Who Do You Like More, Mom or Dad?

Author: EunEun Editor: eris421

The Count narrowed her eyes. Baron Ovalon would not easily approve it. It was a scheduled fight.

“What does Diana think of Senir?”

“She follows him pretty well.”

“Hmm.”

It was an unwilling face. The Count paid attention to the Esteemed Mother’s face.

“Mother.”

“It doesn’t have to be Senir…. Cough, cough, cough.”

The cough was pretty intense this time. The Count raised the bell. The Esteemed Mother grabbed the Count’s hand which was going to shake it. After a moment, the cough stopped.

“Cough, ahem. We’ll continue to talk about it later, phew….”

The Esteemed Mother put down the handkerchief covering her mouth with a tired face.

“I’ll also participate in your banquet day.”

The Count frowned.

“I know my body. I’ll be fine if it’s only for a moment.”

“Mother, you don’t really have to step up. No one can deny Diana.”

The Esteemed Mother smiled faintly.

“But it looks best if I step up.”

“….”

The Count stared at the Esteemed Mother. She could never be considered healthy. But—

“All right.”

The least opposition was if the Esteemed Mother herself admitted her.

“This is my apology to Philippa.”

It was a life that she considered she lived without any regrets. However, the longer the period she lay down, the more she became looking back on her life.

She has no such regrets, but what about Clement? The Esteemed Mother could not be sure.

“And also let’s call a lawyer.”

The Count stared still at the Esteemed Mother.

“I’ll need to fix my will.”

—Knock knock.

There was heard the butler’s voice from outside the door.

“Baron Ovalon has arrived.”

***

At that time, Diana headed to Ohrid’s back door. The outer appearance of the carriage, which is already waiting in advance, was normal. However, the interior of the carriage was completely different from its outer appearance, and inside it, Grandfather’s secretary sat first.

“Renold? Long time no see.”

“…It’s been a while.”

It was a dying face. The dark shadow in Renold’s eyes was the reflection of staying up for a several nights.

“Are you alright?”

“Young Miss….”

Renold looked at her with a moving face.

“You must be busy preparing for the banquet.”

“As expected, the Young Miss is the only one who cares about me.”

Renold made a crying sound. Diana smiled awkwardly as she sat close to Grandfather. Grandfather, ahem ahem, coughed satisfactorily.

“You, don’t talk nonsense, okay?”

Grandfather told Renold off. Diana, who laughed quietly, patted the back of Grandfather’s hand. Grandfather asked right away.

“So, do you have anything in mind?”

“Actually, I’m not really sure.”

“It sure is a difficult problem.”

Only Renold seemed to not understand their conversation.

“What are you two talking about?”

Grandfather coughed as he stroked his beard. It was as if I had waited to ask such a question.

“So what I’m saying is. Diana!”

And he began to brag.

“Hm? My cute granddaughter!”

Diana, whose cheeks were burning, shook Grandfather’s wrist as if telling him not to be like that, but Grandfather didn’t hide his proud face.

“Said she wanted to give Clement a birthday present!”

Renold blinked his eyes.

“Yes. I was thinking about Grandmother’s birthday present with Grandfather. Because I don’t know what kind of gift she will like.”

“It’s a difficult problem.”

The year before last coincided with the time she entered the mansion, and last year it was so quiet that it passed without even knowing that it was her birthday.

The west building was hectic by the flooding gifts, but there really wasn’t any change in the main building. It was only after her maids, who went to help because they were short-handed, returned, she knew the fact that it was Grandmother’s birthday. It was a bit of a shock.

It was the opposite on Grandfather’s birthday. Since three months before it, Grandfather sang a song saying that they have to go play because it was his birthday, and also people stayed at Ohrid’s separate building, where people are rare there, for around fifteen days.

“I want to give her something good since my first gift, but I’m worried. Because there’s nothing that Grandmother needs.”

Diana gave a gloomy face. Renold comforted her quickly.

“I’m sure she will like anything if it’s the gift that Young Miss prepared.”

At that time, Grandfather called her as his eyes shone.

“Diana.”

Renold had a worried look at that sight.

“I have a good idea.”

***

Diana got off the shabby carriage. When she looked up, she saw El-Corte which is two blocks away.

“Huft, this is much more frustrating than I thought.”

