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Chapter 69
Mistletoe Tree
The king had crafted the shabbiest crown of all, yet it was beautiful in its own way. Though Diana felt it wasn’t her place to think so, the crown he had made was truly splendid.
She had promised herself to remain detached from everything, yet why did this make her so happy? As she touched the crown placed upon her head, Diana smiled shyly.
There were differences compared to her previous life—she knew that. Giscard was strangely more cautious and respectful toward her, perhaps because she had granted him emancipation.
But Diana feared this change.
A crown as broken as herself had been remade into a new ornament for her head. Was it okay to feel a little hope, as though a flower once trampled and useless had bloomed again? Could she live a better life?
She hadn’t trampled any flowers, and though the flowers had been crushed the same way as in her past life, now they adorned her head. She couldn’t clearly see Giscard’s face as he watched her faint smile. He reached out toward her.
“I know you planned this for others to see.”
“……”
“I’m sorry for unleashing people on you. It was the only way.”
His outstretched hand hung in the air as he looked at Diana. A sigh so small that it never reached her ears vanished like the wind.
“It’s not as though I wanted to show anyone this either.”
“……”
Giscard accepted her words. Watching him grumble faintly, Diana let out a quiet laugh. That drew his eyes to her.
“I…”
“Yes?”
“No, never mind.”
He had begun to speak but stopped. Instead, he silently watched her for a long time—until night fell deep and, unable to endure the chill, she sneezed softly.
“Achoo!”
Winter was setting in, and though the palace was warm, the late autumn night wind was cold.
When Diana took Giscard’s hand and went inside, people were still waiting for them. Their eyes turned to Giscard, to Diana, and to the crown of mistletoe resting on her head.
“Prepare warm bathwater. It’s been ages since that fox was brought back—why isn’t the cape finished yet?”
“Forgive me, I’ll hurry.”
Mabel bowed deeply. Diana listened quietly. At least the proposal had ended, and all she longed for now was to soak in warm water and bathe.
It had been such a long day. But Giscard did not leave—he followed her all the way to her chambers.
Why?
Was something wrong?
Seeing her puzzled face, Giscard spoke.
“It’s a pity.”
“……”
“A shame.”
“What is, Your Majesty?”
Was this part of a wife’s duty? Diana couldn’t bring herself to tell him to leave. She just stared at him with a stiff expression as he followed her into the room.
Though the chamber wasn’t small, his presence filled it completely.
“Do you mean this room is a pity?”
She knew—it was spacious, even for a guest room. Giscard looked into her face.
“Didn’t you say you worked at the academy? And also in the library?”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Never mind.”
Was he mocking her? What did he mean? Diana furrowed her brows.
“I’ll have tea brought.”
“Wait.”
Giscard stopped Mabel as she moved to leave. Her face tensed with visible fear.
“By tomorrow. Or your heads will roll.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A deadly threat, answered with calm resignation. Giscard sat down in a chair, oddly out of place, and stared at Diana.
She was unsettled—his behavior was different from her past life. He seemed anxious, hesitant.
“How do you want the wedding to be?”
Do I even have a choice? Diana froze. His eyes darkened as he saw her gaze darting around. She only wanted one thing from marriage. She spoke without thinking.
“I don’t want a collar around my neck.”
The words slipped out. His violet eyes fixed on her, filled with confusion and shock.
It was cruel, absurd, she knew—but in her past life, it had been her punishment. It was laughable for a sinner to beg for their punishment, but still, she wanted to say it.
“I won’t resist. I won’t stomp the bouquet, I won’t throw a fit about not wanting to wear the dress.”
“……”
“So please, don’t put a slave’s collar on me.”
“……”
“I’ll accept some other punishment.”
The collar had been unbearably painful and humiliating. She would have preferred his violence to that.
When Diana focused back on his face, Giscard had bowed his head.
Pfft.
A chuckle escaped him.
“Ah, hahahaha!”
Then he burst into loud laughter, as if she had told the funniest joke. Diana stared in surprise—she had never seen him laugh like that. Yet it sounded almost like sobbing.
