The Weight of the Pearl Slippers
Vivi. Vivi-rani.
I had never imagined being called by that affectionate nickname, but never in a million years had I imagined it would happen right now.
And I had never been told that was my nickname? How had he figured it out?
My mind felt completely tangled and complicated.
“I’ve been feeling this since yesterday. You decided to skip the usual greeting?”
He said it as if it were nothing, yet there was a subtle hint of reproach in his tone.
“...Oh, hello.”
Vivienne immediately bowed her head and offered the proper greeting. It was the same yesterday and still the same today. Too flustered, she had completely overlooked the basic etiquette.
That was the most fundamental thing. I was such an idiot.
My face flushed hot.
“Good morning.”
He smiled faintly.
“Good morning.”
For the first time, I saw Kian smile like this—gently and harmlessly. He always wore an empty expression or, when focused, a stern gaze in his eyes. Even recently, he had looked somewhat intense. But here he was, smiling like this. Could someone like him actually smile?
Anyway, seeing him smile, he didn’t seem angry at all. If anything, he looked even calmer than yesterday.
Smiling makes him look even more handsome.
It was only a passing, idle thought, yet no matter how I tried to shake it off, it was clear: this was a terrible case of puppy love.
However resentful it sometimes felt, one look at his face and the resentment vanished like smoke. It was strange. His expression made me feel as if something inside him had broken.
Right. Not the time to daydream. Let’s get to work. Work.
I took a deep breath. My breathing had slowed compared to earlier, but my heart still beat steadily.
Vivienne straightened her thoughts and focused once more on serving the tea. She opened the balcony door wide, set the tea set on the sideboard, and placed it on the table before him.
As he fixed his gaze on the newspaper, she began pouring the tea with growing nervousness.
Clink...
The sound of the spoon rattled a little more than yesterday. At the same time, a faint ripple appeared in the cup of tea.
Why did I feel so tense? I paused for a moment to steady myself so I wouldn’t make a mistake.
Once the cup was full, he lifted the handle. He took a small sip of the fragrant tea and began to moisten his lips. Waiting for him to finish drinking felt far too long.
Meanwhile, my mind raced with a thousand thoughts. I had definitely timed the delivery correctly. Why was he still wearing only a bathrobe?
After raising his voice and getting angry about it yesterday, today he didn’t seem angry at all. He was completely unpredictable.
How much time had passed? Kian finally set the newspaper aside and placed the empty cup on the table. There was still a little less-than-drunk in the cup, but he hadn’t touched it further, so I assumed that was it.
Vivienne hesitated for a long while before summoning the courage to speak first.
“Um… will you come a little later tomorrow?”
“No. Why are you asking that?”
Was he indifferent, or had he done it on purpose? This situation was uncomfortable, and my mouth felt dry—only from my own nerves, it seemed.
“Then… were you taking a late nap only today? You haven’t dressed yet.”
“Ah, are you afraid I’ll get caught if I’m naked?”
There was a playful lilt in his voice. He was clearly joking, yet the memory of yesterday made my mood sour.
“...No. I came on the agreed schedule, so it’s not my fault.”
“So it’s not exactly my fault, and there’s no reason for dismissal?”
“It’s not that it’s a fault. I just… I thought you might be uncomfortable.”
“Well, if you’re not at fault, there shouldn’t be any reason to be afraid.”
He was right in a way.
Now I was the one who couldn’t take his eyes off.
I looked away, then suddenly our gazes met. He had said his eyes felt heavy. After setting the cup down, he had stared at me without blinking.
At first, I had sometimes hoped he would look at me. But now, staring openly like this in a situation I couldn’t even read his mind made me uneasy.
I tried to pull the cup back, wanting to run away, but Kian snatched it again and drank the remaining tea in one go.
He hadn’t finished it yet?
“Just… drinking it like this yesterday felt fine.”
The corners of his mouth lifted once more. He smiled lazily and broke another of my expectations. Impossible. After the commotion yesterday. I still couldn’t believe it.
What kind of mood swing is this? He must be thinking that.
“Ah, no. I…”
He had seen right through me.
Vivienne’s face turned bright red.
“That reminds me… today there’s no trace of that scent.”
“What scent?”
“It was irritating. Herbal scent.”
“……”
He meant the ointment Theo had given me. My wrist had been sore and swollen, so I had applied it. I hated the herbal smell. Vivienne unconsciously clutched her right wrist.
