# 27
**Chapter twenty-seven**
Harold continued talking without hesitation.
“Do you realize that all your actions towards Diana make you look like a pathetic ex-lover who has never gotten over it?”
"Huh. Me, attached to the Duchess? Aren't you just seeing what you want to see, brother?"
Kaiden growled, despite his earlier vow to avoid unnecessary arguments. But the phrase “‘My Diana’”? It was unbearable.
“I can see your intentions clearly.”
“Oh?”
“You know that you are destined to lose everything to me. So, you try to snatch at least one thing, right?”
Harold's eyes deepened as he watched Kayden's triumphant expression.
“Kayden, those words make it seem like you have always considered Diana your own.”
“…!”
Kayden's eyes widened, his crimson gaze trembling violently as if Harold had penetrated something buried deep inside that even he himself had not noticed.
“Did you think that just because Diana once chased you, that she belonged to you?”
“….”
“Don't think so. You carefully calculated and chose Ella Renomar.”
Harold's gaze wandered to Kayden's left hand, where his engagement ring from Ella glistened. Reflexively, Caiden lowered his hand under the table.
Harold smiled silently and brushed his hair back, his wedding ring sparkling brightly on his finger.
Kayden took some time to calm down a feeling of anxiety or restlessness that he couldn't quite understand.
“…I never considered the Duchess mine. But didn’t she love me obsessively? To the point of trying to poison her friend?”
Yes, that's all there is to it. Kaiden repeated the thought to himself, trying to ease the suffocating tightness in his chest.
Even when everyone was admiring Harold and ignoring Kayden as someone unimportant, Diana always looked up to him. Her gaze was so full of affection—it was impossible to miss.
She was a strange girl who suddenly began to adore him, ignoring Harold, whom everyone had a crush on. Even then, Kayden, an illegitimate son like her, never gave Diana a second glance.
However, Diana loved no one but him—for more than ten years, without wavering.
Like a shadow, naturally visible when you look down.
“Diana told me she no longer loves you.”
"It may be an act. Considering the Duchess's behavior during her single days, wouldn't it be natural for me to be careful, brother?"
Hot crimson eyes and cold blue eyes looked at each other in a silent confrontation.
Harold unclenched his clasped hands and reached into his jacket.
“My wife asked me to pass this on to you.”
"…napkin?"
“He's the reason Diana started liking you.”
Kayden raised an eyebrow at the sight of the napkin on the table.
'This handkerchief?'
But the dark blue handkerchief, embroidered with the Wesen family crest, was undoubtedly...
"It's mine, of course. You're not using a dark blue handkerchief."
Harold raised the handkerchief next to his face, waving it lightly. His blue eyes narrowed slightly.
“There was a time when I saved a little girl during a hunt. I lost my handkerchief then.”
“….”
"Diana mistakenly thought it was your handkerchief and thought you were the one who saved her. Oh, now she knows it was me who helped her that day."
Harold smiled sarcastically at the frozen Kayden, his tone sarcastic.
“She doesn’t love you anymore, which is why you asked me to return this to its rightful owner.”
Harold extended his arm and placed the handkerchief in front of Kayden. Then, tilting his chin up, he looked at his brother closely.
"I delivered her letter, so you understand now, right? Diana really doesn't love you anymore."
Harold adjusted his stance, removing his hand from the table.
“So stop worrying about my wife. Remember, this is my only verbal warning.”
Harold left Caiden's country house. He remembered Kayden's face becoming increasingly pale as he spoke. His brother was so astonished that he did nothing but stare absently at the handkerchief even when Harold left.
A crooked smile appeared on Harold's lips.
'To be unaware of his own desires.'
Harold found Kayden incomprehensible and funny.
How can anyone fail to recognize their own desire?
Even after imagining things from Caiden's perspective several times, Harold couldn't understand. So, give up the futile effort.
As he approached his carriage, he took off his coat and gloves.
He handed the coat and gloves to Ivan.
“Burn them both.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let's go.”
The carriage quickly arrived at the duchy headquarters. As Harold got off, another carriage slowly approached.
Through the window, his eyes met Diana's, and he sent her a quick wink.
Harold accompanied her as she descended.
"Thanks. It's a coincidence that we arrived at the same time."
"actually."
They walked side by side towards the palace.
Diana began to tell him about her day at the assembly, recalling that she and Mrs. Mayer had agreed to volunteer at the temple.
After a short pause, she looked at Harold, feeling something strange in his strange, unusual smile.
“Are you in a bad mood today?”
“No, on the contrary—I have good news.”
If so, why...?
“But, Diana, what's in this box?”
After a moment of hesitation, Diana replied,
“I met Countess Audrey Russell at a gathering today.”
“….”
At the mention of Audrey Russell, Harold's lips tightened slightly.
Diana went on to explain in detail the story surrounding the box.
“Is this a herbal pregnancy remedy that Countess Russell gave you?”
"Yes, so I plan to hand him over to the chef. I figured he's trying to have a baby."
“You can sell it for a fair amount, you know.”
Remembering her passion for money, Harold asked with a wry smile. Diana nodded quietly.
“Still, it would be better if put to good use, wouldn't it? Besides...”
Diana hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“I doubt this will be the last gift I will receive from Countess Audrey Russell.”
"Ha! So, you're planning to keep taking advantage of her, right?"
“Exactly....Is this okay?”
“You don’t need my permission. If she offers, take as much as you want.”
With his spontaneous agreement, Diana's face lit up.
Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks flushed as if she had just gotten the best shopping deal of her life.
Seeing her like that made it clear—she definitely had a weakness for money.
Harold glanced sideways at the box the maid was carrying.
“Diana, aren’t you curious about the history between the Russell family and me?”
"I am, but that's okay. If you want to share, I'll listen when you're ready."
Diana remembered how his expression stiffened slightly whenever Countess Audrey was mentioned, and she answered carefully.
“So, can I start by asking something I want to know?”
"Help yourself."
Harold stopped walking, which caused Diana to stop as well.
He gently took her hand, lowering his head towards her neck.
A breeze passed suddenly, sweeping her hair across her cheek, and Diana instinctively raised her hand to cover it. Her hair tickled the back of her hand, making her nose twitch.
“You haven't been wearing perfume lately?”
In a low voice, Harold inquired. Diana nodded slowly in response.
“I got so used to the smell that I barely notice it now. So, I decided to use it only occasionally.”
Although the perfume still shone gently, she had become indifferent to it. Diana nodded to herself as the refreshing scent on the breeze aroused her senses.
'This is quite appropriate.'
This allowed her to enjoy the scent whenever she wanted without getting bored of it. However, she planned to use the gift until it expired.
"Hmm. Is this true?"
Harold straightened, but his expression showed slight displeasure. His gaze wandered down as if he was lost in thought.
He stared at her wrist, which he had grasped gently, and then began walking again at a slow, deliberate pace.
The two entered the palace. Diana looked around curiously.
'Something feels... strange.'
The Duchy Headquarters had always been quiet, but today the air felt particularly heavy and oppressive.
She wasn't the only one who felt that way. Harold narrowed his eyes as well.
At that moment, the head servant approached Harold with a serious expression.
“Your Highness, someone from the imperial court came to see you.”