Who Do You Like More, Mom or Dad?

The Count narrowed her eyes. Baron Ovalon would not easily approve it. It was simply a fight waiting to happen.

 

“What does Diana think of Senir?”

 

“She follows him pretty well.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

It was an unwilling look. The Count paid attention to the Esteemed Mother’s expression.

 

“Mother.”

 

“It doesn’t have to be Senir…. Cough, cough, cough.”

 

The coughing was now pretty intense. The Count raised the bell. The Esteemed Mother immediately gripped the Count’s hand which was about to shake it. After a moment, the coughing stopped.

 

“Cough, ahem. We’ll continue to talk about it later, phew….”

 

The Esteemed Mother put down the handkerchief covering her mouth with a tired face.

 

“I’ll also participate on the day of your banquet.”

 

The Count frowned.

 

“I know my body. I’ll be fine if it’s only for a short while.”

 

“Mother, you don’t have to interfere. No one can deny Diana.”

 

The Esteemed Mother smiled faintly.

 

“But it will be best if I do.”

 

“….”

 

The Count stared at the Esteemed Mother. She couldn’t be considered healthy, but

—

 

“All right.”

 

There would be the least opposition if the Esteemed Mother herself admitted Diana as one of her own.

 

“This will be my apology to Philippa.”

 

So far she had lived her life considering it one with no regrets. However, the longer the period she laid down, the more she looked back on her life.

 

She had no such regrets, but what about Clement? The Esteemed Mother could not be certain.

 

“Let’s also call a lawyer.”

 

The Count’s gaze fixated on the Esteemed Mother.

 

“I’ll need to fix my will.”

 

—

Knock knock.

 

The butler’s voice sounded from outside the door.

 

“Baron Ovalon has arrived.”

  

***

  

At the same time, Diana headed to Ohrid’s back gate. The outer appearance of the carriage, which was already waiting in advance, was normal. However, the interior of the carriage was completely different from its outer appearance, and inside it, Grandfather’s secretary sat waiting.

 

“Renold? Long time no see.”

 

“…It’s been a while.”

 

It was a pale face. The dark shadow under Renold’s eyes reflected the countless nights of missed sleep. 

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“Young Miss….”

 

Renold looked at her with a moved face.

 

“You must be busy preparing for the banquet.”

 

“As expected, the Young Miss is the only one who cares about me.”

 

Renold made a crying sound. Diana smiled awkwardly as she sat close to Grandfather. 

 

Grandfather coughed satisfactorily.

 

“You, don’t talk nonsense, okay?”

 

Grandfather told Renold off. Diana, who laughed quietly, patted the back of Grandfather’s hand. Grandfather asked right away.

 

“So, do you have anything in mind?”

 

“Actually, I’m not really sure.”

 

“It sure is a difficult problem.”

 

Only Renold seemed to not understand their conversation.

 

“What are you two talking about?”

 

Grandfather coughed as he stroked his beard. It was as if he had been waiting for someone to ask such a question.

 

“So what I’m saying is. Diana!”

 

And so he began to brag.

 

“Hm? My cute granddaughter!”

 

Diana, whose cheeks were burning, shook Grandfather’s wrist as if telling him not to be like that, but Grandfather couldn’t hide his proud face.

 

“Said she wanted to give Clement a birthday present!”

 

Renold blinked his eyes.

 

“Yes. I was thinking about Grandmother’s birthday present with Grandfather. Because I don’t know what kind of gift she will like.”

 

“It’s a difficult problem.”

 

The year before last coincided with the time she entered the mansion, and last year it was so quiet that it passed without even knowing that it was her birthday.

 

The west building was hectic with the flooding gifts, but there really wasn’t any change in the main building. It was only after her maids, who went to help because they were short-handed, returned, that she found out that it was Grandmother’s birthday. It was a bit of a shock.

 

It was the opposite of Grandfather’s birthday. Since three months before it, Grandfather sang a song saying that they have to go play because it was his birthday, and also people stayed at Ohrid’s separate building, where people were rarely allowed, for around fifteen days.

 

“I want to give her something good since it’s my first gift, but I’m worried. Because there’s nothing that Grandmother needs.”

 

Diana gave a gloomy face. Renold comforted her quickly.

 

“I’m sure she will like anything if it’s the gift that Young Miss prepared.”

 

At that time, Grandfather called her as his eyes shone.

 

“Diana.”

 

Renold had a worried look at that sight.

 

“I have a good idea.”

  

***

  

Diana got off the shabby carriage. When she looked up, she saw El-Corte which was two blocks away.

 

“Huft, this is much more frustrating than I thought.”

