I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 75

A knight who has sworn an oath must complete three rites of devotion to their lord. This meant that, technically, the bond could be reconsidered three times.

These three rites involved presenting three offerings to their chosen lord. The offerings could be tangible or symbolic, depending on the knight’s intentions.

Since the lord had the right to annul the oath, the knight had to prove their worth by preparing meaningful tributes.

Ersivan Valencia was no exception.

“So this… is the first offering.”

The knights around them, unaware of the deeper meaning behind the gesture, exchanged curious glances and whispered among themselves.

Watching their master’s romantic entanglements was proving to be an unexpected source of amusement. Their once fatigued, hollow gazes from long battles now sparkled with intrigue.

Some of them even looked thrilled, calling the scene romantic.

A knight’s oath was a rare and cherished tradition, once considered the ultimate honor but now rarely practiced.

And yet, in a purely political marriage, such a solemn vow had been made. It sparked jokes among the knights, murmuring that their lord might actually fall in love.

Fortunately, neither Diana nor Ersivan heard any of these reckless remarks.

“…Will you accept it?”

His voice, which had been steadfast and unwavering, wavered slightly.

Even after declaring his vow, her hesitation seemed to frustrate him.

His deep crimson eyes, locked onto hers, were filled with wordless insistence.

There was no escape from that intense gaze.

Unable to hold back a small, amused scoff, Diana finally accepted the pelt from him.

“I will accept it, Sir Valencia. Thank you.”

The moment his hands were free, Ersivan let out a quiet sigh of relief, his lips curving into the faintest smile.

But he remained where he was, as if he had unfinished business.

“You have accepted my vow, my lord. Now, will you bestow the seal that completes it?”

His words reminded her of something she had nearly forgotten.

A knight’s oath wasn’t one-sided.

If a knight swore loyalty, their lord had to respond.

While there were no strict rules about the offerings, there was only one accepted response.

A kiss.

“The first vow’s seal is…”

A kiss on the forehead.

The second would be on the bridge of the nose.

And the third…

Would be on the lips.

Realization struck her hard—so much so that she forgot to breathe for a moment. A rush of heat colored her face.

“…It’s just the forehead. That’s all.”

She could handle the first and second vows.

After all, it was just a kiss. A simple touch of lips to skin.

Though hesitant, Diana slowly leaned forward.

“For the knight who has shown devotion, I shall bestow the first seal.”

Ersivan closed his eyes immediately.

Waiting.

His presence, usually imposing and intimidating, suddenly seemed holy and pure.

For someone often called harsh and cold, how could he appear so unshaken, so serene?

His dark hair framed his pale skin, and as she leaned in, her lips brushed softly against his forehead.

The sight of them—Diana pressing her lips to Ersivan’s brow—was nothing short of a masterpiece.

The knights watching the exchange gaped in awe.

It looked as though a war hero was receiving a divine blessing.

With the campaign complete and an important oath exchanged, the Valencia duchy celebrated the marriage with a grand ball.

Since Valencia rarely hosted social gatherings, many noble families eagerly accepted the invitation.

The scale of the event was so extravagant that afterward, a new joke spread among the nobility:

“Even if all the servants combined their salaries, it wouldn’t be enough to fund a single Valencia banquet.”

Diana observed the festivities from behind a curtain.

Above, a massive chandelier studded with thousands of crystals glittered like the night sky.

“If you can’t pull down the stars, you can always replace them with gems.”

Dressed in fine silks and adorned with jewels, men and women carefully studied one another.

Then, as soon as the orchestra began to play a waltz, they stepped closer, joining in a graceful dance.

“You’re here.”

The sound of footsteps and a low voice made her turn sharply.

She quickly let the curtain fall back into place, looking toward the source of the voice.

The light filtering through the fabric illuminated her figure, making her golden earrings sparkle like falling stars.

A necklace worth more than an entire estate gleamed against her skin.

But even with all the wealth draped upon her, the most radiant presence in the ballroom was still—

Diana Valencia.

“You’ve arrived.”

Her ears turned slightly red, embarrassed at being caught watching the scene unfold. Soon, she would have to step out, and the thought of hundreds of eyes witnessing this moment—her flustered, endearing expression—made his blood simmer.

