The garden path was paved with small stone slabs, but the flowers and lawns on either side seemed to grow wildly, as if they hadn’t been tended to daily.
Even so, the scenery was extremely pleasant.
The two walked slowly along the stone path leading up the hill, continuing their quiet conversation like two close friends leisurely strolling through a park.
Enya was composed and graceful, while Vivienne was soft and noble.
Enya’s smile was calm, but Vivienne’s was brighter and more radiant.
As they walked, Vivienne suddenly said, “By the way, Madam, you’ve already met Estelle, haven’t you?”
“Mm… yes, I have.”
Enya nodded slightly, admitting she had seen Estelle before.
There was nothing wrong with acknowledging that.
At that moment, Enya spoke softly, “Estelle is always silent. It’s not that she’s reclusive; she just hasn’t spoken to anyone for so long that she doesn’t know how to express herself anymore.”
What she meant was that Vivienne had neglected her care!
It was Enya’s silent reproach toward Vivienne—for having created Estelle but not giving her love. If that was the case, Vivienne should never have let this child come into being in the first place.
Vivienne created Estelle as a backup plan.
One, as a spare body to resurrect Enya; two, as a crystallization of the two of them, a kind of chain to bind Enya completely with her.
Elven females could conceive by infusing magic through their fingers, but human females could not, so the only option was to create a person through alchemy.
Vivienne blinked at this, having overlooked what Enya was really trying to say, and instead asked her another question.
“Madam, do you like that child?”
Enya was rendered speechless by the question.
She didn’t know how to answer immediately. On the surface, the question was simply whether she liked the child, but in truth, it was laying the groundwork to “bind” her with Estelle.
Yet she couldn’t say she disliked her…
After thinking for a while, Enya turned her head slightly and whispered, “I do like that child.”
She had already thought before that Estelle couldn’t continue to stay with Vivienne.
Vivienne was busy with her career outside and could never always take care of Estelle, but Enya had plenty of free time and could watch over her well.
“Good that you like her,” Vivienne said with a soft laugh, a strange emotion flashing briefly in her eyes.
Enya noticed it but couldn’t quite understand what it was.
As she pondered this, Vivienne suddenly turned to look at her and said, “Madam, come live with me in the West Wind Empire. My house is still very big—plenty of space for one or two idle people. Your health is fragile; here, you’re easy prey. If you come to the Empire, I can help take care of you a little. It’s much better than you being here alone.”
“That… doesn’t seem appropriate…”
Enya’s lips twitched. She guessed right.
Vivienne really said such a thing—to a mother with a child, no less, offering to keep her!
Vivienne squinted, raising an eyebrow.
“What’s inappropriate about it? I can give you a big courtyard villa, arrange hundreds of servants for you, Rosily can go to a better school, and Estelle likes you so much—she’d surely be very happy.”
Vivienne’s steps halted.
Enya was forced to stop as well. The hand resting on her waist tightened, pulling them even closer.
Vivienne’s voice deepened, and those beautiful pink eyes looked at Enya without any hesitation.
Enya, however, kept her gaze lowered.
Vivienne reached out, gently hooking her index finger around Enya’s chin, lifting it so their eyes met forcibly.
The moment Enya met Vivienne’s gaze, she felt a jolt like an electric shock and hurriedly raised her head, breaking free from Vivienne’s finger.
She turned away, refusing to look at her.
Vivienne’s once-clear eyes instantly darkened.
“Madam, why is that?”
“I…”
“Is there something you’re unwilling to say?”
“Vivienne!”
Enya’s eyes suddenly widened, her ears reddening through her hair. A hand behind her reached out and squeezed her, making her body tremble.
Enough already, even now you’re doing this?
She didn’t meet Vivienne’s gaze but reached out to grab the mischievous hand, trying to pull it away—but Vivienne simply wrapped her arms around her.
Vivienne let out a sly smile.
“Madam, tell me, what are you dissatisfied with, hmm?”
“I’m not dissatisfied with you…”
Enya bit her lip, growing increasingly anxious inside.
Antilos, help me!
“Do you like this place that much?”
Vivienne narrowed her eyes and whispered into Enya’s ear, blowing softly.
Enya tilted her head away.
“I don’t…”
“Then why won’t you come with me?”
“Don’t… don’t do this. We’re still outside. If someone sees us, it’ll affect Miss Vivienne’s reputation!”
“More than reputation, I care about you, Madam~”
Just as the two were tangled up in their struggle, a rosy figure suddenly rushed out.
It was a very petite girl.
The girl had a pair of elven ears and ran straight into the two.
Seizing the chance, Enya broke free from Vivienne’s hands, turning her back and adjusting her clothes.
“Sorry! Sorry!!!”
Henna’s face flushed red; she didn’t dare stay another moment. She hurried away quickly, not wanting to face Madam Phil’s beautiful, flawless image with her own delicate little figure right now.
Enya heard Vivienne click her tongue beside her.
She turned around and asked knowingly, “Miss Vivienne, whose child was that just now? I hadn’t heard that such a cute little girl lives here. Her ears look like an Elf’s, don’t they?”
Vivienne’s smile vanished. Being interrupted mid-conversation had spoiled her mood.
“Are you close with Henna?”
“Not at all, not even a little!”
Enya quickly denied any close relation with Henna, only admitting that she knew her by name but had never interacted deeply.
Vivienne snorted lightly and said, “Then let’s continue.”
But continuing was impossible.
Enya silently took a step back, which greatly angered Vivienne.
She immediately reached forward and grabbed Enya’s hand.
“Take your daughter and come back with me.”
“I won’t!”
Enya tried to pull her hand away, but Vivienne’s grip was too tight—so tight that her body actually hurt.
She winced involuntarily.
Vivienne’s voice lowered again.
“I said come back with me.”
Seeing she couldn’t break free, Enya gave up struggling.
She knew Vivienne had seen through her.
Last time, thanks to the “Lies” magic, Vivienne hadn’t fully detected her because she only glanced at her without probing further.
But this time, Vivienne was thoroughly testing her.
In fact, from the moment she drank that flower tea, Enya realized that her innocent act of giving Henna a jar of her own sun-dried tea had directly revealed her identity to Vivienne.
She took a deep breath.
“Vivienne, I’ve told you—I don’t want to come back with you. You have your career to attend to, and I’ve found what I need to do.”
“Could you not hold me so tightly?”