MTMT 23

Chapter 23

 Candy

“Big sister, why don’t you play with me these days?”

At Alexa’s words, Diana turned around. Alexa was frowning, looking very upset. Diana had been trying in her own way to take care of her, worried that Mirva might mistreat Alexa.

At present, Alexa was in good health and being left alone in the mansion.

“Alexa.”

“Brother Emil is busy every single day, and you go to the palace to look after the princess. I’m so bored.”

“……”

“Do you hate me? Am I worth less than the princess?”

Diana’s face twisted at Alexa’s words. In her previous life, Diana had taken care of Alexa. Seeing her alive again, she tried to think of even that as a blessing.

She thought it was a miracle that Alexa was breathing and alive. And yet, she felt terribly guilty for treating her as if she were a burden.

“Of course not. You’re precious.”

“Then don’t go to the palace. I’m lonely. Let’s play together, okay?”

Alexa tugged at Diana’s collar. Knowing what feelings drove her to hold on, Diana couldn’t bring herself to push her away.

“If you really love me, why won’t you stay with me? Liar.”

“Alexa.”

“Don’t go. I said don’t go!”

When Alexa threw a tantrum, she had no restraint. She raised her voice and began crying loudly.

“Alexa, I’m sorry.”

Diana tried to stroke her, but Alexa shoved her away.

“I don’t need a sister like you!”

“……”

“I hate you! I hate you all!”

As Alexa screamed, Diana let out a sigh. At that moment, footsteps sounded.

“Young Lady.”

She turned at the voice and saw Giscard standing there. He was watching Alexa cry. Diana realized it had been quite a while since she’d seen him.

So the grudges and nightmares of her past life were useless before reality. Embarrassed to be showing her situation, Diana turned her head away.

“I hate you too!”

Alexa suddenly grabbed a vase from the wall and hurled it at Giscard. Diana instinctively moved in shock.

Luckily, the vase didn’t strike his body and break. But the water inside splashed all over Diana.

“Oh dear.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. In stepping forward to shield him, she ended up getting hit herself. Though Alexa’s strength wasn’t that of a grown man, she’d thrown it with all her might, and the vase had rebounded against Diana’s head. The impact hurt quite a bit.

“S-sister…”

Diana realized she was soaked like a drenched mouse. A rush of shame hit her. It wasn’t because Giscard was a slave—it was simply humiliating to show him, that man, such a pitiful state.

She forced herself to hold back her rising emotions, grinding her teeth.

“You’re becoming more and more spoiled. Who taught you to take your anger out on others whenever things don’t go your way? I’ve always told you not to do that.”

“……”

“Neither Mother nor I ever taught you such things.”

“Sister… I…”

Tears welled up in Alexa’s eyes. But Diana only stared at her with a cold, hardened face. At that stern expression, a flicker of defiance rose on Alexa’s.

“You hit Mirva too!”

Diana’s eyes widened. Yes, of course Alexa wouldn’t see the difference. And truthfully, Diana didn’t think what she had done back then was right either.

“You’re right, I can’t excuse myself for that.”

“……”

“But I thought you were the kind of child who could apologize. I’m disappointed.”

“Uh…”

Diana turned away and went into her room. Inside, she looked down at herself—her clothes would have to be completely changed, and her hair redone. Forcing herself to breathe evenly, she tried to calm down.

Just then, someone held out a towel from behind. Startled, she turned—and saw Giscard standing there.

“Please dry yourself.”

“……”

Diana lowered her head. She felt ashamed, humiliated. She couldn’t lift her face. She hated that he had seen her looking so pathetic.

“Thank you.”

She used the towel to dry her wet hair. Giscard stood watching quietly.

“You were struck on the head.”

“It’s fine. Probably just a bump.”

She reached up and touched her forehead. As expected, there was a lump.

“May I ask you one thing, My Lady?”

“……”

“Why did you step in front of me?”

Because she hated the idea of Alexa sinning against him. Because Alexa had never wronged him, and she didn’t want her to die in this life with such a sin on her. She’d wanted to protect Alexa.

Diana wanted to say that.

But for some reason, she felt the urge to lash out at him instead. If she took her anger out on him now, she’d be no different from Alexa. Fighting back those tangled feelings, she spoke in a weak voice.

“If you feel any gratitude or pity toward me, then please look after Alexa.”

“……”

“I can’t be there for her right now.”

She felt like she was collapsing inside. Though she was an adult, she felt as if she were becoming a child. Part of her wanted to lean on someone and cry her heart out. But she couldn’t—not in front of Giscard.

They were bound by ill fate. They could never be comrades. They would not remain husband and wife, nor lovers. Certainly not master and slave.

She must not reveal too much of herself to him. Diana locked her heart shut.

Giscard’s gaze lingered on her, then slipped away.

