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Chapter 06 …
“This cheap dress was already bad enough, and now you even lied inside the Concle ducal estate? Take that rag off the young lady immediately!”
The maids moved in perfect coordination and clung to Diarin.
It was not a top-tier dress, but it still bore Monsieur Rimud’s label—yet it was ruthlessly thrown onto the floor.
“Lady. Choose again. I will stand here, so this time choose properly. Correctly.”
“Yes.”
Diarin knew. The head maid was not doing this out of affection for her.
But so what? In the end, this situation still benefited her.
As always, Diarin calmly chose another dress.
‘As expected. This is the one I like the most.’
It was the very same extravagant dress she had tried to pick at first.
Although she didn’t like Monsieur Rimud as a person, his main works—those he put the most effort into—were on a completely different level.
Delicate embroidery like blooming spring flowers, diamonds and crystals densely stitched across the chest, and soft silk sleeves that swayed like spring clouds……
Above all, the fact that it looked extremely expensive strongly stimulated Diarin’s desire.
‘He probably brought this here intending to sell it to Elise.’
But now it’s mine.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Hmm. Good choice. Monsieur Rimud? Please dress her.”
“P-Pardon? Yes……”
Monsieur Rimud could do nothing in front of the head maid of a great noble house. He personally helped Diarin into the dress, overwhelmed by humiliation.
‘Arrogant girl! You’re not even a real ducal lady, yet you dare humiliate me like this? How did you ruin my work so badly in such a short time!’
Filled with malice, Monsieur Rimud quietly pricked Diarin with a needle.
Prick.
Diarin’s back twitched slightly.
Prick, prick.
Monsieur Rimud repeatedly stabbed her with sewing pins, then pretended nothing happened. There were almost no visible marks.
Pain without traces. A refined technique he had honed for over ten years.
It felt like he would only feel satisfied after turning this collateral noble girl’s back into a pincushion.
Then—
Thwack.
Diarin slapped his hand away. Monsieur Rimud asked, pretending to be confused.
“Is something wrong, Lady Diarin? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
“Is it done?”
“Ah, just the ribbon on the gown remains.”
At that, Diarin abruptly pushed him away. His eyes widened in shock.
“L-Lady Diarin?”
But Diarin did not even look back. She grabbed the ribbon tied at her chest and yanked it loose, walking toward the head maid.
Seeing her approach suddenly, the head maid raised her eyebrows.
“What is it?”
Diarin did not answer.
She simply threw the gown onto the floor.
“Monsieur Rimud.”
That bastard.
“He’s doing this to my body. What do we do about it?”
In an instant, Monsieur Rimud froze as if struck by lightning.
“……!”
Because when Diarin threw off the dress, her upper chest, shoulders, arms, and back were all exposed.
Ol and Ror chatted peacefully.
〈She’s basically dead now.〉
〈Know your place and you avoid ruin. All life forms are like that.〉
Think it wouldn’t show? Not a chance.
Diarin’s skin was a mess.
The skin that had recently been carefully maintained by the ducal maids was now covered in needle marks.
Some areas were even bleeding……
Monsieur Rimud was on the verge of fainting.
‘Why? Why? I stab her, and it never leaves marks—so why is this girl’s body like this?’
Monsieur Rimud did not know.
That the skin of a mage who carries strong magical power is extremely sensitive.
The higher the mage, the more easily their skin reacts to even the smallest wound.
Diarin said calmly:
“The Duke will be very angry. Head maid. What should we do?”
At those words, the head maid snapped back to her senses. Her fury erupted instantly.
“Monsieur Rimud! Have you lost your mind? Are you insane?!”
Next was supposed to be lingerie fittings as well! And all this careful care with gold-infused treatment for the young lady’s skin!
This had all been directly ordered by Duke Concle himself.
The head maid shouted with veins bulging in her neck:
“You dare insult the Concle ducal house! A mere designer thinks he can disrespect a duke’s house and live?!”
“I-I didn’t—!”
“Shut your mouth!”
The slap sent Monsieur Rimud staggering. Even if she was only collateral blood, he had never expected this situation to be reported to the Duke.
