Chapter 6
“Who…?”
Diana, seeing Rueri for the first time, placed a hand over her pounding heart as she accepted his hand and stood up.
‘I… I’ll turn everything back. I’ll start again from the beginning…’
At that moment, a sharp pain pierced her head, and a strange voice echoed in her mind.
The headache made Diana’s body sway violently. Instantly, Rueri caught her waist firmly as she tilted.
“Ah. Th-thank you…”
Holding onto Rueri’s arm, Diana steadied herself.
But even though she was back on her feet, he was still holding onto her waist. Her face flushed for no reason, and she looked down at his hand as she spoke.
“Um… could you let go…?”
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t realize.”
He let go of her waist with a playful smile. Strangely, his touch left a faint lingering sensation as his hand fell away.
“You asked who I am? I’m the next candidate for Tower Master, sent by your father.”
“Then you’re…?”
“Your soon-to-be teacher.”
As one way to protect herself, Diana had chosen to relearn the magic and alchemy she had once been talented in.
The letter she had sent to the marquis’s estate had requested a magic tutor.
But to receive a candidate for the next Tower Master… Her father truly thought on a different scale. Even she hadn’t expected someone so remarkable.
“But why are you wearing a blindfold?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, the blindfold. Why are you wearing it?”
Oh right, I’ve been wearing this the whole time.
Diana reached up and touched the cloth covering her eyes.
She had worn it for the past two days like it was part of her own body, to the point she had forgotten she even had it on.
But just in case, it was better to keep the truth from this mage for now.
“I was injured.”
“You mean you can’t see? That can’t be right.”
Could he really tell her eyes were fine, just because he was a great magician?
Her eyes slightly furrowed beneath the blindfold, but Diana replied calmly, hiding her surprise.
“Yes. I can’t see.”
“…Really? That’s strange.”
Rueri tilted his head, as if he knew something, but then shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
“Anyway, nice to meet you, Miss. I’m Rueri de Constantine. I’ll show up for class on time. Once a week, at noon. How’s that sound?”
“That sounds good… Master.”
Diana hesitated to call someone who looked so much younger than her “Master.” It felt awkward and a bit embarrassing.
As if he sensed her discomfort, Rueri smiled and said:
“Master? Nah. Just call me by my name.”
“Your name?”
“Rueri de Constantine. Rueri is fine.”
“Alright, Rueri.”
Diana smiled softly. He was a bit cheeky, but since her meticulous father had sent him, he surely couldn’t be dangerous.
Rueri stared intently at Diana as she said his name.
“Miss, your face…”
Diana touched her face, wondering if something was on it.
“Huh? Is something there?”
All the playfulness disappeared from Rueri’s face. He spoke with unexpected seriousness.
“No? It’s just… beautiful.”
“…What?”
Until now, aside from Calypso, she had never been close to another man.
Let alone a confession—Calypso, with his blunt demeanor, hadn’t said something so sweet in ages.
And now, such words were coming from a man younger than her, with a flawless appearance?
‘I am still a woman, after all…’
Whether it was the night breeze or the beauty of the stars, her heart fluttered a little.
There was something oddly familiar about him. His presence stirred something in her, but her memory was shrouded, like fog clouding her mind.
A man with such striking red hair wouldn’t be easily forgotten.
As she pondered where she might have seen him before, Rueri’s expression turned mischievous again.
Sweeping back his red hair, he said gently:
“Oh dear. I have a feeling these lessons are going to be fun. Right, Miss?”
“Yes. I’ll look forward to it, Rueri.”
When Diana smiled, Rueri gave her a wink and disappeared in a blink.
Startled by his sudden disappearance, Diana blinked wide-eyed, then turned her gaze to the night sky.
The stars were especially beautiful. Just like the deep blue of his eyes that shone even in the dark.
After admiring the stars for a while, she closed the terrace door and lay down on her bed.
‘What a strange man. He feels like someone I used to know…’
Thinking once more of Rueri’s face, Diana calmed her restless thoughts. And with hopeful anticipation for their lessons, she slowly closed her eyes.
* * *
“Your Highness!”
Shane and Milan burst through the door. They looked pale and worn from the past few days.
“Shane, Milan!”
As soon as Milan saw Diana’s face covered with the blindfold, tears began to fall from her eyes. She had served the young lady since childhood. And now she had hurt her eyes like this.
“You have no idea how shocked I was when I heard the news.”
Shane gently comforted her. He too wanted to cry like Milan, but he held back his sorrow, fearing that if he wept, it would only make Diana feel worse.
“Shane, Milan.”
She called their names in a cold tone. It was a voice they had never heard from Diana, who was always gentle with everyone.
She couldn’t deceive them. Even if she kept her return to the past a secret, it was better to tell them the truth about her eyes.
Milan wiped her tears and looked at her. Shane stood upright, waiting for Diana’s next words.
“Yes, Your Highness…!”
Soon, Diana removed her blindfold. Naturally, their gaze shifted to her eyes.
If the news they had heard was true, and Diana had lost her sight, there should have been no focus in her eyes.
However, her emerald eyes still held a clear and vivid light.
“Your Highness…? Your eyes…?”
They looked at Diana with expressions of complete confusion. She tied the blindfold back on and said:
“My eyes are perfectly fine.”
“…What?”
“I called you two back because I need your help.”
“With what…?”
Diana lowered her head slightly and grimaced in pain. It was still hard to think about the horrors she had endured.
But if she was going to explain her situation, she had to speak.
She composed herself and began to explain everything.