“Is Young Miss alright?”

The masked knight adjusted the string.

“I’m used to it, so now I sometimes forget that I wore it.”

Diana’s mask was just like theirs. It was a very common shape that was sold on the street and not the one she had usually used.

The only one who didn’t wear a mask, Renold urged.

“The time which Mister Spencer has earned isn’t much. Since I’ll be holding the carriage here, please quickly go to El-Corte. Don’t pick too long.”

Two knights and Diana, like this, the three of them hurried their steps.

And there were people who are quietly tailing their behind.

Normally, they would have noticed it, but the knights whose attention is on the mask didn’t notice.

Diana coming to El-Corte accompanied only by the knights was Grandfather’s idea.

[For Clement, any expensive gift is only a normal thing.]

[As expected, I thought so.]

[That’s why the answer is a surprise gift.]

The plan was like this.

She and Grandfather pretend to ride a horse in the yard. And then Diana walks out of the yard together with Renold and the knights. And after catching a street carriage, she would buy a gift from El-Corte and come back.

[But wouldn’t it stand out if I go around wearing a mask?]

[Nowadays, they say it’s popular to shop wearing masks in El-Corte.]

[Everything is in trend.]

[You made it popul… no, let’s move on and anyway, Clement will notice right away if she finds out you’ve gone to El-Corte.]

Therefore, the goal was to keep it as secret as possible and surprise Grandmother while giving her the gift. Diana wanted to surprise Grandmother because, for her, anything expensive was just one of her ordinary gifts.

It was considered like a pretty good plan, except that the time to choose a gift was tight because she had to go back to the yard within the time Grandfather has earned.

So, it was until the leading knight paused while turning around.

“Lord, please go first.”

“What’s going on?”

“Someone is following us.”

It was a tense voice.

“Following?”

Diana’s voice muffled.

“I felt it since we came out of El-Corte but I’m not sure.”

“Damn it.”

Feeling the belated sign, the knight uttered a curse.

“I’ll take care of this. Lord, take care of the Young Miss. Please run on the count of three.”

“Young Miss, will you be able to run until that alley?”

“Yes.”

“Then, I will count. One, two, —three!”

They ran reflexively.

Until the carriage in the back alley two blocks away was quick.

Boredly waiting, Renold jumped up when he saw them coming. Renold asked urgently.

“Just what in the world is going on?”

“We were followed.”

“What? You came out so carefully like that, though? Did you see what kind of person they are?”

“When I looked back for a moment, I feel like it was a reporter.”

It was amazing to be able to recognize it even in such a short time. Renold who was a bit relieved put his hair back irritably.

“Damned things. Just how did they know and follow you?”

“We will be able to find out when we catch the reporter. First of all, we couldn’t get the Young Missl involved in the disturbance, so we got out.”

“We’ll be caught by the Count that we went out secretly. I’m sorry, Young Miss.”

“It’s okay. It can’t be helped.”

“First, let’s go back to Mister Spencer.”

It was certainly strange. She went out doing it secretly even from Grandmother but how did they follow them? It was doubtful to say that they were recognized at El-Corte. Among so many people who are wearing masks? Recognizing her?

It was then.

“Please save me!”

It was the inner alley. A tearful scream followed. Renold and the knight faced each other and quickly climbed into the carriage. Renold slammed the carriage door. The shabby carriage shook so loudly that she was worried that wouldn’t the door break.

“Please depart.”

Diana was startled. Is he saying they’re just going to depart from here? But Renold said sternly to the coachman.

“What are you doing not leaving quickly?”

“Wait a minute Renold! I heard a scream from over there!”

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a terrifying cry asking for help again.

Renold spoke to the coachman without a blink.

“Please depart quickly.”

“No!”

The coachman, who read the situation, shrugged his shoulders and departed.

“You, what are you doing!”

Diana’s body rose and fell. Lord Ricardo blocked her who was going to sticking her head out of the window.

“We keep the Young Miss’ safety as the priority.”

“It’s something not uncommon in the back alley.”

Renold then said.

“Young Miss. If anything happens to the Young Miss, the Count and the Husband will be very sad.”

Diana stopped moving.

“Especially the Count’s Husband, Mister Spencer will surely be sad.”

“….”

“Do you not mind even if he blames himself that this kind of matter happened when you were together with him?”