𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐄 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Eight

It had been two days since the fiasco with Edward in the marketplace, and Vienne was still irked about it. When she returned home, Claudine had asked her how it had gone, further confirming her suspicions that Claudine had been behind it all.

Needless to say, they hadn't spoken much since.

She was sure Edward was still fuming about his offer being rejected, but Vienne was fed up and tired of her mother always trying to control her. She was an adult for Merlin's sake! Didn't she understand that?

But also, the thought as to why she didn't want Edward was also still heavy on her mind. After talking to Marie and thinking about it so much, she had come to the conclusion that it was more than likely because of her strong interest in Sebastian.

It kept her up at night. She'd stare up at her ceiling, questioning if she just enjoyed him as a person or if she was in love with him. Maybe it was both. She had no idea. She had never really been in love before, and so it was just as difficult.

Marie had a fiancé; she tried to help as much as possible, but it was hard to describe how love felt to a different person. It was different for everyone. So needless to say, Vienne was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

But on the bright side of all of this, Sebastian had unexpectedly reached out to her, wondering if she'd like to meet him again. He desperately wanted to speak with her again-or simply just be in her presence. He was on the same side she was, questioning his feelings for her.

Of course, she said yes. Things between them were slowly growing closer and closer. And Vienne had secretly been in contact for a while to keep in touch and had really taken a great interest in him. And even though she had discussed with Marie ages ago about trying to work things out with Edward, at this point she couldn't care less, and she had made it clear that she wasn't all too interested in him.

Vienne got ready and left for Ominis' home. After the initial greeting, they managed to make it outside again just like their last conversation. It just happened naturally, really. They'd talk and wander, and they were just led out there.

"Remind me how we seemingly end up outside every time we talk?" Vienne asked with a chuckle.

Sebastian shrugged his shoulders, a chuckle leaving his own mouth. "I couldn't tell you why." He said, looking around at the nature that surrounded them. It was much more peaceful that way, and the chances of them being interrupted were much less likely.

Vienne had always thought the property of the late Noctua Gaunt was gorgeous-diverse as well. The forest on the property was absolutely breathtaking, and just some yards away from the entrance of the forest was a small body of water. Like a deep pond or a very small lake. There was an old, rickety wooden platform, seemingly like a makeshift dock that had been there for as long as she remembered.

She recalled several years ago, while she was in her later days of school, when she'd come to see Ominis, he'd help her with her homework on that very same dock.
Oh, how time flies.

***

Edward had practically been sulking in anger, frustration, and a little bit of embarrassment since Vienne had straight up rejected him in the middle of the market in front of all of those people. He was not used to people-specifically women-rejecting him since they always seemed to be the ones who wanted to be with him.

But his mother insisted that he shouldn't give up and that Vienne would come around eventually. Since "obviously" she was just playing "hard to get."

So, she sent Edward out to the Austen home again, this time with Rolf. She was hoping that the peer pressure from another person would help, especially since Claudine would also be around. Again, another great example of how people believed they could simply manipulate and push Vienne in directions she didn't want anything to do with.