STVWDTD Chapter 17

May I Be Greedy for You?

Could a man with such bold features smile this beautifully?

The smile of the man who'd covered his eyes with black leather-gloved hands drew a perfect line.

He was utterly possessed by joy. Her actions—always breaking expectations—sent tingles through his fingertips, awakening unfamiliar sensations.

"Hah. Diana."

His eyes, visible as he lowered his hand slightly, looked dangerous. Diana stepped back, watching those blue eyes whose depths she couldn't fathom.

This man. He only looks like a predator—has he just been letting people shit on him his whole life? He heard everything and he's smiling like this?

She looked at Rodrick with concern, entertaining reasonable doubts.

His father's words didn't sound like they'd started yesterday.

A cursed wretch who'll die anyway. The madness passed down through generations in the family seemed to be accepted as inevitable—one brother would manifest it, naturally.

A role destined to disappear. But what now? I need to live with you.

"Diana."

At the touch of leather gloves against her cheek, pink eyes turned to him. His lips showed no intention of coming down from their upward curve.

"Is this your answer to my proposal?"

She'd suddenly thought: Could someone who'd built such iron walls really change like this?

The expressionless face that had held only displeasure crumbled, and she couldn't help being suspicious. Because this man had no attachment to life.

"Rodrick, do you want to live?"

"...Well."

Knew it. Right?

"But I want you to live."

His thumb stroked her cheek tenderly, and long lashes trembled. He means it. This man isn't lying.

The dark red curse flickering around him traveled up his hand, slowly absorbing into her.

"..."

The madness he suffered was vicious and cruel. He'd said he had to endure pain as if his whole body was screaming, unable to suppress the urge to kill.

Would he be peaceful while she absorbed the curse? Was that why his attitude had softened? Either way, it wasn't bad for her.

No—very good.

"Really? I want you to live too."

"So you went to His Grace the Duke."

Mm, I went to Duke Schwartz to bring up engagement talk.

The courtship letter came up too, so marriage seems likely. Though I can always refuse later.

She'd boldly declared they'd grow old together. She was aware the statement had been impulsive. But what could she do about being angry?

Talking about his death kept making her choke up.

"Right. Because I need you and your family's power."

"You'll need my body more than me. You like touching me."

Diana raised her gaze slightly, haughty, and curved her lips.

"So, do you dislike it?"

"Hardly."

Honestly, she hadn't thought about marriage. Even in her previous life when she wasn't sick—when the time came, she'd do it.

Optimistic, maybe. If her match didn't appear, she didn't have to.

But then he appeared with a ta-da?

A perfect man in the same situation, with a time-limited life like hers—she even felt kinship with him.

This face, this body, and he even fights well. Good voice too. Considerate? She could tell from how he looked after his younger brother. No scandals since he treated women like monsters.

Mm, husband material approved.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Diana, who'd been leaning her cheek into his large hand, grabbed Rodrick's chin.

"May I be greedy for you?"

At the words blurted out, his lips deepened as if slightly surprised.

"As much as you want."

Do as you wish. His words crumbled between their touching lips.

Wow. Chills. Having left the office, Felice rubbed his arms that were breaking out in goosebumps at the sight of the two's antics.

No matter how much he respected and loved his brother, he hadn't wanted to see his actual sibling looking like that.

Felice retreated, killing his presence so as not to disturb them.

'Sister-in-law, please just have nephews and nieces quickly. So I can hand over the family head position!'

Felice clenched his fist again, cheering Diana on.

"Ahh—"

"Ahhh—"

Noel, who'd opened his mouth wide mimicking Diana, bit into a macaron and made the happiest expression in the world.

Noel, sitting on Diana's lap, swung his dangling legs cheerfully.

"Is it good?"

"Yes!"

Diana, smiling down at the child, displayed an elegant bearing.

"Miss, shall I bring more tea?"

Seeing the tense maid, she raised her hand.

At the gesture to leave, the maids and servants bowed deeply and departed.

Rodrick, sitting across and watching her elegantly arranged appearance with interest, uncrossed his legs.

In truth, they'd trembled at the sight of Rodrick sitting imposingly in the room, but Diana, whose grace flowed no less than Rodrick's, was also recognized as someone not to be ignored.

Those of lower rank didn't even know her family name.

Duke Schwartz, having investigated the Beatus family, found it suspicious that Beatus had hidden her absence and controlled information for her safety.

A lady whose family and name are unknown. She could have been treated like a dependent, but the family head's direct recognition had significant impact.

Along with the head's order to serve her without lack, they looked at Diana's bearing and thought she must be high nobility.

