Chapter 49
"I've been dying to meet you all! The duke was making such a fuss about having daughters—made my stomach ache with envy!"
"Haha."
"Oh! Lady Aria! Society's been buzzing because of you, hasn't it? Selling those accessories called harnesses and body chains, right? At your age, that's impressive. My attendants won't shut up about how harnesses are the height of fashion these days—if you don't wear one, you're hopelessly outdated!"
"Th-thank you..."
"I keep hearing how you've taken high society by storm. And it's only been a few months since you entered it! Incredible."
The emperor really was an incredible chatterbox. He didn't give her a moment to even say thanks, just showering her with praise. I couldn't help but look distinctly uncomfortable watching Aria wither under the onslaught of compliments that bordered on verbal assault.
Then I felt a scorching gaze on my cheek, realizing I wasn't in any position to worry about someone else.
'Does he want to burn me alive with his eyes?'
I desperately avoided Diego's persistent stare, thinking that.
From the moment we'd entered the palace until now, Diego and I had been playing an intense game of eye-tag.
'Agh! Ack!'
I screamed internally, trying to ignore the heat.
I knew eye contact wasn't a big deal, and that avoiding it this much looked even weirder.
'Just! Sleep! Already!'
'What the...!'
'Good night... sweet dreams...'
But no matter how nonchalant I tried to act, memories of that last encounter with him made me want to die.
'Who would've thought Didi was Crown Prince Diego!'
I mentally banged my head against a wall.
Who would think a man collapsing in the street from an assassin's attack at midnight was the crown prince? I'd pegged Didi as some count's son at most—it was driving me insane.
I tilted my trembling hand to hide my twitching lips with the teacup, but the emperor's gaze, which had been lavishing praise on Aria, now turned to me.
I nearly spat out my tea but held it in.
An ominous smile crept onto the emperor's lips.
"I've really been wanting to meet you, Lady Kashmir."
"Your Majesty."
The moment the emperor spoke first, Diego sharpened his gaze and murmured lowly.
The emperor, his mouth twitching like he was holding back laughter, ignored him completely and fixed his eyes on me alone.
"You're the one who kicked my son—the crown prince, no less—right in the gut!"
"Urk."
"Ha... With no filter whatsoever."
The emperor's crude phrasing nearly made me spit my tea again. Diego squeezed his eyes shut and covered his face with one hand, as if this was par for the course.
Seeing Diego's expression, the emperor burst into mad laughter.
"Ahahaha! Hahaha! I've been teasing Diego about it nonstop! He's got my good looks, but to think he'd get dumped by a Crisis lady with that face!"
"Pardon?"
"Your Majesty, Shushu is getting flustered."
"Quiet, you boastful duke! I'm enjoying this! Anyway, after the lady rejected him, Diego was radiating cold vibes for a while..."
"Your Majesty!"
With me stuck in the middle like a broken doll, Kaiser and Diego tried to rein in the emperor's rampaging tongue from both sides, but he just looked like he was having the time of his life as he kept going.
"A love triangle! Isn't it thrilling? Sitting on my throne, I could only watch from afar—such a shame. Youth really is something else. Back in my day..."
The emperor was the kind of person who drained your energy just by being across from him. I dazedly sipped my tea, staring blankly into space with my soul half-gone, when my eyes met Diego's in the void.
I flinched hard, and he mouthed something with a stern expression.
'Spit it out.'
"Kuh! *Cough*! *Cough cough cough*!"
"Shushu!"
Forgetting everything, I spat my tea onto my lap like I'd been hit by one of his commands. Our eyes locking head-on had startled me too.
My sudden outburst cut the emperor off mid-sentence. Surprised, Kaiser and Aria shot to their feet.
"You okay? It's not hot, is it?"
"Check for burns!"
"N-no, I'm f-fine. *Gulp*. It's cold tea. Just went down the wrong pipe..."
I barely managed to speak past my blocked throat, waving off the panicking Kaiser and Aria.
As I caught my breath, Diego across from me stood abruptly.
"Your clothes are wet—you should change. I'll escort Lady Crisis to the changing room."
It wasn't even that wet. Apparently, his reason for telling me to spit was to give us an excuse to escape.
Sharp glares from Kaiser and Aria, amused looks from the emperor—all poured onto Diego.
"You little schemer."
"Your Majesty, please mind your dignity..."
"Fine, fine. Then the crown prince can escort the lady."
Diego dry-washed his face like he was going insane at the vulgar words from the emperor's mouth.
