Chapter 87

Diona forced a smile, her trembling lips barely curling upwards as she repeated the question.

The people who heard Aristine's words all looked at Diona and Aristine alternately with perplexed expressions.

'Has Diona gotten a lover?'

'But she liked His Highness Tarkan, didn’t she?'

'What does that have to do with her lover and His Highness?'

Durante alone looked at Diona with a serious expression.

Feeling the gazes of the people, Diona's entire body stiffened.

Aristine frowned.

For some reason, Diona seemed even more shaken than before.

She was already pale, but now she looked completely drained of color.

'Why is she so flustered?'

"I, I don't understand what you mean."

Diona tried to force a smile, moving her stiff facial muscles as much as she could.

"Huh?"

"The only thing I was worried about... was His Highness's health."

"Your concern for my health?"

"Yes, I came here because I was worried when I heard that His Highness had collapsed."

'What is this?'

Aristine found it strange but didn't know how to press further, so she just nodded.

Last time, when there was a commotion because of the maids, Diona rushed over, saying she was worried. Now, she was worried about her again.

'No matter how I think about it, we're not that close.'

Last time, she might have come, but this time, it was definitely because of Tarkan.

Yet, she was saying this...

'Is it a pride battle between lovers?'

I don't care, I don't mind at all.

Is she trying to appeal to Tarkan?

Or does she want to hear an explanation from Tarkan, not Aristine?

To Aristine, it was an incomprehensible feeling.

"I'm relieved to see you're better than I expected."

"Thank you. Please sit down."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Diona sat down demurely, biting the inside of her cheek.

'Almost got caught.'

She never imagined Aristine would say something like that.

Telling her husband's lover, "There's nothing between us, so don't worry."

Who would do such a thing? Yet, there she was, right in front of her.

Diona swallowed hard.

She could see what would happen if she were exposed in front of so many people, especially in front of Tarkan.

Not only would everything she had enjoyed be taken away, but she would also lose her place by Tarkan's side.

Tarkan would turn his back on her without a second glance.

'She's a woman I can't let my guard down around.'

Diona glanced at Aristine.

'She might have evidence of my collusion with the Silvanus maids.'

Last time, Aristine asked Diona to testify about the Silvanus maids.

Diona helped Aristine by telling the maids about Tarkan's preferences and testified that Rosaline was also there.

Of course, she left out what she had said.

Aristine accepted her testimony without a word, nodding.

It was fortunate, but it left a lingering feeling.

'You must be suffering a lot.'

'Hang in there.'

When Aristine saw Diona scolding the maids, it was clear she knew the whole story.

Yet, she remained silent.

- I can choke you anytime, so behave yourself.

That's how Diona interpreted it.

It was a complete misunderstanding, but Diona had no way of knowing.

Aristine felt uneasy seeing Diona's troubled expression.

'She seems to be glaring at me while pretending otherwise...'

Why is she glaring at me instead of Tarkan?

'Whether they have a pride battle or not, just don't involve me.'

It doesn't matter if they reaffirm their passionate love or have a heated argument; I just want to get out of this awkward situation.

'Why do I have to be involved in their pride battle? If you're going to glare, don't glare at me.'

It was a frustrating situation for anyone, but especially for Aristine, who wanted a clean business relationship with Tarkan, it was even more annoying.

Personal matters affecting business relations were her pet peeve.

Especially now, securing iron ore was the top priority.

She didn't want to waste her energy on this.

Diona wanted to assert her pride, so Aristine decided to let her be, but now she felt she couldn't ignore it.

Aristine sighed and spoke.

"Diona, I know you're not feeling well inside."

"Me? Why would I not feel well?"

Diona reacted defensively, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Really?"

Aristine tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.

"You said you were worried."

Of course, that worry was not for her but for the relationship between Tarkan and her.

Aristine kept that part to herself.

If she said it, Diona would deny it, insisting it was because of the pride battle with Tarkan. Instead, she conveyed it with her eyes.

'I understand everything, so put your pride aside for now.'

"Ah..."

Diona glanced at Tarkan and nodded.

"Yes, that's right."

She tried to smile nonchalantly but met Durante's gaze.

Diona quickly averted her eyes.

Her heart was pounding.

Durante knew everything she did to Aristine on her wedding day.

Even how she incited Mukali to spread rumors about infidelity.

Damn, Diona clenched her fists tightly.

How much must Durante be laughing at her, worried about being exposed?

'All because of my brother...'

Thinking this, Diona involuntarily looked at Mukali.

Mukali would definitely take her side, so she was subconsciously seeking his support.

But.

"......!"

Diona's body stiffened when she saw Mukali's expression.

'......Why?'

Why is he looking at me like that?

Mukali should always look at her with concern and guilt.

But now.

Before Diona could think deeper, Aristine spoke, drawing her attention.

"Let's leave the love affairs to the parties involved. I don't want to get involved, so I'll just state the facts."

"Huh?"

Diona's eyes wavered.

She thought she had handled it well, so why bring it up again?

