Chapter 32
IV. Education
Viern’s office.
The man, sitting properly at his desk reviewing documents, lifted his head and glanced at the clock on the wall. Out of habit, he set the papers down.
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
In the cold silence, only the ticking of the second hand could be heard. But the door to his office did not open.
“Is something the matter, Your Grace?”
His aide asked with a puzzled look.
“…It’s nothing. Never mind.”
Viern picked up the documents again and resumed his examination. Around this time every day, Diana would usually barge through the door without warning, seeking him out and being a nuisance. But ever since the accident where she fell from the tree, Diana had stopped coming to see him.
At first, it was because she had injured her ankle and couldn’t leave her room, forced to stay in bed. But even now, when she could walk and run without any issues, he could hardly catch a glimpse of her. Even yesterday, despite what had happened…
‘She lost her memory, so of course she wouldn’t be the same as before.’
Just as that thought drifted idly through his mind, a clear, ringing laugh floated in through the window.
“It’s Her Highness the Princess and Sir Aisen.”
The aide offered an unnecessary report. Viern’s penmanship faltered as he was signing a document.
“It seems Her Highness has often been seen with Sir Aisen these past few days.”
“……”
“The servants attending Her Highness have also been saying life has gotten more pleasant lately. They say since her illness, Her Highness becomes quite gracious whenever Sir Aisen is by her side.”
“……”
“Everyone’s saying it seems Her Highness’s heart has finally moved on from Your Grace to Sir Aisen. Everyone in the palace already knows, except for the oblivious Sir Aisen himself.”
Thud. The ink finally blotted on the document.
“Isn’t it for the best? Her Highness’s obsession with you had been somewhat excessive. Like that time by the lake… I was truly worried Her Highness might harm Lady Silberk.”
The aide cleared his throat awkwardly, watching Viern’s expression.
“Ah, of course, I am aware that Your Grace has been holding the reins all this time to prevent the impetuous Princess from acting recklessly. Well, if the Princess, who was like that, now claims to like someone else, it might pose some difficulties, but Sir Aisen is part of the Erkman family anyway…”
It wasn’t entirely wrong. Diana Rosenheir, now the kingdom’s sole heir—the reason he had doled out carrots and tolerated her somewhat excessive obsession, letting that blind devotion remain, was because it was the most effective means of controlling her.
All that was changing was that the carrot held out to her was shifting from ‘Viern Erkman’ to ‘Aisen Erkman.’ As for Aisen, he was a docile and obedient fellow who would even play dead if his eldest brother commanded it, so if ordered to become the Princess’s carrot, he would likely follow immediately, even while wiping away tears.
“And, hmm. Seeing the two of them together, they do seem quite well-suit……”
“Eldman.”
A cold voice finally flowed from his tightly sealed lips.
“You seem to have ample time to spare, paying attention to useless gossip. Do you need more work?”
“M-My apologies, Your Grace.”
The astute aide, immediately noticing his displeased demeanor, promptly apologized and fell silent. But the fleeting satisfaction of having finally shut that mouth was short-lived.
“Ahaha, Aisen.”
Now, only Diana’s voice, carried in through the open window, became even clearer.
“No, why, why are you chasing me like that, Your Highness?”
“Because I like you!”
“Eek, please don’t say such things……”
Thud.
With the sound of the window closing, the two voices faded into the distance. Viern watched with an impassive face as Diana hopped and skipped after Aisen below, then abruptly drew the curtains and turned away.
* * *
Diana came to find him exactly three days after ‘that incident’ in her bedroom.
“I found out there was no State Council meeting that day. You lied to me, Duke.”
Sitting askew on the sofa in Viern’s office with her arms crossed, she glared at him with bright, accusing eyes as she brought up the matter from that day.
“You figured it out later than I expected. Before losing her memories, Your Highness was a bit more astute. She would realize she’d been tricked within half a day, come find me, and throw a tantrum.”
Viern replied calmly, making no effort to hide his lie. Diana pouted and grumbled in response.
“I was busy. It seemed like Aisen was meeting another woman.”
At that name surfacing again, one of Viern’s eyebrows twitched upward as he looked over his documents.
“And what about the Duke? Are you also busy today?”
“Why do you ask?”
A sense of foreboding made him ask in return, and she made her demand with the bold attitude of a creditor come to collect a debt.
“You have to finish helping me. You said yourself it’s your duty as a vassal to help, that nothing should be beyond your aid. You said that, Duke.”
“……”
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