RVMPT Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Harold continued speaking without hesitation.

“Do you realize all your actions toward Diana make you look like a pathetic ex-lover who hasn’t moved on?”

“Hah. Me, hung up on the Duchess? Aren’t you just seeing what you want to see, Brother?”

Kaiden growled, despite vowing earlier to avoid unnecessary arguments. But the phrase “‘my’ Diana”? was unbearable.

“I can see right through your intentions.”

“Oh?”
“You know you’re destined to lose everything to me. So, you’re trying to snatch at least one thing away, aren’t you?”
Harold’s eyes deepened as he observed Kaiden’s triumphant expression.
“Kaiden, those words make it sound like you’ve always thought of Diana as yours.”

“…!”

Kaiden’s eyes widened, his crimson gaze trembling sharply as if Harold had pierced through something buried deep within him that even he hadn’t noticed.

“Did you think just because Diana chased after you once, she belonged to you?”

“….”

“Don’t kid yourself. You’re the one who carefully calculated and chose Ella Rinomar.”
Harold’s gaze drifted to Kaiden’s left hand, where his engagement ring from Ella gleamed. Reflexively, Kaiden lowered his hand beneath the table.
Harold smirked faintly and swept his hair back, the wedding ring he wore spark brilliantly on his finger.
Kaiden took some time to calm down a feeling of unease or restlessness that he couldn’t fully understand.

“…I’ve never thought of the Duchess as mine. But hasn’t she loved me obsessively? To the point of trying to poison her friend?”

Yes, that’s all there is to it. Kaiden repeated the thought to himself, trying to ease the suffocating tightness in his chest.

Even back when everyone admired Harold and ignored Kaiden as insignificant, Diana had always looked at him. Her gaze overflowed with affection—it had been impossible to miss.

She was an odd girl who suddenly started to adore him, ignoring Harold, whom everyone else admired. Even then, Kaiden had never given Diana, a fellow illegitimate child a second glance.

Yet Diana had loved no one but him—for over ten years, unwaveringly.

Like a shadow, naturally visible when you look down.

“Diana told me she doesn’t like you anymore.”

“That could be an act. Considering the Duchess’s behavior during her unmarried days, isn’t it natural for me to be wary, Brother?”

Hot crimson eyes and cold navy eyes locked in silent confrontation.

Harold unlinked his clasped hands and reached into his jacket.

“My wife asked me to pass this on to you.”

“…A handkerchief?”

“It’s the reason Diana began to like you.”

Kaiden raised an eyebrow at the handkerchief on the table.

‘This handkerchief?’

But the navy handkerchief, embroidered with the Vissen family crest, was unmistakably…

“It’s mine, of course. You don’t use navy handkerchiefs.”

Harold held the handkerchief up next to his face, waving it lightly. His navy eyes narrowed faintly.

“There was a time when I rescued a young girl during a hunt. I lost my handkerchief back then.”

“….”

“Diana mistakenly believed it was your handkerchief and thought you were the one who saved her. Oh, she knows now that it was me who helped her that day.”

Harold smirked at the frozen Kaiden, his tone mocking.

“She doesn’t like you anymore, which is why she asked me to return this to its rightful owner.”

Harold stretched out his arm and placed the handkerchief before Kaiden. Then, tilting his chin upward, he gazed down at his brother from up close.

“I’ve delivered her message, so you understand now, don’t you? Diana truly doesn’t love you anymore.”

Straightening his posture, Harold removed his hand from the table.

“So stop worrying about my wife. Remember, this is your only verbal warning.”

***

Harold left Kaiden’s townhouse. He recalled Kaiden’s increasingly pale face as he spoke. His brother had been too stunned to do anything but stare blankly at the handkerchief even as Harold exited.

A crooked smile played on Harold’s lips.

‘To think he’s unaware of his own desires.’

Harold found Kaiden incomprehensible and laughable.

How could anyone fail to recognize their own desire?

Even after imagining things from Kaiden’s perspective several times, Harold couldn’t understand. So, he gave up the meaningless effort.

As he approached his carriage, he removed his coat and gloves.

He handed the coat and gloves to Evan.

“Burn both of these.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s go.”

The carriage quickly reached the ducal residence. As Harold disembarked, another carriage slowly approached.

Through the window, his eyes met Diana’s, and he offered her a quick wink.

Harold escorted her as she stepped down.

“Thank you. It’s a coincidence we’re arriving at the same time.”

“Indeed.”

They walked side by side toward the mansion.

Diana started telling him about her day at the gathering, mentioning that she and Lady Mayer had agreed to volunteer at the temple.

After a brief pause, she looked at Harold, sensing something off about his unusually peculiar smile.

“Are you in a bad mood today?”

“No. Quite the opposite—I’ve good news.”

If so, then why…?

“But, Diana, what’s in that box?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Diana replied,

“I met Countess Audrey Russell at today’s gathering.”

“….”

At the mention of Audrey Russell, Harold’s lips tightened slightly.

Diana proceeded to explain the story surrounding the box in detail.

“Is that a herbal remedy for conception the Countess Russell gave you as a gift?”
“Yes, so I’m planning to hand it over to the chef. She mentioned he’s been trying to conceive.”

“You could sell it for a decent sum, you know.”
Recalling her fondness for money, Harold asked with a smirk. Diana nodded calmly.
“Still, it’d be better if it could be put to good use, don’t you think? Besides…”

Diana hesitated briefly before continuing.
“I doubt this is the last gift I’ll receive from Countess Audrey Russell.”

“Ha! So, you’re planning to keep milking her, are you?”
“Bingo. …Is that okay?”

“You don’t need my permission. If she’s offering, feel free to take as much as you want.”
With his casual approval, Diana’s face lit up.

Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks flushed as she’d just received the best shopping deal of her life.
Seeing her like this made it clear—she definitely had a weakness for money.

Harold glanced sideways at the box the maid was carrying.
“Diana, aren’t you curious about the history between the Russell family and me?”
“I am, but it’s fine. If you want to share, I’ll listen when you’re ready.”

Diana recalled how his expression had slightly hardened whenever Countess Audrey was mentioned, and she answered thoughtfully.

“Then, can I start by asking something I want to know?”
“Go ahead.”

Harold stopped walking, prompting Diana to halt as well.
He gently took her hand, lowering his head toward the nape of her neck.

A breeze swept her hair across her cheek, and Diana instinctively raised a hand to cover it. Her hair tickled the back of her hand, causing her nose to twitch.
“Not wearing perfume lately?”

In a low voice, Harold inquired. Diana slowly nodded in response.
“I’ve gotten so used to the scent that I can barely notice it anymore. So, I’ve decided to only use it occasionally.”

Even though the fragrance lingered faintly, she’d grown indifferent to it. Diana nodded to herself as the fresh scent in the breeze teased her senses.

‘This is just right.’

It allowed her to enjoy the scent whenever she wanted without growing tired of it. Still, she planned to use the gift until it was finished.

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Harold straightened up, but his expression showed slight dissatisfaction. His gaze drifted downward as if lost in thought.

He stared at her wrist, which he had gently clasped, and then started walking again with a slow, deliberate pace.

The two entered the mansion. Diana glanced around curiously.
‘Something feels…off.’

The ducal residence was always quiet, but today the air felt particularly heavy and oppressive.
She wasn’t the only one who sensed it. Harold narrowed his eyes as well.

At that moment, the butler approached Harold with a grave expression.
“Your Grace, someone from the Imperial Court has come to see you.”