TSMMT Ch 86

Dress Code

[Dianna] "Sir Logaple, I am not your sister."

She spoke quietly, stating a truth that Logaple failed to recognize. That woman had a younger brother to help her, friends, and a family. But now, Dianna possessed no one. Even so, she pleaded with desperate earnestness.

Looking into his eyes, her heart wavered. In her past life, absolutely no one had tried to convince her otherwise.

Am I allowed to do something? Am I allowed to make something…… better?

Guiscard didn't want that. He wants me to suffer.

Does this weaken the concept of my punishment? If the punishment fades, will I remain trapped forever?

Even before that, Logaple's words lacked trustworthiness. Had she not listened to a knight's advice before, only to walk straight into their cruel slander?

Nevertheless, the voice speaking of hope sounded incredibly tempting and sweet.

[Dianna] "Therefore, don't…… concern yourself with me."

She spoke, her voice thick with unshed tears. She only needed to endure these three years as if she were dead. She desired no change. Change was……

After the world she changed turned into a living hell instead, Dianna lost all will to act. In truth, even breathing remained painful. Terror gripped her when she thought about how the world might turn out.

[Logaple] "Your Majesty……"

He mumbled weakly. Dianna offered a smile and spoke.

[Dianna] "I know. I am pathetic, am I not? If I met someone who made endless excuses to avoid taking action, it would frustrate me too."

[Logaple] "……"

[Dianna] "In truth, I am far too exhausted."

She smiled. Absolutely no light remained in her silver-gray eyes. She harbored no curiosity for new things, no joy when eating delicious food, and no admiration for beauty. Her life existed solely for endurance—nothing more.

[Dianna] "Because I have endured such a painful time."

Wearing a hollow expression like an old person, she smiled. Logaple recognized her broken state.

[Logaple] "What on earth…… what exactly did you experience?"

She gestured a refusal. She resolved never to reveal this matter to anyone. Alexa understood the general outline, but speaking of these horrors would only hand others a weapon against her.

[Dianna] "I possess no certainty that I can ever find happiness or live a good life in the future……."

She merely waited in silence to see what would come after enduring the three years. She was a living corpse. Only the three-year limit kept her alive. If Guiscard declared he would never release her, she would choose death without hesitation.

Right then, the door burst open once more.

[Leonie] "Are you still in here? That woman is a hopeless cause. Give up."

She realized Leonie had stayed behind to eavesdrop on the conversation rather than leaving the area. Leonie spoke out plainly.

[Leonie] "If it were me, even if death were certain, I would go down fighting. At least then, I wouldn't die with regrets."

Logaple sighed as he watched Leonie. He looked at Dianna, his lips parting as if to speak, before he offered a quiet smile and rose from his seat.

Dianna understood that Logaple had now resolved to give up on her.

[Logaple] "Do you know what was written in my sister's journal? It was…… regret."

[Dianna] "……"

[Logaple] "She wrote that because she surrendered and abandoned everything, she possessed absolutely no strength left when she finally tried to stand up. She couldn't protect herself."

[Dianna] "……"

[Logaple] "She regretted every single choice."

[Dianna] "……"

[Logaple] "I hope Your Majesty doesn't end up filled with regret as well."

He smiled no longer. The advice delivered by a boy younger than herself left her heart aching coldly. Dianna caressed her abdomen.

In the past, when she wept bitterly over losing her child, Revius' words echoed in her ears like tinnitus.

[Revius] "This is your own fault. It is the price of your laziness and carelessness, failing to build your own strength. Wipe that disgusting look of self-pity off your face."

Dianna couldn't fundamentally shift her mindset, for her attitude toward life remained entirely resigned. Even so, she too had lost things helplessly—something stripped away before she could even learn to treasure it.

---

Joy consumed Saruvia these days. The path to becoming queen was easy!

It was filled with ease. Dianna was incredibly foolish, lacking any drive to protect what belonged to her. A daughter from a foreign land—a nation that slandered the King—served as such easy prey.

The King was absent, leaving only Prime Minister Revius behind. Naturally, Revius paid absolutely no attention to Dianna. If he respected her as the Queen, it would be proper to discuss state affairs with her in the King's absence. Instead, he completely abandoned her, an action that amounted to a refusal to recognize her title.

Dianna recognized this reality but offered no response. She remained completely silent even when Saruvia controlled the palace maids and altered the appointments of the castle staff.

Saruvia believed she could strip away everything from Dianna far more easily than anticipated.

Leonie was an annoyance, but in truth, she posed no real threat. Duke Kragel's eccentric nature was famous, and because Leonie was equally short-tempered, the lady had lost all popular support long ago.

[Saruvia] "Lise, are those the only earrings you can present to the Queen? You have provoked Her Majesty's anger!"

Saruvia focused first on winning the maids over to her side, claiming everything was done for the sake of the Queen. She behaved with calculated strictness, constantly berating Mable and the other servants.

Maids were remarkably useful tools. They excelled at spreading rumors about their masters and shaping the opinions of the castle servants. Winning them over and turning them against Dianna would make everything run smoothly.

