Diego’s demeanor the last time he’d sent her away had been chilling. Even when she told him about his father’s murder, he laughed at her. He casually told her to go ahead and do it if she could, because he didn’t think anyone would believe her without proof. Adriana could barely finish her list of suggestions when he was so cold. The needle was about to drop.

Estella spoke encouragingly.

“The Little Duke is not completely stupid. If the young lady can explain the efficiency of her proposal, I’m sure he’ll listen.”

Adriana studied Estella’s kind face for a moment. She wondered if the woman saw a different side to Diego, and in hindsight. And upon further reflection, the coldness that had been so apparent in the Little Duke seemed somewhat softened when it came to her. It was thanks to Estella that Adriana had gotten the chance to face the Duke twice.

Adriana hesitated, then spoke.

“Actually, I didn’t expect you to be here in person today, I just thought you’d relay the news to the Little Duke.”

The words caught Estella off guard for a moment. Looking at the situation objectively, the woman who had offered to arrange an introduction suddenly appeared as the other man’s partner. There was no room for misunderstanding, but it felt a little odd to comment on Diego’s bluntness. Estella replied with an air of casualness.

“I asked to go to the royal ball because I’ve never been to one before.”

She hadn’t expected to be the first to offer this excuse to Adriana, let alone anyone else.

“I thought it would be more natural for me to take control of the situation. He’s not exactly the kind of person who listens to others…….”

Estella said and trailed off. The previous statement was a lie, but the words that followed were sincere. If Estella had insisted on meeting with Adriana, Diego would have scoffed and dismissed her. Adriana nodded in understanding at Estella’s words.

“Thank you. Miss Margaret made it possible that I’m getting another chance like this.”

“Lucky for me, too, I suppose.”

“No. In fact, when I asked for the favor, I was somewhat confident that Miss Margaret would do it, given the way the Duke has been treating her.”

“Treating me? I don’t think so.”

Estella retorted as if it were ridiculous, but in truth she didn’t think it was far-fetched. Surely Diego was being too nice to her lately.

“No, it’s not, the last time I saw him at the gate…….”

Adriana’s voice slowly trailed off as she explained. Estella glanced back reflexively. Diego had pulled back the curtain and was peering inside. His brow furrowed, as if he hadn’t quite gotten the hang of things yet.

Estella was also taken aback by the unexpectedly early visit. It seemed that he had come to see her immediately upon hearing the message. Estella hurriedly stepped forward.

“Oh, I just happened to run into Miss Adriana and we were talking, you know, I don’t know many people, so I thought I’d introduce myself to……..”

Estella trailed off. Estella’s explanation didn’t diminish Diego’s frown. She knew he’d react badly when she brought Adriana, but this was a little too much. Diego said in disbelief.

“Why did you call me out to the terrace all of a sudden……. You must have had some shady intentions.”

“No, it was really just a chance encounter with Lady Adriana.”

“Then may I assume that the cause of this unpleasant situation lies over there?”

As if he could not continue to stand in the doorway, Diego slowly walked inside, his gaze returning to Adriana. Diego spoke in a cold voice.

“I’m sure I told you to stay the hell away from the Duchy of Berta. I guess you didn’t know that it was an expression that also included people.”

Estella couldn’t help but panic at Diego’s eerie warning. Adriana and Diego were, after all, the hero and heroine of a romance novel. She wondered if he might feel an inexplicable attraction to her if they continued to see each other. But the way he was treating her was not even as good as dealing with strangers.

“You repeatedly cross the line like this…….”

He looked down at Adriana through narrowed eyes. He sounded as if he was contemplating his next move. In a romance novel twist, Adriana was a mere witness to a murder, and a big one at that, blackmailing the perpetrator. It’s not surprising that a killer who doesn’t want to be found would do anything to her.

Estella realized that there was no point in playing the coincidence card here. After a moment’s deliberation, she stepped forward to face Diego.

“I apologize, Duke, but I was the one who summoned you two here on a whim.”

Diego glanced at Estella. He set his jaw.

“Explain.”

“As you know, Miss Adriana is facing an unhappy marriage, and you are the only one who can save her from it. I hope you will hear her out.”

Estella added urgently.

“I understand that I am overstepping my bounds. Whatever decision you make regarding this matter, I will accept graciously. However, when I heard Adriana’s story and realized someone was in danger and there was a chance to help, I couldn’t simply stand idly by. I believe that if someone is in peril and there is an opportunity to rescue them, it is my duty to provide assistance.”

