Chapter 20: Ilsa’s Agony
The carriage arrived at the inn at night.
Ilsa was awakened by the coachman and woke up from her sleep. She stretched and rubbed her eyes.
“Ah, I slept well. Now, Diana. Since we finally reunited, let’s have a luxurious meal today! Let’s decorate with wreaths too. This will finally adorn the dreary walls beautifully!”
Yes, her sister had always had an eye for beautiful things. Ilsa immediately picked up a colorful wreath that was within reach and got off the carriage.
“Oh, what’s wrong? Diana, you don’t seem energetic.”
Diana looked down.
“I understand. You’re not feeling well because you haven’t eaten anything decent, right?”
Diana rubbed her eyes and gave a silent response.
“Well, come in. I’ll show you to your room. There happened to be one room available. It must be God’s will!”
Ilsa was ecstatic to see her sister after a long time.
When they entered the inn’s entrance, the butler received the wreath with great care. Ilsa put her arm around Diana’s back and walked with a spring in her step, kicking up the lace hem of her dress.
Then, a maid came carrying something.
“Oh, what’s this?”
The maid brought a letter. Ilsa opened it on the spot and frowned as she read the contents.
“Oh no, Gustav is coming here!”
Diana was shocked to hear that. It was the first time she saw her sister despise her husband like this.
“I was enjoying being alone. Oh well.”
Diana wiped her forehead with sweat.
“Well, it’s fine. . .I have a cute little sister with me!”
Ilsa handed the letter to the maid and took Diana’s hand, walking away.
“This inn has a hot spring, you know. Even nobles come here for recuperation. If you wish, we can even arrange for spa treatments. Diana, you can order anything you want, and I’ll make sure it’s done!”
Diana looked at her sister’s fingers. Numerous new gold and silver rings adorned them. White pearls of various sizes gleamed on her fingers.
Diana used to feel soothed when she saw gemstones, but now they seemed strangely poisonous to her eyes, and she felt a twinge in her heart.
The room Diana was led to in the inn was a suite.
A cake stand was filled with colorful pastries, and a maid was already waiting with tea prepared.
“Well, Diana, living in a mountain hut must have been tiring. Take your time and relax here.”
Tea was poured into a rose-patterned teacup, filling it to the brim.
“Hey, Jessica.”
Ilsa called out, and the maid responded.
“Yes, Oku-sama.”
“I want to have a private conversation with my sister. Could you leave us alone?”
“Understood.”
The maid left with a straight posture. Ilsa turned to face Diana.
“Hey, Diana. How did you manage to survive after losing Otou-sama and Okaa-sama? I want to hear the details.”
Diana felt slightly annoyed by the way it sounded like an adventure tale.
“Leon came to rescue me.”
“Leon?”
“. . .The gardener.”
“Oh, the person from earlier.”
“I escaped during the night. By the time I woke up, the surroundings were already engulfed in flames.”
“I see. . .”
“At that point, Otou-sama and Okaa-sama had already passed away. I was also almost attacked by thugs.”
“!”
“That’s when Leon saved me. We rode on horses from there. . .to a mountain cabin.”
“I see, that’s what happened.”
“He told me I could stay there until the war subsides. So, I’ll be in his care for a while.”
As soon as she said that, a rush of happy memories flooded Diana, and she burst into tears.
“Oh, Diana. You’ve gone through such hardships!”
“N-No, it’s not. . .”
“Leon, making you suffer like this. . .”
“That’s not it. . .”
“Well, he did save your life, didn’t he? I understand the feeling of wanting to protect him.”
“. . .”
No matter what she said, it was always interpreted to suit their convenience, so Diana fell silent, quietly seething with anger.
“Don’t worry, I’m here with you now. Let’s find you a husband once the turmoil settles. Since we won’t get the money back that we lent to the royal family, Heinz Trading Company is finished. So, you should marry into a good family. Maybe one of Gustav’s friends. Let’s do that.”
Diana felt a bit uneasy. It was too heartless and disrespectful for her to conveniently rely on her husband after despising him so much earlier. She wondered if she had underestimated her partner too much.
“Onee-sama, earlier you spoke so ill of Gustav-sama, and now this?”
When Diana said that, Ilsa looked surprised and then fluttered her hand and laughed.
“Oh, Diana, you’re such a neat freak. We have to endure so much every time, so it’s only fair that we get something in return, right?”
Diana was taken aback. Ilsa seemed to have completely changed.
“Endure. . .?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean by endure?”
“Oh, come on, do you really want your older sister to say it?”
Ilsa laughed through her nose and continued.
“The intimacy at night. That’s the most unpleasant part, especially at night.”
Diana’s eyes widened. Ilsa sadly smiled and looked down.
“I can’t seem to conceive a child. Maybe it’s because I can’t love my husband.”
Diana’s eyes welled up, and she sighed.
Indeed, that was the case.
If you marry someone you can’t love, you will have a lifetime of suffering. It was ironic that she, who had created the opportunity for Leon and Diana to part ways, felt it the most. The world is absurd.
