now? Do you feel sorry for that woman? Is that why?"
As she was saying that, Viktor looked at her, and Nina was anxious at his indifferent dark blue eyes.
Viktor Dumpelt was still the best accessory that could be taken to society. The thought of that woman from a humble family appearing at social events with Viktor again made her feel like she was going crazy.
Why is he still with her now? Why on earth?