 

“Is Young Miss alright?”

 

The masked knight adjusted the string.

 

“I’m used to it, so now I sometimes forget that I’m wearing it.”

 

Diana’s mask was just like theirs. It was a very common one that was sold on the street and not the one she had usually used.

 

The only one who didn’t wear a mask, Renold urged.

 

“The time which Mister Spencer has stalled isn’t much. Since I’ll be holding the carriage here, please quickly go to El-Corte. Don’t take too long.”

 

Just like this, the two knights and Diana, hurried their steps.

 

And there were people who were quietly tailing their behind.

 

Normally, they would have noticed it, but the knights whose attention was on the mask didn’t notice.

 

Diana coming to El-Corte accompanied only by the knights was Grandfather’s idea.

  

[For Clement, any expensive gift is only a normal thing.]

 

[As expected, I thought so.]

 

[That’s why the answer is a surprise gift.]

  

The plan was like this.

 

She and Grandfather pretend to ride a horse in the yard. And then Diana walks out of the yard together with Renold and the knights. And after catching a street carriage, she would buy a gift from El-Corte and come back.

  

[But wouldn’t it stand out if I go around wearing a mask?]

 

[Nowadays, they say it’s popular to shop wearing masks in El-Corte.]

 

[Everything is in trend.]

 

[You made it popul… no, let’s move on. Anyway, Clement will notice right away if she finds out you’ve gone to El-Corte.]

  

Therefore, the goal was to keep it as secret as possible and surprise Grandmother while giving her the gift. Diana wanted to surprise Grandmother because, for her, anything expensive was just one of her ordinary gifts.

 

It was considered a pretty good plan, except that the time to choose a gift was tight because she had to go back to the yard within the time Grandfather had stalled.

 

So, it wasn’t until the leading knight paused while turning around.

 

“Lord, please go first.”

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“Someone is following us.”

 

It was a tense voice.

 

“Following?”

 

Diana’s voice muffled.

 

“I felt it since we came out of El-Corte but I’m not sure.”

 

“Damn it.”

 

Feeling the belated sign, the knight uttered a curse.

 

“I’ll take care of this. Lord, take care of the Young Miss. Please run on the count of three.”

 

“Young Miss, will you be able to run until that alley?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then, I will count. One, t

wo,

—three!”

 

They ran reflexively. The run to the carriage in the back alley two blocks away was quick.

 

Boredly waiting, Renold jumped up when he saw them coming. Renold asked urgently.

 

“Just what in the world is going on?”

 

“We were followed.”

 

“What? You came out so carefully like that, though? Did you see what kind of person they are?”

 

“When I looked back for a moment, I feel like it was a reporter.”

 

It was amazing to be able to recognize it even in such a short time. Renold who was a bit relieved put his hair back irritably.

 

“Damned things. Just how did they know and follow you?”

 

“We will be able to find out when we catch the reporter. First of all, we couldn’t get the Young Miss involved in the disturbance, so we hurriedly returned.”

 

“We’ll be caught by the Count that we went out secretly. I’m sorry, Young Miss.”

 

“It’s okay. It can’t be helped.”

 

“First, let’s go back to Mister Spencer.”

 

It was certainly strange. She went out keeping it a secret even from her Grandmother but how did they follow them? It was doubtful to say that they were recognized at El-Corte. Among so many people who are wearing masks, how could they recognize her?

 

It was then.

 

“Please save me!”

 

It came from the inner alley. A tearful scream followed. Renold and the knight faced each other and quickly climbed into the carriage. Renold slammed the carriage door. The shabby carriage shook so loudly that she was worried that the door break.

 

“Please go quickly.”

 

Diana was startled. Is he saying they need to leave from here? But Renold said sternly to the coachman.

 

“What are you doing not leaving quickly?”

 

“Wait a minute Renold! I heard a scream from over there!”

 

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a terrifying cry asking for help again.

 

Renold spoke to the coachman without a blink.

 

“Please depart quickly.”

 

“No!”

 

The coachman, who read the situation, shrugged his shoulders and departed.

 

“You, what are you doing!”

 

Diana’s body rose and fell. Lord Ricardo blocked her who was going to stick her head out of the window.

 

“We keep the Young Miss’ safety as the priority.”

 

“This isn’t an uncommon happening in the back alley.”

 

Renold then said.

 

“Young Miss. If anything happens to the Young Miss, the Count and the Husband will be very sad.”

 

Diana stopped moving.

 

“Especially the Count’s Husband, Mister Spencer will surely be sad.”

 

“….”

 

“Do you not mind even if he blames himself that this kind of matter happened when you were together with him?”

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