Chapter 33

As he began to play, the tense atmosphere in the tea room—which had seemed impossible to loosen—started to relax little by little.

The reason was simple.

Adrian’s piano skills were truly remarkable.

In fact, although the Duke’s playing wasn’t at a professional level, his expressiveness was nearly as good as one.

However, contrary to appearances, the people of the Lautrec Earldom remained uncomfortable even during the Duke’s performance.

When they thought about the humiliation they had suffered because of a tutor whose origins were unknown, it was infuriating enough to make them want to storm out of the ducal residence at once.

They felt powerless before the authority of the Wale Dukedom and the strength of the Marquis, unable to respond properly to such insults. Yet, their desire for the position of Duchess was just as strong, so outwardly, they had no choice but to smile.

But there was one person who was truly absorbed in the Duke’s piano performance.

Diane Lina.

She was completely immersed in the beautiful melody Adrian created.

It was the first time she had ever heard piano played at this level, right before her eyes. Moreover, Duke Adrian Wale played so well that anyone would have been moved, not just her; it was only natural and inevitable that she was touched.

Furthermore, the Duke playing the piano was the very same Prince she remembered as beautiful from her childhood.

The distance between their social statuses was immense, but physically, he was so close that she could feel it with her whole body as she lost herself in the music.

By the time the performance reached its peak, her face was overflowing with visible admiration.

Meanwhile, the more Diane’s face was colored by emotion, the more Edward’s expression soured as he watched her.

It was natural for everyone to look at the performer, and Diane was simply looking at Adrian as well, but Edward’s face grew more and more twisted as he watched her.

The Earldom people dared to not only ignore his precious Diane Lina, but even brought up her parents—so he’d told his brother to play the piano. He had no desire to listen to his brother’s playing at all.

Yet Diane Lina was sitting there, looking utterly entranced by the performance.

This was a situation he had neither intended nor expected.

‘Black, white, black, white! What’s so special about that? How could Diane like something like this…’

It was annoying enough that his brother played piano so well.

He was irritated with himself for making Adrian play, and even with his own childhood memories—where the only thing he’d ever done with a piano was jump on its lid with both feet.

Most of all, what bothered him was how lovely Diane Lina’s face was, gazing endlessly at his brother with a flushed expression, as if she were completely absorbed in the performance.

Why does everything about her have to be so beautiful!

Edward finally wanted to go over and close the piano lid.

But he was the one who had made Adrian play.

He couldn’t just close the lid now.

Instead of closing the piano lid his brother was playing on, Edward got up and walked over to stand right in front of Diane.

He stopped in the space between the piano and the fireplace—more precisely, between Adrian and Diane—blocking Diane’s view of Adrian perfectly.

With his arms folded, he stood there with his back to Diane, facing the piano.

To others, it must have looked like he’d come closer to see his brother’s playing more clearly.

For the first time, his face showed no irritation, only a blank expression.

Now that he was blocking her view, Diane could still hear Adrian’s piano, but at least she wouldn’t be able to see him.

But soon after he settled into position, he heard a whisper behind him.

“Teacher.”

It was Leon.

“Yes?”

Perhaps to avoid disturbing others’ enjoyment, their voices were very quiet.

“My father plays piano well, doesn’t he?”

At that moment, Edward’s ears—usually indifferent—strained to catch their conversation over the piano music.

“Yes.”

“Father sings well too. So it’s okay if you can’t sing, Teacher.”

“……”

Diane’s reply couldn’t be heard.

But one thing was clear: Leon was saying something that was rather bothersome.

‘It’s okay if she can’t sing? What does that mean?’

He vaguely remembered hearing Leon say something like this before.

He had a faint memory of Leon spouting nonsense on the day he’d heard those words.

‘When was it?’

As a vague sense of discomfort and unease gathered on Edward’s brow, Leon said something that made him freeze.

“So Teacher, you like Father too, right?”

Edward’s arms, folded across his chest, dropped, and he turned his head to stare at Diane’s mouth.

