"Then it's a pity." Richard received my father's words composedly.
"What do you mean?" Father gave an incredulous laugh after hearing Richard's nonchalant response.
Richard released his hand holding mine and suddenly rested it on my shoulder. It was big and rough.
I looked up at him in surprise at his unexpected behavior. Uncaring of the people around him, Richard soon hugged me as if trying to wrap me in his embrace.
"Since you mentioned that Diana's not your family, I don't think I will feel guilty about what I'm going to do in the future."
Richard soon laughed after saying something incomprehensible.
I was staring blankly at him while still wrapped in his arms.
No matter how much I encouraged him to use me, it was strange and awkward of him to behave this way when he had built a wall between us.
"Guilty? What are you up to, Lord Theodore?"
"I'll go through proper steps and then, you'll know. Look forward to it."
Richard's voice took on a dignified and profound tone. It was unshakable and confident. As if he could defeat the Duke of Tristan at any time.
Not long have I made a suggestion, however, he calculated everything in that short amount of time.
And have come to some conclusion.
I've got a rough idea. It was probably to take everything that's rightfully mine from the current Duke of Tristan.
My mother's official heir was me, so if I had enough time, money, and stamina, I would be able to take it away.
"Then, have a good night."
After a brief bow, Richard took me and weaved our way out of that confused crowd. Then, he led me to a quiet corner.
I got out of his embrace and looked up at him.
Richard had a smirk plastered over his cold expression while thinking of something.
"Foolish."
"What?" I asked as I couldn't contain my curiosity over Richard's words.
Then Richard glanced in my father's direction for a moment before looking at me.
"It's exactly as he is. A foolish man."
"You mean Father?"
"Yes."
"Richard, leaving aside how you plan to take action from now on, he was the one who deceived you. Aren't you angry at all?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't angry."
Richard paused for a moment. I didn't rush him and waited for his answer.
"But actions come with a price. If someone makes a fool out of me, he'd pay for it. It's funny how he's so arrogant not knowing what's coming to him."
I bowed my head in apology after seeing Richard's reaction.
"I'm sorry."
I apologized to him because it was true that my father and I deceived him by marrying me.
Although Richard accepted his offer to take advantage of the benefits of marrying me, he only had me to gain and nothing else.
Taking the position of Duke Tristan and all of my possessions was also something that Richard had to do on his own.
Looking at me, Richard raised his brow, presumably not liking what he sees.
"Diana, what you need to do is not apologize."
Richard bit his lip and sighed as he looked at me who doesn't know what he was saying.
"I don't know if I told you this but I never do something that I will lose."
Of course, I was well aware of that fact and it's the reason why the original Diana was cast aside.
She had caused him damage. A lot of damage.
He lost quite a hefty fortune of 30,000 gold without receiving anything in return. Therefore, Richard became cold-hearted towards the original Diana.
"I need you to do something when we get back to the residence.”
Even before Richard spoke, I knew what he wanted to say.
"I know. I'm going to check all the properties that I should receive in my name, right?"
"Yes," Richard replied with a gentle nod.
In order to reclaim my inheritance from my father's hands, it was important to know first the things I will inherit. From the manor, properties, and down to every little thing.
"But it's strange. If all of those should have belonged to you, why didn't you try to take them, Diana?" Richard asked, apparently bewildered.
He was right.
It was originally something I should have reclaimed when I became an adult. But I didn't have the energy, the money, or even the connections to have a legal battle with my father.
"That's……."
I opened my mouth to respond but couldn't come up with an immediate answer.
Should I tell Richard that I'm ill?
I was deliberating over whether I should tell him or not but soon gave up. Richard and I had a business relationship anyway.
Most of all, if I die after getting everything back, he will have it all.
If that's the case, then it would be more than enough of a payment for deceiving him.
"I didn't want to fight my father." I lied and decided not to tell him what's really on my mind.
Richard had a rather condescending smile hearing my words.
