Chapter 42: an unexpected audience

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: an unexpected audience

Friday mornings carried a different kind of excitement across St. Albion’s.

Instead of hurrying toward lecture halls with heavy textbooks tucked beneath their arms, students made their way toward the university’s athletic grounds, each following the schedule of their chosen Physical Activity Club.

For most students, Friday felt lighter.

For Vivienne...

It was something else entirely.

Before the first rays of sunlight had fully spilled across the dormitory windows, Vivienne was already awake.

She sat quietly at the edge of her bed, looking at the neatly folded riding attire she had prepared the night before.

"..."

She reached for the pale ribbon she’d intended to wear.

She tied her hair.

Paused.

Looked at herself in the mirror.

"...Too plain?"

She untied it.

Picked up another ribbon.

Tilted her head.

"...No..."

She changed it back.

Then adjusted a loose strand of golden hair beside her cheek.

Stepped back.

Studied her reflection again.

"..."

She looked perfectly presentable.

Still...

She smoothed the front of her blouse one last time.

Just in case.

Behind her—

"...You’re awake already?"

Claire’s sleepy voice drifted across the room.

Vivienne turned.

Claire was barely sitting up, still rubbing one eye.

"Oh."

"Did I wake you?"

Claire shook her head before glancing toward the alarm clock.

Then she blinked.

"...It’s barely seven."

"It is."

Claire looked at Vivienne again.

Already dressed.

Already holding her riding gloves.

Already prepared to leave.

"...You’re leaving now?"

Vivienne nodded naturally.

"I thought I’d arrive a little early."

Claire raised an eyebrow.

"To the equestrian grounds?"

"...Mm."

"I want to... become familiar with the place."

Claire stared at her for a long moment.

Then laughed.

"You?"

"The same Vivienne who spent all last Saturday complaining about horses?"

Vivienne coughed softly.

"...Preparation is important."

"So I’ve heard."

Claire smiled to herself.

She wasn’t convinced.

Not even slightly.

Vivienne picked up her bag.

Then paused by the door.

"...Claire?"

"Hm?"

Vivienne hesitated.

"...Do I look all right?"

Claire blinked.

She looked her friend up and down.

The neatly tied hair.

The spotless riding uniform.

The small silver earrings catching the morning light.

Then she smiled.

"You always do."

A tiny breath escaped Vivienne’s lips.

"...Thank you."

She slipped out of the room before Claire could ask anything else.

The door clicked shut.

Claire looked toward it for another moment.

Then a knowing smile slowly spread across her face.

"...You’re definitely hoping to see Lord Ashford."

--

The campus was unusually quiet.

Only a handful of students crossed the pathways this early.

The cool morning breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass as Vivienne followed the familiar path toward the athletic grounds.

Soon...

The stone buildings gave way to open fields.

To her left stood the equestrian stables.

Beyond the white wooden fence...

The polo grounds stretched into the distance.

Vivienne slowed.

I’m early.

Very early.

Club activities wouldn’t begin for quite some time.

She could have gone straight to the equestrian stable.

Instead...

Almost without thinking...

She continued walking along the path that bordered the polo grounds.

Her eyes searched instinctively.

No sign of Anthony.

"..."

She stopped.

Too early...

She couldn’t simply stand in the middle of the path.

That would look strange.

After a brief moment’s hesitation, she wandered toward the shade of a large oak tree overlooking part of the polo grounds.

From there...

She could see almost everything.

Without drawing attention to herself.

Or so she hoped.

Stable attendants quietly prepared horses.

Several upper-year students crossed the field carrying riding equipment.

The grounds slowly came to life.

Vivienne folded her arms lightly.

Maybe he’ll arrive later...

A few minutes passed.

Then...

A familiar figure appeared.

Chestnut hair.

Calm steps.

A riding helmet tucked beneath one arm.

Evelyn Sinclair.

Vivienne straightened ever so slightly.

She’s early...

Then she remembered.

...She’s always early.

In lectures.

During Foundation activities.

Even arriving before class each morning.

That part wasn’t unusual.

This...

Was.

Vivienne watched as Evelyn greeted one of the stable attendants with a polite smile before making her way toward the polo grounds with practiced familiarity.

"..."

Why is she here this early?

Another few minutes slipped by.

More students arrived.

Some greeted one another.

Others immediately began preparing their horses.

The quiet morning gradually became livelier.

Then—

Then...

Her heart skipped.

Anthony.

Even from across the field...

She recognized him instantly.

The early sunlight caught the strands of his blond hair as he crossed the grounds with effortless confidence.

Several students greeted him.

He acknowledged each of them with the same composed courtesy she had come to admire.

He belonged here.

Not because of his title.

But because people naturally looked toward him.

Without realizing it...

Vivienne smiled.

...He’s here.

For a moment...

Everything else disappeared.

The noise.

The people.

Even the horses.

There was only Anthony.

The same young man she had admired for years through the pages of a novel.

The same man who had somehow seemed even more dependable each time she’d seen him since arriving at St. Albion’s.

He’s still so handsome...

The thought arrived so naturally that she didn’t even try to deny it.

