IBHS 3

Chapter : 03

“I’m Lillian Mernard. Thank you for inviting me to such a precious place.”

“I’m Ersivan Valencia. I am also very pleased to welcome a young lady like you.”

After the brief introductions, they exchanged a few meaningless words.

Ersivan then offered to show her around the estate and led Diana along.

“I will have a carriage brought.”

“…A carriage?”

“It would be too much to walk around. What if your delicate feet were to get hurt?”

Diana inwardly felt disgusted at his suggestion. She had just spent several hours riding in a carriage.

At least, thankfully, this one had an open ceiling.

Inside the carriage, she listened as he explained the history and origins of his family.

Since the ducal house was barely over ten years old, the story ended quickly.

“My goal is to lead this family to success as soon as possible. I have committed the unfilial act of giving up the throne, so I must quickly show my parents my success.”

As if amused by himself for speaking so formally about the Emperor and Empress, he ended up laughing.

The Valencia family had been established by Ersivan Demenhardt, a former heir to the throne, after he abandoned it.

People had pointed fingers, saying the Crown Prince had gone mad, but Diana knew something the citizens of the empire did not.

His biological mother, the former Empress, had been dethroned due to the schemes of the current Empress. Her only child, Prince Ersivan Demenhardt, had been left alone in the palace after losing his mother.

Within less than a year, the Emperor remarried. The current Empress entered the palace with her son, Kains Demenhardt, the Second Prince.

Even though she held the position of Empress, it must have been frustrating that her own son could not become the next Emperor.

The Empress kept searching for an opportunity to take away the right of succession—and eventually, she caused an incident.

“My child… if only you weren’t here, my son could rule the world.”

The nine-year-old Ersivan, who had been sleeping quietly, was carried away from the imperial palace by an unknown servant.

That day became the beginning of his misfortune.

Under the Empress’s scheme, the kidnapping completely changed Ersivan’s life.

At only nine years old, he was imprisoned in a remote place for an entire year.

“My son! You’ve returned!”

“E-Ersivan…!”

Voices filled with overwhelming emotions echoed one after another.

The boy, dressed in a miserable state unbefitting a prince, held his parents’ hands and spoke slowly.

“Father… Mother… I will give up my position.”

It was a voice far too strong for a child.

At the age of ten, he barely managed to return alive.

But by then, the current Empress’s power had grown even stronger. Fearing that he might be killed by them, Ersivan ultimately gave up the throne.

‘How bitter… to fear death from your own parents.’

For a moment, Diana thought he was somewhat similar to herself.

The difference was that the Empress had failed, while the Count would succeed in the future—but perhaps that was simply the difference between the main character and a mere extra.

“And I hope it will not only be my goal, but ours as well.”

“…By ‘ours,’ you mean?”

“I am asking for your help, Lady Mernard. I truly need your strength.”

Ersivan answered in a gentler voice.

‘The help of the Mernard family.’

In the year he had become the head of his family for five years—before he even held his coming-of-age ceremony, at fifteen—he proposed to Lillian.

It was because he believed the Mernard family would be of great help to him in the future.

The Count did not know his true intentions, but Diana did.

The real intention hidden behind the word “help.”

Ersivan Valencia’s goal was revenge.

Asking for help was just a plausible excuse—his true aim was to destroy the Count’s family.

Because Count Mernard had been a traitor who joined hands with the current Empress and planned his kidnapping.

Even the imperial family preferred that Ersivan form ties with his supporters. The Count’s family had no choice but to agree to the marriage.

Of course, the benefits of the alliance were enormous, so there was no reason to complain.

“Helping you… that’s all a lie…”

Diana unknowingly muttered her thoughts.

She immediately closed her mouth, not knowing how to fix the situation—but it was already too late.

“Why do you think it’s a lie?”

His voice still held a smile, but faint suspicion could be heard within it.

Fortunately, Diana could handle this much.

“I just wondered… if I could truly be of help to Your Highness. I am only the daughter of a count.”