"You wanted to be a good person after everything was taken away from you?"
“…….”
"Foolish."
* * *
The carriage rattled so much that it's making me uncomfortable. Beyond the window, the sun was setting slowly on the west mountain.
I was leaning against the back of the carriage chair, tired of a series of events at the ball.
The ball, which I had to stand for a long time on top of suffering from Darnella's disease, was a big challenge for me.
As if to prove that I have it, it was getting harder to breathe by the minute. I could feel the burning sensation in my lungs with every breath I took.
At this rate, my cough might get worse again. It would have been okay if it was just a normal cough.
If I'm going to be in the carriage for a long time like before, I would get caught by Richard.
I honestly would prefer to postpone such a thing as my last resort.
Richard was saying something earlier, but I couldn't tell what it was about.
"Diana?"
"I'm sorry, but I have severe motion sickness right now and I couldn't hear anything you said."
"Stop the carriage.”
I was breathing hard like a sick rooster, and Richard ordered the coachman to pull over.
"Let's take a break."
"……Can you call Oliviel for me?"
Richard got off the carriage and called Oliviel over.
Oliviel quickly approached the carriage, and got inside, looking at my condition in horror.
"Are you all right, madam?"
"Oliviel, can you give me some pain reliever?"
"Oh, yes. Hold on a second."
Oliviel rushed out of the carriage and came back with the relief medicine that Dr. Norman had made.
I drank water after popping the two small pills in my mouth. As lukewarm water passed through my dry throat, my breathing became much bearable.
Still, for a while, I couldn't get my mind off the pain that squeezed my lungs, gripping my whole body. I thought about how good it would be if this was just motion sickness like what I told Richard.
"Is it very bad?"
I opened my blurry eyes and turned towards the direction from which the sound was coming.
It seemed like Richard was asking Oliviel about my condition.
"She said it's motion sickness but isn't it too much.”
"Yes, it is as she said…… When madam first came to the mansion, she didn't feel well either because of the result of riding the carriage for too long."
Luckily, Oliviel answered accordingly to what I wanted her to say.
"Well, I do remember she hadn't eaten even then.”
"Yes……."
"Then let's wait here a little more."
"Yes, my lord."
Oliviel got back on the carriage and wiped my forehead with a wet handkerchief.
"This is difficult. How much further do we have to go?"
"It's half a day, my lord."
"Then, is there any village nearby?"
“It would be at least three to four hours to get there.”
"But Diana's condition isn't good. It's too much for her to ride on the carriage like this.”
It seemed like we have gotten delayed because of me. I didn't expect it would be delayed like this. We haven't even prepared any supplies for the journey beforehand.
"Richard." I called Richard with a trembling voice.
Sadly, my voice was too small to reach Richard.
"Oliviel, will you call Richard?”
"Yes, madam."
I ordered Oliviel who was the closest to me to call Richard over.
After a while, Richard got on the carriage.
Oliviel let the two of us talk for a while.
"You're not looking very good."
"……I'm fine so let's just go."
Since I took some medicine anyway, I would get better on the way.
Even with that said, Richard reached out his hand. His big hand covered my forehead.
I flinched for a moment at his rough touch. Richard put his hand on my forehead for a moment before he withdrew.
"You have a high fever considering you're fine.”
"……But we can't just stay here. The sun is almost setting."
Even now, the sun was climbing over the mountain and the reddish hue of dusk nearly covered the sky. If we delay any longer, we'll really end up camping here.
"If we need to camp, then we will. But first, let's focus on your recovery. Because if you die for nothing, it will be your big loss."
"But."
"I don't want to listen to any answer other than a yes."
"……Okay."
I tried to refute him, but I couldn't object more because Richard was so stubborn.
Eventually, the time required to reach back home became more delayed.
Richard untied the horse on the carriage and ordered something to the knights following us.
That scene was my last recollection before the sun went down.
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