KTMD - Chapter 76

Princess Erita, who was sitting on the sofa in her room reading a letter, suddenly jumped up with wide eyes as if in revolt.

It was because she saw the content that Noah had taken Diana. A venomous expression rose on her face as she crumpled up the letter and tore it apart.

“Incompetent human.”

She didn't expect anything from a bastard like that.

She tossed shredded pieces of paper into the fireplace to burn, then paced frantically around the room, muttering under her breath. The admiral, who had offered to help, was out of contact, and Mastiff wasn't moving as she'd hoped.

The Princess messed up her short hair, which she had cut following Diana's example. She was so frustrated that she almost lost her mind.

“Then, this is the only way.”

An elegant, calm voice halted the Princess's hectic steps. Princess Erita wasn't the only one in her room.

A woman with amber eyes and wavy, black hair sat on the sofa, smiling. It was the Marchioness of Wales who had been temporarily looking after Daniel.

It was the Marchioness of Wales who suggested threatening Daniel and framing Diana, and when the plan failed, it was she who made Elsa float as a corpse under the Rembrandt Bridge.

The same thing happened with Mastiff. She continued speaking, holding up a saucer-shaped teacup holder and caressing it.

"A plate that's broken once will easily break again, even if you try to put it back together. If it's repeatedly broken and put back together, no matter how beautiful or precious the plate is, it will no longer be usable."

“So?”

"That's what a relationship is. It's bound to break down over trivial things, and even when it's rebuilt, it's never whole. It's such an imperfect relationship. Furthermore, because the two of them have only known each other for a short period of time, their trust and faith are bound to be imperfect."

“So you’re saying they should break up because of a misunderstanding?”

"Yes. If they break up, he'll return to the Empire without hesitation. Even Frogen is hoping for his return."

“What should I do? I don’t want to be jealous and suffer anymore.”

At the Princess's words, the Marchioness put down her book and raised the corners of her mouth.

"The spark of misunderstanding starts from something very small and trivial. We just need to pour a little oil on it."

Princess Erita continued to ponder the Marchioness of Wales's words with a worried expression on her face.

“But, Madam, even if they break up, Noah will find another woman to test me. Should we continue to do this?”

“I’m sorry to say this, but what that man is doing is not a test or an ordeal for the Princess.”

The Marchioness's eyes, which had been looking down at her teacup, turned to the Princess with a determined shine.

"He's sincere to Lady Diana. He's never been interested in you from the beginning. If you want my help, you have to face reality and accept it."

Princess Erita's dry blue eyes seemed to burn as she heard the words that mercilessly dispelled the hidden illusions and showed her reality.

"You were serious? He didn't come to Medea because of me?"

The Princess muttered in a somber voice, as if speaking to herself. The Marchioness of Wales, still firmly, corrected the misconception.

"So our plan is coercive. We'll separate them, send them back to Frogen, and use our power to exert political pressure to get him to marry the Princess. You don't like that?"

Princess Erita's face, her jet-black hair brushed back, flashed with possessiveness and desire for what she did not have.

"No. I want it no matter what. I just want to be the wife of the man I love. There's nothing wrong with that, right?"

"Yes. It's love, isn't it? It's not a bad thing at all, my Princess."

The Marchioness smiled kindly and took Princess Erita's hand, stroking it.

"So, you must become Queen. Absolute power can bring anyone to their knees, and anything is possible."

***

News has arrived that Diana and Noah have safely returned to Medea Loganfield. Prince Daniel remains at Tempshire Palace due to possible danger.

Queen Grace, sitting on a luxurious sofa in the room, was having a private conversation with Knight Renier.

Lenny reported what she had discovered to the Queen.

"Your Majesty, it is true that the princess is involved in this incident. She did not act alone."

“Who else is there?”

“Mastiff Argentino, son of Emperor Frogen.”

While tracking and monitoring Princess Elita's movements to rescue Diana, Lenny discovered that Mastiff had intervened. She searched for any possible location where Mastiff might be staying, but Noah was quicker to rescue her.

“Yeah, it looks like Frogen has noticed the project we’re working on.”

"Yes. So, it seems the bastard failed in his attempt to persuade Count Noah Rotsilt and collaborated with the Princess to kidnap Lady Diana."

“What is the relationship between that bastard and Count Rotsilt?”

"According to our investigation, they graduated from the same Gymnasium (secondary education institution in some countries) and the same military academy. There's been no connection since. The illegitimate son was deployed to the occupied territories, and Count Rotsilt was deployed to the front lines."

"Yes. People around him are strangely unwilling to leave him alone. That's why I told him to stay at the palace, but he won't listen."

"They're both still in their prime. I guess they don't want to be disturbed."

Lenny, who looked to be in her late teens, smiled faintly.

She entered the Chevant mansion as a maid under the name 'Lenny' and worked there, observing Diana closely.

The initial goal was simply to find out about her upbringing and who her mother was, but Diana was strangely unwilling to tell her own story.

Even when Lenny casually brought up her family, Diana simply listened, showing little empathy. She didn't even mention her life in Belford.

Her demeanor and manners were refined and polite, but it would be a stretch to call her kind. Diana's green-gray eyes, lacking something, were indifferent; her lips rarely spoke of others, and she paid little attention to the gazes of others.

She was a thoroughly calculating, moderately selfish woman, like a businessman with capitalist and utilitarian ideology. Lenny liked her, thinking of her as a clever way to survive in a harsh world, but she didn't criticize her.

Lenny has been reporting to the Queen that she is selfish, but not a harmful person.

"It seems Lady Diana has a secret she doesn't even know about. I believe Count Rotsilt is keeping it from her."

It seems like they have a plan. Whatever it is, it's definitely helping this country. The Queen rested her chin on her hand, closed her eyes, and looked worried.

