Chereads / Awkward Pure Love / Chapter 13 - The morning after the wedding ceremony

Chapter 13 - The morning after the wedding ceremony

It had been long. Alone in her bedroom the morning after the wedding, she thought this deeply.

She had finally managed to bring Ludiger into this castle.

Two years since returning to this castle—during that time, she had gradually made preparations.

Since her half-brothers seemed to think it natural to lay hands on maids, she thoroughly kept all women except Giselle away from her personal service.

The servants weren't foolish either—they likely avoided assigning young girls who might attract the princes' attention to work in the palace.

With Diane not using maids, the female workers needed in the castle were only those doing menial work. They too seemed to try to avoid catching the royals' attention.

There was nothing Diane could do about the women called to the castle for business. They probably already factored in relationships with the princes.

—She hadn't been able to sleep yesterday.

After the wedding ceremony, and after that too—she had been full of tension.

After the long day ended, Ludiger came to her room.

Diane traced her lips with her finger. Last night, his finger had touched there.

Though nothing more happened, she still felt her chest tighten.

She couldn't help but laugh at herself for finding a small happiness there and trying desperately to cling to it with all her might.

"...Princess... no, Your Majesty."

Giselle entered the bedroom where she was alone. She probably hadn't slept well last night either. Signs of fatigue showed under her eyes.

Taking out the dress she would wear today from the wardrobe, Diane gave an indescribable smile.

"That form of address sounds strange too. Well, it's correct—but from now on, call me by my name."

"Princess—no, Lady Diane. What will you do today?"

She had been queen for just a moment. She had already given the throne to Ludiger in exchange for marriage.

It was just a formality. Her father hadn't bothered with such formalities after usurping the previous dynasty.

—However.

It was probably necessary to give the nobles under her father a justification for following Ludiger.

They could say they had no choice because it was the "Queen's" will.

"Preparing for the funeral, I suppose. Father and my half-brothers will be executed in a few days—at least I should pray for them."

At this point, she had no intention of begging for her family's lives.

Though criminals' bodies were usually displayed publicly, Ludiger had promised to hand over the remains. She needed to prepare a place to bury them.

Giselle's expression became complicated, but she understood Diane's wishes. She took out clothes easy to move in, helping her change from her nightclothes.

When she finished dressing, Noel arrived. He entered with a severe expression.

"I oppose your marriage to Ludiger. Ludiger could unify this country even without Surliton royal blood."

"Yes, I think so. I don't think anyone doubts that. I myself think so too."

Diane clenched her fists tightly.

She understood she wasn't worthy of him. All she could give Ludiger was the throne. Even that, Ludiger didn't need.

With her father dead, many nobles wanted to follow Ludiger. Even the few remaining who might not choose to follow him, Ludiger could surely defeat them.

"In two years, I am—supposed to leave this castle."

Perhaps two years wouldn't even be necessary.

"I—believe Ludiger will become the greatest king in history."

Diane completely agreed with Noel's words. Surely Ludiger would become a good king.

"Therefore, in two years, you must definitely leave this castle. Can you promise that?"

"Y-you...! After all Lady Diane has—!"

Diane's calm voice stopped Giselle as she started to raise her voice.

"Giselle. Could you go to the kitchen and get me some water? I'm thirsty."

"But there's water right there!"

"Please get fresh, cold water. The water in the pitcher has become lukewarm."

"...As you wish."

She probably understood it was a pretext to remove her from the scene. Though Giselle looked dissatisfied, she couldn't disobey the order and left the room.

"Lord Noel—I may not be alive in two years, right?"

Noel's face changed color when she said this with a smile.

"W-what are you saying?"

"I'm saying there are ways to remove me from the queen's position besides sending me to the abbey. You could do that, couldn't you?"

"Why go this far—surely there were many other paths you could have taken without resorting to such measures."

He seemed to immediately understand her implication that assassination before sending her to the abbey was also an option.

"Didn't I say? My blood should end here. There will be people who don't like my marriage to Ludiger... no, His Majesty. But if it's blood that should be extinguished, don't you think it's fine to thoroughly use it before that?"

Noel furrowed his brow as if he couldn't understand. She didn't expect him to completely understand her thinking, but she felt she should convey what she wanted to say.

"His Majesty saved my life. No, not just my life—he saved my heart too. Without his words, I would surely have lived in fear under my father."

A king should sacrifice himself for his people. That's what Ludiger had said then.

Those words had strongly influenced Diane's heart. Until he pointed it out, she had never thought that way.

She had only resented being separated from her family and sent alone to the abbey.

"If my father lived, he would only make the people unhappy. Once I realized that, I felt there was no other way. If I had a bit more power, maybe there would have been other options—but unfortunately, my father's eyes were sharp."

All expression disappeared from Noel's face. As he bowed with that expressionless face, Giselle returned with fresh water.

"What did you say to Lady Diane? If you say anything worse, I won't forgive you!"

"...I didn't..."

Perhaps because she had once quickly drawn his dagger to face attackers, Giselle seemed somewhat harsh toward Noel.

"By the way, when will you return my sword? I can't protect her without it!"

"You can't be trusted."

"What!"

Diane lightly tapped Giselle's arm as she started to get angry. Startled, Giselle composed herself.

"Despite serving the Toredrio royal family, there were those who swore loyalty to Maxim... Lady Diane, do you have any thoughts about them?"

Noel was referring to the former Toredrio vassals, led by Marquis Hugel.

"Yes. This is their second time changing masters, isn't it? Having betrayed once themselves, they might be harsh with me."

"...Giselle—um, Lady Giselle, what do you think?"

He seemed to have decided to somewhat improve his attitude toward Giselle.

"I just want my sword back. I don't want to entrust Lady Diane's protection to anyone—can't something be done?"

"About that, please wait until after the funeral. After the funeral, I might be able to return it."

At those words, Giselle blinked in surprise. Perhaps she hadn't expected to get her sword back.

"It's better than leaving the protection to others. Any objections?"

"No, I would be grateful to have it back... grateful, sir."

Giselle seemed willing to make an effort to improve her way of speaking too. When Noel left after finishing their conversation, she sighed.

"Let's get the depressing work over with quickly."

"Yes. Lady Diane—I'll bring the tools."

Could they prepare a hole large enough to bury two adults with just the two of them? But she thought they couldn't really ask for others' help with this.