(11) Garden Party (1)
"That girl, despite being of the peerage, acts a bit self-indulgent. No matter how many tutors I give her, she refuses to learn. I guess it's my fault."
Victoria, standing next to her, pleaded with Ariana, her expression on the verge of tears.
"Sister, at least on a day like today, please be patient. Normally, I'd be more than happy to accept it. Yes?"
Ariana suddenly became someone who acted selfishly and treated her younger sister rudely, using her peerage as a pretext, but she couldn't even make excuses.
Unable to bear the cold, accusing gaze directed at her, her face flushed red before bursting into tears.
"She's already 16, and she's crying and throwing tantrums like that. I really don't know how to teach her..."
“It’s not Mother’s fault. Ariana insists she’s the Princess of the West and acts however she pleases. Ariana never listens to Mother—what can Mother possibly do?”
Helena seized the opportunity.
The three of them instantly turned Ariana into the tyrant of the Bronte dukedom.
With no one on her side, Ariana could do nothing but cry.
'I was stupid. There's so much I can do without anyone on my side.'
After Victoria taught Ariana the etiquette of drinking hot tea and leaving the room, Ariana's expression vanished.
She walked down the hallway, gazing out the window at the large greenhouse visible in the distance.
The employees were busy decorating the greenhouse where the party would be held tomorrow.
Helena and Victoria must be looking forward to it.
Ariana's lips slightly quirked.
"I'm looking forward to it too. The party tomorrow."
On a particularly cold afternoon in February 210, carriages carrying nobles were gathering at the Duke Bronte' residence in Weston City, Weston.
Among them were a few particularly splendid carriages, all belonging to nobles from the capital of the Cameria Empire.
Isaac, who was watching the carriages from a tree near the mansion's main gate, said,
"Rachel is anxious to make good connections for her daughters. She must have spent a lot of money."
Cyrus watched the figures disembarking from the carriages.
Some of them must have had close connections to the Northern Duke. Perhaps he had a hand in that past incident.
Isaac looked at Cyrus with a playful look in his eyes.
“If you showed up at that party, everyone’s expressions would be amazing. What do you think? Don’t you want to join?”
“Do something so annoying for your own pleasure?”
“That’s good. Giving up for a friend. The women would fall over at the sight of you. The First Lady of Bronte would probably foam at the mouth and collapse.”
Isaac knew Helena adored Cyrus enough to have a portrait of him hanging in her room.
Cyrus retorted coldly.
“I really don’t want to see it.”
It's said that in the old days, tea was served on a saucer and allowed to cool, but that custom disappeared long ago. Nowadays, pouring tea on a saucer is nothing more than a laughingstock.
Ariana, who had never learned or had the opportunity to learn such a thing, completely believed Victoria's words.
At her first garden party, Ariana was so nervous that she poured tea on a saucer and drank it loudly, humiliating herself in front of the assembled nobles.
The noblewomen and young ladies harshly criticized the Second Princess, Ariana, for her lack of manners, and Rachel said, feigning embarrassment.
Ariana, who had never learned or had the opportunity to learn such a thing, completely believed Victoria's words.
At her first garden party, Ariana was so nervous that she poured tea on a saucer and drank it loudly, humiliating herself in front of the assembled nobles.
The noblewomen and young ladies harshly criticized the Second Princess, Ariana, for her lack of manners, and Rachel said, feigning embarrassment.
"That girl, despite being of the peerage, acts a bit self-indulgent. No matter how many tutors I give her, she refuses to learn. I guess it's my fault."
Victoria, standing next to her, pleaded with Ariana, her expression on the verge of tears.
"Sister, at least on a day like today, please be patient. Normally, I'd be more than happy to accept it. Yes?"
Ariana suddenly became someone who acted selfishly and treated her younger sister rudely, using her peerage as a pretext, but she couldn't even make excuses.
Unable to bear the cold, accusing gaze directed at her, her face flushed red before bursting into tears.
"She's already 16, and she's crying and throwing tantrums like that. I really don't know how to teach her..."
“It’s not Mother’s fault. Ariana insists she’s the Princess of the West and acts however she pleases. Ariana never listens to Mother—what can Mother possibly do?”
Helena seized the opportunity.
The three of them instantly turned Ariana into the tyrant of the Bronte dukedom.
With no one on her side, Ariana could do nothing but cry.
'I was stupid. There's so much I can do without anyone on my side.'
After Victoria taught Ariana the etiquette of drinking hot tea and leaving the room, Ariana's expression vanished.
