Chapter 10

Estella wanted to speak with Diego, but it turned out he was a difficult man to see.

She was reluctant to make an appointment by contacting one of his employees. The duchess would most likely become upset if she were to find out that the governess was arranging a meeting between her children and Diego.

Estella could easily picture the duchess reprimanding her and kicking her out. So she had no choice but to knock on Diego’s door from time to time with the hopes he would answer.

Through this, she learned that Diego was a very busy man who left the mansion early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Because of his schedule, arranging a meeting between him and the children under the pretext of an outing felt extremely awkward.

Naturally, whenever Estella visited, no one would be in his room. She hoped that his schedule might change and that he would occasionally have some free time.

It was a shot in the dark, but after a week, her efforts at last procured her a result.

On a sunny weekend when she had no expectations, she knocked on his door and finally received a response.

“Come in.”

When the permission for her to enter came so easily, Estella paused with her hand in the air.

Mentally, she was a bit flustered. Physiologically, fear held her back.

After taking a deep breath, Estella carefully opened the door and entered Diego’s room.

The next moment, she froze.

Diego was changing his clothes. His wide back came into view without anything blocking the sight.

Putting his arm through his shirt, Diego said, “I’ll take a look once I’m fully dressed, so put the documents aside.”

It seemed he’d thought she was one of his men.

Estella belatedly realized she had not announced herself. She might have been allowed to come in only because she hadn’t said who she was.

A beat later, she explained the purpose of her visit. “Uh, Lord Diego. It’s Miss Margaret. The reason I came to see you is because...”

Before Estella could finish her sentence, Diego quickly turned around.

Perhaps because he was in such a defenseless state, he looked flustered, which was unusual for him.

As soon as he realized what had happened, he pulled his shirt closed and buttoned it up, covering his attractive muscles.

Estella gulped without realizing it.

Though not because she was having any improper thoughts, of course.

She hurriedly blurted out the rest of her statement: “I have a favor to ask you.”

Diego stared at her for a moment without answering. She could easily tell from the emotion in his eyes that he was appalled. He was blatantly showing that he was not pleased with her visit.

To Diego, the people in this mansion were divided into his allies and his enemies, and Estella was closer to the latter.

A fake smile soon appeared on his lips.

Looking quite displeased, Diego tugged at the corners of his mouth. “What is it?”

He had experienced a situation like this before. He was tired of the woman, whom he had only spoken to a few times, forgetting her place and wanting a seat next to him. Just because they had overheard a secret conversation together, it seemed she had assumed they’d developed some kind of intimacy.

As expected, she could hardly make eye contact with him.

“It’s such a nice day out. The flowers are blooming beautifully in the rear garden, and the sky is clear...”

As Estella babbled on, Diego’s frown deepened.

When she stopped talking for a moment to catch her breath, Diego jumped in to cut her off.

“Look, Miss Margaret. I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding...”

“...so I decided to go on an outing with the children. Since we’re just going into the garden, perhaps you could join us? It would be a great support for the children.”

Diego and Estella both paused. The next moment, they blurted out their questions at the same time:

“A misunderstanding?”

“An outing?”

Diego’s expression was somewhat threatening, so Estella flinched.

The employer usually had priority in getting their question answered first, so Estella said in a quiet tone, “Yes, the children and I are planning to have a class outside.”

Diego said nothing.

Based on his values, he couldn’t understand what her intentions were. If she harbored romantic feelings for him, she wouldn’t try to get close to him while in the company of the children. It was a well-known fact to everyone in this mansion that Diego felt uncomfortable around Cecilia and Cedric.

He couldn’t guess what was going through the governess’s tiny mind.

“Honestly, I don’t understand why you’d want me to attend your outdoor class. I think you’ve come to the wrong person.”

No matter the circumstance, Estella’s proposal was presumptuous. He said so without hiding his displeasure.

Estella was not intimidated. She had been expecting him to say no.

After some hesitation, she said, “That day, you went back to your room first.”

Diego paused at her unexpected statement and immediately responded in a cold tone, “I don’t know what you’re trying to gain by bringing up what happened that day.”

“Lord Diego, what I mean is—”

“I should’ve given you one more warning that day: if you ever try to use what happened that day as bait to control me, I’ll make sure you’ll meet a worse end than any they would have planned.”

As he said that, Diego quickly walked toward Estella.

Estella was tempted to take a step back, but she held her position.

Threateningly, Diego leaned in close and said, “Miss Margaret, let me make one thing clear.”

“Go ahead.”

“You don’t have anything you can use to manipulate me. Rather, you’re in a position where you must tread carefully. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

It was quite stressful dealing with the hostile man.

Trying to look as unfazed as possible, Estella said, “Lord Diego, I am not trying to exploit your weakness. I don’t even think what I’ve heard qualifies as a weakness.”

“Then how should I interpret this situation?”

“I would call it a deal. It would be mutually beneficial.”

Diego didn’t reply, but he didn’t try to stop her either.

Estella paused for a moment and said, “I stayed in the library after you left. As a result, I heard more of what they said. Someone in House Botry is helping Duke Bertha.”

Diego’s neck flushed, then quickly the redness faded.

House Botry was Diego’s maternal family. They were also the faction that supported Diego and had prevented Duke Bertha from changing his successor at will.

In reality, Estella knew about the Botrys from having read the novel. She hadn’t actually heard the plans from Duke Bertha, but Diego wouldn’t know any better.

“Of course, I don’t doubt your abilities, Lord Diego. But isn’t there some merit to knowing you have unexpected enemies in advance?”

What Estella was saying was true.

Diego had much affection for his mother, which meant he also trusted his maternal family. Because of their long-standing relationship, he also wasn’t in a position to investigate them openly.

In a low tone, as if he wanted to make sure no one could hear them, Diego asked, “What do you want from me?”

Estella looked up at him in surprise. She tilted her head to the right and repeated her previous request, “As I said before, I’d like you to accompany the children outside today.”

Her casual tone made Diego wonder for a moment whether he had heard incorrectly.

Yes, her request was for him to join an outing she and the children were having that day. But how could that be all she wanted in return for giving him such important information?

Finding it difficult to believe, his tone turned harsh again.

“That simple task is all you want from me?”

“Simple...? Teaching children is harder than you think. And rewarding as well,” Estella answered with a confused look.

Diego’s employees had often assessed him as a kind employer, but he frequently revealed his true personality to Estella.

Still suspicious, he said, “How do I know you’re not lying?”

“If it turns out that you haven’t been betrayed by them, you can kill me instead.”

Estella’s calm response made Diego pause. She sounded overly indifferent, considering she was offering her head to him.

Chuckling, Diego said, “How can you risk your life just because you want me to have an outing with the children?”

Estella did not laugh along with him. She wasn’t joking. And it wasn’t because her life wasn’t precious to her.

She was doing this to save others.

Estella looked straight up at Diego and said, “Do you want to know who the traitor is or not?”

Diego stared at Estella with his cold eyes. He didn’t like the fact that he had to go along with her cryptic plan in order to get the answer he wanted, but it was a bridge he had to cross. Even if it turned out the governess had lied, he would find out the truth about her. And that would be worth it.

Erasing the smile from his lips, Diego said, “Where should I meet you all?”