When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 104



Only Noblemtl

#104. Covered in Snow
2024.04.13.

It was Fabio whom she had not seen in a long time. Vivian stared blankly at Fabio’s haggard face. Before he could refuse, she spoke first.

“I know that the Duke doesn’t meet anyone.”

“… … I’m sorry.”

Fabio hesitated for a moment and lowered his head. Vivian, who still hadn’t taken her eyes off him, smiled and walked next to him.

“But I have something important to tell you. I’ll wait in the living room, so would you call me?”

“Princess.”

“If I tell you that it’s about someone you miss, won’t you come right away?”

Fabio’s eyes widened at the clear, shadowless voice. Emilia Este had been banned from the Duke Michele residence for three years.

However, Vivian, who had suddenly arrived like a blizzard, was bringing a storm to this place that had barely become calm. Fabio urgently blocked Vivian’s path and bowed deeper.

“I’m sorry. The Duke is currently unable to accept his empty seat. Please next time-.”

“You’ll regret it more if you don’t listen.”

“… … Yes?”

Vivian didn’t miss the other person’s momentary hesitation. She lightly patted Fabio’s shoulder as he blinked slightly, and moved away from his blocking body.

“Don’t worry, I’ve come to repay your debt to your master.”

Fabio didn’t say anything for a while as Vivian passed by. Vivian

glanced at Fabio, who was standing stiffly as if his body had frozen in the cold snow wind, and entered the Duke’s residence for the first time in a long while, thinking that he would come to his senses soon and follow her. Enrico Michele

’s mansion was filled with items of enormous value, as if it were as well-decorated as the royal palace, or perhaps even more so.

The mansion, which did not waste even a little space, with its splendid chandeliers that lit candles even in broad daylight, expensive decorations displayed in every hallway, and delicate and unique picture frames that filled the walls like an exhibition hall, always fascinated visitors.

But it was such a place, but now it was a completely different place.

Vivian looked around with a surprised expression on her face for a moment. Fabio, who had been ahead again because of her slowing pace, waited quietly as if he understood her reaction.

“… … Why does it seem like no one is here?”

“Yes, no one is here.”

Enrico was not only not coming out of the mansion, but also not coming out of his room. The numerous employees who once walked around to manage this vast space were nowhere to be seen.

And not only that, the chandeliers that had always brightened the interior had dimmed, and the decorations were covered with white cloth, making it seem like a ghost mansion where no one lived.

The large mansion that had boasted such grandeur was now silent as if it had become a different place.

Vivian felt a little taken aback. She knew that Enrico had been having a hard time since losing Emilia. However, she had not expected him to live in silence like this.

“Please wait a moment. I will tell the Duke about your visit.”

Fabio opened the living room door and led him inside. However, Vivian followed Fabio instead of going in and sitting on the sofa.

“… … If he’s not sleeping, it would be better to just show him right away.”

“That’s a bit difficult.”

“No. I think I took it too lightly. I should meet him right away.”

“Princess.”

She had only come to pay off her debt, but seeing the desolate Duke’s residence, she understood why Ricardo was so worried.

“Rather than me going around searching around, wouldn’t it be better if you went first and told him?”

“That’s… …”

“Excuse me while I’m talking.”

Vivian and Fabio’s eyes turned at the same time. When she arrived, Javeta was standing nearby, her hands folded politely in front of her.

“The Duke has asked you to bring him.”

After relaying the message to Fabio, Javeta bowed her head to Vivian and took a step back. Vivian was starting to feel her patience was reaching its limit, so she thought it was a good thing.

Vivian motioned for Fabio to quickly guide her and quickly walked around the interior.

Not only the exterior of the mansion, but also the interior was as cold as midwinter, and she was very curious about how Enrico, whom she had not seen for a long time, was doing.

The white cloth continued to flow as she walked down the hallway. The atmosphere in the mansion seemed even more chaotic because of the white cloth that was everywhere as if it was trying to cover everything.

