Chapter 15
II. By the Lake
On Diana’s birthday, as if to show that the royal family was thriving, Viern prepared a lavish party.
Today’s celebration was packed with all Diana’s favorite things. Desserts sweetened to her taste, musicians and dancers from the southern lands she adored, and even a boat ride to be held on the palace’s rear lake, which was only opened on the most special of occasions.
All the guests were impressed, yet Diana, the star of the day, was in a foul mood. Sitting at the head table, she sat with her arms crossed, glaring at Viern and Sophia Silberk, the woman destined to be his fiancée.
The young lady of Marquis Silberk, with her elegant brown hair flowing, was Diana’s complete opposite. Calm, dignified, and exuding an aura of virtuous grace.
So that’s the kind of “nice girl” he likes, huh?
Even though she knew Viern was only pursuing the engagement for the political benefits of uniting their families, she couldn’t stop the torrent of jealousy surging within her.
Diana had tried every trick to keep that woman from attending today. She’d sent people to the dressmaker to ruin the gown and sabotaged a carriage wheel. Yet, somehow—when had they even prepared this?—the woman entered the party with Viern, both adorned in newly tailored matching outfits.
When Viern escorted her out of the carriage, gasps of admiration erupted from all around. Finally, Duke Erkman has found his match, they whispered. What a perfect pair. A flood of comments needled at Diana’s nerves.
“You look absolutely stunning today, My Lady. That’s a gown I haven’t seen before…”
“A small issue arose with my original attire,” Sophia explained shyly to the onlookers. “But His Grace was kind enough to prepare and send this new dress to me.”
“With how busy the Duke is with affairs of state, practically living at the palace… For him to go all the way to your estate to escort you personally, his feelings for you must be quite profound.”
“I’m so envious, My Lady. What must it feel like to be loved by a man like Duke Erkman?”
Eavesdropping on the conversation, Diana realized it was Viern who had thwarted her plans. The fact he’d prepared a new gown, and had deliberately escorted Sophia himself after her carriage “broke down”—it was all so utterly infuriating.
Yet, suppressing her boiling irritation and disgust, Diana watched as Viern and Sophia took their seats at the table across from her. Soon, a servant brought them tea. As a teacup was set before Sophia, the corner of Diana’s mouth curled into a wicked smile. That cup contained a special brew she had prepared just for Sophia—a tea laced with an herb that would cause a hideous, full-body rash.
‘Hmph, let’s see you suffer a bit.’
Truthfully, she’d wanted to use something more painful, but Aisen had talked her down, limiting it to a mere nuisance. She waited with a relaxed expression for Sophia to lift the cup.
Crash!
A jarring sound, and Diana’s eyebrows shot up, twitching. The tip of Viern’s finger had ever so lightly nudged Sophia’s teacup off the table and onto the floor.
“How clumsy of me. My apologies, My Lady.”
“It’s quite alright, Your Grace. I can ask for a new cup…”
“Please, don’t trouble yourself. You may have mine.”
Viern stopped Sophia from calling a servant and offered her his own cup. Diana’s fist clenched tightly as she watched the woman’s lips touch the very spot Viern’s had been.
At that moment, Viern turned his head and their eyes met. He smiled at her, his eyes curving gently as they always did—the smile she had loved, and loved still. Today, it looked unbearably smug.
He was the one who had always let her be, no matter how she harassed the countless women who had briefly tried to claim a place by his side. Seeing him actively interfere to protect this woman made it clear he was determined to see this engagement through, no matter what.
‘You once said I was your most useful chess piece. Has that woman become more necessary than me now?’
Diana chewed furiously on her lower lip as she stared at him. But Viern merely curved his lips into an even deeper smile of greeting toward her before turning his attention back to the Marquess’s daughter. Watching him speak to that woman with the same gentle affection he’d once shown her, Diana viciously hacked the innocent cake on her plate into pieces.
A short while later, Viern—who had seemed glued to his prospective fiancée’s side—excused himself to speak with some nobles who sought his counsel. Diana, who had been glaring daggers in his direction, immediately lost all interest the moment he vanished.
“Haha, Your Highness. Perhaps… perhaps you’d like to go on the boat ride instead…?”
Aisen, who was escorting Diana in Viern’s stead, cautiously broached the topic, sensing her foul mood. Diana immediately pinned him with a sharp glare.
“Was it you?”
“Me, what?”
“The dress, the carriage wheel, the poisoned tea. You’re the one who tattled to Viern, weren’t you?”
“Ah, no, of course not?”
His voice cracked on the ‘not.’ It was definitely him. Diana’s eyes, cold as steel, raked over Aisen from head to toe before she abruptly stood up.
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