As soon as the first rays of sunlight pierced the curtains, Diego opened his eyes. "Damn it, I am going to be late" He muttered to himself. "Ugh.. Stupid hangover." He said, as he placed his left hand on his head, while he lay in bed. His right hand couldn't move, because a certain someone was lying on it, a thin sliver of drool escaping through her lips. "Diane.." He whispered In her ear. "My hand.." "No, it Is still too early to get up. Let's sleep some more." Diane whined. "I am not as jobless as you, you know. I have a lot of paper work to do." Diego said. "Diego, you meanie. I am not jobless, you are." She responded in a sleepy voice. Diego was apalled by her reply, that he began to wonder if she also drank last night. "There is honestly no point talking to you." Diego muttered, as he carefully but gently removed his hand from underneath the sleeping damsel. "It seems like she laid on it all night." Diego said, after noticing that there was no feeling in his right hand. He quickly washed up and got changed. When he was done, he stared at the sleeping Diane for a while. "You just lie here and enjoy your sleep." He said, kissing her on the forehead. "I will tell Dorothy to bring you breakfast in bed." He said as he closed the door, not quite sure If she heard him or not.
"Lady, it's getting late, please wake up." Dorthy said, as she tapped Diane continously. Diane opened one eye, and looked at Dorothy. "What time Is it?" She asked. "It's 10am." Dorothy replied. "It's gotten this late!" Diane sat up with a start. "I tried waking you up, but it's almost like bushing a boulder up a hill." Dorothy teased her. "I wasn't expecting you to still be like this, even after getting married." Dorothy said. "It's just a contractual marraige!" Diane refuted, as she hurriedly slid out of the bed. "Contractual or not, it is still a marraige. Come, I will help you wash up." Dorothy replied.
"How are you enjoying your stay here, Dorothy?" Diane asked, while Dorothy brushed her hair. "Even better than at my previous residence. My lord even wanted to make me a head maid." Dorothy announced with pride. "Your.. Lord?" Diane asked, a tone of uncertainty in her voice. "Well, he is my lady's husband, so he is my lord." Dorothy analyzed, as if she was trying to answer a math question. "And besides, Alice is quite happy here. I haven't seen her this lively since her father passed." Dorothy said, a slight smile on her face. "She and the young mistess get along quite well." She added. "Dorothy, your husband was a knight, right?" Diane asked. "Yes. He died during the war." Dorothy replied. "He was a brave man." Diane muttered. "Speaking of which, aren't you noticing any changes in my lord?" Dorothy asked, swiftly changing the topic. "Like what?" Diane asked. "Maybe the way he speaks with you, or even looks at you?" She asked. Diane heaved a sigh. "Dorothy, why are you asking me this? He is just an arrogant man who thinks he is on top of the world." Diane irritatedly replied. "My goodness, I never knew you to be so absent minded." Dorothy said. Diane ignored her. "What if you end up falling in love with.." Dorothy began "Not happening!" Diane objected before Dorothy could finish speaking. "Not in this lifetime, not even in the next one!" Diane said as she pouted her lips. Dorothy just chuckled quietly at her child-like behavior.
Diego was busy working on his documents, despite his headache, while Hugo stood beside him. "Should I get you some hangover.." Hugo began. "No need." Diego cut him short. "I will be fine." "But my lord, you know that drinking isn't too good for your health." Hugo said worriedly. "I know that it's bad for one's health, but the situation of things is what forces me to drink." Diego said. He then felt a familiar surge of energy. "What is she doing here?" He muttered. "Hugo, when she comes in, you will excuse us for some time until I call you, okay?" Diego said, looking away from the documents and focusing on the office door. "I am sorry? I don't quite understand..." "You will soon. Come in, Diane, and stop eavesdropping." Diego said in a flat tone. The door creaked a little, as if the person behind wasn't sure if to actually come In or not, before the lady revealed herself. "Hmph. How do you know it was me?" Diane said pouting. "You already know the answer. And stop acting like a child." Diego said, turning back to his documents. "How am I acting like a child?" She asked, angrily. "You are pouting your lips. It reminds me of leonia." Diego said, without giving her so much as a glance. Hugo just sweat dropped while observing this 'Lovely couple.' "Ah, Hugo, Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Diane asked in a lovely voice. "Yes I did, my lady, how about.." "Hugo." Diego called, in a grave voice. "I am sorry my lady, I have to leave now." Hugo said, as he left hurriedly. "Did you really have to chase him away? You could show him some respect, he could be other than you fath.. I mean uncle" Diane hiccuped, holding her tongue back before she could potentially say something to this man, that was busy glaring at her. "People are not always what they seem, you know. And they are some that need to be constantly put I their place." Diego said. "That... doesn't tell me anything." Diane said, giving Diego a weird look. "It's a long story. I will tell you when I am ready." Diego said. "Take your time. It's better than not telling, me anyway." Diane said, although she was a little disappointed. "I am glad that we made up last night." Diego said, a slight smile forming on his face. "Yeah, me too." Diane said, beaming at him. "Hey, Diego, I am not to sure of our relationship, but we are friends right?" She asked, a little nervous at the reply he will give. "I already considered you a friend a month ago." Diego replied casually. Diane was glad. "Anything I can help you with, I could help you with those correspondence at least." Diane said, as she looked around. The office was pretty neat. Even better than her father's. "No need, I can do everything.." "Your head will continue pounding if you don't get some sleep. Besides, I already told Dorothy to bring some hangover soup." Dorothy said, still irritated that he didn't tell her how he was feeling. "How did you.." Diego asked, turning to her. "Theodore told me" Diane said without hesitation. A vein popped in Diego's head.
A while later, Diego was sipping his soup, while Diane sat at his desk, organizing some files. "You are pretty good at this." Diego commended her. "Thanks, I sometimes help my dad and brother out in the office." She said. "The only problem. I have is that it can be so boring!" Diane lamented, as she plopped her head on the desk. "Do you miss them?" Diego asked, after some moments of silence. "What?" Diane turned her head towards him. "I mean your family." Diego elaborated. Diane looked down at the documents in her hand. "I am not sure... Maybe, a little. I have Morris with me afterall." She said, with uncertainty. "And Sylvester?" Diego asked. "We weren't particularly close from the start." Diane said. "I see." Diego stated. After that, the office fell silent. "Do you regret marrying me?" Diego asked all of a sudden. "Why would I?" Diane turnedto him, alarmed by the question. "Don't act pretentious, Diane. If it wasn't for me.." Diego began. "I would have never cut ties with my family, is that what you want to say?" Diane asked him. Diego, felt a little surprised at the look in her eyes, and looked at his fists instead. "I am happier here than I was back at home, Diego." Diane began. "This family makes me feel like I was always a part of it, not as of I am an outsider." She said. "Aunt, Uncle, Natasha, Leonia, Theodore, even the servants. They make me feel like I truly belong here. And I am also free to do whatever I want." Diane said, and smiled at him. "I am glad I met you, Diego. Thank you for coming into my life." Diego couldn't explain what, but his heart skipped a beat just then. Why he was pondering over his feelings, Hugo hurriedly came into the office, handed him a letter, and left as hurriedly as he arrived. Diego was surprised to see the letter at first, since it's been months since he last heard of this person. But as he took it out and began to read, an immense smile began to form on his face. Diane just stared at him. 'What could it be that makes him smile so much?' She thought.