“Is there anything else you need to take care of?”
Molly asked, as she was packing. Diana, wearing an ivory silk blouse with a brooch around her neck and a long skirt, shook her head. Her hair, which had grown to her collarbone, was cut short.
“No, you can just go and buy what you need.”
Vincent was already in the capital of Eugene, and it is said that the Ford family also left there long before the war began.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess has come to visit.”
As I was finishing packing and finishing, the maid came to tell me the news.
“Princess, could you give me a moment to talk?”
It was the voice of the Grand Duchess standing behind the maid. The old lady entered the room with a gentle step, smiled kindly, and took Diana's hand.
"As a result of the Medea Council's state council, the Princess's right to the throne has been restored. You will regain all titles, including the right to the thrones of the Chintya Empire, the Kingdom of Theberne, and the Kingdom of Pertrica. Your husband, Commander Rotsilt, has been granted the title of Duke of Medea as a meritorious subject of the kingdom."
“I don’t really have any intention of becoming King.”
"I understand. This is not a compulsion. Her Majesty is young and healthy. The succession to the throne is at least fifty years away. It is Her Majesty's wish that the Princess enjoy your rights as 'heir to the Medea royal family' and live comfortably while you live. As someone with power, wouldn't you be able to look after the weak and achieve your own goals? Since these titles are hereditary, they could be passed down to your children in the future."
"Yes."
"Princess, I know that the argument that we should forgive because we're family is nothing more than the argumentative rebuke of those who are overly arrogant. It's completely invalid advice, as it doesn't even consider the feelings of hurt felt by family."
Diana remained silent. The Princess of Wales had never brought up, coerced, or attempted to persuade her about her relationship with the Queen. Given her age and experience, no matter what she said, it wouldn't have resonated with her.
"For now, Princess, do as you please. Just because you don't accept her apology doesn't mean her wrongdoing will be reversed."
"Yes."
"However, there's something I want to tell you. Her Majesty the Queen can no longer have children. This is a secret known only to a select few."
Silence filled the gap between the gentle voices. Diana's expression showed no subtle change.
"Her Majesty suffered a terribly difficult birth. She fainted for days immediately after giving birth to the Princess. She was later diagnosed as infertile. Perhaps that's why she was so obsessed with succession. After all, you were the last remaining family member."
“I see.”
"I just want you to know that Her Majesty was trying to protect the Princess in her womb during her pregnancy. Even feelings of hatred for someone eventually fade and fade. After you've hated and resented them enough, you'll finally see something. Having lived to this point, I understand."
The Grand Duchess gently stroked the back of Diana's hand. She had offered Diana the option of doing as she pleased, but since it was a rhetorical plea for understanding of her mother, the Queen, she felt no need to respond. Diana sat up.
"I'll come visit you sometimes, Your Grace. Thank you for your time."
"The winter scenery here is truly beautiful. There's also a wonderful family-owned villa, so come visit anytime."
Diana and Molly prepared to leave and stepped out onto the portico where their vehicle was parked. Members of the Grand Duke's family were there to see them off. Mabel, standing beside them, was weeping. The Duke of Hessen and Daniel were also present. Mabel clutched Diana's dress.
"Princess, you'll come visit again, right? You'll write me a letter, right? You won't forget me, right?"
"Mabel, don't cry. It's hard for the person leaving."
Daniel had grown taller and more imposing. He smiled at Diana, but his lips were twitching dangerously. Diana took Daniel's hand and asked.
“Daniel, you don’t cry anymore.”
“Yes. I will become strong and become a knight who protects the Princess.”
“She already has it, so she doesn’t need it.”
Noah, wearing a gray suit with a chain boutonniere on the lapel, said with his arms crossed.
Daniel had become a man of such generosity that he could even laugh at Noah's indifferent words.
“The more the better.”
“I alone am enough... yes.”
Noah, whose arm was pinched by Diana, waved his hand expressionlessly and nodded.
“Princess. Please hug me.”
Mabel stretched out her arms toward Diana, her eyes wet.
Diana smiled and hugged Mabel, and she cried, tears and snot wiping away her tears. Diana, who had hugged Mabel, gestured toward Daniel.
“Come here.”
Daniel approached her, timidly, and embraced her. His red eyes sparkled, and the tip of his nose flushed red.
