The Portrait of Pride — Chapter 20
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Dialogue Transcript
Dialogue Transcript The Portrait of Pride — Chapter 20 84
Haagh,
Ah!
RATHER THAN LOOKING AT HER,
IT IS EASIER AND MORE INTIMATE TO TOUCH HER.
EYES THAT ONCE YEARNED FOR FREEDOM
ARE NOW SUBMERGED IN PLEASURE.
FREE OF ALL DESPAIR OVER HER OWN FATE.
Ahk...!!
SHE HAS BECOME COMPLETELY MINE.
Hnn...
YES, DIANA.
IT SEEMS...
IT WOULD BE BEST TO PAINT THIS ANEW FROM THE BEGINNING.
YOUR HIGHNESS.
HIS GRACE, DUKE KRISTEN, HAS SENT WORD
THAT HE WISHES TO VISIT THE DETACHED PALACE.
HE SAYS THERE ARE A FEW MATTERS HE WISHES TO DISCUSS
REGARDING THE BANQUET SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.
THREE DAYS FROM NOW.
UNDERSTOOD. I SHALL INFORM HIM TO COME TO THE DETACHED PALACE IN THREE DAYS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ORDERS, SIR...?
SHE IS LOVELY, IS SHE NOT?
DIANA, I MEAN.
...OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING, SHE IS UNDENIABLY BEAUTIFUL.
YES, EXQUISITE.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE SO BEAUTIFUL.
SO MUCH SO THAT I WONDER IF IT EVEN NEEDS TO BE RENDERED ONTO CANVAS.
COULD IT BE...?
HAS MY LORD TRULY... TAKEN A LIKING TO THAT MAID?
Ah.
FIND OUT WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE BALESTE FAMILY SPRING,
THE FORMER PRIVATE ESTATE OF THE DORTES ROYAL FAMILY.
AND WHETHER ANY SPIRITS REMAIN THERE.
...YES, YOUR HIGHNESS.
YOU WERE AWAY FROM THE DETACHED PALACE FOR TEN WHOLE DAYS?!
ISN'T SECURITY AT THE HUNTING GROUNDS NOTORIOUSLY FRAIL AS IT IS?
WITHOUT AN ESCORT OF KNIGHTS,
WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST FOR SO LONG...!
THERE IS A CHILD WHO IS BLIND, YET EXTRAORDINARILY SENSITIVE TO THE GAZES OF OTHERS.
I MUST RETURN QUICKLY REGARDLESS, SO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS BRIEF.
...DID YOU FINISH THE PAINTING?
I POSTPONED IT FOR NOW.
A PAINTING CAN BE DONE AT ANY TIME.
THE PAINTING...
THAT IS, YOUR HIGHNESS POSTPONED A PAINTING?
YOUR BUSINESS.
AHEM...
...REGARDING DIANA ESCALIF,
I HAVE PERSONALLY MADE INQUIRIES INTO HER BACKGROUND.
IT APPEARS SHE WAS SENT BY PRINCE EISEN...
YOU NEED NOT SPEAK OF THAT, DUKE.
IT IS NOT AS IF I LEAVE HER BE OUT OF IGNORANCE.
TH-THAT
YOU MEAN YOU LEAVE HER ALONE KNOWING FULL WELL WHAT SHE IS?!
HAS IT EVER BEEN ANY DIFFERENT?
THE MEN IN THE DETACHED PALACE POISON THE FOOD
OR SMEAR DRUGS ONTO MY BELONGINGS,
AND THE WOMEN THROW THEMSELVES AT ME, STRIPPING OFF THEIR CLOTHES.
IT IS ALL THE SAME.
THE SAME...?
COULD IT BE...
HAVE YOU TRULY TAKEN A LIKING TO THAT MAID?
DUKE.
DIANA IS THE FINEST OF ALL.
PARDON?
THE MORE I LOOK AT HER, THE MORE SHE PLEASES ME.
...IS SHE MERELY A DIVERSION HE STUMBLED UPON AFTER SO LONG?
WELL, I SUPPOSE PLAYING WITH A LIVING THING IS FAR BETTER THAN A CORPSE.
...YOUR HIGHNESS.
IF YOU ARE SO TAKEN WITH THE GIRL,
HOW ABOUT MAKING USE OF HER?
MAKE USE OF HER?
YES. FROM WHAT I HAVE UNCOVERED—
IT SEEMS SHE REGULARLY REPORTS HER PROGRESS TO THE PRINCE.
HER REPORTING DAY IS DRAWING NEAR, SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXTRACT USEFUL INFORMATION.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING WE USE HER AS A DOUBLE AGENT?
PRECISELY.
"I SHALL BE YOUR HIGHNESS'S EARS AND HANDS."
"NEVER _"
"NEVER SHALL I BETRAY YOU."
...RIGHT.
JUST HOW MUCH AND HOW FAR YOU CAN GO FOR ME.
HOW BLINDLY DEVOTED YOU ARE TO ME—
TESTING THAT WOULDN'T BE SUCH A BAD IDEA.
Chapter Summary
Chapter 20 of The Portrait of Pride depicts Diana and the crown prince growing closer and the revelation of her spy identity. As Diana surrenders to pleasure, the crown prince declares her completely his and decides to redo the portrait from scratch. Duke Kristen reveals that Diana Escalif was sent by Prince Eisen and reports regularly, suggesting using her as a double agent.