Chapter 5.4

Just when she thought the Grand Duke had finished eating, he suddenly picked up a carrot with a determined expression.  

‘Huh, what’s this? Is he actually going to eat it?’  

He usually never ate raw carrots and always left them behind.  

Ah, maybe he felt embarrassed to leave carrots on his plate in front of the Lord.  

Was he really going to eat it? 

Feeling oddly like a mother cheering on her child, she watched him closely.  

That was when Pharone’s voice suddenly broke her focus.  

“Well, if it’s alright with you, may I guide you around the island today?”  

Snapping out of her thoughts, she looked straight ahead and saw Pharone sitting there, face flushed red as he bowed his head deeply.  

She had almost completely forgotten about him while staring at the Grand Duke.  

“You haven’t had a chance to fully explore the area since arriving, have you?”  

“No, I haven’t. I’d be very grateful if you could show me around. But… will it just be the two of us?”  

“Y-Yes, of course. Just the two of us.”  

Success! 

She had secured some alone time with him, passing the first hurdle.  

To think it would go this smoothly—honestly, even she was surprised by how easy it was.  

Without realizing it, she glanced toward the Grand Duke. This time, their eyes met directly.  

‘I did it.’  

She tried to convey her triumph through her gaze, but it seemed her joy didn’t reach him.  

He quickly turned his head away.  

***

After finishing the meal and stepping out of the hall, someone suddenly rushed past her and blocked her path.  

“Is seducing men a hobby of yours? I guess rumors don’t spread for no reason.”  

It was Bianca. 

“What are you talking about?”  

Her brow furrowed instinctively.  

“I saw everything. You can’t stand it when men aren’t paying attention to you, can you? Flirting with Lord Lennon at the beach, and now the Lord’s son. In a way, it’s impressive.”  

What did this girl have against me? She seemed to follow me around just to pick fights.  

“When did I ever flirt with Lord Lennon?”  

“So, you admit to flirting with the Lord’s son?”  

Ugh, how frustrating.  

She wanted to retort but couldn’t, which made her even angrier. After all, it was true that she had been trying to seduce Pharone.  

Biting her lip in silence, she felt Bianca’s taunting grow even more gleeful.  

“Well, it’s a good choice. Why try to wear shoes that don’t fit your feet? Pharone… was it? He seems like a perfect match for you, Lady Elena. Do your best. I’m rooting for you.”  

“……”  

Even as Bianca turned away with a smirk, her lips curling upward, Elena couldn’t do anything but stand still.  

The good mood she had been in earlier had vanished in an instant, thanks to Bianca.  

Even without Bianca’s mocking encouragement to “do well,” Elena had already resolved to succeed—and not just succeed, but do so spectacularly, proving everyone wrong.  

When she trudged back to her room, however, she found Diana waiting outside with a troubled expression.  

“Could we talk for a moment?”  

Diana didn’t seem like her usual self. Her face was full of worry, and her voice carried a heavy tone.  

“Of course.”  

Once inside the room, Diana sat down and began speaking about something unexpected.  

“You don’t need to do this for me.”  

“What?”  

What was she talking about?  

“I know you’re doing this because you think I’m struggling with Lord Pharone. But you don’t have to go out of your way to redirect his attention to yourself. I’m so grateful, but if you keep doing this, Lady Elena…”  

Diana’s voice trembled, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears.  

Elena felt a wave of embarrassment.  

Diana had misunderstood her actions, thinking she was trying to help her by drawing Pharone’s attention away.  

‘I’m not that selfless.’

Elena thought to herself.  

In fact, at first, she had even considered asking Diana to seduce Pharone and extract information from him.  

It seemed Diana was far more exhausted from dealing with Pharone than Elena had initially assumed.  

“There’s no need to thank me. Lord Pharone simply offered to guide me around the island, and I thought it was a good idea. Having a local guide is the best, isn’t it?”  

“But you even switched seats to sit across from him…”  

“As I said earlier, I just felt like sitting there today.”  

“…Is that really true?”  

Diana still looked doubtful as she asked again.  

“Of course. You don’t need to worry at all.”  

“Thank you so much.”  

“I’m telling you, there’s nothing to be thankful for.”  

Finally, Diana smiled, although her eyes still glimmered with moisture.  

“I’ll join you for the island tour. I’m worried about the idea of you two being alone.”  

