# 5
### Chapter Five
Ella stood in front of the employee, tilting her head slightly to smile at me.
"Kayden, honestly... even when I say no, he does it. Diana, we'll meet one day."
The employee's confused eyes flicked between Ella and me, clearly unsure of what to do about the situation.
But the employee quickly regained her composure and bowed to Ella.
“Miss Ella Linomer, I’m sorry, but the person I called is not you.”
“What? If not me, then who…?”
Other than the clerk, there were only two people in this tea room—Ella and me.
Ella turned to me, her face pale.
I put down my teacup and walked over to stand next to her.
“The tea that arrived today is so delicious that I was happy to wait. Should I head to the fourth floor now?”
“Yes. I will take you to the private floor.”
I followed the clerk, leaving the tea room behind me.
I ignored Ella's gaze, which burned into me as if demanding an explanation.
To be honest, I found it annoying.
It wasn't just because she was smiling wryly when I was kicked out right after I took on Diana's body.
*Fallen Noblewoman Captures Prince* was a first-person romance novel from the heroine's point of view. It begins when the heroine, a fallen noblewoman named Ella Linomer, attends high society events with the help of a friend and feels a fatalistic pull toward the hero.
Ella Linomer, the heroine of this novel, was not a good heroine.
Despite her angelic face, she was dark inside. She seduced the man her friend loved without a moment's hesitation and shamelessly used everyone around her to make herself look good.
Fans of this novel were divided, some loved her for being the “Queen of Intrigue” and others hated her, describing her as a “vixen.”
[CatSavesTheDay: Ella, that bastard. I really wish that cart had run over her.
└NoBull: Why hate Ella? The scheming heroines are the best.
└AppleSour: A scheming heroine? More of being a vile vixen. Poor Diana, always taken advantage of.
└DooDooDoo: Why do you pity that suspicious girl? Did Ella steal the guy while Diana was dating him? Diana always explodes when she can't deal with her chaos. She's the type that deserves to be exploited, haha.]
…It's always been like this.
I never commented on that novel, but I certainly didn't like Ella.
I kept reading because I can't stop once I start, but otherwise, I would have quietly given up on the novel.
'Diana is not a saint either.'
Diana had a quick temper, often outbursts and attacking others. If she didn't like something, she would beat people up, and it was not uncommon for her to spill juice on other noble women.
But before things went wrong with the hero, she really cared for the heroine (Ella). I introduced her to her father, helped support her financially, took her to social events, and connected her with people. She even used her pocket money to buy her gifts like clothes and jewelry.
'Did Diana really deserve to be treated like this by Ella?'
Suddenly, memories I inherited from Diana rushed into my mind. The way she valued having her first true friend so much. The shy smiles she gave when she secretly laughed to herself after helping Ella.
The nights she stared at the bracelet Ella had given her before she went to sleep.
...And how she cried all night after seeing Ella kissing Kayden, the man she secretly loved. Even though I wasn't feeling these emotions myself, I couldn't help but clutch my chest.
“It's so miserable.”
My heart ached, not because I shared those feelings, but because I sympathized with Diana.
I felt sorry for Diana.
* * *
In front of the door of the private room on the fourth floor, I was a little anxious.
From Diana's memories, I learned that the high-end store always prepared clothes based on the customer's taste.
But Diana loved to wear dresses with deep necklines and lots of sparkling jewelry.
'Ah, it doesn't fit at all.'
Honestly, she looked like a woman from the streets.
Unfortunately, there was no one around to tell Diana that those dresses didn't suit her.
No family, no friends.
“It's nice that I don't have to wear someone else's clothes, but this is an unexpected problem.”
What do I do?
Even if someone offered me clothes for free, I wouldn't want to wear them.
When the employee knocked on the room's door, another employee opened the large arched door from inside.
“Thank you for waiting. We will serve you with the utmost care.”
Ten employees unanimously welcomed me. The woman in the foreground was Madame Robich, whom I recognized from Diana's memories.
“Huh?”
I entered, my eyes open in amazement.
“Miss Diana, I must apologise. The Duke has specifically instructed us not to produce any of the mature and revealing dresses that you usually favour. He has instructed us to prepare dresses that are elegant and sophisticated instead.”
"…truly?"
