Chapter 22: 21

Chapter 21

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“Let’s go eat dinner. I think I can do that now.”

“……Alright.” The tension left Iandrus’ expression. He was already worried about how small Diana was, but now she seemed to be getting even smaller, so he was relieved to hear that she wanted to eat something. Even the doctor was worried about the decrease in how much Diana was eating.

Diana was starting to move forward.

And it was a change he was glad to see.

Now, his heart was filled with the expectation that tomorrow would be a good day, and that the day after that would be even better.

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Iandrus played his part perfectly.

He wrote a letter to Jaymus based on the evidence manipulated by Guinness and Diana. It only took a week for them to fabricate it. After that, the rest was left to Iandrus. Rather than sending a lengthy message, he tried to write a letter that was concise, containing much of his anticipation.

And he also did his best to make it as natural as possible.

After that, just as they’d hoped, Jaymus had enough doubts about the letter Iandrus had sent.

“Preston.”

“Yes?”

“Iandrus wrote here that a spy of Branneux will put Catherine’s life in danger. Do you think there’s any truth in that?”

Preston frowned. “Well, the third prince’s movements are unusual…..But would he really go that far?”

“That depends on what he’s trying to accomplish. Perhaps he only seeks to gain the throne of Branneux, but what if he has his sights set on something more lofty than that?”

“I don’t know, but that doesn’t automatically prove any ill intentions.”

“They say they can prove it if we take Catherine down to the villa.”

“Are you planning on going?” Preston asked.

“It’s been a while, so it would be nice if we could get some fresh air. And I know Catherine’s been having a hard time dealing with my mother these days, so she would probably appreciate the chance to rest as well. And like Iandrus’ said, all of the Count’s servants were replaced all at once.”

“So even if it’s a lie, you’re going to allow yourself to be fooled?”

“If it’s for everyone’s sake,” Jaymus shrugged, tearing the letter up and tossing the remains into the burning fireplace. He was doing this for Iandrus. 

The queen still treated Jaymus as though he were a child she could control like a puppet. If she found out that Jaymus had left the castle because of a letter he’d received from Iandrus, he knew his brother would be harmed. Iandrus was only a fifteen year old kid, but the queen treated him as though he were the devil incarnate.

“Fortunately, nothing seems urgent right now. I’ll be back soon enough.”

“I….see? Sounds like you’re saying goodbye, though.”

“I’m glad you understand. Why don’t you stay here and take care of my work for me? If you were to leave too, then who would take care of things on behalf of my father?” Jaymus gave a mischievous laugh. Preston tried to stop him, but Jaymus skillfully slipped out of the office with a smile on his face.

“Anyway, see you when I get back.” All while saying such a casual goodbye.

“Your Highness!”

The only thing left was the sound of Preston’s echoing in the empty room.

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Meanwhile, in the land of Philadelphia.

Iandrus was entering and exiting the territory every day, going far and wide in order to earn Diana’s favor back. Guinness was making jokes that their borders would be worn out by the end of this, and Jesse was becoming more accustomed to welcoming Iandrus.

Even Diana was starting to feel his sincerity.

“What did you bring today?”

And whenever Iandrus returned, he would always bring something back with him. The flowers were just the start of it. Today, he brought a book wrapped in a red cloth.

“I didn’t know you had a hobby like this.”

“Well, you weren’t very interested in me before, Ian,” Diana mused, breathing in the scent of the thick book. The smell of such an aged book filling her lungs made her smile. Then she blinked. “Where did you get this? It must’ve been so hard to find.”

Diana’s question was so soft and gentle that Iandrus felt like it was knocking the wind out of him.

Iandrus responded with a small chuckle. “I wandered around and went into some small bookstores. I found one that had many books I hadn’t even heard of, and some rare ones hidden among the shelves as well. I found it by chance.”

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“Really?” Diana touched the old book, running her fingertips along the cover.

It was a novel with the title . It was a common novel that any young lady of this kingdom would have on their shelf, but it was hard to find a first print edition. Diana had been searching for one for some time, but now it had fallen into her hands like this.

Diana smiled brightly.

