(141) What happened at Little Lord's party (3)
At first, Ariana was nervous.
She had to concentrate on talking to the ladies who were gathering, but she kept getting distracted by Cyrus and Charlotte being together.
Why are those two having such an intimate conversation here of all places?! If they wanted to have a private conversation, they should invite each other to their homes instead of coming to the party.
“It seems Her Highness the Princess is quite worn out.”
As one lady spoke in a small voice, the others joined in.
"Her Highness, she's already 21. She has been turning down all the marriage proposals that have been pouring in since she was 16, but now she's at an age where she can no longer refuse."
“This is a story I heard from my husband...”
The Countess, whose husband worked in the imperial court, muffled her voice.
“I heard that a marriage proposal came in from the Kingdom of Cohillon a while ago.”
"If you're talking about Cohillon... you mean the country bordering the Western Sea?! I heard it's quite a wealthy country."
"It's on a similar level to the West. The King and Prince of that country came to His Highness the Crown Prince's wedding, too."
“Oh, that’s right. He seemed like a tall, handsome man. Blonde... right?!”
"His Majesty the Emperor seems to think the Kingdom of Cohillon is a good place to send Her Highness the Princess. That's why Her Highness is so anxious. She's been harboring feelings for His Excellency the Northern Lord for quite some time."
Ariana glanced toward Cyrus and Charlotte as she listened to the ladies' conversation. At that very moment, Charlotte suddenly turned around.
"Oh."
The ladies covered their mouths.
Charlotte ran out of the banquet hall, tears streaming down her face.
“I guess she confessed to His Excellency the Northern Lord in the end out of impatience.”
“How pitiful. There’s no way His Excellency the Northern Lord would pay attention to a woman.”
Ariana swallowed a sigh.
Why did the Northern Lord reject the Princess here? She couldn't have bluntly told him, “I like you, so give me an answer right now.” He could have stalled and then rejected her feelings elsewhere.
“By the way, is that rumor true? That His Excellency the Northern Lord and Sir Isaac are on good terms.”
Who is like that with whom?
Now that she thinks about it, Ariana thinks she heard that rumor before. It was because Cyrus, while sitting in that position, didn't approach women.
As Ariana swallowed her laughter, the lady, who had been silent until then, spoke.
“By the way, Princess, about that maid. Isn’t that the slave you rescued from the slave market earlier?”
At those words, the mood among the women surrounding Ariana changed. They had been wanting to ask questions for a while, but had been holding back since the Empress had praised them and moved on.
Ariana stared at the lady who had asked the question.
'Countess Kitron...'
Ariana knows this woman.
She was the lover of Count Fabric Geo, Harold's closest confidant, and was proud of having attended college before marriage. She was somewhat arrogant and possessed a tendency to teach others, which led to a considerable number of women disliking Countess Kitron.
Everyone waited with excitement for Ariana's answer.
What will the Princess say? She'll probably lie, right? Anyone can tell she's a slave.
"That's right. Shini was a slave. But now she's a commoner."
"Is that so? Well, since His Excellency the Eastern Lord said he would grant any request of the Princess, burning the slave documents wouldn't have been a big deal. But, Princess, taking a lowly slave as your exclusive maid is a bit much..."
Countess Kitron trailed off, pointing out that. Ariana asked with a faint smile.
“It’s a bit too much, what is it?”
"Yes?"
“If you have something to say, wouldn’t it be better to see it through to the end?”
Countess Kitron looked slightly flustered. Normally, even if someone trails off, the meaning is inferred, and the person is likely to be offended or angry. But being asked to finish her sentence left her feeling embarrassed.
"Speak quickly, Countess. Only then will I respond appropriately."
Unlike Countess Kitron, who looked embarrassed, Ariana spoke cheerfully. Everyone watched the situation with even more excitement than before.
Countess Kitron, her pride hurt, furrowed her brow slightly and said.
"If you go somewhere smelly, that smell will stick with you, Princess. If you surround yourself with vulgar things, it's only natural that you'll be tainted by that vulgarity. That's why everyone avoids having slaves around, even though they're easy to handle."
“Does that mean I’m stupid and find it difficult to manage a maid from a prestigious family, so I hired an easy-to-manage slave as my exclusive maid? Or does it mean that having something so vulgar around makes me look vulgar?”
