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Chapter 86
Dress Code
“Lord Rogafl, I am not your sister.”
Diana spoke quietly, yet with a truth that Rogafl seemed unaware of. She had a younger brother who would help her, friends, and family. But now, Diana had no one. Even so, Rogafl’s desperation was palpable.
Seeing his eyes, Diana’s heart wavered. In her past life, no one had ever tried to persuade her.
Can I… do something? Can I… make something better? Giskar didn’t want this. Giskar wanted me to suffer.
Would that not dilute the concept of ‘punishment’?
If the concept of punishment is diluted, would I not be trapped forever?
Even before that, Rogafl’s words couldn’t be fully trusted. Haven’t I heard the knights’ gossip after listening to him? And yet, the voice offering hope was so tempting, so sweet.
“So… I won’t interfere.”
Diana said in a trembling voice. She would endure three years as if dead. She did not want change. Change…
After discovering that the world she had altered had turned into hell, Diana had lost all motivation. Even breathing was still painful. She was afraid of how the world might change.
“Your Majesty…”
Rogafl muttered weakly. Diana smiled.
“I know, I must be pathetic, right? If someone just makes excuses and does nothing, even I would feel frustrated.”
“……”
“I’m actually so tired.”
Diana smiled. Her silver-gray eyes were lifeless. No curiosity for new things, no joy from delicious food, no admiration for beauty—nothing. Diana’s life was solely to endure. Nothing more.
“I’ve been through such a difficult time.”
Like an old woman, Diana smiled with a desolate expression. Rogafl seemed to notice.
“What… what kind of… things have you experienced?”
Diana shook her head. She decided not to tell anyone about this. Alexa seemed to know roughly, but… sharing it would only reveal her weakness.
“I have no certainty whether I can ever be happy, or live well… I don’t know.”
She simply waited quietly, wondering what would come after enduring three years. She was a living corpse. Only the three-year limit kept her alive. If Giskar said he wouldn’t let her go, she would choose death without hesitation.
At that moment, the door flung open again.
“You’re still not out? That woman is hopeless. Give up.”
Diana realized that Lady Kragel had stayed behind, listening to her conversation. Lady Kragel said:
“If it were me, I’d fight until the very end. That way, at least I wouldn’t feel regret.”
Rogafl sighed at that. He looked at Diana, moved his lips a few times, then smiled quietly and stood.
Diana realized then that he had decided to give up on her.
“Do you know? What was written in my sister’s diary… was regret.”
“……”
“When she gave up everything, by the time she wanted to rise again, she had no strength left. She couldn’t protect herself.”
“……”
“She regretted everything.”
“……”
“I hope Your Majesty will not have regrets either.”
Rogafl no longer smiled. The advice from a boy younger than him strangely pierced his heart.
Diana gently touched her abdomen.
In the past, when mourning her lost child, Rivius’s words echoed like tinnitus in her ears:
“You are at fault. This is the price of your laziness and negligence for not strengthening yourself. Stop that disgusting face of self-pity.”
She couldn’t change all her thoughts. Diana’s attitude toward life was deeply resigned. Yet, there was something she had also lost helplessly. Something taken before she could even cherish it.
Sarubia Leblanc had never been happier. The path to becoming queen was easy! Too easy. Diana Brien was so foolish, she didn’t even seem to care about keeping what was hers. A foreign princess, from a country that even insulted the king, was such easy prey.
Giskar Rodbrock was gone. Only Chancellor Rivius remained. Naturally, Rivius had no interest in Diana Brien. If he respected her as queen, he should have discussed state affairs with her in the king’s absence. But Rivius left her alone. That meant he did not acknowledge her as queen.
Diana Brien knew this but did not respond. Even when she tried to control the maids or interfere with castle staff, no one spoke up.
Lady Leblanc thought it would be easy to seize everything from Diana. Lady Kragel was annoying, but not a real threat. The Duke of Kragel’s capricious nature was notorious, and his daughter had long lost favor.
“Rize, is that all the earrings we can offer to Her Majesty? She is angry!”
Sarubia Leblanc first tried to win over the maids. Everything was “for Her Majesty, the Queen.” She was fastidious, grabbing everyone, including Mabel, tightly in her plan.
