(45) I will prove my worth. (6)
Isabelle, who was waiting in a large restaurant, couldn't hold back and asked in a small voice,
"You said you saw her, right? How is she? Is she pretty?"
"Hmm. I couldn't see her face properly... She's small."
"Small? How much?"
Averaster made a small ball with both hands.
"This much?"
"That can't be!"
"Isabelle, be quiet. They say Ariana has a lot of scars, so don't act rashly when she comes."
said Isabelle's mother, Countess Briant White. Isabelle pursed her lips but kept her mouth shut.
Finally, a servant's voice was heard from outside the restaurant.
"Princess Ariana White is coming in."
Everyone straightened their backs and stared at the restaurant door.
Ariana appeared from behind the slowly opening door.
Soft-looking sky-blue hair, a small face, pearl-white skin, and a light pink dress that hugged her slender figure.
Ariana, her back straight and erect, exuded a grace that defied childish elegance, for a moment leading the crowd to mistake her for a high-ranking lady.
Despite everyone's gaze, Ariana's gait remained steady. She walked with such grace that her skirt barely swayed, stopping at the spot her attendant had pointed her to.
Ariana gently grasped her skirt and bowed, bowing.
"Ariana."
"Oh, Ariana! Family members don't need to be formal. Hurry up and have a seat."
Fellowes said in a booming voice.
Ariana smiled faintly at Fellowes and sat down.
Isabelle, who had been studying Ariana with a sharp gaze, muttered,
"What's that? Who wears pink these days? It's so outdated."
"Isabelle!"
Countess White glared, and Isabelle snorted.
“Did I say something wrong? Who wears pink? Light green is perfect for this weather. Your Excellency, surely her room isn’t still pink?”
As Russell looked perplexed, Ariana said in a calm voice.
“Thank you for your consideration, Lady Isabelle. But I like pink, so I like it.”
Isabelle frowned at Ariana’s words.
“Hey, what is it, Lady Isabelle? Why do you address someone like that?”
“Yes?”
“I'm your sister. Your sister, your cousin.”
“Ah...”
“What, she’s so stupid. Who would speak so politely to her sister... Ouch! Mom! Why are you pinching me!”
“Isabelle. I’ll see you later when you get home.”
When Countess White glared at her with burning eyes, Isabelle grumbled but didn’t say anything to Ariana anymore.
Fellowes laughed loudly.
“I’m sorry, Ariana. My daughter is a bit... um. A bit like that, but she’s a good girl, so be friendly.”
“It would be an honor for me to be friends with Lady Isabelle, Your Grace.”
“What, Dad? You said she called you uncle, but she doesn’t call you that at all, does she?”
Isabelle grumbled, and Countess White glared at her with a stern look. Averaster quickly spoke to Ariana before Isabelle could spout off more nonsense.
“Hello, Ariana. We’re old friends, right?”
“Yes, thank you for helping me before.”
“What? When did you help her? Without me knowing?”
“I was really surprised to hear that you were His Excellency the Duke’s daughter. If you had told me sooner, I would have gotten you to Chase Castle more easily.”
Averaster completely ignored Isabelle.
“Thanks to you, I was able to come comfortably. If it hadn’t been for the Little Duke’s help, it would have been a disaster. Thank you.”
As a little Duke, Averaster had heard Ariana's circumstances in detail, so he understood why she kept such a distance from everyone.
Everyone could only guess what Ariana had endured in the West.
But if she had been abused to the point where the bruises were so long-lasting, could she forgive her father, who pretended not to know her even though he was in such a high position, and her family? Could she not feel resentment?
The meeting, which was to introduce the children of the same age as her family, proceeded quietly and calmly.
Ariana answered questions diligently, but never took the initiative to ask questions, and her graceful handling of the utensils throughout impressed everyone.
"Ariana, you really have good manners. It's like observing royal etiquette."
Ariana smiled faintly at Fellowes's compliment.
Imperial etiquette. Moving to support the Third Prince, she acquired elegance through bloody effort. Horseback riding, etiquette, dancing, and worldly wisdom—all were necessary for survival, for living as human beings.
Her resolve was different from that of the noble ladies, who had learned it simply to secure the Empress's protection and find better husbands.
Countess White said,
"Isabelle, you should watch and learn."
