Chapter 39

“The way he looked at you… was different.”

“Different? What do you mean different?”

Instead of answering directly, Diena smiled softly.

The people in House Rothwell who had pretended to be her family.

At first, she had been suspicious of Sevar Kardian too because of what Varkan had told her in the past.

But…

‘He was completely different from the people of Rothwell.’

He was a man with a terrifying presence.

Yet when he looked at his children, he was nothing like that.

His face remained stern, but his eyes were gentle.

She could feel his genuine concern for Bianca.

‘My father probably… looked at me like that too.’

It had been so long since she had seen him, especially if she counted the time from her previous life, that she could barely remember anymore.

She was a little jealous of Bianca.

Her father was still alive and looked at her with warm eyes.

And after seeing Sevar’s gaze, another possibility began to take shape.

Perhaps she could persuade him to let her stay here.

Diena’s thoughts ended there.

Bianca had suddenly clasped her hand tightly with both of hers.

“Hmph. It doesn’t matter. If he tries to kick you out, then none of it means anything! If Father really loved me, he wouldn’t try to take you away from me.”

“…”

“And he wouldn’t spend all his time on battlefields while leaving me and my brother behind.”

“I understand how you feel, Lady.”

“If you’re not there, if you don’t show it… then people won’t know.”

Diena nodded and gently stroked the back of Bianca’s hand.

“So let’s stay together.”

Even though her eyelids looked heavy enough to close at any moment, Bianca stubbornly kept her eyes on Diena and continued speaking.

“If they try to kick you out, I’ll run away too. I’m never letting you go alone.”

“Ha ha.”

Diena laughed warmly.

At the same time, she knew better than anyone how impossible and unrealistic those words were.

Bianca had been raised with care and affection.

She wouldn’t be able to endure the harsh realities outside her family.

‘I suffered for a long time after leaving House Rothwell too.’

Still, Bianca’s words were enough to warm Diena’s heart.

Diena gently brushed Bianca’s hair aside.

A faint white glow briefly gathered around her hand.

She had used her ability to check Bianca’s condition.

For a moment, she froze when she felt the dense darkness inside Bianca’s body.

But she quickly smiled and said,

“Thank you, Lady. I feel much more at ease now.”

Ironically, it was Bianca who seemed relieved by Diena’s response.

“Good. Then stop worrying and let’s sleep.”

Still holding Diena’s hand, Bianca closed her eyes.

Diena quietly looked down at Bianca’s sleeping face for a long time.

* * *

Early the next morning, after finishing breakfast together, Diena was dragged out for a walk in the garden by Bianca.

After yesterday’s incident, Bianca refused to leave Diena’s side, almost like a child suffering from separation anxiety.

It was as if she believed Sevar would throw Diena out the moment she looked away.

Diena deliberately acted as though nothing had changed.

“Diena, look at those flowers over there. Aren’t they pretty?”

Diena slowly turned her gaze.

White daffodils bloomed there.

“Yes, they’re beautiful.”

“They were Mother’s favorite flowers.”

Smiling shyly, Bianca tucked one of the flowers behind Diena’s ear.

Then she admired the result.

The white daffodil nestled among Diena’s jet-black hair.

Perhaps because of the vivid contrast in color, she looked even more beautiful.

“Wow… you really are pretty.”

When Diena grew embarrassed, Bianca smiled proudly.

“Let’s go over there. Mother used to take care of a flower garden there herself.”

Speaking brightly, Bianca led Diena deeper into the garden.

But the moment they stepped inside the greenhouse…

“Isn’t it a little early for flower viewing?”

A tall young man emerged from beneath the shade of the trees.

It was Ardin Lumines, the First Prince.

Normally, Bianca would’ve greeted him happily.

But today was different.

She stepped in front of Diena and shielded her behind her back.

“What brings you here? You haven’t even left your room.”

Ardin narrowed his eyes and smiled at Bianca’s sharp reaction.

“Why are you acting like this? You’re hurting my feelings.”

“Hmph. If you don’t have any business here, keep walking.”

Ardin’s gaze settled on Diena behind Bianca’s shoulder.

It was a probing look.

Diena didn’t avoid it either.

A strange glint appeared in Ardin’s eyes.

Noticing his gaze, Bianca openly displayed her displeasure and blocked Diena even more.

“You’re not going to introduce your friend?”

But Ardin didn’t back down.

He continued speaking casually.

He even tilted his head slightly as though trying to make eye contact with Diena.

Bianca observed him with sharp eyes.

He wasn’t even flustered by her attitude.

As expected, he was a difficult opponent.

“I’m curious. Varkan’s the same way, and so are you. I’d like to know who this friend is that you’re both protecting so fiercely.”

Bianca clenched her fists and answered immediately.

“No. Don’t be curious.”

“Oh dear. That’s disappointing. I’d like to become friends with my friend’s friend too.”

Alarm bells rang inside Bianca’s head.

There was a reason she was acting like this.

Ardin was absolutely unacceptable.

He was already far too popular with women.

Even if he was her brother’s friend, she couldn’t introduce Diena to a man who wandered around creating romantic scandals with one woman after another using that handsome face.

It didn’t matter that he was handsome, tall, and of noble status.

The important thing was whether he could make Diena happy.

Besides, Ardin was the kind of devastatingly handsome man who seemed to be using a honey trap just by existing.

In short, he was someone who absolutely had to be watched carefully.

Ardin smiled like a figure in a painting.

“Shouldn’t we ask your friend’s opinion first?”

A smile hiding impure intentions.

That was Bianca’s conclusion.

When Bianca continued glaring at him silently, Ardin flinched slightly at the hostility radiating from her.

For a Non-Ability User, there was something unexpectedly sharp about her presence.

Almost like…

“Lady Bianca, you’re exactly like Varkan. The two of you really resemble each other.”

At those words, Bianca looked even more horrified and glared harder.

“How could you say something like that?”

Seeing her reaction, Ardin chuckled.

“Huh? I meant it as a compliment.”

“Hmph. I’m sure you did.”

“I really did. Hello. May I ask your name?”

The moment Bianca snorted and looked away, Ardin seized the opportunity to greet Diena.

Bianca visibly startled.

Diena slowly lifted her head and looked at Ardin.

She already had a good idea why the First Prince was acting so friendly toward her.

‘Because he knows who I am.’

As a member of the imperial family, he would already know the face of Diena, the former daughter of the Duke of Rothwell.

And even if he didn’t, Ardin was exceptionally well-informed.

He was a man hiding many secrets.