Vivienne stared at the cobblestones beneath her feet, her hands clenched into fists so tight her nails bit into her palms. The weight of her family's predicament pressed down on her, suffocating her like an iron shackle around her throat.
'What did we do wrong?'
The question echoed in the hollow chambers of her mind.
Her family was a small but prosperous merchant noble house, known throughout the town for their trade in monster eggs and tameable beasts. They followed the law, paid their dues, and never overstepped their boundaries in the cutthroat world of noble commerce.
And yet…
'Why are we suffering like this?'
Her mind swirled with painful questions as she watched the shadows lengthen across the street. The afternoon sun cast a deceptively golden glow over the scene, as if mocking the darkness that had befallen her family.
Was it their greed that doomed them—the foolish decision to accept that large sum of debt from those bastard loan sharks of Redhart Brotherhood? Or was it because they had failed this lecherous scumbag's request?
She couldn't find an answer.
But she was sure about one thing.
Her fate had already been sealed.
There was no hope for her anymore.
Even with the three nobles she met today - Aeron, Livia, and Emilia helping her - they had only managed to save her life.
Not her family.
Not her future.
...
A lone figure flickered through her mind—that boy.
'Maybe...'
'No!'
She pushed the thought aside immediately, her jaw tightening.
He was the reason she had lost her only chance to fix things.
He had taken away her way out.
…
But deep down…
She knew it had been hopeless from the start.
Even if she had delivered the stolen emberwing eggs, they would have found another excuse to crush them. Her family was marked for ruin from the very beginning by forces more powerful than they could have imagined.
Was her only choice to give up?
If she surrendered herself to Young Master Thaddeus's "protection," at least her family would be safe… right?
"..."
Just as she resigned herself to that bitter thought, she noticed something.
Two new shadows had appeared beside hers.
A pair of firm voices rang out.
"With all due respect, we thank Young Master Thaddeus for his generous offer of 'help'…" It was her father, who spoke in an agitated tone.
A pause settled over the gathered crowd.
"But we are not so heartless as to sell our own daughter. So, please don't pressure our daughter any further," her mother finished, her voice trembling but resolute.
Young Master Thaddeus's lips curved into a benevolent smile that didn't reach his emerald eyes. "My dear Lord and Lady Raulle, you misunderstand my intentions entirely." His voice flowed like honey laced with poison.
"I only wish to offer sanctuary to your lovely daughter in these difficult times. After all, what kind of nobleman would I be if I didn't extend a helping hand to a family in distress?" He adjusted the ruffled sleeve of his crimson doublet. "And I assure you, she would want for nothing under my protection."
Vivienne's breath hitched.
Her eyes widened as something warm stirred in her chest—something unfamiliar, yet powerful.
Pride.
Love.
Gratitude.
Her parents stood defiant despite everything, unwilling to sacrifice her even as their world crumbled around them.
She sniffled, quickly wiping away the tear threatening to fall, and lifted her head with a small, bittersweet smile.
She had decided.
As long as her family could stay safe… she could sacrifice herself.
'Who knows… Maybe this young man isn't as bad as I think.'
'Maybe he truly likes me.'
'...Yeah...'
"Mother, Father," she called softly, drawing their attention. Their eyes found hers, filled with worry and love that made her heart constrict painfully in her chest.
She stepped forward and embraced them both, breathing in the familiar scent of her mother's lavender perfume and her father's parchment-and-ink smell.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for everything you've given me—a beautiful home, a loving family, opportunities I never deserved. I've been so blessed."
She pulled back to look into their concerned faces. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused, for every worry I've put on your shoulders. Please, let me do this one thing right."
She turned to face Young Master Thaddeus, her heart pounding like a war drum against her ribs. His handsome face lit up with triumph, though he quickly masked it with concern.
"Vivienne, darling," he cooed, extending a bejeweled hand. "You're making the right choice. I promise to treat you with the utmost respect and care."
Her parents looked at her in horror, realizing what she was about to do.
Her mother's grip on her sleeve tightened.
"No," she whispered in horror. "Vivienne—"
Vivienne gave them a gentle smile.
"This is the least I can do to repay you," she reassured them. "Please understand."
She turned to the red-haired noble, her voice trembling.
"Young Master Thaddeus, I... I—"
Before she could finish, the crowd parted.
"Stop—!"
The single word rang out, halting everything.
The entire street fell silent.
All eyes turned toward the source of the interruption.
A young man stepped forward.
His black hair gleamed under the light, his sharp golden eyes filled with unyielding determination.
On the other side, a dangerous glint flickered in Thaddeus's emerald eyes as he turned to face the young man who had dared to interrupt.
For a brief moment, the carefully crafted mask of his noble charm cracked, revealing the sharp edge beneath.
But in the next second, he smiled, his expression smooth as silk, his voice as honeyed as ever.
"Why, my dear young friend," Thaddeus mused, tilting his head with feigned amusement. "What seems to be the matter? Surely, you don't intend to disrupt such a joyous occasion?"
His voice oozed politeness, but there was a venomous undercurrent lurking beneath it.
The crowd murmured in hushed voices. All eyes flickered between the young man and Thaddeus, sensing the tension thickening in the air.
The young man opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
His hands clenched into trembling fists at his sides. His golden eyes darted around, catching the weight of every gaze locked onto him. The nobles, the merchants, the common folk—they were all watching.
Doubt started to creep into his mind, pressing against his resolve like an iron weight.
Maybe this was a mistake.
Maybe he shouldn't have agreed to his—
No.
His fingers curled tighter, nails biting into his palm.
He couldn't back down now. This was all an act, to buy time anyway...
Gritting his teeth, young man suddenly lifted his head and fiercely met Thaddeus's gaze.
Then, with all the strength he could muster, he shouted:
"Lady Vivienne is...."
"S-She is... She is my—"
A pause.
His heart pounded.
His mouth hesitating to spat out that one word.
'Urgh, screw it.'
"She is my promised!"
A stunned silence blanketed the street.
Vivienne's breath hitched. Her eyes widened in shock, surprise… and confusion.
She could barely process what she had just heard.
Her? His promised? When did that happen?
Not far from her, Emilia and Livia also gasped in disbelief.
The weight of the young man's claim settled over them like a thunderclap.
Both had the same thought - Aeron has a lover?!
The murmurs in the crowd intensified, rising into a flurry of speculation.
Young Master Thaddeus, however, remained silent.
His expression darkened, the light in his emerald eyes turning cold and calculating.
Slowly, he narrowed his gaze at the Aeron, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur.
"What did you just say?"