Episode 95

“What is this sound?”

The servants of the Duke had been working for a long time, even before Diana was born.

They vaguely remembered the sound of the mansion’s door opening once.

“Did the mansion’s door open?”

“Haha, maybe it opened by mistake.”

“Or maybe we misheard!”

The servants under the butler tried their best to control their expressions.

But to them, the gossip among the servants was already in the past.

“Let’s go to the front of the mansion now.”

“Huh? Shouldn’t we listen to the story about our young lady first?”

“What’s more important? The door opened!”

“Let’s go and see.”

They all rushed to the front gate in a hurry.

Of course, they didn’t expect Diana to return today.

However, they couldn’t contain their hope that they might find a clue to locate Diana.

Perhaps, finally, they found decisive evidence about Diana’s whereabouts.

But when they arrived at the front of the mansion…

The butler forced a bitter smile and sighed.

The other servants were the same.

There were four people and a small dog entering the front gate with dignity.

Duke Saboia, Claude, Dylan, Ishael Odette, and even the small dog known as the divine beast.

There was no one who seemed to be Diana.

They were all familiar faces.

‘Of course. There’s no way Lady Diana would come back….’

The butler tried his best not to show his disappointment and tightly held back his trembling lip.

At that moment, a doubt crossed his mind.

Why would the front gate of the mansion open?

‘Perhaps they found a clue to locate Lady Diana….!’

Following etiquette, he first greeted the high-ranking individuals humbly.

“Greetings, Your Grace and Mr. Claude.”

“Oh, right. Butler, don’t you greet people on this side?”

The butler’s mouth dropped open at Claude’s natural response.

Claude can… talk?

“Yes, yes? Uh, greetings!”

The butler tried hard to keep his professional composure and bowed deeply, lowering his head.

“Nice to see you, Ms. Odette and Mr. Dylan.”

“Ms. Odette? What nonsense!”

Isn’t this Ms. Odette?

That’s right….

“You know who this child is.”

“….Uh, I apologize. Could you tell me your name?”

Claude corrected playfully with a smile.

“From now on, call her Lady.”

“Yes? Are you adopting her?”

At that moment, Duke Saboia spoke softly.

“Because this child is Diana.”

“Hee, hee-hee…!”

The butler felt a chilling dizziness for the first time in his life.

“Oh, Ms. Odette…”

“Yes, I’m Odette.”

There was no atmosphere of lying.

Duke Saboia spoke confidently, swiping away all doubts.

Last time, he was the Duke who didn’t even spare a bit of consideration for Anna, the “fake” Diana.

There must be some evidence for him to say that.

Ishael, no, Diana awkwardly smiled and bowed her head.

“Yes. I was Diana. It’s amazing, isn’t it…?”

At that moment, Ishael’s adorable hamster-like smile naturally appeared.

The elderly butler trembled as he looked at Ishael’s smile.

He had a mountain of questions to ask.

He wanted to say that there was no proof, that she wasn’t simply enchanted, that her eye color and hair color were different, that they needed to be cautious.

But at the moment he saw Ishael’s smile, he felt breathless.

Why didn’t I notice until now?

Her smile is just like Diana’s.

For over a decade, I lived longing and mourning for that little girl, how could I not know?

The old butler’s complexion paled in an instant.

“D-Diana, she, she’s returned….”

The years past surged like waves.

The butler clutched his chest and collapsed to the floor.

Afterward, the maid and servants also fainted one after another.

A decade of waiting.

The end was a series of fainting spells.

Ishael awkwardly scratched the back of her head and mumbled.

Wow! This is a complete mess!

Within the Saboia mansion, nobles gathered for a family meeting.

The nobles of each family were sitting around a round table under a dim light, chatting away.

“The air is really tense.”

“This mansion has always been dark. It’s been like a funeral for over ten years.”

But at that moment, the room suddenly became brightly lit.

Simultaneously, the door to the meeting room opened.

Everyone looked around in bewilderment.

Duke Saboia arrived in front of the round table in an instant, fidgeting with his smile, he made an apologetic remark.

“Ah, sorry, but it seems today’s meeting might be canceled.”

“What? You’re notifying us on the day of the meeting….”

“…I-Isn’t the main agenda important? We need to deal with it quickly!”

Although Duke Saboia had put aside work in the past, there had never been such a situation.

Confused nobles exchanged glances.

More shocking statements came from the Duke.

“The main agenda?”

“Yes.”

