“Episode 27”
“I didn’t expect you to actually speak.”
“I thought you wanted a response from me.”
“Well, yes, but you’ve never spoken to me before. Anyway…”
Before he could close his mouth again, Diana stepped closer to Werner and spoke.
“What you said earlier…”
“I meant it. I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
“Are you talking about yourself?”
But he just silently stared at her.
“Werner?”
“I intend to continue following you, Your Grace.”
“Why?”
“I cannot tell you.”
And so, they were back to square one. He wouldn’t give an answer. Diana stared at him in frustration, but Werner’s face remained unyielding.
“…If I asked Rixio about you following me, would he give me an answer?”
At this question, Werner’s previously unresponsive face showed a very slight change, almost as if it was the answer. It felt like he was suggesting she ask Rixio directly.
“Do you really want me to ask him?”
“…Of course not.”
Watching him make his obvious movements, Diana couldn’t help but laugh. But…
‘I won’t ask Rixio anything. Especially because that’s what you want me to do.’
Werner, both in the past and present, would always prioritize Rixio’s safety above all else. If Werner unconsciously wanted something from her, it must be something beneficial for Rixio. Just like Rohen, they were both urging her to consider Rixio.
‘People who never paid attention to me in the past.’
It was as if the world had turned upside down because of her slight change. Everything had changed. Everyone had changed. Seeing this, Diana could only laugh.
“Good to know it’s not that.”
“Are you really not going to ask him?”
“Even though you say otherwise, it seems like you want me to. I’ll make my own decisions. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Now that she had confirmed he was indeed following her, there was no need to continue the conversation. But Werner seemed to have more to say as he subtly moved closer.
“Why are you doing that?”
Diana reacted sensitively to his movement. Werner hesitated, then quickly stepped back.
“…It’s nothing.”
Seeing his sincere attitude, Diana stared at him for a moment before speaking.
“…From now on.”
“Yes?”
“It’s okay if you follow me.”
Her calm words surprised Werner, given her previous demeanor.
“Are you sure it’s alright?”
“…Even if I send you away, someone else will come, right? So it doesn’t matter.”
Despite having someone follow her against her will, Diana didn’t get angry at all. Seeing her reaction, Werner seemed to have much to say but eventually disappeared into the forest without saying anything.
“Your Grace, is everything alright?”
When Diana returned alone after suddenly disappearing into the forest, Beta and the knights, who were standing nearby, approached. They had been ready to follow her for her safety but stayed back when they heard her call Werner’s name. Werner was a knight whose name they knew well.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“I see. Are we heading back now?”
“We’ll stay a bit longer.”
Due to Werner, Diana had abruptly left the children she was playing with. She planned to return and continue playing with them. Thinking about this helped calm her down. Leaving Beta and the other knights behind, Diana walked back to where Bethany and the children were. Bethany, who had been playing with the children, quickly stood up.
“You’re back! Is everything alright?”
“I just had something to check on.”
“I see.”
However, contrary to Diana’s expectations, most of the children who had been playing in the sandbox had moved to the nearby slide.
“Are they done with the sandbox?”
“Yes, children get bored quickly.”
Bethany smiled as she sent the last child playing in the sandbox off to join the others, then dusted off her hands and stood up.
“If you don’t mind, shall we sit over there, Your Grace?”
“Oh, sure.”
Diana, not planning to leave immediately, accepted her suggestion and walked over to a bench. Bethany sat down next to her.
“I worry that I might be being impolite.”
“Not at all. I enjoy spending time here.”
“Is that so? Then, Your Grace, I hope I’m not being too forward, but… is there something troubling you these days?”
Ordinarily, this would be considered rude, but Diana found herself smiling at Bethany, who had a way of making her feel at ease.
“It’s not rude, Bethany. You can speak freely with me.”
Such permission would never have been granted before. Who would dare to speak so freely to the Duchess? But knowing that her status would be no different from these people’s in a year, Diana smiled more comfortably than ever.
‘In fact, after the divorce, I’ll likely be treated even worse than they are.’
“Are you sure it’s alright?”
“Of course.”
Bethany let out a deep sigh and nodded.
“Thank you. It’s probably impolite of me to even bring this up….”
“It’s not. Before becoming the Duchess, I was an ordinary person too.”
What would have happened if she hadn’t become the Duchess? In the past, she would have confidently said she would have married someone else. But now, Diana’s thoughts were different.
‘If I hadn’t gotten married… If I could go back with my current mindset, I would have lived my own life.’
Perhaps she would have become a caregiver in an orphanage like Bethany. Living an ordinary life, meeting a good man, getting married, and having children—the life she had wanted. Thinking this brought a gentle smile to Diana’s face, like a blooming flower.
“And you, Bethany.”
“Yes?”
“How did you become a caregiver? You seem quite young.”
Maybe twenty years old? Diana quietly observed her. Bethany’s blonde hair, which had seemed familiar from the first day, swayed slightly as she answered.
“I… it just sort of happened!”
“Did you like children?”
“No, it was my mother who loved children. I became a caregiver to fulfill her dream.”