Only then did the emperor wipe the mischief from his face and issue a serious command. It still came off playful after all his antics, but an imperial order was an order, so I stood to follow Diego.
"Then, lady, follow me."
Leaving behind Kaiser and Aria, who looked full of dissatisfaction, we exited the drawing room.
Once outside, I lightly shook my damp skirt. There was a snap of fingers, and a warm breeze enveloped me, drying my clothes in an instant.
"Huh?"
"I know basic magic."
His now-familiar low voice tickled my ear. I hesitated, then looked up to meet the owner of that scorching gaze.
His blue eyes, rippling with strange emotions, greeted me.
Diego Ilias de Helios Solatine, crown prince of the Solatine Empire.
Didi, with whom I'd made small memories in that cabin.
I had no idea how to face him now that he was both Diego and Didi.
"......You could dry me off right away, so why offer to take me to the changing room?"
"Wanted to escape that room. You seemed to as well, didn't you?"
So that was his plan. Honestly, staying longer would've killed me with awkwardness, so I nodded cautiously.
Diego chuckled softly.
"Must've been overwhelming. His Majesty loves flustering people. Accept my apologies on his behalf."
"No, I'm fine."
'More than me... your ears don't look fine.'
His face was a perfect poker face, but his ears were burning red. I thought it was a bit cute, but turned away naturally so he wouldn't feel embarrassed.
Honestly, if I'd been the one teased like that, I'd have dunked my face in the teacup and died on the spot—I totally got it.
"Since we're out, how about a little escapade with me? The drawing room next door—just for a bit?"
"Sure, I'm good with that."
I weighed the awkwardness of being alone with Diego versus facing the emperor again. Better the anxiety of him figuring out my identity than more discomfort there—less mental drain.
"Then come this way."
Flashing a grin, Diego opened the door to the room right next to the one we'd been in and strode ahead.
The room I followed him into was almost identical to the previous one, differing only slightly in color scheme.
I sat naturally across from him on the right-side sofa. He rang the mana bell on the table, and a servant soon entered, set out tea for us, and left.
In the slightly awkward silence, I picked up my teacup. Diego did the same, taking a sip before speaking slowly.
"Shushu—"
"*Cough*!"
The familiar nickname slipping from Diego's mouth so casually nearly made me spit again. Luckily, I swallowed and settled for a fake cough, but my fluster knew no bounds.
'He knows?'
Forgetting my expression entirely, I stared up at him with wide eyes.
Meeting my gaze squarely, Diego smiled enchantingly.
"The duke and second lady called you Shushu. Is that your nickname?"
"Y-yes? Uh, yes. It's my n-nickname."
"If we get close enough, may I call you Shushu too?"
He asked with a bright smile, facing my obviously shaken eyes without a care.
I nodded dazedly.
"Thanks. When we're alone like this, feel free to call me Didi anytime—no formalities. It's my nickname."
"......An honor. Once I know you better, I'll do that."
When "Didi" came from his mouth in that live voice, I nearly blurted if he was mocking me now, but I gritted my teeth and played it cool.
My mind raced at headache-inducing speed.
I stared piercingly at the Diego before me.
He just smiled with crinkled eyes, not avoiding my gaze.
Based on his demeanor alone, it seemed he'd caught on—but there was no concrete proof to confirm it.
'Just confront it head-on.'
Beating around the bush was giving me a headache. I wasn't good at hiding things anyway.
Better to put the gun to my own head and pull the trigger than keep feeling this dirty taste of dodging.
"Your Highness, any recent injuries? Say, to your abdomen?"
In a situation where his assault hadn't been publicly disclosed, my out-of-nowhere question would sound bizarre. Sure enough, a faint ripple crossed his blue eyes at my direct approach, soon overtaken by delight.
"Actually, I took a hit to the abdomen not long ago."
"What a shame. Are you alright?"
"Yes. Someone treated it very neatly."
Another wave of that strange atmosphere.
Diego and I stared at each other, probing.
'This guy's sharp.'
And I was convinced.
No way he hadn't noticed, coming at me like this.
Forgetting manners for a moment, I scrunched my face slightly and scratched the back of my head.
If it came out that I was Mir, it could derail my future plans big time.
So I'd need to seal Diego's lips.
'Not the type to shut up for money. And he doesn't seem like he'd shake me down with blackmail either.'
I sharply observed Diego, who lounged with his chin propped, gazing leisurely at me, then sighed.