“Young Master! Didn’t we agree not to talk about that? Remember, I said I wouldn’t stay with you if you did!”

Diane turned toward Leon, completely unaware that Edward was watching her, and spoke with a rather serious expression.

Edward’s twisted face eased a little at her words.

But Leon’s next murmur scratched at his nerves again.

“But you really don’t like my father?”

“Shh! Young Master! Quiet.”

Her voice was soft, but her tone was firm.

Just then, Adrian’s long, long performance ended, and applause erupted.

Edward turned to look at his brother and Lady Lautrec, who was clapping beside him.

Then, from behind, he heard Diane’s enthusiastic applause.

Does she like any performance, no matter what?

It felt as if her hands were beating against his ears.

“Uncle, move! Why have you been standing there? I can’t see Father playing the piano.”

Leon’s voice was sulky.

It seemed he was venting his frustration with Diane at Edward instead.

‘I’m standing here so you won’t see, you brat!’

“It’s my choice. And shouldn’t you be in bed, kid?”

“Right, Leon. Anyway, it’s probably time for everyone to go to bed now.”

At Edward’s indifferent words, Adrian rose from the piano bench and spoke.

Indeed, it was nearly nine o’clock.

“No, Duke, please play just one more piece.”

The Countess, sounding almost nasal and childish for her age, pleaded.

Normally, noble social gatherings lasted much later into the night, so for the adults, this wasn’t really late.

“I’ll play for you next time. Today, both you and the young lady must be tired after traveling so far, so you should rest.”

At Adrian’s words, the Earldom people looked disappointed but didn’t press further.

In truth, everyone gathered in the Wale Duchy’s tea room looked exhausted.

By silent agreement, the Earldom people and Adrian began to wrap up the tea time, discussing the next day’s schedule.

In that atmosphere, Diane and Leon were the first to leave the tea room.

Edward’s eyes followed her persistently as she approached his brother to say goodbye and then left the room.

But she never once met Edward’s gaze.

‘Ha! Why does she greet my brother so diligently? I’m the one who pays her salary!’

Though she was Leon’s teacher, it was actually Edward, not Adrian, who paid Diane’s salary.

Neither Diane nor Adrian knew whose pocket her salary came from.

Even though she says she doesn’t like him…

Edward, thinking he should make it clear next time who her employer really was, suddenly stared wide-eyed at the entrance where she had disappeared.

Only then did he realize something.

Leon had asked twice, “Do you like Father?” and Diane had never answered properly.

She hadn’t said she liked him, but she hadn’t said she didn’t like him or hated him either.

As he stared at the now-empty entrance, his gaze shifted to his brother, who was exchanging farewells with the Earldom people.

Adrian gave Lady Lautrec a fake smile as he wished her good night.

Any siblings who grow up together under the same roof inevitably come to know each other very well.

Edward Wale and Adrian Wale were no exception.

Both tended to be indifferent to others.

Adrian’s indifference was subtle, while Edward’s was obvious.

But as brothers, they knew each other far better than anyone else imagined.

So Edward could tell.

The smile his brother was giving was not a genuine one from the heart.

What was that woman’s name again?

Anyway, that smile was calculated—Adrian was deliberately smiling at the daughter of Earl Lautrec, whose name he couldn’t remember, to get what he wanted.

Edward wore that kind of smile when negotiating a contract, and Adrian wore it when seeking a political victory.

In other words, his brother was proceeding with this marriage as seriously as a political negotiation.

Edward’s fierce eyes softened for a moment, and he let out a silent laugh.

‘Ha! Really crazy! What a ridiculous thought.’

He quickly concluded that Diane could never like someone like his brother, who was faking a smile for a woman he didn’t even care about just to marry her.

His doubt had started from Diane’s lack of a clear answer about Adrian.

But strangely, he was drawing conclusions about Diane’s feelings not from Diane herself, but from his brother’s attitude.

Even if every woman in the world was attracted to Adrian Wale, Edward was absolutely certain—without any real evidence—that his Diane would never fall for such a shallow charm.