Why do they walk around like ghosts?

Vivian was fearful but also stunned by those who slid in and out of her sight without even a trace of their presence. The burden of transitioning between jobs would be nonexistent even if they switched jobs to become an assassin.

How could both the servants and the master fit the estate so well?

Vivian thought such discourteous thoughts as she sat down in the sitting room and sipped tea, which filled her mouth with aroma, but was still slightly sweet. The tea was just to her taste.

“Shall we first eat?”

“But I’m not too hungry right now.”

“Then, let us have cake.”

Aidan called a maid with a wave of his hand. Soon enough, a very delicious looking piece of cake was placed in front of Vivian. As soon as she saw the cake, she was suddenly struck hungry and almost subconsciously sucked every crumb of the cake into her mouth. It wasn’t too sweet and was so soft it seemed to melt in her mouth.

The Grand Duke, who watched  her eat enthusiastically, slowly moved his lips, “Have you calmed down a little now?”

“I wasn’t agitated in the first place.”

If she was like this and wasn’t excited, then just how would she be if she truly was excited? Aidan gazed at Vivian with such a gaze. “How could you eat so peacefully without knowing what I might have put into the food?”

“Hm, if it’s Ray, I think you’d find it too troublesome to do so.”

“…….”

For a moment, Aidan was stunned speechless. It was because she understood him nearly perfectly. She raised one eyebrow as she leaned into the sofa sluggishly. Perhaps it was because she was an author, but Vivian had excellent observation skills.

“Though you say that, you seemed rather afraid when we were talking about Bluebeard.”

“T, that’s because you’re the Black Grand Duke?”

“And who was the person who confessed to that Black Grand Duke?”

“Don’t tease me. It confuses me as well.”

Rumors won’t rumors for no reason. How could the Black Grand Duke not know just how terrible the rumors spread throughout the entire empire about himself are?

Vivian who had muttered momentarily looked up at him with soft eyes.

Inside of Aidan’s eyes was a little bit of confusion, indifference, and a mixture of various unreadable emotions. However, at the very least, there was no bloodlust. Vivian knew very well the eyes of someone who sincerely wanted to kill her were like.

“But I want to trust my instincts.”

“What are you going to do if it’s all an act?”

“Then, I’ll punch the ground in regret, I guess.” She snorted as she answered as if it was nothing. It was her nature to never look back at her decisions after she had made them, and she’d already come to this conclusion after intense thought throughout the entire ride to the estate, so she was doubly firm.

But Aidan, who heard Vivian’s response, let out an empty laugh, “You always give me the most extraordinary answers.”

“Do you not like it?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t dislike it.”

“Why is that unfortunate?!”

As she answered in a voice as though she was wronged, he let loose a laugh. It was to the point that the maid who poured tea next to them looked up in surprise. If a person who merely appeared then disappeared like a ghost was surprised, then it must be a scene hard to see.

Vivian’s lips parted as she observed his face. No matter how often she saw his face as he let out a satisfying burst of laughter, it was filled with masculine sensuality.

A moment later, Aidan, who had stopped laughing, narrowed his eyes and whispered in a secretive voice. “I’m letting you know ahead of time, but don’t go into the estate’s basement.”

It had come out. The “taboo” that appeared in every fairy tale or tales of olde. Vivian lowered her shaking gaze towards the ground as she smiled stiffly.

The influence of nearly being brainwashed with the rumors of the Black Grand Duke at a young age was, indeed, rather immense.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Not at all.”

“W, why?”

“Because it’s my personal space.”

Aidan’s eyes were so serious that not only were her eyes but Vivian’s body also started to shake. But he was clearly teasing her because his face soon crumpled with the effort to hold back his laughter and which soon exploded all at once.