“…The Grand Duke of Ernst committed adultery.”
“What?”
Milan’s face filled with shock. In this empire, even the emperor could not take concubines.
If someone else came into the picture, they could separate by mutual agreement.
But to commit adultery while still with someone — that was a crime. A filthy sin condemned by all.
“That’s impossible…!”
“His partner was Alicia. And they already have a child together.”
“A child!”
“Your Highness…”
The unbelievable story left Milan screaming, and Shane looked at Diana with deep concern.
No woman could stay composed after hearing such a thing.
“That child is Catherine. Isn’t it amusing?”
Was there anything more shocking than this? Shane and Milan were completely speechless.
Adultery, with a friend, and the child she believed to be hers was actually the result of that affair.
No words could console such a wound. They didn’t even know what to say.
“They don’t know that I can see. I intend to use that.”
“You’re… planning revenge?”
Shane asked in a trembling voice. The word “revenge” didn’t suit the young lady they had always served.
But the moment he saw Diana’s face, that thought vanished.
Diana was smiling with deep scorn. A look of profound resentment glinted in her eyes.
A chill ran through Shane and Milan. It felt like a fallen angel stood before them.
“Would you be able to endure it?”
“Pardon?”
“If you were me — Shane, Milan.”
They shook their heads in anguish. How could they possibly fathom the depth of her betrayal?
“I am no longer the person I was. Shane, Milan.”
“Your Highness…”
“I will become wicked. As wicked as can be — all while wearing the mask of the saint they want.”
Diana’s hands trembled with rage. Shane and Milan quickly grasped her shaking hands.
“We’ll help you!”
“Whatever you command, we’ll obey, Your Highness.”
“…Thank you.”
Finally, Diana smiled softly. Then she gave them their first orders.
“First, Shane — find me a knight.”
“A knight, ma’am?”
Shane asked, puzzled. After all, she could simply request one from the marquis’ household. Understanding her thoughts, Diana explained slowly.
“Yes. But he must not be officially registered as a knight. Someone who can pose as a maid and do anything for me.”
“I’ll look into it right away.”
“And I plan to replace all the current maids. Gather servants to work in the Grand Duke’s mansion.”
“Yes, understood.”
Realizing the full meaning of her words, Shane immediately left to carry out the order.
Left alone, Milan stood awkwardly, her eyes silently pleading for her own orders.
“Milan…”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Find me a child.”
“A child?”
She hadn’t seen her daughter among the maids’ quarters last time.
But Alicia had said the girl was working as a maid in the grand duke’s estate. So the child must be someone who came and went from the mansion.
“She’s probably around fifteen. Likely very skinny. And she must be someone who enters this estate.”
Diana looked down at her hand. She could still feel the touch of that dead child’s hand — rough and thin. Like a brittle tree branch.
She clenched her open hand into a fist. The child who risked her life to bring her stale bread. This time, she would find her and protect her.
“Her appearance doesn’t matter. If a child meets the description, bring her to me. Understand?”
“Yes, understood! I’ll do my best!”
Milan responded energetically and left the room.
Once everyone was gone, Diana picked up her cane.
Looking at the time, she knew Calypso would be in his office. Which meant Alicia would be there too.
Time to give them a little warning.
Diana smirked and, leaning on her cane, headed to the office.
When she reached the door, she flung it open without knocking.
“Madam…!”
As expected, he was with Alicia. They were nearly naked.
Calypso was shirtless, and Alicia’s dress was nearly completely off.
Even knowing Diana couldn’t see, Calypso hurriedly threw his clothes back on.
She almost burst out laughing at how pathetic he looked.
The only one composed in the room was Diana. Alicia silently gathered her dress and stared at her.
One of Diana’s eyebrows rose. ‘Go ahead, feel it too — that helplessness, that inability to do anything.’
Smiling faintly, she reached her hand toward the direction of Calypso’s voice.
“Would you help me, Calypso?”
Now fully dressed in a rush, Calypso grabbed her hand with a nervous expression.
“I came to thank you. Shane and Milan returned safely today.”
“…Ah, is that so?”
“I’m grateful you fulfilled my request.”
Diana gently rested her face against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat — beating fast for Alicia. It disgusted her.
If he didn’t love her, if he had fallen for Alicia, he should have asked her for a divorce. Then at least she wouldn’t have felt so wretched.
But no, he must have needed her father’s power. That’s why he never brought up divorce, just committed adultery instead.
Pathetic, cowardly scum.
Diana wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Then, in a soft voice, she whispered:
“I love you, darling.”
“…What?”
Through the blindfold, she could see Alicia trembling.
Feeling around his face with her palm, Diana suddenly pressed a bold kiss to Calypso’s lips.
He seemed a bit startled but soon returned the kiss.
Watching this, Alicia’s eyes turned red. Unable to endure it, she eventually stormed out of the room.
As the filthy kiss ended, Diana bit his lip — hard.
“Ah…!”
“Oh my, sorry. It’s been so long since we kissed.”
Blood dripped from the lip Diana had bitten. Calypso grimaced and wiped it away.
“Well then, I’ll be going now?”
Diana casually tapped his shoulder and, leaning on her cane, walked out of the room. She sneered as she glanced toward Alicia’s quarters.
No doubt she was seething by now. But the rage Alicia felt was nothing compared to the humiliation Diana had endured.
‘You can’t do anything. Not while I remain the Grand Duchess in this house.’
She turned her back. The image of Calypso’s bleeding lip flashed through her mind.
This was merely the appetizer. Her real revenge was only just beginning.
