Top Tier Perversion: Dual Cultivate Secretly

D’Arc Mansion, the Capital.

Inside the second floor’s study.

The scent of chrysanthemums filled Vincent’s nose as he went through a slight struggle to breathe.

His face was crushed in softness.

Vivienne broke the three second hug.

Vincent glanced up at her and found her serene blue eyes staring at him. She wore her usual wide brimmed hat.

There was a faint smile on her face, almost like a smirk.

Maybe he was imagining things...

"Did you hug your sister?"

...maybe not.

’What the fuck?’

Vincent’s face tensed up.

A second later though, he coughed lightly.

"She seemed like she needed it. How did you know?"

"Scent."

"Ah..."

Vincent didn’t pursue the matter further.

From the side, Anastasia, Leona, and Linda stared at him in a new light.

Vivienne extended her hand and gently caressed Vincent’s hair.

"My dear, I am sure it was a long train journey."

"The court session starts at noon so you can rest for a while. I’ll have someone wake you up a few hours prior and help you prepare."

"Alright." Vincent didn’t refute. He really was tired from the train journey and wanted some sleep.

"Linda, take care of him."

Linda bowed and left the room with Vincent.

Anastasia and Leona were still present and stared at Vivienne.

The latter gestured at the chairs and went to sit on her own.

"Have a seat."

The two sat down.

A maid entered the study and left after serving tea.

Vivienne did not say anything yet. She did not even glance at the two but stared into her tea.

Anastasia’s feet slightly shifted while Leona calmly took a sip of tea.

"So..."

Vivienne lowered her cup and saucer.

"...what are your thoughts on Vincent?"

Clink.

Leona glanced at Vivienne.

"After what transpired on the engagement day, it felt as if I was sacrificing myself and my path for getting married to M’lord. But, it was necessary."

House Voss would not survive under the current political turmoil. They had reached a fine and sophisticated level of smithing where their weapon arsenal could easily overpower a low tier noble house.

None wished to see a common house’s rise or welcomed them in their ranks.

Countess Vivienne D’Arc had brought a godsent opportunity.

Leona had no choice.

It was either this or death.

"...there was some relief when M’lady promised to let me continue refining. After that..."

Leona was straightforward and honest with her opinion of Vincent.

She recounted everything since she met him and did not hide the fact that she was the one who warned him about the enemies.

Vivienne glossed over it.

"He felt different at the ball. Not confident, but was honest for once."

Vivienne sipped tea and listened quietly.

After the ball, her and Vincent’s relationship only improved.

It peaked when he let her refine the Spirit Iron despite the crisis and ever since, Leona saw him change more and more... for the better.

Vivienne did not comment and turned to Anastasia.

"Well... Madam..."

Anastasia was the house’s maid. She couldn’t just speak ill of her master.

"It’s okay. You have my permission to speak your mind. Nothing will be held against you."

"If Madam says so."

Anastasia exhaled.

"I wasn’t his attendant until the ball so there wasn’t much interaction. Whatever I knew of the young master was either through other maids or if I sometimes accidentally caught him puking and had to clean up."

"At the ball..."

"After the ball..."

"D’Arc County..."

"Crisis..."

Vivienne and Leona finished drinking their tea but Anastasia hadn’t finished.

She gave a complete rundown of the events without hiding and even expressed her opinions.

She didn’t have anything bad to say about him because she had seen firsthand how hard he worked and the emotional states he went through.

She also saw him awaken which Leona hadn’t and knew him at a deeper level.

"I see."

Vivienne leaned back on her chair and crossed her legs.

"You know, I beg to differ from your opinions. What if it’s all a farce he’s playing out? What if he’s trying to fix things just so he could crush them again?"

Vivienne glanced at Leona, her top hat slightly obscuring her face.

"Maybe alcohol isn’t giving him a high. Maybe he wishes to crush you to feel a stronger high."

Vivienne glanced at Anastasia.

"Or maybe someone’s trapped him and he’s doing everything he could to take control of the house so he could sell it or destroy it. He’s the heir but he can only take complete control when I retire."

The words were harsh.

Anastasia and Leona had a hard time believing them.

They stayed composed.

Leona finally opened her mouth.

"It’s impossible."

"Hm?"

"M’lady, he’s gone against almost every noble. He doesn’t have the manpower backing him to destroy the house."

"And if it’s chasing a high..."

Leona shook her head.

"I’m sorry, but he’s too tired to think of anything but a goodnight’s sleep."

"I agree." Anastasia added.

"Over the past few days, he kept complaining about the high volume of work yet kept working until he collapsed from exhaustion. He slept on the table itself."

"He slept on the floor, by the telegraph machines just so he could get quick access to information."

Leona turned to Vivienne.

"He doesn’t have the mental capacity to plan the destruction of a house."

"He can’t even stop himself from getting emotional when he sees orphans."

"Ah, yes." Anastasia remembered something. "He has a soft spot for children. Especially orphans, for some reason. Tragedy could happen to adults and he might not feel much, but if it happened to a child..."

Vincent broke down multiple times when he saw the state of children in the reports.

"A child’s arm being cut off just because he stole bread was enough reason for him to suspend the entire Knight Order."

Leona turned her cup on the saucer.

"That’s right. There was no proof there were spies inside the ranks, but he did not even think in the direction of spies and suspended them for abusing a child."

The girls spoke for a few more minutes.

Vivienne just listened without a change of expression.

Once the two finished, Vivienne adjusted her hat and said, "You two seem to have a strong bond with him."

"I had no choice."

"I had no choice."

Anastasia and Leona both said at the same time.

They turned to look at themselves, then turned to Vivienne again.

"I am a maid, Madam. I had no choice but to do my duties and share a bond. But over time..."

Anastasia didn’t finish. The Countess could definitely decipher the rest.

"I am his fiancée. I had no choice either. He could’ve forced himself on me and I wouldn’t have said anything but..."

Leona leaned back and spread out her arms while lightly shrugging.

Vincent never did anything bad and he was too shy to even hold hands with her. That was enough to know his character.

At this point, Vivienne took off her hat and let it fall freely.

It disappeared before hitting the floor.

She looked at the two and smiled faintly.

"At the end, I did not choose wrong."