MTMT 35

Chapter 35

Some Consolation

“So, the place you happened to visit… was your maternal grandfather’s trading post?”

“……”

“I see. The world really is small.”

Philip sighed. He frowned as if he were lost in thought.

“That was bad.”

“……”

“Really bad. But deservedly so.”

The words were such a comfort that Diana felt a lump in her throat. Philip sat beside her and looked at her face. The girl who always seemed so mature still had a childlike side. Seeing the tears clinging to her eyes, he gave a small, amused smile.

“Grandfathers are always like that, I think. Arbitrary, and completely indifferent.”

The Count of Chalkos, who had produced the Second Queen, was no different. From what Philip knew, he occasionally appeared in social circles even during the queen’s life, but after her death, he hardly appeared, claiming he had to guard the borders.

“We really are alike, aren’t we?”

Diana had been thinking the exact same thing. She hadn’t expected that a boy, whose memory barely lingered as one who nearly lost his life, would feel so intimate now.

Philip took a moment to organize his thoughts before speaking slowly.

“So… I want you to try talking to your grandfather.”

“What?”

Diana’s resentful gaze made Philip smile awkwardly.

“I thought, just like you… that I couldn’t rely on him or expect anything from him.”

“……”

“When I was almost assassinated, my grandfather came up.”

Diana looked up at Philip. He gave her a gentle smile.

“As soon as he arrived, he hugged me and checked my injuries first.”

“……”

“It’s strange. He was the kind of person who barely sent a gift on birthdays. Didn’t even write letters. Never came to see me. I thought he never would.”

“……”

“But when he heard I nearly died, he came immediately.”

Philip spoke with a smile. Diana lowered her eyes at his words. He was foolish. Just moments ago, he said we’re alike, and now he claims we’re completely different.

“He must have had his reasons.”

“But he wouldn’t have come, even if I were dying.”

“Anne.”

Philip looked at Diana. Diana… could never forget. When the Rodbrooke Kingdom army invaded the capital, Tallinn, she had stayed alone in the mansion.

Word spread in the Panborough Kingdom social circles that Diana would defend the mansion herself. What a noble aristocrat! What proud dignity she held! People praised her as a true noblewoman.

In reality, she had merely waited to be slaughtered in style.

Yes. No one helped her. She swallowed her fear and waited for death. That loneliness could not be understood by anyone. Tears flowed down Diana’s face.

“I don’t… want to forgive him.”

“……”

“You don’t even want to hear his reasons, right? You just hate your grandfather.”

Diana nodded at Philip’s words. He took her hand.

“If that’s what you want, then so be it.”

“……”

“But I… I think I should hear his side of the story.”

“It’s obvious. You just hate him.”

Philip chuckled.

“You think you’re an adult, don’t you? That your thoughts are always right.”

“……”

“I thought I was an adult too… but I realized I still don’t know much.”

“……”

“If you don’t want to forgive him, you don’t have to. But at least hear his side of things.”

“……”

“You’ll resent him anyway, so you should at least know why.”

Should she? Diana wanted to argue against Philip, but the idea that she didn’t have to forgive him stirred a strange warmth inside her. Yes, she wanted to know. Why? Why did her grandfather ignore her?

She thought of herself as fully grown. She had lived as if dead in the Rodbrooke Kingdom, growing old—or rotting, she thought. But she still hadn’t truly matured.

“So, Philip, if it’s because he hated me… because he hated that I existed as my mother and father’s daughter… what then? If he didn’t want to see me…”

Suddenly, her vulnerable self rose to the surface. That was her true feeling. Philip finally smiled brightly.

“Then you can just come to me for comfort again.”

For some reason, those words seemed to fill her heart with golden light. Diana talked with Philip for a long time.

Even aside from her grandfather, talking with Philip was enjoyable. When Philip said it was time to leave, Diana asked:

“By the way… why did you come here?”

“Oh? Uh… just to see your face.”

“……”

“Oh, and to give you candy too.”

Philip awkwardly smiled and held out a glass jar. This time, there was a lot of candy.

“Oh… there’s so much candy?”

“This isn’t candy, it’s chocolate. Really expensive chocolate.”

Diana chuckled. Colorful chocolates in a beautiful glass jar—he must have come just to give these.

“Miss.”

At that moment, a voice interrupted. Diana flinched and stopped. Philip looked puzzled.

“What is it?”

Diana saw Giskar approaching abruptly. Somehow, his gaze seemed fixed on the glass jar she held.

“Miss Alexa is looking for you.”

“Alexa? For what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Alright. Oh, right. Your brother will be here soon. You should stay in your room.”

“Understood.”

Giskar paused. Was something else happening? Diana watched him.

“Giskar, do you have something to say?”

Giskar looked at Diana, then lowered his head and shook it. He bowed and stepped back, giving her space.

As Diana was about to speak, Philip observed his retreating figure carefully.

“You said he’s a slave?”

“Uh? Yes.”

“Really?”

Philip asked Diana, as if confirming. What? Could it be he knew about Giskar? Come to think of it, he had mentioned seeing him somewhere before.

“You saw the restraints.”

“That’s true. But he doesn’t act like a slave.”

“Giskar might…”

“No, you. You don’t treat him like a slave.”

Philip’s observation was sharp.

“You seem overly cautious and tense for someone dealing with a slave.”

“Me?”

Philip nodded. Diana’s heart sank. He was always quick to notice things.

“I believe all slaves should be freed. I’m not saying you should treat him like a slave.”

“……”

“It just… feels off. It really bothered me.”

Philip frowned and muttered.

A few days later, Diana went back out into the streets. When the carriage arrived at the building, she stepped out.

“Welcome.”

The doorman greeted her politely. Diana was somewhat surprised but appreciated being treated respectfully rather than as a lady of high rank. The Duke’s knights were watching too.

“I want to keep meeting my grandfather a secret from my father.”

That was the content of the letter she had sent. The doorman sniffled, appearing as if he had a cold, though it was more likely that he had been quietly crying. Diana ignored the sound.

She instructed the knights to stay and walked into the building. For some reason, a pleasant scent filled the air. The previous musty odor was gone.

Even paintings hung on the walls…

‘Wait, why are there paintings by Da Vinci here? And what’s with the Michelangelo?’

Why were masterpieces suddenly here? They must have been extremely difficult to acquire.

“Hehe, aren’t these paintings beautiful, miss? Sniff.”

The doorman spoke warmly. Diana smiled.

“Yes… I’d like to have one too.”

“Tell Master! He’ll give them all to you.”

The man seemed to truly believe her grandfather liked her. Diana reached the room on the top floor where she had visited before. Her heart raced so loudly she could hear it in her head.

Should she go in?

Was it right to go in?

Her fingertips turned pale. She hesitated. Suddenly, the door swung open violently, almost striking her.

“Something must have happened!”

“Miss!”

“Someone must have fallen down the stairs! That’s why I told you to fix the railing!”

“No…”

“No, no. He probably just doesn’t want to see me. This old man…!”

Hah… she almost got hit by the door. Diana watched the old man panting. He wasn’t particularly large, but the force he used to open the door created a strong gust.

“Oh, I’m sorry, little one. You must have been scared. Where’s your mother?”

“……”

“Miss Diana, this young lady is Miss Diana.”

The old man’s eyes widened.