Chapter 4
She woke up to the sound of birds chirping. The sunlight shattered into pieces through the thin curtains, dazzling her. Diana slowly blinked her eyes.
Though a day had passed, everything from yesterday replayed vividly in her mind as if it had just happened.
Diana rose from her bed and sat in front of the vanity. Her reflection appeared in the mirror. She brushed her golden hair, which looked as though it might drip with honey, and swept it aside. Then, she slowly blinked her emerald-colored eyes, visible between her thick golden eyelashes.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
She crooked one corner of her mouth in a sly smile. Then, she covered her eyes with the blindfold.
If they had covered her eyes to use her, she would use them right back.
“Is anyone there?”
“…Yes, Your Grace!”
The maid who had attended to her yesterday entered the room. Despite her cheerful voice, she wore a look of clear annoyance.
Diana couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh. She was so arrogantly rude.
Diana had never treated her maids badly. She believed that everyone, regardless of whether they were nobility or commoners, was valuable.
The value was in a person’s good nature, not in the fact that everyone was inherently valuable. It seemed like this maid was the only one who didn’t understand that.
Diana spoke in a cold tone.
“Call Alicia and Catherine.”
“…Pardon?”
The sudden informality in Diana’s speech made the maid’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Did you not hear me?”
“No, no, I heard you. What should I tell them?”
Diana had no need to show respect to those who lowered their heads to the powerful and raised them to the weak.
Diana continued in a frigid voice.
“Tell them we’re having tea. Prepare tea and snacks on the terrace.”
“Yes, understood, Your Grace…”
The maid, puzzled, left the room. It was the exact opposite of the polite words Diana had used when she had asked for their help in front of the maids’ quarters yesterday.
Diana knew she had to change completely. The kind version of herself had to be erased.
She planned to thoroughly torment the maids who had humiliated her by siding with Alicia.
Even if she had been kind to them, they were nothing more than bought individuals, and they deserved to be treated accordingly.
For example, being cast out of this mansion as punishment.
Diana’s gaze sharpened with cunning. To expel them all, she needed a reason. To do that, she had to act a bit more sensitive and high-strung.
She grabbed her cane and stepped outside. As expected, many maids were standing in the hallway.
However, no one offered to help Diana, pretending she couldn’t see them.
It was entirely natural for them to believe she couldn’t see them.
Diana stopped in front of the door and spoke sharply.
“You there.”
“Yes?”
“How dare you stand around when the Duchess is coming out? Do you expect me to go to the terrace alone?”
‘How did she know?’
Could it be that she actually saw? No, she couldn’t have. The maids’ eyes fluttered like leaves in the wind, shifting here and there. What they were thinking was so obvious to Diana.
She held back the urge to laugh and opened her mouth.
“Since I can’t see, my hearing is exceptionally sharp. Do you think I’ve lost my hearing as well?”
It was laughable that they thought she wouldn’t be able to sense them, not even the slightest sound or presence.
Of course, the old Diana, before her regression, would have never noticed, so she wasn’t in a position to laugh at them. Diana lowered her eyes bitterly.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Grace. We didn’t hear you call…”
“It’s fine. Show me your arm.”
Diana grabbed the maid’s arm as she extended it toward her, then headed to the terrace with her. The preparations for the tea setting were still underway in the rose garden terrace.
“How long has it been since I gave the order? Why are you moving so slowly?”
“Yes? But it hasn’t even been an hour…”
“How dare you argue with me?”
Diana’s arm dropped sharply. Although her eyes were covered and invisible, the cold air radiating from her could be felt strongly.
Unsure of what was happening, the maid immediately kneeled.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Grace!”
“What’s going on?”
Diana turned her head toward the voice she heard.
The bold woman who had been with her husband, Alicia, was approaching her.
As soon as she saw her, something stirred in Diana’s heart. It was clearly anger, deep and intense.
“Alicia… what’s this about?”
Before the maid could whisper something, Diana ran toward Alicia and deliberately fell in a pitiful manner.
Now wasn’t the time to show her true hostility. She needed to appear weak to lower their guard.
“Your Grace! Are you alright?”
Alicia rushed over to the fallen Diana and asked in a face devoid of any real concern.
Diana tightly gripped her arms.
“My eyes can’t see, and the maids are ignoring me, Alicia…!”
Tears streamed down Diana’s cheeks. It wasn’t at all out of character for the “former Diana,” who was gentle and kind-hearted.
Alicia silently smirked, looking at her with contempt.
“…Who would do such a thing? To dare, to the Duchess?”
“Alicia, those maids are the ones you recommended, aren’t they?”
“…Yes.”
“I’ll get rid of all of them. I’m so scared, Alicia.”