She walked down the hallway, gazing out the window at the large greenhouse visible in the distance.
The employees were busy decorating the greenhouse where the party would be held tomorrow.
Helena and Victoria must be looking forward to it.
Ariana's lips slightly quirked.
"I'm looking forward to it too. The party tomorrow."
***
On a particularly cold afternoon in February 210, carriages carrying nobles were gathering at the Duke Bronte' residence in Weston City, Weston.
Among them were a few particularly splendid carriages, all belonging to nobles from the capital of the Cameria Empire.
Isaac, who was watching the carriages from a tree near the mansion's main gate, said,
"Rachel is anxious to make good connections for her daughters. She must have spent a lot of money."
Cyrus watched the figures disembarking from the carriages.
Some of them must have had close connections to the Northern Duke. Perhaps he had a hand in that past incident.
Isaac looked at Cyrus with a playful look in his eyes.
“If you showed up at that party, everyone’s expressions would be amazing. What do you think? Don’t you want to join?”
“Do something so annoying for your own pleasure?”
“That’s good. Giving up for a friend. The women would fall over at the sight of you. The First Lady of Bronte would probably foam at the mouth and collapse.”
Isaac knew Helena adored Cyrus enough to have a portrait of him hanging in her room.
Cyrus retorted coldly.
“I really don’t want to see it.”
“By the way, I see the maids, under the First Lady’s orders, heading to the Second Lady’s room carrying a bunch of stuff. Aren’t you going to go?”
Cyrus narrowed his eyes.
“Why should I go there?”
“You want to help her.”
“Me?”
Cyrus’s eyes grew cold.
“Yes, you.”
“I might need her someday, but I have no intention of being a nanny.”
“Aha.”
Isaac gave him a look of disbelief, but Cyrus ignored it.
While the two men were gazing at the faces of the nobles, Ariana was being groomed by the maids.
“Lady Helena asked me to give you this as a gift...”
The maids spoke curtly, neither formal nor informal, and carelessly placed the box containing the dresses and accessories they had brought into the small room.
They moved without asking Ariana’s permission. They roughly combed Ariana’s hair with the comb they had brought, changed her clothes, and applied makeup.
Ariana stood still in front of the mirror and let them do their thing.
Ariana watched with amusement as her reflection in the mirror gradually transformed. Her voluminous sky-blue hair was braided into childish pigtails, and her complexion was darkened with powder a shade darker than her natural pale skin tone. Her eyebrows were drawn too darkly, her eyes were painted red, and her cheeks were heavily powdered with pink.
When the makeup was finished, her face looked out of place, overly made up for her age.
Her dress was a flashy yellow gown, unfitting even for a child. It completely covered her neck and arms, and the petticoat underneath was so wide that it looked like a child trying to show off.
'They're Helena's maids, but Victoria must have ordered them.'
Victoria always thought.
She always took a step back to use others, just in case. Even at a young age, she knew how to manipulate and manipulate those around her. If Ariana's outfit became an issue again, she'd probably back off, saying, "It was Helena's maids." Of course, there had never been a problem with Ariana's actions.
The maids, who had finished their makeup, picked up their jewelry.
"I'll do it."
When Ariana, who had been silent for so long, spoke, the maids flinched.
Ariana gave them a cold stare and spoke again.
"I'll do it, so you can go out."
The maids were taken aback. Even though Ariana was the second Princess, she had never spoken to her employees like this before.
"This is a task entrusted to us by Lady Victoria."
"I thought you were Helena's maids."
The maids exchanged glances at Ariana.
"Ladies Helena and Victoria jointly gave the order. We don't have time, so hurry up and take this necklace..."
"You're rude. I told you I'd do it, but how many times have you ignored your master's orders?"
Ariana's calm voice chilled the air.
Only then did the maids remember that Ariana, too, was a Princess of the Bronte family.
The Brontes mistreated Ariana, and Ariana, despite the same treatment, didn't get angry, so the servants naturally ignored her. Ariana was someone they could treat that way.
But the Ariana before the maids was different. Despite her unpolished hair and childish dress, Ariana exuded an inexplicable aura.
A dignity that not even Helena or Victoria, let alone Rachel, the daughter of the Western Duke and Duchess, possessed.
A dignity Ariana had honed through tears and blood in her past life, striving to be "useful."
The maids couldn't even swallow their saliva as their heads involuntarily dropped.
Ariana stared at them coldly.
"Should I call someone and beat you to make you listen?"
"Oh, no. But, Miss Victoria told me to bring you here immediately..."
The maid's demeanor changed, but Ariana's expression remained unchanged.
