Chapter 31

The vineyard was instantly filled with the only sound of the sudden downpour. Everyone tried to dry themselves, but it wasn’t the same with their clothes, with all the hard work they put in to dress up, ruined.

Violet also had to shake off her wet hair with her hands, but she still looked happy. She talked to people while drying her hair with a dry cloth provided by the monastery.

Winter couldn’t understand most of the conversation, but he noticed that Violet was intelligent and interesting as she behaved calmly to the other person’s reaction.

After witnessing his wife’s new and intriguing appearance, Winter’s mood, which was ruined by Carlson’s arrival, became much better

Violet, who was talking to the Doughrey couple from the capital, wrapped up the conversation shortly because she was worried about the lengthening talks that Winter couldn’t intervene.

“I forgot to take a walk around the vineyard with my husband.”

“Good! Shall we go together?”

“It’s a mudslide and your dress is going to get dirty again. I’ve brought a lot of extra money, so I’ll be right back.”

“Ah, it was really fun.”

Mrs. Doughrey looked disappointed as she enjoyed her story with Violet.

Winter started walking off with Violet towards the vineyard, and he crumpled both his hands into his pocket.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“There are 15 must-see plays and 100 must-read books to share with the community of LaCrown.”

“You took your time while I was working like a dog.”

Violet stopped at Winter’s cynical words, she turned her head a little and looked at him. Then, Winter said nervously,

“To be clear, I’m not mad at you, so don’t ask me if I’m angry.”

“I really can’t tell.”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re thinking. What does that expressionless face mean? Does that mean you don’t feel anything?”

His words stirred a little bit of sadness on Violet’s face.

“I thought it would be fun walking in the vineyard with you…… Don’t you think so?’’

At her words, Winter’s temper, which had been bouncing all over like a rubber ball, fell flat and still. Winter, who had been frozen for a while, quickly wrapped Violet’s arm around his arm and said, crossing his arms.

“I know. It looks like it. I was teasing you because you looked so happy.”

Maybe his nonchalant lie worked, but Violet’s eyes were slightly bent.

Winter took out an envelope handed out by monks from the inside pocket of his jacket to turn the topic around.

The envelope was attached with real flowers, and there was a card in it to write down the amount of sponsorship. Violet asked, wondering,

“You still haven’t paid? They were collecting it all away before.”

“I’m thinking about going to the monastery because I think the monks wrote it wrong.”

“Isn’t a hundred thousand enough?”

“You’d think it was just me paying for it, wouldn’t you?”

“No matter who you are..….”

“I’m not the kind of person who deserves limitations such as ‘no matter’. You’re so ignorant of the world.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means you’re really out of touch with the world.”

When Winter repeated the same words as if there was no way to explain, a scream was heard from the table.

“Anyone please call the doctor!”

A monk was seen falling between the tables.

As Violet ran in a hurry, Winter followed her in a surprise. He was more interested in the fact that his wife, who did not run, was running when someone else’s down.

As they got closer, the fallen monk’s body was convulsing.

Violet leaned down to examine the condition of the young monk. The poison was spreading blue from the monk’s hand, and in his hand was a bundle of donation envelopes with raw flowers received from the patrons.

She checked the flowers in the envelope one by one and left one bag aside.

It looked almost the same, but it was a different flower with a dot behind the petals. The envelope had the name Ranchia Yon Peze.

Violet immediately loosened the ribbon around her waist and tied it tightly to the monk’s arm so that the poison would no longer rise. Then, she took an antidote out of a small pocket in her sleeve.

She carries it with her in case she was pregnant or swallowed poisonous herbs.

Violet fed the monk with an antidote and made him drink lukewarm water.

The antidote against poisonous plants was effective and soon the poison stopped spreading. It was not until a long time later that the doctor, who ran from nearby, said that the monk’s life was not in danger and people finally felt relieved.

Winter asked while supporting Violet’s trembling arm as she was barely relaxed.

“What did you feed him?”

“It’s an antidote for poisonous plants.”

“Why do you carry that?”

Then, Violet answered with a casual look.

“I love flowers. I’m going to use it if I accidentally touch a poisonous one.”

It was a little suspicious, but it was true that Violet usually likes flowers, and Winter managed to accept it because there was no reason for his wife to carry an antidote except for her explanation. Still, it was not completely convincing.

***

Although it was a small incident, it was a big event that a person almost died.

