TSMMT Ch 107

Now I Understand

When Dianna awoke from her long slumber, three days had already passed.

The moment she sat up, Mable rushed to her side. She felt parched, yet no sound escaped her dry throat.

As if anticipating her state, Mable brought a glass of water.

[Mable] "Drinking too fast will upset your stomach. Please sip it slowly."

Dianna nodded, holding the water in her mouth before swallowing it carefully. Clearing her throat with a light cough, a raspy voice faintly emerged.

As her voice returned, a dull ache throbbed in her head. She groaned, clutching her head, prompting Mable to bring medication.

Staring at the bottle, she drank the liquid without a word. She breathed slowly, surveying her surroundings.

[Dianna] "You must have faced immense trouble."

Mable's expression shifted at her words.

[Dianna] "Did His Majesty inflict punishment upon the servants?"

Mable shook her head.

[Mable] "Even if he punished us, it would be the fault of those girls. How could they dare......"

Hearing her blame the remaining maids, Dianna shook her head.

[Dianna] "I sent them away intentionally. Those girls committed no wrong."

Dianna spoke while staring at the glass in her hand. Lacking strength, her hand trembled, causing the water inside to ripple.

[Mable] "How can you consider my well-being and the servants' at a time like this?"

Dianna looked at Mable. Tears welled in the eyes of the woman who had always remained rigid and stern.

She observed Mable's face, realizing her current circumstances. She had been rescued returning to the palace safely.

[Dianna] "I am sorry."

[Mable] "......"

[Dianna] "Mable, I am sorry. I must offer my apology to you first."

She offered a sincere apology. They had not shared a good relationship since her past life. Thus, she had naturally assumed Mable would torment her. Though she had believed herself to be the sole victim, she had treated Mable sharply in her past life.

Yet Mable had never unleashed anger upon her. Now, Dianna understood. Mable had never tormented her.

Reflecting on her past, Mable had remained by her side until the moment Dianna felt cornered into taking her own life.

A sense of absolute relief washed over her.

[Mable] "Please don't apologize to a servant. I knew you granted me leave simply to allow me rest."

Misunderstanding her words, Mable offered a response.

Dianna wore a bitter smile. She alone remembered the relationship that had spiraled into the absolute worst state in her past life. That truth would likely remain forever, prompting her to nod with a soft smile.

[Mable] "Then I shall summon someone."

She bowed slightly, and upon reading Dianna's silent permission, she opened the door.

[Mable] "Her Majesty the Queen has awakened!"

Following her shout, a boisterous noise echoed through the corridor. The quiet palace instantly filled with commotion. Just then, heavy footsteps thudded, and someone burst inside.

[Leonie] "Your Majesty!"

The booming voice belonged to Leonie. Dianna's hazy mind snapped fully back to reality.

Beholding Leonie's face, Dianna gasped in shock. Her face was swollen a vibrant crimson.

[Dianna] "Were you struck?"

[Leonie] "Who would dare strike me! How can those be your very first words upon awakening?!"

She displayed absolutely no formal decorum, as usual.

[Leonie] "I am like this because I wept! I wept for Your Majesty! Understand?!"

Her swollen face softened her sharp features into a round shape, appearing quite endearing and forcing Dianna to suppress a chuckle.

[Leonie] "Sob! How could you do this! How?!"

[Dianna] "......"

[Leonie] "You said you would mark the carriage! You said so!"

Dianna offered an embarrassed smile. As expected, losing consciousness had caused her spirit's mark to vanish.

[Leonie] "Still, I am relieved you awakened."

This is terrifying......

Leonie already possessed a large frame and thick bones, making her bloodshot eyes and smiling face appear intimidating.

[Leonie] "Do you know how much we worried? Sir Logaple and Sir Bill were sick with worry as well."

[Dianna] "I see...... Are those gentlemen safe?"

[Leonie] "They narrowly escaped execution, but they are safe. You have no idea how shocked we were when His Majesty halted the ceremony and arrived there......"

[Dianna] "His Majesty came?"

[Leonie] "Yes! How did he even discover it? He stood right behind us! When he asked if the tracking was proceeding well, I thought my head would be severed that very day."

[Dianna] "That trashy bastard Revius......"

Dianna muttered sinisterly.

[Leonie] "Pardon?"

[Dianna] "Ah, it is nothing."

She recalled the Prime Minister who had claimed he would lick her boots.

How could Guiscard have known? Revius was the sole informant. Having trusted him as an ally, he had snitched to Guiscard instead.

Though Dianna's collapse had placed her in danger, leaving her with no excuse, she still felt betrayed.

[Dianna] "How was I rescued?"

When she inquired, Leonie's eyes wavered.

[Leonie] "Do you not remember? You were rescued after being abandoned in a barn."

Dianna nodded. She remembered experiencing nightmares regarding Emil, but everything after that remained blank.

[Leonie] "More importantly, Your Majesty. Why on earth did you do such a thing?"

Deep in thought, Dianna failed to notice that the door remained open, nor did she see the man who had entered, pressing his index finger to his lips to signal silence to the room.

