Chapter 19
Stargazing
“Unnie, why are you only coming now!”
Alexa snapped sharply. She was furious because the maids had dressed her in clothes she didn’t like.
“Why are they making me wear these tacky clothes!”
Her voice was practically a scream.
“Alexa, you can’t just take out your anger on others. At the very least, you have to say what you want.”
At Diana’s gentle words, Alexa pouted and turned away. Her gaze then shifted toward Guiscard.
“Why do you keep bringing that slave here again?”
“……”
“Unnie, are you trying to make me angry on purpose?”
“You know that’s not true.”
Of all the family members, Alexa was the one who most strongly opposed Diana taking care of Guiscard. Their father was always busy, and Emil, who at first was indignant that “his slave” had been taken from him, eventually submitted after hearing the words “Father’s promise.”
But there was one person who refused to obey their father’s decision—Alexa. She felt like her sister had been stolen from her, and so she openly displayed hostility toward Guiscard.
Without a mother, Alexa had made her sister into a substitute for one. Of course she was insecure. Diana sighed as she placed a hand on Alexa’s forehead. The fever was completely gone.
“Alexa. Once you’re a bit healthier, let’s go down to our estate.”
“Hm?”
“There, we’ll be able to stay together all the time. I worry that city life is wearing down your body.”
“What are you talking about? I’m going to hold tea parties like Marcella.”
“……”
“I’m going to be a city lady. If I stay locked up in the estate, they’ll just call me a country bumpkin.”
“And if you become a city lady?”
“Then I’ll marry a prince.”
Alexa’s dreams were truly grand.
“Unnie, you’ll help me, right?”
At that question, Diana forced a smile.
“Of course. But only if you take your medicine properly and stay healthy. Instead of sulking like this, let’s ask Father to order you new clothes. Maybe even a proper ball gown—it could be fun.”
“Really?!”
Alexa’s eyes sparkled like stars. She, who so longed to grow up, threw her arms around Diana’s neck. A smile spread across her face. Nothing else mattered.
Anything was better than losing her family.
Diana knew all too well the cold world where no one accepted her, where she was treated like an outsider, as though they were impatient to kill her.
It’s fine. I can endure this much.
The life without you was the true hell. Diana patted Alexa’s back. When she stood up, her body swayed slightly, losing balance—because she hadn’t been sleeping properly. Guiscard was watching.
From the start, today felt unlucky—and it turned out to be true.
“Show respect to Mirva.”
That Mirva again. After Emil, now even Father had pulled Diana aside to say it.
“I’ve shown her enough respect.”
“She’s managing the household in your place. Don’t you realize how grateful you should be?”
So this was what he wanted to say. Why did everyone protect Mirva? It seemed the men of this household were weak to her charms. Was it just because she was pretty and glamorous? Diana bit down her rising irritation.
“Father, I’ve said many times I can do it myself. If you would only give me the chance—”
“All this fuss over a necklace! You went too far! Even so, humiliating her in front of the maids was uncalled for!”
Diana flinched. So he really didn’t care, even knowing it was because of the necklace?
“You may have earned Her Majesty the Queen’s gratitude and the Princess’s favor, but you’ve grown arrogant. You’re still far too young. You’re nothing yet.”
“……”
“Petty quarrels between women are worthless. And even if the Queen got angry and threw us out, it wouldn’t matter that much.”
Wouldn’t matter? Diana knew her father’s temper well. He would rage at her for disgracing the family name. Either way, his anger was guaranteed.
“If the Duke of Brienne can’t even manage that much, then perhaps our house should step down as the First Ducal Family.”
Just what had that woman Mirva done to persuade Father? Diana thought if he ever knew the truth, he wouldn’t let Mirva off easily. Maybe not cast her out, but at least be furious.
“Father, you said the mistress of this house was me.”
“You’re still too young.”
“Last time, I helped the Princess and won Her Majesty’s favor. I did that.”
“How many times must I tell you? Unless it’s an engagement, it’s meaningless. You’re letting a single word of praise go to your head. I didn’t raise you to be so conceited.”
Diana felt her chest tighten.
“So what you want is for me to secure an engagement, no matter what?”
The Duke didn’t answer. He wanted Diana to become queen. Would things really change if she got engaged to Ferdinand?
“I know you’ve been struggling.”
“……”
“But it was never yours to begin with. Try to be more generous.”
Diana swallowed her disappointment. Father was just like Emil. To them, her problems didn’t matter. As long as it didn’t harm them, she was supposed to just let it go.
Leaving without bowing was her greatest act of rebellion.
