“Episode 23”
The baron rose from his seat as if he were ready to strike at any moment. His large hand moved as if naturally inclined to violence, and Dianna stood up in response.
“Are you going to hit me?” she asked.
“A woman needs a good smack to come to her senses! You’ve been acting so foolishly lately because I haven’t been hitting you enough!”
“Do as you please. But remember, I am still the Grand Duchess. If you dare to strike me, do you know what will happen?”
Dianna felt an unfamiliar sensation as she spoke up. Some might call it satisfaction, others exhilaration. Dianna was certainly feeling a mix of emotions.
Why hadn’t she spoken up like this before? Dianna searched within herself for answers amidst the various emotions she was experiencing.
“Are you resorting to threats?”
“Yes, I am. I won’t subject myself to any more violence under the guise of education.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Baron Anzrea tried to suppress his anger as he looked at Dianna, who appeared more malicious than usual.
“Alright, Dianna. I understand how you feel. No one has properly acknowledged you since you lost the child, right? That’s why you’re behaving like this, rebelling against me.”
“…”
“But this isn’t the way. Think about your future. Has your father ever led you astray? No, he hasn’t. So listen to me, for your own sake.”
“For my sake? Are you afraid of my divorce?”
“Why would I be afraid? I’m doing this for your sake. So don’t mention divorce again.”
The baron approached Dianna, intending to caress her face affectionately. But once again, Dianna rejected him. She had not believed him at first, then she had gotten angry, and now she was trying to soothe him.
“What’s next?”
Dianna looked at him expectantly.
“Dianna, listen to me. You’ve always been a good girl, haven’t you?”
“…”
“And judging by your reluctance to divorce, it seems you still have feelings for this place. So think about it.”
“I’ve thought about it for a long time. Trying to dissuade me won’t work, father.”
Unable to bear her resolute words, the baron suddenly grabbed Dianna’s hair forcefully. She almost cried out in pain, but instead, she glared at him with defiance.
“What are you doing?”
“Listen to me. You’re my daughter. If you divorce, I’ll kill you. You know what it took to arrange your marriage. You’re just a tool for me to do as I please in the position of Grand Duchess.”
“…”
“Do you even know what you’re capable of as the Grand Duchess? You’re my daughter, a daughter of Anzrea. You can’t refuse my will! And if you divorce and leave, what will change? Do you think a divorced woman can do anything? Even if I were willing to help, I wouldn’t give you anything!”
He shouted angrily, his words cutting deeply.
“So answer me. You won’t divorce, will you?”
“So answer me. You won’t divorce, will you?”
“…Even if you say that, I will still divorce. It’s better not to have any false hopes.”
Dianna shrugged off his arm as if to demonstrate her strong will. Contrary to his firm grip on her hair, his hand easily released her.
Seemingly having said all she needed to, Dianna looked at Baron Anzrea, who stood trembling in the same spot, then opened the door. He had been about to rush forward to grab Dianna by her hair again and unleash his violence, but he was left staring helplessly as she swiftly exited the room.
“Dianna!!”
“And I hope you never come to the Grand Duchy again.”
With those words, Dianna closed the door behind her. She faced the steward, who looked surprised by her self-opening of the door, and hardened her expression.
