I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 54

With so much that had been planned, there was just as much left to tidy up. Even after the wedding, there was no time to rest.

Ersivan, Diana, and the rest of the Valencia household remained at the estate for a few more days to finish wrapping things up.

Before they knew it, their last day in the capital had arrived.

Seeing how occupied they were with an endless tide of tasks, Hyde, watching them with pity, suggested they take a break and go sightseeing.

“I feel a little guilty, leaving everyone behind while we go out and enjoy ourselves.”

“But you two have worked the hardest,” Hyde reassured them. “Don’t worry about us—just enjoy yourselves while you can. The honeymoon phase doesn’t last forever.”

Diana hesitated to step away, feeling uneasy about leaving while the others were still so busy.

But then, suddenly, she felt a familiar presence beside her.

When she turned, she saw Ersivan casually linking his arm through hers.

“There’s no point in wasting time standing here,” he said.

“But…”

“You’ve already hesitated for a whole ten seconds, my lady.”

Faced with Ersivan’s nonchalant demeanor and Hyde’s gentle smile, Diana had no choice but to sigh in resignation.

“We won’t be long,” she assured them. “Please, don’t overwork yourselves and make sure to rest.”

With that, she finally relented and climbed into the carriage.

“Then, we’ll be departing!” the coachman called out.

Before setting off, he informed them that they would be heading to the busiest district in the capital.

As the carriage door closed with a firm click, the vehicle lurched forward.

With only the two of them inside, the carriage was much smaller than usual, and the limited space made Diana feel increasingly suffocated.

“You seem uncomfortable,” Ersivan observed.

“Ah, just a little…”

“Then I’ll instruct the coachman to switch to a larger carriage.”

“No! That’s not necessary,” she quickly interrupted, stopping him before he could give the order.

“…Actually,” she hesitated, then finally admitted, “I have trouble with enclosed spaces. I thought I’d be fine since carriages are relatively spacious, but for some reason, it still feels suffocating.”

She briefly debated whether she should confess that, but in the end, she decided there was no need to hide it.

He already knew she wasn’t Lillian—so what harm was there in revealing a personal weakness?

“It must be difficult every time you travel.”

“Yes… and oddly enough, it never gets easier.”

“A friend of mine had a similar struggle,” Ersivan said. “He was terrified of the dark and small spaces.”

“Past tense? Did he overcome it?”

“Unfortunately, he never did. But then again, I don’t think he ever needed to.”

Diana tilted her head slightly, silently urging him to explain further.

“Fear always has a cause,” he continued. “And if there’s a cause, it means the fear isn’t simply the person’s fault. Isn’t it too cruel to blame yourself for something beyond your control?”

“But if you don’t overcome it, you’re the one who suffers the most.”

“Not necessarily. Overcoming something doesn’t always mean defeating it. Sometimes, simply enduring it is enough.”

“Did your friend ever find a way to cope?”

“I haven’t heard from him in a long time, so I can’t say for sure. But he did have one method that seemed to work.”

Ersivan held out his hand, gesturing for hers.

After a brief hesitation, Diana removed her lace gloves and placed her hand in his.

Warmth.

What she felt was a steady, grounding warmth, radiating from his touch.

“This is it?” she asked.

“Just stay like this for a while. Don’t think about anything else.”

Following his advice, Diana sat still, allowing herself to focus on nothing but the sensation.

Moments passed. The landscape outside the window blurred and changed as the carriage rolled on.

By the time they reached their destination, she was startled to realize how much lighter she felt.

“…It really worked,” she murmured in awe, her voice tinged with disbelief.

For over a year, she had struggled with this, unable to find a solution. And yet—just like that—it had vanished.

It felt so absurdly simple that she wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or resentful.

Just then, Ersivan briefly released her hand, only to gently slip her glove back on.

Before she could even thank him, however, he took hold of her hand once again.

“We haven’t disembarked yet,” he remarked smoothly. “I was worried you might collapse.”

Even before she could question him, he had already made his excuse, like a thief caught red-handed.

Diana opened her mouth, then closed it again.

She would let it slide this time.

But at this rate, she worried she might become too accustomed to his touch.

The capital’s bustling district was exactly as lively as she had heard.

It was unlike the slums where she had grown up and different from the quiet Marquisate of Mernard.

Even the village she had once visited for sword training paled in comparison.

Everywhere she looked, there was something to see, something to do.

Some sights were completely new, while others were familiar.

Yet, regardless of whether they were old or new—

Everything felt extraordinary.