“Duke, Princess Vivian Karnt has arrived.”

Fabio stopped in front of the room at the end of the second floor hallway, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door. There was no sound from inside. However, Fabio opened the door naturally as if he was used to this silence.

Vivian passed Fabio and entered the room, but then flinched.

‘… Is that the man?’

For a moment, she had doubts. Enrico, sitting on the chair in front of the window, looked astonishingly gaunt from

the side. His sunken cheeks, sunken eyes, and his prominent chin. Enrico’s appearance was so miserable that it seemed as if he was trying to leave only his skin behind.

Vivian sighed deeply and headed to the seat opposite him.

This room was also covered with white cloth as if to hide everything, except for one family portrait on the wall that was clearly visible.

‘I came here without any reason, but… … . He doesn’t even look at anyone.’

Enrico’s face, which was staring out the window the whole time, was blank. Vivian looked down at him, who was just staring off into the distance, and slowly crossed her legs as she sat down on the chair.

“You don’t seem to be, but I’ll ask out of courtesy. Are you okay?”

Despite her question, he didn’t move at all and just stared at the snow falling outside the window. She opened her mouth and shut it tightly again, seeing his purple eyes that looked empty under his disheveled hair.

Silence flowed and the sound of a strong wind seeped in through the cracks in the window. The body leaning helplessly against the chair had a basic frame and was large, but it seemed as if it would collapse in an instant with the wind because it was so thin.

Originally, she had planned to say what she wanted to say as soon as she saw Enrico and quickly leave, but it seemed that she should be careful about bringing up this issue.

The moment she heard it, she thought that the man might collapse from shock.

“First, I think it would be better to take a deep breath.”

“… … .”

“You’re doing it, right? Don’t be too surprised.”

“… … Business.”

Her cracked voice muttered lowly. His gaze was still directed out the window, but his short words were filled with terrible irritation.

He just wanted to be alone, but why did so many people keep coming to him? Everything was boring.

The works of art that were his only interest and the things that satisfied his eyes all looked like rocks on the roadside, and unlike him who used to avoid momentary loneliness, he no longer wanted to hear anything.

As proof, the watch that had always been on his wrist except when Emilia was around three years ago was nowhere to be found.

The only thing he had in his arms was the thing that had always been with her. Enrico filled his empty stomach by casually touching the pointy shoes on his thigh.

Whenever he suddenly faced this empty stomach and this life where he didn’t want to do anything, he wondered if he really had to live like this.

What was the point of living like this when the person he really wanted had gone somewhere he couldn’t find? He went back and forth between heaven and hell every day.

He hesitated, fearing that he would die and not be able to meet her.

The teardrop-shaped emerald eyes that seemed like they would cry but held it back, the small, straight nose, the rosy cheeks and lips. The blond hair that always sparkled.

The beautiful appearance that caught his gaze one by one was still vivid as if it was pressed into his retina.

And he wanted to see it. He wanted to hear it again.

The way Emilia looked up at him with eyes like a clear lake and called him with a calm voice.

In case his memory faded even a little, his mind, always thinking of her, became increasingly intoxicated with a haziness that seemed to be far from reality.

“Okay. I’ll tell you. Actually, I was wondering how I could repay the debt I owe you, Duke, but I think this will be enough, so I’m glad.”

Vivian quickly moistened her lips with a slightly relieved face. Then, she looked at Enrico’s sharp face, who was just staring blankly into space, as if he was listening, and blurted out.

“I saw that woman.”

Enrico’s eyes, which had not responded at all, briefly shook. She calmly continued speaking to him, who slowly narrowed his eyebrows and turned his head as if asking what he was saying.

“Emilia Este, she’s alive.”

His mouth moved several times as his pupils contracted. He couldn’t say anything as if he was strangled, but he puffed out his chest and let it fall as if he was trying to catch his breath.

And soon, his lower lip trembled and a hoarse voice leaked out.

“… … Where are you now?”