“I will miss you, Princess.”
“Me too.”
They were an adult and a child, each with the same wounds. Every time Diana saw Daniel, she felt more than pity and compassion; her heart ached.
“Don’t try to grow up too quickly, Prince.”
"Yes. Please send me letters and come visit me sometimes... Boaz, goodbye. Commander Rotsilt, goodbye."
"Why am I lower in rank than Boaz? Anyway, take care, little Hessen."
Noah laughed, ruffling Daniel's hair. Daniel rubbed his reddened eyes with his sleeve and waved. Boaz barked and circled in greeting at Daniel and Mabel.
Before getting into the car, Diana made eye contact with the Queen, who was looking in her direction through the inner window of the castle.
She stared at her with a blank expression, then smiled sadly. Diana's face paled for a moment, and her lips curled into a quiver. She immediately turned her head and got into the car. Noah looked back at the spot where Diana's gaze had landed, then got into the car and sat next to her.
“Diana.”
"Yes."
“Do you have a headache?”
“No. I’m feeling much better now. I’m taking my medicine.”
She leaned her elbows on the windowsill, resting her chin on it as she gazed outside. Noah knew she suffered from the aftereffects of returning soldiers from war. He also knew that the sight of the Queen's face reminded her of the dead. This was one of the reasons she had decided to leave for Eugene United States, and start anew in a new environment.
“Noah, are you okay?”
Her voice was filled with suppressed composure. Noah answered, glancing at Diana's profile, her gaze fixed outside the window.
"Yes."
"I think it must have been tough on the battlefield for a long time. What I've experienced is only a fraction of what you've experienced."
"I was numb. Whether my comrades died or the enemy died. I felt nothing, even when I saw a soldier shoot himself in the head. It was the same death. Even my own."
Diana slowly turned her head. Her gray-green eyes, still scarred by the shock and loss of the bombing, turned to him. Noah was still smiling affectionately.
“That’s how I survived.”
He survived. In his perfect state of "aloneness," he was free from the shackles of emotion and more rational and reasonable than anyone else. But the moment he brought another person into his life, he was forced to navigate an irrational existence devoid of objectivity. The ordinariness Noah spoke of was an act of self-proclaiming weakness. He embodied the fragile humanity she desired and endured the trials that came with it. Diana remained silent, staring outside.
“It looks delicious.”
Diana pointed to a waffle vendor on the street. At Noah's direction, the driver stopped. Noah handed the driver some money, and Diana added more money and said,
"You too, sir. Let's eat and rest before we go. Please tell the people in the security vehicle to eat too."
“Thank you, Princess.”
Cars were parked in a row on one side of the road leading to the river.
The waffle shop owner, who had unexpectedly seen a surge in sales, beamed as he prepared waffles laden with whipped cream. Diana got out of the car, accepted the waffles the driver had brought, and sat down on a bench beneath a sycamore tree. Noah sat next to her. Diana gave a small portion to Boaz, who was lying quietly at her feet, and then asked Noah.
"Is it delicious?"
"Yes."
Noah, biting into a waffle, answered with a blank expression. Diana chuckled.
“You can be honest.”
“Strangely, everything tastes good when I eat it with you.”
People, seeing the royal ceremonial motorcade flag parked behind them, took off their hats in respect as they passed by. She looked around. She saw market vendors, people out shopping, and people walking somewhere. The peaceful landscape after the war brought a vibrant energy to the people's faces. She saw a soldier on the roadside who had lost an arm and a young woman supporting him. Just as she was about to express her sympathy, Diana's gray-green eyes flickered faintly. The two of them were smiling brightly. Their smiles were filled with relief at being alive, with the joy of being together.
“I see. Everyone has been through war...”
Misfortune and happiness always go together.
A life swallowed by the harsh sands of harsh trials and misfortune. They forged the undiminished lumps of misfortune into exquisite pearls. Swept up in the tides of time, they all suffered wounds and imperfect moments, yet they continue to live each day faithfully.
Diana, munching on her waffle, gazed at Noah's graceful profile as he sat beside her. He immediately turned his head to meet her gaze, his blue eyes gleaming with affection. Boaz rested his chin on his knee and looked up at them both.
“Thank you for being by my side.”
