Chapter 25
Diane’s room.
A maid quietly entered and drew the curtains, brightening the once dark room.
As the maid turned to leave, she was startled.
“Oh my! You scared me!”
Diane was sitting neatly on the bed, smiling at her.
The maid, calming her racing heart, bowed politely.
“You’re up early today, Miss.”
“Yes, good morning!”
Her voice was softer than ever.
Which made it all the more unsettling.
Why is she like this?
Did she eat something wrong?
“Sh-should I prepare breakfast?”
“Yes, please. Thank you.”
She smiled sweetly.
It had been so long since the maid had seen Diane’s smile that she wondered if she was dreaming.
The maid discreetly pinched her thigh to check.
Ouch, it wasn’t a dream.
Watching the anxious maid, Diane asked.
“Do you have something to say? Go ahead. Today, I’ll listen to everything.”
Diane smiled brightly, her eyes half-closed.
Her unreal appearance made the maid feel dizzy.
Though Diane likely had no such intention, a cold sweat trickled down the maid’s back.
Feeling the chill, the young maid shivered.
“N-no, it’s just that you usually sleep late, Miss, so I was surprised to see you up early. I’ll go prepare breakfast now.”
The maid quickly blurted out her words, bowed, and hurried out.
Watching the maid’s retreating figure, Diane’s eyes still sparkled brightly.
“Ah, what a lovely morning! It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way!”
Diane sang to herself.
The reason for her good mood was the tea party she attended yesterday.
Originally, Princess Stephania was supposed to attend, but she didn’t due to health reasons.
However, people didn’t believe that and were busy gossiping.
Diane Lesper focused on the conversation of a group of young noble ladies nearby.
「Isn’t it because of Duke Conver?」
「What about Duke Conver?」
「Oh my, how can you be so slow with information?」
「Why? What’s going on?」
「They say a son he didn’t even know existed has appeared」
Diane pretended not to notice and moved closer to listen to their conversation.
「What does that have to do with the Princess?」
「Of course, it matters!」
「So oblivious.」
「There were secret marriage talks between the Princess and Duke Conver.」
「Yes, there were.」
「But now that Duke Conver’s son has appeared, everything’s changed. Both the Imperial Family and Duke Conver’s side find it awkward to even mention a marriage with the Princess.」
「Oh my, really!?」
「So the Princess is the only one suffering. Poor Her Highness.」
「But Lady Lesper keeps looking our way.」
「Ugh… Scary. Let’s talk over there.」
「Yeah, let’s go.」
Though there were moments of irritation, Diane thought it was a pretty good tea party.
“Princess Stephania, having a hard time? Serves her right! Haha.”
Laughing, Diane slapped the pillow she held.
How much the Princess pretended to be noble, saying that it was a love that blossomed without knowing each other’s true backgrounds.
‘She acted as if her feelings for Duke Conver were more genuine than mine. But in the end, it was all unrequited love. In that sense, we’re the same. Pfft!’
Diane snorted, recalling the pale face of the Princess.
Diane’s love for Bryce had a long history.
She couldn’t forget him after meeting him at a social event around the age of fifteen, spending many sleepless nights.
Time passed without a proper conversation, and when she heard of his marriage, her heart felt like it was breaking.
She thought she should give up on him, but it wasn’t easy.
Later, when she heard that the Conver family had fallen and scattered, she resolved to let go of Bryce.
She lived forgetting for a while, but when she met the man who was her brother’s new business partner, Diane recognized him instantly.
His name, speech, hair color, and eye color had all changed, but she couldn’t be fooled.
No one recognized Bryce with his new identity, but only Diane did.
She was thrilled that her long-nurtured love would finally bear fruit, but the Princess was already by his side.
Realizing the Princess’s gaze at Bryce mirrored her own, Diane’s anger surged.
The Princess always got the best.
Because the Empress and Countess Lesper were close friends, Diane and the Princess often spent time together as children.
「It’s only right to yield to Her Highness, Diane. Especially since she’s frail..」
Her mother always said that.
Even though the Princess was born with so much, Diane couldn’t accept having to give up her own things too.
