Chapter 2

The graduation ceremony proceeded smoothly, and in the night, a gorgeous graduation banquet was held at the royal castle.

Changing from their simple student uniforms into extravagant dresses, Diana and Cordelia attended the graduation banquet as graduates.

When the two of them appeared side by side, the gazes of the hall instantly focused on them.

“As expected of the moon and the sun.”

“Not only are they beautiful, but they have such grace.”

Such whispers rose here and there.

The twins of the Duke of Gazard’s family, Diana the Moon and Cordelia the Sun, were famous not only at the academy but in high society as well.

The top student of the school.

Diana the Moon, possessing a clear intellect and outstanding charisma.

Because of her cold beauty and brilliance, she was sometimes rumored behind her backs as a wicked woman.

The flower of social parties.

Cordelia the Sun, the most popular girl in school who captivated people with her soft smile.

Everyone praised Cordelia, saying that her healing presence was like that of a fairy.

Truly light and shadow, front and back.

Dividing the academy’s attention between them, the two were always the center of focus.

Even at the graduation party, that remained unchanged.

Sharing the same silver hair and purple eyes, Diana wore a dress with a gradation from ultramarine to pale light blue, inspired by the dawn, while Cordelia wore a dress with a gradation from orange to madder red, inspired by the sunset.

“Graduates, I expect you to devote yourselves to our Kingdom of Rutledge from now on. Congratulations to you all on coming of age!”

With the congratulatory speech by Crown Prince Lawrence Rutledge of the Kingdom of Rutledge, the party began.

Music was played by the orchestra, and the graduates took each other’s hands and proceeded to the center of the hall.

For the graduates, today was the last day of student life.

It was said that every year there were those who attempted to dance the night away.

Meanwhile, Cordelia was gazing intently across the atrium at the second-floor balcony where Lawrence stood.

(…She’s as infatuated with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as ever.)

Diana let out a small sigh.

Even now, men were probing the situation, wanting to speak to Cordelia, yet she paid them no mind, her gaze fixed entirely on a single point.

That was Lawrence Rutledge, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Rutledge.

Cordelia’s admiration since childhood, an object of adoration she could truly call her prince.

Gorgeous golden hair and sharp yet alluring azure eyes.

His smile, tinged with confidence and arrogance, naturally overwhelmed his surroundings—truly a presence befitting royalty.

The Crown Prince slowly descended the stairs of the hall to speak to the graduates.

“Well, the beautiful jewels of the Duke of Gazard’s family. Congratulations on your graduation.”

The person the Crown Prince spoke to first was none other than Diana and Cordelia.

He must have known who was gathering the most attention at the party.

“It is an honor to receive such generous words, Your Royal Highness.”

Diana curtsied gracefully.

Beside her, Cordelia lowered her head as if startled awake.

“Th-Thank you very much, Your Royal Highness!!”

At Cordelia’s flustered state, the Crown Prince shook his dazzling golden hair and smiled with his azure eyes narrowed.

“Cordelia is as careless as ever. You should take after your sister.”

“Ah, my apologies…”

It was only for a fleeting moment that Cordelia’s beautiful expression clouded over.

“Well, that’s the sort of thing that makes her lovely, though.”

“─Your Highness!”

Immediately, Cordelia’s cheeks flushed red.

It was far too easy to read. So Diana thought, yet even seeing this, she found it strange that men still continued to court Cordelia.

Be that as it may, the Crown Prince, who was three years older than the twins, had a fiancée from childhood.

Because of that, Cordelia had kept her romantic feelings for the Crown Prince a secret all this time.

(Well, I simply don’t get it at all.)

Even though they were twins, the only thing they shared was their appearance; Diana and Cordelia were completely different in personality and tastes.

(What is so great about a plastered-on smile like that…? Rather than a Crown Prince who is all exterior, I think a more serious and upright man is much nicer.)

A delicate, handsome type like Lawrence, whom Cordelia fancied, never even entered Diana’s field of vision.

Diana’s preference leaned more toward rugged and stalwart, knight-like men.

(Come to think of it…)

As Diana let her gaze wander with a pang of nostalgia, a familiar low chuckle reached her ears.

The owner of the voice was exchanging cups with her father and chatting amicably—that sight accelerated the beating of her heart.

“Father, Lord Alan!”

“Oh, Diana.”

Wesley Gazard, the Duke of Gazard and father of the twins, beamed at the sight of his beloved daughter.

He possessed aristocratic features, cradling the same silver hair as the twins.

Perhaps Cordelia was drawn to the Crown Prince because she saw her father’s image in him.

Meanwhile, the person who had welcomed Diana with a smile alongside her father was a tall, handsome man.

A sturdy build and broad shoulders.

A figure better suited to standing on a battlefield as a knight than attending a social party as a nobleman.

“Lady Diana, congratulations on your graduation.”

“Thank you, Lord Alan.”

The one offering congratulatory words was Grand Duke Alan Rutledge, the King’s younger brother.

Beneath his short-cropped, glossy black hair, his blue-gray eyes held a gentle smile.

To Diana, he was a friend of her father.

A man seventeen years her senior.

Yet, Diana harbored an admiration for this kind and stalwart royal uncle more than anyone else.

