Chapter 49
“Your Highness, the Duchess, this is Belinda.”
“Come in.”
Belinda entered Diana’s room, carrying a bundle of letters. Diana, who had been reading books about dark magic, shifted her gaze to the letters.
Normally, it was Shane who brought the letters, not Belinda. Diana, puzzled, spoke up.
“There are a lot of letters.”
“Yes. There are some letters that Your Highness might like.”
Might like? Belinda neatly arranged the stack of letters and handed them to Diana.
Diana took the topmost letter, an elegant dark blue invitation, and examined it from front to back.
The sender was the Duke of Aiberg.
“It’s from the Duke of Aiberg. Thank you, Belinda.”
“Of course.”
Belinda gave a slight bow and left the room.
Had time passed already? Thinking about it, around this time, the Duke’s mansion would usually host a grand banquet. Diana didn’t even need to open the invitation to know.
It was most likely the birthday banquet of the Duke of Aiberg, which she, having been blinded, could not attend.
In the past, Alicia would accompany Catherine as her guardian. And she did so with Calypso.
Even though Alicia had claimed to be a close friend, she had allowed herself to go with her husband. Diana couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of frustration and embarrassment at her own ignorance and foolishness.
“Huff…”
Diana let out a deep sigh. If she could, she would have liked to slap the old version of herself.
But things were different now. Her sight was restored, and she no longer considered Alicia as a friend.
“What should I do?”
Diana idly spun the rim of her teacup, and a thought seemed to occur to her. A small smile appeared at the corners of her lips.
“Did you call for me?”
At Diana’s call, Catherine quickly approached. Her cheeks were oddly flushed.
It was no surprise, as Catherine already knew that the Duke’s birthday banquet was approaching.
She had attended last year and seen him from afar, though she hadn’t spoken a word.
But this time was different. She had magic and Eclipt. With that, she felt that there was nothing she couldn’t achieve.
“Yes, I called you because I have something to tell you.”
“Something to tell me?”
Even though she knew exactly what Diana was about to say, Catherine feigned ignorance, her eyes wide.
Clever, Diana thought. She took her time before responding, and Catherine swallowed nervously, waiting for Diana to speak. Diana slowly and deliberately began.
“Next week, there will be the Duke of Aiberg’s birthday banquet.”
“Oh, really?”
Despite already knowing, Catherine responded in an overly enthusiastic tone, as if hearing it for the first time.
“Yes. This time, shouldn’t you try to get in the Duke’s good graces?”
“Of course! I’m confident, Mother!”
“Good. If my lovely daughter were to become the Duchess of Aiberg, that would be wonderful.”
Of course, not the fake daughter, but my real one.
Diana smiled gently, hiding her unspoken words.
“If that happens, I’ll be truly happy!”
Catherine’s face lit up with joy. She blushed deeply and eagerly ran towards Diana.
“Yes. You’d truly be happy.”
Diana’s hand gently ran through Catherine’s silvery hair, just like Calypso’s. However, her expression was as cold as ice, as if frost had descended on the room.
At that moment, a knock echoed.
“Mother, it’s Aicelle.”
“…Aicelle?”
“Come in.”
Catherine shot a look of disbelief at Aicelle as she entered the room.
Was she planning to bring that girl to the Duke’s birthday banquet too?
Their eyes met as Aicelle passed her, and Aicelle flashed a small, mocking smile.
“You wanted to speak with me.”
“Yes. I just told Catherine the same thing.”
“Mother, are you…?”
“What do you mean, are you? Aicelle is the Princess of Erenst, so of course, she should attend.”
Catherine’s mouth dropped open. Her excitement at the thought of meeting the Duke had turned to anger as she flushed bright red.
She wanted to throw a tantrum and prevent Aicelle from attending right then and there.
“But…”
Just as Catherine was about to argue, someone grabbed her shoulder.
‘Enough.’
A low voice echoed in her mind. It was Eclipt. He appeared only in her vision, having restrained her.
‘Eclipt?’
‘Now is not the time to get angry. Hold back.’
‘But…’
‘Hold back.’
Eclipt’s crimson eyes burned with intensity.
‘Handle this flexibly. It won’t do you any good to act out now. Besides, this works in your favor, not Aicelle’s.’
‘In my favor?’
‘Unlike you, Aicelle doesn’t know anyone in the social circles, right?’
At Eclipt’s words, Catherine’s furrowed brow slowly relaxed.
He was right. She clearly had the upper hand.
Though Catherine hadn’t yet made her debut, she had acquaintances from tea parties and balls she had attended with her mother.
Compared to that, Aicelle, raised as a maid, had no connections.
‘Right. I see now.’
‘Use that, Catherine.’
