SWMD 18

Chapter 18

Morning in Allie’s Room

“Allie, are you in?”

Diana knocked gently on Allie’s door. A flurry of noise came from inside before the door swung open.

“Yes, please come in.”

Diana stepped inside, her eyes sweeping over the room. For a doctor’s quarters, it was lavishly furnished—even the trinkets and décor looked expensive.

While some items reflected Diana’s earlier generosity, she suspected much of it came from Calypso—which made her stomach turn.

“Something on your mind so early in the morning?”

“I… I have news to share.”

“News?”

Diana handed Allie a stack of catalogs she’d brought—filled with luxury dresses and jewelry from the capital’s finest boutiques.

Allie’s eyes shone like polished pearls at the sight. Her lips quivered and curled upward—she clearly understood what was happening.

“There’s been an invitation from the Duke of Iverck for a tea party…”

“Yes?”

“I—don’t think I can attend. Would you… go in my stead?”

Allie’s eyes lit up, glistening with desire. She blinked rapidly, obviously overwhelmed with excitement.

Of course—this had surely happened before, too. Allie had posed as the Grand Duchess at a duchess’s tea party, strutting in Diana’s place with her back straight and head held high.

But this time, Diana had no intention of letting her repeat that illusion.

“Ah… am I asking too much?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well… you’re a physician…” Diana said, as if concerned. “…So maybe it’s too much to ask.”

“No! Not at all!” Allie burst out.

Diana shook her head, wearing a bitter expression. Allie quickly interrupted.

“Of course not!” she insisted. “We’re… friends, after all. Your Grace.”

“…Right?”

Hearing those words from her mouth made Diana’s blood run cold. She felt like ink seeping into clear water—malicious thoughts rose in her mind.

Even now, she felt the urge to shut that excited mouth permanently.

“So, uh… what are these?” Allie asked, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. Diana snorted, smiling slightly.

“Oh! I thought I’d let you pick one as a gift, since you’re attending.”

“Oh my…”

Allie spun in joy, though her voice clung to false humility. “Don’t you think wearing such an expensive dress might be… unseemly?”

So she knows her ‘place’. Diana resisted a laugh, composed herself with a soft smile, and said,

“Nonsense. Pick one, mark it for me, and I’ll place the order. You just need to get measured.”

“Thank you so much, Your Grace.”

“It is a duke’s tea party, after all. Something refined and dignified will be best.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Allie eagerly flipped through the catalog, but she lacked any genuine sense of style—having always just mimicked Diana. Now, without any reference, she agonized over her choices.

Finally, she checked her selection with a quill and pushed the marked catalog across to Diana.

“I’ve made my choices, Your Grace.”

“Understood. I’ll have a maid place the order.”

“Thank you.”

Diana left, leaning on her cane, catalog in hand.

Back in Her Room

Diana returned to her own room and opened the catalog to see Allie’s picks.

“Pfft…”

She couldn’t help but laugh. Allie had chosen the most expensive but flamboyantly tasteless designs—hardly elegant or dignified.

No wonder Allie had no real taste—always just copying Diana. Diana clicked her tongue.

At this rate, she might just let Allie attend after all—only to embarrass herself spectacularly.

“But… not yet.”

Her mind already at work. If neither law nor gods punished them, she would do it herself. And each of them would receive punishment suited to their sin.

Looking at Allie’s choices sparked a new idea. Diana stood, and went back to Allie’s room.

Back in Allie’s Room

“Allie?”

“Yes, Your Grace?”

“I forgot to mention—I couldn’t personally deliver this to Catherine. Would you?”

Allie laughed and nodded eagerly.

“Consider it done.”

Catherine’s greed and ambition ran deeper than Allie’s. Diana knew exactly how her daughter’s tiny mind would react upon seeing Allie’s flamboyant selections.

Her plan: create a chink between Catherine and Allie—just wide enough for Diana to slip through.

She would strip Calypso of his riches, humiliate Allie for her desperation to belong, and brand Catherine—a fraud—with her fakeness.

Diana smiled to herself, pleased.

At Catherine’s Room

“Lady Catherine? It’s Allie.”

“Come in.”

Allie, practically buzzing with excitement, entered Catherine’s room. Catherine eyed her curiously.

“Something good happen?”

“Yes! For you, too.”

“For me?”

Catherine’s violet eyes widened. Allie clasped her hands, beaming.

“The Duke of Iverck is hosting a tea party!”

“Really?!”

Catherine’s face lit up—finally, a chance to meet Lord Sawyer in person.

“Kyaa! I’m so happy!”

She jumped from her seat in delight. Allie smiled fondly, her gaze soft.

“But… why are you so happy, Mother?”

Catherine couldn’t help but ask. Allie practically glowed as she answered:

“Diana’s still blind—so I’m going with you.”

“What? Really?”

Catherine’s shock was clear, but her expression cooled.

The Iverck House was one of the capital’s elite. Allie had neither the look nor the social connections for such an event. Catherine worried it would tarnish her image.

“Have you chosen a dress?”

“That fool Diana just handed me a catalog and said she’d pick one.”

Allie snickered into her hand. Catherine frowned and opened the catalog.

“What did you pick?”

“Allley chose… these.”

Catherine’s expression immediately soured.

“You chose these?”

Her mother was perfectly fine—except when it came to fashion. Wearing this would be a guaranteed humiliation. And Catherine didn’t want to be seen with someone wearing that.

“You should rethink this.”

“Why?”

“Honestly…” Catherine’s tone turned cold. “It’s embarrassing.”

“What?!”

Allie’s face flushed red. She knew Catherine was blunt, but she hadn’t expected such an insult from her daughter.

It was harsh—plain humiliation.

“I’ll select one myself.”

“…Fine.”

Even her own daughter disowned her sense of taste.

Catherine had grown differently; her eye for elegance far surpassed her mother’s. But who had made that possible?

Allie had shielded her from being seen as a bastard or a pitiable adoptee. Even so, Allie bit her lip and said nothing more. Parents don’t win fights with their children—no point in arguing.

With quiet resentment in both of their hearts, Allie and Catherine drifted even further apart.

On the Day of the Tea Party

The awaited day had arrived. Allie, ecstatic, put on the dress and jewels Catherine had preselected and headed down to the lobby.

Though they weren’t yet due to depart, she could barely sit still—her gown was magnificent, her jewels sparkled. She felt like the real Grand Duchess.

Admiring herself in the lobby mirror, she beamed… until a knock at the front door echoed through the hall.

A maid hurried past Allie to answer it.

An elderly priest, robed in sacred vestments, stood at the door.

“Who might you be?”

“I’ve come with urgent news for Her Grace, the Grand Duchess.”

He showed his official insignia to the maid, who verified it and let him in. At that moment, Diana descended the staircase, supported by Belinda.

“Your Grace—but there’s a priest—”

“Your Grace!”

The priest hurried to Diana, holding out his hand.

“I have retrieved the lost eyesight drifting in the heavens!”

What? Sight?

Allie stood frozen, her gaze darting between the priest and Diana, her complexion turning ashen.