Episode 6
"You dressed her in this cheap thing and even lied at the Concl Duke's mansion? Take that rag off her right now!"
The maids quickly swarmed toward Diarin in perfect coordination.
The dress, though not the highest quality, still had the label of Monsieur Limoud. It was mercilessly thrown to the floor.
"Lady, choose again. I'll stand right here, so this time, pick properly and correctly."
"Yes."
Diarin already knew it. The head maid didn't care for her out of affection.
But so what? In the end, this situation worked in her favor.
Diarin calmly picked out a dress, just like she usually did.
'As I thought. This one's my favorite.'
It was the very same extravagant dress Diarin had wanted to pick at first.
Monsieur Limoud himself wasn't impressive, but as a famous designer, his main piece—where he had clearly poured his effort—was on a different level.
The lovely embroidery looked like spring flowers in full bloom. Diamonds and crystals were densely stitched over the chest. The soft silk sleeves fluttered like spring clouds...
Most of all, it looked extremely expensive—which made Diarin want it even more.
'He probably brought it to sell to Elige.'
But now it's mine.
"I'll take this one."
"Mm. Very well. Monsieur Limoud? Please dress her."
"Pardon? Y-yes…"
Monsieur Limoud couldn't resist the orders of the noble's head maid. He had to help Diarin get dressed himself, feeling deeply humiliated.
'Arrogant girl! She's not even a real duchess's daughter, and yet she dares disgrace me like this? How did she ruin my piece so much in just that short time?!'
Fuming with anger, Monsieur Limoud quietly pricked Diarin with a needle.
Prick.
Diarin's back flinched slightly.
Prick, prick.
He poked her with pins again and again, then pretended to fasten the dress. No marks were left behind.
It hurt, but didn't leave traces. It was a subtle skill Monsieur Limoud had honed for over ten years.
He felt that pricking this side-branch noble's back full of holes was the only way to relieve his anger.
Then—
Tap.
Diarin slapped away his hand. Looking surprised, he asked:
"Is something wrong, Lady Diarin? Are you uncomfortable?"
"Are you done?"
"Oh, just need to tie the gown's ribbon properly…"
The moment she heard that, Diarin pushed him away without hesitation. His eyes widened in shock.
"L-Lady Diarin?"
But Diarin didn't look back. She pulled at the ribbon on her chest and walked straight toward the head maid.
Seeing Diarin approaching suddenly, the head maid raised her eyebrows.
"What is it?"
Diarin didn't answer.
She simply flung the gown she was wearing onto the floor.
"Monsieur Limoud."
That bastard.
"Is doing this to my body. So, what now?"
Monsieur Limoud was frozen, as if struck by lightning.
"...!"
When Diarin threw off her gown, her upper chest, shoulders, arms, and back were all exposed.
Ol and Rorman chatted peacefully.
〈He's dead now.〉
〈If you don't know your place, you'll be ruined. That's true for all living things.〉
No marks? Not a chance.
Diarin's skin was a mess.
The maids had been carefully treating her skin recently, and it had a healthy glow—but now it was full of pin marks.
Some places were even bleeding...
Monsieur Limoud nearly fainted.
'Why? Why? My needle never leaves marks! What's wrong with this girl's body?!'
He didn't know at all.
A magician's skin, full of magic, is extremely sensitive.
The more powerful the mage, the easier their skin flares up even from small injuries.
Diarin calmly said:
"The Duke will be furious, Head Maid. What should we do?"
That snapped the head maid back to her senses. Now she was furious too, her eyes wild with rage.
"Monsieur Limoud! Are you insane? Have you lost your mind?!"
They still had to get matching lingerie next! They'd been spending a fortune caring for this side-branch lady's skin for a reason!
And it had all been under the Duke Concl's personal orders! Veins bulging, the head maid screamed:
"How dare you insult the Duke's household! You're just a designer! Do you think you'll survive after treating a noble house like this?!"
"I-It's not like that…!"
"Shut that mouth!"
His legs trembled as the slap hit him. Still, she's just a side-branch… right?
He never imagined they'd report this to the Duke Concl himself.
But the head maid was firm.
"I-I was wrong! I—"
Begging on hands and knees didn't work.
Monsieur Limoud was thrown out. Not just from anywhere—but from a Duke's house. The rumors would surely be brutal.
