Chapter 09
The view from inside the palace was entirely different from what she saw now. In the distance, the Naka Plains stretched beyond the capital, visible in a single sweep. Even sitting quietly, the crisp night air seemed to fill Diana’s lungs.
Warm amber lights spread across the city’s nooks and crannies like branches stretching outward as darkness settled. Diana quietly took in the peaceful and beautiful scenery of Erden.
“Your Highness, have you ever been down to the town?”
Ian, already seated beside her, tapped her gently as he asked.
“I’ve been a few times. But only when there were events, traveling by carriage, so I can’t say I know it well.”
Pressed by him, Diana sat down beside him.
“Hm, then… ah, do you see that flower shop?”
To make it easier for her to see, Ian moved closer to Diana and pointed toward the distant shop.
“That shop sells almost every type of flower, regardless of the season. You should visit sometime. It’ll be a feast for your eyes and nose. Oh! And you must also check out that bakery. The baker comes up with new breads every week and has never failed. But they sell out fast, so you’ll need to go early. And that alleyway clothing shop… you’d better avoid the owner if possible…”
Diana watched Ian excitedly as he spoke.
Through his explanation, the blooming Erden looked truly beautiful. By day, it was full of people’s energy; by night, the Elten River, glittering with starlight, watched over the sleeping city.
“You speak as if you truly care for this country,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful place,” Ian replied with a gentle smile.
“…”
Following his gaze, Diana lingered on the beauty of her kingdom. She thought again of the man whose sincerity she could never fully read and of the heavy responsibilities resting on her shoulders.
“I’m glad I came with you.”
At that, Diana looked at Ian. She felt as though he had been watching her the whole time, though she wasn’t sure when it had started.
“….”
She recalled the moment earlier when she had unconsciously held his hand.
The warmth of his hand still lingered vividly.
Had she loved him for too long? That instinct was not easy to break.
She had never thought it would be easy. Yet she knew—eventually, she would have to let him go. Just as he had.
“…Let’s head back now.”
She stood first.
“This time, I’ll ride in front.”
“…Are you sure?”
Diana raised an eyebrow as if to ask what he meant.
“I heard from the stablemaster that Your Highness hasn’t ridden a horse before. If you’re afraid, I’ll teach you slowly.”
“Hm?”
As if her pride had been wounded, Diana’s eyebrows twitched. Then, without hesitation, she folded up her skirt.
Ignoring Ian’s surprise, she secured the shorter skirt length with the ribbon at her waist and, like a feather, effortlessly swung herself onto Yan.
“What are you waiting for? Aren’t you riding?”
She held out her hand to the startled Ian.
“Hold on tight.”
“Eh?”
“Let’s go, Yan!”
As soon as Ian mounted, Diana skillfully pulled the reins. Yan surged forward with more strength than when Ian had ridden.
Ian, panicked that she might fall, instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.
But Diana laughed freely, letting the wind rush past her.
Racing down along the ridges, she took in the dazzling view of Erden beyond the walls once again.
For a fleeting moment, she felt complete freedom, wishing it could last forever. She had a premonition this moment would linger in her memory for a long time.
“Do I look like someone afraid of riding now?”
At that moment, Ian thought he saw something shining in her.
“….”
Without realizing it, his grip on her waist tightened.
The next morning, in Diana’s study, the only sound was the occasional rustle of her turning the newspaper pages.
But she couldn’t concentrate fully, feeling a gaze piercing through her.
Her eyebrows twitched, and she finally set the newspaper down.
“Ah, I’m sorry!”
Yet Jerome remained sullen, refusing to say a word. He was protesting that she had escaped from him yesterday.
Sighing, Diana rested her head deeply against the sofa.
“If you weren’t going to accept an apology, why are you even here? You have no schedule today. If you’re bored, go meet people. Date someone, or whatever.”
“Date someone? Why are you suddenly telling me to date? You never even brought up such topics before… Wait. Could it be, Your Highness, are you talking about Ian?”
“Why suddenly Ian? I never said that.”
“If not, then why did you order an investigation into him? Suspicious.”
“So, you checked?”
Diana asked casually, pretending it was no big deal.
“Yes. It turns out he’s not adopted but a child born out of wedlock.”
“…What does that mean?”
“Ian is a bastard of the Leheights family. According to information, people had long questioned his birth. The Leheights are southern nobles, but he, oddly, looks like a northerner with pale skin and black hair. Rumors were rampant. I thought he might have been adopted, but no adoption record exists. Southern sources confirm he’s definitely a child born out of wedlock. That emerald green eye of his matches the duke perfectly.”