As if those words were the trigger, Isabelle, who had been sitting with her eyes rolling, suddenly stood up. Without a moment to stop, she strode over to Ariana and picked up the plate in front of her.
"You don't like carrots, do you?"
Ariana slowly raised her eyes and stared at Isabelle's aggressive attitude.
"Then don't eat it."
Isabelle pushed the plate aside and picked up a glass of juice.
"You don't like lime juice, do you? Then don't eat that either."
"Isabelle!"
Averaster stood up and grabbed Isabelle's arm. Russell and Langsty motioned for her to leave, but Averaster dragged Isabelle away.
Isabelle maintained her composure as she was dragged away by Averaster.
"You can just not eat what you don't like. Why are you holding back on eating it? There are so many delicious things in the world, so many things to eat! Eat what you want. Isn't that why you came to Chase Castle? Why are you sitting here doing something you don't want to do?"
The voices, crackling, pierced Ariana's heart.
"You little thing, pretending to be classy! You don't look pretty at all!"
Ariana sat calmly, but her heart was pounding. Everything Isabelle said seemed to say, "Do whatever you want and live." The door to the restaurant where Isabelle was dragged closed.
Even in the hallway, Isabelle was shouting, "What did I do wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have said?"
Who in this room would dare to say things like "we are family" to Arianna?
"The debt has been repaid."
Russell said in a dark, somber voice.
"There's no need to consider it a favor. This is your rightful place, and as soon as you're ready, you will become the princess of the East."
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
"To that end, we must seek custody of you. We've found witnesses and evidence. However, we don't know what the West will do, so we plan to prepare more thoroughly."
"Are the witnesses you found the expelled maids?"
"Yes."
"There are witnesses with more influence."
As if she had anticipated this, Arianna calmly recited the names of the two. The adults were surprised by the impressive number of names that seemed unrelated to the young girl.
Arianna, who had finally brought up the names, continued calmly.
"The testimony of these two would be worth more than that of a hundred maids."
"Of course..."
"Your Excellency, Your Grace."
Ariana rose and bowed deeply to Russell. Russell didn't know what to say to his daughter, who was showing the courtesy a subject would show to his lord. A cracked voice leaked out between her quivering, crimson lips.
"I... must be resentful."
Ariana lowered her head and bit her lower lip.
Of course. How could she not be resentful? If they were going to abandon her like that, she shouldn't have given birth at all. If they were going to abandon her like that, they should have killed her while she was still in the womb. If she had died like that, she wouldn't have known loneliness or pain. She wouldn't have felt loneliness or cold.
The feeling of the rough rope squeezing into her neck just before she died came back vividly. That despair and sorrow were still vivid.
Only two months had passed since her return. Too short a time to forget. For the past 28 years, the stench of that life, filled with nothing but darkness, still lingered deeply in Ariana.
Ariana calmly swallowed the emotions surging through her chest like a storm.
When she raised her head, Ariana was smiling brightly. With a pure, flawless smile, Ariana said,
"No way. How could I blame my parents for giving birth to me?"
Isabelle, who was waiting in a large restaurant, couldn't hold back and asked in a small voice,
"You said you saw her, right? How is she? Is she pretty?"
"Hmm. I couldn't see her face properly... She's small."
"Small? How much?"
Averaster made a small ball with both hands.
"This much?"
"That can't be!"
"Isabelle, be quiet. They say Ariana has a lot of scars, so don't act rashly when she comes."
said Isabelle's mother, Countess Briant White. Isabelle pursed her lips but kept her mouth shut.
Finally, a servant's voice was heard from outside the restaurant.
"Princess Ariana White is coming in."
Everyone straightened their backs and stared at the restaurant door.
Ariana appeared from behind the slowly opening door.
Soft-looking sky-blue hair, a small face, pearl-white skin, and a light pink dress that hugged her slender figure.
Ariana, her back straight and erect, exuded a grace that defied childish elegance, for a moment leading the crowd to mistake her for a high-ranking lady.
Despite everyone's gaze, Ariana's gait remained steady. She walked with such grace that her skirt barely swayed, stopping at the spot her attendant had pointed her to.
Ariana gently grasped her skirt and bowed, bowing.
"Ariana."
