Chapter 08
Not long after, Ian Crawford sent another invitation.
Just like before, the contents were flawless. He said he wanted to personally show her around the ducal estate.
Three private meetings in a row with the future Duke… Anyone would think I’m being treated like a fiancée.
Instead of changing the original story, their relationship was progressing exactly as expected.
But now, the issue was no longer just about whether she would marry him or not.
“Can you swear, on your family, that you heard nothing?”
“Even if your mother’s life were at stake?”
Ever since hearing those words, Diana’s sleep had been restless.
Every time her parents went out, she insisted they stay somewhere safe, to the point that even the coachman looked at her strangely.
This won’t work. I need to settle this somehow.
***
The Day of the Meeting
Just as she was about to leave with her parasol, Helena approached her slowly.
“Diana, are you heading out now?”
“Yes, I’m about to leave.”
“I see.”
“I’ll be back before dinner. Even if I’m late, don’t wait for me.”
“Alright.”
Helena stepped closer and adjusted the ribbon of Diana’s bonnet.
Diana stood still and accepted it.
“Mother.”
“Yes?”
“…What would you do if I said I’d rather die than get married?”
It was an impulsive question.
She expected her mother to be shocked—
But the answer was unexpected.
“Well… if that were the case, I suppose I’d keep trying to persuade you.”
Her mother smiled calmly.
“Diana. Right now, you exist within many relationships that shape who you are. And among them, the most precious one is family.”
“……”
“That’s why I can’t simply tell you to abandon those relationships.”
She didn’t say, “Then leave this house.”
Instead—
“I trust that my beloved daughter will always make wise choices.”
Those warm words made Diana’s eyes sting.
“…I’m always sorry. If we were truly established nobles, you wouldn’t have to worry about things like our family’s position.”
Her mother’s quiet apology made her seem smaller somehow.
“If only you had siblings, your burden would be lighter…”
“No. I’m already very happy. You know that.”
Diana shook her head.
Just as she had her own circumstances, her parents had their responsibilities too.
That was why their disagreements never turned into real fights.
After fixing her clothes, Helena gently patted her shoulder.
“Go safely. Be careful.”
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
At that moment, Diana made up her mind.
Then she left the estate.
***
On the Way
Inside the carriage, Diana found herself thinking about her past life.
Back then, her name had been Park Hee-su, and she had lived until the age of twenty-five.
She loved her parents, who did their best despite their financial struggles.
But it was hard to endure being subtly treated differently from her younger brother—
Or being told to “endure it because you’re the older one.”
Still, when they went out to eat together, she thought:
At least our family is happy enough.
That illusion shattered when her parents’ restaurant went bankrupt.
“Hee-su, if you’re going to take a leave from school anyway… could you take out a loan to help with living expenses?”
Knowing their situation, she couldn’t refuse.
But that was when she truly understood—
Being the eldest daughter meant being the foundation of the family.
What was supposed to be a six-month break turned into two years.
She gained more part-time job experience than qualifications.
Her loans kept piling up.
Seeing her friends’ glamorous lives on social media only made her feel worse.
“Why do you spend so much money?”
“Is it my fault we’re poor?!”
“Watch your tone when you speak to your mother!”
Her delayed rebellion came at a heavy cost.
Her parents didn’t accept her frustration—they tried to suppress it.
Around that time, her younger brother made a mistake.
He confessed to losing 50 million won in cryptocurrency investments.
That was when something inside her finally broke.
“Are you serious? Is our house a bank? You should deal with your own mess!”
“How can you say that as his older sister?”
“I’m the cruel one? Then what about you?! Should I go work in a factory to make you happy?!”
***
Her father, who had been silent, slapped her.
She left home that day.
Fortunately, she found a job at an amusement park, so she didn’t have to worry about food or shelter.
But from then on, she understood:
Her life would never be easy.
And she would have to endure it anyway.
Whenever she saw children laughing happily with their parents, she thought:
I wish I had been born into a family like that.
A family where you could just love each other without worry.
That wish stayed with her—
Until she died young and was reborn as Diana Wellington.
***
Maybe because her wish had been so specific—
Her life as Diana could be summarized in one sentence:
A reward for living as Park Hee-su.
A beloved only daughter.
A wealthy family.
A life full of warmth and comfort.
Everything she had ever wanted.
Her kind father and gentle mother treated her like treasure.
Even when she became distant after regaining her memories, they never changed.
The first conflict she ever had with them—
Was about marriage.
Her parents’ wish was simple:
That she would marry, build a family, and experience the same happiness they had.
That was the norm in this world.
The strange one isn’t my mother. It’s me.
She reminded herself:
I belong to this world. My past life is just a memory.
Everything is over.
But while the emotions faded, their influence remained.
Her values had changed.
She was still Diana Wellington—
But not the same person.
She didn’t have the confidence to build a happy family.
Especially not with Ian Crawford.
She didn’t want to die.
She didn’t want to be engaged to the villain.
What if his kindness was fake?
What if even the water he offered was poisoned?
She didn’t want to spend her life in constant fear.
If that was the alternative—
She’d rather be alone.
She was tired of living a life that felt like falling into a bottomless pit.
So there was only one path left.
“…I hate pretending too.”
She muttered to herself.
***
At the Crawford Estate
The Crawford estate was closer to a castle than a mansion.
From the main gate, it took fifteen minutes just to reach the building.
One side held a lush garden.
On the other, knights were training.
The countless arched windows reflected the family’s power.
The white walls, decorated pediments, and deep blue roof gleamed beautifully.
When Diana stepped out of the carriage, an elderly butler approached.
“Welcome to the Crawford estate, Miss Diana Wellington. I am Herman, the head butler.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Herman.”
“Thank you for coming. The young master is waiting in the study.”
Diana followed him inside.
The interior was even more impressive than she imagined.
Diamond-patterned tiles covered the floor.
A grand staircase stretched upward with more than forty steps.
Everything—from stone railings to statues—was spotless.
Blue carpets lined the corridors.
But the most breathtaking part was the ceiling.
From the hall to the corridors, the high ceilings were covered in frescoes depicting creation myths.
Compared to that, the armor displays and tapestries looked like toys.
***
“Welcome, Miss Diana. Was your journey comfortable?”
So this was the kind of place he had grown up in.
The moment she saw Ian Crawford—
She finally understood why her parents saw him as an opportunity.
A dazzling estate that made you look around without thinking.
And yet—
The man who owned it all looked as if he were dying of boredom.
