Chapter 22

She, despite being a virgin, had a narrow-minded mindset that a platonic relationship without Eros isn’t real love.  It could also be said that it was an imagination that was expected from an erotic novelist.

However.

“My thoughts changed.”

If it was Ray, she thought that she might want to start trivial dating. However, if she stayed still obediently, she wouldn’t be able to achieve the ‘D’ of dating. It was because Ray had appeared just that indifferent towards her.

After she sufficiently expressed herself, she would act. This was what Vivian, who had never once dated, felt, and thought after she listened to Carden’s misfortune. While she felt a little guilty to make her friend’s love life into a novel……

“Seeing as how you aren’t avoiding my gaze, it doesn’t seem like you’re acting while understanding what you’re doing…….”

Hm? At the low murmurs, this time Vivian tilted her head to the side in confusion. What does he mean by gaze? Didn’t she have to meet his gaze to avoid it in the first place?

She complained inwardly to herself, I only barely found out that your eyes are blue.

“I’m not looking directly at Sir Scholar’s eyes right now either.”

Vivian exaggeratedly bent her waist and put on a play of peering into his robe as she asked jokingly. “Can you even see in front of you?”

At that Ray answered instead with what sounded like a burst of soundless laughter. It seemed like he found her comment rather preposterous and perhaps a little absurd as well.

As he didn’t appear to be offended, Vivian laughed along with him.

“I won’t bother you any longer, so please tell me one thing. The romance novel you’re trying to return, did you enjoy reading it?”

Vivian pointed at Cinderella Scandal that Ray had borrowed earlier. Just as one could assume from its title, it was about a female protagonist from a bankrupt household who debuted into society and rose to the title of a Duke’s official wife.

Cinderella Scandal was considered the textbook of romance novels. The plotline of the novel wasn’t particularly to Vivian’s preference, but it was important to her as the first romance novel she had read.

“I didn’t read it to enjoy it.”

“You said you had no interest.”

“I was merely curious to see if it could be applied to my current circumstances.”

“Ah…….”

At his unexpected words, Vivian made an expression that suggested the world was about to collapse.

“Do you have someone you like?”

The cheeks that seemed to be stained pink with spring flowers quickly became pale.

“No. My younger brother keeps telling me to marry.”

“Ah…….”

Vivian let out a short exclamation as though she understood his troubles.

Indeed, that is something that happens often.

This time, her ears, which peeked out from underneath her hair, grew red with embarrassment. Considering the movement of her chest and shoulders, she seemed to be relieved at the news.

Ray’s mouth twitched upwards into a smile as though he found Vivian’s change in expression very interesting. She had a hunch that she had just been teased.

“Then, why a romance novel?”

It was very common for families to force marriage onto each other, but to borrow a romance novel as a result of it was very unusual.

“Because the circumstances are similar?”

“With Cinderella Scandal?”

Vivian responded with a question as her eyes grew wide.

“I wondered if he would continue to bother me, given that I imitated the plot of Cinderella Scandal in real life.”

“He….. are you referring to your younger brother?”

For some reason as she imagined a cute younger brother who always grumbled It’s my life wish to see my brother marry. I also want to quickly see my nieces and nephews.

“Before all that, I have to find a partner whose conditions match mine, but that seems to be the hardest thing to do.”

“Matching conditions…….”

Cinderella Scandal, he says. Did Ray wish to marry a woman from a Ducal Household? No matter how skilled he was, his identity as a commoner must have been blocked his way.

In that case, there was nothing to do but wish for happiness. Vivian possessed one of the greatest personal wealth within the Empire, but at the same time, she held the fate of being tied down to the Royal Palace as a servant.