Even if she conceded everything else, she wanted to make Bryce hers.
Because she was the only one who knew his true identity.
She thought she deserved it.
But things went awry.
People began to see Bryce as the only match for the Princess.
The Imperial Family, including the Princess, cherished him, and his abilities were outstanding.
She thought he would be taken by the Princess too, but fortunately, a new variable emerged.
Bryce’s son, Ray.
‘Thanks to that cute little boy, I hope the Princess and the Imperial Family quickly distance themselves from Bryce!’
Today, she decided to visit Princess Stephania to tease her.
Diane pulled a cord, and a maid scurried in.
“You called, Miss?”
“Send a letter to Princess Stephania, saying I will visit today.”
“Yes, understood.”
Watching the maid leave, Diane’s face bore a mischievous smile.
* * *
Ray walked ahead, excited, while she and Duke Conver followed the child.
She looked at Duke Conver’s right arm and asked.
“Is your arm okay?”
“It’s fine, except for the discomfort from the bandages making my clothes tight.”
Duke Conver laughed, shaking his stiffly bundled right arm.
His awkward movements were amusing, making her laugh along.
Just then, Ray turned sharply to look at them.
His gaze was so fierce that she had to catch her breath.
Duke Conver was the same.
“Ray, why? What’s wrong?”
Ignoring her question, Ray ran to stand between them.
“Don’t whisper without me.”
“What?”
“What do you mean?”
Both she and Duke Conver, puzzled, looked at Ray.
Ray looked up at them with a pout.
His sparkling blue eyes were serious.
“Until now, I was a burden that could protect As, but not anymore. Now I’m Father’s burden.”
“A burden… What do you mean?”
“As no longer has a burden, she’ll attract a lot of attention from many men, and I won’t be able to protect her. But I’ll still try my best.”
“……”
“……”
She and Duke Conver needed time to fully understand Ray’s words.
Faced with Ray’s determined expression, they were speechless, blinking in confusion.
Attention from many men?
No burden anymore?
Ray protecting her?
“Pfft.”
Duke Conver burst into laughter.
Ray’s sharp gaze turned to him.
“Ray, are you thinking of protecting Miss Astrid from… me first? Heh.”
Duke Conver barely held back his laughter as he asked Ray.
‘Oh my, is that what he meant?!’
Thanks to Duke Conver’s explanation, she fully grasped Ray’s words and felt a surge of heat throughout her body, almost making her stagger.
She managed to steady herself but couldn’t stop her face from turning red.
Though she couldn’t see without a mirror, she was sure her face was as red as a beet, making her want to disappear.
“But what’s so funny about that?”
Ray asked Duke Conver, still with sharp eyes.
The seven-year-old’s piercing gaze made Duke Conver flinch.
“It’s not funny; I was just so surprised that I laughed. No other reason.”
Duke Conver coughed awkwardly, still suppressing his laughter.
She placed her hand on Ray’s shoulder and spoke gently.
“Ray, you don’t need to worry about that. Attention from many men? Just wait and see. That won’t happen. And don’t link me with your Father like that. It’s not right.”
“But…”
“Look at my face now. It’s so red. I’m too embarrassed to lift my head.”
As she cupped her cheeks with her hands, Ray also placed his small hand on her forehead.
“Wow… It’s really hot. Like a baked potato.”
“No matter what, calling me a baked potato is a bit much, Ray.”
She glared playfully at Ray, who scratched his head and bowed slightly.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“Shall we get ice cream to cool down Miss Astrid’s face?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
Ray nodded enthusiastically at Duke Conver’s sincere suggestion.
They headed to the pastel-toned ice cream shop across the street.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being teased by the two of them.
The idea of going to an ice cream shop to cool a baked potato-like face didn’t sit well with her.
Mumbling to herself, she walked slowly.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly feeling a gaze on them, she quickly turned around.
Thinking it was an unusual presence, she saw nothing suspicious.
“What’s wrong, As?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing.”
Hoping the uncomfortable gaze was just her imagination, she took Ray’s hand and entered the ice cream shop.
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