“Episode 4”
The father who had always supported everything never opened his eyes again. Neither his affectionate voice nor his steadfast gaze that believed in him returned. After a long silence, Riccio hoped for him to open his eyes again. But ultimately, not long ago, the Duke passed away without leaving a single last word.
He had lived forgetting the promise to respect and protect his family, which he loved and respected. Perhaps, he didn’t even realize how much he hated him, as much as he loved his father. At the time when he needed his father’s attention the most, his father had an accident, and because of that, he closed the door to his heart and lived.
But finally, with Diana’s pregnancy news, the door to his heart swung wide open.
“I should have trusted. I am supposed to be the one who believes in my family. Diana is my family.”
Thinking this way, he spent the night correcting the misinformation about Diana, regretting and reflecting on his mistakes.
From that day on, Riccio showed a different reaction as if he had become a different person.
He visited Diana every day. Every morning, afternoon, and evening. Not only did he bring countless jewels and dresses as gifts, but one day he even brought flowers.
“I remembered that you liked flowers in the past.”
“…If this was enough to make us get along better…”
“I won’t ask you to accept it right away. But Diana, can’t you at least open your heart a little?”
“I never knew having a child would change someone like this. If that’s the case, I should have pretended to have a child even if it was fake.”
Contrary to what she expected to refute, Riccio sat by Diana’s bedside.
“When you collapsed, it felt like the world was falling apart. I finally realized. I didn’t just see you as a wife.”
“What a lame excuse. I’d rather believe that you suddenly became lovely.”
His hand touched Diana’s cheek. Shivering, she quickly pulled away.
“Diana, I wanted a family. A family that’s just for me.”
“A family. Just because we have a family, you change like this?”
Riccio clenched his fists as if he had been waiting.
“I can’t tell you everything, but…”
“You never can tell everything, can you? Is this also for my sake?”
“Yeah. But listen to me this time. I… I was too weak. I let myself be influenced by others without even investigating or thinking for myself…”
Despite his trembling voice, Diana didn’t easily open her heart.
“I was deeply mistaken, Diana. And I realized it this time. You were the one being used by the family. We’re the same. So let’s make our own family. I’ll be a true family to you.”
“…”
“I thought you willingly brought everything from the Duke’s household to your family’s home. But I realized you were being used… I found out through the letters that came during the three days you were unconscious.”
It couldn’t be true. He couldn’t possibly not know about the letters coming from himself, monitoring everything that came out of him, and the items going to the family.
Yet tears fell from Diana’s eyes.
“Now, let’s be a family. I won’t ask you to forgive everything I’ve done. I’ll just stay by your side, even if only for a moment.”
“…”
“Now that we have a child, I want to see clearly. I want to create a warm home just for our child.”
While saying the word “home,” his eyes seemed strangely sad, but Diana didn’t understand. As the son of the Head Chamberlain born into the Duke’s household, he couldn’t possibly react like that to the word “home.”
They must have grown up without lacking anything. That’s why those appearances were clearly acting.
“Ridiculous.”
“Believe me, Diana.”
She doesn’t believe it. It’s not as simple as this.
Yet, Diana wanted to believe the man facing her. Somehow, she wanted to hold his hand for the last time. Knowing that the emotions between them wouldn’t last long, Diana foolishly thought so.
***
Since then, Riccio had truly changed.
As if he had become a different person, he presented her with small flowers every day. He willingly spent a lot of money on her family. Although it incurred the hatred of the former Duchess, for Diana, and for Riccio, there had never been such a happy time.
“I need to have some clothes tailored. Diana, my stomach seems to be getting uncomfortable lately.”
“We had clothes made last time.”
“Then how about getting new jewelry made? I was going to give this as a token of appreciation for going through a hard time after the baby is born.”
Riccio handed Diana a box he brought into the room. Diana, who had been lying in bed since early pregnancy due to poor health, just stared at him blankly.
“I can do anything for you, now that we’re having a child.”
