Chapter 20

She collapsed to the floor.

No, she lay down and cried until she was exhausted. When she tried to get up, her head was spinning. Soon there was a commotion, people called for a doctor because she almost collapsed.

The door opened and an elderly maid came in.

“Here is an ice bag.”

“Thwank you.” [Thank you.]

Her nose was stuffy and only a dull sound came out. As she saw her swollen eyes in the mirror, she thought it would definitely be a sight worth seeing by tomorrow morning.

Diana put the ice bag that was wrapped in a soft cloth on her eyes.

“Ah, it’s cwool.” [Ah, it’s cool.]

An exclamation came out reflexively. A smiling maid handed over a new handkerchief.

“Please use this to blow your nose.”

The handkerchief was soft to the touch. Diana hesitated for a while, but eventually sniffed and blew her nose. She felt breathing become easier. It was hard to lift a finger though, perhaps because her body had no more energy after losing all the water from her crying.

“Diana.”

“Sniff, yes.”

Grandmother, who had went away for a while, returned. Diana blew her nose one more time and put down the ice bag.

“By any chance, have you ever heard about your father from Phillipa?”

“…About Father?”

“Yeah.”

Grandmother’s eyes were somehow desperate. Diana shook her head.

“No, I have never heard about him.”

“I see.”

Diana felt it was a little strange. It felt like Grandmother was relieved by her answer. To think that saying she didn’t know who her father was made her Grandmother relieved? So, it wasn’t that she wished to find him…?

“Then, by any chance, did Phillipa happen to ever mention me?”

Grandmother and Hermann called her mother with the same name.

‘I feel like I’m getting used to it as I keep listening to it.’

Diana flipped through her memories before shaking her head. The answer was the same again this time.

“I don’t really know.”

Diana mumbled with an ashamed face.

“Mom passed away when I was young. It might be that I don’t remember.”

“…Is that so?”

Grandmother had a bitter face.

Come to think of it, it was really strange. Grandmother was so well and healthy, but why has her mother never mentioned her?

No, she never mentioned Father and Hermann either.

‘Turns out, I really don’t know a thing about mom.’

Diana said in a small voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. It’s all my fault.”

Diana’s lips twitched, but she couldn’t find a word of consolation to say.

“It’s my fault. Before I…”

Grandmother took a deep breath then looked up at her again. Even though she thought it had already stopped, Diana felt like she was going to cry again. She raised her hand and buried her face.

Grandmother was surprised and leaned toward her.

“Why, why are you like this again?”

With her head down, Diana shook her head left and right.

“Please don’t cry.”

“I-I’m not crying.”

However, her voice was already trembling. The flustered Grandmother patted her shoulder. It was a very clumsy touch. Eventually, tears burst again.

She calmed down again after a while.

‘Huft, I’m going to die.’

It seemed like a pocket that would burst whenever someone touched it with their finger. She cried so much that her head was having a throbbing headache.

Grandmother handed her a cool water bag.

“Excuse me. Then…”

“Excuse me?”

As if Grandmother had heard something incredibly strange, she looked at Diana. She also looked slightly hurt.

“Call me Grandmother.”

Grandma added cautiously, afraid that Diana would take offense.

“Ah, but there’s nothing that I can do if you’re uncomfortable with it. It must be awkward because we’ve only just met. I understand.”

“I-it’s not that I don’t want to.”

It’s not that she didn’t want to… it’s simply that the words didn’t come out well. Diana moistened her dry lips and pouted several times. Her ears were worn out. It wasn’t a big deal, but she was very shy for some reason.

“Ha, ha….”

After hesitating several times, Diana took a deep breath and said.

“…Grandmother.”

“…Yeah.”

Grandmother’s voice was choked up as if she was tearing up.

“Grandmother.”

“Yeah.”

It was at that moment.

—Grrowwl.

Her tactless stomach expressed its intention. Diana breathed in. However, the stupid stomach continued to assert itself without knowing that it was embarrassing.

“Are you hungry?”

“No. I-it’s because I cried.”

“Really?”

Denying her words, the sound of thunder resonated from her stomach. Diana covered up her stomach and said with a teary face.

“I-It’s because I didn’t have lunch.”

“You didn’t eat?”

Grandmother looked as if the sky had collapsed. The very, very serious Grandmother beckoned to call the maid.

“Prepare a carriage immediately.”

If one looked only at her face, one would think war would break out any moment now, even right away.

The preparations were completed in an instant. Diana shook her head, saying that it was okay and simple enough, but her grandmother was eager to feed her properly.

Wearing her hood again, Diana quietly followed her grandmother. The hallway was quiet.

‘Come to think of it, why did Senir find my grandmother?’

Senir had disappeared before she knew it.

‘Was there a relationship between the two of them?’

From the opposite side of the hallway, a man in luxurious attire walked over and stopped when he saw her grandmother. Soon after, anyone could tell by the way that he quickly approached, that Grandmother was his purpose.