There was one thing that I had forgotten in my familiarity and had not noticed because of my misfortune.
Happiness was with me every moment.
We arrived at the official residence in Munster, the capital of Eugene, located on the western coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Contrary to Noah's constant complaints, it was a luxurious mansion worthy of a four-star general. From the gates, strict security included identity checks and body searches, and even guards deployed by the Eugene government to protect the Medea royal family, along with Medea's royal knights.
Originally intended for a mansion in a place reserved for foreign royalty or high-ranking aristocrats, Diana took a liking to this house. She cherished the polished marble floors and walls, the sophisticated interior with its trendy decorations, and especially the windows that framed the sea like a painting. She also cherished the spacious terrace, where she could feel the cool sea breeze, and the colorful garden where Boaz could run wild.
"I like this place. The ocean view is clear. A view is one of the most important factors in determining a home's value."
Diana, standing by the window, gazed with satisfaction at the endless Prussian blue sea and the white foam leaping from the waves. Noah nodded, seemingly convinced.
“It’s better than a noisy industrial complex overflowing with smoke and wastewater.”
“I don’t think I could live in a place like that. In the world I used to live in...”
Diana quickly shut her mouth. She shook her head and continued.
“What good would it do to talk? I have no reason to go back now.”
The two climbed the stairs to the bedroom. Diana hesitated upon seeing the room, then looked up at Noah with an awkward expression. A heart was made of rose petals on the white bedsheets. Wine and desserts were placed around them, and candles were lit, like a candlelight vigil, urging them to head to bed. And it was broad daylight. Noah, who had been looking around the room expressionlessly, which was no different from his newlywed bedroom, let out a voice that seemed quite moved.
“I didn’t know you would prepare something like this for me.”
“I didn’t do it.”
“I like it.”
“No, I told you I didn’t do it.”
Diana rubbed her flushed cheeks and denied it. Given Noah's disposition, there was no way he'd make such embarrassing preparations. The proposal had been remarkably simple. This was undoubtedly a deliberate plot by the knights-in-waiting of Medea. Remembering that she hadn't slept with him for a long time, she agonized over how to break the awkwardness. As someone who believes physical communication should occur naturally, she couldn't stand being in a space filled with such a direct message.
“Let’s go for a walk. As far as possible.”
She blurted out something to banish the sinister fantasy inside me. What should I do after my walk? The thought of re-entering this unfamiliar room made my vision dizzy. Noah smiled.
“Date? I’ll go out to eat and come back.”
What about after dinner? By then, all those blatant candles will have been extinguished, right? They'll clean them up, right? And those blatant rose petals? Diana nodded absentmindedly, lost in a hundred different anxieties.
“Are you coming out already?”
Florence, one of the knights-in-waiting, looked at the two men with a look of inward resentment. Diana's eyes narrowed as she discovered the culprit of this atrocity. Diana couldn't bring herself to reprimand her, as her intentions were well-intentioned.
"I was really surprised. You worked so hard to prepare all that."
Molly, who had been with Diana for a long time, would have known it was a highly euphemistic way of saying, "Don't bother with that kind of thing," but Florence didn't. She was oblivious, but kind, and smiled brightly.
“It’s nothing special. I just hope you have a good time.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry, but I must go out now, Sir Florence.”
“Yes, I will inform Sir Matilda and Lieutenant Harry about the preparations for leaving.”
Florence politely stepped aside, put a leash on Boaz, and then drove the chauffeured vehicle toward a nearby shopping district. As they drove along the coastal road, Noah pointed across the street. Boaz, riding next to her, followed her finger, his pointed snout following.
"That's the military port, and the naval base command. Do you see the aircraft carrier and cruiser floating there?"
"Yes, it's cool. I saw some sailors passing by nearby. Their uniforms were pretty."
Noah stroked his smooth chin and made a serious face.
“Should I change to a naval officer?”
Diana imagined him in his naval uniform. A handsome face, tall stature, broad shoulders, and a muscular build, all in a white sailor suit. He would surely be sexy. She quickly tried to imagine all the uniforms of the army, navy, and air force, and smiled wickedly inside, but she replied with a bashful, nonchalant tone.
"The operations commander's uniform is the coolest. You'll rarely be deployed in combat, after all."
