Chapter 71
“Mmm…”
Diana’s eyes shot open. It felt like she had woken from a long dream.
She slowly sat up.
“Huh?”
She was in her own bed. Sunshine peeked through the curtains—she had apparently slept the entire day.
But she had just been with Lueri… Was it all a dream?
She rubbed her eyes in confusion. But the sapphire necklace, still warm from Lueri’s touch, hung around her neck.
She slowly recalled the memories: the restaurant, the boutique, the Magic Tower, and that breathtaking magical view.
And… Lueri had said something serious. But she couldn’t remember what.
Just like when she was with Belinda, her head throbbed. She placed a hand over her heart.
Her heart was racing wildly—like she’d just finished a sprint.
Her eyes drifted to the table beside the bed. There was a beautifully wrapped box of food from the restaurant.
“Lueri…”
He was so kind. She had nothing to give him in return, yet he was always warm and generous.
He was the kind of person she wanted to give everything up for.
She gently brushed the box and stood up to bring it to Aicel.
Then came a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Mother.”
It was Catherine. Diana tilted her head—Catherine didn’t visit unless it involved Sawyer.
“Come in.”
It had only been two days since the party, but Catherine looked noticeably drained.
“You don’t look well. Are you okay?”
Diana asked in a concerned tone, pretending to care. Catherine slumped into a chair and spoke quietly.
“Have you thought about what I said in the carriage?”
“About Alicia?”
“…Yes.”
She must’ve been furious to bring it up again.
“I’m still thinking about it. It’s not something to ignore… but Alicia is my friend.”
Diana rubbed her chin, acting troubled. Catherine frowned slightly at her lukewarm response.
“She embarrassed me in front of everyone—just a doctor, treating a noble like that. And she caused you to faint! This isn’t something you can brush off as a ‘mistake!’”
Catherine had a point. If Alicia were just an ordinary doctor, she would’ve been thrown out immediately.
And honestly, Diana wanted to toss her out just like that.
But she had a bigger plan.
Diana was already thinking of a far more cruel way to destroy Alicia.
She smiled thinly and asked,
“Then what do you suggest we do?”
Let Alicia feel what it’s like to be discarded by a daughter she raised with love.
Diana studied Catherine’s purple eyes.
Catherine hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke:
“I’ll think about how to humiliate her without making you look bad.”
“Good. You’re wiser than I am—I’m sure you’ll come up with something brilliant.”
Catherine returned to her room with slumped shoulders.
Black flames flickered from the corner, and Eclipse‘s voice rang out:
“So, what are you planning?”
“…I’m going to report them.”
“Report?”
Eclipse looked at her with curiosity.
Catherine turned her head slowly.
She was going to blame everything on Alicia.
“I’ll report her affair with my father. That filthy, disgusting affair.”
A cold smirk formed on Catherine’s lips.
Eclipse grinned, satisfied. But he raised an eyebrow with mock concern:
“She’s your real mother. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“She won’t dare admit I’m her daughter anyway.”
Catherine said coolly as she tidied her books.
“Because she loves me.”
“Of course she does.”
“If her affair is exposed, Diana will hate her and kick her out.”
“What if Diana reports the affair to the palace?”
That would be a crime in the Empire.
If Diana, bitter from betrayal, accused Calypso and Alicia publicly, the Grand Duchy of Erenst could collapse.
But Catherine’s face turned cold.
“I don’t care. About my father or her.”
To Catherine, the duchy meant nothing. It was a poor, dying land—barren, underpopulated, heavily taxed.
She had no intention of inheriting a dying title.
All she wanted was the diamond mine from Marquis Pereshte, to marry Sawyer, and become a duchess.
To go from fake to real. That was her only goal.
She had once believed Alicia would help her achieve that—but now she saw Alicia as useless.
“All I need is Diana. She’s the one who’ll make me a duchess.”
Catherine, who had once mocked and discarded her fake mother, was now preparing to abandon her real one… even more cruelly.
Eclipse grinned, sharp teeth flashing in the firelight.
Meanwhile, Diana sat quietly, staring at the spot Catherine had left.
Catherine didn’t look conflicted—she looked determined.
No matter what she planned, Alicia would be deeply hurt.
Diana chuckled bitterly. She and Catherine shared no blood. But Alicia… she was Catherine’s real mother.
To be betrayed by your own daughter… it must hurt even worse than what Diana had gone through.
She sipped her tea slowly, wondering what plan Catherine would bring back.
“Your Grace, it’s Milan.”
Diana set her cup down.
“Come in.”
Her eyes went to what Milan was holding: a large package wrapped in parchment.
“You got a delivery.”
“A delivery?”
Diana opened it with a knife.
Inside was a potted plant.
“It’s finally here.”
It was the Laurel Bender, a new type of plant she’d requested from Marquis Pereshte.
Seeds and bulbs were packed inside.
“What kind of plant is that?” Milan asked, tapping one of the small purple flowers.
“You should wash your hands, Milan.”
“Huh?”
“It’s poisonous.”
“Gah! I’ll go wash them now!”
Milan ran off in a panic. Diana giggled at her reaction.
She carefully lifted the plant like it was a treasure.
And it was—this plant would ruin Calypso.
Perfect timing. Alicia had just made a big mistake at the Duke of Aiberg’s estate.
If she brought this rare and profitable plant to Calypso now, it would tip the scales in her favor—even if it meant betraying the Marquis, which Calypso despised.
Diana smiled slyly and headed to Calypso’s office.
“Darling, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
Calypso looked up from his papers. His face lit up when he saw the plant.
He’s getting desperate now, Diana thought, sitting gracefully on the couch.
Calypso jumped to welcome her.
“What’s that?”
“The new plant I mentioned. I also got the seeds.”
“This is…!”
Calypso’s eyes gleamed with greed.
He tried to suppress his excitement with a cough.
“Ahem… Are you sure about this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t this betraying your father?”
He was still scared of the Marquis.
Diana smiled sweetly.
“What’s more important? My father, or my husband?”
“After all, my last name isn’t Pereshte—it’s Erenst.”
Calypso was moved.
He had never heard her say something like that before.
She had always respected her father above all.
But now… she was willing to betray him—for Calypso.
“You…”
Diana continued brightly:
“My father trusts me. If I keep bringing him ideas like this, reviving Erenst won’t be a dream.”
She smiled like an angel.
To Calypso, she looked like his savior.
Compared to Alicia, who always caused trouble, Diana was far more useful.
He had discarded her once for a mining contract—but now he was beginning to see her true value.
Calypso grabbed her hand.
“You’re the only one I need.”
“Naturally.”
Diana could practically see his greedy little thoughts.
Even if he and Catherine abandoned Alicia now, he wouldn’t stop her.
Diana stared at him coldly.
Alicia is first. Then you, Calypso.
Their eyes met—and Diana gave him a dazzling smile.
He smiled back, suspecting nothing.
And that made Diana smile even more.