“Yes. Please, do not be upset and enjoy my creations. I have chosen dresses that I think will suit you perfectly, Miss Diana.”
As I listened to her explanation, I looked around the room.
Madame's expression hardened, perhaps she had misinterpreted my reaction.
“…Don’t you like it, ma’am?”
“No, it's absolutely perfect.”
Great job, Duke.
I felt warmth rising from my cheeks, knowing that I was about to have a very happy shopping experience.
* * *
“Aaa, aaa.”
Harold put down the documents he was reviewing. Thin lines formed between his eyebrows.
“Stop crying, or go cry outside.”
“But, Your Highness the Duke... haa!”
Ivan, his assistant, wiped away his tears with the back of his hand and sighed.
“It's just... sob... so touching to think that the Duke might actually live...”
“Hugh, I feel like I'm going to die listening to you, so I shut up.”
Harold nervously threw a handkerchief from his drawer at Evan.
Ivan grabbed it and started wiping his eyes again.
“If you're going to keep crying, why don't you at least report the status of the Garcelle family?”
“N-Yes, sir… sob.”
He blew his nose loudly and regained his composure as a competent assistant.
“So far, Miss Diana has not shown any significant reaction to her expulsion.”
“Hmph.”
“Well, the Count raised Miss Diana, who was originally an illegitimate child, with the intention of marrying her off to someone powerful. Now that she is no longer useful, he probably doesn't care what happens to her.”
“I suppose that would be the case even if word got out that she was going to marry me. After all, officially, I'm still terminally ill.”
“It's possible. Even though you're not… sobbing… hopeless anymore...”
The tears and snot that had just stopped flowed again like rain.
Harold's eyebrows furrowed further, casting darker shadows on his face.
“Get out. Now, Evan.”
“Aren’t you… *cry*… moved, Your Highness? How can you stay like this without changing… *cry*!”
“Action and emotions are separate.”
Harold's stern words made Evan shoot him a look of disbelief.
“If you don't come out, I'll give you more papers.”
Then, Ivan quickly ran out.
“Tch.”
Harold ran his hand through his hair and took a sip of water.
As he was about to return to his documents, there came a knock on the door.
“Looks like Ivan wants more cards, huh?”
Harold's dark blue eyes narrowed.
“Come in.”
“Sorry.”
But inside wasn't Ivan—it was Diana, wearing a new blue dress she'd just bought at the store.
“How do I look?”
Harold glanced at her quickly before meeting her hopeful blue eyes.
“Much better. Not so vulgar anymore.”
Although his comment had a hint of sarcasm, Diana's cheeks flushed pink.
“Thanks. For the dress and for telling the store to make something more suitable for me.”
“I never thought I would live to see the day you thanked me. Is the empire going to collapse tomorrow or what?”
I laughed at his sarcastic smile.
“No, it won't collapse.”
She was sure since the finale was still three years away.
“Well, I guess we'll see about that tomorrow.”
Harold gestured with his chin for her to come closer.
Is he asking me to come closer? Diana tilted her head before walking towards him.
Whenever she hesitated, unsure of how close he wanted her to be, Harold waved his finger at her every time she stopped.
I stopped right in front of his office.
“No need to thank me, ma'am.”
Harold waved his finger again, this time pointing down.
"but…"
Am I being asked to bend over? Diana's blue eyes rolled upward thoughtfully, then leaned forward slightly. Harold rose enough from his chair to extend his arm towards her.
His gloved hand passed the side of her left cheek and rested gently on her shoulder. While her hair, which had fallen over her shoulder, tickled delicately under his touch, a pleasing sound reached her ears.
“Aren't you mine now, ma'am?”
Harold slowly pulled his arm back and started playing with a strand of my hair.
“I am a greedy man. I take good care of what is mine—whether it be a thing, a power, or a person. I treat it with the utmost care. You made a deal with me, so you are mine now. I will put any bad feelings aside and treat you well. I will cherish you.”
Harold twisted the strand between his fingers, forming a small, tangled knot.
"But I'd hate for what's mine to become someone else's. So, be careful for the duration of our contract. If that happens, I'll destroy you so that no one else can have you."
This was a warning. A warning filled with continued mistrust towards Diana.
"Yes!"
She responded enthusiastically.
Harold gave her a look like he didn't believe her, but she didn't seem to care at all.