“Then I’ll continue doing what I was doing.”
Before they knew it, they'd arrived at a nearby tourist attraction. After a leisurely stroll through Boaz, they dined at a restaurant run by a renowned Francian chef. Diana's face hardened as she gazed at the darkening sky. What if, when she returned, it had been even more extravagantly decorated? Surely not.
And that actually happened.
The rose petals in the bedroom had been replaced with fresh, new ones, forming a larger heart shape. The wine, desserts, and even the butter cake, adorned with flower decorations, were all new. And the bizarre candles marking the path to bed were still burning brightly.
No, it became more excessive. Diana rubbed her forehead as she saw the bedroom, which resembled an event hall. A desire to stop this kind of consideration surged like anger.
“This is my favorite wine.”
Noah simply lifted the wine bottle and examined it, exclaiming in admiration. "That guy looks so excited. Am I the only one feeling embarrassed and embarrassed?" Diana pondered, entering the bathroom and gaping blankly.
“Fucking roses!”
It was her cry upon seeing rose petals scattered in the bathtub. Hearing her voice full of resentment, Noah entered the bathroom and discovered a tub that seemed intent on inviting him to join her. Finally, he looked at her and sighed softly.
“At this point, I can’t pretend to know any longer.”
“I didn’t order you to do that.”
“Yes. Let’s say so.”
Diana gritted her teeth, turning her face away as it flushed with anger. She would have to discipline Florence, who was so devoted to events and roses. Otherwise, she might end up sleeping in the burdensome event room every day. While she was denying reality, she heard Noah's gentle voice.
“Since you already prepared it, I’ll wash it with you to show my sincerity.”
It sounded like, "I'll wash you together out of respect for your kindness." Just as I was about to make an excuse, a caress on my back snapped me back to my senses. Diana, realizing she was in nothing but her underwear, panicked and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Thank you for your hard work in preparing.”
That man was a man moved by the event. Diana's lips tightened, unable to deny it. A strong arm wrapped around her waist. He lowered his eyes, his signature sensual smile fading into his ear. A soft voice whispered in her ear.
"It might be hard. I've put up with so much. Do you understand?"
Molly asked, as she was packing. Diana, wearing an ivory silk blouse with a brooch around her neck and a long skirt, shook her head. Her hair, which had grown to her collarbone, was cut short.
“No, you can just go and buy what you need.”
Vincent was already in the capital of Eugene, and it is said that the Ford family also left there long before the war began.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess has come to visit.”
As I was finishing packing and finishing, the maid came to tell me the news.
“Princess, could you give me a moment to talk?”
It was the voice of the Grand Duchess standing behind the maid. The old lady entered the room with a gentle step, smiled kindly, and took Diana's hand.
"As a result of the Medea Council's state council, the Princess's right to the throne has been restored. You will regain all titles, including the right to the thrones of the Chintya Empire, the Kingdom of Theberne, and the Kingdom of Pertrica. Your husband, Commander Rotsilt, has been granted the title of Duke of Medea as a meritorious subject of the kingdom."
“I don’t really have any intention of becoming King.”
"I understand. This is not a compulsion. Her Majesty is young and healthy. The succession to the throne is at least fifty years away. It is Her Majesty's wish that the Princess enjoy your rights as 'heir to the Medea royal family' and live comfortably while you live. As someone with power, wouldn't you be able to look after the weak and achieve your own goals? Since these titles are hereditary, they could be passed down to your children in the future."
"Yes."
"Princess, I know that the argument that we should forgive because we're family is nothing more than the argumentative rebuke of those who are overly arrogant. It's completely invalid advice, as it doesn't even consider the feelings of hurt felt by family."
Diana remained silent. The Princess of Wales had never brought up, coerced, or attempted to persuade her about her relationship with the Queen. Given her age and experience, no matter what she said, it wouldn't have resonated with her.
"For now, Princess, do as you please. Just because you don't accept her apology doesn't mean her wrongdoing will be reversed."
"Yes."
"However, there's something I want to tell you. Her Majesty the Queen can no longer have children. This is a secret known only to a select few."
Silence filled the gap between the gentle voices. Diana's expression showed no subtle change.
