Chapter 270: Romance

On weekends, the streets of Pariden were bustling with people.

Even before coming to Vespera as an exchange student, Vivian Lowell had yearned to visit Pariden. She had always heard it was an incredibly romantic place and desperately wanted to see it for herself.

The romance here stemmed from its history—the poets, the poetic sentiments, and the beautiful architecture.

There were quite a few buskers on the streets playing and singing folk songs. Vivian found their accents quite interesting. The group also managed to check in at the Lumina Museum for some commemorative photos before it closed.

A little after eight o’clock, the large group arrived for dinner at a restaurant in the Caelus Tower.

Business was booming. After ascending the tower, Vivian took a seat at a table by the window. Gazing out at the sparsely lit cityscape, she couldn’t help but feel that this was truly a wonderful place.

“Vivian, what do you want to eat?”

Eleanor Rhodes didn’t understand Gallian. She could only take pictures with her phone and translate the menu line by line. After staring at it for a while and still having no idea what was good, she simply gave up and asked Vivian.

Vivian only knew a smattering of Gallian, enough for simple conversations like asking for directions or using everyday vocabulary. While she could read most of the menu, she also had no idea what the local specialties were!

“I don’t know either. Julian, you decide!”

Vivian tossed the problem to Julian Faulkner.

Julian readily agreed. After he had a brief conversation with the waiter, all they had to do was sit quietly at their table and wait.

About ten minutes later, the appetizers were served. Vivian noticed that the nearby resident singer had also changed their tune to a love song. It was a Gallian song with a somewhat vintage melody, sounding like a classic from a bygone era. Listening to it for a while, Vivian found herself moved by the deep affection in the lyrics.

It truly lived up to Gallia’s reputation as the most romantic country in the world! Even its songs were deeply touching.

Just as she was thinking this, a waiter approached pushing a cart. However, instead of food, the cart held a bouquet of fresh flowers and a gift box.

“To the most beautiful miss, here are your flowers and gift,” the waiter said in Gallian before placing the items on the table.

Vivian was a bit bewildered. Just as she was about to ask if today was some special occasion to warrant such a gift, Julian beat her to the punch, thanking the waiter and dismissing him.

Vivian instantly understood.

Julian must be up to something! ℴ𝒗ⅇ𝑙.

The bouquet consisted of fresh roses, their petals still dotted with water droplets. As she brought them a little closer, a rich, heady fragrance washed over her. They were clearly top-quality roses.

“They smell so good.” Vivian took a few more deep breaths of the scent before asking, “Julian, did you prepare all of this?”

“Mhm.” Julian nodded and unwrapped the gift box for her. “This is the niche perfume brand you mentioned liking on our way to the hotel earlier.

“It’s not available back home, only here in Gallia. You used to have people buy it for you, but you don’t need to do that anymore. I had someone buy one bottle of every woody fragrance you like.”

Vivian was astonished.

She had talked a lot with Julian in the car. As for the perfume shop she liked, she couldn’t even remember if she had actually mentioned it. Yet, Julian had kept it in mind and even had someone buy it for her.

“Thank you.” Vivian felt a little shy.

Grandma Faulkner, Eleanor, and Finn were all sitting right there, and here he was, openly showering her with affection! Honestly!

“Grandma, Eleanor, Finn, I also bought some for you. If you’d like, you can pick out a scent that suits you.”

Julian spoke up at just the right moment.

Hearing this, Eleanor chuckled and teased him. “Ugh! Julian, you’re too much! You’re practically shoving your romance right in my face!

“I was just thinking that if I could only look, I’d make Vivian give me some later. Then, whenever I went to see you, I’d wear the perfume you gave her just to make you mad. I never expected you actually bought me some too!

“Alright then! Since that’s the case, I won’t fight you for Vivian’s attention anymore!”

Julian shook his head and laughed.

Grandma Faulkner, however, asked a rather crucial question. “Julian, Vivian is pregnant. Can she use perfume?”

“She can.” Julian nodded. “Vivian mentioned the names of several perfumes earlier, and I went to ask about all of them. This was the only one they said was safe for pregnant women.

“The fragrances are all formulated with floral essences without any added harsh chemicals, so they won’t have any negative impact on the baby.”

After Julian said this, Vivian couldn’t help but feel surprised once again.

AHEM.

She remembered now. It seemed everything he said was true. Julian had remembered everything she told him, earnestly made inquiries, and only bought them after confirming they were safe for her to use.

He really had put a lot of thought into this.

“Julian, you…” Vivian wanted to say something, but as soon as she opened her mouth and met his earnest gaze, she felt…

A thousand words were captured in their silence. Deep down, the two of them understood each other perfectly.

Dinner was soon finished.

After descending the tower, the group walked along the street back to their hotel. The road was lined with Gallian plane trees. Unfortunately, their blooming season had just passed, leaving only a faint, lingering fragrance in the air.

On the way, Julian mentioned some precautions for their beachcombing trip tomorrow. Grandma Faulkner pursed her lips, feeling that it was a bit troublesome for him to prepare so much, but she could only accept it. After all, Julian was doing it all for Vivian!

As they walked down the street, Julian held Vivian’s hand the entire time. His palm was incredibly warm, providing a comforting heat to Vivian’s heart in the mild Gallian June weather, which wasn’t quite hot yet.

By the time they walked back to the hotel, it was already past nine o’clock. Vivian was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. There was a several-hour time difference between Pariden and Aethelburg; according to the time back home, it was already very late.

“I’m so sleepy.” Vivian took a quick shower and went straight to bed.

When Julian came out of the shower, he saw that Vivian was already fast asleep. A smile touched the corners of his lips as he sat down beside her and gently tucked her in.

People often said that women became less beautiful during pregnancy due to the loss of collagen, making them age faster, and some even got stretch marks.

But not Vivian.

Her skin was still as fair and smooth as ever. With her long eyelashes cast down, she looked completely serene.

For a split second, a sudden throb fluttered in Julian’s chest.

He leaned down and planted a soft, gentle kiss on her cheek.

At that exact moment, Vivian’s eyelashes fluttered.

Julian quickly sat up straight, pretending nothing had happened.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have woken up. She simply continued to sleep, and he could hear the steady, even rhythm of her breathing.