Chapter 89
“Do you like me?”
Did he just say “I like you”?
No, there’s no way Kaiden would say that. I must have heard it wrong.
If I didn’t hear it wrong… Ah, I know!
“Is this another lie, just like last time, to test me, Duke?”
“No. No, Diana.”
Kaiden grabbed my wrist. His palm was trembling, and I could feel it as he held me. It seemed like his hand was sweating, as my gloves became sticky from it.
But his grip on me was gentle, as though he didn’t want to hurt me.
That made me feel worse, and when I tried to pull my hand away, his voice, full of emotion, came in a whisper.
“I really like you.”
“…”
“I didn’t even realize how much I liked you for a long time.”
I clenched my teeth, my lips trembling. I didn’t think he was lying.
“It’s too late.”
Kaiden furrowed his brow like someone who had been stabbed in the heart. He lowered his head.
“…I know.”
A cold breeze brushed past us, and a leaf, which had once been burning with passion like fire, fell to the ground, now turning brown.
“I know…”
Kaiden buried his face in his trembling palm. His usually confident broad shoulders drooped helplessly.
He kept holding me with his other hand as he spoke softly.
“When I realized it… I couldn’t control myself. When I saw you on the carriage, I followed you here like I was hypnotized. I stood in front of the carriage, knowing it was dangerous… I just wanted to see you once, but when I actually saw you, I couldn’t control my feelings. I never knew liking someone could feel like this, Diana. I really can’t control myself.”
His words felt like a confession, full of anguish.
It almost sounded like he was pleading for me to understand and accept him, like someone begging for mercy.
The real Diana that was no longer here flashed in my mind, and my throat tightened.
Who was he confessing to? The person who would have been thrilled to hear this confession is long gone. Does he even know that what he’s doing right now is cruel?
No. He probably doesn’t.
He doesn’t know, which is why he’s making such a cruel confession.
I pulled my hand away from his grip. Kaiden looked at me, his face full of confusion.
“Are you really saying you can’t control yourself? Is that really the whole reason?”
“I…”
I didn’t let him finish. My voice, sharper than I intended, cut through the air.
“Did you really expect me to waver after hearing your confession?”
“…!”
Kaiden’s pupils dilated in shock. He was so close that every change in his expression was visible.
I noticed his startled reaction and took a deep breath, holding it in for a moment before letting it out.
“It’s too late. I have only one thing to say.”
“…Diana.”
“I’m the Duchess, not Diana. How many times do I have to remind you?”
I took a step back. Kaiden reached out but stopped when he saw my face.
“Duke, please, don’t ever get involved with me again.”
As I turned to leave, Kaiden took a step forward, grabbing me again without hesitation.
The fallen brown leaves crunched under his feet.
Just then, a guard approached and lowered his voice, warning Kaiden.
“Duke, let go of the Duchess. This kind of disrespect cannot go unpunished.”
“…”
The guard drew his sword, but Kaiden didn’t move.
I sighed deeply and turned to look at him.
“I am not someone you can touch freely.”
“…”
“Do you want to disappoint me even more?”
Kaiden, who had refused to move at the guard’s warning, finally let go of my hand as soon as I mentioned disappointment.
Even in that action, I could feel the emotion Kaiden was holding onto, and it made my stomach churn.
I frowned and got into the carriage. As it started moving again, a heavy silence settled inside.
I could feel Anna watching me closely, but I couldn’t bring myself to care about her right now.
I leaned back against the soft cushions and tilted my head back.
‘If the real Diana were here, she would have been happy to be confessed by Kaiden.’
She would have liked it for sure. Even if the reason was a misunderstanding,
But, realistically speaking, I wondered if Kaiden would have realized his feelings if the real Diana had stayed around. I didn’t know when he started liking her, but it seemed like he only became aware of it after I—someone who didn’t love him—showed indifference.
I was certain that Kaiden only started to look back at Diana after her feelings had completely burned out, like the fallen brown leaves, when all the lingering attachment had vanished.
Is love really this cruel? Can something so cruel be called love?
I don’t know. I just felt sad thinking about how the real Diana must have waited for this confession.
Then, I thought of Harold. I suddenly wanted to see him.
The carriage slowed down and stopped. The door opened with a soft creak.
A large hand, gloved in white, reached out to me.
It wasn’t a servant’s hand, nor a guard’s, nor the coachman’s. But it was a hand I recognized very well.
I blinked, my eyes fluttering before they focused on him. His dark blue eyes were locked on mine.
“…Harold?”
“Yes, Diana.”
“…”
“Aren’t you getting out?”
“Oh. No, I should get off.”
Only then did I take his hand and step down. Noticing I had been staring at him without moving, Harold asked.
“Did something happen?”
“I was just surprised to see the person I’ve been missing standing right in front of me like magic.”
Harold raised his dark brows slightly. Then, with a soft smile, his eyes narrowed lazily.
He pulled my hand and kissed the tips of my fingers, whispering.
“I guess it worked. I missed you too.”
A ticklish sensation spread through my fingers, and my lips curved into a smile. Just then, I noticed Harold holding a red autumn leaf above my head.
“It got stuck in your hair.”
“Oh.”
Had it been there when I talked to Kaiden earlier? I looked at the unchanged leaf, thinking of the brown leaves one Kaiden had stepped on earlier.
The sadness I was feeling threatened to overwhelm me, and I scrunched my nose.
At that moment, Harold cupped my face with both hands and gently traced my features.
“You’ve definitely been through something, Diana.”
“…You’re good at this.”
I sighed quietly, realizing why I’d been so eager to see him.
“Harold, could you hug me?”
Harold’s embrace was warm, and his forest-scented cologne felt fresh and comforting.
Moreover, being close to him made my chest flutter, and I could easily shake off any negativity.
“Do you need comfort?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Alright, then.”
Harold pulled me into his arms. I closed my eyes and relaxed against him.
As always, his embrace was warm and comforting. The sadness I had been feeling started to melt away.
“Diana, do you feel better?”
“Yes. I feel better than before.”
“I’m glad.”
Then, suddenly, I was lifted off my feet. I opened my eyes in surprise and found myself in Harold’s arms, being carried like a princess.
“Let’s make you feel even better, my wife.”
Harold winked and whispered, carrying me toward the bedroom.
Amanda, guided by the jailer, walked down a corridor lined with prison cells.
The prison was luxurious compared to the commoners’ cells, but to Amanda, who had lived lavishly with the late Duke and had Kaiden, it felt no different than a trash heap.
She fanned herself, disgusted by her surroundings. Soon, the jailer stopped.
They had arrived at a prison cell that Amanda had to see. Inside, a scruffy blonde woman was sitting with her head buried in her knees.
“Here we are, my lady.”
“…!”
As soon as the jailer finished speaking, the woman, Ella, lifted her head.
