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Chapter 105
The Intended Escape
“Starting next week, things will get busy.”
Giscard spoke quietly. Diana lifted her head from her potato soup. He had been trying to start conversations with her for the past few days.
She had thought meals would be suffocating like in her previous life… but now, Diana found herself watching Giscard, who was at least making an awkward attempt to talk to her.
“A period of self-restraint…”
That was what Ribys had said about Giscard. Diana wasn’t exactly sure what he was supposed to be restraining himself for. She didn’t even know what kind of “atonement” this was supposed to be. He had apologized to her, yes…
“Not coming into my bedchamber?”
If that was what he meant, then sure. Diana startled herself by realizing how naturally her thoughts went straight to the bedroom. To think of that as “atonement” was a strange way for her mind to wander.
“I really must be losing it these days…”
Diana admitted to herself that she was thinking like a crazy person. Even in her past life, she and Giscard had never been particularly physically affectionate. And even now… nothing had changed. Yet here she was, interpreting this as some kind of penance. She couldn’t help but make an awkward face.
“I know you’re not interested in me.”
And yet, wasn’t he also uninterested in her? Diana set her spoon down and wiped her mouth.
“Your Majesty, are you interested in me at all?”
“Less than in you.”
His blunt answer made Diana let out a small, bitter laugh. He hadn’t even written her a single letter during the three months he’d been away. And now he dared to say he was interested? She held her tongue.
“Do you know the tradition of the March Parade?”
“You mean the parade held in spring? If it’s an event of the Kingdom of Lodbrok, of course I know.”
The king’s knights, the royal knights, and the ducal knights all paraded together in this festival. It wasn’t an event for women, so Diana was free from preparations. It was simply a ceremony of might—armor gleaming, strength on display—as they marched across the five great streets of the capital.
Unlike Fanborough, where spring was welcomed with balls, festivals, and the worship of the rejuvenated goddess Britta, Lodbrok only held a plain parade. Still, the chance to see both the ducal and royal knightly orders together made it a significant event. Nobles from Lodbrok and even friendly foreign visitors came to watch.
“Will any important guests be attending?”
“No. Nothing like that. You don’t need to prepare anything.”
“…”
“I just hope you don’t cause any trouble.”
Diana gazed at Giscard’s face. Did he know something? He was staring back at her intently.
“I won’t cause trouble.”
“…”
“That festival… I’d like to see it for myself.”
“Unfortunately, that’s—”
“Yes, I know. Only men can participate. I’m aware.”
Diana nodded. She recalled the parade and sank into thought. In her past life, Mirva had used that very occasion.
When the palace was quiet.
It was the perfect time for schemes to unfold.
The March Parade drew near. For several days, the palace had been in disarray. The Barghati knights especially were busy rehearsing their march.
Hearing that nearly everyone had gone to the event, Mirva approached Diana.
“I’ve prepared everything. My lady only needs to come.”
Did this woman really think Diana was naïve? Diana looked at her.
She already knew Mirva’s malice. The sweet words were just a lure; in reality, she was plotting and sowing discord.
Even so, Diana wanted to see. She wanted to know exactly what Mirva had done to her in the previous life—how she had tormented her, how she had ruined her, whether at the very end she truly had wanted to help her escape.
“I already knew the answer was no.”
Diana put on the clothes Mirva handed her. The maids had deliberately avoided her chambers, making it easy to slip away.
The palace was quiet. Diana had already reduced the number of attendants, and now everyone had gone to watch the parade. Only a handful of soldiers and knights remained to guard it.
Few people knew her face. Dressed as a maid, Diana followed Mirva. Together, they left the palace without difficulty. It was completely different from her past life.
“We’re out!”
Mirva smiled brightly.
“Trust me, my lady.”
Diana stepped into the streets of the capital. Except for the parade route, the other roads were jam-packed with people, making it easy to disappear into the crowd.
“Where are we going?”
Diana deliberately slowed her pace.
“Just follow me.”
Already, Mirva’s grip on her wrist was forceful. Diana let herself be pulled along quietly, eyeing the rough hand clamped around her.
The moment Diana realized Mirva had never truly been sincere in her past life, her thoughts became fixed.
