SWMD 16

Chapter 16 

Goosebumps prickled across her entire body. Had the child known she would come here? Or had it merely been a message written in longing for a mother whose face was unknown?

Or… could it be that the child did know? That the Grand Duchess of this house was her mother?

What if she had realized Diana didn’t recognize her own daughter—and that Diana had foolishly poured love into the offspring of an affair instead? What if, in disappointment, she had run far away?

Countless thin threads tangled into an impossible knot, leaving Diana’s thoughts in chaos.

“…My baby.”

Diana groped along the wall, searching for more messages from the child. But there was nothing beyond that single line of writing.

She grasped the blanket tightly and left the room. It was so old and worn—one missing blanket wouldn’t even be noticed by them.

Hiding it inside her dress, Diana returned to her room with a face as though nothing had happened. There, Catherine was tapping the table with her fingers, a frown on her face.

“Oh, Mother. You’re back? Where did you go?”

Her tone was reprimanding, as if Diana had kept her waiting.

Looking at Catherine was like pouring oil onto a burning fire—the rage inside Diana surged even more fiercely.

She was glad for the blindfold. It hid her tear-reddened eyes and the murderous intent she felt toward that girl.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Yes.”

Catherine crossed her legs arrogantly and responded. It was as if yesterday’s events had already vanished from her memory.

“I’ve decided to assign you a new magic tutor.”

“…What?”

“You’re my biological daughter—there’s no way you’re without magic. Ruehli must have been mistaken.”

“B-but!”

She didn’t want to suffer the same humiliation again. She had no magic. It was like trying to fill a cracked pot with water.

She hated magic now. She just wanted to devote herself to bridal lessons and marry the dazzlingly charming Lord Sawyer.

Catherine uncrossed her legs politely and spoke hesitantly.

“I… just want to marry Lord Sawyer soon. And as a noble lady preparing for an extravagant debutante ball, I barely have time to study etiquette…”

“Catherine.”

Diana knew exactly why she was so reluctant and twisted.

That disgustingly adorable child’s heart was overflowing with sticky, suffocating inferiority.

She had no idea how that filthy, reeking complex was slowly corrupting her.

So, Diana decided to let it rot her from within. With a barely perceptible smile, she said:

“Look at me—learning magic only at this age. I regret it deeply.”

“…But…”

“I don’t want you to suffer the same regrets I did.”

But in truth, she hoped Catherine would suffer twice as much as she had—her beloved Catherine.

Diana’s tone was final. Catherine could no longer protest.

“…Fine.”

I’ll just pretend like I’m going along with it, she thought, but the irritation boiled up inside her. Aisel had run off on her own, leaving her in a foul mood—and now Diana, with that familiar face, was getting under her skin.

“Then, may I go now?”

“Yes, go on.”

Catherine stood. Outside, the rain still poured down. She glanced back at Diana, then slowly curled up her lips into a smirk as if something had come to mind. Then—ptoo—she spat on the floor.

The sound was masked by the rain, but Diana saw it clearly.

That utterly vulgar act, devoid of all decorum.

“Then, rest well, Mother.”

Catherine bid her farewell in a sweet voice and left the room.

“…Ha.”

Even if she believed Diana couldn’t see, to think she’d do something so lowly right in front of her—was this really the girl hailed as the empire’s most refined noble lady?

“I really need to fix these eyes of mine.”

Once she uncovered whatever Alicia and the Grand Duke were plotting, this farce would be over.

Diana took the hidden blanket from her dress and held it close.

“I’ll find you, my daughter. Just a little longer. Just wait a little longer.”

Her eyes, filled with longing for her child, softened with sorrow—but like emeralds tempered in fire, they also hardened with resolve.

They were the eyes of someone who, no matter what happened, would never waver.

Yulia had vanished. Diana waited a week, assuming she had gone to search for the child. But Yulia never returned.

Even her belongings were untouched in her quarters—no sign of departure.

What had happened? Had something gone wrong?

Alicia chewed her nails nervously as she paced the hallway.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah! Your Grace!”

Startled by Diana’s sudden voice, Alicia jumped, clutching her chest.

