Chapter 39
The fire crackled softly, filling the quiet space. Occasionally, the sound of steady breathing intertwined with it.
Diana’s golden hair, now dry and gleaming in the firelight, swayed gently as her head bobbed forward. She looked as if she might collapse at any moment.
Watching her closely, Ersivan reached out and carefully guided her head onto his shoulder.
The weight pressing against him was neither unwelcome nor uncomfortable.
Adjusting his posture, he relaxed his left shoulder slightly, allowing her to rest more comfortably.
Her long hair brushed against the pendant hanging around his neck.
As he absentmindedly moved it aside, his fingers instinctively reached for the necklace.
[Would you like to initiate communication?]
A small signal flickered across the surface of the pendant.
[Please select a recipient.]
He scrolled down the list and tapped on “Cardel.”
The call barely rang before a familiar voice snapped through.
<What kind of rude behavior is this at this hour?>
The fact that he answered immediately meant he hadn’t been sleeping.
Still, he was as irritable as ever.
Glancing at Diana, Ersivan lowered his voice and murmured, “I need a favor.”
<Bold of you to say that so confidently.>
“It’s necessary.”
Despite the grumbling tone, Ersivan remained firm.
There was a reason why people often called him shameless.
Even with such vague words, Cardel immediately understood. His voice turned dry and unimpressed.
<Oh? Weren’t you the one absolutely certain it would never come to this? What changed? What are you hoping for now?>
A scoff followed, dripping with sarcasm.
But Ersivan remained unbothered.
<So? Have you suddenly gained some kind of certainty?>
A brief silence.
“…Regardless, I’m asking you for this favor.”
<Funny. I don’t recall agreeing to anything.>
“I’m asking you, Cardel.”
His tone, steady yet insistent, made the other man pause.
A moment of stillness.
This was it. The final push.
Ersivan softened his voice just slightly.
“Because there’s no one else I can ask.”
<Tch. Well, I suppose no one else is as exceptional as I am. Fine, then! This great Cardel shall grant you his favor!>
His voice carried an unmistakable air of smugness.
Even without seeing him, Ersivan could picture Cardel tilting his chin up in self-importance.
That’s why I prefer dealing with people like him.
Cardel was easy to handle.
<This is about that woman, isn’t it?>
At the casual phrasing, Ersivan’s brow twitched.
“If you want me to answer with my fists instead of my words, keep calling her that.”
<You’re completely insane.>
Had the visual transmission been activated, he would have enjoyed watching Cardel’s expression twist in irritation.
A pity.
“I’ll pay you whatever it takes.”
<Oh? So how about three hundred thousand Kriengs?>
Cardel scoffed, throwing out an absurd number just to gauge his reaction.
That amount was what a viscount’s household might spend in half a year.
“If you want, I could throw in a title.”
His voice remained impassive, but the words themselves carried weight.
<…You’re actually out of your mind.>
Cardel had never doubted Ersivan’s sincerity, but even he was stunned.
Who in their right mind would offer a noble rank over a single request?
<I have a job overseas. At the earliest, I won’t be available for another two months.>
“That’s too late. I need it within a month.”
<Excuse me? You do realize you’re asking for a favor, not issuing an order, right? What, do you think I’m your servant?>
Cardel’s voice turned sharp with irritation.
Sensing the shift in tone, Ersivan adjusted his approach. This time, his voice softened into something closer to a plea.
“…I mean it. It has to be you.”
A heavy sigh.
<Damn it.>
The curse was a clear sign—he was relenting.
And sure enough, after a moment of grumbling, Cardel practically shouted into the communicator.
<Fine! I’ll do it! No—I’m already doing it!>
“Much appreciated.”
Having secured his agreement, Ersivan instantly returned to his usual composed demeanor.
<Unbelievable. You’re worse than the devil.>
“I’ll take that as another compliment.”
<Don’t! It’s disgusting!>
Cardel’s voice rang loudly through the device, prompting Ersivan to glance at Diana.
She was still fast asleep, undisturbed by the conversation.
Fortunately, she seemed to be a deep sleeper.
<…Well, whatever this is about, I hope it turns out the way you want.>
“Yeah. Me too.”
Diana stirred slightly, her small lips brushing against a stray strand of her own hair.
Ersivan quietly reached over and gently pulled it away.