When she reached the palace, she was told Ionia had gone out with Ferdinand. Since one condition of serving as lady-in-waiting was avoiding Ferdinand, Diana had to leave immediately.

She’d just missed the royal messenger. If only she’d stayed home and played with Alexa, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened. Things just weren’t working out. Diana sighed.

But she didn’t want to return home either. Somehow, the house felt dreadful. So she wandered aimlessly through the palace halls.

What would her father say if he saw her like this? She thought of him. There had been a time when meeting him again brought happiness, but not now. He wasn’t someone to whom she could confide all her troubles and lean on without worry.

“What are you doing?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Diana flinched. It was Philip. The brilliance of his golden hair caught her eye. Caught off guard, she stared blankly, and Philip smiled innocently.

“I greet Your Highness the Prince.”

“……”

“What brings you here?”

“This is my home, isn’t it?”

Then Philip studied her face and cautiously asked,

“Did something happen?”

“……”

“You don’t look well.”

She wasn’t such a child that she’d spill everything at a single question. Diana forced a gentle smile.

“It’s nothing.”

“Come on. You looked like you’d burst into tears if someone so much as poked you.”

“……”

“That’s why I came all the way here.”

He looked at her—not with unpleasant curiosity, but with a hint of concern. What a strange person. Philip had his odd sides.

“It’s just… my little sister lashed out at me.”

Silence felt too stiff. At her words, Philip nodded knowingly.

“Because you’ve been taking care of my little sister, the youngest lady must’ve gotten jealous.”

“How do you know that?”

“It’s obvious. Besides, you’ve got a bump on your forehead.”

“Ah…”

Terrible. Diana touched the lump and winced at the dull ache, irritation creeping in. At that moment, Philip lifted his hand and gently stroked the bump.

“You really have a hard time, don’t you.”

“……”

“Everyone knows His Grace the Duke is busy, and naturally his heir would be busy too.”

“……”

“So you must’ve had to grow up quickly, right?”

“What do you mean…”

“Losing the guardian who loved you most and having to stand alone. It’s harder than you think, isn’t it?”

Prince Philip smiled at her. In the bitterness of it, Diana glimpsed his own loneliness.

He too had lost his mother. She had died when he was young, leaving him alone. Seeing her expression, Philip forced a crooked smile.

“Why that look? Don’t pity me. Unlike you, the only thing I’m responsible for is my own life.”

“……”

“But you, Lady, seem to have much more weighing on your shoulders. Girls your age should be carefree, like Ionia. The fact that you’re not crying even now proves otherwise.”

After a moment of thought, Philip rummaged through his pocket and handed her something.

“Here, candy.”

It was a round piece of hard candy wrapped in shiny foil. Diana let out a short laugh.

“……”

“Do I look like a child to you?”

“Well, you are a child, aren’t you?”

“……”

“If you’re a child, then act like one. Eat something sweet and cheer up.”

He was hardly grown himself—yet his thoughtfulness warmed her. They were fragile children who had lost their absolute protectors.

Perhaps that was why Philip seemed more mature than Ferdinand, who even as an adult never grew up. Though they were the same age, Philip was far better. Wasn’t he even a year older than Emil?

Looking at Philip—more like a true older brother than her own—Diana smiled warmly.

The sparkling candy looked like a jewel.

It was strange. She was well over twenty, yet finding comfort in this boy. She thought today had been an unlucky day. But if she could smile at just one piece of candy, then perhaps her gloom wasn’t so heavy after all.

“Thank you.”

“……”

“Lately, I’ve heard from Father that the political climate is unstable. If you can, Your Highness, you should increase your bodyguards.”

Philip tilted his head at her words. But that was all she could offer him.

Meanwhile, Mirva kept changing outfits. Countess Shanté had promised to introduce her to Duchess Pollyanna. A duchess! The position she so desperately wanted. What kind of woman sat in that seat?

Once she had been accepted into society, Mirva tried to cozy up to the noble ladies. But her success had been poor. When she sent letters, maybe one in ten would agree to meet. Some only agreed after she brought bribes.

It didn’t matter. What mattered was continuous interaction with noblewomen. Friendships that belonged to her alone—not dependent on Diana or the Duke.

“Um…”

“What is it?”

One of Mirva’s confidantes approached.

“The Esilac Trading Company is pressing for repayment.”

“What?”

A maid of the ducal house didn’t have the salary to recklessly buy dresses. And on top of that, she had been purchasing gifts to present to noble ladies, leaving her purse empty.

She had already spent an entire year’s wages, along with her household allowance, and it still wasn’t enough.

Nervously biting her lip, she suddenly brightened.

“Ah!”

Her eyes lit up.

“Our young lady’s jewel box!”

The jewelry box the Duchess had passed down to Diana! One jewel from there would more than cover the debt. Mirva’s face broke into a radiant smile.