STVWDTD Chapter 38

Let's Live Together

Diana felt the crumpled letter's texture as she steadied herself.

If the family kept sending people after hearing she was in the North, it meant everything had already progressed on their end.

Despite the fact that the person in question was here.

Political marriage. A phrase that hadn't existed in her life before. Something her siblings would never have permitted had proceeded.

Someone had dared impersonate the family head. House Beatus currently lacked a master capable of major decisions. The heir, Devir Beatus, was absent.

'Someone.'

Her sharpened pink eyes sank cold.

'Has seized the family.'

She'd intended to return after roughly gauging who'd kidnapped and confined her, but the situation had accelerated.

She needed to return to the capital and assess the situation. Figure out what state her sister and brother were in.

"Father. There's something I'd like to ask."

"Go ahead."

Setting aside the fact that the duke's information blockade had caused her delayed response—

"Are you already planning to antagonize the imperial family?"

Blocking all outsiders meant blocking imperial people too. This was too soon.

Even in the original story, Felice had only opposed the imperial family after Rodrick and the duke died.

It wasn't time yet. The North still needed to appear docile, seemingly collared and obedient.

"I understand your concern. But you needn't worry."

Hmm, so he didn't touch imperial people? There would be someone secretly reporting to the imperial family, so showing irregularities would be problematic.

She'd thought the duke had acted hastily upon learning Rodrick's madness could be eliminated.

Relations with the imperial family were already poor. Then why block outsiders?

"Then if I end up married to another family's heir, will that be your responsibility, Father?"

"What?"

"What?"

"Whaaat?!"

The reactions came in order: the duke, Rodrick, Felice.

Felice. When did you even enter?

"Wh-what are you saying, sister-in-law!"

Among the three men, Felice reacted most violently.

"Beatus kept sending people, but the letters only just arrived."

What?! That was the reason they kept sending people?! Felice's pupils experienced seismic activity.

The result of excessive loyalty.

Beatus was famous for assassination, so when they kept secretly sending people, he'd thought they were trying to harm Diana.

Moreover, wasn't she supposed to be at the capital estate? He'd thought it perfect timing to eliminate her.

Of course, there had been people genuinely sent to kill her.

But Felice's overprotectiveness had narrowed her radius of action.

Trying to protect her within the North's walls had ended up blocking her view.

"I—I'm sorry, sister-in-law."

Diana wore a dumbfounded expression watching Felice bow his head voluntarily. You? She'd naturally assumed it was the duke.

"Felice Schwartz."

The duke's heavy voice fell on the back of Felice's bowed head.

"Yes."

"You are dismissed as acting family head."

"Father?"

It's not that serious a mistake though. Unlike the flustered Diana, determination settled over Felice's face when he raised his head.

"Yes. I will follow your command."

"And you will go to the capital, manage the estate there, and assist Rodrick."

Having lived only in the North, they'd all but abandoned the capital estate.

Felice, who'd thought he was being punished for acting without permission, nodded with a bright expression. With brother. Nothing could be better.

"Yes, I'll work hard!"

The duke then handed Rodrick a document.

"The agenda for the upcoming regular meeting. Attend as acting duke."

The duke was firm, brooking no refusal.

The acting duke had changed in an instant. Rodrick accepted the document without comment.

Only Diana was bewildered by the rapidly shifting situation. Wait, why is everyone so calm about this?

In another family, one would think the successor position was in jeopardy, but Felice was excited.

"My lady."

Having finished with his sons, the duke called Diana.

"Yes. What is it?"

"Only the duchess may wear this. Accept it."

Diana and Rodrick's expressions twisted oddly. Why is that there?

In the ring box in the duke's hand, the lady's ring—the one containing the ancestor—rested neatly.

The blue sapphire that gleamed as if urging her to accept it felt ominous.

Last night, the ring placed in the duke's bedroom by Noel had entered Duke Schwartz's dreams.

The ancestor, who'd left a message insisting Diana be given the heirloom, couldn't hide his satisfaction.

[What are you doing? Hurry up and put it on.]

At the voice that popped out, Diana forced a smile. Wow. I really don't want to wear this.

The duke's eyes were shadowed dark, as if he'd lost sleep. Right. Possessed objects aren't for keeping.

When she approached, the duke placed the ring box on her hand indifferently.

"Don't forget that House Schwartz stands behind you, my lady."

That meant: whatever happens, we will be your strength.

The heavy resonance made her nose sting. If she had a father, would it feel like this?

Diana accepted the ring box and smiled genuinely, warmly.

"Thank you, Father."