"Are you afraid I might not know the way to the garden?"
"No, that's not it..."
"I'll find my way, so you can go ahead and do it."
The maids exchanged glances and left Ariana's room.
Ariana knew they would be waiting in the hallway, but she didn't rush.
Checking herself in the mirror, Ariana snickered and took off her dress. Though it was shabby, the fabric was fine, and she wiped her face with it to remove her makeup.
After changing into her old, shabby maid's uniform, she checked her jewelry box. It was filled with expensive, if outdated, trinkets. Helena and Victoria probably couldn't remember what was in it.
Ariana gathered a few of the more expensive-looking ones and tucked them deep into her desk drawer.
Before leaving, Ariana examined herself in front of the mirror.
'I have to do this. I have to make sure that person knows exactly what I'm doing.'
Cyrus narrowed his eyes.
“Why should I go there?”
“You want to help her.”
“Me?”
Cyrus’s eyes grew cold.
“Yes, you.”
“I might need her someday, but I have no intention of being a nanny.”
“Aha.”
Isaac gave him a look of disbelief, but Cyrus ignored it.
While the two men were gazing at the faces of the nobles, Ariana was being groomed by the maids.
“Lady Helena asked me to give you this as a gift...”
The maids spoke curtly, neither formal nor informal, and carelessly placed the box containing the dresses and accessories they had brought into the small room.
They moved without asking Ariana’s permission. They roughly combed Ariana’s hair with the comb they had brought, changed her clothes, and applied makeup.
Ariana stood still in front of the mirror and let them do their thing.
Ariana watched with amusement as her reflection in the mirror gradually transformed. Her voluminous sky-blue hair was braided into childish pigtails, and her complexion was darkened with powder a shade darker than her natural pale skin tone. Her eyebrows were drawn too darkly, her eyes were painted red, and her cheeks were heavily powdered with pink.
When the makeup was finished, her face looked out of place, overly made up for her age.
Her dress was a flashy yellow gown, unfitting even for a child. It completely covered her neck and arms, and the petticoat underneath was so wide that it looked like a child trying to show off.
'They're Helena's maids, but Victoria must have ordered them.'
Victoria always thought.
She always took a step back to use others, just in case. Even at a young age, she knew how to manipulate and manipulate those around her. If Ariana's outfit became an issue again, she'd probably back off, saying, "It was Helena's maids." Of course, there had never been a problem with Ariana's actions.
The maids, who had finished their makeup, picked up their jewelry.
"I'll do it."
When Ariana, who had been silent for so long, spoke, the maids flinched.
Ariana gave them a cold stare and spoke again.
"I'll do it, so you can go out."
The maids were taken aback. Even though Ariana was the second Princess, she had never spoken to her employees like this before.
The maids were offended by Ariana's sudden change in attitude, as she had always used formal speech while watching her step around even the servants.
"I thought you were Helena's maids."
The maids exchanged glances at Ariana.
"Ladies Helena and Victoria jointly gave the order. We don't have time, so hurry up and take this necklace..."
"You're rude. I told you I'd do it, but how many times have you ignored your master's orders?"
Ariana's calm voice chilled the air.
Only then did the maids remember that Ariana, too, was a Princess of the Bronte family.
The Brontes mistreated Ariana, and Ariana, despite the same treatment, didn't get angry, so the servants naturally ignored her. Ariana was someone they could treat that way.
But the Ariana before the maids was different. Despite her unpolished hair and childish dress, Ariana exuded an inexplicable aura.
A dignity that not even Helena or Victoria, let alone Rachel, the daughter of the Western Duke and Duchess, possessed.
A dignity Ariana had honed through tears and blood in her past life, striving to be "useful."
The maids couldn't even swallow their saliva as their heads involuntarily dropped.
Ariana stared at them coldly.
"Should I call someone and beat you to make you listen?"
"Oh, no. But, Miss Victoria told me to bring you here immediately..."
The maid's demeanor changed, but Ariana's expression remained unchanged.
"Are you afraid I might not know the way to the garden?"
"No, that's not it..."
"I'll find my way, so you can go ahead and do it."
The maids exchanged glances and left Ariana's room.
Ariana knew they would be waiting in the hallway, but she didn't rush.
Checking herself in the mirror, Ariana snickered and took off her dress. Though it was shabby, the fabric was fine, and she wiped her face with it to remove her makeup.
After changing into her old, shabby maid's uniform, she checked her jewelry box. It was filled with expensive, if outdated, trinkets. Helena and Victoria probably couldn't remember what was in it.
