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Chapter 17
Michael Allison.
The eldest son of Count Allison’s household, Diana’s older brother — and now, the current head of the Allison family.
He stood before me, staring as if surprised to see me after so long.
“…Michael.”
He shared the same blood as Diana, but the man before me looked distinctly different from her.
While Diana, who resembled her mother, had a bright and gentle image, Michael took after the late Count, possessing a sharper, more commanding appearance.
Yet, he still carried the same soft smile that reminded me he and Diana were siblings.
“It’s been a long time,” he said, stepping closer to stand beside me.
“I thought a thief had broken in since the courtyard gate was open for a moment… I didn’t expect to find you here.”
“…How have you been?”
It really had been a long time. Seeing him here of all places made my heart swell with unexpected warmth.
When I smiled softly and greeted him, he gave a small chuckle in return.
“Oh, you know… so-so. Not happy, but not miserable either. Just… living.”
It was strange, seeing him again. Time had passed, but he still carried that dignified, radiant air about him — untouched by the years.
After Diana’s death and my subsequent marriage, relations between the Allison family and the House of Duke Hydrian had grown painfully strained.
The Duke, ever the gentleman, had personally explained our arranged marriage to the Allisons, claiming it was to protect the children.
But even so, how could they have looked upon me or the Duke with ease?
The Count and Countess — generous though they were — may have accepted our marriage with their minds, but their hearts refused to follow.
To them, I was their dead daughter’s friend… who had become her widower’s wife.
It was impossible for us to laugh together again as we had during those innocent summers at the villa.
Perhaps the shock of that fact had even hastened their deaths.
After that, I had all but cut ties with the Allisons, and Michael disappeared from my life entirely.
The last time I saw him was from afar, at my wedding. He’d stood in the distance, watching quietly — then turned away without a word.
“I heard the rumors,” he said suddenly. “The Duchess has left home — the whole social circle is buzzing about it.”
“Is that so?”
“The capital’s in an uproar. But I never imagined I’d actually run into you here.”
He genuinely looked surprised by our sudden reunion. I replied evenly.
“I decided there was no reason to stay once the children came of age.”
“…I see.”
“I can trust you won’t tell the Duke I’m here, right?”
He laughed quietly. “What would I gain from that? I cut ties with that family long ago.”
That faint, familiar laugh stirred something nostalgic in me. When I smiled in return, he asked,
“So… what brings you here? Or is that an obvious question?”
“When I left the ducal house, I didn’t get to say goodbye to Diana. I wanted to do that — even if like this.”
“…I understand.”
“This place hasn’t changed at all. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to look this unchanged.”
From the moment the carriage had arrived, it was as though time had reversed itself.
Everything looked exactly as it once had — except that the people we’d shared those days with were gone, and the villa had aged a little with time.
“I gave orders for it to be maintained,” Michael said.
“I still come here often. It’s no longer used, but nowhere else feels quite like this. It’s like time stops here. Whenever I need to clear my head, I come.”
“I see…”
Silence followed. We stood side by side, gazing out toward the sea.
The quiet wasn’t awkward — each of us was lost in thought.
After a while, he spoke again.
“…Aren’t you angry?”
I turned to him.
“You spent seven years in that house — because of my sister.”
“…”
“I knew your will was strong, so I didn’t try to stop you. But I worried. Always.”
His gaze lowered.
“And still… I’m glad. That you finally left.”
“It’s all right. You don’t need to apologize,” I said with a faint laugh.
“Michael, you know as well as I do — that decision wasn’t just for Diana. It was also for me.”
I looked at him quietly.
For a brief moment, I wondered if I should tell him the truth — about Diana’s death, and the secret request she’d made of me.
That it hadn’t been an accident.
That she had known her death was coming, and had entrusted me with something before she went.
As her brother, he had the right to know. But I feared the pain it would cause him.
Seven years had passed. Everything had finally settled.
There was no need to reopen those wounds.
And yet… a strange realization struck me.
I had survived those seven years far better than I ever imagined I would.
When I first agreed to take Diana’s place, I thought I’d break apart.
Perhaps I’d endured only because the Duke had shielded me.
Why had Diana died? It was still a mystery — one I would give anything to unravel.
“At first,” I continued softly, “I thought I could make it work. The Hydrian family was Diana’s family too, and they’d always treated me kindly. But… it wasn’t that simple.”
“…”
“Still, I didn’t want to just run away. I wanted to leave only after taking care of the family Diana left behind. That felt like the only way I could find peace.”
Michael said nothing, only listened.
“So seven years passed,” I finished with a small shrug. “And now… I’m here again, standing in this place.”
After all that time, what I felt most was relief.
I hadn’t come here to mourn — I’d come to speak. To say what I’d carried inside for years.
And now, I finally had the right to do so.
Seven years had passed. I’d earned the right to remember her — freely, without guilt.
“It still feels strange,” I murmured, “but just knowing it’s over makes my heart lighter.”
Maybe, I thought, fulfilling her final wish had been my own way of saving myself.
Of learning to accept her loss.
Of surviving.
So—
“So I don’t regret it, Michael.”
I didn’t regret those seven years I spent in her place at the Duke’s house.
Michael looked at me for a long moment before speaking. His gaze softened.
“…Do you know something?” he said quietly.
“You’re a remarkably strong person.”
I blinked in surprise. He only smiled faintly, saying nothing more.
“Well then. You’ve left the Duke’s house — that means a new beginning for you.”
After a pause, he added,
“Are you… planning to divorce him, officially? I heard rumors you left the papers behind.”
“You heard right. I plan to live on my own from now on — start fresh.”
Whether the Duke had actually signed those papers was uncertain…
But surely he must have by now. There was no reason he wouldn’t.
It was odd, though, that I hadn’t heard confirmation yet.
I found myself wondering what he was doing at that very moment.
“Do you have plans? Things you want to do?” he asked.
“…I’ve been keeping busy, trying different things. Met some interesting people too. And, well — came here to see Diana.”
I laughed softly. The memory of Arwin — and the strange connection we’d shared — flickered in my mind.
Michael studied me for a moment, then smiled.
“…Whatever you do, I hope you’re happy. Truly. And if you ever need help, just ask.”
“Thank you. I hope you and your wife are happy too.”
At that, he blinked — almost blankly. I hesitated, then asked,
“You are married… aren’t you?”
“I’m not.”
“What?”
My mouth fell open.
Not married?
I’d never heard any wedding news, true — but I’d assumed he’d simply married quietly.
He gave a short laugh.
“I suppose I’ve missed my chance, haven’t I?”
“You’re unbelievable, Michael. The head of the Allison family — still unmarried?”
I didn’t use the word crazy often, but this time, it slipped out. That’s how shocked I was.
It was only natural to assume he’d married by now.
What noble family head remained single, without an heir? Marriage was practically a duty.
“My parents fell ill after Diana died and passed away soon after,” he said quietly.
“I became head of the house before I could marry. And then… time just passed.”
“…”
“People worry, of course. I’ve even considered adopting a son or daughter.”
“You’ve had plenty of chances to marry since becoming count. Why haven’t you?”
Once, he’d been the most sought-after man in all of high society.
Every young lady in the capital had dreamed of him — the handsome, refined heir with the sharp eyes and gentle smile.
He was striking, magnetic — a man who drew attention wherever he went.
With his charm, kind nature, and fortune, he could have married easily, even now.
He smiled faintly and asked instead,
“Well… what about you?”
“…Me?”
He’d answered my question with another.
