This Villain Is Mine Now - Chapter 34

Nathan knew in his mind that he should push Diane away. But once again, he couldn’t do it. Instead of pushing her away, his foolish arms held her even tighter.

“Is this, too, an action beyond my station?” Diane asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“Diane…” Nathan’s voice was filled with confusion and hesitation. Diane took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

“My life has always been a series of resignation and surrender. Yes, I’m just like you. I ran away because I didn’t have the courage to face your rejection. But… Elaina told me that if there’s something I haven’t said, I should let it all out so I won’t have any regrets.”

At that moment, a thought crossed Diane’s mind. If she gave up now, just like she had always done in the past, how much would she regret this moment ten, twenty, thirty years from now?

If she went back now, the only thing left for her would be the convent.

She should go back—normally, she would have resigned herself to that and done so. But the lingering feelings she had for Nathan were too strong, and that made it impossible for her to descend the stairs. She was stuck halfway, unable to move forward or backward.

Crying wouldn’t change anything.

Running away wouldn’t change anything either.

The only way to change something was through action.

Just as Elaina’s actions had changed her, Diane hoped her actions could change Nathan. She poured all her sincerity into each word as she spoke.

“Can you honestly say you won’t regret this? I can’t. I already regret not talking more, not trying harder to persuade you, not yelling at you to stop lying. Even as I was walking down the stairs, all I felt was regret.”

Nathan pressed his aching temples with his fingers, his voice rough as he spoke. “Your father… He was the man who, ten years ago, led the charge to stop Archduke Grant’s rebellion, raising his baronial title to marquis in one leap. A man like me would never meet his expectations.”

But Diane quietly shook her head. “That’s not what I’m asking. It doesn’t matter whether I’m the daughter of a marquis or not. I’m asking if you can live without regretting this day.”

It was a question that didn’t need to be asked. Even without Diane’s words, Nathan knew that his life would be filled with regret after today.

Their affection had grown over time, exchanged through countless letters. He could still remember that moment in the dark garden, when she had startled him. Despite the surprise, she had handed him a handkerchief and tended to his wound with such kindness that he had already lost his heart to her.

And now, here she was, standing in front of him. The woman he thought he’d never have the chance to see again was asking him if he could truly live without regretting this day.

His silence was an answer in itself.

Diane cautiously reached out and took Nathan’s hand. He flinched, and their eyes met.

“Let’s be brave, just a little. Let’s do everything we can, so we won’t have any regrets. So that when we look back on this day, we won’t be left with any ‘what ifs.’”

The determination in Diane’s eyes was as firm as the grip of her hand on his. It was enough to make even the cowardly Nathan Hennet acknowledge his feelings and find the courage he had been lacking.

***

Elaina, who had been waiting on a bench below the tower, couldn’t stand it any longer. It had been too long, and worry gnawed at her. Just as she was about to head up the tower, the door opened, and Diane emerged.

“Diane!” Elaina called out, rushing over to her. Seeing the tear marks on Diane’s face, she examined her friend with a worried expression.

“Are you okay? What took so long? What did you talk about?”

Diane’s eyes were swollen and red, but she smiled faintly at Elaina’s concern. Elaina’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Don’t tell me things didn’t go well again! Oh, that man! He’s really hopeless, isn’t he? Diane, Nathan Hennet really does love you. He’s just an enormous coward. Wait here, I’ll go talk to him—”

Diane gently grabbed Elaina’s arm, shaking her head.

“No, it went well.”

“But your eyes…”

“I’ll explain everything on the way, Elaina,” Diane said, her face still flushed, her swollen eyes crinkling into a soft crescent as she smiled.

Once they were inside the carriage, Elaina urged Diane to tell her everything. Although she could already guess that things had turned out well just from Diane’s expression, she still wanted to hear the story firsthand.

“I said everything I had to say, just like you suggested,” Diane began, recounting how she had finally voiced her feelings, including all the resentment she had been holding back.

Elaina’s face lit up with admiration. “Good for you! That’s exactly what you should have done. If it were me, I might’ve slapped him! You weren’t too harsh at all.”

“Thank you, Elaina. It’s all thanks to you,” Diane said earnestly, her gratitude shining through.

Elaina scratched her head, a little embarrassed. “Oh, I didn’t do much.”

“Without you, I wouldn’t have even thought to come here, and I certainly wouldn’t have had the courage to say everything I wanted to Nathan.”

Feeling slightly awkward from Diane’s heartfelt words, Elaina quickly changed the subject. “Well, that doesn’t matter now. Tell me what happened. So? What did you decide?”

Pressed by Elaina, Diane blushed slightly before replying, “He said he would visit the Redwood estate soon. He’s going to propose to me formally.”

“Ah!” Elaina squealed in delight, forgetting they were inside a moving carriage. She pulled Diane into a tight hug, nearly toppling over, but she didn’t care. Diane, buoyed by Elaina’s joy, felt her own happiness swell.

However, a shadow of worry soon crossed Diane’s face, dimming the excitement.

“What if my father is strongly opposed?” she asked, her earlier confidence waning. Convincing Nathan had been one thing, but facing her father was another challenge altogether.

But the uncertainty in her eyes quickly gave way to a determined glint.

“Then maybe…”

“Maybe what?” Elaina asked, her eyes widening in surprise at Diane’s sudden boldness.

“Maybe we should just elope,” Diane replied, her voice steady and serious. It was a surprisingly daring suggestion, coming from someone usually so reserved.

“Are you serious?” Elaina asked, stunned.

Diane nodded firmly. “Yes, I’m serious. If my father continues to oppose us, I’ll run away with Nathan. We’ll have a simple wedding at a small church in the countryside. Even my father wouldn’t be able to send me to a convent after that.”

Diane’s voice was filled with resolve as she spoke, her decision firm. Elaina could only blink in amazement at her friend’s newfound determination.

Was Diane always this courageous…?

“Elaina, is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. I’m just surprised to see this side of you, Diane,” Elaina replied, a smile tugging at her lips.

Diane blushed at her words. “You shouldn’t say things like that, Elaina. This is all because of you.”

“Are you saying this is my fault?”

“Of course.”

Elaina had been like a stone thrown into the calm waters of Diane’s life. The ripples that stone created had grown into waves, disrupting the tranquility she had known.

Diane took a deep breath. “It feels so strange.”

Defying her family, especially her father, had never been easy for Diane. From a very young age, she had been treated as little more than the family’s property, raised with the belief that she should be grateful just not to be cast out of the estate. Following their orders had always seemed like the natural thing to do. She had always believed her father held the power to control her life, as if it were a given.

But now, she found it wasn’t nearly as difficult as she had imagined. The realization surprised her. She had thought defying her father would be the end of the world, but instead, the breeze was cool, her heart was racing with excitement, and most importantly, she had a friend who rejoiced in her happiness as if it were her own.

Oh.

It really wasn’t such a big deal after all.

For the first time, Diane felt as if she had broken free from the shell that had encased her, finally emerging into the world.

“So, if this is all my fault… I suppose I have no choice but to take responsibility,” Elaina declared, clenching her fist with determination. Diane tilted her head, confused by her friend’s words.

“Take responsibility? How?”

“Marriage is one of the most important moments in life. I can’t accept you having a rushed wedding just because of your father’s opposition. You deserve to be a happy bride, celebrated by everyone at a grand and joyous wedding. Just wait and see,” Elaina said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Diane hesitated, knowing that such an ideal scenario was unlikely, but for a moment, she let herself believe in Elaina’s optimism.

However, Elaina was not someone who made empty promises.

A few days after their visit to the academy, unbelievable things began to happen around Diane.