Chapter 96
Meanwhile, Diana led Amanda to the terrace overlooking the garden. After a servant brought out tea and snacks, Amanda gave an order.
“All of you, leave us.”
The servants flinched, but none of them moved.
Amanda’s face turned red with frustration.
“Did you not hear me?”
“Please stop. Everyone, step out,” Diana intervened calmly, stopping Amanda before she could cause a scene.
Only then did the servants begin to leave the terrace. Finally, a guard and Anna closed the terrace doors behind them. Through the clear glass, they could still be seen watching, prepared in case anything happened.
“How do you train your servants, Duchess? I’m the former mistress and the mother of the heir—how dare a mere servant ignore my command? You must punish them immediately!”
“They did the right thing. Why punish them?”
“Duchess!”
“I suggest we stop talking about this. Otherwise, I don’t think we can continue this conversation.”
Amanda fell silent, eyes narrowing in disapproval. Watching Diana’s behavior, she felt she finally understood why the servants acted so bold.
Though their conversation was brief, Amanda felt sure that coming here was the right move.
“Let’s forget the servants. I came to say something more important.”
“Please go ahead, madam.”
“I’m saying this out of concern—don’t even think about getting involved with my son, Kaiden.”
“…”
“Even if you could be his mistress, I will make sure a proper, healthy young lady becomes his wife. That’s what I came to say today.”
Amanda remembered how Kaiden kept looking at that handkerchief. Curious, she asked his aide about it and found out it might be related to Diana. The very thought had horrified her.
Kaiden had been Amanda’s first stroke of luck. His birth let her claim a place as a concubine, and when he was named the heir, she took the duchess’s seat.
Amanda wanted a daughter-in-law who was obedient, beautiful, and fertile. Diana was none of that—she was bold and barren.
“Did Kaiden not tell you? I already rejected his confession.”
“What? My son got rejected? Why would you—?”
“Is that really what matters?”
“…I suppose it doesn’t.”
Still, the thought left Amanda bitter. She took a sip of tea and gave Diana another warning.
“Duchess, I hope you continue to show no interest in my son. If that ever changes, I won’t let it go easily.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.”
Despite her words, Amanda narrowed her eyes and drained her tea.
Later, a servant sent by Harold came to collect Amanda, and she gave me one last annoyed look before leaving.
Just as I was about to leave the terrace, a familiar scent brushed past my nose. I turned my head—and, as expected, it was Harold.
“Did your talk with Kaiden go well?”
“For me, sure. My brother doesn’t even know that I’m not sick anymore, so it was easy.”
“True.”
Since no one had survived the disease yet, it made sense. I even applied makeup on him to make him look pale and sickly, just in case.
“Why did Amanda want to see you?”
“Oh… she was worried I might go after Kaiden.”
Harold raised an eyebrow and then chuckled.
“How foolish. As if my Diana would ever leave me for Kaiden.”
Exactly.
“Oh, and I’m glad you got your territory back.”
The moment I realized Kaiden would do anything to get Ella released, the thought of that land popped into my head.
It was a land that appeared in Diana’s memories and in Harold’s stories from the past. It should’ve been his by right, but the previous Duke left it to Kaiden instead, wanting to secure his position.
“Diana, are you sure you’re okay with letting Lady Ella go? I asked before, but still.”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t even hesitate for three seconds.”
“I’m sure.”
“Really? Just three seconds?”
Harold narrowed his eyes as he sat where Amanda had been and looked at me carefully.
“Think about it again. If you back out now, we can pretend this never happened. I can get that land back from Kaiden some other way.”
I believed him—he probably could.
“But it wouldn’t be as quick and easy as this, right?”
“Can’t argue with that.”
I laughed softly as he agreed.
“I’m really fine. So don’t worry too much.”
Ella had no power anymore. Her reputation was at its lowest. I doubted she could do anything to hurt me before I escaped.
More than anything, I wanted to return something important to Harold.
“If you’re still worried, just think of this as a bribe for the future—so if I ever do something awful to you, you’ll forgive me. How about that?”
“How awful is this thing you’re planning?”
“No idea yet!”
Harold rested his chin on his hand and smiled.
“Even without a bribe, I’d forgive you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. As long as you don’t leave me.”
“Haha, Harold! Come on! Where would I even go?”
A chill breeze brushed the back of my neck, and I curled my fingers.
“It’s really getting cold. No more tea on the terrace from now on. Let’s head in?”
I quickly changed the subject and stood. Harold followed me inside, then closed the terrace doors and pulled the curtain shut.
Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms. I fell right into his broad chest.
Harold rested his chin on my shoulder and whispered.
“I hate the thought of that woman walking free under the same sky as you. But… prison isn’t the only way to serve punishment.”
I glanced up at Harold, whose smile looked as beautiful as a painting.
“She’ll regret ever leaving that prison.”
Ella looked up at the wide open sky and took a deep breath of fresh air.
It was a relief to be freed just one day before her trial.
A new beginning.
She had climbed up once before and she will do it again and this time she wouldn’t let it all go to waste.
Eyes shining gold, she made a firm decision. She had secret savings set aside just for this. First, she would find a house.
I’ll make it to the top again. I know I can.
She believed in herself. But then, she stopped when she saw a familiar figure approaching.
The man smiled brightly when he saw her.
“Oh, Ella! So it’s true you’re out today!”
Ella felt her skin crawl the moment she saw the baron—her father.
“You never visited me once. What are you doing here?”
“I was busy! I wanted to see you, of course. My only daughter, in prison—how could I not?”
He looked emotional, even took her hand.
“But Ella,” he said, voice lowering.
His golden eyes, just like hers, glinted as he leaned closer.
“Could you lend me some of that money you saved?”
Good job servants~