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Chapter_95
Vivienne’s heart raced as she processed Percival’s words. His gaze, soft yet unwavering, held her attention, and for the briefest of moments, the noise of the world around them seemed to fade. She had always been the one to stand on her own, to face the world with no one but herself to rely on. But hearing him speak so plainly, so confidently about his feelings, made her question something she hadn’t allowed herself to think about in years—maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to do it all alone.
Her lips parted, but she quickly regained her composure. Vivienne wasn’t someone who easily let her emotions spill out, especially not when she had so much at stake. “Is that so?” she said, her voice light, teasing, but with an underlying sharpness that only she could convey. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to think about it.”
Percival chuckled, the sound warm and genuine, his eyes never leaving hers. “You don’t need to think about it. I’m here, Vivienne. And I’m not going anywhere.”
His words settled around her like a warm blanket, a surprising comfort amidst the chaos of everything else. Vivienne’s chest tightened for a moment, an unfamiliar flutter of vulnerability rising within her. But she quickly masked it with her usual deflection, her playful smirk making its appearance. Despite everything going on in her life, despite the war with the Hawthorn family and the weight of her power, there was something in Percival’s presence that grounded her.
“Is that so?” she repeated, though this time, it was softer, less biting. “I suppose I’ll have to think about it.” She tried to keep the tension in her words, but the slight crack in her voice betrayed her inner turmoil.
Percival smiled, his expression softening as he reached out to gently squeeze her hand. “You don’t need to think about it. I’ve already made up my mind.”
Vivienne’s gaze flickered down at their joined hands, her mind spinning. She had always kept her emotions locked away, believing that relying on anyone would only lead to disappointment. But something about Percival’s sincerity, the way he seemed completely unshaken by everything happening around them, made her wonder if there might be more to this than just a passing connection. Maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to carry the weight of the world alone.
At that moment, Cordelia, sensing the tension in the air, let out a light laugh from across the room. “You two… seriously. I’ve never seen Vivienne so flustered before,” she teased, before excusing herself to leave them alone. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Vivienne and Percival in a quiet that felt both comforting and charged with a new, unspoken understanding between them.
Vivienne broke the silence first, her voice steady but carrying a hint of the strength she had always worn like armor. “You know,” she began, turning to face Percival fully, “things aren’t as simple as you think. The Hawthorn family’s downfall, it’s just the beginning.” Her gaze hardened, the fierceness of her resolve shining through. “I won’t be stopped by them, or anyone else for that matter.”
Percival’s expression remained calm, though his grip on her hand tightened just slightly, his unspoken promise clear in the gesture. “I know you won’t,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “But I also know that you don’t have to face it all alone. You don’t have to carry this weight on your own, Vivienne.”
Vivienne’s heart stilled at his words. The weight of the world had always been hers to bear, but there was something in Percival’s voice, in the way he said it, that made her feel… seen. She met his gaze, and for a moment, the icy walls she had built around herself seemed to crack, just a little.
She felt a pang of something—something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in a long time. The vulnerability, the possibility of letting someone in. But she quickly masked it with her usual confidence. “Just don’t get in my way,” she warned softly, her voice once again carrying the sharp edge that made her who she was.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Percival replied with a smile, his tone playful, yet sincere.
Vivienne could feel the warmth of his hand still holding hers, and for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to feel the slightest inkling of something she hadn’t expected—comfort, a fleeting sense of security. The path ahead was still uncertain, and the storm that was coming for the Hawthorn family was inevitable, but perhaps… just perhaps, she didn’t have to weather it alone.
Her thoughts briefly flickered back to Cordelia’s earlier words. She had seen Percival’s care, even if Vivienne hadn’t been ready to acknowledge it. “Vivienne,” Cordelia had said, a mix of relief and concern in her voice, “Percival really cares about you. You better not let him down.”
Vivienne’s thoughts flashed with uncertainty, but she quickly pushed them aside. “I won’t,” she whispered softly to herself, even though she wasn’t quite sure who she was reassuring.