A flicker of amusement crossed his face.
Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy.
With great effort, Diana finally forced them open.
The first thing she saw was the dim interior of a tent.
“…Huh?”
She had collapsed in the forest. Yet, when she opened her eyes, she found herself lying peacefully inside a tent.
Her body stiffened, unable to grasp the situation.
Moments later, Daisy, who had noticed her stirring, stepped forward to explain.
“You returned with His Highness at dawn. Do you have any idea how frightened I was when you disappeared? You must never act so recklessly again!”
It seemed that Daisy had been terribly shaken. Her scolding lasted far longer than usual.
Diana could only imagine the anxiety she must have endured in her absence. Feeling genuinely remorseful, she offered a heartfelt apology.
Once her nerves settled, Daisy quickly regained her usual energy and eagerly began recounting everything that had happened while her lady had been away.
At some point, as she boasted about last night’s dinner, she suddenly clapped her hands as if remembering something important.
“Oh! So, how did it go?”
“How did what go?”
“The thing! The very thing that made you rush out so suddenly!”
Daisy’s eyes gleamed with mischief, resembling that of a friend prying into another’s love life.
The hazy events from the previous night slowly sharpened in Diana’s mind.
“I think I’ll confess my feelings.”
“…What?”
“So don’t follow me. It’s embarrassing.”
Oh.
A strangled gasp escaped her lips, followed by a series of horrified groans.
Daisy’s eyes widened in shock. She had never seen her usually composed lady react in such a way.
“…Right. That happened.”
“Why? Did it not go well? His Highness didn’t seem troubled in the slightest…”
“Wait. What do you mean, ‘His Highness didn’t seem troubled’? Don’t tell me he knows…?”
A creeping unease settled over Diana.
Had she mentioned that she had a strong intuition?
Daisy’s nod confirmed her worst fears, sending her world crumbling beneath her feet.
What had she been thinking? How was she planning to handle the consequences?
Future Diana would certainly never approve of this moment.
“…S-So,” Diana hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes?”
“…What did His Highness say?”
Even in the midst of her rising panic, she couldn’t suppress her curiosity.
“Oh… He laughed.”
That response was… unsettling.
A smile could mean many things—especially when it came to Ersivan.
Was it amusement? Mockery? Or something else entirely?
Daisy, sensing her unease, elaborated on the scene in detail.
—
“Your Highness, why are you— Ah! My lady!”
“She’s fine. No need to make a fuss.”
Ersivan had pressed his extended index finger against his lips—a silent command for Daisy to remain quiet.
Only then did she notice her lady fast asleep in his arms. Even when she suggested that he leave the task of carrying Diana to her, he ignored her entirely.
Instead, he strode into the tent himself, placing Diana onto the bed with unwavering care. Only then did he seem satisfied.
“Your Highness… Has something changed between you two?”
Daisy couldn’t help but ask. The atmosphere between them felt distinctly different from usual.
“I was unaware our relationship was ever bad to begin with.”
His tone was unnervingly calm, yet there was a sharp edge to it.
Clearly, he had misunderstood something.
“I-I mean… My lady said she was going to see you. That she was… going to confess her feelings…”
Daisy had tried to clarify, but her tongue tangled in her haste.
Despite working in the household for years, she still found it difficult to speak freely around him.
“Take your time. I’ll listen.”
Surprisingly, instead of leaving in cold disinterest, he patiently waited for her to explain.
“Yesterday, despite the knights’ attempts to stop her, my lady insisted on seeing you. When I asked her why… she said she was going to confess her feelings…”
Ersivan didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he simply stood there in silence.
Then, without warning—he laughed.
It was the first time Daisy had ever seen him so unguarded.
“Well.”
His voice was tinged with amusement, his laughter lingering at the edges.
There was something captivating about the way his voice wavered slightly, something warm and unfamiliar.
And then, there was his smile.
A natural, effortless smile—so beautiful that Daisy found herself momentarily breathless.
“At the very least, it seems her intentions were successful.”
The meaning of his words dawned on Daisy.
Startled, she turned to look at him again, but by then, he had already turned away.
“Take good care of her.”
“O-Of course! Please stay safe as well, Your Highness!”
Just before he disappeared from sight, the faintest trace of his scent lingered in the air.
Strangely enough, it reminded Daisy of her lady’s own scent.