"Her Majesty suffered a terribly difficult birth. She fainted for days immediately after giving birth to the Princess. She was later diagnosed as infertile. Perhaps that's why she was so obsessed with succession. After all, you were the last remaining family member."
“I see.”
"I just want you to know that Her Majesty was trying to protect the Princess in her womb during her pregnancy. Even feelings of hatred for someone eventually fade and fade. After you've hated and resented them enough, you'll finally see something. Having lived to this point, I understand."
The Grand Duchess gently stroked the back of Diana's hand. She had offered Diana the option of doing as she pleased, but since it was a rhetorical plea for understanding of her mother, the Queen, she felt no need to respond. Diana sat up.
"I'll come visit you sometimes, Your Grace. Thank you for your time."
"The winter scenery here is truly beautiful. There's also a wonderful family-owned villa, so come visit anytime."
Diana and Molly prepared to leave and stepped out onto the portico where their vehicle was parked. Members of the Grand Duke's family were there to see them off. Mabel, standing beside them, was weeping. The Duke of Hessen and Daniel were also present. Mabel clutched Diana's dress.
"Princess, you'll come visit again, right? You'll write me a letter, right? You won't forget me, right?"
"Mabel, don't cry. It's hard for the person leaving."
Daniel had grown taller and more imposing. He smiled at Diana, but his lips were twitching dangerously. Diana took Daniel's hand and asked.
“Daniel, you don’t cry anymore.”
“Yes. I will become strong and become a knight who protects the Princess.”
“She already has it, so she doesn’t need it.”
Noah, wearing a gray suit with a chain boutonniere on the lapel, said with his arms crossed.
Daniel had become a man of such generosity that he could even laugh at Noah's indifferent words.
“The more the better.”
“I alone am enough... yes.”
Noah, whose arm was pinched by Diana, waved his hand expressionlessly and nodded.
“Princess. Please hug me.”
Mabel stretched out her arms toward Diana, her eyes wet.
Diana smiled and hugged Mabel, and she cried, tears and snot wiping away her tears. Diana, who had hugged Mabel, gestured toward Daniel.
“Come here.”
Daniel approached her, timidly, and embraced her. His red eyes sparkled, and the tip of his nose flushed red.
“I will miss you, Princess.”
“Me too.”
They were an adult and a child, each with the same wounds. Every time Diana saw Daniel, she felt more than pity and compassion; her heart ached.
“Don’t try to grow up too quickly, Prince.”
"Yes. Please send me letters and come visit me sometimes... Boaz, goodbye. Commander Rotsilt, goodbye."
"Why am I lower in rank than Boaz? Anyway, take care, little Hessen."
Noah laughed, ruffling Daniel's hair. Daniel rubbed his reddened eyes with his sleeve and waved. Boaz barked and circled in greeting at Daniel and Mabel.
Before getting into the car, Diana made eye contact with the Queen, who was looking in her direction through the inner window of the castle.
She stared at her with a blank expression, then smiled sadly. Diana's face paled for a moment, and her lips curled into a quiver. She immediately turned her head and got into the car. Noah looked back at the spot where Diana's gaze had landed, then got into the car and sat next to her.
“Diana.”
"Yes."
“Do you have a headache?”
“No. I’m feeling much better now. I’m taking my medicine.”
She leaned her elbows on the windowsill, resting her chin on it as she gazed outside. Noah knew she suffered from the aftereffects of returning soldiers from war. He also knew that the sight of the Queen's face reminded her of the dead. This was one of the reasons she had decided to leave for Eugene United States, and start anew in a new environment.
“Noah, are you okay?”
Her voice was filled with suppressed composure. Noah answered, glancing at Diana's profile, her gaze fixed outside the window.
"Yes."
"I think it must have been tough on the battlefield for a long time. What I've experienced is only a fraction of what you've experienced."
"I was numb. Whether my comrades died or the enemy died. I felt nothing, even when I saw a soldier shoot himself in the head. It was the same death. Even my own."
Diana slowly turned her head. Her gray-green eyes, still scarred by the shock and loss of the bombing, turned to him. Noah was still smiling affectionately.
“That’s how I survived.”
