“Diana.”
“Yes?”
“On the day of the Founding Ball, let’s sneak out together. Just the two of us.”
Diana’s eyes widened at Kayden’s words. Seeing her reaction, he made a resolution to himself. I’ll confess properly. Not in this impulsive manner but in a way that would let Diana truly understand the depth of his feelings. He would prepare and confess properly. Kayden thought this and waited for Diana’s response.
“Um, just the two of us…” Meanwhile, Diana mumbled with a troubled expression.
Diana had vaguely realized that she sometimes harbored feelings for Kayden that she shouldn’t. Hadn’t she just moved on her own will to kiss him a moment ago? In such a situation, she was afraid that enjoying the festival alone with Kayden might make her want to stay by his side.
I should say no…
Just as Diana opened her lips to refuse, Kayden’s eyebrows softened.
“Is that a no…?”
Her heart sank the moment she saw his face. Kayden looked at her with such a pitiful expression as if he might cry at any moment. Diana nodded before she knew it. It was practically involuntary.
Oops. It was only after she saw the bright smile on Kayden’s face that Diana realized what she had done. But Kayden was already hugging her around the waist and spinning her around with a face full of excitement.
“Thank you, Diana.”
He looked so innocent and happy, like a young boy, that Diana couldn’t bring herself to take back her words.
Somehow, Diana felt like she had fallen for a beautiful trap.
* * *
It was late at night.
“Are you sure there are absolutely none left?”
“Y-Yes… That’s correct, Milord.”
Millard’s threatening question was met with a deep bow from the butler of Sudsfield mansion. He gritted his teeth as he saw the empty silver tray in the butler’s hands.
Those bat-like creatures…!
Despite it being the busiest time of the year for social gatherings, the number of invitations under Millard’s name had dwindled until they stopped completely. Even when he managed to attend a party, it was the same.
The young masters who were eager to speak to him when he was first engaged to Rebecca now smiled awkwardly and avoided him. All of this had started after Kayden won the defensive battle.
“…You may leave.”
“Y-Yes, Milord.”
When Millard gritted his teeth and dismissed the butler, the man hurriedly bowed and left the room.
Millard slumped onto the sofa and leaned back. He let out a ragged breath and ran his hand through his hair. I want to see the first princess, but she’s currently under house arrest…
Millard bit his lips hard. Seeing Rebecca’s face might ease his anxiety, but she was currently confined to the White Flame Palace due to the Ferand incident and could not meet anyone.
Unable to contain his anxiety, Millard eventually got up and left the room. He headed straight for Viscount Sudsfield’s study. Knock, knock.
“Father, it’s me.”
Knowing that Viscount Sudsfield went to bed very late, Millard knocked on the door. As expected, there was an immediate response.
“…Come in.”
When Millard entered the study, he found Viscount Sudsfield wearing glasses and reviewing documents. He looked up in surprise.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
Millard took a deep breath before responding clearly. “Father, now is the perfect time to use Diana. We should have her kill the Third Prince.”
“…What?” Viscount Sudsfield’s voice was filled with astonishment. To come at such an hour and suggest killing the third prince was shocking.
But Millard, excited by his own thoughts, continued speaking. “Honestly, isn’t that what it boils down to? Is there any reason to keep that illegitimate child alive? After all, wasn’t the marriage arranged to stop the third prince from the beginning? The third prince is particularly lenient towards that illegitimate child, so it would be easy to find an opportunity to kill. We can have Diana kill him, and then we can deal with her by accusing her of his assassination, cleaning everything up neat—”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Viscount Sudsfield interrupted Millard, his face twisted in anger.
Viscount Sudsfield had made a deal with Kayden on the condition that Diana would become his consort. If Kayden were to die, his plans would be ruined. Moreover, even without that, Millard’s suggestion was absurd.
Pressing his fingers to his temples as if he had a headache, Viscount Sudsfield spoke. “Even the children in the streets know that the third prince and Diana are deeply in love. Do you think people would believe it if Diana suddenly turned and killed the third prince?”
“Just claim she went insane.”
“And you think people would buy that? Especially when rumors are already spreading that the first princess keeps harming innocent people, making everyone cautious…”
“Are you saying we should just sit idly by and do nothing…!”
“What could you do even if you didn’t sit still?!”
Viscount Sudsfield finally exploded, slamming his desk with a loud bang. Millard involuntarily flinched at his father’s rage.
Viscount Sudsfield glared at Millard and spoke through gritted teeth. “You’re neither the first princess’s consort nor the head of the family. Only I, the head of the family, can give orders to Diana. If you understand, get out of here!” He then turned away from Millard, seething with anger. “Suck a reckless fool… How do you expect to become the head of a family like that…”
The sound of viscount clicking his tongue in disapproval echoed clearly in Millard’s ears.
“…”
Millard clenched his fists and endured the humiliation before storming out of the study. As he walked through the darkened hallway, his face contorted like a demon’s.
“You’re neither the first princess’s consort nor the head of the family.”
“Suck a reckless fool… How do you expect to become the head of a family like that…”
Viscount Sudsfield’s words echoed in his ears like poison.
Head of the family…
Millard came to a sudden stop in front of his room. Turning his head, he saw the moon outside the window.
“…”
A fleeting, eerie glint passed through his eyes as he silently gazed at the moon, then quickly vanished.
* * *
Time flew by, and the day of the founding festival, the last day of the social season, arrived. Kayden, who was practically the star of this year’s festival, faced a somewhat troublesome morning.
“…Uh, Monsieur Drong, is this really necessary?” Kayden awkwardly asked the burly man meticulously grooming his hair one strand at a time in the mirror.
Monsieur Drong, the rival of Madame Deshu, responded with a shocked expression. “Why would you even ask such an obvious question? Your Highness, you’re practically the star of this festival! You’re the face of the empire!”
“My mistake. Please continue.”
Monsieur Drong passionately delivered his speech, holding Kayden’s hair and comb in his hands. Fearing his hair might get pulled out, Kayden quickly retracted his question.
Since Madame Deshu was exclusively in charge of dressing up Diana, Monsieur Drong was filled with a competitive spirit, going all out to groom Kayden. As a result, Kayden ended up looking breathtakingly perfect. His hair was styled to show off his forehead and straight eyebrows, and his well-fitting uniform highlighted his muscular physique.
“Perfect.”
“This could be called a masterpiece.”
Monsieur Drong and his assistants admired their work. Even the maids who had helped due to a shortage of hands blushed.
“Alright, let’s finish up!” Monsieur Drong exclaimed enthusiastically.
It was at that moment when Kayden reluctantly surrendered himself to the hands of the many.
“Kayden, are you ready…?”
Diana, having finished her preparations first, entered his room and froze. Her gaze was fixed on the maid, who seemed to be trying a cravat for Kayden.
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