This could be an opportunity. A chance to cut Aicelle out of society before she even made her debut.
‘You’re a genius, Eclipt.’
Catherine’s lips, which had been about to scream, were now shut tight. Diana observed her with sharp eyes.
She had expected Catherine to throw a tantrum, but to her surprise, Catherine’s reaction was calm.
“What were you about to say, Catherine?”
“…Nothing. Of course, Aicelle should go. We’re sisters now.”
Diana and Aicelle locked eyes. Ever since the last time, Catherine had been acting as though she was receiving some advice, behaving more wisely than usual.
Was it the presence of the demon that Eclipt mentioned? Diana narrowed her eyes, studying Catherine.
However, Diana’s magic could not pinpoint the presence of the demon clearly. It was just an odd, unsettling feeling around Catherine.
“Thank you for saying that, Catherine.”
Aicelle firmly grasped Catherine’s hands and smiled playfully. Catherine returned the smile, though it was not genuine.
Both of them were likely thinking the same thing.
They felt like throwing up.
“Of course, sister.”
Catherine emphasized the word “sister” with extra force.
“I’m really looking forward to attending the banquet with you.”
Aicelle, too, did not back down. Her smile was soft, but her eyes were cold. It felt as though sparks were flying between them.
“Yes, you made a good decision. You two get along well, that’s wonderful. Oh, by the way, Catherine.”
Diana continued to watch them, then turned to Catherine with a question.
“Yes?”
“You’re very fond of Alicia, so I was thinking of taking her with us. What do you think?”
Catherine’s face immediately froze.
In that instant, Diana didn’t need to hear her answer to know. Catherine’s feelings for Alicia had reached a breaking point.
Ah, so now you realize. Alicia is of no help to you.
“The doctor?”
“Yes. She’s my friend, but you’re especially fond of her, right? Of course, she didn’t receive an invitation from the Duke’s family, but if she comes with us, it should be fine.”
Catherine closed her mouth tightly. Taking her mother wouldn’t benefit her at all. She’d be lucky if she wasn’t gossiped about as the unmarried daughter of a baron.
She didn’t know why she ever thought her mother, the doctor, was so impressive. Now, looking back, she realized she was just an insignificant person.
Maybe she should’ve insisted on saying that her mother wasn’t Alicia, but Diana.
Catherine’s eyes flickered, and they met Diana’s.
With her shiny blonde hair, beautiful emerald eyes, elegant dress, and jewels, Diana stood in stark contrast to Alicia, a mere doctor.
Though Alicia wore a fine dress, she still couldn’t do anything by herself.
Her bloodline was fundamentally different from Diana’s.
Moreover, Alicia’s sense of style was completely lacking. If Catherine hadn’t helped her choose her dress, she would have been laughed at at the party.
“…I see.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s fine.”
“Fine? You were always asking to bring Alicia before.”
“No, it doesn’t seem appropriate. It’s not an official event, it’s a private birthday party.”
“I see.”
Diana couldn’t help but smile. When Alicia had begged to go, crying that she wasn’t a noble, Catherine had been full of pity for her. Now, she was discarding her own mother because Alicia wasn’t useful to her.
Catherine’s attitude changed as easily as flipping a coin. How could someone so young be this cruel?
Diana felt as though Catherine had become pure evil, with not a single speck of light. Perhaps more so than Alicia.
That must be why she could summon demons. Diana chuckled bitterly. She still hated the girl, but there was also sadness. What had made her this way?
Catherine’s world seemed to be crumbling beneath her, teetering dangerously on the edge.
“Well, as you say, let’s go together. Since it’s next week, pick out your dress and jewels.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“…Yes.”
Catherine and Aicelle bowed and left the room. Diana was left deep in thought, stroking her chin.
Then, she headed toward Alicia’s room. Diana stood in front of her door and knocked.
“Alicia. I’ll come in.”
Alicia looked even more exhausted than before. It seemed she had received a scolding from Catherine.
“…Oh, Your Highness. What brings you here?”
“Oh, just worried about you.”
“Worried?”
Alicia widened her eyes in surprise at the unexpected words from Diana.
Worried? Lately, they hadn’t spoken much. Alicia had been too wrapped up in Catherine’s issues, things she couldn’t share with anyone.
Alicia, perhaps unwittingly, touched her face as if to hide the concern.
“Worried, what do you mean?”
“Your relationship with Catherine. Isn’t it bad lately?”
At Diana’s words, Alicia’s pupils shifted uneasily.
“How do you…?”
Diana smiled, not answering. Instead, she looked at Alicia with a gaze full of concern.
It seemed Catherine had completely turned away from Alicia. Now, it was time to shake her up.
