Chapter 31
After resting an entire day, Diana’s pounding headache finally began to subside.
No matter how hard she tried, it was strange—she couldn’t recall anything about Luerie.
Why can’t I remember anything about Luerie?
More than that, she was curious why Luerie refused to tell her anything.
It felt odd. Even though Luerie said they had met, she urged Diana not to force her memory back.
“Ugh…”
Thinking about it again made her head feel like it would split open.
Diana buried her face against the table, trying to wipe away thoughts of Luerie.
Just then, someone knocked on her door.
“Your Highness, it’s Belinda.”
“Come in.”
Pressing her temple, Diana welcomed Belinda, who was carrying a parcel wrapped tightly with parchment and string.
“What is it?”
“It’s from the Marquis’ household.”
“From Father? I see. Thank you, Belinda.”
Smiling softly, Diana thanked her. Belinda bowed and set the parcel on the table before leaving the room.
“What did Father send?”
Once alone, Diana’s gaze drifted to the package. Blinking rapidly, she untied it.
Inside was a tiny crystal orb, smaller than her fist.
If she had to guess, it was about the size of Icel’s little fist.
She lifted it, examining it from all sides.
It didn’t look particularly precious—just an ordinary crystal ball.
Why would Father suddenly send something like this?
Surely he hadn’t sent it for Icel to play with. Tilting her head, she placed the orb on the table.
At that moment, a white light began to radiate from it.
“Huh?”
The light spread like mist, then floated up like fluffy clouds.
“Ah…”
From within the cloud, a voice emerged—it was undoubtedly her father’s voice.
“Father?”
Startled, Diana rubbed her eyes. The cloud rising from the orb vividly projected her father’s image.
“Can you hear me?”
“Yes. How is this possible?”
In the Edith Empire, mages were rare, so magical tools hadn’t developed much.
While simple magic was cheap, advanced spells required immense money and manpower.
The empire’s current communication magic was merely sending letters imbued with magic.
But seeing and speaking with someone face-to-face like this? It was clearly a new, unreleased invention.
Diana’s lips parted slightly.
“You spent quite a bit, didn’t you.”
“Letters are too bothersome.”
She could almost hear him adding, “Not for me, but for you.”
Calypso was the master of this mansion. He could intercept her letters anytime.
Even if the servants were now loyal to Diana, defying the Grand Duke’s orders was impossible.
To avoid that, she always had to alchemically encode her letters—a painstaking task her father knew well.
So he made this device, spending an astronomical sum.
But once commercialised, the Marquisate would earn it all back in gold.
That was how House Pereshte continued to expand its wealth: gold always birthed more gold.
“It’ll be commercialised soon, but let’s keep it a secret until then. It’s perfect for private chats.”
“Father, really…”
“Where’s Icel?”
The Marquis looked around, already missing his granddaughter.
Truthfully, that was his main reason for investing in such a tool—so he could see his beloved daughter and granddaughter’s faces any time.
Realising Icel wasn’t there, he cleared his throat awkwardly. Diana giggled.
“Next time, I’ll make sure she’s here too.”
“Good. Ah, about what you asked…”
He skimmed some documents out of view.
When Diana had left Icel with him, she had shared her entire plan.
“Yes, Father.”
He pulled something from under the table—a plant with long, narrow, clustered leaves and sparse small purple flowers.
It looked like a cross between laurel and bender herb.
“This is called ‘Laurel Bender.’ It’s a new plant created by merging laurel and bender herb through magic.”
“Laurel Bender… what does it do?”
“Awakening. And after that…”
“You don’t have to say it. I understand.”
Diana’s eyes gleamed sharply.
A plant tempting enough to seduce Calypso, who was obsessed with gold.
She planned to take away what mattered most to him.
“If gold is his everything, then I’ll strip it away.”
Moreover, the meanings of laurel (betrayal) and bender herb (distrust) suited him perfectly.
“Perfect. This will be fun.”
“Do you really not need more help?”
He looked at her with worried eyes, but Diana remained calm.
“Don’t worry. If I need anything, I’ll ask.”
“Alright. Rub the orb when it glows to call me.”
“Thank you.”
As she smiled, her father’s projection faded away.
“Now, time to go.”
She placed the orb carefully in a drawer and rose to her feet.
She was heading to Calypso’s study, ready to give him a gift:
“A chance to relive the poverty his father and grandfather passed down to him.”
She knocked on his study door with a slow, relaxed smirk.
“It’s Diana.”
“Come in.”
Inside, Calypso was buried in paperwork. Diana scanned his study—Alicia hadn’t been visiting lately.
Understandable. The mansion’s servants, as well as Diana and Icel, were keeping watch everywhere.
“What brings you here, madam?”
He seemed in an oddly cheerful mood, which made Diana’s stomach churn.
“I want to crush that smug face… utterly humiliate him.”
Suppressing her rage, she fluttered her lashes elegantly.
“Smile now… soon, that grin will vanish.”
“How’s the estate’s financial situation these days?”
“…Financial situation?”
Calypso looked up in surprise.
She had never shown any interest in the Grand Duchy’s finances before.
Letting out a small sigh, he replied:
“The same as always. Not good, not bad.”
He had no business sense. Ever since marrying Diana, he barely kept afloat.
Taxes from his lands weren’t enough to fund big ventures.
He’d wanted to ask House Pereshte for help, but his fragile pride wouldn’t allow it.
“I see.”
Was she here to mock him? His hand gripping the quill trembled.
Her gentle expression felt like she was secretly scorning him, setting his heart ablaze.
“…Why do you ask so suddenly? Do you need more budget?”
His tone turned sharp unintentionally.
Feeling guilty, he glanced at her—but Diana showed no sign of anger.
Foolish woman. He thought. But fortunate, as it allowed his and Alicia’s plans to proceed unnoticed.
He didn’t realise Diana wasn’t foolish. She had simply trusted those she loved.
She smiled, meeting his eyes. Oddly, her gaze felt icy today.
He flinched as she finally spoke:
“There’s no lack of budget. Actually, I came with good news.”
“Good news?”
She paused dramatically before whispering:
“Father discovered something amazing… a plant that heals all pain and illness.”
Calypso’s eyes widened. His lips curled upwards.
“If I could monopolise it…”
“How can we get it?” he asked eagerly.
“For my beloved husband, I’d do anything.”
She smiled angelically, but to her, Calypso looked like a fish flailing in a net—about to die and rot.
He grabbed her hands tightly, his eyes gleaming with greed.
She could read his mind perfectly: “What a useful woman.”
In his arms, Diana hid her mocking smile.
‘He called me foolish that day I learned the truth. But now… you’re the fool, Calypso.’
The Laurel Bender she offered had a fatal side effect:
Awakening, followed by addiction.
“Become the great conman you always were. Fool everyone as you fooled me.”
Blushing sweetly, she whispered:
“I love you, Calypso.”
“I love you too. Only you, my wife.”
But in that study filled with honeyed words,
there was not a single drop of truth.