“That can’t be… Ian isn’t from Erden, he’s from the Karghen Empire, and his father is clearly the Duke of Promes.”
In his previous life, he had approached the Erden royal family by being adopted into a high-class family as a child. This time, he likely used the same method to enter the kingdom.
Yet he was supposedly a bastard of the Leheights family?
“Would a family like the Leheights, who value honor above life, let a rumor about their child born out of wedlock circulate?”
It seemed the Leheights were hiding something.
“Your Highness,” Jerome, watching Diana deep in thought, suddenly asked, “do you want me to date?”
“What? No, you just keep bothering me even on my day off. I thought you were a workaholic.”
“I have never bothered Your Highness. And when does a secretary get a day off? You have to give it officially…”
“Fine. You can go home right now.”
“….”
Jerome ignored her, dusting off the window sill. Then he muttered faintly as if to himself:
“Anyway, I don’t meet just anyone.”
Diana gave him a look and then returned to her newspaper.
“…You won’t meet anyone. At all.”
Watching him murmur wistfully while staring out the window, she thought he looked a bit pitiful but didn’t comment.
“I’ll attend the Academy Polo event next week,” she said, handing him the newspaper.
“Huh?”
“To this,” she said, pointing to the third page.
“The university will hold a charity polo match to commemorate the founding of the Royal University… You’re going?”
“Why are you so fixated on these things these days?” Jerome asked in disbelief.
“I’ve always liked horses.”
Diana answered lightly, though her real purpose was not simply attending a polo match.
She planned to appear publicly as much as possible—not as the younger sister of Crown Prince Louis, but as Diana, the soon-to-be Crown Princess. She wanted people to remember her, so her voice would carry weight that even the emperor and nobles could not ignore.
Time passed quickly, and the day of the event arrived.
Diana freed her morning schedule and headed to the Royal University earlier than the match time. She intended to visit Gilrode’s laboratory on campus.
Soon, a familiar building appeared—the royal pharmaceutical research building.
“Your Highness!”
Though her visit was unplanned, Gilrode welcomed Diana warmly.
“You used to come often as a child. I felt neglected all this time.”
“I didn’t want to disturb you, Master,” Diana replied.
Seeing the research lab, which had changed little since her childhood, Diana felt a sense of nostalgia.
Rows of pharmaceutical books filled the shelves, and various medicinal herbs were neatly organized. The lab was impeccably maintained under his careful hands.
Looking around at the focused researchers, Diana noticed someone missing.
“What about Ash? I don’t see him.”
She thought of Ash, the lead researcher.
Since his trainee days, he would turn pale as if covered in gray dust whenever exams approached. People called him Ash.
“He’s gone north to study local flora. I need to stay close to the Emperor,” Gilrode replied.
“Thank you, as always, for your efforts.”
Instead of answering verbally, Gilrode patted Diana’s hand and smiled.
“What medicine are you preparing now?”
Diana asked, looking at the fine white powder before him.
“It’s for reducing coughs. The main ingredient is extracted from a herb called Dalis.”
He carefully measured the ingredients and ground them into a fine, glossy white powder.
Seeing it, Diana recalled that the medicine the Queen Isabella took had a similar sheen.
“How is Her Majesty’s condition these days?”
Before the war with Karghen, the Queen’s illness had worsened. Diana wished she could intervene before it got worse.
“Ah, you can’t fool me, Your Highness. This is medicine for the Emperor. His cough has worsened.”
“Shouldn’t we make more? Before it gets worse?”
Diana frowned at the small amount.
But Gilrode shook his head firmly.
“Medicines must be handled carefully. Overuse can lead to resistance. All treatment requires patience.”
She reluctantly nodded, though her worry persisted.
“Time flies when I’m with you, Master,” Diana said, checking the time.
“It’s the same for me. Heading straight to the stadium?”
“Word must have reached you, I suppose?”
“Ah, I’m sure the students already know. People are more interested in you than you think,” Gilrode replied with a cheerful smile, escorting her to the lab’s main entrance.
“Let’s head straight to the stadium.”
Jerome, waiting outside, asked, “Not with the dean?”
“I’m uncomfortable these days.”
“You speak as if you’ve ever been comfortable,” she said, glaring at him.
Jerome shrugged.
Arriving at the stadium, Diana marveled at the wide-open view. Under a clear sky, green grass stretched endlessly.
“It’s been a long time since I watched polo. Since graduating, I rarely came here. Oh! There are also snacks over there.”
“Why do you look more excited than me, who suggested coming?”
Though the match hadn’t started, the grass around the stands was already crowded with people.
“Your Highness. Long time no see. I hope you’ve been well.”
While Jerome went to fetch snacks, someone approached Diana who was left alone.
