The first place they asked to be guided to was the Great Hall.
Located at the heart of the castle, this was where her father and half-brothers had held their lavish feasts.
Though she didn't intend to regret her actions—her father and half-brothers surely wouldn't understand.
She could well imagine what words they would hurl at her. The long corridor they hurried through had apparently become a battleground, with blood spattered here and there.
Trying to keep her eyes away from those bloodstains, she directed her steps toward the largest hall in the castle.
"What's wrong? This is the hall—no, if you're reluctant, we can rest somewhere. Your family is in this hall."
When she hesitated to enter before the doors guarded by two soldiers, Rudiger quickly noticed.
Though she wasn't in a position to receive such consideration—feeling apologetic first, she took a deep breath.
"Thank you for your concern—but it's not a problem."
She had returned to this castle two years ago. Until then, she had lived in a convent about two days away by carriage. Even after returning to the castle, she had never shared a warm moment with her father or half-brothers.
For her father, only her mother, whom he had betrayed his lord to obtain, was important—he had no interest in their daughter. For her half-brothers, there was no need to care about a half-sister with a different mother. That's how she interpreted it.
In the hall she entered, numerous bound men were lined up. Those who were injured appeared to have received some treatment.
Among them, she recognized her father Maxim and half-brother Valerian, and stood frozen. Though she had steeled herself, the sight of the two was still intense.
Bandages were wrapped in various places, and some areas were stained red where the bleeding hadn't stopped.
"I thought it strange how accurately they knew the layout here... so it was you who betrayed us. I wondered where you had disappeared to, so that's what it was. Women have their own ways of survival, don't they?"
The moment Maxim recognized Diana, his mouth twisted.
Though he must be approaching fifty, his face usually looked nearly ten years younger than his actual age, but now it was exhausted.
In his face heavy with fatigue, only his glaring eyes and twisted mouth stood out strangely.
"Selling yourself to the victor. How fitting. Your mother was the same. The moment her husband died in battle, she started making eyes at me—"
"I only did what I had to do."
Diana clenched her fists tightly and cut off Maxim's words. Perhaps there was some truth to her father's words.
But she had things she needed to protect. Her half-sister who now lies buried beside her mother. Her mother would have done anything to protect her—even if it meant offering up her own chastity.
Who was he to say such things now? She clenched her fists so tight her nails dug into her palms.
"If I were a man—no, if I had even as much skill with a sword as Giselle! If I had had the chance to poison you—I would have killed you with my own hands! Mother surely would have wished for that too!"
Her mother had never loved her father. Her heart had always belonged to her deceased first husband. After her daughter from her first husband died, she sent Diana to the convent—because she didn't want to look at Diana.
A daughter unwanted even by her birth mother. A daughter whose very existence was deemed evil. That was who she was.
"Someone once taught me that for a king to be a king, they must sacrifice themselves for the happiness of their people. That's what I want to be...!"
Someone had taught her that once.
Someone who had completely changed her way of life. Four years ago on that day, Rudiger had changed her life.
If she hadn't met him, surely. She would still be living a sullen life. Turning away from what she needed to do.
"As a daughter of the defeated royal family, I will properly fulfill my responsibilities. Please leave the rest to me."
"What royal daughter? You never even lived in the castle."
Her half-brother Valerian bared his teeth in a sneer.
Come to think of it, she had barely even spoken with him. Valerian strongly resembled their father. She had never felt any affection for him, and that surely wouldn't change even after his burial.
"Yes, but if I'm the last survivor, then I must take responsibility."
"The crown prince is still alive! Besides, whether you'll survive is another matter entirely!"
It was pointless to talk with these people. They probably felt nothing about their evil deeds.
For the first time, she regretted sending Giselle to help with treatment. If she were here, Diana might have been able to stay stronger.
Though she still had things she wanted to say, her lips trembled and no words would come out. As she stood frozen, a large hand touched her back.
Looking up over her shoulder, she realized it was Rudiger. It felt as if warmth flowed from his hand, and suddenly her lips moved smoothly.
"I stand here, and you are captives. That is all. And... the crown prince has left this castle. The moment he abandoned his people and fled alone, he lost his right to be king."
After saying this in one breath, Diana turned on her heel. She didn't want to breathe the air in this hall any longer.
"Are you alright? I'm sorry, I wasn't considerate enough."
"I'm fine. If you hadn't—"
His hand on her back. Without that hand, she probably couldn't have said even half of what she wanted to say to her father and half-brother.
"Where shall I guide you?"
Pretending not to notice anything, she pulled away from his hand. She strongly hoped that her forced smile hadn't crumbled.
"First the treasury, then the king's private chambers, and the princes' rooms as well, please."
"I wonder how much remains... it seems quite a bit was sold off. There should also be items plundered from occupied territories."
The treasury contained numerous valuables. Crowns, jewels, golden ornaments. There were swords and armor decorated with jewels. Boxes filled with gold coins and gold bars were piled up.
She felt relieved that more items remained than she had thought. With this much, it should help rebuild the ravaged country.
"Is this everything?"
"The gold and silver tableware is kept in storage near the kitchen. Also... there are some jewels in my room. There should be some in Father's and Brother's rooms too. There might be some in the queen's room as well... though I'm not sure if the queen's items remain. I heard talk that they were given to mistresses."
"Speaking of which, I hear they've captured Maxim's concubines. Search their rooms as well. Noel, I'll leave that to you."
Noel bowed with a "Yes" and tilted his head.
"What should we do with the women?"
"They're hardly worth punishing. After the Shurriton royalty are executed, let them do as they please. If any of our soldiers want to marry them, that's fine too."
"I wonder about that. If they could deal with Maxim, I'm not sure we could handle them."
Though Noel said this with a wry smile, Rudiger just shrugged and waved his hand. Bowing once more, Noel left to carry out his orders.
Even as she guided them to the king's private chambers and the princes' rooms, Diana felt stares piercing her from all directions. They were not friendly stares—probably filled with curses.
"Ridiculously ostentatious rooms. Poor taste."
Upon entering her father's room, Rudiger spat out these words. This place was furnished more luxuriously than anywhere else in the castle.
However, the furniture that only emphasized its costliness apparently struck Rudiger as being in poor taste.
"...Your Majesty may redecorate as you please."
Standing beside her was not the boy she had lived with at Lamartine Monastery. He was a king—who had come to conquer this country.
And Diana was here as the princess who had betrayed her country and sold it to him. She could no longer call him "Rudiger" in front of others as she had before.
Though she had chosen this path herself—her chest hurt. She pressed her hand to her chest as if to suppress that pain.