Ariana gathered a few of the more expensive-looking ones and tucked them deep into her desk drawer.
Before leaving, Ariana examined herself in front of the mirror.
'I have to do this. I have to make sure that person knows exactly what I'm doing.'
"This is the last thing I can do in this mansion."
Ariana needed to inform someone attending the party today of her situation.
Duchess Juliana Rowenta, an imperial noble.
The Rowenta family had close ties to the Countess and held considerable power in the Empire, so Rachel couldn't treat Duchess Rowenta lightly.
Of course, there was no guarantee that she would tell the Northern Duke the truth even if she learned of Ariana's situation. And even if she did, the Northern Duke wouldn't come to Ariana's rescue.
However, it might serve as a small link between the Northern Duke and Ariana. At the very least, when she stood before the Northern Duke, he wouldn't suspect that Ariana had come under the orders of the Western Duke.
But this was just a side note; the real purpose was different.
'Today, I'm going to lay the groundwork for me to escape the mansion.'
To make Rachel realize that Ariana can no longer be kept hidden in the mansion.
'I can't be trapped in the mansion like before and end up marrying that horrible person.'
It was a crucial moment.
Today's actions would change the future. This might be the last time Ariana could know and deal with the future.
So she had to seize this opportunity.
As expected, the maids were waiting for Ariana in the hallway.
Their eyes widened at the sight of Ariana, who had been meticulously dressed for an hour, in her original form.
"Oh, Miss... Why are you...?"
Ariana ignored the maids' question and walked away.
The maids hurriedly followed after her.
"Miss, you can't go out like this."
"I've always looked like this. What's the problem?"
"No matter what... Today, many distinguished guests have come. If you go out like this, you'll be in trouble."
Ariana didn't slow down.
One of the maids grabbed her arm.
"Miss!"
Ariana stopped and turned to the maid. Cold blue eyes moved from the maid's face to her grasped arm.
"Are you touching me?"
A cold voice pierced her.
The maid, startled by the weight of authority in her voice, withdrew her hand.
Ariana stared at the maid and said,
"You'd better learn how to treat your master again."
The maid's face contorted.
"And learn how to control your expressions in front of your master."
The maids stopped holding Ariana as she resumed walking. They were both embarrassed and annoyed by her usually subservient, confident demeanor.
The maids watched Ariana's proud walk and thought,
"Huh, just go and suffer the embarrassment."
Ariana needed to inform someone attending the party today of her situation.
Duchess Juliana Rowenta, an imperial noble.
The Rowenta family had close ties to the Countess and held considerable power in the Empire, so Rachel couldn't treat Duchess Rowenta lightly.
Of course, there was no guarantee that she would tell the Northern Duke the truth even if she learned of Ariana's situation. And even if she did, the Northern Duke wouldn't come to Ariana's rescue.
However, it might serve as a small link between the Northern Duke and Ariana. At the very least, when she stood before the Northern Duke, he wouldn't suspect that Ariana had come under the orders of the Western Duke.
But this was just a side note; the real purpose was different.
'Today, I'm going to lay the groundwork for me to escape the mansion.'
To make Rachel realize that Ariana can no longer be kept hidden in the mansion.
'I can't be trapped in the mansion like before and end up marrying that horrible person.'
It was a crucial moment.
Today's actions would change the future. This might be the last time Ariana could know and deal with the future.
So she had to seize this opportunity.
As expected, the maids were waiting for Ariana in the hallway.
Their eyes widened at the sight of Ariana, who had been meticulously dressed for an hour, in her original form.
"Oh, Miss... Why are you...?"
Ariana ignored the maids' question and walked away.
The maids hurriedly followed after her.
"Miss, you can't go out like this."
"I've always looked like this. What's the problem?"
"No matter what... Today, many distinguished guests have come. If you go out like this, you'll be in trouble."
Ariana didn't slow down.
One of the maids grabbed her arm.
"Miss!"
Ariana stopped and turned to the maid. Cold blue eyes moved from the maid's face to her grasped arm.
"Are you touching me?"
A cold voice pierced her.
The maid, startled by the weight of authority in her voice, withdrew her hand.
Ariana stared at the maid and said,
"You'd better learn how to treat your master again."
The maid's face contorted.
"And learn how to control your expressions in front of your master."
The maids stopped holding Ariana as she resumed walking. They were both embarrassed and annoyed by her usually subservient, confident demeanor.
The maids watched Ariana's proud walk and thought,
"Huh, just go and suffer the embarrassment."
Comments
Post a Comment