Grandmother clicked her tongue.

“Oh my, who is this?”

“…Count Norvan.”

Diana was surprised and looked at the man.

It was the household that sent her a maid. They didn’t know each other because it was through Hermann, but the encounter here was surprising.

“To think that I would meet a noble who’s so hard to meet in here… What brings you all the way here? I hope that you are feeling better now?”

“You don’t have to care about it.”

Grandma said, her tone surprisingly cold.

Would it be fine acting that way towards a Count?

Diana opened her mouth lightly.

However, Count Norvan laughed, as if it wasn’t unpleasant at all.

“You’re still the same. What about your Godfather?”

“Well, the same as always.”

The two looked very close to each other. Diana could not hide her bewilderment.

With a slightly bitter face, Count Norvan said.

“Well, age can’t be helped. Is Senir busy these days? I couldn’t see his figure. I heard that the meeting with the Ministry of Finance was also delayed.”

“I don’t know.”

Grandmother replied back indifferently.

Count Norvan forced out a smile and nodded toward Diana.

“Who is this?”

“If you don’t have anything to do, you can get going now.”

Grandmother cut the question straight away.

“So, I can’t ask anything. Well, alright. Please send my greetings to Godfather and your Husband.”

Count Norvan backed down easily, unlike when he first approached. As they moved away from Count Norvan, Grandmother opened her mouth again.

“I didn’t introduce you because you’re not ready yet, so don’t be disappointed.”

It was a sweet voice that made it seem like it was a different person who had been talking to Count Norvan just now.

“It takes a lot of preparation to announce your existence.”

After thinking about what she meant, Diana realized that she was sorry for not introducing Diana to Count Norvan earlier.

“I’m fin—”

Diana couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Whoa.”

A panoramic view of the archipelago unfolded in front of Diana, who exited the building.

Large tall buildings with fancy decorations. Dozens of fancy carriages filled the main street, with people casually crossing between running carriages.

As she raised her head, four towers covered with gold stood tall over the other buildings, with white marble pillars and pointed roofs.

“Here is the archipelago….”

“Is this your first time at the archipelago?”

“Yes. This is my first time.”

Diana couldn’t hide her excited voice.

“If it is indeed your first time then the archipelago will be fascinating for you. I’ll tell them to guide you later.”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

To think she could go sightseeing at the archipelago! She was excited just imagining it. She didn’t expect that she could ever sightsee the archipelago in her entire life!

With a cane made of ivory white wood, Grandmother stood up from the wheelchair. Diana opened her eyes wide.

‘So it’s not that she can’t move her legs at all…’

Diana noticed that one leg looked uncomfortable. Grandmother slowly got into the carriage with the help of a maid. Diana followed in a hurry.

“Let’s have a meal first.”

In a blink of an eye, the carriage arrived at its destination.

Before getting off the wagon, Grandmother put a hood on her. For some reason, her cheeks turned red, feeling shy. Grandmother stroked her head as if she was cute.

It was when Diana, who got off the wagon, passed through the marble pillar at the entrance of the building with her grandmother. A click sound was heard from somewhere.

“Huh?”

Diana stopped and looked around. Grandmother said with a thin voice.

“You don’t need to care about it. It’ll be taken care of.”

“Yes?”

At that time, a shout came from the corner of the building’s flower garden.

“…Is everything about Reed? I’m going to sue you!”

Grandmother didn’t give a single glance to where the shout came from. Diana, who was looking around, followed her grandmother’s urging.

As she entered the building, she saw a sign saying [Teysllo]. Diana approached the restaurant, and groaned when she saw the sign on the handle.

[Break Time until 17:00]

“Grandmother, right now, here is—”

However, unlike her, Grandmother opened the door without hesitation.

‘Is it okay for us to enter?’ 

Diana followed belatedly.

The manager, who was organizing the list at the counter, looked up at the sound of the door opening. The manager told the girl and maid who entered the store.

“I’m sorry, but it is preparation time for dinner so—”

The manager, who was manning the counter, paused. There was one more person. An old woman in a wheelchair.

“Gasp!”

The surprised manager covered his mouth.

‘Is it really Count Ohrid?’

The manager’s eyes grew as if they were going to pop out immediately.

‘No, I mean, why is Count Ohrid here?’

“Can’t we have a meal even if it’s a simple one?”

“…Uhm, Yes. Of course! Surely! It’s possible.”

Even if it was impossible, they had to make it possible.

“Would you mind waiting for a while? I’ll call an employee to guide you to your seat.”

“Yes. It’ll be great if we don’t have to wait too long.”

Cold sweat formed on the manager’s forehead as he nodded firmly and backed away.

“It’s a relief that we can have a meal.”

Count Ohrid patted Diana affectionately. The manager, who was stepping back, doubted his own eyes.

‘What… what am I seeing right now?’

At that moment, he made eye contact with Count Ohrid. The manager was surprised and ran again.