Diana trembled, her body shaking.
“Well, I’ll handle it again…”
How could she have bribed them to join? This foolish girl was being such a nuisance.
Alicia responded, still frowning.
But Diana wiped her tears and interrupted her. Then she said sweetly:
“No, Alicia. You’re busy with your doctor’s work. I’ll take care of it. It’s my duty as the Duchess.”
At the mention of “Duchess,” Alicia’s eyebrows twitched. Her lips trembled with frustration.
“…Understood.”
Duchess? A woman who couldn’t even win her husband’s heart. Alicia’s blue eyes seemed to speak volumes.
Diana couldn’t help but chuckle. Calypso, that man—what was he to her now? He was no longer needed.
After all, she didn’t marry him to gain anything from him.
Despite the significant age gap, Calypso had shown her sincerity. No, she thought he had shown his true feelings. His promise to respect her felt more trustworthy than any declaration of love.
The life of a noblewoman was the same everywhere. Marrying out of passionate love was a rare thing.
If she had to marry for political reasons, then someone like him was more than acceptable. That was why she had chosen him.
The reason jewels were considered precious was because of their rarity. Calypso had been like that to her. Though he was called a cold-blooded man, he had been kind and warm to her.
And so, Diana regarded her husband as something precious, like a jewel.
However, now she was worth less than a stone rolling on the ground
A stone, dirty and rolling on the wretched earth, was of no value to anyone. She was no different.
You’re not upset because I’m sending away the maids you recommended, right?”
“…Of course not.”
Alicia pressed her lips together but answered indifferently, trying to appear unaffected.
“Now, sit down.”
Diana sat down with Alicia’s assistance. Alicia sat next to her, leaving a spot for Catherine. She whispered quietly, as if giving instructions to the maids.
Soon, a maid appeared with a trolley, and an elegant three-tier tray with tea and snacks was set on the table. In the center, there was a flowerpot, containing a rose with thorns so sharp they seemed to cut the skin upon contact.
A laugh almost escaped Diana’s mouth. How could someone be so malicious? It seemed Alicia was planning something cruel, taking pleasure in making Diana suffer, even though she couldn’t see.
When the rose pot was placed, Alicia smiled in satisfaction.
Diana almost wanted to spit right at her smug face. That might calm her racing heart a little.
“Everything’s set. Please, eat, Your Grace. It’s unfortunate that you can’t see, but you should get used to it by now.”
Alicia didn’t look the least bit sorry. In fact, she seemed delighted at the thought of Diana getting hurt by the thorns.
“Mm, thank you, Alicia. You’re the only one who thinks of me.”
Diana smiled faintly and reached for the table.
Alicia calmly sipped her tea, watching like she was enjoying a performance.
As Diana’s hand hovered over the table, trying to find the right spot, she almost touched the thorns. Alicia’s lip curled up in a sneer.
“Mother.”
At Catherine’s voice, Diana quickly withdrew her hand. Alicia clicked her tongue in annoyance and turned her head.
From a distance, Catherine, with silver hair identical to Calypso’s, approached, looking exasperated. Her usual violet eyes, once thought to be beautiful like amethysts, now looked sharp and full of anger.
So, In my darkness, this is the face you were making, my daughter.
A mix of uncontrollable sadness and hatred welled up in Diana. Her hand trembled faintly.
My beloved daughter, whom I loved so much. You, too, will become my enemy from now on.
But for now, it was Alicia first. Diana quickly scanned the table.
She noticed the hot teapot, kept warm through magic, was placed close to Alicia. A faint smile appeared on Diana’s lips, unnoticed by anyone.
“Catherine!”
Diana deliberately sprang up from her seat, exaggerating the motion so much that she even grabbed the tablecloth.
As a result, the teapot tipped toward Alicia.
“Ah!”
The hot tea splashed onto her thigh. As soon as the tea touched, Alicia’s thigh swelled up, reddening. The tea, heated by magic, was as hot as boiling water.
No matter how skilled Alicia was as a physician, the burns would leave lasting scars.
Would Calypso still love her with those horrible scars? Let’s see how deep his love really is.
Diana waved her arms in the air, pretending to be unaware of what had just happened.
“Alicia! Wh-what happened?”
The maids surrounding the terrace quickly brought cold water, but it was too late for any immediate treatment since the mansion was quite a distance away.
Alicia glared at Diana, who wore a pure, innocent expression, as if she had no idea what had happened.
Diana turned her head toward Alicia.
You were the one who made me like this, Alicia. You made it so I couldn’t see. Now, I’ll slowly tighten your neck, making you suffer more.
As she looked at Alicia’s dreadful burn, Diana had to force herself not to laugh.
