Chapter 26
“…I’ll warn you now, there won’t be a second time.”
At Diana’s reluctant forgiveness, Ersivan let out a soft sigh of relief, his eyes folding into an elegant curve.
He was far too adept at weaponizing his own appearance.
Truly, if the gods had sculpted him, they should have at least removed either his beauty or his intellect—leaving him with both had been a grave mistake.
Whether fortunately or unfortunately, the tension between them eased far too quickly.
“Pardon me, but may I ask you something?”
“…Only if I find it worth answering.”
Later, she would regret answering at all.
“Still, wasn’t she rather endearing?”
Diana hesitated for a moment before giving a reluctant nod.
Scarlett’s flushed cheeks, her red hair fluttering as she trembled—it had been somewhat cute.
“If you think so, then she must have had some merit.”
“…Don’t tell me you’re trying to justify your own judgment.”
“I wouldn’t be so shameless as to ask for praise under these circumstances. Lily, it’s just that…”
Just that.
Diana’s gaze locked onto him, silently urging him to finish.
“I found it rather fascinating. Even a commoner, with fine clothes and the proper mannerisms, could pass for a noble lady. If something can be achieved through sheer effort, then surely… anyone could play the role, don’t you think?”
Isn’t that interesting, Lily?
Even as he spoke at length, his breath never wavered.
But Diana, merely listening, felt like she was suffocating.
Diana Mernard was strong.
Even with the wretched life she had been given, she had fought tooth and nail to survive.
Even those who had looked down on her in the slums, even her own father, who refused to acknowledge her, could not deny that fact.
Yet today, for the first time in her twenty years, she felt as though she might break.
Her mind was too clouded to focus.
Her body refused to function properly.
This is dangerous.
She knew better than anyone that showing weakness now would be fatal.
That if she let him see through her, it would be the final blow.
Forcing herself to move, she gripped her sword and swung.
The impact left a deep crack in the wooden training dummy.
She struck again, carving an X-shaped mark into its surface.
Repeating the action over and over, trying desperately to drive away the thoughts consuming her.
But the image remained.
Worse—it only grew clearer.
Ersivan, who had always played the part of the charming noble, had finally shed his mask.
For the first time, his true face had shown through.
Gone were the gentle eyes.
What was left behind was the cold, soulless red of his irises, sweeping over her with unnerving detachment.
Gone was the easy smile.
His lips had flattened into a perfect, unyielding line—as though the very muscles had forgotten how to curve.
It was the kind of description one only read in books—and yet, it had been real.
“I don’t understand. Not at all…”
Her temples throbbed with pain.
Never before had she doubted herself.
Yet today, for the first time, she felt helpless.
A terrible, suffocating realization pressed down on her:
She could never let him see her weakness.
She couldn’t afford even a single slip.
So she kept swinging.
And swinging.
And swinging.
Her body was at its limit.
Her lungs burned from lack of oxygen.
“You should rest for a moment.”
“…”
“Lily.”
She didn’t respond.
Her name drifted through the air, but it never reached her.
Clang.
A sharp metallic sound rang out.
Her grip had failed.
Her sword slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground.
Only then did she snap back to reality.
Her gaze darted frantically.
No.
He saw. He knows.
He was going to find out.
“Aa…”
A weak sound escaped her lips as Ersivan bent down, picking up her fallen sword.
Every inch of her body felt paralyzed.
How can I cover this up? How do I act normal?
No matter what she did now, he would see through her.
There was no way out.
Those serpent-like eyes would pry her open, piece by piece.
And then—he would tear through her soul itself.
“You…”
Ersivan raised his hand.
For a split second, she flinched.
Her body tensed, bracing for a strike.
Her eyes squeezed shut on instinct.
And yet—
A cold touch met her hand, not her throat.
Not a blade.
A handkerchief.
“You really are reckless.”
Ersivan sighed, gently brushing dirt from her pale skin.
The gesture was so foreign that Diana’s mind reeled.
“Where… have I seen this before?”
A moment of hesitation.
A faint memory surfaced.
A familiar scene—
“My lady, do you have any siblings?”
The first day they met.
When he had picked up the fallen lily and placed it in her hands.
And at the same time—
The very moment he had touched upon the deepest wound in her heart.
“If I may offer my opinion, my lady, I believe you would have suited a twin sister quite well.”
Whether it was the strain on her body or the imminent danger at hand, Diana felt her chaotic thoughts suddenly settle.
“I do have one.”