Countess Kitron became more and more embarrassed.
At this point, Ariana would have reacted with displeasure or blushed, and she should have been flustered. But Ariana remained brightly smiling, without a hint of discomfort.
However, it was not possible to answer that question directly.
Ariana was the princess of a country, and the East was a powerful nation. How could anyone openly call someone like them stupid or shallow?
Countess Kitron was fooled by her innocent and gentle appearance.
When Countess Kitron remained silent for a long time, Ariana's eyes became cold.
“If you speak first, you must answer, Countess.”
“I, I... I was just worried about you, Princess, so I’m embarrassed that you’re being so cold to me.”
Ariana smiled brightly at the excuse she barely managed to come up with.
"Really? Is it the culture of Imperial society to worry about things I don't even want?"
“Isn’t worrying something that happens to everyone while you’re in a relationship?”
“Then there’s one thing I’m worried about too.”
“...”
“What punishment is given in the Empire to a woman who has an affair with another man while leaving her husband?”
Countess Kitron's face paled. The few noblewomen who knew her circumstances pursed their lips and widened their eyes. Those who didn't know tilted their heads, puzzled by Ariana's sudden question.
Ariana added with a beautiful smile, as if she were drawing.
“In our country, we just beat them and chase them away, but what about the Empire?”
They were punished by having to recite their crimes in front of people and endure being stoned by them.
As the tense gazes exchanged between the Countess and the Princess, even those who were unaware of Countess Kitron's affair guessed what was going on.
But how does the Princess, who has only lived in the East, know this? Could it be that she knows my secret, too? Could it be that the Princess is actually much more remarkable than we thought?
Well, come to think of it, the Princess was once treated as a 'saint'.
Only then, when the continent-wide uproar spread, did people remember what Ariana had done.
She's not someone to be taken lightly. She's definitely not someone to be treated lightly.
Then, an oblivious lady broke the silence.
"But Princess, why do you ask such a thing? Is there perhaps a worthless person around you who does such things?"
Countess Kitron looked as if she were about to faint. Ariana stared at her silently and spoke.
“If there is any evidence, I will gather it and file a complaint.”
Count Fabric Geo was looking at Ariana with an anxious expression.
'What should I do? Do I really have to do this?'
By now, the Harold would be somewhere in the garden outside the banquet hall, waiting for Fabric to begin his work.
‘Why should I say something like that...’
A few days ago, the advice he had given Harold after learning of his interest in Ariana was problematic. Fabric had planned to recruit the right person at the party to pounce on Ariana.
Of course, it's not really a cover-up. It's just a pretense.
When Ariana was terrified, having been brutally abused in a place where no one could help her, if Harold had not only come to her aid but also kept quiet about what had happened to her, Ariana would have considered him a hero.
Just like Countess Kitron did.
The problem was that he couldn't find anyone who could do the job.
Most of the nobles invited to this party were from prominent families. Furthermore, Ariana was the princess of a country.
Finding someone capable of wreaking havoc on Ariana was nearly impossible.
Because he was caught up in the atmosphere and the alcohol, he didn't think that far ahead and ended up making a boast to Harold.
Now, he couldn't just say, "Let's just forget it happened." Fabric, having known Harold for so long, knew the darker side of him that others didn't know.
'If I don't do my job properly, the Third Prince will never forgive me.'
Everyone knew that the Count Geo family was supporting the Royal Consort Aelra and the Third Prince. If they fell out of favor now, the entire family would be in trouble.
Today came without being able to find anyone to do the work, and without being able to tell Harold to change the plans.
"Yeah, I'd rather do it myself. There's no connection between the East and our family. Even if the Princess dislikes it, it'll be over once she becomes the Third Prince's person."
Then Ariana slipped away from the ladies and quietly walked toward the terrace. Fabric, after making sure no one was looking, also moved toward the terrace.
There was a staircase leading down to the terrace. Ariana sighed softly as she descended the stairs.
Thanks to the Empress creating a more positive atmosphere than expected, none of the noble ladies attacked Ariana directly, but it was tiring to have to put on a perfect front in front of them.