“…”
“How much you’ve suffered all this time.”
When Diana opened the box he offered, she couldn’t hold back her tears. Inside was a large diamond, freshly mined from the most precious diamond mine owned by the Ducal family. It came with documents transferring ownership of the mine to her.
“Riccio… This is…!”
It was something that even the former Duchess coveted, but had never given to anyone in the family for generations.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
“Ah…”
“I’ll make up for all the misunderstandings and bad things I’ve said to you. With our child.”
His hand slowly touched Diana’s belly. Diana, who had already opened her heart to him, placed her hand on top of his.
“It’s been five months now. Will it be a son or a daughter?”
“It doesn’t matter. As long as it’s our child…”
“But Mother wants a son.”
“It’s okay. I won’t care about that person.”
Seeing Diana, who still didn’t like the former Duchess, Riccio kept a distance from her. Although the power of the family was directed towards Duke Riccio, he couldn’t make all decisions. Even as the Duke, he couldn’t ignore the former Duchess, Hysteria, the head of the family. Whenever something important happened, he always had to consult her.
Knowing this, Diana hesitantly touched his hand with an anxious expression.
“Riccio, you don’t have to push yourself.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything from now on.”
“Hedea.”
“… ”
“Don’t ask about anything else. It’s a name buried in my heart.”
Knowing the name doesn’t reveal anything. Despite his exceptional care, she didn’t want to be reminded of the past.
“Now that I see myself. Not another woman, but me, and our child. That’s all that matters.”
Because they had a precious child.
Diana gently caressed her belly. She believed that only happy days remained. Misunderstandings with him were resolved. Now they could live like an ordinary couple, like ordinary people. With these thoughts in mind, Diana spent blissful days.
Every day, they laughed abundantly as they watched Diana’s belly grow. They decorated the baby’s room and tried to come up with a name for the unborn child. Spending all day with him, Diana’s belly grew bigger and bigger.
“Little Mistress, what color should the curtains in the baby’s room be?”
Maybe it was because it was her first child, or maybe because her body was weak. Diana found it especially difficult to move. Even at eight months, she couldn’t muster the courage to get up without someone’s help.
The doctor said it was because she had a small body and was thin, so there was nothing to worry about, but Diana still struggled to get up today.
“I think a fresh yellow color would be nice. Or maybe light green.”
“Is that so! Understood. I’ll do as the Little Mistress says.”
“Let’s wash the baby’s clothes and hang them out to dry when the weather is nice. Since the weather is nice today, it should be fine.”
Then it happened. As Diana finished speaking, the sky suddenly darkened. Diana, who was looking at small baby clothes like a doll’s, felt uneasy for some reason.
“It’s raining.”
“We’ll hang them out to dry tomorrow.”
“Let’s do that…”
Suddenly, raindrops began to fall heavily from the darkened sky. Although it was just rain, a corner of Diana’s heart pounded crazily. Unavoidable anxiety overwhelmed her.
The rain covered the sky for a long time. Overcome by inexplicable anxiety, Diana sat near the window for a long time. Even though raindrops were splashing, she sat still without moving.
“Little Mistress, the raindrops are splashing.”
“How strange. It rarely rains at this time of year… Today, it’s raining too much. Why am I feeling so anxious?”
Her heart pounded as if something was about to happen.
“Are you okay, Little Mistress? Shall I bring you some tea?”
“No, I’m fine. It’s just… it’s just my heart, I guess.”
Then, with the pitter-patter of rain, an unfamiliar old carriage entered the Ducal estate. Moved to the sunniest room after becoming pregnant, Diana’s face, visible to everyone in the Ducal estate, stiffened.
“What’s that? Did we have a guest scheduled to come today?”
It’s a carriage with no pattern at all. A carriage that can’t even compare to the Ducal estate. However, as she looked at the carriage, which entered deep into the estate without any hesitation, her hands trembled.
wtf, what is this abrupt about-face?