Estella watched the sun set, mesmerized. It was like being in a fairy tale. She was well aware of the importance of wealth, but Diego, on the other hand, knew how to utilize it in various ways. The privilege of being able to enjoy such a view from their own mansion was a privilege in itself.

“Did you mean to show me this?”

Estella asked, glancing back at Diego, expecting him to share some memory of the place, but he was silent. She realized he was looking uncharacteristically awkward. The way he was avoiding eye contact was reminiscent of someone who was nervous.

“No, I’m just trying to get in the mood.”

“The mood?”

“Because I’m about to propose to you.”

As Estella looked at the box in surprise, Diego held it up with a faint smile on his face. He opened the box, revealing a beautifully crafted engagement ring nestled inside. Estella’s initial cynical thoughts about not receiving a proper proposal faded away as she realized that perhaps it wasn’t necessary after all. They were not lovers to begin with, so there was no need to feel disappointed. Estella looked at the ring with a mix of emotions and wondered what this gesture meant for their future.

“You already have a ring?”

“It was already made, so it didn’t take long to get it ready.”

Diego replied as if it were no big deal. Once she got over her surprise, she looked at the situation more objectively.

Estella couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed that the ring seemed to be a pre-made item, as if Diego had hurriedly purchased a suitable ring from a merchant. Considering the attention he had paid to having her clothes tailored and altered, it seemed a bit lackluster in comparison. She couldn’t help but think that such a thoughtless gesture was beneath him.

“Didn’t you say you don’t deal with ready-made items?”

Estella asked, her tone brimming with displeasure. Diego’s eyes widened slightly. Estella’s defiant response seemed to have pricked his pride. He answered with a frown.

“I didn’t say it was a ready-made item.”

With that, Diego opened the box.

To emphasize, Estella had experienced a time when these precious metals were relatively easy to come by. In the modern era, even without the means to purchase them, one could visit department stores and admire expensive jewelry, and with a simple search for gemstones, various pictures of rare and valuable pieces would appear. She felt confident that whatever item came out of that box, she wouldn’t be particularly surprised or impressed.

But she had never seen a ring as beautiful as the one Diego was holding. The size and intricate setting make it a work of art. What Diego pulled out was not a commonplace item, but rather a gift from an oil tycoon or other royal family. Considering that the first Duke of Berta was royalty, the latter was probably not an exaggeration.

Estella raised her eyes to look up at Diego. She asked, her voice trembling.

“Where did you get this?”

Diego thought it was funny how Estella would jump up and down whenever he brought out an expensive item. He tried to laugh as hard as he could under his breath, but unless she was a fool, she wouldn’t have noticed. Even when she looked away, he couldn’t bring himself to return to his serious expression. Only after a while did he speak in a low voice.

“It is the only thing the Duchess Anna did not acquire. It’s a traditional ring that has been passed down from the Duchess of Berta to the next in line, though my mother had to hand it over to her son.”

It had been passed down from the Duchess of Berta for generations. Estella suddenly understood the brilliance of the ring. Estella murmured, mesmerized.

“I can’t believe you kept it.”

“My mother left it in the bank in trust, so that no one could take it out until I was of age, and the look on Duchess Anna’s face when she found out was my amusement.”

Diego spoke with a cheerful tone. However, Estella couldn’t be as joyful as Diego.

Estella knew about the existence of this ring. It wasn’t because she had heard Diego’s explanation. It was an item that had also appeared in the original work. As the conclusion approached, Diego presented this ring to Adriana, expressing his sincerity.

“I’m going to tell you with all my heart, I love you.”

The woman in his eyes was no longer Estella. Estella involuntarily took a step back. She suddenly felt overwhelmed.

“Can you give me something so valuable?”

Diego seemed to simply assume that Estella was surprised by the precious object. He closed his eyes and said her name as if he were singing.

“Estella Margaret Montiel.”

He slowly bent his left knee. Estella almost sank down with him. Diego had never in his life bent the knee to someone like Estella. She was poor, she came from a humble background, and even if she’d been fired, she’d had him as an employer until yesterday. She would have died at his hands if she hadn’t remembered her past life.

But it was Estella who stood before Diego now. It had taken repeated attempts to push her into Adriana’s arms, but it had finally happened.

“Will you marry me?”

