I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 92

“So, what should we do now? It feels a little too soon to head back already.”

If they returned to the estate, it would be time for dinner. Diana wasn’t particularly eager to have Ersivan come face-to-face with the ducal couple, so she delayed their return as much as possible.

Then, he pulled something from the breast pocket of his suit and handed it to her, it was something he’d purchased while visiting the dessert shop.

Two opera tickets.

“An opera?”

“Shall we go?”

He had already bought the tickets—what kind of question was that? Knowing Ersivan, if she hesitated, he’d take it as a refusal. So Diana nodded immediately.

Since the theatre wasn’t far, they decided to walk. The sun had set, and the cool autumn breeze felt refreshing.

As they strolled along the promenade, they occasionally spotted other well-dressed couples. Judging by the direction they were headed, it seemed they were all going to the same opera house.

Perhaps because they shared the same destination, the other couple remained within their view for quite some time. Their gazes crossed a few times, and after the second or third encounter, the couple waved first.

Diana returned the gesture with a cheerful smile. Curious, Ersivan looked over and greeted the couple across the way as well.

Their warm, gentle figures walking together were lovely to behold.

“The man wasn’t particularly striking, was he?”

Ersivan muttered as he glanced at Diana, who was still watching the couple almost dazedly.

“…What kind of person do you think I am?”

Did he really believe she stared just because someone was good-looking? Diana frowned slightly in disbelief at his ridiculous question.

Granted, she did find herself staring at Ersivan occasionally—but he was an exception. Even the most ascetic priests would glance twice at his looks.

“Then why were you staring at them so intently?”

“They looked lovely.”

“The lady, you mean?”

“…Sometimes you’re so literal, I don’t know what to do with you. I meant the two of them together looked lovely.”

Ersivan turned back to glance at the couple again, but they had already passed them while stopping briefly to talk.

“Our image must be even lovelier.”

A simple, half-hearted reply might have sufficed—but he wasn’t expecting a passionate rebuttal either. Still, Diana felt like challenging him for once.

Comparing them to that couple wasn’t even fair from the start. After all, they weren’t a couple.

“We’re…”

She was about to finish her sentence but stopped.

As reluctant as she was to admit it, the reflection of the two of them in a shop window did resemble that affectionate couple from earlier.

“We’re what?”

Ersivan picked up on her hesitation, clearly eager to hear the rest.

Honestly, it wasn’t something she couldn’t say—it was just a light joke. But for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Probably because of Ersivan’s strange behavior lately.

Just then, the bells of the clocktower chimed, saving Diana from her dilemma.

“Oh, the bells.”

“……”

“The opera’s about to start. Hurry, Evan!”

The ticket clearly stated that the performance would begin fifteen minutes past the hour. Quickly recalling the time, Diana urged Ersivan along.

Even as she tugged him forward, he seemed to be waiting for her to finish that sentence.

But Diana, resolute as a fortress, never did—and he had no choice but to admit defeat.

After the performance, the coachman who had brought them was waiting to take them back.

During the carriage ride to the estate, Diana shared her thoughts about the opera.

She pointed out the parts that were a bit disappointing, the parts she enjoyed, and gave her overall assessment.

In the end, she gave the opera a glowing review. It had been her first time attending, and it seemed to have sparked a genuine interest.

Watching her chatter excitedly without pause, Ersivan quietly made a decision.

Once they returned to the Valencia estate, he would build an opera house under the Valencia name.

“You’ve returned.”

As they entered the estate, the butler greeted them.

The interior felt unusually quiet, even a bit somber, prompting Diana to ask after the Count and Countess.

“Um… where are Mother and Father?”

“They dined earlier and are now resting in their rooms. Have the two of you eaten? It’s a bit late, but I can have something prepared.”

“We’ve already had something to tide us over, so I think we’ll skip dinner.”

Having enjoyed nachos, beer, and other treats at the opera, she felt quite full.

“Shall I escort you upstairs, then?”

“After a long outing, I think it’s best we rest now.”

“Indeed. You’ve been out for quite some time—you must be tired. Please call if you need anything at all.”

Thanking the butler for his thoughtful consideration, Diana and Ersivan headed up to the second floor.

