Chapter 07
―“Come to the terrace that overlooks the city gates tomorrow morning.”
Following his instructions, Diana went out to the terrace as soon as the morning sun rose. All the day’s official matters had been brought to the terrace.
“Jerome, what time does Lord Ian usually arrive?”
She asked Jerome while reviewing documents, though her eyes kept glancing toward the city gates.
“Lord Ian? Were you… waiting for Lord Ian?”
Jerome’s expression finally changed from puzzlement to something closer to anger.
“Your Highness, you and Lord Ian Leheights… what exactly is your relationship? Come to think of it, weren’t you two alone together at the last ball?”
“We’re not… anything.”
“But…”
“No. There’s nothing like that. Not in this life, anyway.”
Having answered so decisively, she noticed Ian entering the city gates and immediately stood up.
“He’s really Ian…”
“Then it must be a fake Ian, right? Your Highness! Your Highness!”
Recognizing Ian, she quickly dashed from the terrace into her room. Jerome’s flustered voice followed behind her, but she hastily threw on an overcoat over her dress and rushed outside.
Once inside the city gates, the palace’s many buildings opened up into a complex maze of paths. Even those familiar with the palace could get lost—the grounds were vast and intricate.
Worried she might miss him, Diana’s hurried footsteps echoed her anxious heart.
She ran across the royal gardens toward the central courtyard. Circling the central garden led to a walkway connecting the Foreign Affairs Office and the stables. Turning right there would take her straight to…
“Your Highness, Diana!”
Only then did Diana stop running. Ian was approaching her on horseback.
It seemed he had expected her to come to this spot. He brought his horse to a halt in front of her and gracefully dismounted.
“I intended to come to where you were, but I didn’t expect you to run toward me like this.”
“Ha… thankfully we didn’t miss each other. But… how did you…?”
“I saw you leave the terrace in a hurry. I thought you’d take this path.”
“You seem quite familiar with the palace. The gardens are large, so it could’ve been confusing.”
“Perhaps it sounds strange, but… the palace has always felt somewhat familiar to me. Walking through the gardens brings me peace, so I often stroll here.”
“….”
Her words seemed meaningful, and Diana stared at Ian intently, though he appeared to misunderstand her intentions.
“Ah! I forgot to introduce him properly. This is Yan.”
Yan had been watching Diana the entire time.
“…Yan.”
She cautiously called his name.
“Try petting him. He’s not very gentle, but he’s still a good companion.”
Diana slowly approached Yan and extended her hand, her heart fluttering nervously.
Yan nudged her hand with his nose first, then let out a happy snort as if greeting her.
“He’s not usually this affectionate…”
Ian spoke, startled.
Yan went further, licking Diana’s hand and face like a dog.
Could Yan recognize Diana?
“…Yan.”
It truly felt like he did, and Diana hugged him tightly, tears threatening to fall.
She remembered the last time with Yan vividly. The night she was taken as a prisoner to the Kargen Empire, Yan had blocked the carriage carrying her. That had been their final moment together.
She could never forget it—the white neck of Yan falling helplessly that night…
“I’m sorry…”
She murmured, holding Yan close.
In response, Yan blew warm air onto her forehead, as if telling her it was okay, that he had missed her.
Feeling Ian’s gaze, Diana quickly wiped away the tears clinging to her eyes.
“His words sound so much like mine… He’s truly a gentle soul.”
Diana stroked Yan’s mane affectionately, and Yan continued leaning toward her, unwilling to leave her side.
“He must have been very precious to you.”
“Yes… I had forgotten, but as a child, I was afraid of horses.”
Jerome’s earlier words—that Diana disliked horses—were not wrong. Had she not met Yan, she might still have been afraid.
“Thanks to him, I learned to love other horses too. He really was a precious friend…”
Diana recalled the days in her past life when little Yan, unusually small and pure, had been a gift from young Ian.
At first, Yan hadn’t been obedient, but over time, he had willingly become a part of her life. In her previous life, Yan had loved Diana more than anyone.
“Thank you for bringing Yan back.”
“Seeing Your Highness smile brings me greater joy.”
Ian’s smile seemed genuine, warm, and effortless.
At that moment, a cold, expressionless woman approached. Her formal suit made her tall stature even more imposing.
