I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 81

Much later, when Joel had finally calmed down from his sobbing, Ersivan consoled him with a voice hoarse from exhaustion.

“Not yet.”

“Why not?! What, what’s stopping you? Why?!”

“Until that child returns, we must remain silent.”

“…….”

“Only then will we truly be able to protect them.”

Joel’s words left Diana speechless.

Seeing how visibly her expression darkened, he immediately regretted saying too much.

“…Then does that mean that ever since I arrived, His Grace has changed? That he’s no longer avoiding injustice, but confronting it? That he’s finally acting as he should?”

Joel didn’t hesitate to nod.

It wasn’t just empty flattery—even from an outsider’s perspective, Ersivan had changed.

“Yes. I believe so. And I think the other knights would agree as well.”

Diana didn’t know how to feel.

She couldn’t be happy, knowing how much he had suffered in the past.

Nor could she be sad, because being recognized for her own presence and influence brought a certain sense of relief.

The two continued their conversation until they arrived at the lavender garden.

“Then I’ll return after escorting Lady Parlier. Entering the ballroom now would draw too much attention—shall we take a walk through the gardens instead?”

“Alright. Shall we meet in the central garden?”

“No, at our usual meeting place.”

They had agreed to meet outside after Ersivan had seen Rinnel off.

The way he phrased it was a little odd, but given the context, it was clear that he meant the lavender garden, where they always met.

“I’m fine now. Thank you for accompanying me this far.”

“I’ll stay until His Grace arrives.”

“Really, there’s no need. It’s an important night—what could possibly happen?”

Diana waved her hands dismissively, insisting that she was fine.

Although reluctant, Joel knew that staying any longer might irritate her more.

“…Please, if anything happens, promise me you’ll call for me.”

In the end, he begrudgingly stepped away.

Now alone, Diana pushed open the garden doors.

This place had been restricted during the banquet, so not a single soul was in sight.

The quiet solitude was exactly what she needed.

With no one else around, the only sound that filled the space was the soft echo of her footsteps.

The once-vibrant lavender garden now stood abandoned, its once-beloved flowers left to wilt unnoticed—a pretty but forgotten relic.

Lost in thought, Diana wandered toward the window.

As the soft glow of the moonlight bathed her in silver, her mind drifted.

“…I have value.”

Joel’s words had unsettled her.

Like a gentle push urging her forward, his words had taken root in her heart, forcing her to run toward something she had never dared to chase.

And now, with so many people acknowledging her—not just Ersivan, but others as well—she found herself wanting to stay.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t.

Even though she knew she had to leave someday.

Her gaze drifted back toward the window, only to startle in shock.

She nearly lost her footing.

A dark silhouette stood just beyond the glass.

For a brief moment, she squinted, trying to make out the intruder.

But as the moonlight shifted, illuminating his features—

“Evan?”

The person standing quietly outside the window was none other than the man who had occupied her thoughts all night.

Ersivan, recognizing the shape of her lips, nodded slightly.

Then, without a word, he gestured toward the door, silently asking to be let in.

And just as suddenly as he appeared—he disappeared from view.

A moment later, the sound of the garden door creaking open filled the air.

“Apologies for being late. I didn’t expect you to finish your walk so early.”

“I was in another garden for a while. But I suppose I missed this one more than I thought—I ended up rushing back.”

Diana dismissed his concern, then pointed toward something in his hand.

“…What’s that?”

It was a small, neatly wrapped box—clearly a gift.

Without saying much, Ersivan handed it to her.

His expression seemed almost bashful, and he offered no explanation.

Curious, Diana carefully unwrapped the box.

Inside lay a handkerchief, embroidered with lavender flowers—the exact shade of her eyes.

“On the day of the expedition, you gifted me an embroidered piece. So I wanted to return the favor.”

“You made this… yourself?”

“…It’s my first time, so please forgive the imperfections.”

The thought of his large hands struggling to thread a needle made her chuckle.

She could picture it so clearly—his furrowed brows, his focus as he tried to stitch each petal carefully.

“For a first attempt, it’s quite well done.”