Closing the door behind her, she swallowed down the storm of emotions inside. Outside stood Mirva. When Mirva smiled brilliantly at her, Diana nearly lost her composure. She was deliberately reminding Diana of her place, savoring how she’d been humiliated.
“My lady, have you perhaps cleared up your misunderstanding about me?”
Her gentle voice was sweet as honey. The maids’ eyes were on the two of them.
“Misunderstanding? If you call your wrongdoing a ‘misunderstanding,’ then you mean my judgment was wrong?”
She knew she should bow her head here. But Diana couldn’t.
“How arrogant.”
She spat the words and left. The maids behind Mirva exchanged uneasy looks.
“That brat…”
Mirva ground her teeth so hard her jaw creaked. The Duke would soon be busy. Let’s see what happens then.
Guiscard was searching the estate. In such a vast mansion, finding one small girl wasn’t easy.
So she finally lowered her tail to Lady Mirva, huh.
I thought the young lady was impressive, but she’s just a child.
She’s only twelve. Of course she couldn’t beat Lady Mirva.
The young lady’s too young to understand the adult world. Lady Mirva, on the other hand…
He overheard the maids’ giggles as they mocked Diana.
After today’s scolding from the Duke, she must be feeling low. Where could she be?
Yeah… She’s so soft-hearted. And lately she hasn’t even been sleeping, since she’s been caring for Lady Alexa…
But the master thinks that’s only natural…
Hearing some sympathetic maids whisper, Guiscard found himself wandering the halls, searching for his mistress.
The maids were right—she was a foolish master.
Truly, she didn’t know what was happening in this house. She fought desperately to protect a fragile truth as thin as ice.
Pitiful.
She had probably pitied him, too. Looking at someone worse off than herself, she must have felt a sense of superiority.
Even though she hated being touched by a slave. Even though her situation wasn’t much different from his.
Guiscard recalled Diana’s face earlier that day. He remembered her expression when the Prince of Farnborough had once clasped her hand.
It had only been her hair that brushed against him today, yet she recoiled, pretending to be kind.
Diana Brienne.
By now, she was probably crying her heart out.
So he kept searching, wandering even into the dark, lamp-less back garden, where only servants passed. Night had fallen; it was dim.
Still, he checked. And eventually, he found the foolish girl.
Of course he did. The moon was bright, and her silvery hair gleamed like it was lit from within. Guiscard stared, half dumbfounded.
The noble young lady was lying down. On a backless bench, simply lying there. Her once carefully arranged hair spilled like a waterfall.
At first, he thought she was asleep—she hadn’t moved an inch. Moonlight carved delicate lines across her face. Guiscard drew closer.
“You were here, my lady?”
“Yes.”
Her pale gray eyes blinked slowly.
“What are you doing?”
“Stargazing.”
Guiscard lifted his head. The stars shone clearly without lantern light, but beside them hung a radiant moon.
He kept glancing between the sky and the girl bathed in moonlight.
“Why are you doing this now?”
Diana’s dazed expression didn’t change.
“Just because… I like looking at the stars.”
“……”
“When my mother was alive, sometimes we’d come here and watch them together.”
“……”
“She’d tell me stories about travelers who followed the northern star as their guide.”
“……”
“Those people… they must be free, unlike me.”
“……”
“Oh… sorry. I shouldn’t say that in front of you.”
She apologized softly and sat up.
“Were you looking for me?”
He couldn’t answer. Her face looked bitter.
“Yes, it was like that before, too. You came to find me.”
Before? When? he wondered, but she continued.
“Do you want to look, too?”
“……”
“It makes you feel better.”
Her pale face carried a faint, sorrowful smile. Guiscard couldn’t refuse. At her gesture, he lay down beside her.
He’d always lived with the night. Stars and moon were nothing new. Why should he do something so foolish?
“What do you think—beautiful, isn’t it?”
Suddenly, Diana’s face appeared in his view, smiling mischievously. She blocked the moon, and its light traced her outline in gold.
Guiscard found he couldn’t see the stars at all. Only the moon.
No—only her hair, shining with moonlight.
Then, rain fell. Startled, he glanced upward—but the sky was still clear. When he realized what it was, Diana quickly lifted her hand to cover his eyes.
A faint sound of sobbing reached him. So fragile, it seemed it could shatter at a touch.
When he tried to lower her hand, Diana whispered:
“Don’t move it, idiot. It’s embarrassing to cry in front of you.”
“……”
“I know… even crying is a luxury.”
After that, she said no more. She just wept quietly, her tears dripping onto his face.
Her trembling hand stayed over his eyes. Guiscard lay still, listening to the sound. He didn’t offer comfort.
The night breeze was cool. And from the weeping girl came the same floral scent she always carried.