The head maid grumbled that she would call another designer immediately.
"I greet you, Lady Conclister. Oh my, what a beautiful young lady."
"Hello, Madame."
"I feel like I've met a new muse. Your light brown hair looks sweet like brown sugar. Please, come this way."
There was no need to explain how passionate and kind the new designer was.
Thanks to her, Diarin was finally able to get the ridiculously expensive dress she had originally planned to obtain.
There was a reason Diarin dressed up from head to toe in luxury.
'I'm nervous.'
She felt her hands sweating. She wanted to wipe them on her skirt but couldn't.
Everything she wore right now was worth nearly the price of a whole mansion.
Her milky-white hands, neck, ears—everything sparkled with gold. She had purposely chosen only gold accessories.
"Greetings, Lady Conclister."
"Hello, Sir Ramid."
Crimson eyes. Hair with a red tint.
This was Sir Ramid Bestern, the knight Ezette had brought with him when he came to the capital.
Even during the prince's dethronement three days ago, he had stared so fiercely.
Diarin had pretended not to notice, but the back of her neck kept stinging.
"His Highness asked me to escort you."
"He must've cared a lot to send you personally."
Even at her smile, Ramid didn't respond. He remained cold. Diarin's smile slowly faded.
"Let's go."
Ramid turned his back rather rudely.
A lady and her knight.
Though it might've seemed romantic, the two simply walked in silence. No conversation. Just the stiff, cold atmosphere and the clacking sound of their shoes.
The palace was huge. Big enough to fit an entire small city.
'Is Ezette still using his old palace?'
The 8th prince's palace had been on the outer edge of the vast palace grounds. After being dethroned, he was considered more useless than a rock on the street.
'It better be the same.'
If the emperor had given Ezette a grand new palace, it would throw off Diarin's carefully made plans.
Plans.
Ramid finally spoke when they were in a completely deserted area.
"Lady Conclister."
Lost in thought, Diarin answered a beat late.
"…Yes?"
"Were you serious about what you said at the dethronement ceremony?"
Despite his sharp and hostile appearance, Ramid was at least tactful.
He hadn't even said the word 'breakup' aloud.
Still, Diarin glanced around to be sure. Thankfully, they were now inside the inner palace—no one else was nearby.
Without hesitation, she answered:
"Yes. I meant it."
"…Ha."
Ramid let out an incredulous breath and stopped in his tracks. He turned sharply. It was like a mountain had silently moved.
Diarin was a bit flustered by his sudden reaction.
'Now what?'
Ramid had always openly shown hostility toward her.
And that old-fashioned uniform from the northern Blue Gate estate—far from fashionable in the capital—made him stand out.
A knight in bulky, outdated attire, carrying a giant sword?
That's why, despite his fame, capital nobles kept their distance from Ramid.
'If needed, I can just send him flying.'
Without even a hint of fear, Diarin stared straight at him.
She was taller than the average woman and was even wearing very high, uncomfortable heels.
Their body sizes were different, yes—but in terms of true power...
She had the overwhelming upper hand. So she won.
〈Of course. Our lady is the best, right?〉
〈Is she not a devil?〉
The right wing praised her, the left wing stayed indifferent.
"Lady Conclister."
Ramid called her with a heavy voice.
"Do we look like fools to you?"
"…What?"
"A breakup? Sure, I'll say the words. But this kind of 'pretending not to care' strategy? It's so cliché and obvious I can't even react. I'm speechless."
The usual pattern. The usual relationship. The usual move.
"To you, is His Highness just a toy? When he didn't suit you, you threw him away. Now that he's returned with the highest status, you suddenly regret it… is that it? When did you toss him aside, and why are you clinging again now? Do you have no shame, Lady?"
Ramid couldn't take it. Her cunning was too transparent.
Even now, her blank expression made it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Ramid felt like he'd explode from frustration.
Vicious, frustrating, selfish woman.
He bit his lip hard.
"I'd like to say worse, but I'll restrain myself out of courtesy to a lady. So at least now…"
"I see. I understand."
"…What?"
"I get what you're worried about, Sir."
Diarin answered obediently. So obediently, Ramid was left stunned.
"What happened two years ago… I'd doubt me too, if I were you. It's not your fault."