Chapter 02
The next morning.
Diana calmly expressed her decision to her mother.
“I’ll meet the young duke, since you insist. But please don’t expect too much.”
Even though she clearly said not to expect too much, Helena’s face immediately brightened.
“Really? You’ve made a good decision, Diana!”
Diana awkwardly held her mother’s hands as she celebrated.
Helena kept saying she had made the right choice, but the more she did, the more forced Diana’s smile became.
I’m sorry, Mother. But I will never marry Ian Crawford.
She swallowed those words along with her guilt.
It wasn’t like she didn’t understand her mother’s worries—afraid her daughter would spend her life alone.
But the problem was… the other person was that villain.
The same man who embezzled royal funds, laundered money, stabbed his childhood friend in the back, and even cut off another friend’s arm when they tried to stop him.
She would behave politely on the surface.
But getting deeply involved with him? She would avoid that at all costs.
Unaware of her daughter’s thoughts, Helena dragged Diana to a dress shop.
“Mother, this dress shows my entire back. And the perfume too… it’s too much.”
“Too much? Not at all! Bold and pretty dresses are meant for when you’re young. You’ll look wonderful, so don’t worry.”
Looking back, this was her mistake.
Diana couldn’t win against her mother’s excitement.
In the end, she bought a strong rose perfume, a flashy dress, and shoes that emphasized her slender ankles.
***
And finally, the day of the meeting arrived.
Alright. Just follow the plan.
Diana took a deep breath inside the carriage.
You’ve done well so far. There’s nothing to be afraid of.
Until now, she had done everything she could to avoid crossing paths with the villain.
If it seemed like they might meet, she avoided him.
Whenever he was mentioned, she pretended not to know.
Of course, she actually knew more about him than anyone.
His mental state, what he planned to do, even the future events surrounding him.
But pretending to know is forbidden.
“I know what you did last summer.”
That kind of attitude was the easiest trap for someone who had transmigrated.
There was a saying: if you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back.
If she acted like she knew everything about him just to seem bold, there was no telling what would happen.
He was the villain.
And this was his territory.
The ‘tiger’s den’ strategy is forbidden too.
Entering the tiger’s den to catch the tiger—like making a pre-engagement contract to safely break things off later.
A classic trope.
But in reality, it rarely worked.
A tiger doesn’t hesitate to tear apart prey that walks into its den.
Would a flimsy engagement contract be any different?
That’s how clichés worked.
So there was only one thing Diana needed to do.
Just be polite. Better to be a woman with no charm than to act cute when it doesn’t suit me.
Eliminate any connection.
Carry the conversation politely—but if needed, respond with silence instead of unnecessary words.
At the very least, she wouldn’t look easy to take advantage of.
***
By the time she finished organizing her thoughts, they had arrived at the Marquis Valentine’s estate.
“Hello, Lady Ines. Thank you for inviting us today.”
“Welcome, Diana. Helena, I’m glad you came as well.”
The hostess was someone they were moderately acquainted with in high society.
As expected, the marchioness made a fuss.
“Many will think an angel has arrived at this party. Diana, you look absolutely stunning today.”
“You flatter me. Have you been well?”
“I’ve been the same as always. Come inside.”
The garden party was larger than expected.
Not only was the garden fully opened, but part of the mansion connected to the indoor courtyard had been set up as a lounge.
It was clearly designed so guests could rest after the dancing.
Come to think of it, it had been a while since Diana attended a social event like this.
My feet already hurt.
She glanced at her swelling ankles and sighed.
Just then, a commotion started nearby.
“Duchess Crawford.”
“Oh my, Your Grace!”
Crawford.
The moment she heard that name, Diana’s spine went cold.
Then, as if by fate, their eyes met from across the distance.
A middle-aged woman with graying hair approached them slowly.
“It’s been a while, Helena. I seem to be a bit late.”
“Not at all. Welcome, Your Grace. It’s been half a year since we last met at Anok Castle. Have you been well?”
“I grow older day by day.”
Her tone was oddly cynical.
But Helena simply laughed, as if used to it.
“And this is Miss Diana?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Monica Crawford. I am Diana Wellington.”
Diana lifted her dress slightly and greeted her politely.
The duchess chuckled.
“Nice to meet you. You may not remember, but we met when you were very young.”
“I-Is that so? My apologies.”
“That was before my divorce, before I returned to the Crawford family. It’s natural you wouldn’t remember.”
She added, almost like a complaint:
“Every time I see children, they’ve grown. Young ladies become more beautiful. Whether I like it or not, it reminds me I’m aging.”
“You’re still in your prime.”
“Helena, you mustn’t say that. We’re both getting older.”
“Oh my. If you call yourself young, then I can pretend I’m still in my youth as well.”
Their exchange was light, but warm.
Just as the atmosphere softened—
“More importantly… Ian is late.”
The duchess scanned the venue with dissatisfaction.
“He said he would arrive early. Where on earth is he?”
“Oh? Didn’t you come together?”
“He’s busy with court duties. He said he’d come separately, but now I can’t find him.”
“He was recently appointed as the new prime minister, wasn’t he? Congratulations. It must be a hectic time.”
“Well… that child only grows more cunning with time. I can never tell what he’s thinking.”
“If you say that, Aunt, I might feel hurt.”
A pleasant voice suddenly came from behind.
Startled, Diana turned around.
“Ian.”
The moment their eyes met, she stared at him without thinking.
He looked even better than she imagined.
Ian Crawford.
He had an overwhelming presence, like an ancient European cathedral.
A sharp nose and refined jawline naturally drew attention.
His dark hair had a faint bluish tint.
From head to toe, everything about him was perfectly neat, giving him a mature and restrained impression beyond his age.
But most striking of all were his eyes.
Red, like pomegranate seeds.
She thought they would be unsettling…
But seeing them in person, they were actually quite beautiful.
It was easy to understand how the original Diana fell in love at first sight.
That man is really the villain?
For a moment, she forgot.
But the instant he smiled—
…Nope. Definitely the villain.
Ian Crawford had the unmistakable aura of someone scheming.
His fox-like eyes narrowed as he smiled, until his pupils were almost hidden.
When he smiles, he really becomes that narrow-eyed character!
As expected of a villain.
His smile, full of hidden intentions, felt strangely dangerous.
***
“You arrived early, yet didn’t come find me.”
“I apologize. I ran into someone I knew, and the greeting took longer than expected…”
“Hmph. Don’t make excuses. Apologize properly.”
The fortunate thing was that, according to his public persona, Ian was kind and fair to everyone.
When the duchess lightly poked him with her fan, he playfully acted as if it hurt.
“I apologize for being late, ladies. I am Ian Crawford.”
A gentleman who behaved warmly on the surface, no matter what he was plotting underneath.
The social mask of the villain was still perfectly intact.
“Hello, Young Duke Crawford.”
Stay calm. Don’t be afraid…
Diana spoke, purely for survival.
“I’m Diana Wellington. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine. I’ve often heard that you are exceptionally beautiful, Miss Diana—but seeing you in person exceeds all expectations.”
As she looked at him, Diana realized something.
Being a villain wasn’t something just anyone could do.
He smiled naturally at someone he had no real interest in.
He praised her effortlessly.
And he maintained a pleasant expression the entire time to win favor.
Whether it was sincerity or an act, none of it was easy.
Isn’t a narrow-eyed villain basically a highly skilled service worker?
Maintaining goals and reputation while doing constant emotional labor…
That sounded like a pretty intense job.