The duke looked at them all as if to say he'd finished what he had to say, so get out now, issuing his eviction order.

He really was consistent.

[You look pleased.]

Ah, goodness. Diana stopped in the corridor after leaving the study and clutched her heart.

A face resembling Rodrick's blocked her path, semi-transparent.

"Excuse me. Ancestor. Do you have to take that form?"

[Hmm, don't you like it? I'm extremely handsome like this.]

Diana frowned at his self-absorbed appearance.

"Diana."

Rodrick gripped her hand—the one wearing the ring—tightly. Felice just tilted his head beside them.

"Sister-in-law, is there something in front of you?"

"Ah."

It seemed only she, wearing the ring, could see the ancestor. Rodrick watched her with worried eyes.

"No. I was just talking to myself. Let's go quickly. We need to prepare to leave."

"Yes, sister-in-law!"

As Felice energetically took the lead, Diana sighed inwardly.

'Not that form. You don't need to manifest physically, do you?'

[Mm, then how about this?]

The semi-transparent form shrank smaller than a palm. The size of a fairy from a storybook.

The ancestor, reduced to a cute size, looked like a miniature version of Rodrick.

'Yes, cute is better.'

As she moved to walk again, Rodrick stopped her.

"Diana. Are you conversing with that thing?"

"What? The ancestor?"

"Yes."

"Uh. Yes."

She wasn't sure if calling the ancestor "that thing" was acceptable.

The ancestor, transformed into a baby fairy, was bouncing furiously beside her cheek, muttering about ill-mannered descendants.

"Get in. Diana and I need to talk."

Rodrick's blue eyes aimed precisely at the ancestor. Revant, who'd been bouncing, froze instantly.

[Sc-scary bastard.]

Somehow, he was directing killing intent at him, a spirit.

To Rodrick's eyes, a blue fireball appeared to be flitting near Diana's face.

When he reached out to grab it, Revant yelped.

[Fine, I'll go in!]

His descendant seemed likely to somehow eliminate souls through sheer force. A terrifying descendant with outstanding potential.

The grumbling ancestor retreated into the ring. Diana laughed helplessly.

So he can come and go from the ring. At least he wouldn't be constantly noisy beside her—that was fortunate.

"Go."

Rodrick had managed to create a situation where they'd be alone.

"Diana."

Returning to the bedroom, Rodrick pulled her onto his lap.

He rested his forehead on her shoulder. The breath he drew in, her scent, calmed him.

"Rodrick. You're tired, aren't you?"

"..."

He answered with a low sigh instead of words.

So many interruptions. Even that assassin Helly hiding in the ceiling—not being able to deal with him immediately was grating.

Should I kill him once Diana doesn't need him anymore? Vicious killing intent disturbed his thoughts.

"You're mine."

"Of course."

"You'll become my wife."

Who dares try to take what's his?

He snatched the Beatus letter still in her hand and crumpled it viciously once more.

The paper—no longer functioning as a letter—was thrown onto the roaring logs.

Rodrick's eyes blazed like the fiercely burning flames as he stared at the fireplace.

"When we go to the capital, we'll start with marriage vows."

Look at this man. That's the wrong order, you know?

It was good that he thought of her this much, but she needed to hold the leash of this half-rationality-lost beast.

If she didn't grasp the reins, the man seemed likely to rampage.

"Rodrick."

At her call, he raised his head. In their colliding gazes, Diana smiled beautifully.

"I think you're forgetting—right now, my body comes before marriage."

"..."

Shocked, his blue eyes wavered as if hearing you're not needed.

"Ah, don't be hurt by that. I feel the same way you do."

Diana cupped Rodrick's face with both hands and kissed him with an audible smooch, stamping him like a seal.

She whispered between their slightly parted lips.

"Let's hurry and remove your curse, restore my body to normal, and live together."

The sensation of their noses brushing was ticklish. Rodrick opened his mouth, unable to look away, as if entranced.

"Again."

"Hm?"

"Say it again."

"What?"

"That we'll live together."

"Oh my."

Diana smiled brightly as if moved and threw her arms around Rodrick's neck.

He'd acted as if his own life meant nothing. That man had responded to the words live together. Delighted by that, Diana hugged Rodrick tight.

"Let's live together, Rodrick."

Solid hands supported her back, holding her body.

The anxiety and emptiness that couldn't be filled—her single sentence packed them full. Not lust, not desire, but warm tranquility dominated him.

It might be a long journey, but—

Let's live a life, live in the same space, live through your time together.

"Yes. Let's live together."

The quiet confession seeped softly into her breath.