RVMPT Chapter 93

Chapter 93

After finishing her volunteer work, Diana returned home and headed to Harold’s study.

“Hm? He’s not here.”

The butler had said Harold would be in his study. Tilting her head, Diana stepped inside.

His desk was neatly organized, just like his personality. She smiled quietly.

‘Huh?’

A document near the front of the desk caught her attention. She hadn’t meant to read it, but once her eyes landed on it, she couldn’t look away.

[Jameson, 29 years old, living in Zone 3, went missing on (month, day). Description: red hair, green eyes.]

Height, weight, and other details were listed as well. There were similar files about other missing persons.

“…Why is Harold investigating missing people?”

“Because I’m personally concerned about it.”

“Ahhh!”

Harold suddenly appeared behind her and hugged her with a sly smile.

Diana tried to break free out of surprise, but Harold didn’t let go. His large hand rested against her lower stomach.

He leaned his chin on her stiff shoulder. Feeling her rapidly beating heart through their touch, he smiled and whispered softly.

“Your heart’s going to burst, darling.”

“…!”

Her ears turned bright red like ripe apples. Harold thought about teasing her more, then loosened his arms.

Diana turned to face him, pressing close to the desk. Her entire face, not just her ears, was red, and her fluffy pink hair couldn’t hide it.

Ah, she’s adorable.

Harold let out a quiet chuckle.

He gently cupped her warm cheek and kissed it briefly.

Her blue eyes opened wide under soft pink lashes. Harold pulled back with a smile.

“Do you want to know why I care about the missing people? Should I tell you?”

“No. I’ll politely decline.”

Diana refused firmly—Harold was the type who would actually tell her.

He once told her without hesitation that he’d personally wiped out a human trafficking group.

Since she’d be leaving once everything was ready, she didn’t want to know things she shouldn’t.

“If you don’t want to know, then that’s fine.”

Whew. Diana sighed in relief.

‘Ah, right.’

She remembered why she had come to see him.

“Harold, was Count Garcia’s motive what we expected?”

“It was.”

As expected. Diana nodded.

They had suspected why the Count had suddenly grown friendlier.

It happened after Harold’s full recovery—more precisely, after she was kidnapped and rescued.

She recalled the rumor that Kaiden had searched for her all night. And the Count was still trying to build a relationship with Kaiden.

That’s how they figured out his true goal.

“I delivered the invitation to the Count, too.”

“Thank you.”

She had been the one to suggest sending the invitation.

She wanted “Diana” to witness the downfall of the man who had tormented her for more than half her life—Count Garcia.

“I only did what I should, my lady.”

Harold kissed the tip of her finger.

“The party will be the last time you see the Count. If there’s anything you want to say, do it then.”

His voice, calling it “the last time,” carried a sudden chill.

He’d seen too many people try to steal what was his when he was ill.

People who treated him like he was already dead and bowed to Kaiden, had tried to assassinate him, betray him, even his father had left a key port city to Kaiden in his will.

Being used to betrayal didn’t mean it didn’t sting.

Especially when someone dared to flirt with the woman he loved, right in front of his living, breathing self.

Harold was no saint. And Garcia wasn’t someone worth his patience.

Then Diana suddenly grabbed his hand.

Harold looked at her in surprise.

“Thank you for everything.”

It wasn’t something she had to say right now, but no matter how many times she said it, it would never be enough.

When the time came to part ways, she probably wouldn’t even be able to say goodbye properly. So she wanted to say it now, as many times as possible.

“…”

Harold gave her a strange look, then laughed softly.

“You sound like someone who’s leaving.”

“What? Leaving? I’m not going anywhere! I just said it because I’m grateful for everything!”

“I know.”

He brushed her hair behind her ear and whispered,

“My wife would never leave me.”

“Exactly! Why would I ever leave Harold? I’m not going anywhere. Never.”

“…”

Harold narrowed his eyes as she rambled. Something about her reaction felt off—different from usual.

His instincts whispered that something wasn’t right.

Normally, he trusted his gut. If something felt wrong, there was usually a reason.

But this was Diana.

So he chose to trust her instead of his instincts.

<“I love you.”>

He suddenly recalled the sweetest words he’d ever heard.

She wouldn’t say them again—no matter how often he tried to coax them from her lips.

Harold smirked. His mischief made Diana flinch.

“If—just if—my wife ever tried to hide from me, I’d do whatever it takes to find her.”

“…And when you find me?”

“I’ll punish you.”

“How?”

“Hm. Let’s see.”

He pretended to think. His red lips slowly curled upward.

Diana held her breath, a nervous tension rising to the top of her head.

“I won’t stop until you cry.”

Oh, come on.

“You already do that now.”

As she spoke in a flat voice, Harold scooped her up.

He buried his lips in the curve of her neck.

“Diana.”

In truth, he wouldn’t just make her cry. But he kept his darker thoughts to himself.

No need to tell her things that would only frighten her unnecessarily.

If she never ran away, then it would never happen. Why stir up trouble?

Harold kissed her slender jaw, then slowly bit her soft lips.

“…!”

Instead of saying I love you, Harold stole her breath again.

Diana’s lashes fluttered in surprise before she gently closed her eyes and leaned into him.

Before her blue eyes disappeared beneath her lashes, a glimmer of desire was there.

Harold supported her with one arm and brushed the faint blush under her eyes with his thumb. Her lashes quivered with each gentle touch.

He smiled and nuzzled her warm ear.

<“I love you.”>

Every time she showed how much she loved him, his tightly bound patience loosened.

Desire. Warmth. He savored it all as he gently held her head.

And then, more passionately, he began to explore her breath.

He lifted her onto the desk. Some papers slid off, but he didn’t care.

His lips trailed down her neck to her collarbone when—

Knock knock—

“Excuse me, Duke.”

Diana jolted as if she’d been waked from a dream.

“…!”

“Click.”

Harold clicked his tongue and straightened his clothes. Diana hurried to gather the fallen papers.

“Come in, butler.”

The butler entered and bowed politely to them.

“Apologies for the interruption, but a letter just arrived from Lord Kaiden. It’s marked urgent.”

The letter was sealed with black wax—used for messages that required immediate attention.

Harold frowned and opened the letter. Then let out a short, dry laugh.

“…Hah.”

“What is it?” Diana asked.

Harold summarized the content briefly.

“Kaiden’s gone mad.”