Chapter 7
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Diana’s head was an intricate mess as she looked at Iandrus. Was Iandrus always this kind of person? She couldn’t really remember very well. As the person she spent more than half her life with, what kind of thoughts were running through Iandrus’ head?
Ever since that incident, Iandrus was entirely ruined in her eyes, so it was hard for her to remember. He never once looked back towards his family, only ever lamenting his own tragedy and his own misfortune. Even so, Diana loved the unfortunate prince and was forced to walk the path of ruin with him.
But what was he like before that?
He was a cynical boy with little interest in Diana, but was there something else she was missing?
Maybe Diana’s memory was flawed? Both back then and today, Iandrus’ actions were entirely different from how she remembered him being.
“Is there something wrong with you, Your Highness?” Diana asked amidst the silence.
Iandrus might be watching Diana, trying to get close to her to see if she was just pretending to be crazy or if she really was. But at Diana’s sharp glare, Iandrus responded calmly.
“I just want to pray.”
“Pray for what?”
“For the things I can’t remember.” His voice was heavy, unlike his youthful age.
This was the conclusion that Iandrus had come to after days of thinking about it. If Diana’s words were true, then that meant the two of them actually had a child together. And then that child….
I killed her.
Iandrus wanted to ask for forgiveness and pray for the child he could not remember. Diana’s expression was far too pained for him to set this aside simply because he had no memory of what happened. That desperate face that looked as though it would collapse was filled with so much painful resentment.
The Diana that he knew would not joke so lightly about the death of someone.
That’s why he came to the Philadelphia estate as soon as he woke up this morning. He wanted to sincerely apologize for speaking ill of Diana’s black dress and for the things only she knew about.
“……..You don’t have to do that.”
It was like what they said when people turn over a new leaf once they’re reborn. Diana couldn’t understand the fifteen year old Iandrus at all. Rather than suddenly changing, he seemed like an entirely different person. But even so, Diana didn’t want to accept Iandrus.
“Diana.”
“….I don’t understand why you’re doing this all of a sudden. You never once acted kindly to me.”
“That’s…”
“Do what you’ve been doing up until now, Your Highness. That’s the only thing I want from you. Return to the castle and tell everyone that Diana Philadelphia has lost her mind. That she’s defective. They won’t be able to encourage a wedding between a prince and flawed girl, but the relationship between our families won’t be broken, so—“
“I can’t do that.” Iandrus cut her off firmly.
Now she was finally seeing something familiar. Funnily enough, Diana was really relieved right now. Yes, this was the face she knew Iandrus Leonid by. That cold, fierce expression that told of no emotion.
“…..This is all I want. You don’t need to do anything unnecessary, Your Highness.”
Faced with Diana, who spoke so arrogantly and wouldn’t let him get a word in edgewise, Iandrus had no choice but to relent. He just nodded because it looked like Diana would burst into tears if he didn’t take a step back.
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Diana was relieved once she finally sent off the Prince, feeling as though she could go to the Church just as she wished. Meanwhile, Iandrus left the estate with a dazed look on his face as Cullen stared at him from inside the carriage, giving him a strange look.
“Shall we set off?”
“Hold on.” Iandrus shook his head.
It was weird seeing him look so blankly without knowing what happened. Looking over the prince’s expression, Cullen asked carefully, “…..Did you get rejected?”
Of course, this was just Cullen’s theory, but he really thought Iandrus was going to try and ask the princess out on a date today. Iandrus emphasized several times that he was only suggesting they both go to the church to pray, but Cullen had a different idea about it. Now that the Prince was fifteen years old, wasn’t it time for his first love to bloom? Cullen thought maybe Iandrus was finally becoming an adult.
Up until now, Iandrus always acted a little bit coy—being hot and cold. But, even if he didn’t reveal his heart to her, Iandrus was expressing his interest in Diana.
Like when they went to that ball.
‘Diana is wearing a pink dress today. She looks better than she usually does. Do girls usually look nice in pink?’
‘Do you know how many other girls are wearing pink today? The theme was pink roses, after all.’
