“Episode 14”
At least she didn’t want to say everything one by one. Diana calmly opened her mouth while looking at Rixio.
“I thought it wouldn’t be worth meeting. But is that the only thing you’ve heard?”
“Do you need to hear something else?”
“I’m afraid there might be complaints from the servants recently because of my actions.”
“I am the Grand Duke. I don’t care about the servants. So you don’t have to worry either.”
Diana nodded calmly at Rixio’s confidence.
“Diana. But really… are you planning to divorce me in a year?”
“Are you trying to say something else?”
“I just wish you were by my side.”
Looking back, it was love. But Rixio couldn’t think of any way to win her heart back.
“At least let’s part with good memories, don’t force it.”
Rixio’s heart sank at her clear boundary. It felt like a stabbing pain, almost tearing his heart apart. He clenched his fists.
“I was impatient.”
He thought a year was a long time, but each day passed faster than he expected. The rumors about Diana from the noble families unsettled him even more, making him feel like she had become someone else.
“I see…”
“Don’t misunderstand, Rixio. A year’s time for our divorce isn’t about trying to change something. It’s just a preparatory time for a proper divorce, at least.”
Rixio let out a disappointed laugh at her firm words.
“Is there anything else to say?”
“Well, it seems like there’s nothing more.”
“Alright.”
It was a simple response, but it was an act. Rixio couldn’t help but notice.
“…Since I’ve said everything, you should leave.”
Standing up by the window, Rixio slowly straightened his clothes.
“Rixio.”
“Yeah?”
He turned his head hastily as if he were about to leave immediately.
“You don’t have to worry about anything regarding me. When the time comes, I’ll go to meet Mother.”
“…Alright, I got it.”
That was all. Diana didn’t add any more words, clearly drawing the line. Rixio’s heart sank at her unchanged demeanor.
“She hasn’t changed at all.”
The servants of the Grand Duchy had gathered and said that Diana had changed. Rixio had hoped for something different, but the current situation was disappointing to him. But he couldn’t blame her for it.
Eventually, he walked solemnly to his room.
***
As if representing his feelings, Rixio’s room was completely dark. He sat in the chair, relying on the moonlight.
“What did I expect and hope for?”
He missed the mundane. Diana blushing and stammering whenever she saw him. Diana, with her small and delicate lips, telling him she loved him.
“But Diana… it doesn’t seem like you’ll come back.”
The belated realization of love tormented him like a relentless fever.
Dozens of times a day, he pondered whether to talk about Hedeia. He always came to the same conclusion. He decided not to torment her anymore, who still couldn’t escape from the grief of losing the child. Having reached the same conclusion today, Rixio slumped into the chair with a deep sigh.
Knock, knock. Then, someone knocked on the door.
Startled by the unusually soft knocking sound, he quickly raised his head. Was it Diana coming to find him? With that hope, he hastily replied.
“Come in!”
However, it wasn’t her who entered through the door.
“My son.”
The door creaked open as Hysteria entered the room.
“Mother, I’ve asked you to refrain from visiting without notice.”
“Why must you be so uptight when it comes to visiting your own son?”
With her radiant golden hair neatly tied back and adorned with pearl ornaments, Hysteria’s head shook uncomfortably.
“…I’m uncomfortable. Do you have anything else to say? Haven’t you already instructed what to do when we return to the Grand Duchy?”
“Why are you standing in front of me like this? So what if I have something else to say?”
“Maintain decorum as the former Grand Duchess. That’s it. I am the Grand Duchess, your wife.”
As Rixio watched Hysteria refer to Diana as “that,” a sense of frustration crept into his chest. But when he spoke up in defense of Diana, Hysteria’s brow furrowed instantly.
“Are you taking her side? My beloved son, Rixio. You’re still infatuated with that woman.”
“……”
“Rixio.”
Hysteria’s hand reached out to touch Rixio’s. In that moment, his complexion darkened. His eyes, once bright like a doll’s, became dull. It was a sudden change.
Hysteria gently stroked her son’s cheek again. Unlike before when Rixio had tried to avoid her touch, this time he didn’t. Hysteria smiled as if satisfied.
“Rixio, who do you cherish the most in the world?”
“You, Mother.”
Contrary to the discomfort he expressed moments ago, his voice now sounded robotic and stiff, as if reading from a script.
“Then whose words should you listen to?”
“Yours, Mother.”
“Yes. So, my beloved son, you should listen to me well, shouldn’t you?”
Like a puppet, his head nodded up and down.
“Do you know how I raised you? I cherished you more than my own son born from my womb.”
“Mother… you loved me. You loved me more than anyone else.”
“Right. So, you should listen to me, shouldn’t you?”
As she spoke, Rixio placed his hand on top of Hysteria’s hand touching his cheek, as if wanting to feel her touch again. It brought a smile to Hysteria’s face.
“Yes. Then, tell me. My son. What’s been bothering you lately?”
“I… don’t know what to do. I don’t want to let go of Diana.”
“…I’ve never liked that girl.”
“But… it hurts too much. Mother, I’m afraid of losing her.”
Even in his state of distress, he uttered a sad voice. Hysteria, who had been laughing just moments ago, clenched her fist without even noticing her long nails digging into her palm. As a result, a little red blood seeped from her hand, which wasn’t holding onto Rixio’s cheek.
“Does it have to be her?”
“Yes.”
“Then have another child. If that’s the case, there’s no other way.”
“Another child…”
As if it were a spell, Rixio repeated Hysteria’s words. But it didn’t stop there. Hysteria continued to whisper various things to Rixio for quite some time after that.
Most of her words were about Diana. They were about future arrangements, and until the next morning, the two of them had various conversations.
It was a one-sided conversation, but exactly.