[Dianna] "Is it not obvious? I told you already."

[Leonie] "You did it to drive Levian away."

[Dianna] "Naturally."

Leonie wore a peculiar expression. Beholding her bewildered face, Dianna wondered if she had spoken incorrectly, then asked slowly:

[Leonie] "Why did you risk your life to drive her away?"

[Dianna] "Because no other method existed."

[Leonie] "Why? You could have informed His Majesty. No, it was strange from the beginning. Why did you leave that woman be? You could have informed His Majesty."

[Dianna] "Informing His Majesty to drive Levian away? Was such a thing ever possible?"

Instantly, Leonie froze, staring at Dianna's innocent face in shock. Shel realized that Dianna, whom she had considered more rational and composed than anyone, was trapped in a strange, unyielding conviction.

Guiscard will never act for my sake, he will never take my side, and he will never grant my desires.

An absolute belief was firmly rooted within Dianna. She spoke as if feeling wronged:

[Dianna] "Lady Kragel, you know the situation best, do you not? Levian Ducal House offered the greatest contribution to His Majesty's ascension. As the Queen, I can't turn such a house into an enemy without justification. To do so, a clear pretext is required......"

Dianna found the situation bizarre instead. Why could Leonie not understand? Did she fail to grasp Dianna's position? Why did everyone speak as though they were a real married couple?

This was an opportunity. If Levian stood behind Mirva, exposing her actions through Mirva served as the perfect chance to inform Guiscard.

[Leonie] "You chose to become the pretext yourself?"

Dianna nodded. A heavy sigh escaped Leonie's lips.

Beholding her reaction, Dianna felt a sudden intuition that something had gone terribly wrong. Just then, a man's voice echoed:

[Guiscard] "That suffices. Lady Kragel, step outside for a moment."

Leonie gasped, turning around in shock. Guiscard had entered the room, standing beside the bed before anyone noticed.

Dianna stared at the man with a rigid face. Looking up at Guiscard, Leonie spoke as if reaching a firm resolution.

[Leonie] "Your Majesty."

[Guiscard] "......"

[Leonie] "Please don't unleash your anger upon Her Majesty."

Dianna failed to comprehend the situation. Why was Leonie pleading with Guiscard?

Without casting a glance toward Leonie, he spoke.

[Guiscard] "This is a matter between the two of us. You overstep your bounds."

At his sharp rebuke, Leonie bowed her waist and cautiously departed. His voice carried a hollow weight.

Guiscard sat beside Dianna. His gaze struck her cheek like sharp needles. Unable to endure the awkwardness, Dianna lowered her chin and spoke.

[Dianna] "I would appreciate it if you announced your arrival. I doubt a conversation between women held much entertainment for you."

His breathing quickened. Realizing that sarcastic words had escaped her lips even at a moment like this, Dianna wanted to clamp her mouth shut. She must not irritate him right now.

[Guiscard] "I merely came to see your face upon awakening. I harbored no intention of eavesdropping from the beginning."

Thereafter, Guiscard stared at Dianna in absolute silence once more. He displayed no anger, making his thoughts completely unreadable.

Dianna closed her eyes tightly.

[Dianna] "You will not believe me, but I didn't intend to flee."

[Guiscard] "......"

[Dianna] "Please believe me. Therefore, don't hold Lady Kragel and the knights accountable. Their sole fault was trusting me. Even if you issue punishment......"

[Guiscard] "Do you know when you become most talkative?"

[Dianna] "......"

[Guiscard] "Precisely at moments like this. When you open your mouth for the sake of others."

He extended his hand. Dianna accepted his touch, forcing her stiffened body to endure his hand.

[Guiscard] "Just as you desired, Lady Levian is confined in the dungeon. I am investigating the charges alongside that crazy woman."

Her eyes widened.

Levian is in the dungeon? Imprisoned so easily?

She gasped. Did Guiscard disregard his political ties with the Levian Ducal House? This outcome was not what Dianna had intended.

[Dianna] "Do you not care about your relationship with the Ducal House?"

[Guiscard] "Why should I concern myself with their reactions in the first place?"

Dianna flinched. She had not intended to offend him. Yet she knew their close relationship from her past life all too well. Guiscard understood how perilous the situation would become if the Duke of Levian turned his back.

[Guiscard] "Nothing is more important than my current wife."

[Dianna] "......"

[Guiscard] "I......"

He closed his eyes once more, looking up at the ceiling as if suppressing his rising anger.

[Guiscard] "Yet you will believe nothing I say."

[Dianna] "......"

[Guiscard] "Because you already decided to act that way. No matter what attitude I display, you will react with shock, I will deny your assumptions, and you will refuse to believe me."

His gaze shifted toward Dianna. Her pale face, her emaciated frame. Though her features occasionally sparkled with life, she mostly carried the face of someone who lived merely because she couldn't die.

[Guiscard] "Securing three years may have been the absolute best choice."

He muttered under his breath.

Why does he mention the three years now?

Without answering, he stared at her face. His expressionless features looked gloomy and sorrowful. Dianna felt as though she had committed a grave error.

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