"Do you like the room?"

"Yes, thank you. Rodrick."

As his prospective fiancée, she'd moved to the room next to Rodrick's.

They'd judged it safer. It was to prepare for possible spies or assassins.

'Protect us siblings. It seems the Beatus family kidnapped and confined us.'

At her words that the culprit was someone from her family, Rodrick had fallen into thought. No one knew of her absence.

Then wouldn't it be fine for her to stay here like this?

He'd had the insane thought that it would be good to trap her in the castle under the pretext of protection.

"What about the Black Rose? What happened?"

Black Rose was underworld slang. It was a means to meet the information organization in the dark world controlled by Devir Beatus, her eldest brother and this novel's mastermind.

"No, I couldn't meet them."

"The Imperial Palace?"

"There were no special movements."

Information was lacking. They couldn't recklessly return to the family when they didn't know who the culprit was.

Since the situation of being sick because of Rodrick had disappeared, she needed to grasp her siblings' current status first.

Where were they standing now?

Were they running toward the original story?

She was moving regardless of the original. So hadn't some variable occurred for them too? She could only think vaguely.

"It's confirmed that sister is at the Imperial Palace, right?"

"Yes, I heard she's receiving direct education from Her Majesty the Empress."

She couldn't watch her sister die emptily, betrayed by love.

Her heart still tore painfully when she thought of the sister she'd seen in that dreamlike state.

She wouldn't let things flow according to the novel. But information was blocked. Why?

"The possibility that your siblings kidnapped you and trapped you in the Black Forest?"

"..."

That possibility wasn't entirely absent. At some point, there'd been virtually no interaction between siblings. But would there be a reason?

She was the youngest princess who didn't step forward publicly even without her siblings' intervention. Meaning she wasn't an obstacle to them.

"I think I'll have to check directly."

But she didn't think her siblings were the culprits. Because among family members, they were the only ones not in an adversarial relationship.

But she should verify. Right, now that her body could move healthily, it was time to move directly.

"Rodrick, leak information secretly. That Beatus's youngest is in the North."

No need to hide. If they can't go there, make them come here.

Since information is blocked, set a trap to catch whoever will release information.

"Alright. As you wish."

Diana, feeding Noel another macaron, licked the cream off her finger and smiled.

“Have you found it?”

The woman sitting in the luxurious reception room radiated presence that didn't lose to the room's splendid interior decorations.

"Yes, you're three minutes late."

"My apologies. I'll correct it."

The knight stood with hands behind his back and head bowed. Not even looking at the knight, she lifted the teacup with bewitching movements.

Vanessa Beatus. With brilliant red hair and red eyes, she was called the Rose of high society for her overwhelming beauty that rivaled the Crown Prince's.

Red eyes beneath upturned eye corners shone seductively.

"The youngest?"

She asked her stern knight with languid eyes.

"Her whereabouts are unknown."

"I clearly said to take her somewhere safe. What should I do about this. Hm?"

Crack. The teacup's handle broke, unable to bear the force.

Though wearing an elegant mask, the knight who knew his master's temper better than anyone swallowed dryly. He hurriedly reported what he'd learned.

"It seems Lord Devir intervened."

"Brother did?"

"But his whereabouts are also unknown."

Vanessa dropped the broken teacup onto the plush carpet and dusted off her hands.

"Hah. Where did everyone go?"

"Will you leave the ducal house as is?"

Currently, all direct family members of House Beatus were absent. A well-fattened fox was playing king in the lion's empty den. It wasn't immediately problematic.

"Don't worry. Our Beatus isn't that easy."

Meaning she could hunt the fox anytime. It wouldn't have happened if the eldest son Devir Beatus had properly received the family head's seal in the first place.

She swept up her red hair that had fallen annoyingly at her brother's sloppy handiwork.

"If Lady Diana returns to the family on her own, wouldn't that be problematic?"

"Ha, Diana?"

Vanessa snorted. Diana had perfectly absorbed and executed Beatus's various educations. Her abilities didn't fall behind compared to other siblings—she just disliked going outside.

"If that child has a brain, she won't move easily."

The knight bowed his head again, saying he'd misspoken.

"I'll move on my own, so you confirm the youngest's life or death. If she's alive, locate her and report immediately. While you're at it, find out about brother's whereabouts too."

"Understood."

As the knight opened the door and left, a maid entered as if passing a baton.

"Princess. His Highness the Crown Prince is asking for you."

"I see. Tell him I'll be right there."

At the Crown Prince's summons, worry crossed Vanessa's glamorous face.