Then...

Another thought followed.

Should I go over?

Her heartbeat quickened.

It would only be a greeting.

A simple—

"Good morning, Lord Ashford."

There was nothing strange about that.

They were engaged.

Surely greeting one’s fiancé wasn’t unusual.

...Right?

Vivienne took one tentative step forward.

Then stopped.

No...

Would it look too obvious?

She frowned.

Of course it’ll look obvious.

You came early for exactly this reason.

"..."

She was still trying to convince herself—

When Evelyn reached Anthony first.

Anthony looked up.

His expression softened into the familiar polite smile Vivienne had already seen several times before.

The two exchanged greetings naturally.

Nothing dramatic.

Nothing intimate.

Just...

Comfortable.

Anthony said something.

Evelyn smiled.

She answered.

Then Anthony laughed quietly.

Vivienne couldn’t hear a single word.

She leaned forward ever so slightly.

What are they talking about?

Polo?

Classes?

The Foundation?

House Ashford?

She couldn’t tell.

The distance was too great.

All she could see were expressions.

Small smiles.

Easy conversation.

The kind of ordinary interaction most people would never think twice about.

The smile on her own face gradually disappeared.

...So this is how it starts.

Not with destiny.

Not with a grand romantic scene.

Not with a confession.

Simply...

Morning after morning.

Conversation after conversation.

Seeing each other often enough that speaking became natural.

Natural became familiar.

And familiar...

Eventually became irreplaceable.

She had read those Chapters countless times.

Back then, she’d thought they were sweet.

Now...

Watching them unfold in front of her...

The feeling was entirely different.

A strange restlessness settled in her chest.

She wasn’t angry.

Neither Anthony nor Evelyn had done anything wrong.

They were simply talking.

Yet...

She couldn’t stop the tiny knot of unease tightening inside her.

...The plot is moving.

The realization landed with surprising force.

Until now...

Everything had felt manageable.

She had met Anthony.

Made friends.

Joined Community Outreach and Development.

Settled into university life.

Without realizing it...

She had begun believing she had plenty of time.

Perhaps...

Too much time.

Now, standing here...

Watching Anthony and Evelyn exchange another easy smile...

She suddenly wasn’t so certain anymore.

If I keep watching from the sidelines...

Nothing will change.

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

I have to do something.

The thought came almost instinctively.

Then another.

...But what?

Walk over now?

Interrupt?

No.

That would be rude.

Wait until they’re finished?

Perhaps.

Speak to Anthony after practice?

Maybe.

Invite him somewhere?

Would that be too sudden?

A dozen possibilities raced through her mind.

None of them felt right.

For the first time since arriving in this world...

Vivienne realized that simply knowing the story wasn’t enough.

She needed to act.

She just...

Didn’t know how yet.

Completely absorbed in her thoughts, she leaned forward another fraction, unconsciously narrowing her eyes as though that might somehow help her hear the conversation from across the field.

The tiny frown between her brows deepened.

--

A few paces away, another student had quietly stopped along the path.

Damian Blackwood.

He had been taking his usual shortcut toward the equestrian grounds when a familiar head of golden hair caught his attention beneath the oak tree.

Lady Beaumont?

What was she doing over here?

Curious, he followed her line of sight.

Lord Ashford.

Miss Evelyn Sinclair.

Talking.

...

His gaze drifted back to Vivienne.

She was so absorbed that she hadn’t noticed him at all.

Leaning forward ever so slightly.

Her brows drawn together.

Her lips unconsciously pursed into the tiniest pout as she tried—rather unsuccessfully—to hear what Anthony and Evelyn were saying.

Damian paused.

Then, almost without thinking, the corners of his lips curved upward.

...That face.

He knew that face.

Whenever something annoyed her...

Whenever something refused to go the way she wanted...

She always wore exactly that expression.

He remembered a little girl puffing out her cheeks because Anthony had ignored her to finish a book.

Crossing her arms when she lost a game.

Frowning with complete sincerity, convinced the entire world was being unfair.

Back then...

He had found it impossible not to tease her.

Not because he wanted to upset her.

But because her reactions were always so transparent.

So easy to read.

And, admittedly...

Rather adorable.

Some things, it seemed, never changed.

Vivienne was still exactly the same whenever she became completely absorbed in something.

The rest of the world simply disappeared around her.

Including the fact that someone was now standing only a step away.

Damian followed her gaze toward the polo grounds once more.

Lord Ashford.

Miss Evelyn Sinclair.

Then back to Vivienne.

...I see.

The situation was becoming increasingly amusing.

He quietly stepped closer.

Stopping beside her, he bent slightly at the waist until they were almost at the same eye level.

Still...

Vivienne didn’t notice.

She was far too busy watching the polo grounds.

Damian waited another moment, thoroughly entertained by her complete lack of awareness.

Then, at last, he spoke.

"Good morning."

Vivienne froze.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

She turned her head.

Only then did she realize that Lord Damian Blackwood was standing right beside her.

Their faces were suddenly much closer than she’d expected.

Her eyes widened.

She gasped.

Damian smiled.

"Good morning to you too."

--

Tbc