Episode 54

 

“Uh…”

When I absentmindedly raised my head, feeling the sudden warmth.

The Duke reattached the flower branch-shaped hair ornament that had been dangling from the side of my head with the hand that had touched the top of my head.

As he said, I was so startled earlier that I hadn’t noticed my hair was disheveled.

His warm golden eyes scanned me up and down.

“It suits you well.”

“….”

“I chose it. Just like that dress.”

His tone was indifferent, but I understood immediately.

Just as the Marquis had made a fuss to protect Diana,

He was subtly revealing to everyone that he cherished me dearly.

A sense of belated relief washed over me.

I wanted to thank him for believing in me, but…

“Hing, Duke…”

When I opened my mouth, a whiny sound came out.

Hastily closing my mouth and pouting, the maid sisters suddenly exclaimed.

“Oh my! No wonder it suits you so perfectly!”

“Our Duke has such an excellent eye.”

“And his keen observation, those cute little shoes fit perfectly, didn’t they?”

“I picked the shoes.”

At that moment, Edwin said with a sulky face.

“Oh! Th-that’s right. I apologize…”

The maid who spoke last stepped back timidly, looking sheepish.

Edwin, frowning, looked at me.

“You.”

“Y-yes?”

“You said you wanted hairbands. So I bought all kinds, but why…”

Trailing off, he suddenly glared at the ornaments on either side of my head.

‘No way… Did Edwin buy all those hairbands by himself?’

As I was taken aback by the creepy thought,

The Duke, with a strangely satisfied smile, said,

“It seems she liked that one more. It looks lovely, so why not.”

“Tch.”

Edwin clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

Before he could sulk, I hurriedly shouted,

“I picked the shoes! These are my favorite!”

“…”

There was no reply from Edwin.

But his furrowed brow gradually eased.

Meanwhile, the Duke raised an eyebrow.

I looked at the two who were so similar, as if cut from the same mold, and clasped my hands politely over my stomach.

“Even though it’s late… thank you for the gifts. They’re all so beautiful and I love them!”

I had originally intended to say that such gifts were too much for me, so they shouldn’t give them next time.

But seeing how perceptive they both were, I felt that I shouldn’t say such things.

With eyes welling with genuine emotion, I exclaimed sincerely,

“You know, I love the Duke, Edwin, and Joshua the most in the world!”

“Ahem.”

“Hmm.”

Both of them looked away at the same time, feigning disinterest.

But the Duke’s lips twitched, and Edwin’s ears turned red.

“…Who’s first?”

After a brief silence, Edwin asked.

“…What?”

“Out of the three, who’s number one?”

“T-that…”

I was flustered.

‘It was just a show of gratitude… and now I have to rank them?’

Though he pretended otherwise, I could feel the Duke watching me as well.

I laughed awkwardly.

“I haven’t decided yet…”

“Miss, what about me?”

Fortunately, Tara saved me from the awkward situation.

“Yes! Tara is my fourth favorite!”

“Darn. Miss, you’re my number one…!”

“I’m sorry…”

“But still, being the fourth in your world is something I’ll be satisfied with, Miss.”

Tara pretended to glare but couldn’t hide her pleased smile.

I didn’t forget the maids standing behind us either.

“And you all are fifth!”

It wasn’t just a compliment; it was sincere.

If it hadn’t been for them today, I would have been completely defeated by Diana.

Naturally, the maids’ reactions were enthusiastic.

“Oh my, there’s a little angel here.”

“Where’s the pillar! Bring it over!”

“Tara, didn’t you say you wanted to resign earlier?”

Suddenly, the butler asked with an awkward expression.

“Well… not just yet, Miss?”

“Hmm… I’ll think about it!”

“Goodness, what a lively bunch!”

In this cheerful atmosphere, only old Gordon seemed displeased.

‘I didn’t even include Grandpa in the list!’

I wanted to show my displeasure too, but being the good person I am, I held back.

He’s a future business partner, so I shouldn’t make him feel bad already.

“I’ll make an exception for you, Grandpa, and put you at eleventh.”

“I don’t need it, you rascal!”

“Then… tenth?”

“Ahem, ahem!”

At that moment.

Someone’s forced clearing of the throat abruptly interrupted our conversation.

“What’s this? Haven’t you left yet?”

The Duke frowned as he turned his head toward the source.

Following his gaze, I saw a plump man with a red, angry face.

‘Oh right, the Marquis and Diana!’

I had completely forgotten their presence while expressing my gratitude for the gifts.

The Marquis spoke, barely containing his anger.

“We were still… in the middle of a conversation with Diana.”

“Ah.”

The Duke, who seemed to have forgotten as well, let out a short sigh.

“That’s finished.”

“Pardon…?”