It was even more meaningful because Iandrus was the one who went looking for it and had given it to her. It was proof that he was starting to pay more attention to the things that Diana liked. Just as he’d promised back in the church, he was trying to change. He was watching Diana as closely as he could.

“Thank you.”

Iandrus smiled at Diana’s whispered out thanks.

He didn’t realize how easy it could be to make Diana smile. Unlike the girl he thought she was, the pretentious young lady of the Philadelphia family with a lofty title, she was rather one who was simple and humble. He’d known her for years, but this was a side of Diana he was just getting to know now, a little bit at a time. Iandrus was only now realizing how enjoyable of a process it was.

Iandrus really liked it when Diana smiled so simply.

The dimples on her face had the ability to shake his heart just as much as her small hands did.

“Diana.”

“Yes?”

“What kind of child was Scintilla?” Iandrus asked cautiously.

Diana turned her head and stared at him. The corners of his eyes were shaking, and his awkward smile caught her eye. Diana realized that this was a question he’d never asked her before.

Iandrus was suddenly trying to fulfill a responsibility he ignored for so long.

Diana’s lips trembled. “Scintilla…….was a good girl. And she was smart. I couldn’t save her, but she tried to protect me until the very end.”

“. . .”

“She had red hair, and eyes that looked like yours. She was so lovely. As beautiful as a little flame.” Tears welled up in Diana’s eyes.

Scintilla still haunted Diana’s dreams. Trying to protect her mother like that, Scintilla might not be able to rest in peace. She’s trapped somewhere, shouting out for her mother until she loses her voice.

Shouting out for her to run away. To run away and to never look back.

Scintilla. At the name coming back to her, the tears that were always gathering in Diana’s heart poured out. Her clear sobs rolled down her cheeks.

“Ian. We shouldn’t have done that. We shouldn’t have let something so awful happen to her.”

“Diana……”

“We were the only ones Scintilla had in her small world, but we still couldn’t protect her.”

“It’s not your fault,” Iandrus said with a grim expression. “It wasn’t you who failed to protect her. It was me.”

Diana turned to Iandrus, her eyes glistening with tears. A small breeze came and went between them, leaving behind silence in its wake. And in the quietness, Diana’s tears seemed to subside.

“Don’t cry, Diana.”

Iandrus reached out, brushing Diana’s tears away with his fingers, his face looking sick. The movement was so stiff and mechanical that she could read all of his emotions. He was being so careful with her, causing her eyes to tremble.

“I’m sorry…. for everything,” Iandrus murmured, his eyebrows furrowed.

Looking at the current Iandrus, she couldn’t imagine him doing all that he did in the future. Even the black suit he was wearing didn’t seem real. But deep within Diana’s heart was a painful wound, reminding her of her death.

Such vivid memories couldn’t be false.

And Scintilla, too.

She couldn’t be a lie.

“Why did you have to do that?” Diana asked through sobs. 

She asked with so much sincerity, even though she knew this was a question the current Iandrus could not answer. She would never hear the truth from him.

But against Diana’s beliefs, Iandrus thought maybe he knew the answer. The reason why he had grown so broken in the future. The very reason why he dealt with Jaymus’ death in such a manner.

Though many did not know this, Iandrus was a stain upon the royal family. A bastard. The son of a concubine. He was always alone, but Jaymus was the one who reached out and took care of him, always allowing him to follow him around. Losing someone like that must’ve made his future self feel like the world was collapsing.

And more than that, Iandrus was involved with Jaymus’ death.

Even the current Iandrus couldn’t guarantee the future. He could not say with absolute certainty that losing Jaymus wouldn’t lead to the same outcome. But there was something that Iandrus could promise Diana. Never again would he push her to the brink.

Though this might be a decision he was making out of pure arrogance, he wanted to keep this oath.

All they had to do was save Jaymus. If Branneux could be stopped and Jaymus could be saved in this life, then what they desired most would be within their reach.

An outcome that lets everyone smile this time…..

“Jaymus is coming here, Diana. If the idea of fate brings you pain and fear, then we can just change it. We just need to make sure it doesn’t happen. And luckily, you know the future, Diana. And we have you.”

Diana smiled slightly at Iandrus’ comfort.

“You said you would do that for me.”

That was also a sentiment that could only be expressed in their childhood.

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