I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 61

Diana arrived at the imperial palace garden, accompanied by the handmaid leading her.

Her eyes were drawn to the masterfully crafted fountain and the angelic statues scattered throughout the garden.

Without much thought, Diana followed the maid’s recommendation and entered the hedge maze, which was said to be quite popular.

After walking for a while, she reached the central part of the maze, where splendid flowers bloomed in abundance. Since it was a resting area, dainty tea tables were placed at various spots.

Amidst the luxurious garden, a familiar face came into view. Sitting alone like the protagonist of a play, the woman spotted Diana and smiled.

“I never expected to meet you in a place like this. It’s a pleasure, Lady Mernard… No, Lady Valencia.”

It was Epel Cordelia, someone whose whereabouts had been unknown since the suppression campaign.

“So it seems. What a remarkable coincidence.”

“If you’re alone, would you care to join me for tea? I could use some company.”

Diana had come just as expected.

No sooner had Epel made her proposal than a maid swiftly pulled out a chair. The teacup, which had been placed upside down on its saucer, was soon filled with freshly brewed tea.

“I hope I’m not disturbing your precious time, Lady Cordelia.”

She had sensed something was off—this was all part of Epel’s scheme.

After all, how suspicious was it that she was sitting alone in such a renowned spot on a warm afternoon?

“Oh dear, what a thing to say! No one in the empire would refuse fate.”

Epel eagerly awaited the moment when that lovely face of hers would finally crumble.

She had prepared the perfect card to play, and today, there would be no easy escape.

“How is married life treating you, madam?”

“It’s been wonderful. Everyone has been so kind to me. All the worries I had before seem laughable now.”

“I’m relieved to hear that. To be honest, I was quite concerned.”

Epel intended to slowly get under her skin, fanning the flames until Diana could no longer contain her emotions—just in time to spring the trap she had laid.

“Concerned? About what?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Don’t mind me.”

Diana subtly furrowed her brows, having caught on to Epel’s intentions.

The woman was rigidly old-fashioned, preferring to speak in the flowery language of the nobility. And if Diana translated that into plain speech, it meant: Please ask me about it.

She was waiting for Diana to take the bait, eager to be prompted to speak.

“Yes, I see.”

Wanting to do the exact opposite of what Epel intended, Diana responded curtly, denying her the reaction she sought.

Realizing things weren’t unfolding as planned, Epel immediately played her trump card.

“Ah, that reminds me. I recently heard something rather interesting from His Highness.”

“And what might that be?”

“They say Prince Kain Daemonhart requested a private meeting with you.”

The carefully prepared card worked like a charm.

The hand that had remained composed until now suddenly trembled.

The surrounding maids and knights, who had been quietly listening in, turned to stare at her in shock. Among the astonished faces, there was one in particular whom Epel had wanted to provoke.

…I walked right into that one.

Diana bit her lip but soon flashed a radiant smile, as if nothing had happened. Wearing the expression of Lillian, she feigned ignorance as only Diana could.

“A private meeting? It was nothing more than a jest. You wouldn’t want people to misunderstand.”

“A jest? Do you truly take this matter so lightly, madam?”

“Prince Kain Daemonhart holds Lady Cordelia in high regard, just as I cherish my husband, Duke Valencia. You, of all people, should understand that best, my lady.”

“Yes, but whether it was a jest or the truth, isn’t it laughable all the same?”

“How delightful that Lady Cordelia found amusement in it. His Highness would surely be pleased as well.”

The sharp gazes surrounding them gradually softened. Noticing the shift in atmosphere, Epel clicked her tongue in irritation.

Things were not going her way, and the woman who had always been an annoyance was now becoming a true thorn in her side.

“But upon further thought… I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“What do you mean?”

“For you and me to become sisters, that is.”

The way Epel’s cheeks flushed with feigned excitement was almost theatrical.

Diana, however, didn’t even bother taking another sip of her tea. She simply glared at Epel in silence.

She was undoubtedly hinting at adding Lillian Valencia to the imperial family records.

It wasn’t as though they would truly become sisters, so the only possible implication was that she intended to provoke Diana.

After all, with Ersivan already bearing the Valencia name, there was only one way for Diana’s name to be officially recorded in the imperial registry—
By becoming Prince Kain Daemonhart’s concubine.

A knight, who had also grasped the underlying meaning, flinched in response.

Kun, his patience worn thin, finally reached for the hilt of his sword. Had Anthony and Joel not held him back on either side, he would have long been thrown into prison on charges of attempted regicide.

