(13) Garden Party (3)
Rachel's face paled, and Victoria held her breath.
Ariana, as if she didn't know what was wrong, repeated the same action again.
Helena frowned and said,
"What kind of tea are you drinking like that?"
Victoria wanted to shut Helena's mouth.
Did that stupid sister have no sense of humor?
Victoria desperately hoped Ariana would just blush and fluster like usual. She prayed that Ariana's behavior up until now had been a fluke and that from now on, she would behave normally.
But Ariana opened her eyes wide and said in a refreshing voice,
"Miss Victoria told me to drink like this."
"When did I!"
Victoria finally lost her composure and shouted sharply.
Ariana shrugged her shoulders, as if terrified, but her mouth remained shut.
“You called me into your room yesterday and told me. You said I’d be embarrassed if I didn’t drink like this... Did I make a mistake again? Please forgive me, Miss.”
“Sister, why are you doing this? Why are you suddenly calling me Miss? Are you doing this on purpose?”
“I’m sorry, Miss. I’m sorry.”
Ariana didn’t make any excuses.
Everyone couldn’t hide their pity and anger at the pitiful sight of the Second Princess, cowering in shame and begging for forgiveness.
If it weren’t for the bruises on Ariana’s body, the crowd would have been divided into those who believed her and those who didn’t.
However, the old and new bruises on her thin body, as if she hadn’t starved for more than a day or two, clearly revealed the perpetrator.
The fainthearted ladies’ eyes reddened.
Duchess Juliana Rowenta, who had been furrowing her brows, spoke up.
“I heard that the Duchess of Bronte cherished the Second Princess so much that she never showed her to anyone, and now that I see her, she certainly cherishes her.”
Rachel's face flushed at the harsh words.
"You misunderstood, Duchess Rowenta. She's always been mischievous..."
"She's bruising herself with her pranks? She's got bruises in places she couldn't even hit with her own hands. I wonder if His Excellency the Eastern Duke knows that her second daughter is starving like this."
Rachel's face paled at the mention of the Eastern Duke's name.
Rachel clutched her skirt tightly and said,
"It's my job to educate her manners, Duchess Rowenta. I think you're crossing the line. Are the nobles of the capital usually this interested in other people's households?"
Rachel gave up trying to win Juliana over.
The capital's social circles weren't entirely under Juliana's thumb, so while it was a shame, she had no intention of acting servile.
Julianna smiled and replied,
"The nobles of the capital don't reveal their household affairs so publicly."
Rachel was speechless.
She didn't want to be subservient to Juliana, but she couldn't show her temper and fight either.
Seeing her mother flustered for the first time, Helena fidgeted and then spoke.
"Duchess Rowenta, please stop being so angry. It's my fault for not teaching Ariana well as her older sister. Mother is not at fault."
There was nothing more futile than worrying about winning the affection of someone who hated you.
After all, the affection of others was as fleeting as dust.
I alone am enough to love myself.
"The Second Princess doesn't cry even in the dark, but the First Princess cried and fainted after hearing a few words from her mother."
It wasn't surprising anymore that a low, slow voice was heard from the darkness.
"It seems there's no place Your Excellency the Northern Duke can't enter."
"Who would dare stand in my way?"
With a click, the lamp turned on.
Cyrus hung the lamp he was holding on the iron bars. A flicker of orange light etched deep lines into his face.
He looked down at Ariana from outside the bars.
“The Duke and Duchess of Bronte’s rage is sky-high. Aren’t you afraid?”
“What more could I do than death?”
“Not even death?”
“Because I’m afraid of death, I won’t back down. By the way, I heard Your Excellency the Northern Duke is a very busy man.”
“Your Excellency has a habit of asking questions even after understanding correctly.”
Cyrus glared at Ariana.
The coldness in his bloodshot eyes seemed to seize Ariana’s throat, but she didn’t break his gaze.
They stared at each other intently, as if they were exploring each other, and Cyrus spoke.
“I thought you were Rachel Bronte’s biological daughter. Am I mistaken?”
“You know the secret of Helena’s birth, yet you’re so humble.”
“But why is Rachel so desperate to devour you?”
“There are many kinds of families in the world. My mother and I are just one of many mother-daughter relationships.”
“Don’t you resent that your mother’s affection is directed only at your other sisters?”
“She wasn’t mine from birth, so why should I be resentful now?”
Cyrus bent down and studied Ariana’s face.
Even with the iron bars between them, his face was breathtaking as he drew closer. He was so beautiful, almost too beautiful to be of this world.
“You’re being sincere.”
“How could I lie to Your Excellency?”
