I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 89

“When on earth will I ever get to see you? If it’s too hard for you to come, then I’ll go to you.”

“To my dearest friend. At this rate, I feel like I might forget what your face looks like.”

“…I suppose your married life must be going splendidly. I’ve been completely forgotten, haven’t I? That’s what it is…”

Melinne, Lillian’s close friend, never failed to express her disappointment whenever she sent letters to Diana.

But Diana had no way to change things. She wasn’t truly Lillian, but merely a tool used to ensure the success of a marriage.

Now that the marriage had been secured and her role fulfilled, continuing to act warmly toward Lillian’s inner circle felt somehow inappropriate.

‘Still… I should meet her at least once.’

Since their families had long been close, news of her visiting the family estate would reach Melinne quickly.

“I think I’ll go visit a friend.”

“Is it someone I know?”

“You’ve likely seen her before—Melinne Jans.”

“Ah, Lady Jans of the House of Count Jans.”

Ersivan recalled the woman with the vivid green hair. She had clung to Diana’s side during the subjugation campaign and even on the day of the wedding.

“Yes. I won’t be going to her house; I’m just planning to stop by her workplace briefly. We’ll talk a bit, and around evening, maybe browse some nearby shops—how does that sound?”

Perhaps inheriting her mother’s love for fashion, Melinne had been running a salon since coming of age.

Though still a novice, she was managing a small establishment near Count Jans’ territory. She had once playfully asked Diana to become her regular customer, claiming she would one day open a salon in the capital.

Since Diana had never visited since its opening, dropping by now might ease Melinne’s disappointment.

“That sounds good. Then shall we meet an hour after lunch?”

“All right.”

“The location…”

Thinking it best to decide the meeting place as well, Ersivan spoke again.

“In front of the main gate.”

“In front of the main gate.”

Diana’s voice overlapped his. Despite the notable difference in tone, their words blended together like a well-rehearsed harmony—it was strangely delightful.

The two burst into laughter. Even with spoons still in their mouths, soft chuckles kept spilling out.

It seemed Diana would need to call a maid to redo her hair. Alarms were blaring inside her mind.

When Diana met Ersivan at the main gate, she stood frozen for a moment, feeling rather foolish.

Only then did she realize that, while she had often seen him in loungewear or formal attire, she had rarely seen him in his outdoor clothes.

He had worn outer garments when visiting the town or the imperial palace, but those had been simple compared to his outfit today.

A crisp white shirt beneath a dark gray vest, topped with a matching jacket.

Not too heavy, nor overly lean—his well-toned physique filled out the suit nicely, subtly highlighting his form.

His hair was slicked back beneath a fedora, revealing his forehead completely. Not a strand of hair in sight—yet far from looking odd, his defined features made him seem all the more distinguished.

He looked so impeccably elegant, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the word “gentleman” was made for him.

Melinne had been absolutely right when she said that a face completes fashion.

“My lady.”

Ersivan came to greet her personally, as if time itself had stopped, and she remained frozen in place.

Then, with a gentle yet cautious gesture, he reached for her hand.

There was no warmth to their touch—he was wearing gloves. The lukewarm temperature, and the feel of soft silk instead of skin, felt unfamiliar to Diana.

“Shall we go? That way, we can take our time looking around.”

“…Yes. Let’s.”

She seemed to come to her senses, and the life returned to her once-dull violet eyes.

“I’ve prepared a carriage just ahead.”

His hand, firm but not forceful, guided her with a strength that made it seem larger than usual.

She had always found the callused, rough texture of his hands appealing, but now, wrapped in white silk, they were smooth and elegant. Not bad at all. The very image of a gentleman—his long, slender fingers stood out beautifully in the gloves.

Guided by him, Diana stepped through the gate. A prepared carriage awaited them.

It was the open-roof carriage they commonly used at the ducal estate. Compact in size, it resembled a miniature train children might ride in a town square.

Diana took her seat first, with Ersivan following beside her.

The carriage began to move slowly. Her golden hair whipped wildly in the breeze, causing a commotion.

It was almost embarrassingly unruly.

Ersivan removed his hat and placed it on Diana’s head. With her side hair secured, the strands clinging to her cheeks quickly settled.

When Diana glanced up at him, his appearance seemed slightly unfamiliar. With his thick eyebrows now visible, his features appeared more striking than usual.

Hmm. This look has its charm too.

As Melinne always said, a handsome face truly completes the look.

It took roughly twenty minutes to reach the town from the count’s estate.

Their carriage stopped at a station in the bustling district. Though small enough to venture further, the narrow streets made walking the better option.

