[TIDK] 2 — Are You Going To Take A Lover?

Late at night after the party, Scarlett could not sleep and got up.

She draped a gown over her pyjamas and left her bedroom. Outside in the hallway, she made her way down to her husband’s bedroom. She was anxious the whole day, and felt extremely upset. Upon seeing her husband’s face, she felt indescribably emotional.

Trying hard to hide her feelings, Scarlett spoke, “I’m nervous that I have to go to the police station.”

Viktor could not understand why his wife was so nervous, but he did not immediately ask because he thought his wife was a rather weak person who fell for him.

Scarlett continued.

“I shouldn’t be so pathetic, for just nothing...I’m anxious.”

At that, Viktor got up and approached her.

“Don’t fret and go to sleep,” he said, looking down at her burgundy eyes.

“It’s because, what if it doesn’t work out the way I want it?”

“Tell me you won’t answer any questions they ask. If they are overbearing, refuse to answer and leave immediately.”

As soon as he finished, Scarlett’s upset heart burst out like a balloon that had been forcibly compressed on one side.

“It’s all for your honour. Can’t you just say something warm?”

She was scared. At the party, there wasn’t even a moment of time to talk about it.

Seeing his resolve, she used to feel like someone who trembled and grieved at nothing.

Scarlett exhaled a trembling breath, and spoke, “If you love a man who loves honour, you end up being the one who feels lonely. What the hell are you…”

“Are you going to take a lover?” Viktor smiled and asked her. It was ridiculous, and he was enjoying it.

Scarlett glared at him. “Yeah, should I?”

This time, Viktor burst into low laughter. Then, he covered Scarlett’s hand with his and drew it to his lips, kissing her on the back of her hand.

“Don’t betray me.”

“What betrayal?”

Scarlett asked back, weariness on her face. “You mean don’t say nonsensical things at tomorrow’s interrogation? About me taking a lover? That okay?”

“Why are you so angry all of a sudden?”

Viktor spoke and drew Scarlett into his arms, gently embracing her.

“Don’t be angry. It will be over tomorrow.”

“…”

“Just hang in there for a day.”

After a while, Scarlett’s pride forced her to nod. 

Maybe after tomorrow, Scarlett thought, Viktor might find another lover. Because her utility value as his wife ended tomorrow.

Viktor pulled her away from his embrace, “Scarlett, do you love me?”

“Mm.” She answered, and immediately turned around.

Her heart was pounding. After talking to him, the complicated emotions that had risen were not resolved at all. Rather, they piled up even more.

***

“Ma’am.”

“…”

“Mrs Scarlett Dumfelt.”

When the royal police called once more, only then did Scarlett wake up from her trance recalling the events of last night.

She gave a small smile a bit later, and apologised calmly.

“I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a second.”

When she came to her senses, it was still the Royal Police Headquarters.

The man who called her was named Hughan Hunter.

The royal police, known for appointment of mainly by the second sons of prestigious families, were overly courteous, making Scarlett nervous.

This man’s Hunter family was also a very influential family. His younger sister Nina Hunter was now the lover of the Crown Prince and was the centre of the social circle. At one point in time, she was also Viktor’s lover.

Living in the Dumfelt household, she forgot that she had just turned twenty. Here, if she were to behave like she was clueless and did not know anything at twenty years old, it would be easy to be portrayed as a person lacking in common sense.

Scarlett schooled herself to plaster on a mature expression.

“What was your question again?” She asked.

Hughan smiled sharply. “Ah, I asked if it had any medicinal effect.”

“…medicinal effect?”

“Yeah, the drugs in the tea you’re drinking now.”

Scarlett tilted her head. She didn’t seem to understand what he meant.

Hughan opened his mouth.

“Do you remember when I asked you about Sir Viktor’s weakness?”

“Yes.”

Actually, Scarlett did not expect the Royal Police to ask such detailed questions. He was digging into even the slightest mistakes he made and the people around him. It was clear that he somehow did not want her husband to return to the royal family.

The moment she realised it, Scarlett felt a sense of danger and pulled herself up. She was strangely dizzy, but she suppressed the dizziness and spoke nobly.

“I’m leaving for a moment.”

"It’s not possible.”

“My husband said I could leave immediately if the police were overbearing.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. By the time you get out of here, you won’t remember what happened here.”

Hughan Hunter was relaxed when he spoke.

//Thank you for reading ; _ ; ‧₊˚