Chapter 4
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“What?”
She knew he’d react like that. Diana laughed again. As soon as she saw his reaction, suddenly she felt oddly relaxed. Soon after, she smiled with a cool and polished expression.
“I’m saying I’ve seen the future. A future where we get married. You’re going to die, as will I.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Diana’s face turned cold as she looked at Iandrus.
“I’m saying if we get married, we’ll all die. Don’t tell me you can’t understand that. You’re going to die.”
“Diana……..”
“So annul the engagement. I don’t want such a future to repeat itself. I’ve said this so many times, but no one ever listens to me,” Diana murmured, preparing herself for another one of Iandrus’ irritated tirades. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s not.”
But Iandrus’ response was something she didn’t expect. Thinking for a moment, he shook his head.
“No, I don’t think you’re crazy.”
“What?” This time, Diana was surprised.
“I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’re saying this because you’re completely sane and something is making you believe this.”
What is he talking about now?
Iandrus’ personality type was the kind to yell at Diana for daring to say a prince was going to die. She’d expected him to yell ‘you’re crazy’, giving her an excuse to leave. But contrary to her expectation, Iandrus sat still, calmly listening to Diana’s story.
Did Diana remember things wrong?
These times first occurred over twenty years ago.
Iandrus was as young as she was during those days. What did Diana and Iandrus used to talk about back then?
I can’t even remember.
In Diana’s old memories, Iandrus was a quiet and fairly blunt person when it came to her. He’d often get mad at Diana when he was in a bad mood, so she wasn’t used to him so calmly and kindly saying he trusted her.
“I know the future. You’re going to die. And not just you, but me as well,” said Diana with impatience in her voice. The calmness of Iandrus brought to her another memory.
‘Mother…..run…..’
Why was her daughter’s voice, who had so desperately called to her, coming to her now of all times? The death of her dear daughter, whom Iandrus had given up on, whom Diana had failed to save. The girl who seemed to attract unhappiness, crumbling before her eyes.
Remembering it all, the noble calmness Diana used to carry with her broke like fragile glass as tears formed in her eyes.
“We can’t get married, Iandrus. Or else everyone is going to die!” Diana screamed out.
She couldn’t hold back her tears as they flowed without end down her cheeks. Iandrus stared at Diana in surprise. The whole situation earned the stares of the other patrons in the coffee house, turning to look at Diana and Iandrus.
In the middle of the social seasons, all kinds of nobles living in the empire had gathered in the coffee house. It was a good place for ladies and their children of debut age to gather. The people alternated their gazes between Diana in a raven color dress and the prince in front of her.
Feeling their oppressive stares, Diana quickly wiped away her tears.
“This is my second chance, Iandrus. I don’t want to waste this opportunity. I don’t want to die…. So please…..”
“Don’t cry, Diana.”
Iandrus took out a handkerchief from his pocket and held it out to her, looking all too bewildered. Diana’s calm gaze settled on the handkerchief in front of her. And as if some kind of dam inside of her broke, her tears kept falling out of her without her control with trembling lips.
Despite her countless tears and mournful pleas in the past, Iandrus never once looked back at her. Now, he was looking at her with straight eyes, holding out a handkerchief towards her for the first time ever in their childhood.
Diana snapped towards him coldly, “………You know nothing. That’s why you’re able to stay so calm. You can sit there and listen to me as if this has nothing to do with you. You end up dying, along with me, and even my child……You killed her.”
Iandrus breathed in deeply.
At this point, it didn’t matter if Iandrus believed her or not. Now that she’d taken this first step, Diana was prepared to tell him everything. Even if their marriage were to be annulled, she couldn’t stand to see him live happily without ever knowing what he’d done. No matter how he reacted to hearing her story, he deserved to have this planted in the corner of his heart.
He should not be allowed to live without knowing his sins.
Diana bit her lip.
The handkerchief once held in Iandrus’ hand fell to the table.
“I….. killed……..”
He looked frightened. Diana glared at Iandrus with sharp eyes. It seemed he was clearly capable of making himself look vulnerable in a pinch. Diana spoke softly.
“Yes. Don’t look so oblivious, murderer.”
Iandrus’ face turned pale.
Finally, she was able to say what she wanted to say. Diana stared straight at Iandrus, her face twisted. He must be feeling such a strange mix of surprise and confusion after hearing something he’d never imagine he’d hear. So maybe if he were to return to the royal family and echo what she’d said, she’d finally get what she wants.
Crazy. Say I’ve gone crazy.
Go back to square one. With Iandrus’ great pride, he would never simply take Diana’s disrespect for a great prince such as himself. He said with confidence that he’d believe Diana, but this was different.
And Iandrus didn’t have the courage needed to accept the truth. Even if he did believe her, he’d just run away from it all.
So run, Iandrus. Accuse me of being crazy. End this engagement that I cannot escape through my own power!
If he were to claim Diana were unstable, the engagement would be broken. Diana lifted the teapot with a trembling hand, filling an empty teacup. The tea had gone cold, but for some reason it still felt hot. Like it was soaking her soul with sulfurous fire.
Slowly, Diana took a sip.
She was giving Iandrus a chance to run away from this situation.
“……..I’m going to call it a day, Diana,” Iandrus muttered in a tired voice. Just as Diana guessed.
“As expected, you haven’t changed one bit. Just as I know you to be, Iandrus.”
That quiet voice was filled with so much hidden hatred and remorse. Her blue eyes, wet with tears, were staring at Iandrus. As blue as the winter sky, those eyes seemed to freeze Iandrus cold, straight through the heart.
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“What are you thinking about this time, Prince?” Iandrus glanced at Cullen before turning his head back towards the window. “Did the lady say something to you? Have you become discouraged because of that?”
“Quiet. I’m thinking.”
At Iandrus’ quick retort, Cullen shrugged. The carriage was then soaked in silence.
In that quiet air, Iandrus couldn’t stop thinking about Diana’s tears. That small face, trembling as she pretended not to be scared, demanding an annulment. And beyond that, her voice was drenched with fear. Fear he’d never heard from her before.
‘Let’s not get married, Iandrus.’
‘You end up dying, along with me, and even my child. You killed her.’
What the hell was that supposed to mean? Iandrus looked down at his hand. Those words could be interpreted in many ways. She could mean that Iandrus killed them all himself or that something he’d done put them in that position.
Diana.
But the important thing was that, either way, Iandrus was responsible.
Iandrus believed in Diana. She was coy and prideful, but she wasn’t a liar. Just the opposite in fact. She was stupidly honest. Whenever she spoke to Iandrus, there was always sincerity in her eyes.
That meant that Diana likely wasn’t aware of the affection and kindness she’d show him in the past. But the Diana he met today seemed to have forgotten all about it. This Diana wanted to hurt Iandrus. She pretended not to see how disturbed he was and continually tried to scratch him. All while looking terrified.
‘Murderer.’
There must be a reason why Diana said that.
Iandrus clenched his fist. His well-kept nails dug into his palm. If he were to believe everything Diana said today was true, then that meant that was true, too.
‘A black dress?’
What a stupid thing to say. It was the biggest mistake Iandrus had made in this entire life thus far.
“Hah……” Iandrus leaned his head against the back of his seat. Cullen was about to nag him, but he kept silent and turned his head away.
‘Murderer.’
What Diana said to him kept ringing in his head. No matter how much he thought about it, what she said didn’t sound like a lie. Thoughts of her tear stained and pale face swelled up in the recesses of Iandrus’ heart.