Chapter 84

Diane and Edward barely boarded the cruise ship just before departure.  

As soon as she stepped onto the ship, Diane scolded herself for thinking she had no choice just moments before.  

Even though the deck was spacious enough, the ship felt crowded, as if a garden of flowers had bloomed, with women wearing dresses of all designs and colors. The attention of all those people was focused on Edward and Diane.  

But what was done was done.  

She straightened her shoulders, pretending nothing was wrong.  

At least she was grateful to be wearing the outing dress Edward had brought.  

If she’d worn her original clothes, she would have stood out even more among this vibrant crowd.  

Edward and Diane took seats at a table near the stern. As soon as they sat, a crew member came over to prepare drinks.  

The ship glided smoothly, and before long, they were far from shore.  

Maybe because of the sea breeze, most women’s hats had ribbons, which they tied under their chins to keep their hats from blowing away. The hat Edward had given her was a similar design, but for some reason, it didn’t have a ribbon, so Diane was a little worried it might fly off.  

She ended up taking off her hat and placing it on her lap.  

“Why aren’t you wearing your hat?”  

“I’m worried it’ll fly away.”  

Edward glanced around and frowned at her answer.  

“Stupid James!”  

Apparently, James hadn’t prepared a hat with a ribbon. Diane thought it was impressive enough that he’d even prepared a hat for her, since she wasn’t the type to wear one, but she kept quiet.  

“Diane, I think I need to look around the ship for a bit. Can you be alone?”  

“Yes, of course!”  

She replied instantly, almost before he finished speaking.  

He must have wanted to explore the ship from the moment he boarded.  

It was the first voyage, after all.  

“There’s food in the lounge over there, so go eat, but don’t wander too far.”  

“Yes.”  

Diane felt her face flush.  

It felt like he was fussing over her like a child.  

It was her first time on a cruise ship, but she was an adult, not a child—surely she could manage. Sitting alone at a table with him was already making her self-conscious, so she was actually glad he was going elsewhere.  

Everyone else was gathered in families or groups, but no one would approach her, so enjoying the view of the sea and coastline alone sounded nice.  

She probably wouldn’t get another chance to ride a cruise ship like this.  

But just a few minutes later, she found herself frustrated by a situation that didn’t go at all as she’d hoped.  

“Hmmm!”  

She was leaning on the table, gazing blankly at the scenery, when she turned at the sound of someone clearing their throat.  

“Lord Jude!”  

He was standing at her table, though she hadn’t noticed him approach.  

She stood up in surprise, which made her hat fall to the floor.  

“May I sit with you?”  

Lord Jude picked up her hat and asked.  

She glanced around.  

People were standing on deck or in the lounge, and there were plenty of empty tables nearby.  

“Yes, please.”  

Even though he asked, she felt uneasy, thinking there must be a reason for it, but she couldn’t refuse.  

“Did you come with Marquis Edward Wale?”  

He asked as soon as he sat down.  

“Yes.”  

“I see.”  

After that brief exchange, Lord Jude turned to look at the scenery, so Diane turned her gaze to the sea, feeling awkward.  

“My parents and siblings are all on this cruise too.”  

Suddenly, he spoke again.  

“Oh, I see.”  

“Everyone was happy to come to Agris.”  

“….”  

She had no idea where this conversation was going.  

“We were expecting Marquis Wale to propose to my sister Kate about now.”  

“…!”  

“But everyone’s mood is pretty sour now. From the banquet last night to this cruise, you’ve been with Marquis Wale.”  

Diane felt her face grow hot.  

Lord Jude was openly telling her to stay away from Edward Wale, for the sake of his sister.  

“I’m just doing what my employer asks. I came to Agris to accompany the Young Master I tutor, and I’m on the cruise because President Wale requested it.”  

Diane felt her previously warm feelings toward Lord Jude turn cold, and tried to remain as calm as possible.  

No matter how ill-matched she was with Edward, a third party like Lord Jude had no right to say anything.  

His sister wasn’t even Edward’s fiancée!  

“I see. So, can I assume that you and the Marquis have no special relationship beyond employer and employee?”  

“….”  

Somehow, she didn’t want to answer.  

She knew she should say “yes,” but still hesitated.  

Lord Jude waited, looking at her as if he wouldn’t leave without an answer.  

“Yes.”  

In the end, she had no choice.  

They really weren’t anything more.  

Just tied together by work.  

“That’s a relief. I just hope neither you nor my sister gets hurt. Well, have a pleasant trip.”  

Lord Jude started to stand up.  

“Brother!”  

A man’s voice called from the distance, and Lord Jude’s expression twisted.  

He even let out a low groan.  

Diane glanced at the source of the sound, then back at Lord Jude, blinking.  

There stood Kate Jude, surrounded by an older noblewoman, an elderly gentleman, and two young men.  

Diane quickly realized who they were.  

Family!  

They were the Jude Marquisate.  

The older noblewoman and gentleman must be the Marquis and Countess, and the two young men were likely Lord Jude’s brothers. She got the feeling Lord Jude was the eldest.  

“Excuse me, I’ll be going now…”  

Lord Jude shot up, but the Marquis and his family were already approaching.  

He sighed as they drew near, apparently having hoped to see Diane without his family noticing.  

“Hello?”  

The Marchioness greeted Diane.  

“Hello.”  

“May we sit?”  

“Yes.”  

The table was communal, so she couldn’t refuse when asked politely.  

As soon as Diane agreed, three of the Jude Marquisate family sat down, and Lord Jude reluctantly rejoined them.  

But Diane found his reluctance amusing.  

After all, he’d come to see her first, so it was only natural his family would follow.  

At least Kate Jude and one of the brothers stayed behind, so she was surrounded by four, not six.  

“I’m Marianne Jude. And you are?”  

The Marchioness asked her name as soon as she sat.  

Despite the obvious difference in age and status, the Marchioness maintained a certain level of courtesy.  

“I’m Diane Lina.”  

“I see… Oh! Lina?”  

The Countess nodded at her name, then immediately frowned and repeated it.  

What was that about?  

Even stranger, not only the Marchioness but also Lord Jude and the other young man looked at her with curiosity, as if there was something wrong with her name.  

“Diane Lina, you said?”  

The Marchioness stared at her and asked again.  

“Yes.”  

“Then perhaps…”  

“Mother!”  

The Marchioness seemed about to say more, but Lord Jude cut her off.  

The atmosphere turned strange.  

“Oh! Right, right.”  

The Marchioness blushed and nodded.  

“You’re working as a tutor at Marquis Edward Wale’s house, right?”  

Suddenly, the previously silent young man spoke up.  

“Yes, that’s right.”  

“Oh! I’m Julian Jude, Kate’s brother.”  

“Yes.”  

He looked young, so Diane wasn’t sure if he was older or younger than Kate, but apparently he was an older brother.  

The man who stayed behind with Kate seemed more mature, so maybe Julian was the youngest brother.  

Kate Jude had her parents and three brothers.  

Even from afar, it was obvious they were all family, but up close, the Jude Marquisate’s resemblance was striking.  

They all had blond hair and blue eyes, and not just the men—even the Marchioness was quite tall.  

As Diane studied the Marquisate family, she felt oddly like she’d seen the Marchioness somewhere before, though she knew she hadn’t.  

Blond, blue-eyed, tall woman…  

Ah! She realized it was because they looked similar to herself!  

Diane suddenly thought she might look like the Marchioness when she grew older.  

Maybe it was the comfort of a familiar face, but Diane realized, just as when she first met Lord Jude, that she felt a strange sense of warmth toward the Jude family.  

Especially toward the Marchioness.