They barely encountered any servants on the way to Diana’s room. It was possible the staff were resting after dinner, but there were noticeably fewer attendants than usual.

“The estate feels strangely quiet today. Is something going on tomorrow…?”

“If so, I’ve heard nothing of it.”

Surely, if something special were happening, the butler would have mentioned it earlier.

Could it be that the Count and Countess are deliberately avoiding us? It wouldn’t be adult behavior, but knowing them, it wouldn’t be impossible.

Just as Diana was entertaining that very suspicion, Ersivan seemed to have the same thought and made a wry comment.

“It seems the Count took offense after all. He was so kind yesterday, and today he’s coldly discarded us. How fickle.”

“…Ah, don’t say that.”

As Diana reached for the door handle, she suddenly turned around.

Her index finger pressed to her lips, silently telling him to hush. Ersivan, who had seemed so composed moments before, looked utterly defeated.

He managed to contain his laughter, knowing if he gave in, she would retreat behind that cute, scolding expression.

“Didn’t like what I said?” he asked softly.

“It’s not that. Say what you want—but what if someone hears you?”

“I don’t mind if someone hears.”

“You have a reputation to uphold. Isn’t that your specialty, Evan?”

He was exceptionally skilled at delivering sharp jabs with the most innocent face. If his close aides had heard that, they’d have laughed for hours.

Ersivan couldn’t help but find it amusing, too.

Her bright eyes glinting mischievously, slyly teasing him—and him, utterly smitten, finding even that impertinence charming.

He leaned in slightly, resting one arm against the doorframe. As he gradually lowered himself toward her, the shadow falling over Diana’s face grew darker.

Before she could question him, he suddenly dropped a name that should not have been spoken so lightly.

“Isn’t that your specialty too, Dian?”

“…Mine?”

“We’re quite alike, you know.”

Whether he was trying to lower his voice or had other motives, the space between them kept shrinking.

If either leaned in further, their noses would brush.

There was nowhere for her to retreat, and yet Diana instinctively craned her neck away. Watching her, a mischievous urge stirred in him to tease her more.

He gazed at her steadily—curious if she had built any immunity to his face. It was a test.

Soon enough, Diana blushed. A mix of pride and relief stirred in him.

There was still something that held her close to him.

“…Alike how?”

“Oh, in so many ways. If I listed them all, you might start believing we’re destined.”

When Diana tried to steer the conversation away, he always replied with that sly voice, drawing her right back into a flustered daze.

She jabbed him lightly in the side, clearly saying, Enough. Even gave him a glare for good measure.

Unable to withstand her playful resistance any longer, Ersivan finally answered.

“We both know how to stand up to our families.”

“…”

“And we both did it for someone else.”

Flashes of memory stirred—Ersivan facing the Count’s demands over a business partnership; Diana nearly drinking poisoned tea meant for him.

Both moments flickered in his mind, alternating one after the other.

“We really are quite alike, aren’t we?”

“…Alike, huh? What I did can’t even compare to you.”

She had stood up to the couple for the first time, true—but she hadn’t risked permanent fallout like Ersivan had.

And thanks to his tactful handling during yesterday’s dinner, she hadn’t faced them alone.

“Still, it was your first time.”

It felt strange to admit, but the more she thought about it, the more proud she felt of herself.

“I’ve never rebelled like that before. Never even thought about it. I didn’t have the courage. But because of you—because of you, Evan…”

She was expressing her gratitude, awkwardly and roundabout—but to him, it was more touching, more meaningful, and more precious than a simple “thank you.”

As Diana fell silent, she suddenly noticed his intense gaze.

Even at night, with the light behind him casting shadows, his eyes still shone.

A line from a book surfaced in her mind:

Love is like a sneeze. You can’t hide it, you can’t stop it at will. The more you hold it in, the worse it becomes.

If that’s true… won’t this love I’ve been hiding eventually twist into something ugly?

Her heart swelled just looking at him. It was the most beautiful feeling in the world—she didn’t want it to turn into something pitiful.

She wanted to preserve it in its purest form. To offer it now, before it distorted.

I love you. Five simple words she longed to give the man standing before her.

The mere thought made her heart pound and her throat tighten.

Selfishness knocked at the door of her heart for the second time.

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