Chapter 66
I paced nervously in front of Harold’s office.
On the tray I was holding, there were desserts and tea. I let out a deep sigh.
“Phew.”
Today, I received the results of the investigation and surveillance on Countess Russell and Ella.
‘I was hoping it was just my imagination.’
But the truth was clear. Those two were definitely plotting something.
Countess Russell had secretly purchased something and was encouraging people around her to attend the Baisen family’s party, saying something interesting would happen there.
From what she bought, I could guess that she had learned from Ella that I was supposedly infertile.
And at the party, she planned to reveal it.
Meanwhile, aside from meeting Countess Russell that day, Ella had done nothing suspicious. She hadn’t met with the Countess again.
But the Countess’s behavior changed after meeting Ella—that much was certain from the investigation. And the only people who believed I couldn’t have children were Amanda and her circle, who had tried to give me that strange medicine.
I was lucky to be a reader. Otherwise, I would have been played right into Ella’s hands.
I knocked on the office door.
“Harold, I’m coming in.”
As soon as I entered, Harold frowned slightly and stood up. He strode over to me and took the tray from my hands.
“Why are you carrying this yourself? Where are the maids?”
“I told them I’d bring it myself. Do you have time to share some tea? I have something to tell you.”
His frown immediately softened, replaced by a long, amused smile.
“If my wife has something to say, I’ll make time even if I don’t have any.”
He set the tray on the table and sat in his usual spot. I sat across from him.
“I mentioned earlier that I had something to talk about.”
I told Harold everything I had learned.
He leaned back on the sofa, listening quietly, then nodded slowly.
“They’re definitely planning to cause trouble at the party.”
“That’s what it looks like, right? I’m planning to meet with Countess Russell soon. I can’t let her create a scene at the party.”
I intended to clear up her misunderstanding and shut her down before she could do anything.
But the real problem was Ella.
Even if I stopped Countess Russell, I couldn’t silence Ella.
She wouldn’t act directly, but she would definitely manipulate someone else to do it for her.
“Diana.”
“Yes?”
Before I could react, a small piece of chocolate slipped between my lips.
‘Huh?’
The sweet aroma filled my nose. Harold’s fingertip brushed against my lower lip as he pulled away.
My gaze followed his movement before settling on him.
“Tell me, Diana.”
“Tell you what?”
The chocolate in my mouth made my words slightly muffled.
I chewed and swallowed. A rich, bittersweet taste spread in my mouth—it was just the way I liked it.
“What’s been bothering you so much that you were frowning just now?”
“Oh.”
I felt embarrassed that my thoughts were so obvious. I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“I was thinking that even if I stop Countess Russell, Ella won’t stay quiet. I need to stop her before she does anything, but I’m not sure how.”
“Hm.”
Harold lifted his chin from his hand. His sharp gaze met mine.
“Then why not take her down first?”
“You mean… I should bring down Ella first?”
I had thought about stopping her actions, but I had never considered attacking her first.
“Yes. We should strike first.”
I sat there, stunned, then slowly nodded.
“They do say the best defense is a good offense.”
Harold smiled in satisfaction and handed me a cookie.
‘Again?’
I blinked at both the cookie and Harold.
After hesitating, I bit the edge of the cookie.
Throughout our discussion on how to deal with Ella, Harold kept offering me snacks from the tray.
I wanted to tell him he could eat them himself, but I didn’t want to interrupt our conversation. So, I just kept eating whatever he gave me.
“I’ll visit the Russell Count family soon.”
“I’ll leave that to you.”
Since the conversation seemed to be ending, I took a sip of my tea.
The clean taste of the tea paired well with the dessert, making me feel refreshed.
At that moment, Harold handed me a piece of cake.
I blinked and raised both hands near my head.
“I have hands too, you know.”
“Yes, I can see that very well.”
“…Aren’t you going to eat, Harold?”
“My hands are busy right now.”
“You could just eat it yourself instead of giving it to me.”
“I prefer watching you enjoy the food I give you.”
Harold leaned his chin on his hand and smiled at me. He truly looked amused.
I accepted the piece of cake.
Maybe he was just being nice to me because of my abilities, but I couldn’t ignore the happiness on his face.
‘But is he really not going to eat?’
It was delicious. It wasn’t just overly sweet, so I was sure Harold would like it too.
‘Especially that almond cookie… I bet it would suit Harold’s taste perfectly.’
I picked up the almond cookie from the plate.
“Harold, should I feed you?”
After a brief hesitation, I made the offer.
Harold’s eyelashes lifted slightly, and his navy-blue eyes darkened as if a deep wave had settled inside them.
‘Did he not like my suggestion?’
His unexpected reaction made the cookie in my hand feel heavier.
‘Maybe I should just eat it myself and erase the evidence.’
Like a criminal trying to cover their tracks, I hurriedly opened my mouth to eat the cookie.
Just as the cookie touched my lower lip, Harold grabbed my wrist.
“I never said I wouldn’t eat it.”
Resting one hand on the table, Harold leaned in and took a bite of the cookie I was holding.
“It’s delicious.”
“Oh… that’s good, then.”
Harold sat back properly. I quickly picked up my teacup, feeling thirsty.
“Diana.”
“Y-yes?”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
Something else to say?
“…No.”
“Is that so?”
I thought for a moment before asking,
“Is there something I should be telling you?”
“No. If you have nothing, then that’s that.”
But his narrowed eyes still held that same dark heat from earlier.
At the Russell estate, Countess Audrey Russell stared coldly at Diana, who had come to visit.
‘I thought this was my chance to take over the Baisen Ducal family.’
Harold, who usually recoiled from physical contact and even wore gloves, could only touch one person.
If Harold, who tightly held onto the duchy’s power, died, she planned to use Diana to claim Baisen.
If that woman carried an heir, I could use the excuse of protecting the child to control her.
‘How dare she deceive me? That wretched woman.’
No matter how high she climbed, her lowly origins still showed through. Even as a duchess, she continued to act disgracefully.
Thinking about how she had been played by someone like Diana made her blood boil.
She wanted to strike her face with a whip full of thorns.
But Countess Russell calmed herself by recalling what Ella had whispered—”the right time.”
The only reason she accepted Diana’s visit was to make her lower her guard before bringing about her grand downfall.
With a picture-perfect smile, the countess gently waved her fan.
“I was quite surprised when I received your letter requesting a visit, Duchess Diana.”
“Yes. I haven’t seen you recently, so I was worried and wanted to check in.”
“Oh-ho, I’ve been quite busy lately. Even now, I only made a little time for your visit, but I won’t be able to stay long.”
Countess Russell feigned regret, lowering her lashes as if truly disappointed, but she was setting the stage to send Diana away quickly.
“May I ask what has been keeping you busy?”
“It’s a personal matter, so I can’t share it, Duchess.”
“I see. In that case, I’ll just say what I came to tell you and leave.”
Inside, Countess Russell smirked.
Just looking at Diana made her fingers clench with rage.
If she stayed any longer, she might lose control and slap her before the right time came.
“What is it that you wish to say?”
She asked, pretending to be curious.
Diana took a sip of tea and then spoke in a casual, everyday tone.
“I know what Lady Ella told you.”
