While Scarlett was looking at the vines, Victor ordered breakfast to be brought to the bedroom.
The servants set the breakfast table in front of the window for them both.
Victor sat down, crossing his legs, and began reading the newspaper with a cup of coffee, ignoring the fancy foods in front of him.
Scarlett could not bear his silence, so she divided the cherry cake he had brought and served half of it on his plate: “Eat.”
The servants looked from afar in embarrassment.
Victor wouldn't eat from someone else's plate.
As they expected, he did not touch the cake and returned to the newspaper.
Scarlett's laughter broke the silence as she ate: “It was like that when we ate together.”
Victor looked at her.
Scarlett continued without adding, and then Victor said: “Not quite.”
“What?”
“You were talking more”
Victor sipped his coffee and said, “After the divorce, it was difficult to adjust.
It was very quiet.”
He put down the newspaper and looked at her, as if inviting her to talk.
Scarlett tried to ignore his gaze, but she could not bear it for long: “After breakfast, I will braid my hair.
It will take time.
I will braid it on one side like this.”
“You choose topics that are difficult to empathize with.”
"I'll give you the correct response: 'Really?
Good idea.'"
“Ah”
“And I will use blue tape.”
“Good idea”
Victor smiled, and Scarlett almost laughed but bit her lip.
After breakfast, she started braiding her hair as she said.
Victor watched her as if he saw something strange.
She tied her hair with a blue ribbon, making precise movements as when tying curtains, which aroused his interest.
Scarlett got up, put on her hat, and they went out of the hut.
She advanced without knowing the way, then stopped: “Wow...”
There was a clear lake reflecting the land.
She imagined the summer of vines surrounding her, and said, “Beautiful...”
A curious Scarlett took in the sight.
Victor said: “Instead of donating to the university, if it is just for admission, I can arrange it.”
Scarlett stopped and looked at him.
There were three methods of admission to Salantir University, the best university: recommendation for the nobility, donation for the bourgeoisie, and elite admission for the geniuses.
The Crimson family was noble, but they earned their title with technical skill.
After Scarlett's parents died, the family's power weakened, and she had no influence to enter university.
“I want to learn techniques more systematically”
Victor nodded: “I understand.”
“You understand?”
“I'm trying to understand, out of courtesy.”
“Ah”
Scarlett laughed.
They returned to the hut after a tour, as they were leaving for the capital tomorrow morning.
After taking a shower, Scarlett saw Candace, the head maid, standing anxiously by the bathroom.
Candace took pride in her work, and like experienced maids, was a hard worker to hire.
But during this trip, Candace seemed different, trying to please Scarlett instead of her usual pride.
Scarlett, who had worked as a maid before her marriage, knew this behavior well: maids act like this when they have nowhere else to go.
But for Candace, who is supposed to have choices, to act like this means the job market is turbulent.
Scarlett looked at the other servants.
If Candace is like this, the others are even worse, avoiding looking at her for fear of reprimand.
At Salantaire, watches were a luxury item, a family heirloom, and in turbulent times, the watch trade was thriving.
But anxiety about the economic recession hung over Seventh Street like a fog.
It was no longer a secret that the nobility hoarded gold, and gold coins became scarce, at astronomical prices.
Scarlett sat in front of a table full of snacks, whether she ate them or not.
Blight asked kindly: “Would you like some tea?”
“Yes, something to help you sleep.”
Blight nodded, and Victor sat across from her, placing two cups of tea.
Scarlett asked: “Do you have gold coins?”
“Why?”
“Nobles now do not spend gold.”
“Because it is a safe asset”
“So, you have gold?”
“Pirates love gold coins”
“So, you have a lot.”
“Kind of”
“You will be fine even if war breaks out.”
“Not all nobles are like that.”
Victor reached into his jacket pocket as if searching for a cigarette, then took it out annoyed and said, “The nobles who have been acting as spies from the beginning will be fine.
If war breaks out, Festina’s forces will attempt to bomb the Domfelt family on the West Coast.”
“Because you're not a spy?”
“Because I'm not a spy”
Victor laughed sarcastically and looked at her: “Why?
Is it strange that someone as fish as me isn’t a spy?”
“a little”
“A spy does not say he is a spy.”
“Yes, I thought about that.”
Victor laughed and said: “I might emigrate.”
“Ah”
Scarlett nodded and said, “The people of the Crimson family cannot immigrate.
We either die in Salantir, or we live in it.”
“I know”
“I hope Festina will not be occupied.”
“Then you better fly away that coin.”
Victor shook his empty cup, and Blight filled it.
Victor continued: “Abandon the idea of donating for admission.
Don’t waste money.
One phone call, and one of the nobles who want to appease me will become your sponsor.”
“Will you do that?”
“It's good for me too.”
“Thank you”
Victor emptied his cup and asked: “Then, I will take care of the admission, so invest the profits from this villa and vineyards in building an airplane.”
Scarlett stopped and asked: “Is this patriotism?”
Victor laughed: “The Navy enlists from the age of thirteen.
I lived as a soldier longer than I did as a civilian.
Salantir sailors are raised to be patriotic and to hate pirates.
I have been through many naval battles, and I no longer desire war.”
Scarlett thought for a while and said, “Okay.”
“Think more before you say okay.”
Victor looked at her: “If it is known that you are capable of building a plane, your life will not be comfortable anywhere.
Festina will try to take you away immediately.”
Scarlett lost herf in thought.
She couldn't keep Victor's secrets from the Royal Police.
Can she hide the technology?
“Then, kill me before that.”
“Please”
She extended her hand to shake his hand.
Regardless of her feelings for Victor, this was a good showing, not as a divorced couple, but as people living on one earth.
He was supposed to shake her hand immediately, being a lady, but he looked at her hand as if he had something to say.
Scarlett shook her hand to encourage him, and he finally extended his hand and shook it.