She remembered her days in the East, where she could wake up whenever she wanted and do whatever she wanted.
'Days like this will end someday.'
When that time comes, she'll let go of everything and live her life freely. She'll say what she wants, do what she wants, and live that way.
It was still February, so the wind was cold.
The temperature in the Empire was slightly lower than in the East, so a cold wind seeped through the dress she was wearing. But she didn't want to go inside. People would flock in again, and she had to face them with an uncomfortable smile.
The flowerbeds of the garden were connected like a maze. Ariana walked along the path between the flowerbeds until she reached the place where the sculptures were gathered.
Sculptures depicting various gods. Beautiful in daylight, they exude an ominous aura in the dark.
The light from beneath the statue cast dark shadows on its face, making it even more eerie.
'Not here.'
It seemed like she couldn't rest here, so she turned around. A man appeared on the path Ariana had come from.
At first, Ariana was nervous.
She had to concentrate on talking to the ladies who were gathering, but she kept getting distracted by Cyrus and Charlotte being together.
Why are those two having such an intimate conversation here of all places?! If they wanted to have a private conversation, they should invite each other to their homes instead of coming to the party.
“It seems Her Highness the Princess is quite worn out.”
As one lady spoke in a small voice, the others joined in.
"Her Highness, she's already 21. She has been turning down all the marriage proposals that have been pouring in since she was 16, but now she's at an age where she can no longer refuse."
“This is a story I heard from my husband...”
The Countess, whose husband worked in the imperial court, muffled her voice.
“I heard that a marriage proposal came in from the Kingdom of Cohillon a while ago.”
"If you're talking about Cohillon... you mean the country bordering the Western Sea?! I heard it's quite a wealthy country."
"It's on a similar level to the West. The King and Prince of that country came to His Highness the Crown Prince's wedding, too."
“Oh, that’s right. He seemed like a tall, handsome man. Blonde... right?!”
"His Majesty the Emperor seems to think the Kingdom of Cohillon is a good place to send Her Highness the Princess. That's why Her Highness is so anxious. She's been harboring feelings for His Excellency the Northern Lord for quite some time."
Ariana glanced toward Cyrus and Charlotte as she listened to the ladies' conversation. At that very moment, Charlotte suddenly turned around.
"Oh."
The ladies covered their mouths.
Charlotte ran out of the banquet hall, tears streaming down her face.
“I guess she confessed to His Excellency the Northern Lord in the end out of impatience.”
“How pitiful. There’s no way His Excellency the Northern Lord would pay attention to a woman.”
Ariana swallowed a sigh.
Why did the Northern Lord reject the Princess here? She couldn't have bluntly told him, “I like you, so give me an answer right now.” He could have stalled and then rejected her feelings elsewhere.
“By the way, is that rumor true? That His Excellency the Northern Lord and Sir Isaac are on good terms.”
Who is like that with whom?
Now that she thinks about it, Ariana thinks she heard that rumor before. It was because Cyrus, while sitting in that position, didn't approach women.
As Ariana swallowed her laughter, the lady, who had been silent until then, spoke.
“By the way, Princess, about that maid. Isn’t that the slave you rescued from the slave market earlier?”
At those words, the mood among the women surrounding Ariana changed. They had been wanting to ask questions for a while, but had been holding back since the Empress had praised them and moved on.
Ariana stared at the lady who had asked the question.
'Countess Kitron...'
Ariana knows this woman.
She was the lover of Count Fabric Geo, Harold's closest confidant, and was proud of having attended college before marriage. She was somewhat arrogant and possessed a tendency to teach others, which led to a considerable number of women disliking Countess Kitron.
Everyone waited with excitement for Ariana's answer.
What will the Princess say? She'll probably lie, right? Anyone can tell she's a slave.
"That's right. Shini was a slave. But now she's a commoner."
"Is that so? Well, since His Excellency the Eastern Lord said he would grant any request of the Princess, burning the slave documents wouldn't have been a big deal. But, Princess, taking a lowly slave as your exclusive maid is a bit much..."
Countess Kitron trailed off, pointing out that. Ariana asked with a faint smile.
“It’s a bit too much, what is it?”
"Yes?"
“If you have something to say, wouldn’t it be better to see it through to the end?”