“Epel Cordelia.”

“Yes, madam.”

The same tiresome routine, over and over again.

Epel was likely hoping that Diana, humiliated and enraged, would lose her composure and make a scene—giving her the perfect excuse to play the victim.

Once the commotion had died down, Epel would twist the narrative to suit her advantage. And even if the truth were eventually revealed, she would feign innocence, claiming, “That wasn’t my intention at all…”

Even if the knights later insisted on her deceit, her loyal maids would undoubtedly band together to silence them.

Diana was relieved that she had long since tamed her temper. Keeping her composure, she devised a strategy to turn the situation in her favor.

“Or could it be that you no longer love His Highness Prince Kain Daemonhart?”

It was a simple way to put Epel Cordelia in check.

“…What?”

“If you truly love His Highness, why would you entertain the thought of placing another woman at his side?”

The acting skills she had honed over the past year—both as a necessity for survival and as an indulgence in her own dark sense of humor—were flawlessly put to use.

She looked utterly heartbroken, her eyes glistening as if on the verge of tears, as though she truly were Kain’s abandoned lover.

“Even if His Highness isn’t here at the moment, surely he must sense how your feelings are changing… Was love always something so fickle?”

Had it not been for the makeup, she might have already shed a few tears.

Even though it wasn’t cold, Diana’s hands trembled as they gripped the teacup.

“This wretched woman.”

Epel’s gaze turned icy as she glared at Diana.

She had always been pampered as a precious only daughter, yet she wasn’t some naïve, sheltered girl. If anything, she was a fox with more than nine tails, a woman far craftier than Epel had ever imagined.

She should have realized it earlier, back when Diana had first dared to answer her so boldly.

Low murmurs spread through the crowd.

Now, the subject of gossip had shifted—onto Epel herself.

No matter how close they were to her, the people here belonged to the imperial palace.

If rumors about her tainting a prestigious engagement reached the ears of the Emperor and Empress, it would be a disaster.

“You’re overthinking this. It was merely a lighthearted jest to build rapport—just as His Highness did with you.”

“A jest? If anything, I’d say it was mockery. Perhaps it’s because you’re still unmarried that you lack insight in this matter.”

“Are you implying that I am ignorant, madam?”

“If that’s how you choose to take it, then I suppose Lady Cordelia must be looking down on House Valencia.”

“…That’s absurd!”

“I am now Lillian Valencia. If you have truly insulted me, then you have also insulted His Grace the Duke of Valencia and the esteemed House Valencia itself.”

What does Lady Cordelia think of that?

Diana calmly raised her teacup as she delivered the final blow.

A bitter aroma rose as she held the last sip in her mouth.

Before Prince Kain Daemonhart ascended to the throne, he was nothing more than a crown prince—a title without real power. Meanwhile, Duke Valencia had already established himself as a force to be reckoned with.

A duchess who had officially married into one of the most powerful noble families carried more weight than a mere fiancée whose name wouldn’t even be entered into the royal registry until her betrothed took the throne.

“…That is not what I meant. I must have been thoughtless. I sincerely apologize, Lady Valencia.”

If she had planned to start this, she should have considered every possible outcome.

Behind Epel’s trembling form, the palace maids stood watching.

They pretended to be indifferent, but their furtive glances and barely concealed curiosity gave them away.

The same was true for those standing behind Diana.

And Epel had surely noticed the derisive smirks aimed in her direction.

Without lifting a finger, Diana had managed to strip Epel of her pride.

A faint smirk lifted Diana’s lips.

By graciously forgiving her, she could appear magnanimous while simultaneously fanning the flames of Epel’s frustration.

“I gladly accept your apology. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes from time to time.”

Epel gritted her teeth as she took Diana’s outstretched hand.

The way her arm trembled with humiliation was far from an enjoyable sight.

“The Empress has summoned you.”

At last, the perfect opportunity to leave presented itself.

Diana rose from her seat without a moment’s hesitation, smiling sweetly.

“I’ll be on my way, then. Thank you for alleviating my boredom.”

“May you have a pleasant audience with Her Majesty.”

Epel quickly composed herself.

She was never particularly skilled at hiding her emotions, and yet—

“Likewise, Lady Cordelia. I hope you enjoy the rest of your tea.”

She must have been just as eager to escape this unpleasant encounter.

Had Diana understood the meaning behind that smile, perhaps she could have prevented the tragedy that was yet to come.

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