“Ah, my lady.”
“……”
“Lady Diana. Thank you for helping me come to my senses.”
Still, his eyes turned cold.
“Yes, this is how it should be between us. This is only fitting.”
“……”
“A punishment. This is punishment.”
“……”
“Breathing itself is punishment for you—living in the castle I stole, wearing the clothes I brought, crowned with what I made.”
Was that punishment? His violet eyes looked as though something inside him had broken. He gazed at her.
“Forget the tea.”
“……”
“Disgustingly enough, tonight you are truly beautiful.”
Leaving only those words, Giscard left. After he was gone, Diana stood frozen in confusion.
What did that mean? Didn’t he know what our relationship was? Of course he knew. Then what did he mean by “disgusting”?
Still wearing the crown, Diana stared blankly.
Diana’s obedience allowed the wedding preparations to proceed normally. She tried on dresses, draped jewelry upon herself.
But she couldn’t stop thinking. Strange—why wasn’t he tormenting her? Why wasn’t he punishing her?
Perhaps he was saving the collar for the wedding? She bit her lip at the thought. She hated it…but three years. That was how long she had endured hell before.
It had been endless, but this time it was a hell she already knew. She could accept it. Diana decided she would accept the collar after all.
Yes, she had been greedy. Punishments weren’t tailored to her wishes.
She should simply enjoy this fleeting moment when no one was hurting her.
With that thought, she accepted Mabel’s suggestion to stroll through the palace, a white fur cloak draped over her shoulders.
The palace of Lodbrok was nothing like the resplendent grandeur of Panborough. There were no statues of heroes or mythical figures—only rusted iron figures with raised swords. The neatly trimmed grass and tall trees were the only beauty in the gardens.
As Diana walked, she thought.
Since that day, she hadn’t crossed paths with Giscard. The same as in her past life—until suddenly, the wedding had been announced on the day itself.
Thankfully, this time she at least knew the wedding was scheduled for next week.
“Stop right there! You can’t do this!”
A commotion startled her. Something like a scuffle was happening.
“My lady, this way.”
A knight appeared suddenly, surprising her even more. Had he been there all along? Watching her? She followed his lead—until a voice pierced her ears.
“Dian! Dian, over here!”
She turned sharply. That voice—?
“My lady.”
Ignoring the knight’s warning, she walked toward the sound. Palace guards were restraining someone struggling. And in the midst of it—
“Adele?”
Adele’s eyes cleared when they met hers. The palace knights spoke.
“You mustn’t do this, Your Grace—”
“Shh! Quiet!”
“What are you saying, Your Grace—”
“I said quiet!”
As Adele shouted, Diana sighed deeply and reached out her hand.
“Please rise, Your Grace.”
Adele froze. His eyes widened as he repeated her words.
“Dian? How do you…?”
His tone demanded confirmation. Diana spoke firmly, as if to reassure him.
“I greet you, Your Grace. If anyone sees this, tongues will wag. Please, quickly.”
But he only stared at her with a hard face, as if demanding how she knew.
“Well…the name, to start with…”
That was all she could answer. She hadn’t known at first, but when she learned his name, she grew suspicious. Adele—Adeleheitz. He had the bearing of a noble. The way people deferred to him, the way those who came seeking him behaved. She had realized then.
“And now, your hair is silver, Your Grace.”
At that, Adele seemed to come to his senses and touched his own head. Then he sighed.
“Adele?”
When she called, Adele’s eyes glistened. Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms.
“Dian, I thought you were dead.”
“……”
“You’ve wasted away to half yourself.”
He looked her up and down, and she gave an awkward laugh.
“This isn’t the place. We must leave at once.”
“What?”
“Come now. I’ve come to take you back.”
Smiling brightly at her, Adele’s face was dazzling, like sunlight itself. She opened her mouth to answer—
“My wife-to-be—how dare you treat her so rudely, Duke Blake?”
A cold voice stabbed the air from behind her head.