He survived. In his perfect state of "aloneness," he was free from the shackles of emotion and more rational and reasonable than anyone else. But the moment he brought another person into his life, he was forced to navigate an irrational existence devoid of objectivity. The ordinariness Noah spoke of was an act of self-proclaiming weakness. He embodied the fragile humanity she desired and endured the trials that came with it. Diana remained silent, staring outside.
“It looks delicious.”
Diana pointed to a waffle vendor on the street. At Noah's direction, the driver stopped. Noah handed the driver some money, and Diana added more money and said,
"You too, sir. Let's eat and rest before we go. Please tell the people in the security vehicle to eat too."
“Thank you, Princess.”
Cars were parked in a row on one side of the road leading to the river.
The waffle shop owner, who had unexpectedly seen a surge in sales, beamed as he prepared waffles laden with whipped cream. Diana got out of the car, accepted the waffles the driver had brought, and sat down on a bench beneath a sycamore tree. Noah sat next to her. Diana gave a small portion to Boaz, who was lying quietly at her feet, and then asked Noah.
"Is it delicious?"
"Yes."
Noah, biting into a waffle, answered with a blank expression. Diana chuckled.
“You can be honest.”
“Strangely, everything tastes good when I eat it with you.”
People, seeing the royal ceremonial motorcade flag parked behind them, took off their hats in respect as they passed by. She looked around. She saw market vendors, people out shopping, and people walking somewhere. The peaceful landscape after the war brought a vibrant energy to the people's faces. She saw a soldier on the roadside who had lost an arm and a young woman supporting him. Just as she was about to express her sympathy, Diana's gray-green eyes flickered faintly. The two of them were smiling brightly. Their smiles were filled with relief at being alive, with the joy of being together.
“I see. Everyone has been through war...”
Misfortune and happiness always go together.
A life swallowed by the harsh sands of harsh trials and misfortune. They forged the undiminished lumps of misfortune into exquisite pearls. Swept up in the tides of time, they all suffered wounds and imperfect moments, yet they continue to live each day faithfully.
Diana, munching on her waffle, gazed at Noah's graceful profile as he sat beside her. He immediately turned his head to meet her gaze, his blue eyes gleaming with affection. Boaz rested his chin on his knee and looked up at them both.
“Thank you for being by my side.”
There was one thing that I had forgotten in my familiarity and had not noticed because of my misfortune.
Happiness was with me every moment.
***
We arrived at the official residence in Munster, the capital of Eugene, located on the western coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Contrary to Noah's constant complaints, it was a luxurious mansion worthy of a four-star general. From the gates, strict security included identity checks and body searches, and even guards deployed by the Eugene government to protect the Medea royal family, along with Medea's royal knights.
Originally intended for a mansion in a place reserved for foreign royalty or high-ranking aristocrats, Diana took a liking to this house. She cherished the polished marble floors and walls, the sophisticated interior with its trendy decorations, and especially the windows that framed the sea like a painting. She also cherished the spacious terrace, where she could feel the cool sea breeze, and the colorful garden where Boaz could run wild.
"I like this place. The ocean view is clear. A view is one of the most important factors in determining a home's value."
Diana, standing by the window, gazed with satisfaction at the endless Prussian blue sea and the white foam leaping from the waves. Noah nodded, seemingly convinced.
“It’s better than a noisy industrial complex overflowing with smoke and wastewater.”
“I don’t think I could live in a place like that. In the world I used to live in...”
Diana quickly shut her mouth. She shook her head and continued.
“What good would it do to talk? I have no reason to go back now.”
The two climbed the stairs to the bedroom. Diana hesitated upon seeing the room, then looked up at Noah with an awkward expression. A heart was made of rose petals on the white bedsheets. Wine and desserts were placed around them, and candles were lit, like a candlelight vigil, urging them to head to bed. And it was broad daylight. Noah, who had been looking around the room expressionlessly, which was no different from his newlywed bedroom, let out a voice that seemed quite moved.
“I didn’t know you would prepare something like this for me.”
“I didn’t do it.”
“I like it.”
“No, I told you I didn’t do it.”
Diana rubbed her flushed cheeks and denied it. Given Noah's disposition, there was no way he'd make such embarrassing preparations. The proposal had been remarkably simple. This was undoubtedly a deliberate plot by the knights-in-waiting of Medea. Remembering that she hadn't slept with him for a long time, she agonized over how to break the awkwardness. As someone who believes physical communication should occur naturally, she couldn't stand being in a space filled with such a direct message.
