The Villainess is my fiance: But she is gentle towards me

Chapter 282: Chapter: 282 Revealing secrets.

The night had fully settled by the time Vivian and Charlotte reached the Zenithara estate.The moon hung high in the sky, round and bright, spreading a soft white glow over the land below.

Its light fell across the rooftops, the gardens, and the long stone paths that ran through the estate.

The air carried a light chill, and there was a faint touch of moisture that made everything feel fresh.

A gentle breeze moved through the trees, bringing with it the quiet scent of flowers that grew along the edges of the grounds.

Vivian slowly descended from the sky, holding Charlotte securely in his arms.

His landing was smooth, barely making a sound as his feet touched the ground.

The estate stood silent around them.

Even though the lights in a few parts of the building were still on, there was no sign of movement.

It seemed that everyone had already gone to sleep, leaving the place wrapped in stillness.

Instead of heading toward the main entrance, Vivian moved along the side of the building.

His steps were steady as he made his way toward their room.

After a short walk, he stopped in front of a familiar window.

He glanced at it for a moment, then let out a small breath.

The window was not locked.

Rather than taking the longer route inside, he chose the easier way.

With one hand, he gently pushed the window open.

It made a soft sound as it moved, but nothing loud enough to disturb the quiet night.

He stepped inside first, then carefully brought Charlotte in with him.

The room was dimly lit by a small lamp, casting a warm glow over the space.

Everything was in place, just as they had left it.

Vivian walked a few steps forward and gently placed Charlotte down on the floor.

She stood steadily, adjusting herself as she looked around the room for a moment.

"You should freshen up," Vivian said in a calm voice.

He walked toward the closet and opened it, reaching inside without hesitation.

After a moment, he took out two towels and turned back. He handed one of them to Charlotte.

She took the towel from his hand, but instead of moving right away, she looked at it for a moment.

Her expression did not change much, but her eyes showed that she was thinking about something.

There was a quiet seriousness in her face.

"You said earlier…" she began softly.

She followed him as he walked toward the bathroom, her steps slow.

Vivian stepped inside without stopping, while Charlotte paused just outside the door.

"You had something to tell me, didn't you?" she continued.

From inside, the sound of water could be heard as Vivian turned it on.

A few moments passed before he answered.

"Yes… I did," he replied.

There was a short pause.

"But first, take a bath," he added. "And don't use cold water."

Not long after, the sound of water stopped.

The door opened, and Vivian stepped out.

His hair was still wet, and small drops of water slid down from the ends, falling onto his shoulders and clothes.

He looked fresh, though his expression remained steady.

"Go," he said simply, walking past her and heading back into the room.

Charlotte watched him for a second.

She noticed the seriousness in his face and did not say anything more.

Normally, she might have argued or teased him a little, but this time she stayed quiet.

She gave a small nod and stepped into the bathroom.

Time passed quietly as she washed up.

When she came out, her hair was damp, and she gently rubbed it with the towel in her hands.

She wrapped the towel around her head and walked back into the room.

She changed into a light night dress and moved toward the bed without delay.

The soft fabric of the sheets shifted as she lay down, pulling part of the blanket over herself.

Vivian was near the closet, changing into his own night clothes.

After he finished, he walked over and got into bed beside her.

"Switch off the lights," Charlotte said softly.

She moved closer to him, her arms wrapping around him as she rested against his side, holding him like a pillow.

Her presence was warm and familiar.

Vivian reached out toward the lamp and turned it off.

The room fell into darkness.

Only the faint light from the moon slipped in through the window, casting soft shapes across the walls and floor.

The quiet returned, settling around them once again.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

They stayed like that, close to each other, listening to the faint sounds of the night outside.

The earlier noise and movement of the day felt far away now.

After some time, Charlotte shifted slightly.

"What did you want to say?" she asked in a low voice.

Her tone was softer now, but there was still a trace of curiosity in it.

She waited, her head resting against him, as the silence between them slowly began to change.

"Hmm…" Vivian let out a low sound as he thought about how to begin.

His voice stayed quiet, almost blending into the silence of the room.

For a few seconds, he said nothing, as if he was choosing his words carefully.

"You see…" he started slowly.

His thoughts moved back to that time, far away from everything around him now.

It did not feel like a normal memory. It felt distant, almost like something he had only half lived through.

"When I couldn't make any progress… even after three years," he continued, "there were times when I would just… lose focus. I would sit there, and my mind would drift away without warning."

He paused briefly, then went on.

"During those times, I used to go to that lake in our academy. Do you remember it?"

As he spoke, he shifted slightly on the bed and looked up toward the ceiling.

The faint light from the window made it easy to see the outline of his face.

He raised one hand slowly, as if reaching for something that was no longer there.

Beside him, Charlotte adjusted herself and rested her head on his shoulder.

Her arms moved around him, holding him close as she listened.

"I remember," she said softly. "But why are you asking?"

Her voice was steady, but her thoughts had already begun to move elsewhere.

'That place…' she remembered it clearly.

It was also the place where he had disappeared.

For four whole years, there had been no sign of him. No message. No trace. Nothing at all.

Back then, she had truly believed that he was gone.

The memory still felt strange when she thought about it now.

At that time, everything had felt out of control.

She had reached a point where she could not accept it anymore.

She had even been ready to end her own life.

And then… he appeared.

Not in person, but as something she could not understand at first.

She had thought it was his ghost.

For a moment, she had even thought about following him like that… leaving everything behind just to be with him.

But then he spoke.

He told her he was not dead. That he was still alive.

That he was going through something important.

Looking back at it now, she felt a bit embarrassed.

She had really lost all sense at that time.

A faint warmth rose to her face as she thought about it.

"…I was really something back then," she murmured quietly to herself, almost without realizing it.

Vivian did not notice her thoughts.

"Well…" he continued, his voice steady.

"When I went there… I heard something."

He paused again, as if trying to recall it clearly.

"It was music."

Charlotte's attention sharpened slightly.

Vivian's gaze remained fixed upward as he spoke.

"I followed the sound," he said. "I didn't know why, but… it felt like I had to."

His hand slowly lowered back down beside him.

"And then I saw her."

There was a short silence before he continued.

"She was dressed in white. Sitting by the water. And she was playing a vina."

His voice grew a little quieter, not out of hesitation, but as if the memory itself carried weight.

"The way she played… it wasn't normal."

Charlotte stayed still, listening closely now.

"And when I heard it…"

Vivian's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression turning more serious.

"I entered a different state of mind."