“No! It’s fine!”  

Elena waved her hands frantically, her voice rising in panic, which startled Diana into opening her eyes wide.  

“I just feel like going alone today. I’ll guide you myself after I’ve seen it. Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for you to explore with me later?”  

“Lady Elena…”  

Diana covered her mouth with her hands, her expression once again filled with emotion.  

Seriously, it’s not like that.

Elena thought.  

If Diana followed her, it would ruin her plan to secretly extract information from Pharone while they were alone.  

“Then at least make sure to stay in crowded areas. Nothing will happen, but I still worry.”  

“Yes, I’ll do that.”  

What was she so worried about?  

How can someone so kind survive in this harsh world?  

For her part, she was more concerned about Diana than herself.  

***

The time for her meeting with Pharone was fast approaching.  

Elena left her room wearing the same thin dress she had worn the night before.  

Anne had protested vehemently when she saw Elena choosing the dress to meet Pharone, but there was no other choice.  

She was already at the fourth stage of her plan to seduce Pharone, which involved implementing the “The Rule of Contrast.”  

Elena didn’t want to flaunt her sensuality in front of him, so she had searched for alternative approaches.  

She had even flipped through the next chapter of her book, ready to skip ahead if necessary.  

But when she read the title of the fifth chapter, she immediately closed the book in frustration.  

[5. The Rule of Physical Contact ]  

She’d rather wear the same dress again than resort to that.  

On her way to meet Pharone, someone suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her forcefully into a side path.  

At first, she was startled, but she quickly realized who it was and managed to suppress the scream that had almost escaped her lips.  

“Aren’t we supposed to meet at the agreed location?”  

Elena whispered in a small voice, her wide eyes fixed on the Grand Duke.  

She had informed him of her meeting spot with Pharone in advance.  

The plan was for the Grand Duke to secretly watch over her while she met Pharone, just in case something unexpected happened.  

“Why are you wearing that dress again?”  

The Grand Duke frowned deeply, his handsome brows furrowing, clearly displeased with her outfit.  

I have my reasons for wearing this.

But since she couldn’t explain the “The Rule of Contrast” to him, she had no choice but to come up with an excuse.  

“I just really like this dress.”  

Even she knew it was a flimsy excuse, and the Grand Duke’s expression darkened even more.  

Elena quickly changed the subject.  

“You saw it, didn’t you? I’ve already secured the meeting. You’d better get ready to fulfill your end of the deal.”  

“Yes, you’re quite impressive. Smiling so brightly at just anyone like that.”  

So he had been watching.  

But wasn’t that a bit much? She wasn’t doing this for fun; she was doing it for someone else’s sake—his sake, to be exact.  

Her irritation flared as she recalled Bianca’s earlier remarks.  

“Why are you being so sarcastic?”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s because picky eaters are so irritating.”

“What?”  

He had overheard that too? 

It seemed he was upset about her earlier conversation with Pharone.

“It was just a passing comment.”  

“Do people usually repeat ‘passing comments’ multiple times?”  

There wasn’t anything else to compliment him on! 

Elena bit her lip in frustration. She couldn’t exactly explain that she was using the “Rule of Compliments.”  

As she pouted, the Grand Duke continued.  

“Anyway, go change your clothes.”  

“No.”  

“What do you mean, no?”  

“This dress brings out my charm the most.”  

“Ha, do you even know what men think when they see you dressed like this?”  

Obviously, they’d think I look sexy.  

Wait. Did that mean the Grand Duke thought so too?  

“What do men think? What about you, Your Grace? What were you thinking?”  

“Wh-what? I….”  

The Grand Duke swallowed hard.  

“…I’d think, ‘Why is she wandering around in her nightgown in broad daylight?’”  

Of course. I should have expected that. What else could I have hoped for?  

“Just keep watching closely. I’ve already succeeded halfway.”  

The Grand Duke opened his mouth as if to say something, but Elena didn’t give him the chance. She quickly changed the subject again.  

“By the way, how will you follow us without being noticed?”  

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll handle it.”  

“You have to follow me. If you disappear halfway through or leave without me noticing, I’ll never forgive you.”  

“I said I’ll take care of it.”  

She had always been the one keeping an eye on him.  

But this time, he would be watching her.  

Even if it was just part of the plan, the thought made her heart flutter.