Time always seems to pass too quickly when one is having fun.

Before they knew it, the sky had darkened, signaling that it was time to return.

As they walked, Ersivan suddenly paused mid-step, as if remembering something.

“There’s a place I need to stop by for a moment.”

“Alright, take your time.”

“Stay right here—don’t go anywhere.”

“Relax, I’m not a child.”

Even as he walked away, he kept glancing back at her, as if still worried.

Now left alone, Diana wandered over to a line of street stalls, browsing absentmindedly.

One particular vendor caught her eye—a stall selling skewered fruit.

Her stomach had been growling for a while now since she hadn’t eaten a proper meal all day.

“I’ll take two, please,” she said, handing over a few coins.

The vendor quickly accepted the money, grabbing two skewers from the display before handing them to her.

As he did, he kept stealing glances at her, his eyes narrowing as if trying to place her face.

“You’ve been here before, haven’t you, miss?”

“Pardon?”

“You came alone last time, bought three skewers, and paid with silver—left with a ton of change. Am I wrong?”

“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Diana replied smoothly. “This is my first time here.”

The vendor scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed at his own certainty.

But as Diana stood there, a name suddenly surfaced in her mind—

Lillian.

Lillian Mernard.

If the vendor had seen Lillian, then this strange coincidence suddenly made sense.

“Father, I’ve returned.”

He was not so much a fool as to fail to recognize his own beloved daughter.

The girl standing before him—the girl he had not seen in over a year—was undeniably Lillian Mernard.

Diana remembered now—in the original timeline, Lillian had been wandering the capital before learning about her own engagement.

She had then returned to the Mernard estate, and that was where the story truly began.

Shifting her expression seamlessly, Diana smiled.

“Ah… now that you mention it, I think I do remember coming here. When was that again?”

“Just last month,” the vendor said immediately. “It was during the festival—right after the monster subjugation battle. The whole capital was celebrating.”

The vendor’s face lit up, seemingly eager to recall the details.

“You even asked me about a place to stay! And a jewelry shop, too. Remember?”

“Ah, yes, I do recall now. You recommended an inn, didn’t you? It was… behind the main street?”

The vendor clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Not behind the street—near the clock tower! You said you wanted somewhere safe and clean, so I sent you there.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Diana kept up the act effortlessly, lying without hesitation.

As they continued their conversation, she caught sight of Ersivan returning from a distance.

The vendor, noticing him as well, grinned knowingly.

“That your companion? Tall and handsome—suits you both well.”

“Yes, he’s back now. I should get going. Thank you for your help last time—I’ll see you again.”

Something about this situation felt strange.

She didn’t want Ersivan to overhear their conversation.

It wasn’t as if they had discussed anything particularly scandalous—so why did she feel this way?

Before she could analyze it further, she quickened her steps and called out.

“Ersivan!”

“Apologies for keeping you waiting,” he said, his gaze briefly flickering to her hands. “And that is…?”

Following his line of sight, Diana realized he was looking at the skewers she was holding.

Not wanting him to ask further about the vendor, she quickly thrust one forward, trying to distract him.

“A snack! You seemed to enjoy sweets before, so I thought you might like this.”

The skewer in her right hand was offered to him.

The chilled fruit, coated in a thin layer of sugar syrup, gave off a sweet aroma.

Ersivan hesitated.

It was only natural—he wasn’t someone who liked sweets.

Noticing his reluctance, Diana’s shoulders slumped slightly.

“You don’t like it?” she asked, her voice subdued. “I guess I shouldn’t have assumed. If you don’t want it, I’ll just eat both.”

Just as she was about to pull the skewer back, Ersivan suddenly leaned down—

And bit off a piece of fruit.

“It’s good,” he murmured.

Before she could fully process what had just happened, he lowered his head again, taking another bite.

A slice of banana met his tongue, the thin layer of ice melting instantly.

As the syrup-coated fruit softened in his mouth, he evaluated the taste.

…Well, at the very least, it wasn’t the worst thing he had ever eaten.

Standing side by side, the two of them finished both skewers.

As Ersivan went to dispose of the wooden sticks, Diana held onto the rest of their belongings.

When he returned, she handed him the shopping bag he had brought with him.

“What did you buy?” she asked curiously.

“Fireworks,” he replied. “I thought they might be fun to set off after sunset.”

Diana blinked in surprise.

“Fireworks?”

“I thought it would make for a good memory,” he said, smiling faintly.

Before she could fully process it, he took her by the hand.

Without another word, he led her toward the riverside.

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