Her senses sharpened, and an eerie chill coursed through her veins.
Fear momentarily paralyzed her thoughts, but her instincts continued to function as they always had.
“There was only ever one reason for all of this.”
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his.
“Ersivan.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Shall we take a walk?”
“…Right now?”
“I feel like getting some air.”
There was no turning back now.
If she wanted to survive, she had to sever his hand before he could take her head.
To Ersivan’s surprise, the place Diana had chosen for their stroll was the stables.
“Was this truly where you wanted to go?” he asked.
“I realized I had never shown you this place,” she replied lightly. “So I thought I should give you a proper introduction.”
In truth, this was one of the places she had deliberately avoided bringing him to.
Perhaps later, after her true identity was revealed, but certainly not today.
She pushed open the stable doors and stepped inside, her eyes immediately landing on her horse.
Recognizing its master, the white steed gently nudged her with its nose.
Its affectionate greeting instantly melted the tension from her body.
“You seem to have grown quite close,” Ersivan observed as he followed her inside.
“She’s incredibly gentle. She doesn’t shy away from touch, and she listens well.”
“Seeing you adore her like this, I almost feel inclined to be jealous.”
Another one of his strange remarks.
Diana shot him a brief glare before steering the conversation elsewhere.
That was when she suddenly remembered—this horse was a gift from him.
“…Ah, I heard that Your Highness was the one who prepared this horse for me.”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “She reminded me of you, so I brought her here.”
“She reminded you… of me?”
He was likely referring to the horse’s appearance, but Diana found the comparison unsettling.
It almost felt as though he was saying their circumstances were the same.
A creature without agency, brought into a new life at the whims of others…
“A shame she can’t voice her gratitude, but I’m sure she appreciates your kindness,” she said smoothly. “By the way, Madam mentioned that you’ve been quite diligent in your lessons.”
“It’s because I truly enjoy them,” Diana replied. “I have her to thank for that.”
The conversation continued on with ease.
Before she knew it, they had spent quite a long time in the stables.
Glancing at her horse, she noticed its blue-gray eyes fixed solely on her, as though even Ersivan’s presence did not matter.
Her chest ached.
She felt guilty for using this innocent creature as a mere pawn in her game.
And yet, she was grateful that it had unknowingly helped her.
“Come to think of it,” she mused, “have I ever told you her name?”
She already knew the answer.
And yet, she still wanted to hear him say it.
As expected, he shook his head.
“No, my lady,” he said. “If you don’t mind, I’d love to know.”
Diana swallowed hard before answering.
For some reason, her heart pounded irregularly.
“…Her name is Diane.”
Two simple syllables rolled off her tongue with practiced ease.
She watched him carefully—
The way the wind tousled his ashen-silver hair.
The way his eyelids lowered ever so slowly.
The way his lips parted slightly, as though he had lost his words for a moment.
The way his fingers twitched, betraying a brief lapse in composure.
Even if it was small, even if it was insignificant, it was still a reaction.
A crack in his usual self-possession.
“A beautiful name,” he finally murmured.
His eyes curved in that familiar crescent shape—calm, serene, unreadable.
He was trying to cover up the shift in his expression.
But it was already too late.
“I was right.”
His subtle change in demeanor was all the confirmation she needed.
He was suspicious of her.
He knew about Diana Mernard.
Somehow, he had pieced it all together.
He had deduced that Lillian was actually Diana.
“I can’t let him confirm it.”
She couldn’t afford to be exposed before the wedding.
Right now, she had one goal—to divert suspicion.
And so, she took the boldest move available.
“Do you think so?” she asked lightly. “I think so too. It’s the name of the sister I longed for but never had.”
She had to say it first.
She had to make Diane into something else entirely—so that when Ersivan thought of the name, he would never associate it with Diana Mernard.
She smiled sweetly, the kind of elegant, refined smile that only Lillian Mernard would wear.
“That’s…”
Ersivan’s lips parted as though to respond—
But before he could, a third voice interrupted.
“My lady! You have a letter—oh…?”
It was Daisy.
“Daisy, I’m heading to the stables with His Highness. Could you come find me in about half an hour?”
Before leaving for their walk, Diana had excused herself to change her attire.
During that brief moment, she had given Daisy specific instructions.
And now, her ever-loyal maid had fulfilled her task.
She could see the unspoken questions in Ersivan’s gaze.
But now that they had company, he wouldn’t be able to ask them.
And just like that—
The fire had been extinguished before it could spread.
