Chapter : 12
After the lesson ended, Diana continued asking questions.
She asked mainly about what the horses ate as snacks, and how to build trust and bond with them, among other things.
It seemed that she really enjoyed the lesson.
“I’m glad you seemed to enjoy it. Honestly, I was a little worried.”
“Are there any other lessons?”
“Well, it’s not my responsibility, but… I heard that Your Highness requested another lesson.”
“I’d like to know what kind of lesson it is.”
The lady explained confidently, reporting the information she had overheard: there were two options. One was magic, and the other was swordsmanship.
It seemed easier to handle magic than to hold a sword. Diana chose magic without hesitation.
“Magic! Well, magic does sound more interesting. Shall I give you a small test secretly?”
“…A test? Is it difficult?”
“No, not at all. It’s a very simple test—you just need to close your eyes!”
The lady waved her fingers left and right to reassure Diana.
Curiosity taking hold, Diana agreed and closed her eyes as instructed.
“Please allow me to hold your hand.”
The lady gently held Diana’s hand.
“Now, think about what a fantasy is in your mind.”
“Fantasy…?”
“For example, the future you dream of, or things you dream about even though you know they won’t happen.”
A future that won’t happen, yet one you dream of.
For Diana, a future like a mirage was a life recognized by everyone.
Not the life of an impersonator, but as Diana Mernard herself.
“It’s finished.”
Following the lady’s guidance, Diana opened her eyes one after another. Her senses were dulled by the sudden light, so it took some time to adjust to reality.
She glanced at the lady, whose expression seemed dark for some reason.
Before she could ask if something was wrong, the lady quickly brightened.
“Ah, I see. I realize now that Your Highness already decided this, so I might have conveyed the information incorrectly. I’m so sorry.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. But since Lady Mernard wishes to learn magic, as soon as she is free, the lessons will start.”
The lady pouted, blaming her inexperienced self in the past.
Diana reassured her, forgetting a sudden question that had come to mind, simply agreeing.
With some free time, the two decided to visit the swordsmanship training hall.
The lady cheerfully opened the hall’s door but quickly muttered in a troubled voice:
“I never imagined Your Highness would be here.”
The familiar title caught Diana’s eyes. At the end of her gaze stood Ersivan.
She remembered Daisy had said she skipped lunch for training today.
“I unexpectedly spent the whole day at the training hall.”
“Not for work, but training? And today was the first lesson! How can you be so careless?”
The lady, pretending to be Diana, scolded as if it were her own outrage.
She said a fiancé should always attend the first lesson of his fiancée, cheer her on, and support her morale. What seemed like a simple scolding kept going on.
Ersivan quietly listened to her speech. Normally, he would have dismissed her immediately, but he didn’t.
“Were you upset that I didn’t come?”
“Huh?”
After the lady’s lecture ended, Diana wanted to clarify. Ersivan and the lady both looked at her. Their expressions urged her to answer.
‘Upset?’
As a contractual marriage, their relationship was fragile. Yet the daughter of a count dared to express dissatisfaction to Ersivan, a small sun of the empire and a duke.
“No…”
Diana tried to deny it, but then hesitated. She worried that denying it outright would embarrass the lady, who had gone out of her way for her.
She decided to choose the safe middle path.
“Yes. A little… I did hope you would come.”
Lying is easy, but strangely, speaking a harmless lie to him felt awkward.
“I wondered who might come. Next time, I will surely accompany you.”
Ersivan promised for the future.
‘No need to come…’
It was an unexpected promise. Diana wanted to reveal her true feelings—that her opinion was not the same as the lady’s!
But he was Ersivan Valencia, famous for never reversing a decision. Even if she confessed later, he would likely treat it as a joke.
“It’s just a little childish wish. You don’t need to take time from your busy schedule.”
“I’m not so busy that I would leave my fiancée alone, don’t worry.”
“No, it’s fine. Just, if you happen to think of me, you could come by for a moment.”
Diana weakly tried to push him away.
“If that happens, the lady will be troubled. There would be two students in the lesson.”
“What do you mean…?”
“She will think about it every time.”
Even when being playful, he seemed seductive. His smooth voice made her shiver.
‘More flattering words…’
He was the best at pretending. Diana glared at him, and he replied cheekily:
“Isn’t that right?”
She almost imagined ears perking up above her head, or a tail wagging behind.
“You’ve worked hard. I’ll take charge of the lessons from now on.”
Ersivan ended the conversation abruptly, held Diana’s shoulders, and turned her to face forward.
Diana blinked, facing the lady unexpectedly.
“Oh! Today, Your Highness is teaching Lady Diana himself?”
“Since my precious fiancée felt upset, I must make an effort too.”
The lady’s expression brightened, but Diana’s face darkened.
“Evan, I want to talk with the lady a little more.”
“You’ll see her again, don’t worry.”
“But I’m not ready to let her go yet.”
“Then we shall do it now.”
Diana tried to resist but was immediately overruled.
“Greet her. Since you are not ready, I will give you the time to see her off.”
“I said I’m not ready, not that I wanted to.”
“Surely you won’t ignore my sincerity.”
“….”
“I want to spend the rest of the afternoon with you.”
The more she tried to avoid it, the deeper the trap became.
“Right, madam?”
The final blow. Diana trembled at the faint, embarrassing word behind her.
Whether it referred to the lady in front of them or was a title for her, she didn’t know.
Diana surrendered, failing to free herself from Ersivan’s trap.
“…I enjoyed today.”
“Truly! I’m looking forward to the next lesson!”
“Thank you for giving me your precious time. I’ll be more prepared next time.”
She sent signals to the lady across, still holding hope, but the lady seemed not to notice.
“Shall we go in?”
Diana, resigned, asked to move first but was stopped.
“Ah, you don’t need to enter the training hall.”
She turned her head in disbelief. His expression said: ‘If not here, where will you learn swordsmanship?’
Ersivan laughed, unable to hide his expression.
“Since it’s the first lesson, wouldn’t it be better for just the two of us?”
“Watching others practice could help too.”
“No. Being alone is better. We can look around the hall later.”
“…On what basis?”
He looked straight at her. Her white skin under neatly tied hair, the gentle lines visible under her shirt—though her outfit was simple, it drew attention.
Most of the hall was men, so he didn’t want her inside.
“Actually, I just wanted to get some fresh air outside.”
“…Alright. Then please show me the way.”
“I will do it wholeheartedly.”
Her downcast face and weak steps showed she had been looking forward to the hall.
He had no intention of changing his mind.
