LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Diane's Perspective
Chapter 43: Diane’s Perspective
“The prince’s future wife will have a hard time since he’ll likely take several concubines. Leave it to me.”
That was the impression I had of Justin de Vandière, the disrespectful heir of the Marquis of Vandière, who had the audacity to approach me like this, knowing that I am engaged to Prince Ernest of the Royal Family.
However, despite Vandière’s claim of affection towards me, even from my perspective, unacquainted with love, his eyes were not those of someone in love.
So, when I heard that he had graduated from the Royal Academy and become a knight in his family’s Vandière territory, I felt relieved. That is until he joined the Third Knight Order in the capital city a few years later.
Fortunately, unlike the Royal Guard, the grounds of the Third Knight Order were a bit away from the royal palace, so we rarely crossed paths. Rarely, that is, until he started attending social events a few times a year and continued to approach me.
Each time, Prince Ernest came to my aid. But when Vandière was promoted to the commander of the Third Knight Order a year after coming to the capital, replacing the retired commander due to injury, it became a problem. As a graduate of the Royal Academy, I was already living in the palace for queenly education.
Although he never came to see me intentionally, when we met, his words, pardon my language, were flirtatious. His actions, openly displaying such intentions, quickly became common knowledge, spreading rumors far and wide.
I had heard that in chivalry, dedicating one’s heart to the lord’s wife was not only a literary trope but also a reality. However, his actions were clearly something else entirely. It was evident that he wanted to take me away from Prince Ernest.
As such incidents continued, and I began to tremble at the sight of him, the monsters started appearing in my family’s border marquisate of Taleraan, and it was decided that the Third Knight Order would go to assist.
Since my father had been informed of my situation beforehand, and he probably didn’t like Vandière, I had been unable to sleep, worried that they might clash. One day, I received a letter from my father that contained many things.
It seemed that Vandière, the commander of the Vandière Knight Order, had changed after losing consciousness due to an injury. He was like a different person, his letter said. He was humble, not boasting of his achievements but crediting his subordinates. He promised not to trouble me, Diane, anymore. I couldn’t believe everything written and read it repeatedly.
And the truth of it became evident on the day the Third Knight Order returned to the capital and met His Majesty. Vandière could have easily sought me as a reward, but he clearly stated that it wasn’t his achievement.
Furthermore, something unbelievable happened before the subsequent dinner. He showed concern for my dress, which had been soiled by the impurity of the moon, and discreetly helped me without drawing attention to the matter.
Even Annabella, who had been wary of Vandière, was surprised by his response at that time. Although I believe I behaved quite rudely when we met at the bookstore in the town, Vandière brushed it off as if it were nothing…
Moreover, he promptly came to our aid when Annabella and I were attacked by thugs right after that.
However, when Prince Ernest saw us return injured, he immediately changed his expression upon hearing that we had almost been abducted after meeting Vandière at the bookstore. After that, he refused to listen to us properly.
Somehow, both Annabella and I found ourselves confined, and when we questioned the maid who brought us tea, we learned that Prince Ernest intended to put Vandière on trial as the mastermind behind the abduction.
Certainly, given his previous actions, one could understand why such suspicions would arise. However, even though it was clear that Vandière was innocent this time, Prince Ernest stubbornly refused to believe it, as if he desperately wanted to believe otherwise.
When I asked the maid for help, she promised to cooperate because she wanted to thank Vandière for casting healing magic on her in the salon. It turns out that there were others who had been helped besides us.
On the day of the trial, the maid who brought us tea brought several members of the Vandière Appreciation Society (I had no idea such a society existed) with her. We managed to escape by mingling with them as they left the room.
I couldn’t understand the desire to be glared at with murderous intent or looked down upon as if I were a bug, but I do want to thank those women someday.
I told the carriage manager that I was on an errand and left the royal palace with the two maids in a carriage usually used by servants. While bursting into the courtroom to plead Vandière’s innocence, I was overwhelmed with sorrow for the injustice done to him and distrust towards Prince Ernest.
Upon returning to the palace, I was scolded by Prince Ernest for this, but thanks to the commotion, he ended up being reprimanded by His Majesty and ordered to be confined instead.
I hate to say it, but while Prince Ernest used to have the brightness and strength of the sun, lately, he seems more forceful than strong. Every time Vandière is acknowledged, his brightness dims, and he seems unable to view things fairly.
My father trusted Prince Ernest and supported him, but now, with the rumors that even the solid position of the crown prince is in jeopardy due to this incident, I feel I should inform my father of the current situation as I see it.
Let’s call the official merchant to send congratulations for preventing the stampede, and maybe… ask for a letter to be sent along with the goods. If we go through the merchant, there’s no need for inspection at the palace… right?