It was Natasha, the king’s aide.
“Your Highness, I’m here to escort you.”
“Natasha.”
“The king is waiting.”
Diana patted Yan one last time and nodded toward Natasha.
“Thank you for today, Lord Ian.”
Ian gave a gentle smile and nodded in response.
“….”
Natasha seemed to watch Ian quietly.
Following Natasha, Diana went to the king’s office.
“Have you called for me, Your Majesty?”
King Isabella turned from the large arched window overlooking the capital as Diana’s voice reached her. She gave a small smile. The deep sapphire eyes, emblematic of the Ahiel dynasty, shone with unwavering strength.
Diana thought that one day she, too, might face the world with eyes so resolute. It seemed natural—there was a resemblance between them.
A cool breeze swept in through the open window, causing Isabella’s long, neatly bound golden hair to sway gently.
“Lately, the weather’s been nice. I was thinking of taking a walk with my niece, but Natasha absolutely forbade it.”
“Today’s schedule is full. Perhaps in a couple of weeks, there will be time.”
Natasha’s rigid answer made Isabella chuckle, the lines around her eyes deepening. But her age of sixty did nothing to diminish her beauty.
In her youth, she had been renowned as the most beautiful and strong woman on the continent. Now, she was wise as well, a true queen.
“Your Majesty, leave the documents to me.”
Natasha reached for the thick stack of papers in the queen’s right arm. It seemed as heavy as several bricks.
“No need.”
Yet Isabella brushed the stack aside with only her right hand.
Diana’s eyes drifted to where Isabella’s left arm should have been.
During the reign of the previous king, Isabella had led the Erdenian forces against Kargen as a general. In her final battle, she secured a great victory, but had lost her left arm to the Kargen emperor.
“Why… do you look at her with pity?”
Noting Diana’s gaze, Isabella chuckled softly.
“It’s not as you think.”
Diana couldn’t bear to look directly at her. She kept remembering that final battle, the enemies who had shattered the kingdom—Kargen’s crown prince and Duke Promess.
Even with that formidable right arm, she could not stop their treachery.
“Still, it’s fortunate that the right arm remains to sign decrees. Isn’t that so, Natasha?”
Isabella spoke cheerfully. Natasha, however, remained cold and stern, never laughing even at the queen’s grim joke.
Seated on her throne, Isabella embodied Erden itself. Her presence demanded reverence, and her nobility overflowed.
“The crown prince will return soon.”
She spoke not as Diana’s aunt, but as the ruler of Erden.
“He will return in time for the coming coming-of-age ceremony next year. Therefore, the princess shall leave this country as soon as she is crowned Crown Princess. Prepare for the journey accordingly.”
“….”
Diana found it hard to speak. Though she had anticipated this command, and had rehearsed her response countless times, she still struggled.
Clenching her fists, she took a deep breath.
“I wish to stay in the kingdom.”
“……Are you defying tradition?”
Isabella’s voice echoed low and solemn through the vast office.
“You know the law—having both the crown prince and princess in the kingdom simultaneously is forbidden.”
Erden had a longstanding law of succession: the first prince and first princess were each crowned at the coming-of-age ceremony at age twenty, sharing equal rank.
The original intent was to pit the heirs against each other to choose a more capable ruler.
Over time, however, the essence was often lost to power struggles. Nobles formed factions, manipulating and even coercing family members to murder one another. Gradually, younger heirs were taught to yield to the elder heir.
Diana was being ordered to leave for the same reason—to strengthen the crown prince Louis, and for her own safety.
“You know well what your father did at my coronation. You know what that meant.”
Diana understood perfectly.
He had sworn loyalty to Isabella to survive, specifically to support her faction. At the coronation, he knelt and kissed the queen’s foot, a humiliating act that ensured the safety of Louis and Diana, allowing them to grow up unharmed in their homeland.
“If you remain here, it will be seen as defiance against the crown prince. Can you handle the chaos that will follow?”
Diana knew Louis’ potential—he was devoted and a brilliant strategist. But…
If she left Erden now, she could not prevent war. As in her past life, all would fall to ruin, leaving her alone.
“I do not intend to oppose the crown prince.”
Diana raised her head this time, meeting Isabella’s gaze without flinching.
“I simply do not wish to live with regrets.”