“Let’s go for a walk. As far as possible.”
She blurted out something to banish the sinister fantasy inside me. What should I do after my walk? The thought of re-entering this unfamiliar room made my vision dizzy. Noah smiled.
“Date? I’ll go out to eat and come back.”
What about after dinner? By then, all those blatant candles will have been extinguished, right? They'll clean them up, right? And those blatant rose petals? Diana nodded absentmindedly, lost in a hundred different anxieties.
“Are you coming out already?”
Florence, one of the knights-in-waiting, looked at the two men with a look of inward resentment. Diana's eyes narrowed as she discovered the culprit of this atrocity. Diana couldn't bring herself to reprimand her, as her intentions were well-intentioned.
"I was really surprised. You worked so hard to prepare all that."
Molly, who had been with Diana for a long time, would have known it was a highly euphemistic way of saying, "Don't bother with that kind of thing," but Florence didn't. She was oblivious, but kind, and smiled brightly.
“It’s nothing special. I just hope you have a good time.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry, but I must go out now, Sir Florence.”
“Yes, I will inform Sir Matilda and Lieutenant Harry about the preparations for leaving.”
Florence politely stepped aside, put a leash on Boaz, and then drove the chauffeured vehicle toward a nearby shopping district. As they drove along the coastal road, Noah pointed across the street. Boaz, riding next to her, followed her finger, his pointed snout following.
"That's the military port, and the naval base command. Do you see the aircraft carrier and cruiser floating there?"
"Yes, it's cool. I saw some sailors passing by nearby. Their uniforms were pretty."
Noah stroked his smooth chin and made a serious face.
“Should I change to a naval officer?”
Diana imagined him in his naval uniform. A handsome face, tall stature, broad shoulders, and a muscular build, all in a white sailor suit. He would surely be sexy. She quickly tried to imagine all the uniforms of the army, navy, and air force, and smiled wickedly inside, but she replied with a bashful, nonchalant tone.
"The operations commander's uniform is the coolest. You'll rarely be deployed in combat, after all."
“Then I’ll continue doing what I was doing.”
Before they knew it, they'd arrived at a nearby tourist attraction. After a leisurely stroll through Boaz, they dined at a restaurant run by a renowned Francian chef. Diana's face hardened as she gazed at the darkening sky. What if, when she returned, it had been even more extravagantly decorated? Surely not.
And that actually happened.
The rose petals in the bedroom had been replaced with fresh, new ones, forming a larger heart shape. The wine, desserts, and even the butter cake, adorned with flower decorations, were all new. And the bizarre candles marking the path to bed were still burning brightly.
No, it became more excessive. Diana rubbed her forehead as she saw the bedroom, which resembled an event hall. A desire to stop this kind of consideration surged like anger.
“This is my favorite wine.”
Noah simply lifted the wine bottle and examined it, exclaiming in admiration. "That guy looks so excited. Am I the only one feeling embarrassed and embarrassed?" Diana pondered, entering the bathroom and gaping blankly.
“Fucking roses!”
It was her cry upon seeing rose petals scattered in the bathtub. Hearing her voice full of resentment, Noah entered the bathroom and discovered a tub that seemed intent on inviting him to join her. Finally, he looked at her and sighed softly.
“At this point, I can’t pretend to know any longer.”
“I didn’t order you to do that.”
“Yes. Let’s say so.”
Diana gritted her teeth, turning her face away as it flushed with anger. She would have to discipline Florence, who was so devoted to events and roses. Otherwise, she might end up sleeping in the burdensome event room every day. While she was denying reality, she heard Noah's gentle voice.
“Since you already prepared it, I’ll wash it with you to show my sincerity.”
It sounded like, "I'll wash you together out of respect for your kindness." Just as I was about to make an excuse, a caress on my back snapped me back to my senses. Diana, realizing she was in nothing but her underwear, panicked and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Thank you for your hard work in preparing.”
That man was a man moved by the event. Diana's lips tightened, unable to deny it. A strong arm wrapped around her waist. He lowered his eyes, his signature sensual smile fading into his ear. A soft voice whispered in her ear.
"It might be hard. I've put up with so much. Do you understand?"
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