Following the map, they walked for only a few minutes before stopping in front of their destination.

Although the shop itself wasn’t particularly large, its location on the main street made it ideal for attracting customers. It seemed the House of Count Jans had put some thought into the site.

Salon de Jeanne.

As soon as Diana spotted the sign, written in an ornate script, she gestured toward it.

“Welcome to Sal—Lilli?”

Melinne, who had been sweeping the salon floor, blinked in surprise. Upon seeing Ersivan following behind, her mouth fell open.

“Hello. I returned recently to greet my parents.”

“Heavens! You came to see me? After putting it off for so long!”

“…Well, I was only pretending to delay so I could surprise you like this.”

“Lilliiiii!”

Melinne, who had looked exhausted just moments before, her eyes glazed over like a dead fish’s, now gleamed with life.

Her eyes, glistening with emotion, followed Diana’s every move. Then, tossing the broom aside, Melinne threw her arms around Diana.

“Do you know how much I missed you? I was even upset! You used to visit me every week before the wedding, but after getting married, you completely abandoned me—didn’t you even get bored during your honeymoon?!”

“I was just busy, that’s all. Busy.”

Diana gently patted her back. Finding Melinne’s childlike clinginess endearing, she soon began stroking her hair as well.

Melinne quickly grew flustered and broke the hug, though thankfully, her once-pouting lips now relaxed.

There was a subtle presence nearby—the figure who had stood silently the entire time was none other than Ersivan Valencia.

Diana had expected it would take longer for things to settle, but—

“Lady Jeanne, this is a gift for your opening.”

Ersivan handed a floral arrangement to Melinne. Before visiting the salon, the two had stopped by a florist to purchase her favorite flowers as a gift.

“Oh my, you didn’t have to…”

“It’s a bit heavy, so I’ll set it down here.”

He placed the flowers on a decorative round table near the entrance.

The simple white table harmonized beautifully with the vibrant flowers.

“No customers around, so I guess I can slack off. Come on in!”

Melinne beckoned them inside, insisting they sit rather than stand idly.

As a boutique that served each customer with care, the waiting area was well-equipped.

Seated comfortably on a plush sofa, Diana waited as Melinne prepared tea.

Ersivan, on the other hand, remained standing, staring off idly.

Diana patted the seat beside her, urging him to join her. Even so, he didn’t move an inch.

He stood in place like a statue until Melinne returned with a tray.

“Oh, is the space too cramped? Why don’t you take a seat…?”

“Ah, I was thinking of stepping out to buy some refreshments for you both.”

“Oh, you really don’t need to! We have plenty of cookies here—there’s no need to go out of your way.”

“I thought my presence might make conversation difficult. Since it’s been a while, I imagine you two have much to catch up on. Please, take your time. I’ll be back later.”

Donning the fedora he had hung on the coat rack, Ersivan stepped out into the street. The sound of the bell signaled the closing of the door behind him.

As the clear chime echoed against the glass and faded away, Melinne began furiously shaking Diana with exaggerated gestures.

“What was that just now? Seriously, what was that?! Tell me! I thought he only pretended to be considerate in public, but was that real? That wasn’t just an act?! He’s actually like that?!”

“…He’s just a very considerate person.”

“What! I want to marry someone like him too! Why didn’t my family match me with someone like that? Wait—he’s the one who proposed, right? Why don’t men like that ever fall for me?!”

Overcome with envy, Melinne rattled off her thoughts like a machine gun. Diana’s head was spinning from the onslaught of rapid-fire complaints.

“No wonder you forgot all about me—you two are getting along so well. Good for you. Lucky you!”

Contrary to her bold personality, Melinne could hold a grudge for quite some time.

Of course, Diana couldn’t blame her for being upset—she had avoided personal meetings for over half a year.

With a slightly softened expression, Diana clasped her hands together. Like a puppy begging for forgiveness, she looked both pitiful and endearing.

“I’ll visit often from now on.”

With a sincere apology, Diana offered her a biscuit. Melinne, who had been playfully glaring at her, snatched the biscuit and popped it into her mouth.

“…Fine. I’ll come to you. It’s easier for one person to move than two.”

Chewing her biscuit, Melinne’s mood finally lifted.

Having thrown her tantrum for the third time already, all the pent-up frustration seemed to melt away.

With her anger gone, she was now eager to enjoy a proper chat with her beloved friend. Taking a sip of tea, she felt her throat moisten and her energy surge.

Leaning slightly toward Diana, Melinne narrowed her eyes and flashed a mischievous grin.

“You know, I’ve been wondering since earlier… so, just how far have you two gone?”

“…What?”

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