#4

Diez felt the morning sunlight tickling her eyes and slowly opened them. Was it because she had almost overcome her cold, or because she had slept well? She thought it had been a long time since she could wake up this lightly.

Especially these days. Sleeping soundly without any dreams was a rare fortune she could enjoy only occasionally……

Now, dreaming had become the rarity.

Blinking her eyes while staring into space, Diez turned over on her side. She was still in the new room she had been moved to.

‘If I say I’m fully recovered, will he tell me to go back to the small room I used before?’

It might be asking too much in her position as someone staying here on charity, but Diez wanted to keep staying in this bedroom. Of course, such thoughts should be quietly swallowed. How could she dare make such a request to the Duke?

She should live with gratitude for the treatment that was so clearly different from before. Just as Diez had made up her mind and was rubbing her eyes to get up, at that moment—

Someone knocked on the door.

“Miss Schleicher, have you woken up?”

It was a maid’s voice. Had she come to announce breakfast time? Thinking this, Diez quickly answered.

“Come in.”

Her guess seemed correct. The person who appeared was the very maid who always escorted Diez to the dining hall.

What was different from usual was that other maids followed behind her with their hands politely folded.

“Since you’ve just woken up, we’ll help you with washing your face and getting ready.”

“Getting ready…?”

“The Duke wishes to have breakfast with Miss Schleicher.”

‘Jürgen wants to see me first thing in the morning.’

Had something come up that needed urgent discussion? Even though she knew there was no such thing, Diez felt needless worry creeping into her heart.

But the Duke isn’t the type to request breakfast together without a special reason.

What could it be?

With the maids’ help, Diez washed her face and finished her preparations, albeit simply, before heading to the dining hall. As always, Jürgen had arrived first and was sitting at the table waiting for her.

“Good morning, Your Grace.”

As she greeted him with a slight lift of her skirt, he nodded slightly in response.

“Please sit.”

To Diez’s eyes, Jürgen was the perfect and proper Duke, unchanging as always. Looking at him sitting with impeccable posture that was hard to find fault with, such thoughts suddenly came to her.

Nothing in this world could shake Jürgen.

Unlike me, he must live in a world that’s always peaceful and tranquil.

Who would dare cause Duke Klaus any distress? Diez suddenly thought she envied him as she sat across from Jürgen.

It was Jürgen who spoke first.

“The doctor says you probably don’t need to take medicine anymore. He says you’ll fully recover in a day or two if you just rest enough.”

“I think I’m fully recovered now, thanks to you. Thank you for your concern, Your Grace.”

“From now on, don’t run out into the rain no matter how urgent the matter is.”

“……I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t say that to hear an apology.”

Despite the delicious breakfast filling the table, Jürgen paid no attention to it. Occasionally sipping from his teacup was all he did. As if saying that the meal laid out before him wasn’t prepared for him in the first place.

“Please eat. The food is getting cold.”

Yet he urged Diez to eat. His behavior was no different from the last time they had a meal together.

‘Is he naturally someone who eats little in the morning?’

As she brought the egg dish to her plate and cut it, a memory suddenly came to mind.

‘These are the dishes the Duke personally selected and instructed.’

Had he really chosen the menu for me when I was sick? She wanted to ask about it but couldn’t muster the courage, so Diez silently put the fluffy egg white into her mouth.

Meanwhile, Jürgen didn’t even touch his utensils. Though he clearly seemed to have something to say, he maintained his silence while fiddling with the handle of his teacup.

Like someone wondering if he should say what was on his mind.

After a long yet brief silence, he spoke again in a calm tone.

“Do you know about the upcoming festival?”

Festival? Diez blinked her eyes and quickly racked her brain. Ah, now that he mentioned it, an important anniversary was approaching……

“Are you referring to the Victory Day celebration?”

“So you remember.”

“My father always used to take me to the festival around this time, so it particularly stands out in my memory.”

Recalling those happy times now only brought bitterness. Diez unconsciously gave a bitter smile before quickly erasing her expression and said,

“I remember staying at a large hotel and dancing and playing for a week.”