“Shane told me you were wandering the hall looking worried. Is something the matter?”

It was obvious Alicia was worried about the last loyal servant she had—Yulia. But Diana asked as if she were clueless.

“N-no. Were you headed somewhere?”

“Yes. Today is my magic lesson.”

Diana raised her hand and effortlessly displayed her now-skilled magic. Ice crystals shimmered blue as they spun around her.

Then—intentionally—she shot one toward Alicia’s skirt.

“Ah!”

The sharp shard narrowly missed Alicia’s thigh, stabbing the floor and grazing her dress.

Alicia quickly pulled her dress back. The fabric fluttered where the crystal had torn it. She swallowed hard, staring at the glinting edge of the shard.

“Oh my, what happened?”

Diana tilted her head innocently, and Shane responded calmly.

“Her Grace’s magic seems to have misfired. The ice crystal damaged Lady Alicia’s dress.”

“Oh dear! I guess I’m still just a beginner. Are you alright, Ali?”

Diana asked with feigned concern.

Alicia bit her lip. Of course, she wasn’t okay. Her thigh stung where it had been grazed.

But she had no choice but to say she was fine. She was just a mere physician in this grand estate.

“…Haha, I’m fine. I’ll head up now. Enjoy your lesson, Your Grace.”

“Alright.”

Alicia dusted herself off and walked away.

Diana smirked at her back before returning to her room. A while later, a maid who had been planted near Alicia and Calypso came running, breathless, reporting their conversation was unusual. Diana rushed to Calypso’s office.

As soon as she arrived, she whispered something to a maid, who nodded and replied:

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The maid ran off and returned shortly with a tea cart.

She slipped into the office through the slightly ajar door.

Diana motioned for the hallway maids to scatter. They all nodded and left.

She leaned casually against the wall, listening to Alicia’s sharp voice from inside.

“When are you going to make me your official wife?!”

Alicia shouted. Calypso responded, sounding annoyed.

“Just wait. Diana’s still alive—what do you expect me to do?”

“So I’m supposed to wait until I’m old and gray?!”

“We have to wait until the Marquis gives it up, Ali.”

Gives what? Diana narrowed her eyes, straining to listen.

“I need financial power. That’s why I married Diana—you know that.”

Diana’s eyes widened.

That meant Alicia came before the marriage.

It was all for the Marquess of Pereshte’s wealth.

“The Marquess promised to give Catherine the diamond mines on her debutante day, so we have to hold out until then. Got it?”

Ah. So the day they tried to kill her was Catherine’s debut.

A hollow laugh escaped Diana as she stood with folded arms.

Diamond mines. That was the reason they had kept her alive.

In the end—it was all about money.

Her father, celebrating a fake granddaughter’s debut while his real daughter was dying—Diana trembled in rage.

Filth.

She felt like going insane from the fury. From the start, no one had ever cared for her.

It had all been a lie.

Cursing them all in her heart, Diana trudged toward the garden. Her chest still burned, but Ruehli would arrive soon.

“Haa…”

First, she needed to calm this seething rage. She took a deep breath.

And right then, Ruehli appeared before her.

“Sister!”

“…Ruehli.”

Even his sudden appearance didn’t surprise her anymore. Diana offered a faint smile.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

She thought she had composed herself, but Ruehli noticed something was off immediately.

Diana looked up at him. His eyes were full of concern.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yes. Of course.”

Strangely, tears welled up. She turned away, afraid she’d cry if she kept looking into his blue eyes.

She didn’t want her magic tutor to see her cry.

But Ruehli gently grabbed her wrist and asked with a firm expression:

“Why… are you lying?”

“…What?”

She looked back at him. Her head tilted slightly. Her eyes were still covered—how did he know she wasn’t okay?

“Don’t lie to me, Sister.”

“…Ruehli.”

He added in a quiet voice:

“Look at me.”

Unlike all those eyes filled with lies, Ruehli’s blue eyes were endlessly sincere.

But Diana, blindfolded, shouldn’t have been able to see them. She whispered:

“…I can’t see.”

“…You can see.”

“…What?”

“You see everything—right now.”

His words made Diana’s eyes fly wide open.