193 – Do You Want To Die Like This?
Viktor nodded.
Scarlett looked at Viktor and asked, “Is it burdensome?”
“Not at all. But even so, I’d feel angry if I couldn’t trust you.”
“Why would you be angry? I have no reason to lie to you. I don’t do anything deceptive.”
“See? That’s a lie.”
“When have I lied?”
“Even when you’re not happy, you smile.”
In response to his words, Scarlett looked at Viktor.
Upon seeing her gaze, Viktor continued, “You’re always like that.”
“No, that’s not true.”
“You’re always like that. So, I thought you were happy with me. It might sound like an excuse.”
Viktor’s words were not entirely clear to Scarlett, and as she tried to ask him something by looking his way, she felt a pull on the fishing line in her hand.
“Oh, I got something!”
“Start reeling in.”
“Uh, how… like this?”
“Now let it go.”
“Why let it go!”
Scarlett exclaimed in confusion, causing Viktor to laugh.
“I thought you trusted me.”
“Well, I do trust you, but…”
Scarlett hesitated, letting the line out and then reeling it in repeatedly. As the cod came closer, Viktor took the landing net and brought the fish up from beneath the boat. Scarlett’s eyes widened.
“I, I caught it? That?”
“It’s beginners’ luck, I suppose.”
“No, I think I have a talent for fishing as a fisherwoman.”
Scarlett, who was unable to even bait the hook by herself, was now bragging, which Viktor found amusing, causing him to laugh without restraint.
As he began to clean the cod, Scarlett asked, “Can you clean fish? Can you?”
“A deckhand has to know how to clean fish.”
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to do such things…”
“The tasks at sea have to be done.”
Viktor spoke while cleaning the cod and then started grilling it. As the delicious smell filled the air and the fish turned golden and crispy, Scarlett swallowed and said, “Oh, right. If we eat it like this, there’s no way to prove that I caught it, is there?”
“Just catch another one, like a true deckhand.”
“Well, that’s a good idea.”
While Scarlett’s cheeky attitude amused Viktor, they finished grilling the fish with a sprinkling of salt.
Scarlett dipped her fingers into the slightly peeled grilled fish and put it in her mouth, marvelling, “It’s so delicious…”
“Delicious?”
“Fantastic. And you also have the fish that I caught…”
As Scarlett said that, she burst into laughter, cutting off her words.
“Why?”
Viktor asked, and Scarlett answered, “Well, you did everything, even grilling it, and now I’m trying to claim that I caught it, so it’s just funny.”
Responding to her cheerful voice, Viktor laughed along.
For some reason, Viktor’s laughter today was particularly enchanting and pleasing, and the smile didn’t leave Scarlett’s face either.
After enjoying grilled fish until they were full and sharing a bottle of wine, Scarlett was quite intoxicated, needing to lean against Viktor’s embrace during their journey back.
Sitting on the horse, Scarlett buried her face in Viktor’s embrace and spoke, “I’m really happy today…”
“Really?”
“Yeah. This is the first time I’ve been this happy after getting married. Have there been any days as happy as this in the past year?”
“One year?”
Viktor asked in return.
Her memories had stopped right before the divorce, which meant this was after the two anniversary celebrations.
Scarlett looked up, “Yeah?”
“No.”
-Perhaps due to intoxication.
Thinking this, Viktor pulled her closer with one arm as if to reassure her. Scarlett buried her face in his embrace once again and pleaded, “Stay with me like this often. Okay?”
“That’s how it should be.”
“In your position as my husband, where else would you go?” Viktor muttered under his breath, and Scarlett giggled in a drunken state.
Living like this wasn’t so bad. At least she could have some of it.
Viktor found it satisfying. At this rate, there might come a time when she couldn’t recover her memories anymore. He considered it a joyful occasion.
♔♔♔
Since Scarlett’s return, an odd atmosphere had enveloped the Dumfelt family. However, Viktor’s nonchalant behaviour increasingly solidified as the truth. Amongst this situation, his subordinates were the ones feeling most frustrated. Pallin Redford couldn’t wait any longer and stormed into the Dumfelt mansion.
Viktor was comfortably enjoying his time with Scarlett inside the mansion while the threat from Vestina was becoming more and more apparent.
Despite the news of Pallin’s arrival, Viktor didn’t come out. So, Pallin prepared himself for the worst and marched up the stairs.
Evan followed him hastily, trying to stop him. “Are you crazy? Do you want to die like this?”
“Whether I die like this or that, it’s the same, isn’t it?”
As Pallin spoke, he brushed Evan aside. Though always junior, Evan couldn’t win against Pallin’s strength and let out a sigh as he gave in.
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