Diana's POV
An hour had passed since that thing happened to Claude. He's still sleeping while the Young Lucas was checking his condition. Athanasia is also here to check on Claude, she appeared to be worried for her father.
When I saw Claude in that condition. I can't help myself to get worried and at the same time curious about him. It feels like... I don't want to see him in that condition, It might break me as well.
This feeling might be connected to my past life... I want to know. Especially when I heard those sentences coming from him... On how he called my name to tell me I have left him.
It makes me curious.
Speaking of my name... DID HE JUST CALL ME WITH MY REAL NAME?
No nevermind.
"Lady Dianne" The red-haired-man named Felix called me. I turned my gaze upon him as I glanced on Athy's sullen face. "We need to hear your statements. Can I talk to you?" He asked.
"Felix" Athanasia immediately interfere. "Let me do it. I-i will be the one who will talk to her"
"No Princess, You must rest. Let me do this duty for you, don't worry about Lady Dianne, I will only talk to her"
"But..."
"It's okay Athanasia. Go rest, I can handle this" I assured her. "Now go rest," I said as I caress her head. She nodded her head.
"Come with me Lady Dianne," Felix told me.
I followed Felix until we reached a familiar room. When I saw Lucas beside Claude, I knew that this is the room of the Obelia's Emperor. "Lucas" I called his name.
He glanced at me and I gave him a signal. He seemed finish to check up Claude. He stands up and a talk little bit to Felix to inform him about Claude's condition. When he finished doing that, he immediately goes out of the room to go to his next destination.
Athanasia's room of course.
"Lady Dianne..." Felix called me. I turned my face on him. I saw clenching his fist. He must be worried about Claude. "I don't want to do this but for the sake of His Majesty. I would like to give you an option" he said.
"Lady Dianne... If this news spread out of the kingdom, the enemies and the other officials might take this opportunity to attack the kingdom or disputes His Majesty. If you did not cooperate with us..."
"I won't spill any beans" I immediately said. I gave one of my brightest smiles to him. "I can promise you that. I am just a mere commoner, what can I do to cause danger in Obelia? Besides... Princess Athanasia is a friend of mine, I won't cause any harm to her."
His expression softens when he heard Athanasia's name. "I am not the one who will decide with that matter Lady Dianne" Felix replied to me. "Let His Majesty, to decide with that"
"I-I understand. But can I at least go home for a while? I want to see my daughter" I tried to ask for an excuse. They might suspicious about me if I didn't act like this. "She's alone at our house. I think she's waiting for me"
"I understand but... I can't just let you go. If you may please, I will go with you to visit your daughter" Felix said.
I stayed silent for a moment. I don't know what to reply if I said yes then I'm doomed but if I refuse I am also doomed.
I let out a deep sigh before turning my face on him. "If you really don't trust me, Then let me take Lucas with me. Sir Felix, you have many works, I'm afraid I'm disturbing you..."
"Lady Dianne I---"
"Stay here" A familiar voice echoed at the room. I quickly turned my head at the Emperor's bed. I flinched when I saw Claude awake and narrowing his fierce eyes to Felix and me. "You are not allowed to go outside the palace," he said.
"Pardon Your Majesty? But I also need to take care of my daughter" I replied to him.
"Then bring her here"
"I-i can't! My husband will..."
"You're lying, you don't have a husband" Claude smirked. "Athanasia told me"
Damn...
I'm out of words. I think I need to escape, but how? Oh dear, I'm in trouble.
"Don't try to defy me, you won't like the outcome if you do that... Dianne" He said while intently looking at me. I gulp as turned my eyes away from him. "If you want to see your daughter, I'll ask someone to fetch her. Just tell me where do you exactly live"
The fact that Athanasia is my only Daughter and I am currently staying on her palace...
I'm dead.
"I--i...."
"Lady Dianne, His Majesty has decided. You need to stay here in the palace, we can't risk the information you are currently bearing right know. If you wish to cooperate with us then we can treat you nicely, but if you did not, then expect us to use some force on you..."
"Aren't you too much? I'm just a mere commoner..."
"Then what does a mere commoner doing at the Princess' palace?" Claude asked me.
"She invited me..."
"I see, Felix... Leave" Claude ordered his knight.
Felix glanced at Claude and me before leaving. His eyes were like telling me to not be afraid cause his sure that Claude won't hurt me...
Crap...
When his loyal knight finally left the room, Claude forced himself to stand up from his bed. He started to make some step closing his distance away from me. He is obviously still in a weak state, why is he doing this?
"Midnight hair and midnight eyes but you look like her, I just proved that when I saw you wearing that cloth for dancing"
My eyes went wide when he gently grabbed my arms. "Tell me, who are you? Are you a spy from another kingdom? Are you a witch? How dare you to imitate that wench?!"
"Y-your Majesty?! What are you talking about?" I said in a panic.
"Perhaps you are Diana..." He said. "Impossible, that's impossible..." He said while shaking his head. "I will keep an eye on you," He said as he let go of my arms.
••••
"What...WHAT?!" Athanasia exclaimed when the news came out from her mother's mouth. "What are we going to do now?" She said In despair.
"I don't know either..." Diana replied while thinking of a solution.
"I'm sure that if we tell Papa Claude the wrong details, we might get exposed... I'm sure that he already conducted his own investigation about this... What if we just tell the truth?"
"Athanasia... Sweety stop, being ridiculous" Diana nervously blurted out. Remembering the scene a while ago makes her uncomfortable.
"That's not ridiculous mama! It might help Papa Claude about his condition. Who knows if exposing Mama to my Papa makes him regain his memory?... I guess I have to consult it with Lucas."
Diana bit her lips. She did not tell Athanasia about what happened to her and Claude a while ago. 'If Athanasia exposed or tell Claude about me, He might only find me more suspicious'
"What if... Let's just go with the flow? Let's find a house in Siodonna and find me an acting daughter! Then we'll just formulate a plan to make them believe," Diana let out a sigh "If Lucas is only a girl, finding myself an acting daughter could've been easier"
When Athanasia heard that, a creeping smile appeared on her lips. Diana glanced at her for a moment before realizing something. The two women grinned for having the same idea.
"Did I miss something?" Lucas appeared in front of the two women. The mother and the daughter gazed at the warlock who just appeared before them.
"Cross-dress!!!"