"Oh, Ariana! Family members don't need to be formal. Hurry up and have a seat."
Fellowes said in a booming voice.
Ariana smiled faintly at Fellowes and sat down.
Isabelle, who had been studying Ariana with a sharp gaze, muttered,
"What's that? Who wears pink these days? It's so outdated."
"Isabelle!"
Countess White glared, and Isabelle snorted.
“Did I say something wrong? Who wears pink? Light green is perfect for this weather. Your Excellency, surely her room isn’t still pink?”
As Russell looked perplexed, Ariana said in a calm voice.
“Thank you for your consideration, Lady Isabelle. But I like pink, so I like it.”
Isabelle frowned at Ariana’s words.
“Hey, what is it, Lady Isabelle? Why do you address someone like that?”
“Yes?”
“I'm your sister. Your sister, your cousin.”
“Ah...”
“What, she’s so stupid. Who would speak so politely to her sister... Ouch! Mom! Why are you pinching me!”
“Isabelle. I’ll see you later when you get home.”
When Countess White glared at her with burning eyes, Isabelle grumbled but didn’t say anything to Ariana anymore.
Fellowes laughed loudly.
“I’m sorry, Ariana. My daughter is a bit... um. A bit like that, but she’s a good girl, so be friendly.”
“It would be an honor for me to be friends with Lady Isabelle, Your Grace.”
“What, Dad? You said she called you uncle, but she doesn’t call you that at all, does she?”
Isabelle grumbled, and Countess White glared at her with a stern look. Averaster quickly spoke to Ariana before Isabelle could spout off more nonsense.
“Hello, Ariana. We’re old friends, right?”
“Yes, thank you for helping me before.”
“What? When did you help her? Without me knowing?”
“I was really surprised to hear that you were His Excellency the Duke’s daughter. If you had told me sooner, I would have gotten you to Chase Castle more easily.”
Averaster completely ignored Isabelle.
“Thanks to you, I was able to come comfortably. If it hadn’t been for the Little Duke’s help, it would have been a disaster. Thank you.”
As a little Duke, Averaster had heard Ariana's circumstances in detail, so he understood why she kept such a distance from everyone.
Everyone could only guess what Ariana had endured in the West.
But if she had been abused to the point where the bruises were so long-lasting, could she forgive her father, who pretended not to know her even though he was in such a high position, and her family? Could she not feel resentment?
The meeting, which was to introduce the children of the same age as her family, proceeded quietly and calmly.
Ariana answered questions diligently, but never took the initiative to ask questions, and her graceful handling of the utensils throughout impressed everyone.
"Ariana, you really have good manners. It's like observing royal etiquette."
Ariana smiled faintly at Fellowes's compliment.
Imperial etiquette. Moving to support the Third Prince, she acquired elegance through bloody effort. Horseback riding, etiquette, dancing, and worldly wisdom—all were necessary for survival, for living as human beings.
Her resolve was different from that of the noble ladies, who had learned it simply to secure the Empress's protection and find better husbands.
Countess White said,
"Isabelle, you should watch and learn."
As if those words were the trigger, Isabelle, who had been sitting with her eyes rolling, suddenly stood up. Without a moment to stop, she strode over to Ariana and picked up the plate in front of her.
"You don't like carrots, do you?"
Ariana slowly raised her eyes and stared at Isabelle's aggressive attitude.
"Then don't eat it."
Isabelle pushed the plate aside and picked up a glass of juice.
"You don't like lime juice, do you? Then don't eat that either."
"Isabelle!"
Averaster stood up and grabbed Isabelle's arm. Russell and Langsty motioned for her to leave, but Averaster dragged Isabelle away.
Isabelle maintained her composure as she was dragged away by Averaster.
"You can just not eat what you don't like. Why are you holding back on eating it? There are so many delicious things in the world, so many things to eat! Eat what you want. Isn't that why you came to Chase Castle? Why are you sitting here doing something you don't want to do?"
The voices, crackling, pierced Ariana's heart.
"You little thing, pretending to be classy! You don't look pretty at all!"
Ariana sat calmly, but her heart was pounding. Everything Isabelle said seemed to say, "Do whatever you want and live." The door to the restaurant where Isabelle was dragged closed.
Even in the hallway, Isabelle was shouting, "What did I do wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have said?"