Eventually, the sponsorship party was stopped, and everyone turned around feeling worried and disappointed.

While Violet and Winter were also waiting for the carriage, a monk ran over and invited them to the monastery.

When they entered the monastery, fortunately, the pale and young monk who woke up quickly greeted them while lying down.

“I heard I was saved because you took action immediately. If twenty minutes passed after I collapsed, my life could have been in danger.”

Violet, who turned pale at the news that his life was in danger, replied,

“That’s a relief, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the flowers were mixed in. The flowers that were mixed in can only be found in the alpine region. There’s no reason for it to be here unless someone brings it on purpose.”

“I see……”

“The envelope with the different flowers had the name Ranchia Yon Peze written on it.”

Then, the boy replied with a bitter look.

“He is my uncle. My brother’s in a critical condition.….. if my brother dies without children, I will succeed the title..….”

The boy, who was accustomed to manners, did not want to lie down in front of the lady, so he stood up with all his might.

“Thank you. My name is Ranchia Yon Reyes, the second son of the Ranchia family.”

The name coming at the back was a characteristic of some parts of the western continent. Violet answered with courtesy.

“I’m Violet Blooming.”

“Oh, I see! The people of the Ranchia never forget the grace they have received, so we must help you..….”

The boy raised his voice a little and then stumbled and collapsed. Winter said as if he was dumbfounded.

“Just lie down, kid.”

“Lit-little boy you say? You’re rude..….”

Winter shrugged his shoulders as if Reyes’ young voice was funny.

While the other monks gathered and worried about the youngest boy, he took his wife out into the hallway.

He whispered in Violet’s ear.

“Thanks to you, I infiltrated here.”

“You’re invited in, what do you mean infiltrated?”

“We’re going into the wrong direction) from here onward and enter the brewery. Since everyone is busy because that kid fell down, we’re going to go around and come out.”

“You’re more heartless than I thought, aren’t you? A man fell down, and now..….”

Winter replied as if he were surprised by Violet’s words.

“I’m more cold-hearted than you thought? You’ve been overestimating me.”

“I thought you wouldn’t do anything bad.”

“How can I be rich with my bare hands cleaned of anything bad? How naive can you be to think like that?”

Winter clicked his tongue as if it was amazing.

“You don’t know me that much, but you’re talking about divorce.”

“A divorce doesn’t hurt you financially.”

“It’s more likely that having you will turn this marriage into a surplus than not even having you.”

“……Oh, that’s possible.”

After saying so, Violet shut her mouth.

Thinking the conversation was over, Winter tried to take a step back, but Violet grabbed him by the wrist.

“I have a question.”

“What do you want to know?”

“About the child..are you saying that you don’t want to have a baby with me, or do you just hate it?”

“I just hate it.”

“I really want children a lot. So ‘just’ is not a solution to compromise.”

Looking at his wife’s desperate expression, it seemed that just saying no would not solve it.

“I don’t have time to pay attention to my child.”

“I’ll give birth and raise it on my own. Your child will be growing up without even knowing about it.”

Violet said imploringly.

Of course, she will resign if he shrugs off and speaks of the title.

After observing her for some time, Winter has recently learnt that his wife has a strong sense of responsibility. Although she did not hear from Ash about the dissolution of the royal family, she was willing to take responsibility for her brother’s actions.

But today, he couldn’t just break her heart especially when he just met with the man who used to be engaged to her.

He thought he just had to hand it over now. When his wife, who is about to collapse due to a crack, stabilizes a little bit. After she does what she wants. After buying her what she wants to have, and letting her do everything she wants to do, after she find something she would like more than having a child.

After that, he thought it wouldn’t be too late to say that he couldn’t have children.

Winter, who had been pondering for a long time, said in a shaky voice.

“It could happen somehow. If the contraception doesn’t work.”

“What do we do then?”

“……You should give birth.”

Violet’s eyes widened like a child, wondering what she was so happy about trying to avoid the situation.

“Thank you.”

Violet was satisfied with his answer. Then, she held his hand tightly, as if she had learned from him, because she wanted to express her joy so that Winter knew it.

Winter felt like a sinner abandoned in the desert after seeing her short, lucid joy, but soon going to crush her enthusiasm down with nonchalance.

He managed to ease his anxiety by telling himself that there was nothing to worry about because there was no way he will have children anyway.