# 13
### Chapter thirteen
“I was staring because your eyes are beautiful.”
Before I ended up in this body, I had never found anyone's eyes so charming.
Maybe because I've never seen anyone as handsome as Harold?
“Hmm. Didn’t you once say that my eye color is pale compared to Kaiden’s?”
“…I must have been blind then.”
"Really? So now, do you prefer my eyes to Kayden's?"
I nodded.
“I'm so happy that my girlfriend loves my eyes.”
My dear…?
I looked up, wondering why he was suddenly acting like that again, to find Harold smiling kindly at me.
Then he whispered to me softly.
“Someone is watching us now.”
His dark blue eyes shifted for a moment to the left before returning to rest on me.
Who could it be? I resisted the urge to look up and kept my eyes on Harold instead.
His gaze softened as if to say I had behaved well. Harold reached out and caressed my cheek gently.
“Come on, we agreed to behave properly in public.”
“Yes, but what can I do? I can’t help myself.”
Harold cupped my cheek with his hand. As if the small distance between us wasn't close enough, it got smaller.
My breath was almost sliding over the tip of his nose—it was that close.
Yes! Our noses touched each other.
I raised my eyebrows, silently asking him to stop, but Harold didn't.
Is he really going to kiss me here?
It's not like we haven't kissed before, but still...
Despite the chaos inside, Harold's eyes crinkled with a cheeky smile. I unconsciously held my breath.
Just as our lips were about to meet, the wind blew again.
I tried to catch my hat before it flew off, but Harold was faster.
“Sweetheart’s reflexes are so slow.”
“Have you ever thought that maybe you're too fast?”
At that moment, someone else's hat, carried by the wind, touched the hem of my skirt.
I picked it up quickly. It was a brown, short-brimmed hat. I looked around to find its owner, and soon I saw an old woman walking towards us.
Her hair was light pink, mixed with white, and her eyes were golden. Her elegant appearance alone exuded an aura that demanded respect.
She was not a main character in the novel. She didn't even have any direct connection to Diana. However, I remembered that the heroine admired this woman, proud that she shared the same eye color. She was also a figure that no noble in high society could ignore.
She was once the head maid of the Imperial Palace, and although she stayed away from social activities, the relationships she built still had influence in high society.
“You know who the Marchioness Mayer is, don’t you?”
I blinked at Harold, confirming that I knew.
“She's the one who was watching us a little while ago. Looks like she let her hat fly on purpose.”
“For her to have an excuse to talk to us?”
“My wife is getting smarter.”
It was a common tactic used in high society to start a conversation with someone they had no connection to. Same idea as intentionally dropping a tissue.
'But why would the Marchioness Mayer want to talk to us?'
I glanced at Harold to see if he knew, but before I could ask, I felt a pause a few feet away. I looked up.
The Marquise Mayer saluted, keeping the right amount of formality, neither too belittling nor disrespectful. It was exemplary etiquette.
“It is an honor for me to meet the Duke and Duchess of Bassnes. I must apologize if my hat, blown by the wind, interrupts your lovely time together.”
"No disturbance. The wind is strong today, isn't it? If Harold hadn't been there, I would have lost my hat several times already."
I handed her the hat. As she placed it back on her head, the Marchioness Mayer's sharp, golden eyes were fixed on me, shining with interest.
“You look very different from when you were single, Duchess.”
“Do I look like that?”
If I were still 'Diana' now... Hmm... I'd better not think about it.
“I think it's because I now have someone to rely on.”
I leaned my head on Harold's shoulder, trying to play the loving couple.
“As the rumors say, you two are actually very close.”
Marchioness Mayer's gaze lowered slightly.
“I never thought I would see the Duke holding a lady's hand with his bare hands.”
“Well, my wife is special.”
She looked at me again. She narrowed her eyes slightly as if she was thinking about something, then pointed to the maid standing behind her. The maid handed her a blue envelope, which the Marchioness then presented to me.
“We will be hosting a small party at the Meyer estate soon. I would like to give you this, hoping that our meeting today will lead to more in the future.”
I held my breath. This party, hosted by a powerful figure in high society, would be the perfect opportunity for me to introduce myself as a Duchess.
In other words, it could solve a problem that has been causing the server and me a headache for weeks!
I tried hard to maintain my composure as I accepted the invitation, although my fingertips trembled a little as I did so.
“Thanks for the invitation.”
"I won't keep you from having more fun together. I hope to see you again soon."
However, she turned and left without hesitation, as if her mission here had ended.
“Diana, shall we come back too?”
"Yes."
I kept quiet until we got into the carriage, but once we were inside, I grabbed Harold's arm.
"Harold, do you see this? Do you see this invitation?"
I was so excited that I waved the invitation right in front of his face.
“Good eyesight, you know.”
"Yes, but you didn't seem surprised at all. I never thought the Marchioness Mayer would give me an invitation. I still can't believe it!"
I pinched my cheek just to make sure this wasn't a dream. Oh. It was painful, so it's true.
“I was already expecting her to give you one, so why should I be surprised?”
Did you expect that? how?
I glanced between the invitation and Harold.
Even from his perspective, I didn't see how he could have predicted this. Old Diana would have been completely shocked if the Marchioness Mayer had given her an invitation.
“Diana, what kind of relationship did we have before?”
“Um, bad?”
“And what was your behavior like when you were chasing Kayden?”
“….”
“That's why.”
Harold crossed his legs and tilted his head slightly to the left.
“If I were the Marchioness Mayer, and I saw a monkey marry a human and turn into a decent person, I would be curious, too.”
“…Are you calling me a monkey?”
"Don't take it personally. It's just a metaphor."
This guy is so annoying.
I feel grateful, but also really upset.
“Ladies of high society have no reason to invite a wild troublemaker who will spoil the atmosphere of their gatherings. But why not invite someone who has become a human being? You are not just a count’s daughter anymore—you are the Duchess of Bassin.”
Harold spoke with arrogant confidence, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, folding his arms across his chest.
“Since you've had a troublesome reputation for so long, the Marchioness Mayer might want to see how you've changed at this party for herself.”
The mention of the possibility of her testing me made me instinctively tense. I looked at the invitation, holding it tighter to stop my trembling hands.
“Are you afraid, Diana?”
“Yes. But it's not just fear. It's also an opportunity to change my reputation.”
When I thought about it, I realized that today had been lucky for me, thanks to Harold. If he hadn't passed by that place earlier, I would have been kidnapped. If he had not suggested this appointment, I would not have met the Marchioness Mayer.
‘As long as I remain Duchess of Beysen, I must make sure not to bring shame to Harold or the Beysen family.’
I stared out the carriage window at the warm sunlight filtering in.
They arrived at the duke's estate. Harold went straight to his office.
Due to their unexpected exit, his work piled up during the time he was supposed to deal with her.
*knock knock.*
“Your Highness, it’s Ivan.”
“Come in.”
Harold's assistant, Evan, entered the office carrying some documents that needed approval. He placed the papers on the desk, then lowered his voice conspiratorially.
“Did you find out why the lady visited Anis’ guild?”