After finishing her statement, Estella looked up at Diego with a tense expression. Diego let out a sigh, as if indicating his weariness. Since the time when she threatened him greatly to save the children, he had sensed that Estella had a tendency to carry all sorts of troublesome matters on her shoulders. That unnecessary meddling seemed to be her blood.

Diego finally spoke, his voice softer.

“We’ll settle this between us. Miss Margaret can wait outside.”

Estella was pleased to hear Diego’s permission, but she still looked back at Adriana as she walked away, as if she hadn’t been able to get rid of her worries.

Once Estella was out of sight, an awkward air settled between Adriana and Diego. Adriana gathered her courage and took a step toward Diego.

“First of all, Duke, I apologize for asking to meet with you so unexpectedly. And for offending your people.”

Diego, who had been staring in the direction Estella had disappeared, turned his head slowly. Inwardly, Adriana had hoped he would be more cooperative–not an unreasonable hope, given the way he’d handled Estella–but as if to say she was mistaken, all she got back from him was a sneer.

“This is a hard-won opportunity, so you’ll have to convince me, though I’m not sure how much better your bargaining position is than before.”

Apparently, his earlier mild demeanor was limited to one person. Adriana curled her trembling hands into fists.

“I… There is no such thing. I have come here to appeal to the Duke’s final mercy.”

“If you wanted to change my mind, you should have known that I am not one to be moved by such things.”

Diego said coldly. Adriana closed her eyes resignedly. She must have had a lot to say, but her mind went white and she couldn’t think of anything. As she remained silent, Diego recited her situation.

“I, on the other hand, know you very well. You’re the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Astez, you became a mischievous troublemaker due to your father’s negligence, who is now trying to arrange a marriage with a man forty years older than you.”

Adriana’s head snapped up. Adriana had deliberately withheld information about her husband-to-be. She had purposely not revealed her soon-to-be-husband’s information, fearing that the thought of entangling herself with the royal family of another country would cause him to reject the offer, but Diego seemed to know where she would be sold.

The corners of his mouth twitched as he watched Adriana’s face relax.

“Did you think I’d let you off the hook without doing some research?”

Adriana took a slow breath to calm her nerves before she told her story.

“Yes, that’s right, I am the rightful heir to the Marquis of Astez, but I’m not being treated as I should be. I wasn’t able to get into the details of my family history during my last visit, but since you’ve done your research, I’m sure you know why Miss Margaret advocated for me. Yes, my father hates me for being born and causing my mother to die.”

Diego listened to Adriana without comment. Adriana’s story was offensive because it reminded him of his past. He could tell that Estella’s concern had reached Adriana, just as it had for Diego and his siblings.

“My father has been wanting to get me out of his sight ever since my mother died, and this year is the last chance he has to sell me off to a faraway place without my consent. Once Granton III appears, my father will guide me to him as if showcasing a product that needs to be sold.”

Adriana bit her lower lip. Her eyes sounded rebellious like she was trying to show her will.

All her life, Adriana had put others before herself. She’d repressed herself by joining her father in his grief over the loss of her mother, and she’d lived like a mouse with a guilt she didn’t need to carry.

The result was this. Thrown out, with all her misery to herself.

Adriana knew threatening Diego wasn’t the right thing to do. But what else could she do?

“I am at a crossroads. The only thing I can do, being trapped in this predicament, is to find companions who share a similar fate of unhappiness.”

Adriana looked at Diego and said, her voice rising. When cornered, even a mouse will bite a cat. Except this wasn’t just any cat.

“Look, Lady Adriana. Didn’t you hear that I’ve already done my research on you?”

Diego snorted and put his right hand on his waist. He tapped the floor with the sole of his shoe as a warning, then stopped. Diego looked at Adriana with sunken eyes and asked.

“In my judgment, it might be better for you to join hands with your father, who dislikes you, rather than the woman who threatened me. What do you think?”

“Well…”

“If you start blabbering about my secret, I will go straight to Marquis Astez. As your father, he would gladly have you committed to a mental asylum.”

Diego’s warning wasn’t just a threat. Adriana realized he wasn’t just saying it to frighten her. He was more than capable of carrying out what he had just foretold. Diego added sarcastically.

“An old man’s mercy or an asylum, that’s a very troubling choice.”

Failure. Adriana squeezed her eyes shut at the realization.