IMLVS Chapter 41

Chapter 41

 “Are you threatening a lady from another noble family? And right in front of me?”

I stepped in front of Diane with a stern expression, shielding her as I glared at the man. I could feel her trembling behind me, which only made me angrier.

Even though stepping into a situation like this could invite rumors, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. This vile man was enjoying Diane’s fear.

He smirked and took another step forward.

 “Of course not. I’m simply saying it’s always best to be cautious in all matters.”

His tone showed complete disregard for me. I clenched my jaw, stepping forward as well, and spoke in a low, firm voice.

 “Take another step, and I swear on the name of Armen, I will not stand idly by.”

Now, it was a full-on standoff between me and Donau. But I didn’t care—I was furious. What did he think Diane was? A helpless prey caught in his trap, meant to be torn apart?

If he did anything more disgraceful, I was prepared to intervene, even if it caused problems for my family.

As I fixed him with a cold, unwavering glare, I saw a flicker of annoyance cross his eyes. But it disappeared so quickly, I almost thought I imagined it.

Then, as if nothing had happened, Donau casually stepped back, shrugging.

 “It pains me that you see me in such a negative light, but I will take my leave for now.”

He then turned his attention to the half-packed jewelry on the table—Diane’s purchases. Smiling, he reached out and lightly tapped one with his finger.

 “You have a taste for fine jewels, I see. A very ladylike preference.”

Then his gaze shifted to Diane’s exposed arms and collarbone. His smile turned sly as he observed her, almost as if he were undressing her with his eyes.

“Did you know? Jewelry is most beautiful when worn directly on bare skin.”

He practically licked his lips with his gaze as he looked her up and down.

“I’ll send you a gift of jewels soon. I’d love to see how they look on your bare skin.”

Diane lowered her head, trembling. That reaction seemed to satisfy him.

The sight was sickening—Diane, shrinking in fear, and Donau, relishing it.

Suddenly, I understood why every woman who crossed his path ended up broken.

He was like a vampire, feeding on others’ pain.

I forced my face to remain calm. Showing fear would only encourage him.

“Leave now. Can’t you see she doesn’t want you here?”

At my firm demand, Donau finally shifted his gaze from Diane to me. His pale blue eyes, like cloudy glass, felt unsettlingly cold.

“So, we meet at last. We didn’t get a chance to introduce ourselves properly, but it was a pleasure. Lady Carmilla.”

He said my name in such a chilling, eerie way that it sent shivers down my spine.

Just hearing him say my name felt like a violation.

And then, my heart ached for Diane. What had she gone through, marrying a man like that? How terrified must she have been?

With a final glance, Donau left as if nothing had happened.

As soon as he was gone, I turned to Diane. She was trembling, her head bowed.

For some reason, I suddenly remembered how she had smiled so brightly in her white wedding dress.

But now, I realized—she must have been trembling even then. This was the truth.

A wave of sorrow washed over me.

I pulled her into a hug.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m here.”

I could feel her fear through the way she shook in my arms.

I held her tightly, letting her bury her head in my chest, gently stroking her hair.

How scared had she been? How much had she suffered alone?

‘I’m sorry, Diane. I’m so sorry I didn’t notice before.’

The memory of her wedding day kept flashing in my mind, contrasting painfully with the woman trembling in my arms now.

Time passed. Eventually, a shop assistant approached with a cup of warm tea.

“Diane.”

I softly called her name.

She hesitated, then slowly lifted her head. But when she saw the tea, she shook her head.

“Take it away… I’m not in the mood to drink anything.”

She managed to stand on her own, but her face was still pale.

“Send the items to Rustgar.”

It seemed even jewelry couldn’t cheer her up anymore. She didn’t spare the jewels a single glance as she stepped outside, saying she needed fresh air.

As soon as she stepped out, she wobbled, nearly losing her balance.

I rushed to steady her.

She barely managed to stay upright and murmured, her voice filled with frustration.

“I feel dizzy.”

She clenched her jaw, as if trying to hold something back, then spoke again. Her voice was quiet but controlled.

“I don’t understand… Why do I have to go through this?”

Her words ended with a tremble, and her eyes grew red as if they had been scratched raw.

But despite my expectations, no tears fell.

She simply stared at the ground, lost in thought, or perhaps just trying to endure.

I didn’t know what to say to comfort her, so I simply stood by her side.

Because I didn’t know the right words, I chose instead to just be there for her.

Silence stretched between us.

People passed by, carriages moved along the street, and the world continued as usual.

And Diane… she just stood there, as if bracing herself.

Finally, she seemed to regain control of her emotions and turned to me with red-rimmed eyes.

She hesitated, as if searching for the right words, then—surprisingly—she smiled.

A fragile but genuine smile.

“Sorry… and thank you.”

Then, in a soft voice, she added:

“If you weren’t here, I think I would have been really scared.”

Her eyes held warmth as she looked at me.

“For some reason, even though we’re the same age, you feel like an older sister to me.”

I chuckled awkwardly.

That… wasn’t entirely untrue.

She dusted off her dress and took a deep breath.

“It wasn’t a big deal. I overreacted. I guess I’m still immature.”

She shook her head, as if scolding herself, then tried to brush it all away.

Her face was still pale, but she was determined to move on.

And that’s when I realized—this was how she dealt with problems.

She ignored them, avoided them, and dismissed her feelings.

She judged even her pain by other people’s standards.

But I couldn’t just let it go like that.

Because Donau’s actions… those cold, predatory eyes… were a sign of something much worse to come.

Still, saying so would only make her more anxious.

So, after thinking it over, I simply said:

“You’re not immature or overreacting. Anyone would have been afraid.”

I met her eyes and spoke with conviction.

“But don’t worry. Like I told you before—if you ever have nowhere to run, I will save you. I have enough wealth to protect at least one person.”

Her eyes widened in shock, then her cheeks flushed red.

She opened her mouth, closed it, and then repeated the motion a couple of times before finally bursting into laughter.

“What? You’re saying the same thing again! If you keep saying that, I might believe you…! Carmilla, honestly…!”

Her face was as red as an apple.

But I remained firm.

“I mean it. I will never let you fall into hell. I swear on the name of Armen.”

She stood still for a moment, avoiding my eyes. Then, she covered her mouth and giggled.

She lightly tapped my arm, pretending to scold me.

“You made my heart race just now! That sounded like a proposal!”

Then, without warning, she took my hands in hers—small, warm, and delicate.

She held them for a while before speaking again, her voice lighter now.

“You’re right. That bastard can’t ruin my life. I won’t let him. And if things get bad, I have you, don’t I?”

She smiled—a real, beautiful smile.

And with that, the trembling in her body was completely gone.