“It’s always a repetition of similar scenes.”

But this year, once again, Diez would not be part of that scene. She had long since become someone whose very presence in public was shameful.

“As it’s the Empire’s most important anniversary, influential people from all over the world will visit the Empire. It’s unthinkable for those in business to miss such an occasion. I too will have to leave the mansion for some time.”

“I see.”

Diez was nodding in understanding when she gasped in surprise the next moment.

“You must know that it’s customary for everyone to bring a partner to such social gatherings. Especially for noble men.”

“……”

“I’d like to invite you as my partner. What do you think, Miss Schleicher?”

“Me?”

Diez’s eyes widened in shock as she questioned him back.

As Duke Klaus’s partner, of all people, me……?

But Jürgen’s face was far from joking. To begin with, he wasn’t the type of person to make such jokes.

So, he was serious……

He was quietly looking at the stunned Diez. Belatedly realizing that Jürgen was waiting for her answer, Diez stammered hurriedly.

“Taking me with you…… while I’m honored, I wonder if it might cause you trouble……”

“Are you planning to cause me trouble?”

“No! Of course not, but……”

“Then what’s the problem? I’ve heard you’re a lady who knows etiquette. That’s enough to be my partner.”

It was a surprising and sudden proposal. And needless to say, it was bewildering.

Why did he choose me as his partner?

Why?

For noble men, bringing a lady to public occasions carried significant meaning. And for such an important event as the Victory Day celebration, he wanted to bring me of all people.

‘Do you think I would be proud to appear with you?’

The man who had once snapped at her in such a cold manner was now asking Diez to be his partner.

What would it be like if I stood beside Jürgen?

Imagining the nobles’ gazes fixed on her made her hands tremble and felt as if all the blood was draining from her body.

“May I ask why you…… chose me?”

“I don’t want to leave you alone in the mansion for ten days.”

“I can behave myself. Really, I’ll just stay quietly in my room and not do anything.”

“It sounds like you’re not keen on going with me.”

Of course she wasn’t keen. She feared being surrounded by numerous people, even former acquaintances who used to exchange greetings with smiles, pointing fingers at her.

Wasn’t it the same at the late Duke’s funeral?

She could almost hear the voices of the noble ladies whispering as if for her to hear.

‘I heard he sold his daughter to pay off enormous debts……’

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

She said with a trembling voice.

“I can’t go.”

“……Is that so.”

“I don’t have the confidence to endure in such a place. People will gossip about me. I’m…… afraid. I’m not strong enough to ignore such words.”

Jürgen, who was quietly observing Diez, maintained his expressionless face. As he had said, the meal was slowly getting cold on the table, but no one seemed to care about that fact.

“Miss Schleicher. Calm down and listen to me.”

“……”

“You cannot stay in my mansion forever. Someday, you’ll have to leave and live your own life.”

That was true. Although she had tried to ignore and forget it, someday Diez would have to leave Jürgen’s mansion.

She couldn’t live off the Duke’s charity until she died. She could only delay it for a little while.

“No matter how much time passes, the outside world will remain the same. The number of people who want to point fingers at you won’t decrease. Then how do you plan to live alone at that time? Do you think it’s possible to live in hiding, alone as a woman, in a place where no one knows you?”

Diez bowed her head deeply and clasped her hands together without saying anything.

Facing cruel reality always hurt. She had completely forgotten that none of this was her fault.

“You cannot hide in the shadows forever.”

“……I know.”

“I don’t want you to live such a life, Miss Schleicher.”

“But……”

Whatever life I live, isn’t it unrelated to you, Your Grace? Suppressing such an irreverent question, Diez avoided his gaze.

Of course, Jürgen had been kind to her. But if Diez were to leave the Duke’s residence, she would become an issue beyond his hands.

“Miss Schleicher.”

“……Yes, Your Grace.”

“You once asked me for help. To let you sell handkerchiefs. What was your reason for that request?”

“After leaving the Duke’s residence…… I wanted to have some dignity.”

“Do you not need my help now?”

“……”