[Saruvia] "Sigh, let me teach you, Lise. The Queen prefers ruby earrings over pearls."

The maid's expression brightened.

[Saruvia] "Let us both be careful to avoid drawing Her Majesty's wrath."

Forging a peculiar sense of friendship this way, she systematically encroached upon everything that belonged to Dianna.

Yet, was winning over the servants enough? No, there were limits to what these low-born people could achieve. She had to humiliate Dianna in front of every noblewoman. A remarkably simple scheme came to mind.

Countless noble ladies harbored curiosity about the Queen. If she invited them to a tea party, the task would become effortless. She merely needed to manipulate the information regarding the dress code. Everything stood ready.

[Saruvia] "Your Majesty must dress spectacularly today."

She spoke with a bright smile. Dianna nodded.

[Saruvia] "You must display the Queen's grand dignity to all the noble ladies."

She was so foolish that Saruvia almost felt a pang of pity.

Dianna donned a dark blue velvet dress.

This is completely different from what I envisioned.

She considered correcting Dianna but refrained, knowing that excessive extravagance was never to Dianna's taste.

Instead, Dianna wrapped a stunning, beautifully radiant shawl over her shoulders. It was a silk shawl woven with five shimmering colors that even Saruvia coveted. Though her attire deviated slightly from Saruvia's intent, the magnificent shawl managed to bridge the gap perfectly.

Today, Dianna had to be conspicuously the most extravagant figure. Saruvia followed behind her wearing modest clothing. Reports indicated that Leonie refused to enter the palace after having a sharp exchange with Dianna. It was thoroughly amusing.

[Saruvia] "Lady Kragel is remarkably selfish."

[Dianna] "……"

[Saruvia] "How can she fail to accompany Your Majesty to such a critical gathering?"

She pouted. Dianna spoke quietly.

[Dianna] "Lady Kragel clearly held a grievance against you, Lady Levian."

[Saruvia] "Pardon?"

[Dianna] "She offered it as advice, claiming that you are systematically usurping my position."

Saruvia bit her lip at her words.

Ruining my perfect plan! That woman is absolute trouble.

[Dianna] "Of course, I dismissed her claims. I trust you, Lady Levian."

At her reply, Saruvia smiled.

Right, that must be why that woman removed herself from the equation.

[Saruvia] "Thank you for believing in me. I shall serve you with absolute devotion."

Dianna arrived at the tearoom. She entered with a rigid, upright posture.

The noble ladies who arrived early were conversing amongst themselves. Because Dianna expressed a distaste for loud crowds, Saruvia had only invited noblewomen from prominent houses, including the ducal families. Every single one of them hailed from a proud, aristocratic lineage.

Turning their gaze to the Queen, their expressions instantly turned rigid. At that sight, Saruvia bit back a triumphant laugh.

Every single noblewoman wore plain, understated attire. Dianna stood as the sole figure dressed in an extravagant outfit. Cold glares locked onto her form.

Is she seriously attempting to establish dominance over us this way?

The noblewomen knit their brows as they studied Dianna draped in the magnificent shawl. The invitation explicitly stated it was a casual gathering and requested simple dress, so what on earth was the meaning of this spectacle?

Naturally, no one possessed the standing to voice an objection openly. However, offense took root in many hearts. Saruvia smiled as the trap unfolded exactly as she planned. If Dianna confronted Saruvia here, she merely needed to act as though sheer injustice had been done to her.

[Saruvia] "Those women must have conspired against us! Forgive me, I should have realized……"

Dianna could never punish Saruvia. She likely remained ignorant of the scheme, and even if she figured it out, enforcing a punishment would only make the Queen look as though she were scapegoating an attendant.

Saruvia checked Dianna's face, expecting to feast on a rigid, humiliated expression. Instead, she displayed a warm, serene smile.

[Dianna] "You have all dressed exactly as I requested. I offer you my sincere gratitude."

Saruvia failed to comprehend what had gone awry even at that moment.

As Dianna gestured, a line of maids stepped up behind her.

[Dianna] "It took some time to select the perfect colors matching each of your distinguished houses."

The maids presented beautifully radiant shawls to every noble lady.

[Lady] "This…… is this not made of rainbow silk? The same material Your Majesty is currently wearing!"

[Dianna] "Indeed."

She spoke with a smile.

[Dianna] "It is a gift for the noble ladies who have graced us with their presence today."

Dianna looked down at the shawl draped over her shoulders. The noblewomen studied the gifts with guarded expressions. This fabric was the height of fashion in Panborough. While they secretly admired Panborough trends, they hesitated, wondering if accepting the gift carried a hidden motive.

[Leonie] "Oh, it is stunningly beautiful."

The noble ladies turned their gaze toward the speaker. Leonie stood there, already wearing a dark blue shawl that complemented her perfectly.

[Leonie] "I thank Your Majesty for your grand benevolence."

Speaking in a cheerful tone as she adjusted the wrap, Leonie flashed a radiant smile directly at Saruvia.

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