“A week from tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“Time really does fly.”
Only then did he set the empty cup down. Suddenly, he offered me a box.
Vivienne received it in a daze and froze, standing there.
“Go on, open it.”
Following his command, I opened the box carefully. Inside lay a pair of shoes adorned with countless pearls.
“You’re giving this to me?”
“Mm.”
Kian nodded with a casual expression. Just giving away shoes because someone didn’t have any seemed ordinary, but these shoes were obviously precious.
Moreover, from Vivienne’s perspective—someone who had spent her entire life in the sea—these pearls were quite valuable.
Receiving a gift from the man I liked. Of course I was thrilled. Yet I couldn’t simply be happy.
Just by wearing these slippers I had been given, everyone gossiped, but now I was being offered luxury shoes as a gift. It didn’t suit a maid. The moment I wore them, I would only deepen the dislike and fuel the envy of others. Vivienne squeezed her eyes shut.
“I appreciate the thought, but I can’t accept such expensive things.”
As soon as I conveyed my refusal, a crack appeared on Kian’s once-calm face.
“Why?”
“It’s too much for me.”
“Too much or not is up to the giver. There must be another reason.”
“These shoes are uncomfortable for work.”
“That’s only if you continue working. Compared to those huge slippers, wouldn’t these be more comfortable?”
“……”
“Your ankles were swollen. Vivi, are you going to keep grumbling and rubbing on cheap ointment again?”
There was a slightly irritable note in his voice, yet he called me by the nickname so gently. I was confused—I couldn’t understand his intent.
Was he worried I might get hurt? Or was he irritated that I refused to follow his wishes obediently?
Seeing my heart flutter so helplessly, I knew it was definitely worry. I trusted myself on that.
Still, could I really accept it?
“You’re being quite troublesome.”
Seeing me hesitate again, Kian’s expression grew genuinely annoyed.
He didn’t want to say the real reason, but the way out was blocked. Vivienne felt strangely ashamed of her own slippers and shrank her toes.
“Stop wasting time. How about we finally get to the real reason?”
“The others would… be upset if they saw it…”
…and they’d hate me even more.
Vivienne deliberately omitted the rest. I was afraid of what kind of reaction he might have.
“Is something like that that important to you?”
Kian asked incredulously.
Yes, I knew he was right. I couldn’t deny it. But I wasn’t completely indifferent to what others thought.
He stood up abruptly and walked straight to me. Then he smiled and locked eyes with me.
“Think it over. Vivi. How much help would that humble act be to you? Or is it even helpful at all?”
“……”
“The moment you put on the slippers I gave you and stood before them, you became completely different from them. Trying to pretend otherwise now won’t change a thing.”
Yes, I agreed with that. I had been working as a maid, but to them I was a complete outsider. Was this because I was wearing the slippers he gave me?
Looking back, it had been that way from the beginning. A strange girl suddenly appeared and offered to learn maid work. Even the rumors that I had collapsed on the beach had been terrifying.
Since no one welcomed me, I had fallen into the hardest job, only to be dragged to the main house and tasked with serving tea near Kian. Then yesterday’s mess had happened.
From that perspective, I was the villain.
Yet now, should I simply stop working? Most of the time I was surrounded by the maids. Wouldn’t that be shameless? How?
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t decide.
“Fine. Then you choose.”
“...Choose?”
“Mm. Wear these shoes and stay at Larson. Or take a week’s salary and leave.”
“……”
“Only two choices, Vivi. There is no other option.”
His pitch-black eyes stared at me intensely. Kian closed the box lid and whispered into my ear.
“Think about it by tomorrow. If you’re going to continue, come to my room at the same time tomorrow wearing these shoes.”
That sweet voice sounded like a devil’s whisper promising a sweet treat.
“Otherwise, Matilda will return tomorrow, so take the salary and leave.”
Of course, the devil was skilled not only at seduction but also at intimidation.
Whether it was genuine concern or a hidden scheme, my caution was ambiguous.
For me, this was dangerous kindness and a gentle threat.
Vivienne silently tidied the tea set. I wanted to escape this place quickly and avoid drowning in the chaos that was rushing over me like waves.
One hand holding the box and the other balancing the tray made my shoulders tremble slightly.
“Then, see you tomorrow, Vivi.”
On the other hand, he looked relaxed, as if he already knew which one I would choose.