But the head maid was unyielding.
“I-I was wrong! I was wrong……”
It was useless to beg.
Monsieur Rimud was expelled immediately. Being thrown out of the ducal estate meant his reputation would spread like wildfire.
The head maid, still furious, immediately called for a new designer.
* * *
“I greet you, Lady Concleister. Oh my. You are truly a beautiful lady.”
“Hello, Madam.”
“I feel like I’ve met my new muse. Your light brown hair is as sweet as brown sugar. Please, come this way?”
The new designer was extremely passionate and kind—there was no need to describe it further.
Thanks to that, Diarin was able to obtain a truly absurdly expensive dress, exactly as she had planned.
* * *
There was a reason Diarin dressed herself from head to toe in such extravagant luxury.
‘I’m nervous.’
She was aware of the sweat forming in her hands. She wanted to wipe it on her skirt, but she couldn’t.
Everything she was wearing right now together was worth nearly a mansion.
Gold shimmered on her skin, neck, and ears. She had deliberately chosen only gold accessories.
“Greetings, Lady Concleister.”
“Hello, Sir Ramd.”
Crimson eyes. Hair with the same reddish hue.
Sir Ramd Veston, the only knight Ezet brought with him when he came to the capital.
At the execution ceremony of the dethroned crown prince three days ago, he had stared so fiercely that it was almost terrifying.
Diarin pretended not to notice, but her back of the head had tingled painfully.
“His Highness has sent me to escort you.”
“To send you personally shows great concern.”
Despite Diarin’s smile, Ramd gave no response. He remained stiff and silent. Slowly, Diarin’s smile faded.
“Let’s go.”
Ramd turned away sharply, almost rudely.
Lady and knight.
Though it should have been a romantic combination, the two simply walked. No conversation passed between them.
The palace was enormous—large enough to contain an entire city.
‘Does Ezet still use the old palace?’
Originally, the Eighth Prince’s palace was located on the outskirts of the imperial palace. After the Crown Prince was established, other imperial siblings became useless.
‘It should still be the same.’
If the Emperor had granted Ezet a luxurious new palace, Diarin’s plan would slightly deviate.
Plan.
Ramd, who had been silent, finally spoke when no one else was around.
“Lady Concleister.”
Diarin answered a beat late.
“…Yes?”
“Were your words at the dethronement ceremony sincere?”
Unlike his hostile appearance, Ramd was perceptive enough not to even mention the word “breakup.”
Still, Diarin checked her surroundings. Fortunately, no one was nearby.
“Yes. I was sincere.”
“……Ha.”
Ramd stopped abruptly, stunned. He turned around.
The sudden movement startled Diarin slightly.
‘What now?’
Ramd could no longer contain his hostility.
“Do you think we’re fools?”
“Pardon?”
“Breakup? So that was your little trick? Pretending not to care so he would come running back? That’s so obvious it’s insulting.”
He looked at her like a calculating, shameless woman.
“Is His Highness a toy to you? You throw him away when bored and pick him up when he rises again?”
Ramd bit his lip.
“I won’t say more out of respect for a lady, so at least now—”
“Alright. I understand.”
“Pardon?”
“I understand what you’re worried about.”
Diarin answered calmly.
Too calmly.
“Because of what happened two years ago, you wouldn’t trust me. That’s not your fault.”
“….”
“Wait a moment.”
From her light blue reticule, Diarin pulled out a sheet of paper.
A vow document issued by the temple, with silver patterns shimmering faintly.
She handed it to Ramd.
“What is this?”
“Read it.”
Ramd began reading carefully.
‘Just as expected.’
Diarin had predicted he would react like this.
He had always been fiercely loyal to Ezet.
Even after surviving the massacre at the Northwestern Gate two years ago with Ezet’s help, that loyalty had only grown.
That wasn’t a bad thing.
In fact, it was good for Ezet.
So Diarin didn’t feel offended by Ramd’s hostility. If anything, she almost found it…… pleasant.
Ramd, however, was visibly confused.
He checked the document twice, then again.
“…Did I read this wrong?”
He frowned.
“This says… if the breakup does not proceed, I am to kill the Lady.”