(That stalwart knight who saved us from a villain that appeared in the Royal Capital when I was a child… Ever since then, Lord Alan has been my ideal man.)

He was a hero who had supported the country for many years as the Commander of the Order of Knights.

She had heard that even after passing the position of commander to the next generation, he devoted himself to training young knights.

(Ah, to be able to meet Father and Lord Alan once more…)

Before the two of them, Diana’s heart grew warm.

In her memories, this graduation banquet was the last time she had ever met Grand Duke Alan.

In her first life, even after stepping down from the post of commander, Alan had gone off as a knight to subjugate magical beasts.

Due to a stampede that occurred there, he became a man who never returned.

(Lord Alan, my first love… After he passed away, amid my despair, I accepted Miles’s proposal…)

Whether one could truly call that a proposal was another matter entirely.

There were no romantic feelings whatsoever between Diana and Miles.

He had simply told her, ‘I think marrying you is the most sensible arrangement,’ and Diana had simply nodded in agreement.

Seeing Alan’s face after all this time, she felt her heart leap once again.

The fleeting affection she had cherished since childhood.

Considering how she had shed tears alone after Alan’s death, being able to live and meet him again like this felt entirely like a dream.

(No, it’s not a dream… Both he and I are alive right now, just like this.)

Though feared in the Order of Knights as the Demon Commander, Alan cast a tender gaze upon Diana, his close friend’s beloved daughter who looked up to him.

Born into the royal family, Alan had deliberately remained single to this day to avoid struggles for power.

His earnest way of living, his steadfastness as a knight, and the kindness he kept hidden from others—she found all of it endearing.

“Lord Alan, if you don’t mind, would you dance with me?”

“Yes, gladly.”

In the center of the hall, decorated with chandeliers, amidst the graduates spinning and dancing, Alan and Diana drew everyone’s attention.

The gentle smile shown by the former commander of the knights, known for his stern visage.

The melting, passionate gaze of the twin sister once known as the Moon of Diana, looking as composed as ever.

The sight of them gazing at each other and drawing close was enough to evoke a sense of intimacy, even with an age gap resembling that of parent and child.

“To be asked by Lady Diana, it seems I haven’t lost my touch yet.”

“What are you saying? There is no one at the academy as reliable as Lord Alan.”

Their palms overlapped, and they drew close enough to embrace.

Her heart beat a rapid alarm, and heat transmitted from their touching fingertips.

It was the first time for Diana to touch Alan from such close quarters.

“Lord Alan, you are very good at dancing, too.”

“The foolishness of an old man. Though I can barely keep up with Lady Diana’s brilliant steps.”

“My.”

Alan gave a wry smile at Diana’s words.

In truth, Alan, who had lived as a warrior, had rarely ever accepted invitations to dance.

It was precisely because this was a joyous graduation banquet, and because the partner was Diana, whom he had cherished since childhood, that he could bring himself to dance with her.

And because Diana herself understood that, she couldn’t help wishing that the song wouldn’t end and that this time would go on forever.

“Lord Alan… as soon as this ceremony ends, will you depart for the northern magical beast subjugation?”

“Ah, that is my duty as a knight.”

“Even though you have already stepped down as commander?”

“Even if my duty as commander has ended, my role as the shield of the kingdom remains unchanged.”

Diana’s heart ached at Alan’s endlessly earnest answer.

Swallowing down the words ‘Don’t go’ that rose right to her throat, Diana furrowed her brows at the anguish tightening her chest.

During the graduation banquet of her first life, Diana had been far too young and hadn’t even realized her own romantic feelings.

It was only when she heard the tragic news of Alan’s death that Diana realized her admiration for him was actually love.

──In her first life, everything had been far too late.

But now was different.

Both Diana and Alan were still alive.

The strong arms wrapped around her back, supporting Diana’s body.

The warmth of leaning against each other. Their overlapping heartbeats.

All of it stirred Diana’s heart to its depths.

(I truly don’t want to lose you…)

When Diana looked up, Alan’s eyes narrowed gently.

Whether that smile was meant for someone dear to him or simply out of affection for a child, Diana had no way of knowing.

(I will not let you die. No matter what methods I must use──!)

Hiding a firm resolve in her purple eyes, she stared back intently at Alan.

“You’re being rather passionate, aren’t you? Well now.”

From the second-floor gallery, someone looked down at Diana and Alan dancing closely together.

“For Lady Diana to invite my uncle to dance first of all… How interesting, Miles.”

The direction to which Crown Prince Lawrence cast a teasing gaze was toward his younger friend, Miles Odonoghue.

He was Diana’s former husband, and currently maintained a relationship of family-like association as a friend.

“Interesting or not, there is an age gap between His Royal Highness the Royal Uncle and Diana that is practically parent and child.”

“Oh, from where I’m looking, they seem quite suited for each other.”

The Crown Prince’s lips twisted into a cynical smirk.

Beside him, Miles’s eyes flickered with quiet anger.

“Suited? Such a joke goes too far, Your Highness.”

At the thorn hidden beneath that calm tone, the corners of Lawrence’s mouth curved slightly.

Miles gripped the glass in his hand tightly as he continued to watch the two dancing in the center of the hall.

Whether the emotion hidden in that gaze was jealousy or something else entirely—no one could tell.