As the clear voice faded away and eventually faded, the Countess of White spoke, looking embarrassed.
“I’m sorry, Ariana. My daughter is a bit picky...”
“No.”
Ariana looked down at the carrots she had saved for later, reluctant to eat.
“I’m just grateful you looked after me.”
The meal ended in awkward silence. Averaster and Isabelle didn’t return until they had moved to the drawing room. The Duchess and Countess left, saying they had to go see the children, and the rest of them went to the drawing room. After the servant put down the refreshments and left, Langsty spoke.
“Ariana, I have a few questions for you.”
Now it’s time. Ariana steeled herself and raised her head.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“I want to know why you’re here. You want something, right?”
“Yes. I want to stay at Chase Castle until I become an adult and independent. Until then, could you allow me to remain here under the name Ariana White? Of course, I will also try not to bring shame to the White family.”
“Tsk.”
Fellowes clicked his tongue, dissatisfied with the answer.
“What do you mean, Ariana? Until I become an adult... You should stay here after that. You should live here until you meet a good man and get married. Isn’t that right, brother?”
Russell didn’t answer. His blue eyes studied Ariana sharply, as if trying to discern her thoughts.
“I don’t dare ask for much. Just provide me with a place at Chase Castle, and I will take care of the rest. Also, I will never forget the kindness you have shown me, and I will definitely repay you double, so this won’t be a wasted investment.”
Listening to Ariana’s firm voice, Russell closed his eyes tightly. Every word of Ariana’s pierced his heart. Her refusal to accept any help or affection seemed to harshly rebuke him.
What did you do to deserve this? I am your father. Did I really not know I would end up like this?
Carradine's men had discovered Arianna's life in the West. The maids who had worked for the Brontes, beaten and kicked out for minor mistakes, readily spoke up. Old clothes that even maids wouldn't wear. Thin, single outfits even in the dead of winter. Washing dishes and laundry in freezing water even on frigid days, getting beaten for the slightest mistake, confined to their rooms, skipping meals, and writing self-reflection essays.
Even when she was dying from a severe cold, they refused to call a doctor, instead forcing her ailing body to do housework. When Arianna collapsed from a high fever while cleaning, the Duchess was irritated, saying, "She's useless. Who did she take after?"
The reports continued, more horrifying than anyone could have imagined. Even the cool-headed Langsty couldn't hide his trembling fists. So it was only natural that Ariana couldn't trust anyone and couldn't give her heart.
Who in this room would dare to say things like "we are family" to Arianna?
"The debt has been repaid."
Russell said in a dark, somber voice.
"There's no need to consider it a favor. This is your rightful place, and as soon as you're ready, you will become the princess of the East."
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
"To that end, we must seek custody of you. We've found witnesses and evidence. However, we don't know what the West will do, so we plan to prepare more thoroughly."
"Are the witnesses you found the expelled maids?"
"Yes."
"There are witnesses with more influence."
As if she had anticipated this, Arianna calmly recited the names of the two. The adults were surprised by the impressive number of names that seemed unrelated to the young girl.
Arianna, who had finally brought up the names, continued calmly.
"The testimony of these two would be worth more than that of a hundred maids."
"Of course..."
"Your Excellency, Your Grace."
Ariana rose and bowed deeply to Russell. Russell didn't know what to say to his daughter, who was showing the courtesy a subject would show to his lord. A cracked voice leaked out between her quivering, crimson lips.
"I... must be resentful."
Ariana lowered her head and bit her lower lip.
Of course. How could she not be resentful? If they were going to abandon her like that, she shouldn't have given birth at all. If they were going to abandon her like that, they should have killed her while she was still in the womb. If she had died like that, she wouldn't have known loneliness or pain. She wouldn't have felt loneliness or cold.
The feeling of the rough rope squeezing into her neck just before she died came back vividly. That despair and sorrow were still vivid.
Only two months had passed since her return. Too short a time to forget. For the past 28 years, the stench of that life, filled with nothing but darkness, still lingered deeply in Ariana.
Ariana calmly swallowed the emotions surging through her chest like a storm.
When she raised her head, Ariana was smiling brightly. With a pure, flawless smile, Ariana said,
"No way. How could I blame my parents for giving birth to me?"
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