“My granddaughter has come back to life. There’s nothing more important than that, is there?”

Everyone present was taken aback by his announcement.

“Y-You mean Lady Diana has returned?”

“Yes.”

They instinctively recalled the “Fake Diana Incident” from the past.

At that time, the Council of Elders had gone wild, claiming Lady Diana had returned, but Duke Saboia didn’t step forward.

He had never looked so proud.

In other words…

“Has the verification been completed, then?”

Duke Saboia raised his eyebrow and asked.

“All verifications have been completed.”

As soon as the words were spoken.

More radiant and twinkling light entered the Saboia mansion, known as the “Mansion of Moles,” than before.

And that’s not all.

The smell of warm food filled the air, and laughter bloomed on Duke Saboia’s previously troubled face.

Through the open door, the sounds of the Saboia family servants happily laughing could be heard.

Regardless of political relations or personal feelings, the atmosphere at this moment was heartwarming.

Finally, the real Lady Diana had returned.

Just over ten minutes later.

The nobles who were about to participate in the meeting chattered about Lady Diana’s return.

The news of Lady Diana’s return began to spread throughout the capital.

Everyone was curious about who she was and what kind of person she was, and they flocked to the Saboia mansion.

However, the servants of the Saboia mansion were deeply burdened.

With words like, “How dare I speak about Lady Diana! Just looking at her causes my heart to ache to the point of death!” they blocked others’ curiosity.

With little information known about her, gossip mongers began to pour out all sorts of speculations.

In a bar where those who love gossip gathered, they huddled together, whispering.

“Seeing how quiet they’ve been until now, they must be commoners, right? They must have no skills.”

“It would be fortunate if they don’t die seeking the heir position that Claude is eyeing.”

“Ah! I heard that Claude is harboring animosity because he might lose the heir position. Is that true?”

They looked at each other, nodding their heads.

“Really, how scary.”

“Oh, by the way, will there be a party for the lady’s return?”

“Of course. I’m looking forward to the party.”

“Ah! I heard from someone that they briefly went inside the Saboia mansion. They say the lady Diana mentioned that there’s an incapable commoner husband.”

“Big trouble. Not having a good background.”

“He has a husband, and that husband is almost certainly a commoner.”

“Ha… Can someone like that survive through all of this turmoil?”

They shook their heads with apprehension.

“A flower that will soon wither needs no gold rings.”

…At least, that’s what the gossips thought.

9. You in the Hazy Memories

* * *

The servants were excited, saying they would decorate my room and throw a party.

As I sat in the reception room of Saboia Mansion, I opened my mouth.

“Um, is it alright for you to know that I’m Diana? Could you show me some evidence first?”

As the news of “Lady Diana’s return” spread, I became increasingly anxious.

Perhaps all of this was just a cruel trick of fate, and I worried about that.

As if to reassure me, Duke Saboia nodded his head.

“Sure, my dear. Naturally, I should let you know. Ah! Show her the portraits of her parents.”

The mention of my parents’ portraits made my heart sink.

At the same time, Duke Saboia spoke at the right time.

“But, my dear, let’s first check your heart. Your health is a priority.”

“My lady’s health is indeed the priority.”

“Yes, exactly! That’s why I called for a doctor.”

“Wait!”

Four people, no, three people and a dog, each said a word of concern for my health.

It might just be a minor ache, but I felt the need to put their minds at ease.

“When will the doctor arrive?”

If they called just now, would the doctor arrive in a few hours?

“Ah, the doctor is here.”

Immediately, the door opened.

A middle-aged man with a large face and a stylish mustache walked in.

“I’m here now!”

…Why so fast?

Seeing the doctor seated beside me, holding a medical device, I made a nervous expression.

“The best doctor in the empire. Let’s have a full body check-up.”

I had just mentioned a slight heart flutter, but why was I being treated like a critical patient?

“Yes, please examine me.”

There probably wasn’t anything wrong.

The doctor naturally placed a diagnostic magic tool on my hand and blinked his eyes with a puzzled expression.

“What?”

He quickly placed his hand over my pulse on my neck.

“…Huh? Huh?”

“Why?”

“Why!”

“What’s the matter? What happened?”

Claude was almost contemplative.

Duke Saboia was praying as if he had already accepted the day of my death.

Dylan, holding my hand, trembled slightly.

No, seriously, what is this?

I threatened the doctor with my words.

“Don’t be surprised by anything in particular. It’s nothing, okay?”

“It’s n-not nothing!”