A faint smile spread across Cyrus’s lips.
It was so fleeting that neither Ariana nor Cyrus realized it.
“Are you aware that you are a very interesting woman?”
"If I could spark even a little interest in Your Excellency, who doesn't care about anything, that would be enough."
"So, don't bother now?"
"You're asking again."
When they first met, Ariana had been terrified of Cyrus.
The slightest misstep would have him mercilessly snap her neck, and the cruel coldness emanating from his red eyes would pierce her heart.
After only their third brief meeting, she couldn't say she fully understood him, but she could tell he wasn't the man who killed people indiscriminately as rumored.
The red eyes shining beneath his thick gray eyebrows didn't look as cruel as she'd heard.
Still, she didn't want anything to do with him.
Ariana had her own plans, and she didn't want the powerful Northern Duke to interfere.
Rachel's face paled, and Victoria held her breath.
Ariana, as if she didn't know what was wrong, repeated the same action again.
Helena frowned and said,
"What kind of tea are you drinking like that?"
Victoria wanted to shut Helena's mouth.
Did that stupid sister have no sense of humor?
Victoria desperately hoped Ariana would just blush and fluster like usual. She prayed that Ariana's behavior up until now had been a fluke and that from now on, she would behave normally.
But Ariana opened her eyes wide and said in a refreshing voice,
"Miss Victoria told me to drink like this."
"When did I!"
Victoria finally lost her composure and shouted sharply.
Ariana shrugged her shoulders, as if terrified, but her mouth remained shut.
“You called me into your room yesterday and told me. You said I’d be embarrassed if I didn’t drink like this... Did I make a mistake again? Please forgive me, Miss.”
“Sister, why are you doing this? Why are you suddenly calling me Miss? Are you doing this on purpose?”
“I’m sorry, Miss. I’m sorry.”
Ariana didn’t make any excuses.
Everyone couldn’t hide their pity and anger at the pitiful sight of the Second Princess, cowering in shame and begging for forgiveness.
If it weren’t for the bruises on Ariana’s body, the crowd would have been divided into those who believed her and those who didn’t.
However, the old and new bruises on her thin body, as if she hadn’t starved for more than a day or two, clearly revealed the perpetrator.
The fainthearted ladies’ eyes reddened.
Duchess Juliana Rowenta, who had been furrowing her brows, spoke up.
“I heard that the Duchess of Bronte cherished the Second Princess so much that she never showed her to anyone, and now that I see her, she certainly cherishes her.”
Rachel's face flushed at the harsh words.
"You misunderstood, Duchess Rowenta. She's always been mischievous..."
"She's bruising herself with her pranks? She's got bruises in places she couldn't even hit with her own hands. I wonder if His Excellency the Eastern Duke knows that her second daughter is starving like this."
Rachel's face paled at the mention of the Eastern Duke's name.
Rachel clutched her skirt tightly and said,
"It's my job to educate her manners, Duchess Rowenta. I think you're crossing the line. Are the nobles of the capital usually this interested in other people's households?"
Rachel gave up trying to win Juliana over.
The capital's social circles weren't entirely under Juliana's thumb, so while it was a shame, she had no intention of acting servile.
Julianna smiled and replied,
"The nobles of the capital don't reveal their household affairs so publicly."
Rachel was speechless.
She didn't want to be subservient to Juliana, but she couldn't show her temper and fight either.
Seeing her mother flustered for the first time, Helena fidgeted and then spoke.
"Duchess Rowenta, please stop being so angry. It's my fault for not teaching Ariana well as her older sister. Mother is not at fault."
"Is that so? Then the bruises on the Second Princess's body were caused by Miss Helena, not the Duchess?"
"Huh? Oh, no. I don't hit Ariana."
"Then who hit the Second Princess like that?"
"That..."
Helena blinked and turned to Victoria.
To Helena, her gaze was pleading for help, but to everyone else, it seemed as if Victoria had done it.
Victoria suppressed the urge to slap Helena and spoke.
"Just as Mother said, Ariana was careless and fell down the stairs."
"That's right. Ariana is a bit like that."
Helena quickly interrupted Victoria, but the ladies' cold expressions remained unchanged.
Rachel and Victoria realized that no excuse would change the mood.
Even if Ariana had said, "No one has bullied me," the ladies would have only seen poor Ariana as trying to protect her family.
Juliana, who had been staring at the three mothers and daughters, said,
"When we return, the Second Princess will have more bruises on her body."
"Huh? Oh, no. I don't hit Ariana."
"Then who hit the Second Princess like that?"
"That..."
Helena blinked and turned to Victoria.