Maids are useful. They spread rumors about their mistress and influence public opinion among the castle staff. Making them her allies and turning them against Diana Brien made everything easier.
“Here, Rize. I’ll tell you—Her Majesty prefers ruby earrings over pearls.”
The maid brightened.
“Let’s be careful together so we don’t anger the Queen.”
Through this peculiar “sense of camaraderie,” Lady Leblanc slowly began to encroach on everything Diana owned.
But only enlisting the servants wasn’t enough. No. They had limits. Every noblewoman had to be shamed in front of Diana Brien. A simple plan came to mind.
Many noblewomen were curious about the queen. Invite them for a tea party. Then, manipulate the conversation using the dress code. Everything was ready.
“Her Majesty should dress magnificently today.”
Lady Leblanc said with a bright smile. Diana Brien nodded without suspicion.
“All noblewomen must see Her Majesty’s grandeur.”
She was so foolish it was almost pitiful. Diana Brien wore a dark blue velvet dress. Not exactly as Lady Leblanc imagined, but she refrained from commenting. It wasn’t Diana’s style to wear something overly flashy.
Instead, Diana draped a magnificent, subtly shimmering shawl over her shoulders. It was silk with multicolored hues that even Lady Leblanc would envy. Diana’s outfit slightly diverged from Leblanc’s plan, but the flashy shawl made up for it.
Today, Diana Brien had to stand out as the most dazzling. Lady Leblanc wore a modest dress, following her. Lady Kragel, it seemed, would not enter the palace after speaking with Diana. How amusing.
“Lady Kragel is so selfish.”
“……”
“How could she not accompany Her Majesty on such an important occasion?”
Lady Leblanc pouted. Diana quietly said:
“Lady Kragel seemed quite displeased with you, Lady Leblanc.”
“Excuse me?”
“She said you were taking her place and warned me about it.”
Lady Leblanc bit her lip at Diana’s words. Interfering in someone else’s plan—really.
“Of course, I said no. I trust you.”
Diana replied, and Lady Leblanc smiled. That’s why Lady Kragel had stepped aside.
“Thank you for trusting me. I will serve you wholeheartedly.”
Diana Brien arrived at the tea room, standing tall.
The noblewomen present were chatting among themselves. To avoid chaos, Lady Leblanc had invited only noblewomen from influential families. All had high-born airs.
All turned to see the queen and stiffened. Sarubia Leblanc held back a laugh.
All noblewomen wore simple attire, but Diana Brien alone wore something splendid.
Cold, piercing gazes fell on her. Were they trying to assert dominance like this? Noblewomen frowned at the sight of Diana with her flashy shawl. They had been told it was a casual event, yet she appeared this way?
Of course, no one could openly complain. But many were offended. Lady Leblanc laughed at the situation unfolding as she wanted. If Diana complained, she could simply act aggrieved.
“Those women must have planned this together! Sorry, I should have known…”
Diana Brien could never punish herself. She likely had no idea Lady Leblanc orchestrated this, and even if she knew, punishing her would look like she was blaming someone else.
Lady Leblanc observed Diana’s firm expression, expecting it to harden. Instead, Diana smiled warmly.
“Thank you all for wearing what I asked.”
Lady Leblanc still didn’t realize anything was wrong. When Diana gestured, the maids stood behind her.
“It took time to choose colors suitable for each family.”
The maids presented delicate-colored shawls to all the noblewomen.
“This… this is rainbow silk, isn’t it? Like the one Her Majesty wears!”
“Yes.”
Diana smiled.
“This is a gift for the noblewomen who joined us today.”
She looked at the shawl she was wearing. The noblewomen observed warily. This fabric was from Panborough, a fashion they admired, but they hesitated—should they accept it, or did it carry some hidden intention?
“Wow, it’s so beautiful.”
At the voice, the noblewomen turned their gaze. Lady Kragel wore a dark blue shawl that suited her perfectly.
“Thank you for Her Majesty’s grace.”
With a bright voice, Lady Kragel draped it over herself, smiling at Lady Leblanc.