Subtly, Ersivan clenched and released his fingers, lowering the surrounding temperature.

When Diana asked, “Is it just me, or is there a breeze?” he tilted his head with practiced innocence and feigned ignorance.

The waltz, once lively and resounding, reached its grand conclusion.

Beyond the curtain, couples who had held each other close, gazing at one another with adoration, parted reluctantly, clicking their tongues as if mourning the song’s end.

Now, a new melody began—softer, more refined.

It was a piece he had personally purchased from a composer, thinking, This could serve as Valencia’s theme.

And now, it was their turn.

“Shall we go, my lady?”

Ersivan extended his large, steady hand toward her.

When she grasped it, feeling how her fingers barely covered even half of his palm, the curtain lifted.

The host’s voice rang out, announcing their presence.

A wave of cheers surged forward.

It was a sight she had never witnessed before.

When Diana had taken Lillian Mernard’s place, Count Mernard had ceased his bi-monthly banquets entirely.

To avoid suspicion, she had attended gatherings hosted by others, but she had never been the center of one.

Even at her wedding, the reception had been a formal dinner at best, leaving her with little time to actually enjoy anything.

Which meant that tonight was the first time she was truly experiencing the heart of noble culture.

“A debutante ball? That’s only for noble ladies. There’s no point dreaming about something impossible.”

“Ugh, Diane, you’re no fun. Just imagine it for once! A ballroom filled with admirers, you in a beautiful dress, dancing with handsome young lords… A night where everyone gathers just to see you!”

A memory resurfaced—long ago, in the slums, when she and her friends had spoken about debutante balls.

One of them, after reading a novel, had dreamily declared that one day, she wanted a night like that.

“A night where everyone gathers just to see me…”

“Exactly!”

“Would my family be there, too?”

Unlike her hopeful friend, Diana had thought of her family first.

And her friend had immediately scolded her, telling her to stop thinking so pessimistically.

Even if this moment came late, she now understood that girl’s longing.

Most debutante balls were held at fourteen, making Diana, at eighteen, long overdue.

But still—this felt like her debut.

While she had been lost in thought, Ersivan’s greeting had ended.

Now, it was her turn to speak.

She cleared her throat and steadied her voice.

“It is a beautiful night. I thank you all for taking the time to attend this grand celebration.”

Her tone was strong, confident.

“Among you are those I have known for years, some I have only heard of, and many I am meeting for the first time tonight.”

All eyes were on her.

She stood at the center of the stage, and before her was an audience.

“For years, I have lived as Lillian Mernard. The young, shy girl you once knew has now stepped forward as Diana Valencia.

Perhaps, to some of you, I appear unfamiliar—different from the Lillian you remember.”

A sharp, painful ache struck her chest.

Standing before countless noble families, wearing Lillian’s face, she was suddenly aware of the bitter truth.

Now that she bore Valencia’s name, introducing herself as Lillian Valencia made her feel as though she was slowly becoming the original Lillian herself.

Reality and fiction always stood in contrast.

But at this moment, her very existence seemed to blur the line between them.

She was a temporary stand-in.

Nothing more.

“However, despite this change, my heart remains the same. I continue to respect and cherish you all.

If there is one thing that has changed, it is this—I am no longer alone.

I now walk this path with family.”

For a fleeting moment, she entertained a foolish thought.

What if I revealed the truth right now?

What if she told everyone that the woman standing here wasn’t Lillian Mernard?

That she was nothing but a stand-in, a child born of misfortune?

Would their admiring gazes disappear in an instant?

Would warm smiles turn into scorn?

“So, I ask—will you give us your blessing?”

The moment her voice softened, her words lingered in the air.

“To me and His Grace, Duke Ersivan Valencia?”

Diana had always been plagued by such useless fears.

And yet, somehow, over time, those fears had grown smaller.

What once consumed her entire existence had now shrunk to something barely worth noticing.

“And tonight, to this beautiful evening.”

Because the man standing beside her—the only person who truly mattered—would never cast her aside.

“I will be your family. So do not grieve. This place will become your home, and we will try to love you as much as they did.”

To the Diana of the past, who had once asked, Will my family be there?

She could now answer with certainty.

Even if she was not the true protagonist of this night,

Even if these people had not come for her—

She wasn’t alone.

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