# 15
### Chapter Fifteen
Punishments usually included starvation or confinement in a cold, narrow room. Sometimes, they would use violence, as long as it didn't leave any visible marks. Diana wasn't attached to Kayden for no reason.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Vincent's demanding voice.
“Are you deaf? I said, ‘Give me the money!’”
He frowned menacingly, slamming his fist onto the table.
Diana would have responded immediately in the past, knowing from experience that if she didn't, a fist would follow. Vincent knew that too, so he threatened her without really intending to hit her.
“Diana, you haven't been getting your usual hits lately, have you?”
“Are you ready to face the consequences if you hit me?” She replied.
"What?" Vincent froze, wearing a confused expression as if to say, ‘Since when has Diana been against me?’ Diana kept calm and continued.
“Count, I am not afraid of you.”
“…”
“But I bet you're terrified of the Bisen family and my husband, aren't you?”
Vincent's face contorted as if she had touched a sensitive spot.
“You think you can act strong just because you have a husband to support you? Have you forgotten that the Duke is on his deathbed?”
“Of course not.”
*I am the one who treats him every day.*
Vincent was silent for a moment, then changed his strategy to attract money.
“Is the Duke secretly allocating some inheritance to you or something? Listen, don’t trust men. Even your own blood is not always family. Do you think the Duke will love you until the day he dies? Even if you cover yourself in jewels, your lowly blood from your mother will still show.”
What a joke. Although Diana lost her mother when she was young, the woman was nothing like the “lowly” description that Vincent gave her. Diana's mother was incredibly beautiful, and she passed those features on to her daughter. She had a rough appearance, but her classy presence was unmistakable, and she was strong enough to love a daughter she had not chosen to have.
"You don't want to end up homeless again, do you? Just give me some money now, and you'll get it back later."
While Vincent's weak attempt at persuasion continued, Diana calmly sipped her tea.
*Knock, knock.*
'It looks like the dress shop employees are leaving.'
Diana had asked the servant to knock twice when the staff left, indicating that she no longer had a reason to deal with Vincent.
“There is no way that the Duke’s residence is hosting a scoundrel like you as a guest. There seems to be no need for further discussion here, right?”
I put down the teacup and headed for the door without a second thought.
"Hey, hey! Where are you going? Stop! I said stop, damn it! Okay, I'll call you Duchess! Duchess!"
Vincent called after her, but Diana had already left the room. In her place, the servant entered the reception room.
“I will accompany you out,” Standing next to the servant were some powerful attendants, clearly prepared to accompany Vincent by force if necessary.
“There's no need for that,” Vincent got up, gritting his teeth as he walked out of the duke's palace angrily.
'Diana, how dare you ignore me?'
He had even gone so far as to call her “Duchess,” but she still insulted him.
He had considered abandoning the plan and convincing Ella, thinking that Diana might be useful as long as she was the Duchess.
'You should be taught a lesson.'
Vincent stared at the huge mansion before storming off, huffing angrily.
* * *
It was the night before the party.
'This is bad. 'I can't sleep.'
I had to get up early and walk around tomorrow, but I was too anxious to sleep. I looked at Harold, who was fast asleep next to me. Even in his deep sleep, he held onto my hand as if it were his lifeline.
'I want to get some air.'
Carefully, I began to untie Harold's fingers from my hand, one by one. First the thumb, then the index finger, and just as I was about to move his middle finger, his hand trembled.
Yes.
'Did you wake him up?'
I stared at his face, nervous that I might have disturbed his sleep, but fortunately, his long, thick eyelashes stayed put.
View. I continued cautiously until I freed my hand. She waved it in front of his face just to be sure.
'Great, I didn't wake him up.'
Even though all I did was free my hand, I felt like I had accomplished something great. I crept out onto the balcony as quietly as possible.
A cold breeze seeped through my pajamas, making me shiver.
'I should have brought a shawl.'
I rubbed my arms and looked outside. The sky was clear, full of stars and a bright moon. Even without the street lights, it was surprisingly bright.
Lost in thought, I started practicing my dance moves. I had practiced until bedtime, so my body naturally fell into the correct position. I started to step with the rhythm I had in my head.
"Yes…!"
