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Chapter 108
Warning
Giscard, who had been stroking Diana’s hair for a long time, spoke quietly.
“I brought that woman here… because it meant you could do as you pleased with her. Because you hated that woman.”
“…….”
What are you saying? Do as I please? As Diana opened her mouth to say something, Giscard continued.
“I know. I acted with the same kind of thinking as your father.”
“…….”
“You weren’t that kind of person. Even if you’re in a higher position than others, you never trample on people or crush them.”
The tension that had stiffened her body began to loosen. Maybe because of that, Giscard’s touch started to feel gentler. With his other hand he took Diana’s hand.
“Diana. Listen carefully.”
“…….”
“I will not harm you.”
“…….”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“…….”
“If you had said you hated that woman and asked me to replace her, I would have changed her without hesitation. I would have been fine with whatever happened.”
Really? Would you really have done that? Diana remembered clearly. He had always turned his back on her as if rejecting her. He always showed only a cold smile. He bound her with cruel looks. He had never once looked at her properly.
But.
Diana also knew.
That was Giscard of the previous life. Back then, Giscard had not tried to persuade her like this. The image of him from the previous life was still vivid. All judgments about people came colored by that “previous life.”
She would have preferred not to remember that past life, but she already remembered the miserable times. She could not forget. Therefore she could not believe. She could not change. Her heart had been flayed. It was already wounded enough.
Now she knew. She mustn’t interpret everything through the lens of that “previous life.” She was living differently now.
“You….”
Giscard spoke with great effort. He seemed to be thinking about how to say it properly. The sharp words between them had caused a massive misunderstanding.
“You… saved me. If you can’t trust me, trust what you did.”
As if he had read that thought, Giscard said it. He told her to believe the actions Diana had taken in order to follow the right path. He didn’t say anything more. As the Lady Kragel had said, he didn’t even get angry.
The hand that had been stroking Diana stopped and fell away. Diana realized she had, without noticing, been leaning into his touch.
“I’m thinking of inviting the people of Panborough.”
“Huh?”
Diana opened her eyes wide.
“You can invite anyone you want. Your friends, people you used to know, even your family.”
Diana flinched and looked at his face. Was that a gift? Or a nightmare?
“Say no if you don’t want it.”
Diana shook her head. Although thoughts about “family” rose up, the idea of meeting her friends made her feel good instead. His face softened a little. Diana purposely avoided the word “family” and said,
“What about Lady Levian and Mirva?”
His face hardened instantly. The soft atmosphere turned cold and sharp as a blade.
“You want to know?”
A cruel smile returned to his face. That mood was more familiar to her. Diana nodded.
There was no decisive evidence that Lady Levian had been involved in Diana’s kidnapping. The problem was that Lady Levian had found Mirva and brought her to them.
And the problem didn’t end there. One of the people Giscard had arrested as an accessory to the kidnapping had previously worked at the Levian duke’s household. If there had been a personal letter from the Levian family or a promissory note guaranteed by the Levian household, the accusation would have been certain.
“Are you saying that because he worked there for only a few years, you’re accusing me and my daughter?!” the Duke of Levian shouted, veins bulging in his neck. He could not tolerate the stain he believed had been cast on his daughter.
The nobles’ backlash was strong. The fact that one of the accomplices had once been employed by a noble household was too flimsy to be evidence.
The fact was obvious even to Diana. She had never believed Lady Levian would be imprisoned.
It would have been best if Lady Levian were foolish enough to reveal evidence, but sadly she was probably not that stupid.
However, Giscard and the others had identified Lady Levian’s duplicity and caused her to be dismissed from her position as maid. That was their objective. They had not expected Giscard to act so decisively.
When it actually happened, Diana sighed. With Giscard’s permission, she went to the prison. He offered to follow her, but when Diana refused, he surprisingly stepped back. Giscard even said he would clear the room of people temporarily if that was what Diana wanted.
Unlike Mirva, who was confined to the underground dungeon, Lady Levian was being held aboveground, in a noble’s cell. The room wasn’t opulent, but it had a bed and a small window. Diana smiled coldly.
“Oh—Your Majesty the Queen!”
Lady Levian spotted Diana and began to shed theatrical tears. Watching her cling to the bars and sob pathetically was amusing.
A cruel desire for revenge rose. Diana wanted to trample that brazen face. She wanted to tell her how great her crimes were.
If Diana wished it—and if she remained silent—the Levian family might be brought to the brink of ruin.
But what about after that? however noble Giscard might be, his power had limits. What would happen if all the nobles turned against them?
“I came as soon as I woke,” Diana said.
“Your Majesty the Queen.”
“You were smeared with absurd accusations.”
If Lady Levian were to be driven into the abyss, it would require more than these ambiguous proofs; it would take something bigger. That was why Diana could afford to smile at her enemy.
“Oh, Your Majesty the Queen!”
Hearing Diana say “smeared,” Lady Levian burst into tears. Diana sighed and spoke.
“The woman I have watched for years was somehow driven away by her father. I took her in out of pity because she sought me. Seeing the state of her leg broke my heart.”
Diana acted as if her heart ached, clutching at her chest as she continued.
“She betrayed the one who trusted and employed her and her original mistress so cruelly.”
Diana’s eyes filled with tears. Seeing this, Lady Levian thought she had an opportunity and blurted,
“I didn’t do anything! It’s that woman’s fault……”
I know you are involved. But Diana wasn’t naive enough to show that.
“I do believe the lady,” Diana said.
“…….”
“But His Majesty is stubborn. You know how sensitive the king is about my safety.”
Maybe that comment provoked her; Lady Levian’s eyes flashed with ferocity for a moment. Diana spoke slowly.
“But His Majesty will listen to me.”
“…….”
“He tends to heed his wife more than people expect.”
Lady Levian’s face twisted unpleasantly. It must have seemed like Diana was bragging about the king’s affection.
“However, I can’t have you as my maid anymore.”
Lady Levian didn’t answer. Diana let out a small, contemptuous laugh and continued.
“Also, since as a maid you hired a servant who led me into a trap, you will be barred from society for one year.”
“One year?!”
“Lady, I’m giving you a privilege. I originally considered three years, but thought that would be too harsh, so I cut it down to one.”
Diana said this gently while Lady Levian trembled. Watching her fail to control her anger made Diana smile. For Lady Levian—who loved social gatherings—being unable to attend noble balls was tantamount to disgrace.
Three years would have been better, but it might provoke strong backlash.
“So, my lady.”
“…….”
Diana gripped the bars and looked Lady Levian straight in the eye. It was a gaze she couldn’t have borne to meet before.
Beautiful, confident, looking down on her—Diana dared to meet those eyes and spoke.
“This is my last act of mercy.”
“…….”
“So stop your filthy tricks and stop touching me.”
“…….”
“Otherwise, I will destroy everything you have.”
A cold voice echoed through the prison. It was far chillier and more intimidating than the kind voice Diana had used earlier. Frostlike coldness in her gray eyes stared at Lady Levian.
Seeing Lady Levian’s face go pale, Diana turned her back on that once-beautiful face.
She thought repeatedly that she might regret this. Giscard would carry the political burden and punish Lady Levian. Because Diana had said those words, that would likely happen.
But not now.
Their current plan wasn’t perfect, but it had put them on the defensive. That meant when Diana had firmly built her position and acquired real power, she could eliminate them.
This ambiguity was poison not only to Giscard but to Diana as well.
Diana knew that avenging herself later, rather than now, would be sweeter.
At least she was wiser than Sarubia Levian.