“I believe you understood my words. Take your ward and go.”

The Duke gave a dismissive wave, clearly wanting them gone.

“T-that’s…”

The Marquis stammered, looking dumbfounded.

It seemed ridiculous to him that a noble of his standing was being dismissed without even a proper farewell.

However, he couldn’t protest.

His ward’s fault was too clear, and the Duke was being lenient in not pursuing the matter further.

Realizing the situation, the Marquis ground his teeth and glared at Diana.

“What are you waiting for? Get up!”

“…”

“You! Hurry and take her!”

“Yes, yes! Miss, let’s go back now…”

As the maid from the Marquis’s house hurriedly tried to help, Diana pushed her hand away and got up on her own.

Then she walked towards me.

“…Belze.”

Apparently, she still had something to say, as she stopped right in front of me.

Luckily, she seemed to have stopped crying.

However, with her eyes still full of tears, Diana lowered them and spoke sorrowfully.

“…I’m sorry. Because of me, the tea party was ruined…”

“…”

“But I didn’t lie. You might have forgotten, but honestly…”

“Stop.”

My heart, which had briefly hoped at the sudden apology, grew cold.

I met her wavering violet eyes and spoke clearly.

“I don’t remember anything like that.”

“S-sorry…”

Diana muttered another apology with a crestfallen face.

Her demeanor didn’t bring any satisfaction. Instead, it made my chest feel tight.

‘You know, Diana, I don’t want your apology.’

I didn’t know what she was thinking, but I knew she wasn’t genuinely remorseful.

If she had felt any guilt, she should have apologized for lying first.

And for eating the pecan pie knowing she was allergic, just to put me in a difficult position.

Despite her teary expression, Diana’s eyes were filled with confusion, not true remorse.

‘…But in the end, I’ll have to forgive her.’

Even so, I knew I had to forgive Diana here.

Because even if this situation passed, Diana would still be the protagonist.

And I didn’t want to die like in my previous life.

I wanted to live as a good child, as the people who cared about me hoped.

I looked at Tara, the maids, the butler, Edwin, and finally, the Duke.

Then, forcing myself to speak despite my reluctance, I opened my mouth.

“…You know, Diana.”

“…Yes?”

“I’ll accept your apology.”

“R-really?”

I smiled bitterly as I looked at her bewildered face.

“Yes. But from now on…”

“…”

“Don’t lie like that again.”

It might be an effort to gain favor for you, but for me,

Every moment like this is connected to my survival.

“…Okay?”

Diana stared at me for a moment.

Then she smiled sweetly while looking at me.

“Yes, I understand! Thank you so much, Belze!”

Only then did the tension in my body release.

‘…It’s over.’

I hadn’t planned to do this so early, even before the main storyline began.

But at least for now, I wouldn’t have to see Diana for a while.

With a deep sense of relief, I turned my back on the protagonist.

At that moment.

“Belze!”

Diana grabbed my arm urgently.

Startled, I turned to see her mumbling hesitantly.

“We won’t see each other often anymore… Can I ask you one last favor?”

“…Favor?”

“Yes. I want to heal your wounds too!”

I was taken aback by her unexpected words.

“I don’t have any injuries…”

“Here, here. You have a wound.”

Diana pointed to the bandages on my cheek and exposed arm with her other hand.

“T-this is… nothing.”

“But a wound is still a wound. You helped me earlier, so I want to help you too, okay?”

“I’m fine, really…”

“Please, Belze-”

Diana shook my arm, pleading cutely.

I desperately wanted to refuse.

Her motives were obvious.

Having been banned from visiting the Duke’s estate, she wanted to demonstrate that her healing abilities were intact one last time.

“Well, if a friend wants to heal you, just accept it. Besides, it’s free. Outside, there are many people lining up to see Diana.”

The Marquis added.

Annoyingly, his words made it hard to refuse.

‘If I say no, they’ll accuse me of feeling inferior to Diana.’

Having experienced this life once, I could predict the father and daughter’s patterns.

At that moment.

“Then… I’ll start!”

While I hesitated without saying anything, Diana took my silence as permission and acted on her own.

“W-wait…!”

I tried to stop her, but it was too late.

Fwoosh—!

A dazzling light burst from Diana’s hand as she grasped my arm.

It quickly climbed up my arm and soon enveloped my entire body.

As expected, she intended to heal every wound to show her vitality.

Maybe because I rarely received healing, I endured the uncomfortable sensation of something crawling under my skin with difficulty.

“Diana, aren’t you done yet…”

At that moment.

I widened my eyes at the sight that caught my attention.

Amid the bright light filling my vision, I saw the source of the holy power.

Diana’s palm.

The color of the light there was distinctly different from the healing light I knew.

‘…Purple?’