"Renier, keep a close eye on the Princess from now on. She'll probably notice you're no ordinary maid, so you won't be able to return to the Chevant Mansion."

Lenny bowed in obedience, but a sense of bewilderment crept into her heart. A normal mother would have felt pity for her daughter's aching heart.

It is not a mother's role to unconditionally feel sorry for her daughter and show mercy or protection, but to strictly restrain her daughter's misconduct and guide her on the right path.

The crime of colluding with the illegitimate son of Emperor Frogen, who may have turned against the enemy, to threaten the Prince and kidnap Diana is grave.

The reason Princess Erita, blinded by love, was left unchecked was likely because she planned to capture crucial evidence and arrest everyone involved. The Queen, her long eyelashes downcast, was lost in thought.

"Your actions are exactly like your father's. You commit sins by clinging to what you don't have."

***

“Are you sleeping again?”

While I was half asleep, Noah's sweet voice reached my ears.

As soon as I returned to the Chevant mansion, I fell into a deep sleep and was glued to my bed for most of the day, waking up and falling asleep repeatedly.

It was an incredibly difficult journey for me, both mentally and physically. I really didn't want to do anything. Noah took my hand, applied ointment to the wound on the back of my hand, and blew on it as if he were polishing precious porcelain.

I rubbed my face up and down with one hand, trying to shake off the sleep that had clung to me. Just as I was finally able to sit up and regain consciousness, Noah let out a worried voice.

“Princess. Do you know that you sleep strangely much?”

“I feel tired after riding in the car. I guess I’m just tired.”

I'm the kind of person who has to lie down for a few days after a day of play. I have to conserve my mental strength before I can get back to work. Noah asked me cautiously, resting his forehead against mine.

“Are you sick? You don’t have a fever.”

“It doesn’t hurt.”

“Because you don’t say you’re sick, I don’t know how to find out.”

“If it really hurts, I’ll tell you. Don’t worry.”

“I think people would say they’re sick only when they’re about to die.”

Why are people so extreme? I was sobered by the sight of him making a pitiful cat-like expression and uttering such horrible things, but his face was actually quite cute. Noah, who was getting up and putting the bottle back in the drawer, uttered words that were painful to hear.

"Diana. The Queen wants to attend the ball next week."

“Ugh... This is exciting.”

Since I had previously made a big deal about making friends, I quickly changed my reaction.

“And tomorrow a spoiled brat is coming to visit you.”

"Prince Hessen? What kind of visitation is this? I'm not sick."

"I said you were sick, meaning he shouldn't come, but he insisted on visiting. If he comes, you'll pretend to be sick and lie down. Send him home quickly."

“Why, we can all just eat dessert and spend time together.”

"You're busy. We have to prepare for our wedding. Book a dress shop, find a flower shop, figure out where to go for our honeymoon, and..."

Why did he ask me to get married in April, knowing full well he'd have so much work to do? Noah, who had been trailing off as he held my hand, smiled faintly.

"Let's buy our new home in a place with a nice view of the river. I'll build a swing in the yard. You said you like dogs, so let's get one too."

Did I say something like that? Seeing the man so excitedly envisioning the future made me feel good, and I smiled bashfully.

“When are you going to finish that? You must be really busy.”

“Yeah, Vincent and Molly will do it all.”

“Did Lenny get kicked out? I haven’t seen her since that day.”

“Now that her identity has been revealed, she must have gone to spy on someone else.”

Even in a capitalist society, Lenny is doing such a tough job at such a young age. Well, she said she has many younger siblings to support, so it can't be helped.

Suddenly, I felt depressed, thinking, "I don't have money for a wedding gift or dowry. This is no time to worry about others." I felt a pang of regret, wondering if I should buy my fiancé a luxury watch or something. I wondered if I could somehow salvage some of my life's savings. I was wondering if I should even get a part-time job. Just then, Noah pulled an envelope from his bosom and thrust it in front of me.

I stared silently at the pure white envelope with lace and flowers, then looked up at Noah, wondering what it was.

"Your sister sent you a wedding invitation. It's supposed to be in May. Are you going?"

“I’m not going!”

With a disgusted expression, I snatched the irreverent invitation and tossed it away. It was obvious she was trying to extract the congratulatory money. I wonder if there was any congratulatory money here, though.

"The Lieutenant Colonel will marry her on the condition that you remain safe. So that the Admiral will no longer target you."

“Huh? I don’t know why he's going to do that... I had no relationship with that person.”

Noah swept his smooth chin as he watched me hastily make excuses.

“It must be a tendency to sacrifice for the happiness of others.”

How many times have you seen me before you're showing me such genuine love, on a level that rivals a thousand years of love? Rather than feeling grateful or touched, I find it difficult to understand.

“Noah, you shouldn’t do that. That’s a sacrifice the other person doesn’t want.”

“I would rather sacrifice others than make that sacrifice.”

That was a truly Noah-like answer. Later, curious about the contents of the invitation, I secretly picked it up and opened it again, but there wasn't much to see.

It was a silly excuse to say that even though we were blood relatives who lived like strangers, she wanted to get along well, that she had no ill feelings towards me anymore, and that she was willing to stand by my side and help me.

It must have been a favor born from a need to look good to the lieutenant colonel. She never said sorry. I wonder what choice the original Diana would have made, but she would have died long ago, so it wasn't a choice.

This body has already lost its owner, and instead of living Diana's life, I am living a new life, adapting to a different environment.

Life is a constant cycle of change, shaped by fleeting choices and decisions. Initially, having guidelines in place made things a little easier.

The next afternoon, a gentle rain drenched the garden, and Daniel came to visit. The Marchioness of Wales, who also served as his guardian, was with him.

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