“There’s someone behind her.”
And in truth, the identity of that “someone” was all too obvious. Wasn’t it Lady Revian who had brought Mirva in the first place? Which made this even better.
“W-wait, Mirva. You’re too fast.”
“Hurry up!”
Diana tried to resist, but Mirva’s strength was overwhelming. Her frail body was quickly dragged along.
They turned into a side alley away from the parade route, where there were few people. Because the parade was such a rare event in Lodbrok, most of the city was drawn to it.
At the end of the alley stood a suspicious carriage.
“I guess that’s where I’m supposed to get in.”
Her heart pounded. Diana allowed Mirva to lead her closer. And then—
“Kyaa!”
Diana screamed as she was shoved into the carriage.
“Hurry it up!”
Lady Kragel shouted, her face tight with worry. It was only natural—Diana and Mirva had already vanished into the crowd.
“I see them!”
Rogaphel snapped irritably.
“Why do I have to be here too?”
“Because you weren’t chosen for the March Parade, Sir Barghati.”
Bill sighed. Ever since he had fallen out of Giscard’s favor, his life had been a little miserable.
Meanwhile, Rogaphel clenched his teeth. Diana’s plan was unfolding as if it had been foretold.
“Mirva will lure me outside.”
“…”
“Since you can’t escape the capital on foot, there’ll be a carriage.”
“…”
“Catch that carriage. They’ll surely meet an accomplice. That’ll be the clue we need to uncover who’s behind this. I’ll leave a mark on it.”
Everyone thought of the same “someone”—Lady Revian—and Lady Kragel smiled faintly. Still, she frowned.
Diana had insisted she believed in Lady Kragel’s keen judgment, but wasn’t this method too dangerous?
“If I don’t do this, we’ll never drive that woman out.”
Those words lingered with her. Lady Revian was clearly targeting Diana, aiming for her position and putting her in danger.
“Ah, whatever happens…”
But what if the king grew furious? He could easily punish Kragel, Rogaphel, and Bill.
Even so, Kragel had stayed. Instinctively, she could read the balance of power. From the way things had been unfolding, it was clear: the king was deeply entangled with Diana.
“Say that you witnessed Mirva kidnapping me by chance and informed Sir Rogaphel. Also, make sure my disappearance is reported to the palace so they declare an emergency.”
“Isn’t that too flimsy of a cover story?”
“I’ve already secured someone to clean up the loose ends.”
They decided to trust Diana. After all, this was the woman who had slain Echidna as a child and taken down flocks of gargoyles with a beginner’s bow.
She would be fine. Surely.
Then a voice came from behind.
“Is the tracking going smoothly?”
The sight of those sinister violet eyes made their faces go pale.
“How does it feel in here?”
Mirva looked down at Diana, who was tied up inside a large cargo carriage. Two strong men had bound her in an instant.
When Diana glared, Mirva only beamed. With the gag in place, she couldn’t speak.
There was cruelty in Mirva’s smile. She lifted her hand and slapped Diana’s cheek. The gag shifted slightly, allowing her to speak.
Using her spirits, Diana had already marked the carriage.
“Mirva. How could you do this to me?”
Her tone wasn’t full of hurt betrayal like one might expect. Instead, it was flat, almost like reading from a book. Yet Mirva still laughed, satisfied.
“How could I? Ha! This is exactly why foolish noble ladies… Do you think I’d ever let you off?”
Her eyes burned with sudden fury.
“Because of you, Emil ended up like that! You freed that bastard!”
“…”
“Our Emil should have lived a happy, blessed life!”
“Your son becoming a cripple isn’t my fault, Mirva.”
Smack!
Unable to hold back, Diana’s words earned her another slap. In this life, Giscard hadn’t killed Emil. Instead, Emil had been mutilated, losing his manhood, unable ever to father children again. For the Brienne family, it was essentially the end of their line.
“My lady,” Mirva said sweetly, lifting Diana’s chin.
“I’m sorry. I won’t hit you anymore. I really meant it when I said I’d let you go.”
“…”
“Young master Emil is waiting for you.”
At those words, Diana’s heart pounded hard.
