Chapter 14
Viern immediately cut off the thought that had surfaced and glanced at the clock. The moment he turned a page of the documents he was holding, the office door burst open.
“Viern!”
Diana was the only person who could barge into the Chancellor’s office unannounced like this.
“You’ve arrived, Your Highness.”
Viern nodded curtly toward her as if he were very busy, then looked back down at his documents.
“Mm-hmm, are you very busy, Viern?”
“I just need to review this.”
“Mm.”
Diana obediently sat on the office sofa, eating the snacks the attendants brought while sneaking glances at him working. Coming to Viern’s office to watch him work was Diana’s favorite hobby.
Viern was always handsome, but he was especially wonderful when working. His neat attire, buttoned up to the collar, created an ascetic atmosphere, and his profile as he concentrated was beautiful and bewitching, like a sculpture crafted by the gods.
‘What would it feel like if he looked at me with such absorbed eyes?’
At that thought, her legs unconsciously pressed together. It was because last night came to mind. When she’d unreasonably demanded a goodnight kiss and he’d treated her like a baby, pushing his finger inside her lips…
‘It must taste good. Drooling like a baby.’
‘Mmnngh…’
‘Don’t ever pull such a dangerous stunt like today again. If something like this happens next time, I think I’ll truly be very angry.’
‘Mm.’
Diana looked at him with a flushed face and nodded obediently. Of course, that didn’t mean she inwardly complied with his words obediently.
‘But yesterday, that was all because of Viern. Viern blatantly went looking for another woman, leaving me behind.’
Diana liked every part of Viern Erkman. However, there was just one thing she didn’t like. She absolutely hated it when he left her to mingle with other women.
So Diana sometimes tormented and chased away the women who associated with him. Because of this, rumors about her weren’t favorable, but she didn’t particularly care. Because the most important thing to her was Viern.
As long as he stayed by her side, nothing else mattered. That’s why she paid no mind to the infamy and notoriety that clung to her and engaged in all sorts of antics and mischief.
And Viern always showed a soft attitude toward such Diana. Just yesterday, he’d stayed by her side until the end at her unreasonable demand to be put to sleep… As this pattern repeated, Diana became even more arrogant.
Because this man who was sharp as a blade to everyone else kept yielding to her absurd demands and sophistry. Even though it was because he was doing so to tame her, his most useful chess piece.
“Huh?”
At that moment, a small box caught her eye. When she opened it slightly, inside was a gorgeous necklace studded with blue emeralds.
“What’s this? It’s pretty.”
Swoosh. The box in her hands immediately passed to Viern.
“It has another owner.”
He, who had risen and approached Diana at some point, closed the box with a click as he spoke.
“Oh, I see.”
Diana soon lost interest and nodded. Her attention immediately shifted to Viern, who had approached her.
“Hey, Viern. About my upcoming birthday party. You’ll make your entrance with me that day, right?”
He paused. Viern’s hand, which had been tucking the box into his pocket, slowed somewhat.
“I thought it would be nice if we coordinated our outfits for that day.”
However, Diana, who hadn’t noticed his change, chattered away with a shy expression, both cheeks flushed.
It had now been three years since Diana had been pulled from the burning tower by Viern. Diana, who had been an ignorant twenty-year-old princess, was now approaching her twenty-third birthday.
Escorting her at the numerous events held at the palace had been Viern’s role for the past three years. So discussing what outfits to coordinate before a party like this wasn’t particularly strange either.
However, Viern made a subtle expression, unlike usual, then soon opened his mouth in a composed voice.
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“Huh? For what?”
“Marriage discussions are underway with the daughter of the Marquis of Silberk. I plan to make my entrance with the marquis’s daughter that day.”
“What…?”
At the sudden bolt from the blue, Diana’s eyes shook violently. What did I just hear? Marriage discussions? Who? Viern? With another woman?
“…I don’t like that woman! Don’t marry her!”
Diana, belatedly understanding his words, raised her voice and jumped up.
“There’s much to be gained from uniting with the marquis’s house. Just obtaining the mining rights to the western mines alone would be of great help to the kingdom.”
“N-No! Marry me instead! I can give you much more…!”
Swoosh—
A large palm came without warning to cup her face. Tap. On Diana’s angry forehead, heated with fury, Viern lightly touched his own forehead to hers. At the suddenly shortened distance, Diana forgot about throwing her tantrum and stared at him blankly.
“I’ve already received much from Your Highness, and I plan to receive much more in the future.”
He caressed her earlobe warmly as he whispered in a languid voice.
“However, nothing would be more meaningless than a union between Rosenheir and Erkman, would it?”
“……”
Viern smiled lightly at Diana, who was staring at him as if enchanted, both cheeks flushed red, then pulled back again.
“I’ll find someone suitable for Your Highness.”
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