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Chapter_67
As Vivienne disappeared upstairs to change, the atmosphere in the room remained charged with lingering tension, though it wasn’t entirely clear what had caused it. The dramatic sequence with Leopold’s misfortune had taken its toll on the mood, and now the unexpected text had caused Vivienne to leave so abruptly.
Percival remained still, his mind working over the brief moment when he had glimpsed the word “potion” on Vivienne’s phone screen. The subtle connection to her earlier behavior, the strange fortune-telling antics with Leopold, and the mystical reputation that seemed to hang around her—all of it was starting to add up in a way that didn’t sit well with him.
His thoughts were interrupted by Richard’s voice, still full of concern, “Vivienne’s always been a little… mysterious, don’t you think? The way she handles those kinds of things—fortune telling, remedies, and all—makes her seem like she knows more than she lets on.”
Leopold, still catching his breath from the garlic ordeal, raised an eyebrow. “A potion, huh? What was all that about? Is she some sort of wizard or something?”
“I’m sure there’s a logical explanation,” Percival said, his voice betraying a note of skepticism despite his calm demeanor. “Vivienne doesn’t do things without a reason. But whatever this business is about, it’s deeper than we realize.” His thoughts were already racing ahead, considering the possibility that whatever she was up to, it could be tied to something more dangerous—or perhaps more personal—than he had first imagined.
Meanwhile, Cordelia, who had been observing quietly, tried to break the tension with a soft smile. “Don’t worry about Vivienne. She’s got things under control. If she says she’s handling something urgent, it’s probably best to let her go. She’s always been like that—focused when she needs to be.”
The room fell into an awkward silence. Richard, still unsure of how to address what had just happened, muttered something about making sure no more glasses were broken before looking at Dorian, who was silently cleaning up the mess from earlier.
Leopold, having regained some of his composure, decided to take the opportunity to lighten the mood. “Well, I’ve got to say, I’ve never been forced to eat garlic like that before. Maybe I should start believing in some of these superstitions.”
Richard grinned at him, clearly pleased that he was finally taking the situation in stride. “Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two. The old ways aren’t all nonsense.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Leopold replied, rolling his eyes but smiling nonetheless. “I’ll keep that in mind. Just don’t make me eat any more garlic, okay?”
But despite the playful banter, Percival’s thoughts remained fixed on Vivienne. There was something off about the situation, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it. He knew Vivienne was capable of many things—she was resourceful, intelligent, and certainly enigmatic—but this new angle on her seemed like it was opening a door to something far darker than he had first thought.
When Vivienne returned downstairs, the tension was palpable. She had traded in her usual attire for the black hoodie and cap, her expression unreadable. As she entered the room, all eyes turned to her, and the lightness of the conversation died down immediately.
“You need help with something?” Percival asked, his voice calm but carrying a hint of concern.
Vivienne didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she glanced at him and then to the rest of the group. “I’m fine,” she said tersely. “This is something I need to handle on my own.”
The atmosphere grew heavier with every passing second, but Percival didn’t press her further. He could tell that she was on edge, and despite his curiosity, he knew better than to push her.
“I’ll be back soon,” she added as she turned to leave the room, heading toward the door with purpose.
As Vivienne walked out, Percival couldn’t help but feel that something was happening that she wasn’t sharing with anyone—not even him. The glimpse of the word “potion” kept circling in his mind. What exactly was Vivienne involved in? And why was she hiding it?
With that thought lingering, he stood up, his mind not so much on the dinner anymore but on what he was going to do next. Something told him that the answers he sought wouldn’t be easy to uncover, but he was certain that Vivienne would keep him on his toes.
