Chapter 28 - The Empress’s Garden

Chapter 28 -The Empress’s Garden

Diana’s favorite garden was filled with green leaves for the rest of the season. Its beauty stood out with its carefully crafted garden trees that boasted green on a trail like a small maze.

Diana’s only command as an Empress was to keep her attendants to walk distant from her while she strolls in the garden.

Though it was not a large garden, it has enough space to give Diana the freedom to walk on her two feet and to breathe slowly while savoring every moment.

When the maid noticed that Diana already strolled three times around the garden, the maid would give Diana a signal for her to stop. It meant it was time to return to the palace and become a doll again.

“Even the garden was destroyed.” Diana sadly recalled.

It was recommended to renovate the garden for the Empress, but the supervision was assigned to Trisha. Instead of keeping the greenery theme of the place, the latter filled the garden with colorful roses and set up large statues and fountains.

It was a wonderful and beautiful garden. But Diana has lost her interest in the place not long after it was changed.

Since then, Diana seemed to let go of her heart whilst removing an amount of space to breathe. Her interest in keeping some memories in her diary has also disappeared.

“It’s okay. I can go to the woods on my own.” Diana uttered as if to comfort herself. It was true. If only she could avoid her fate of becoming an Empress, she would enjoy freedom even if she lived alone for her whole life.

“It may have been a happy ending.” Diana had in mind.

In the meantime, she felt that her heart was so devastated, but it wasn’t necessary to feel unfortunate to come into the book, at least for Diana, who has a chance now that she has Edwin.

And another thing...to be back...

Diana wasn’t completely unhappy yet, and today, she was looking forward to seeing him tonight. She wanted to believe that there would be a way out of the situation. This is one of the main reasons why.

After two years of being an Empress, she only knew the existence of Edwin in the book, and when she finally met him, Diana realized that Edwin was a fascinating man who surpassed her imagination.

There is still a chance, there could have been an ending that Edwin didn’t die in vain, and Diana was not going to be a princess.

It was a precious hope.

***

As the colorful wagons passed by, all the people on the road stood out. The carriage with the pattern of the Duke of Carl was large and luxurious enough to be pulled by four attractive horses. It was a luxury only allowed to families with more than dignity.

“Wait…”

Duchess Sylvia, who was leaning against the cushions in the wagon, folded the fan in her hand. The maid sitting on the opposite side quickly noticed and ordered the horseman. Immediately, the carriage stopped. Sylvia’s eyes were looking over the window.

“That’s…Isn’t it one of the dresses I sent to Diana a while ago? ” Sylvia pointed to the girl walking across the alley.

“Oh, that’s right. It was one of my special orders from Mrs. Hayley this week.”

Sylvia’s face frowned.

“Did you tell her to make one piece only? Did Mrs.Hayley sell the same dress to others?” Sylvia speaks continually.

“I did. Mrs. Hayley said she always makes one special order only.” The maid confirmed with an explanation.

“Well, what am I seeing right now?”

At the end of Sylvia’s unpleasant gaze, was a girl she clearly saw wearing the familiar silk dress that she gave to Diana. It was quite close, and she could recognize it at a glance because it was Sylvia, who was well-versed in fashion.

Above all, there were very few items comparable to Mrs. Haley’s dress. It was not something an ordinary girl could wear on the street.

“Stop,” Sylvia commanded while striking the fan in her palm.

“That red hair… Isn’t that the child who entered as an imperial maid?”

“Oh, it’s Trisha Blanc.”

“Yes, I can’t forget the frivolous red hair even if I’m not interested in those things.”

Sylvia stared at the intense red hair of Trisha as she passed the window.

“What’s the matter with her?” Sylvia asked with a mocking stare.

It gave her an ill feeling that this girl was classified as a temporary maid because of her commoner mother. Though, she gave her a letter of recommendation, which later on, was rejected by the chief of the imperial household.

“What are you doing?”Sylvia furiously asked her maid, who is not paying full attention.

“Huh? Oh, I’ll get her.” Sylvia’s hysterical maid bowed her head in disarray. She hurried off the carriage and chased after Trisha.

After a while, the carriage stopped briefly in a deserted alley. The maid took Trisha’s hand and stood in front of the carriage window.

“Oh, it’s you! Duchess of Carl.” With a smile, Trisha bowed her head to the Duchess.

But Sylvia’s face stood out.

“Aren’t you a maid? I heard…” Sylvia blurted out at the end of her speech, then decided to take a pause. It was not necessary to take the matter into one’s mouth.

“That’s right. Oh! my mother thanked the Duchess for her kindness…”

“Oh, then what are you doing here?” asked Sylvia with a hint of rudeness in her tone.

“I went to the Duke of Carl’s mansion by order of the Crown Prince, and Diana…and, she said she wanted to be alone today.”

“Diana?” Sylvia laughed and rubbed her temples. It was her habit to make the gesture to make it evident that she felt annoyed and irritated.

“Yes, Diana asked for it herself, so I couldn’t help it.”

Sylvia’s mouth burst again with a ridiculous laugh. Only then did Trisha realize that there was contempt in Sylvia’s eyes as she sat down in the carriage and looked down at herself.

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

“I…”

“Just because our innocent Diana says she’s a friend, doesn’t mean you’ll believe her right away.” Sylvia warned with a hint of insult.