‘Diana wasn’t the only one wearing pink?’
That was how their conversation went. Or, after they had that picnic.
‘I got sent some strawberry cupcakes from the Philadelphia mansion today. Apparently Diana likes desserts especially made from strawberries. Was the chef at the Prince’s palace any good at making desserts?’
‘Why are you worried about that?’
‘Once we’re married, Diana will come to live at the palace, so the desserts should suit her tastes.’
‘You’re really thinking of everything.’
And that conversation, too.
Given all the circumstances, it was clear that this both immature and mature prince was interested in Diana, though it didn’t show on the outside. But he’d been acting a little strange ever since a few days ago.
Since he went to the seamstress to get clothes matching the princess’ wedding dress, he’d been walking around in a daze.
“Or…..Is it because Lady Diana looked very beautiful a few days ago?”
“What?”
“Her wedding dress must’ve looked very nice on her.”
“It’s not like that! Well, of course it looked good on her, but……” Iandrus grumbled.
“Then what’s been going on with her? It’s the middle of spring, but she manages to pull out the blackest dress she could get to wear.”
Iandrus looked at Cullen with a strange expression. A few days ago, Diana had told him something while not thinking he would believe her. Saying her story out loud, Diana had a forward expression on her face as if she were dealing with work.
And now that he was facing Cullen, he kind of understood why Diana made that face. Even if Iandrus were to immediately tell him that same secret that Diana had confessed, Cullen wouldn’t likely believe him.
So why did Diana tell him everything?
‘Let’s not get married.’
The sentence that Diana repeated again and again came to mind.
‘I know you don’t really like me either. Well, the feeling’s mutual. So I think it would be best if we just called this whole engagement off.’
More than anything else, the phrase that pounded in his chest was ‘the feeling’s mutual.’ That made one thing certainly clear.
Diana didn’t like Iandrus.
But since when?
Iandrus was undoubtedly convinced of Diana’s feelings. Unlike him, she was shy and embarrassed all the way down to her toes, so it would be impossible not to notice. But it all changed on the day she said she returned from the future, just a few days ago! The way she looked at him, the way she spoke to him. From Diana, everything exuded deep hatred towards him, not affection.
But why……?
Iandrus tapped against his thumb with his finger in impatience.
This moment was the first time Iandrus ever questioned his future.
What happened in the future?
Iandrus let out the sigh he’d been holding back. Suddenly, an emergency light was blaring for the future he was supposed to be on the path for. Iandrus never once considered a life without Diana.
“Cullen.”
“Yes?”
“Follow Diana.”
“What? You have work scheduled for this afternoon.”
“It’s already finished, so follow her.”
Cullen hesitated in the face of Iandrus’ stubbornness, sighing. He crumpled up the documents in his hand and threw them to the ground. “So what you’re saying is that Lady Diana is more important than your work, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll help you.” With a solemn face, Cullen knocked against the window leading to the coachman.
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“There’s a carriage following us from behind,” Jesse said, glancing behind them with an uneasy expression. She also noticed the imperial symbol adorning the side of it, meaning it must belong to Iandrus, who was essentially kicked out by Diana. It looked like he was stubbornly following her now.
Still, seeing him wearing a black uniform like that was scary.
Diana sighed, setting down the book she was reading. “Leave him. Let him come.”
She set down the book she was reading on her lap, placing her hand on it. She always kept a book close to her these days because it helped organize her complicated mind. Soon enough, she opened up her book again, feeling a little irritated. The person responsible for her messy head was none other than Iandrus.
For some reason, Iandrus didn’t seem to have any intention of breaking off their engagement. If that was the case, then Diana really would need to come up with a new plan. At this point, she was very close to marching herself straight into a mental institution. If not that, then…..
Though it was covered with fabric and lace, the smallest movement showed off her slender and pale wrists. If a flaw were to be discovered on her body, she would not be allowed to marry a member of the imperial family. It was a law put in place by the Church, so it was a rule that needed to be properly observed by the nobility.
So…
“There’s nothing to worry about……” Diana quietly whispered out.
The lower part of her chest burned in pain.