To Helena, her gaze was pleading for help, but to everyone else, it seemed as if Victoria had done it.
Victoria suppressed the urge to slap Helena and spoke.
"Just as Mother said, Ariana was careless and fell down the stairs."
"That's right. Ariana is a bit like that."
Helena quickly interrupted Victoria, but the ladies' cold expressions remained unchanged.
Rachel and Victoria realized that no excuse would change the mood.
Even if Ariana had said, "No one has bullied me," the ladies would have only seen poor Ariana as trying to protect her family.
Juliana, who had been staring at the three mothers and daughters, said,
"When we return, the Second Princess will have more bruises on her body."
Rachel said coldly.
"That's harsh, Duchess Rowenta. I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but no one would hit Ariana."
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see. Oh, and by the way, the Second Princess is old enough to be taking her debutante."
Rachel frowned, realizing what Juliana was about to say. Julianna ignored Rachel's gaze and stared intently at Ariana.
"I'll be waiting for you in the capital during this year's social season, Miss Ariana. Come by the Rowenta Mansion as soon as you arrive."
The party ended on a dismal note.
As soon as the nobles left with grim expressions, Rachel unleashed a brutal assault on Ariana. She punched, kicked, pinched, and cursed at her, then locked her in the basement of the East Tower, telling her not to even think about coming out alive.
Ariana knew she wouldn't die in that dungeon.
Duchess Julianna Rowenta was much more hospitable than she'd expected.
She'd personally invited her to visit this social season, so no matter how much Rachel resisted, she'd have no choice but to take Ariana to the imperial capital.
'Of course, I could pretend to be sick and skip this social season, but that would only make people murmur about today, so I can't attend.'
Given that Juliana had mentioned the Eastern Duke's name earlier, there was a high chance that today's events had reached hia ears.
'I wonder how the Eastern Duke will react? Does she even know that I'm still alive?'
After divorcing Rachel, the Eastern Duke didn't remarry, but he didn't seek out his only daughter, Ariana, either.
"Your father is a cold man. He only cares about the Eastern well-being, and he doesn't care about his wife or daughter."
Rachel spoke of the Eastern Duke's coldness until it was a nail in her ear.
In reality, the Eastern Duke didn't show Ariana any paternal affection.
'No, I don't expect affection. I wasn't even interested.'
She saw the Eastern Duke at the first imperial party after marrying Viscount Ingo Alfrech. She vividly remembered the Countess's expression then: cold eyes, narrowed brows with displeasure.
Just as Rachel hated Ariana for resembling the Eastern Duke, the Eastern Duke undoubtedly hated Ariana, born of Rachel.
'But if the Eastern Duke hears of my abuse and takes what he needs, he won't be able to cast me out. If I give up what I have little by little, not all at once, he'll at least treat me better than I do now.'
Ariana glared into the darkness, where not a single sliver of light could penetrate.
There had been times when this darkness had been terrifying. Whenever she was trapped like this, she'd hug her knees and sob, feeling as if something terrible lurked in the darkness and was about to attack.
The chill from the cold walls felt like the breath of an invisible monster, and the thought of being trapped forever and dying filled her with fear, anxiety, and sadness.
But now, she wasn't afraid of the darkness. In fact, only in the darkness did she find peace. Compared to her family, who never gave her a shred of affection, the darkness was a comfort.
Ariana smiled faintly, recalling Rachel and Victoria's pale complexions at the party.
"Your reputation could be destroyed with just a few words..."
What was it that scared her so much back then that she couldn't say anything and just mumbled?
Yes, she was scared. She was scared that her mother would hate her, that her older sister and younger sister would hate her. She was scared that even their hatred would be here, so there would be nothing to fear or regret, but she realized that too late.
Rachel frowned, realizing what Juliana was about to say. Julianna ignored Rachel's gaze and stared intently at Ariana.
"I'll be waiting for you in the capital during this year's social season, Miss Ariana. Come by the Rowenta Mansion as soon as you arrive."
***
The party ended on a dismal note.
As soon as the nobles left with grim expressions, Rachel unleashed a brutal assault on Ariana. She punched, kicked, pinched, and cursed at her, then locked her in the basement of the East Tower, telling her not to even think about coming out alive.
Ariana knew she wouldn't die in that dungeon.
Duchess Julianna Rowenta was much more hospitable than she'd expected.
She'd personally invited her to visit this social season, so no matter how much Rachel resisted, she'd have no choice but to take Ariana to the imperial capital.
'Of course, I could pretend to be sick and skip this social season, but that would only make people murmur about today, so I can't attend.'
Given that Juliana had mentioned the Eastern Duke's name earlier, there was a high chance that today's events had reached hia ears.