Diego asked, holding the box out to her. Estella unconsciously clutched the hem of her skirt. In a hushed voice, she asked back.

“Do I have to answer?”

“You’re asking for the obvious.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Hmm, Miss Margaret will miss out on both the job and the handsome man with the money.”

Estella couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. The same smile crossed Diego’s face as he urged her on.

“My knees are getting a little weak, so I’ll ask again: Miss Margaret, will you please marry me?”

It was just a formality, but Diego wouldn’t have asked if he thought she would refuse. Estella had already accepted his proposal and there was no turning back now. Estella finally opened her dry lips and answered.

“Yes.”

Because losing a job is scary. Estella added jokingly.

Diego laughed quietly and stood up. He took the ring from the box and slipped it onto Estella’s left ring finger. As his hand slipped away, she could feel the weight of it. Estella murmured admiringly.

“……It fits.”

The ring fit like it had always been hers. She wondered if Diego’s mother and her own fingers were the same thickness, an amazing coincidence, and Diego shook his head.

“I found it as soon as I left this morning and had it repaired. It was done earlier than I thought.”

Estella gave him a knowing look. You didn’t have to tell her that you got such quick results because you were Diego Rowen de Berta.

Estella realized that she had doubts not only about the repair time but also about the order itself. Curiosity filled her voice as she asked.

“How did you know my size?”

“Do you remember when I brought the employment contract for you to sign?”

“You didn’t happen to look around the paper back then… Wait, hold on. You didn’t even mark anything separately, did you?”

“I remembered the overlapping letters. It was a sensitive item that would cause trouble if someone saw it, so I thought it would be wise to keep it, don’t you think?”

“You still haven’t thrown it away?”

“I planned to make amendments and use it again later.”

Something felt off. Not only did Estella receive an item that couldn’t be valued in monetary terms, but Diego diligently went to great lengths to fulfill the formalities, even in unseen places. Laughter should have been appropriate, but Estella inexplicably felt like crying. Her lips, strangely crumbling, barely managed to move.

“Speaking of which, write that contract again, I won’t tear it up this time.”

“It doesn’t matter, because you wouldn’t be able to in the first place.”

At the unintelligible answer, Estella lifted her eyes to stare at him. Diego took her left hand, his face flushed a deep red from the sunset.

He gently kissed the top of her ring finger and said.

“This ring is your new contract.”

* * *

“Did you come here to laugh at me?”

Diego turned at the sound of a raw voice from across the room. A young woman was glaring at him, her eyes intent.

Diego was suddenly reminded of her age. She was nine years older than him and fifteen years younger than his father. Being closer in age to her son, she naturally didn’t have the typical appearance of a regular mother. Objectively, she was a remarkable beauty, and even at the mere age of thirty-five, she hadn’t neglected her appearance. There weren’t many noticeable changes compared to when she first entered this mansion.

If time had passed and she had grown old and ugly, he wondered if he would have felt differently then. He remembered his mother, who had been rejected for the same reason.

“No, I have something to tell you.”

Diego, who had cleared away his lingering thoughts, replied calmly. As he did, her brow furrowed one after another. Rising from leaning against the bookshelf, Diego approached the front of the sofa. He sat down in front of her and slowly clasped his hands together. With an indifferent tone, Diego spoke.

“You’re my stepmother, after all, and when I have good news, it’s the least I can do.”

Diego’s good news doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing to her. She and Diego have been trying to sabotage each other’s wishes for years.

The former Duchess Estella, Anna, fiercely clashed with him. She had acquired a different title to accompany her former position as the Duchess Estella. The term ‘former’ now implied the existence of a successor. It was a position that both Anna and Diego had fought for, but recently the odds had become clear.

Did you think I wouldn’t know that you’ve been involved with Countess Avril? It’s not like I haven’t heard any news from the outside world.”

The time Camilla and Anna had spent together was not insignificant. Although they had joined forces out of necessity, there was at least consideration and respect between the two as fellow warriors.

After hearing Lionel’s warning, Camila’s first act was to break the news to Anna. It was a perfunctory apology for being unable to help, but Anna didn’t hold it against her. It was hard to lose even your greatest ally, and if she were Camilla, she would have made the same decision. At least Camilla was better than the other noblewomen who, upon the death of Duke Estella, immediately seized his estate and belongings.