Chapter 7.
Why Do You Keep Doing This?
“Two million marks?!”
Diabella barely stopped her jaw from dropping.
What kind of necklace is worth 200 million won?
Well, if it’s a family heirloom, maybe it is worth that much… No, no, that’s not the point right now.
Her eyes gleamed as she smiled deeply.
“Ah, I see. But Lady Miles—you certainly seem to know a lot.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
Angeleca, who had expected to corner Diabella, faltered instead when she saw that honey-sweet smile.
“You knew it was a family heirloom. You even knew its value. Quite accurately, too.”
“T-that’s because… the Marchioness told me…”
“Me? I had no idea it was an heirloom. Even the Marquis never told me. How could I possibly have known?”
“……”
Angeleca’s face drained white. She bit her lip and rolled her large eyes desperately, but when her gaze met Raymond’s, tears immediately began to flow.
“Sob… I… I only learned by chance… hic… Was it so wrong to know? Sob…”
Unfortunate, but knowing the facts alone wasn’t enough to condemn her.
Diabella admitted it silently with frustration. Still, thinking back to the poison incident, it was clear Angeleca had fanned the flames of many of Diabella’s past misdeeds.
For example, even if she had known beforehand that the necklace was a family heirloom, she must have hidden it—egging Diabella on to sell it secretly for money.
But even so. Selling the necklace, extorting money from townsfolk with that ridiculous bell tax, and staging the fake poison act when it all came crashing down—those had been Diabella’s own actions.
No matter how much someone pushed her, she could have chosen not to. Instead, stupidly, she committed obvious, shameful crimes that were bound to be exposed.
Ugh. Embarrassing.
To be forced to bear the shame of things she herself hadn’t done, just because she woke up inside this body… And at this pitiful level of scheming? She wanted to bury her head.
“…So then, Marchioness, what do you intend to do with me? Will you beat me or banish me, like you’ve done to others? Sob…”
Angeleca sank to the floor, weeping.
She knows. She knows I can’t really pin the blame on her.
And of course, she couldn’t resist dragging out Diabella’s old sins again in the process. Persistent woman.
Yes, yes, Diabella knew. But it was still unfair.
She gets all the praise for being pure and kind, while secretly stirring things up so I get blamed and hated. In the end, she even swapped the poison so I would die, then took my place as Marchioness, the heroine of the tale. Not so fast.
“I don’t plan to do anything to Lady Miles. But if you knew so much about that necklace, perhaps it would’ve been nice if you’d told me, since we were supposedly close friends. I’m only… a little disappointed, that’s all. Of course, a kind soul like you would never knowingly hide such things from me.”
Diabella dropped her shoulders and trembled her lashes, looking wounded and pitiful, as though truly heartbroken.
Angeleca blinked, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Diabella to respond like this.
What? You’re confused? You were always the only one who played the fragile, pitiful act. Not so fun when I do it too, is it?
Diabella sneered inwardly.
Sure, her reputation was ruined already—too far gone to fully restore. But to just take the money and leave without stirring the waters a little? That felt unsatisfying.
At least toss a pebble into the calm lake. It may not be enough for Raymond to dispose of her, but it’s a start.
With that, Diabella chose to disengage. Leaving Angeleca to cry pathetically on the ground and Raymond staring between them with confusion, she moved on.
“Bring the coachman.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Without a farewell, she turned her back, as if the two weren’t worth another word.
“Wife, please, let me escort you…”
Raymond started after her, but Angeleca stumbled weakly into his path, wiping her tears.
“My lord, may I ride with you? My carriage wheel is unsteady, and I feel faint…”
At that, Diabella let out a sharp laugh through her nose. Such a cheap trick. Not even amusing.
The two of you really do deserve each other. Good luck with that.
She shot Raymond a knowing look before walking away.
“Lady Miles.”
Raymond’s voice was low, but his eyes never left Diabella. He’d seen the meaning in her gaze. He couldn’t allow her to think the same as the townsfolk—that he intended anything improper. It was time to act.
“Yes, my lord?”
Angeleca answered sweetly, voice dripping with charm.
“I will issue your sentence here and now. For daring to endanger the Marchioness, and thereby the entire Marquis’ household, I cannot allow you to go unpunished. By my decree, half the lands bestowed upon the House of Miles shall be returned at once!”
“What?! My lord, I am innocent! Without proof, how can you—”
“Do you dare dispute the Marquis’ command? Shall I take your words as representing your entire house?”
“N-no, not at all! I only meant—”
“You are fortunate I have not stripped your title as well. If further evidence emerges, be prepared to lose not only your rank but your life.”
Angeleca collapsed, weeping louder.
Diabella paused to glance back, but felt no sympathy.
Her gaze met Raymond’s instead—his eyes were cold, ice-like. Yet when they looked at her, they wavered, filled with something she couldn’t understand.
She was a little surprised he punished Angeleca so soon. But so what?
Am I supposed to cry and thank him now?
The guilty being punished was only natural. She turned away without hesitation and climbed into her carriage.
* * *
The next morning—
“Why are there more flower baskets every day?”
Choosing a dress before the mirror, Diabella frowned at the maid struggling with armfuls of flowers. For over a week now, fresh baskets had been delivered daily.
The room was wide, but seven baskets was excessive.
“Oh, my lady, the Marquis sent them! You didn’t know?”
No, she didn’t.
Why was that man sending her flowers? And if he did, couldn’t he at least say so? How was she supposed to know they were gifts?
“I see. I didn’t realize.”
“Isn’t he thoughtful? So devoted—”
“Throw them out.”
“…P-pardon?”
“I don’t keep dying flowers in my room. Take them away.”
“B-but, the Marquis—”
Diabella lowered her eyes slowly, then lifted them again. Her long lashes cast dark shadows.
“Y-yes, at once!”
The maid trembled and dragged all seven baskets away at once, terrified her head might roll.
Not like I’d actually take it, but let her think so.
Diabella snorted softly and turned back to the mirror.
Ah, this face. Perfect. Villainess chic at its finest.
No need to say much. Her very presence made people tremble. A single tilt of her chin sent them fleeing. And they even thanked her for sparing them.
I never knew living as a villainess could be so easy.
She hummed as she examined dresses—pink lace, deep green silk, sky-blue organza…
Anything I wear looks divine. The curse of a beauty.
Just then, a weak knock sounded.
Tok, tok…
“What now? Open it.”
The maid obeyed. And in came… more flowers.
“What? I told you to throw them out!”
Diabella’s voice rose, irritated.
“S-sorry! But the Marquis saw me discarding them and… and—”
“And?”
Her brows drew tight.
“Wh-when he asked why, I had to tell him you dislike withered flowers… So he, um, sent this instead…”
“Good grief. Get in here and explain properly.”
Still trembling in the doorway, the maid set down a massive potted plant—so large it took both arms to hold.
“What’s this now?”
“If you dislike cut flowers, then a living plant… he said… Ack!”
Startled by Diabella’s sudden step forward, the maid yelped and dropped to the floor.
Sniff, sniff.
Diabella bent to smell the plant.
“…Is this poison?”
“N-no! There’s no poisonous plant that looks like this. It just smells sweet.”
The maid attending her followed suit, pretending to sniff the flowers.
Then what was he playing at, sending plants? He clearly didn’t have fond feelings for her. Some kind of coded challenge in this world?
Diabella clenched her fist.
Do I need to march over and demand answers? Ugh. What a hassle.
The maid paled at the sight of her small but determined fist. Then another knock came at the door.
“My lady.”
The butler entered, smiling brightly, holding something in his hands.
“The Marquis has sent you additional funds.”
“…Additional funds?”