Ersivan visibly relaxed, reassured by the pleased expression on her face.

“I’ve been debating when to give it to you. But today felt… fitting.”

“Today?”

“Yes. It just seemed like an important day.”

Diana couldn’t quite place what he meant.

There had been too many things to commemorate tonight.

Perhaps it was because today marked the first banquet ever hosted by House Valencia since its founding.

Perhaps it was because he had expanded his social network, strengthening his influence among the nobility.

Perhaps it was because, thanks to Lady Parlier’s unexpected visit, he had finally found an opportunity to take revenge on his parents.

Or—perhaps it was because today was the first time they had shared a kiss.

But that kiss had been nothing more than a necessary act to help Ersivan.

It had been purely a means to an end, devoid of any personal sentiment.

And yet, despite knowing that his definition of an “important day” had nothing to do with that moment, Diana couldn’t stop her thoughts from straying.

“Ersivan Valencia. This is my second vow to my lord. Will you accept it?”

Ersivan, seizing the opportunity, was already advancing to the next step.

Startled, Diana glanced between the handkerchief in her hands and Ersivan.

If things continued at this pace, the third vow would come far too soon.

Yet…

She couldn’t refuse.

The handkerchief was far too tempting to give up.

It was the first embroidery he had ever done—and he had chosen lavender because it reminded him of her.

How could she possibly turn it down?

“Diana Valencia. I accept the offering of my knight.”

It was now time to return the pledge.

Without hesitation, Ersivan lowered himself onto one knee.

The exquisitely tailored fabric of his coat grazed the ground, but he didn’t seem to care.

Diana lowered her gaze, her eyes tracing the sharp contours of his face.

His firmly shut eyelids, the straight bridge of his nose—

And finally, his lips, painted in soft hues of peach and pale red.

Swallowing down an inexplicable nervousness, she leaned forward.

At last, her lips brushed against the bridge of his nose—the sensation of firm bone and soft skin strangely unfamiliar.

She silently counted to three, then pulled away.

As her hair slipped past his cheek, she felt a fleeting regret, the lingering coolness of his skin tickling against her own.

Slowly, Ersivan’s eyes opened.

When he looked up, his gaze immediately locked onto hers.

She had clearly startled him, yet he pretended to remain unfazed—a faint trace of embarrassment still visible beneath his controlled expression.

“I—”

“…….”

“I am honored to receive your vow, my lord.”

His voice, low and teasing, carried a hint of unrestrained laughter by the end.

“Perhaps we should open this garden to guests for the next banquet.”

The lingering tension was beginning to weigh on her, so Diana hurriedly shifted the topic.

“It’s such a beautiful place—it would be a shame if no one else got to see it.”

“And yet, that would mean I lose my only place of rest. Not to mention…”

“Not to mention?”

“We would no longer have a private meeting place, would we?”

“…….”

“I hope you don’t think I’m just being selfish, but… I’d prefer to keep it as it is.”

Ersivan’s pointed remark was his way of telling her not to toy with him.

Diana, sensing the dangerous turn in conversation, quickly redirected it again.

“Ah, I nearly forgot to say—”

“You look breathtaking tonight, my lady.”

And just like that, he shut down all her escape routes.

There had been no time to prepare for such words, and before she could react, his compliment landed squarely upon her shoulders.

Diana’s head dropped instantly, much like a heavily ripened stalk of rice bending under its weight.

She no longer understood why he was being so kind.

Was it just guilt?

Did he say these things out of obligation, simply because he felt he should treat her well for now?

Perhaps his past still weighed too heavily on him, and that was why he couldn’t bring himself to push her away.

“If it were just guilt, it wouldn’t feel so…”

So overwhelming.

It was too much to be a mere obligation.

Diana wanted to ask him outright.

“Is all of this just your way of repaying a debt?”

“If these words are insincere, then don’t say them. There’s no need.”

She wanted to tell him that empty words only made her feel pathetic.

But…

Even if they were nothing but hollow reassurances, part of her was still glad to hear them.

And because of that, She couldn’t bring herself to say a single word.

Support I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in