My legs buckled again, and I braced for the pain as I closed my eyes, ready to fall. But instead of hitting the cold ground, I felt a warm, muscular arm pick me up. A solid chest pressed against my back, protecting me from falling.
I didn't even need to look to know who it was.
“Harold.”
I tilted my head back, and my eyes met his deep sea gaze.
“You're still hopeless with your body, Diana,” he said, looking down at me.
“Aren't you asleep?”
“I woke up when someone was trying hard to sneak their hand away earlier.”
“Oh…”
I thought I didn't wake him, but apparently I did. Feeling guilty, I turned my eyes away, and Harold's lips curled into a smile.
“So, how did you know it was me without even looking?”
“You have a distinctive smell.”
“I took a shower, you know.”
"Not that kind of smell. It's your scent… you always smell like a cool forest."
It was a fresh scent, like the kind you breathe in during a morning walk in the woods. I've always found it soothing enough to help me sleep—but not tonight, since I've been so busy on my mind.
“Maybe it's the perfume I always wear.”
“Oh, so this is it. No wonder it smells nice.”
I unconsciously sniffed the air like a curious dog.
“So, what's keeping you up at this hour, Diana?”
Harold lowered his head, his soft nose almost touching my forehead. His dark hair blew in the breeze, reflecting the moonlight and sparkling like silver threads.
Seriously, he's ridiculously handsome. I pushed away the intense desire to admire him and took a step back.
"I'm just worried about tomorrow. It's my first official event as a Duchess. What if I mess it up?"
It was also my first social event since I ended up in this body. The wedding was nerve-racking, but this was on a different level.
'Maybe I should train again.'
I extended my hand to Harold.
“Harold, will you dance with me?”
“This is supposed to be my sentence, right?”
Harold took my hand and kissed the back of it before looking at me.
“One last dance, but remember, we have an early start tomorrow.”
Hearing “last training” made my shoulders cramp. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and raised my nightgown a little before lowering it again.
“Please, take care of me.”
Harold's large hand encircled my waist. Even through the thin fabric of my nightgown, I could feel the warmth of his body.
We had practiced the dance together several times when Harold had free time, but this was the first time we had done it on the balcony in the middle of the night. Something felt different, somehow.
The sound of the singing insects sounded like band music, and the moon and stars seemed like twinkling chandeliers. But with such a picturesque scene, the sight of a man and woman dancing in baggy pajamas was completely out of proportion.
“Wow, that's weird.”
The contrast was so far-fetched that I couldn't help but laugh.
“…!”
Once again, my feet got tangled.
“Focus.”
Before my body lost its balance, Harold grabbed my waist tightly.
View. I sighed in relief and focused again on dancing.
“Honestly, I don't understand.”
Harold, who seemed lost in thought, spoke quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"I never asked you to be perfect as a Duchess. I don't expect that. As long as you don't make a mess, I'll be grateful. And even if you mess it up, I was prepared for it from the beginning."
“…”
“While I was recovering, I just thought of it as a stain that I would have to deal with.”
He tightened his hand around my waist, and I felt a sharp tingle run up my spine through the thin fabric of my pajamas.
“Diana, why are you trying so hard?”
Last time, he likened me to a monkey, and now 'Spot'... We'd been together for a long time, but did he still think of me as Spot?
I wrinkled my nose in annoyance and replied.
"Whatever the reason, this is my role, and I want to do my best. I hate the idea of not even trying and just sitting there, saying I can't do it. It's like I'm failing not because I can't, but because I choose not to try."
This was my nature.
I didn't want Harold and the Baisen family to become objects of ridicule because of me either.
"they."
Still looking confused, Harold narrowed his eyes slightly.
*Knock.*
“Ah!?”
At that moment, I stepped on Harold's foot and twitched, pulling myself away quickly.
I froze, and Harold, following me, stopped too. His voice softened in an almost regretful tone.
“Don't worry. It's not that you can't dance because you haven't tried. It's just that you can't dance.”
“…”
It was annoying, but I couldn't argue with it.
I frowned, unable to say anything.
Harold walked past me and said quietly, almost jokingly,
“If you really want to take on the responsibility of the Duchess, maybe try to charm the Marchioness Mayer instead.”