'I wonder how the Eastern Duke will react? Does she even know that I'm still alive?'
After divorcing Rachel, the Eastern Duke didn't remarry, but he didn't seek out his only daughter, Ariana, either.
"Your father is a cold man. He only cares about the Eastern well-being, and he doesn't care about his wife or daughter."
Rachel spoke of the Eastern Duke's coldness until it was a nail in her ear.
In reality, the Eastern Duke didn't show Ariana any paternal affection.
'No, I don't expect affection. I wasn't even interested.'
She saw the Eastern Duke at the first imperial party after marrying Viscount Ingo Alfrech. She vividly remembered the Countess's expression then: cold eyes, narrowed brows with displeasure.
Just as Rachel hated Ariana for resembling the Eastern Duke, the Eastern Duke undoubtedly hated Ariana, born of Rachel.
'But if the Eastern Duke hears of my abuse and takes what he needs, he won't be able to cast me out. If I give up what I have little by little, not all at once, he'll at least treat me better than I do now.'
Ariana glared into the darkness, where not a single sliver of light could penetrate.
There had been times when this darkness had been terrifying. Whenever she was trapped like this, she'd hug her knees and sob, feeling as if something terrible lurked in the darkness and was about to attack.
The chill from the cold walls felt like the breath of an invisible monster, and the thought of being trapped forever and dying filled her with fear, anxiety, and sadness.
But now, she wasn't afraid of the darkness. In fact, only in the darkness did she find peace. Compared to her family, who never gave her a shred of affection, the darkness was a comfort.
Ariana smiled faintly, recalling Rachel and Victoria's pale complexions at the party.
"Your reputation could be destroyed with just a few words..."
What was it that scared her so much back then that she couldn't say anything and just mumbled?
Yes, she was scared. She was scared that her mother would hate her, that her older sister and younger sister would hate her. She was scared that even their hatred would be here, so there would be nothing to fear or regret, but she realized that too late.
There was nothing more futile than worrying about winning the affection of someone who hated you.
After all, the affection of others was as fleeting as dust.
I alone am enough to love myself.
"The Second Princess doesn't cry even in the dark, but the First Princess cried and fainted after hearing a few words from her mother."
It wasn't surprising anymore that a low, slow voice was heard from the darkness.
"It seems there's no place Your Excellency the Northern Duke can't enter."
"Who would dare stand in my way?"
With a click, the lamp turned on.
Cyrus hung the lamp he was holding on the iron bars. A flicker of orange light etched deep lines into his face.
He looked down at Ariana from outside the bars.
“The Duke and Duchess of Bronte’s rage is sky-high. Aren’t you afraid?”
“What more could I do than death?”
“Not even death?”
“Because I’m afraid of death, I won’t back down. By the way, I heard Your Excellency the Northern Duke is a very busy man.”
“Are you asking why a busy person follows you around like someone with nothing better to do?”
Cyrus glared at Ariana.
The coldness in his bloodshot eyes seemed to seize Ariana’s throat, but she didn’t break his gaze.
They stared at each other intently, as if they were exploring each other, and Cyrus spoke.
“I thought you were Rachel Bronte’s biological daughter. Am I mistaken?”
“You know the secret of Helena’s birth, yet you’re so humble.”
“But why is Rachel so desperate to devour you?”
“There are many kinds of families in the world. My mother and I are just one of many mother-daughter relationships.”
“Don’t you resent that your mother’s affection is directed only at your other sisters?”
“She wasn’t mine from birth, so why should I be resentful now?”
Cyrus bent down and studied Ariana’s face.
Even with the iron bars between them, his face was breathtaking as he drew closer. He was so beautiful, almost too beautiful to be of this world.
“You’re being sincere.”
“How could I lie to Your Excellency?”
A faint smile spread across Cyrus’s lips.
It was so fleeting that neither Ariana nor Cyrus realized it.
“Are you aware that you are a very interesting woman?”
"If I could spark even a little interest in Your Excellency, who doesn't care about anything, that would be enough."
"So, don't bother now?"
"You're asking again."
When they first met, Ariana had been terrified of Cyrus.
The slightest misstep would have him mercilessly snap her neck, and the cruel coldness emanating from his red eyes would pierce her heart.
After only their third brief meeting, she couldn't say she fully understood him, but she could tell he wasn't the man who killed people indiscriminately as rumored.
The red eyes shining beneath his thick gray eyebrows didn't look as cruel as she'd heard.
Still, she didn't want anything to do with him.
Ariana had her own plans, and she didn't want the powerful Northern Duke to interfere.
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