"I'm sure you were surprised when I said Tarkan saved me from collapsing in the bathroom yesterday."

Aristine crossed her legs and continued.

Two people in the bathroom.

A situation ripe for misunderstanding, right?

Diona's mouth twitched.

Aristine's words had a subtle edge.

If she denied being surprised, it could be interpreted as not caring that Aristine had collapsed.

While Diona was choosing her words, Aristine continued.

"I was bathing alone, and Tarkan came in because I wasn't coming out. He found me collapsed."

Diona clamped her mouth shut.

If she said anything, it might seem like she was questioning how Aristine collapsed.

She might find the right words if she thought carefully, but it was difficult.

The image of Tarkan rescuing Aristine in the bathroom came to mind.

It sounded like they were boasting about their intimate relationship.

"Nothing happened between us, and we didn't bathe together or anything like that."

Aristine emphasized this again, then continued with resolve.

"And although it might sound strange... After that, Tarkan and I were on the bed... It was all to treat my hypothermia."

Aristine tried to maintain a calm tone.

Honestly, she was embarrassed. She could feel her cheeks heating up.

'...What?'

Diona was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Aristine.

Her breathing grew heavier.

'On the bed? What did they do?'

Hypothermia treatment.

Diona knew the common folk remedy.

'Of course, they must have embraced each other naked to raise body temperature...'

"Stop beating around the bush."

Umilu shrugged.

"Just say they were naked and embraced all night."

She grinned, enjoying the embarrassed look on Aristine's face.

"You did more with His Highness Tarkan on the bed... You even broke the bed."

"......"

The final blow.

Diona's face turned dark with shock.

She lowered her head, biting her lip.

Every time people talked about Aristine and Tarkan's wedding night, a burning sensation rose in her chest, threatening to choke her.

And now, this?

'His Highness Tarkan isn't just attracted to her physically, is he?'

He didn't do anything, just held her all night to treat her hypothermia.

Wasn't that boasting?

Tarkan wasn't just infatuated with her body; he valued her.

He protected her, embraced her... Not just physically, but emotionally connected.

Diona's shoulders trembled.

She needed to calm down, but she couldn't control her reaction.

Her vision blurred, seeing nothing.

Aristine looked at Umilu, flustered.

'No, how could you say that!'

Wasn't she just fanning the flames?

'Of course, Diona knows nothing happened on our wedding night!'

Tarkan must have told her.

But Diona's bowed head didn't look good.

'No, she's your girlfriend. Take care of her.'

Thinking this, she looked at Tarkan, but he didn't seem to want to comfort Diona.

Instead, he frowned, looking at her with a disapproving expression.

In the end, comforting Diona fell to Aristine.

'Why me?'

But to resolve this triangular relationship, she had no choice.

You two are the best.

I can't compete.

With this meaning, she spoke.

"Tarkan and I are in a political marriage. We're not like people in love."

Thud.

Aristine's sudden words stabbed Tarkan in the heart.

The warriors flinched, looking at Tarkan.

No powerful magic could pierce Tarkan's heart.

But Aristine's casual words hit him hard.

Aristine's unexpected attack didn't stop there.

"And I'm a person who annoys Tarkan."

"What?"

Tarkan frowned, repeating the question.

"Why are you so surprised? You said it to me yourself."

"There was no such thing—"

Tarkan's words trailed off.

'Bitch, you're really annoying.'

The words echoed in his mind.

Tarkan was flustered.

That's not what he meant.

He wasn't sure what he meant.

But at least, he didn't mean to make Aristine look so self-deprecating.

'...Did you really say that?'

Tarkan's reaction confirmed it.

The warriors, who had been looking at Tarkan with concern, now had mixed expressions.

They narrowed their eyes, looking at Tarkan.

The palace attendants and Umilu felt the same.

How could he say such things to Aristine?

But Aristine remained calm.

She looked at Diona, who had raised her head.

Hearing that Tarkan found Aristine annoying, joy spread across Diona's face.

Aristine felt a bit disillusioned as she spoke.

"So, you can relax."

But the response came from beside her.

"Relax?"

It was Tarkan.

"Why are you saying that to Diona?"

He lifted Aristine's face to look at her.

He had been observing the situation, feeling something was off.

At first, when they mentioned lovers, he thought, 'Has Diona gotten a lover? What does that have to do with her and Aristine?'

But the conversation was strange.

Aristine was talking about what happened with Tarkan, as if defending herself.

Tarkan watched Aristine, who looked bewildered.

"Huh? It's obvious, isn't it?"

"Vi, Vi Highness!"

Diona, finally regaining her composure, called out to Aristine urgently.

Seeing Aristine about to look at Diona, Tarkan grabbed her shoulder.

His violet eyes focused on her again.

"Tell me. What's obvious?"

"Well, you and Diona are lovers, right?"

Tarkan was speechless.

"And very passionate, deeply in love since the past. You said Diona is the only special woman in the world to you, and even Lord Mobi recognized her as a daughter-in-law."

I'll be a husband, not a money-making machine.