“Your Highness…?”

It was because of Ersivan.

His hand was gently brushing against her cheek. As she grew flustered, he moved to touch her pale yellow hair.

Was she allowed to ask what his intention was?

Could she even breathe properly right now?

She blinked, unable to answer either question.

“You are too modest. There is no way you wouldn’t be helpful to me.”

“……”

“I do not keep useless people by my side. Saying it like this makes me sound quite cunning… but in any case, do not worry. You will surely be of great help.”

His smiling face was beautiful, but the meaning hidden in his words was terrifying.

‘Yes… I will help you someday—with my death.’

Diana quietly smiled.

Because that was her role… and her fate.

Soon, Ersivan’s hand moved away.

“…We’ve arrived.”

As if he had already expected her gaze, he spoke.

The carriage had stopped.

He stepped down first and extended his hand to escort her.

As she stepped onto the ground, a familiar floral scent drifted through the air.

A sharp headache made her raise her head.

“I heard from Count Mernard that this is your favorite flower, so I prepared this.”

Before her eyes spread a garden full of lilies.

It would have been a breathtaking sight for Lillian.

“…What a wonderful gesture.”

Pretending to be excited, Diana hurried into the garden.

Her headache from the carriage had just started to fade—and now, lilies.

Facing yet another difficulty, she clenched her fists.

“Isn’t it romantic? Lillian, who loves lilies… such a beautiful pair.”

Ersivan followed her into the garden and handed her two lilies.

Even holding just two, the scent was overwhelming.

“You seem uncomfortable.”

“…Not at all. I’m simply so happy that I don’t know how to act.”

He seemed suspicious of her stiff expression.

Diana slowly moved her hand, trying to avoid the scent—but the lilies brushed against her nose again.

She deliberately inhaled the fragrance.

The headache worsened.

Her footing faltered, and she dropped the lilies.

The flowers fell weakly to the ground.

And her body tilted after them.

…It would have been better to avoid overdoing it, even if it meant raising suspicion.

“Seeing you like this, I don’t know what to do.”

Instead of hitting the ground, her body was pulled upward.

Ersivan had grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him.

She naturally leaned into his arms.

A sharp, unfamiliar scent filled her nose.

It felt strangely familiar.

“….”

Diana did not raise her head.

No—she couldn’t.

Her instincts were warning her.

Do not meet Ersivan Valencia’s eyes right now.

If you do, everything—your schemes, your emotions—will be exposed.

“…Thank you.”

Only after calming herself did she speak.

Ersivan shrugged casually, picked up the fallen lilies, and handed them back to her.

She avoided smelling them and instead touched the petals.

“There is something I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Do you have any siblings?”

“…What?”

It was an unexpected question.

To others, it might have seemed trivial—but to Diana, it struck a nerve.

‘Why suddenly?’

He couldn’t possibly not know her family background.

He must be testing something.

‘…At least, he’s not suspicious.’

In the original story, Ersivan never once doubted Diana’s identity.

And the existence of a hidden twin in the Count’s family was a secret known to no one.

It was impossible for an ordinary person to guess.

She smiled calmly and answered.

“I’m afraid I’m an only child. Though I’ve always wished for siblings.”

“I also wished for siblings. Especially an older brother. Being alone is quite lonely.”

His expression was calm, but his voice carried a quiet sadness.

Perhaps his words were sincere.

If he had an older brother, he would have naturally been pushed out of the succession struggle.

And the Empress wouldn’t have been able to harm both heirs so easily.

“Is there a sibling you wished for in particular?”

His voice had already returned to normal.

Looking at him, he appeared as composed and noble as ever.

Was she the only one who had become immersed in the conversation?

“…If I had to choose, I would have wanted an older sister. She would be more mature than me and take better care of our parents.”

“I see.”

He simply nodded, showing little interest.

But then—

“My opinion… is that you would suit having a twin sister quite well.”

His calm expression remained unchanged.

But the words that came from his lips were shocking.