Countess Kitron looked slightly flustered. Normally, even if someone trails off, the meaning is inferred, and the person is likely to be offended or angry. But being asked to finish her sentence left her feeling embarrassed.
"Speak quickly, Countess. Only then will I respond appropriately."
Unlike Countess Kitron, who looked embarrassed, Ariana spoke cheerfully. Everyone watched the situation with even more excitement than before.
Countess Kitron, her pride hurt, furrowed her brow slightly and said.
"If you go somewhere smelly, that smell will stick with you, Princess. If you surround yourself with vulgar things, it's only natural that you'll be tainted by that vulgarity. That's why everyone avoids having slaves around, even though they're easy to handle."
“Does that mean I’m stupid and find it difficult to manage a maid from a prestigious family, so I hired an easy-to-manage slave as my exclusive maid? Or does it mean that having something so vulgar around makes me look vulgar?”
Countess Kitron became more and more embarrassed.
At this point, Ariana would have reacted with displeasure or blushed, and she should have been flustered. But Ariana remained brightly smiling, without a hint of discomfort.
However, it was not possible to answer that question directly.
Ariana was the princess of a country, and the East was a powerful nation. How could anyone openly call someone like them stupid or shallow?
Countess Kitron was fooled by her innocent and gentle appearance.
When Countess Kitron remained silent for a long time, Ariana's eyes became cold.
“If you speak first, you must answer, Countess.”
“I, I... I was just worried about you, Princess, so I’m embarrassed that you’re being so cold to me.”
Ariana smiled brightly at the excuse she barely managed to come up with.
"Really? Is it the culture of Imperial society to worry about things I don't even want?"
“Isn’t worrying something that happens to everyone while you’re in a relationship?”
“Then there’s one thing I’m worried about too.”
“...”
“What punishment is given in the Empire to a woman who has an affair with another man while leaving her husband?”
Countess Kitron's face paled. The few noblewomen who knew her circumstances pursed their lips and widened their eyes. Those who didn't know tilted their heads, puzzled by Ariana's sudden question.
Ariana added with a beautiful smile, as if she were drawing.
“In our country, we just beat them and chase them away, but what about the Empire?”
They were punished by having to recite their crimes in front of people and endure being stoned by them.
As the tense gazes exchanged between the Countess and the Princess, even those who were unaware of Countess Kitron's affair guessed what was going on.
But how does the Princess, who has only lived in the East, know this? Could it be that she knows my secret, too? Could it be that the Princess is actually much more remarkable than we thought?
Well, come to think of it, the Princess was once treated as a 'saint'.
Only then, when the continent-wide uproar spread, did people remember what Ariana had done.
She's not someone to be taken lightly. She's definitely not someone to be treated lightly.
Then, an oblivious lady broke the silence.
"But Princess, why do you ask such a thing? Is there perhaps a worthless person around you who does such things?"
Countess Kitron looked as if she were about to faint. Ariana stared at her silently and spoke.
“If there is any evidence, I will gather it and file a complaint.”
***
Count Fabric Geo was looking at Ariana with an anxious expression.
'What should I do? Do I really have to do this?'
By now, the Harold would be somewhere in the garden outside the banquet hall, waiting for Fabric to begin his work.
‘Why should I say something like that...’
A few days ago, the advice he had given Harold after learning of his interest in Ariana was problematic. Fabric had planned to recruit the right person at the party to pounce on Ariana.
Of course, it's not really a cover-up. It's just a pretense.
When Ariana was terrified, having been brutally abused in a place where no one could help her, if Harold had not only come to her aid but also kept quiet about what had happened to her, Ariana would have considered him a hero.
Just like Countess Kitron did.
The problem was that he couldn't find anyone who could do the job.
Most of the nobles invited to this party were from prominent families. Furthermore, Ariana was the princess of a country.
Finding someone capable of wreaking havoc on Ariana was nearly impossible.
Because he was caught up in the atmosphere and the alcohol, he didn't think that far ahead and ended up making a boast to Harold.
Now, he couldn't just say, "Let's just forget it happened." Fabric, having known Harold for so long, knew the darker side of him that others didn't know.
'If I don't do my job properly, the Third Prince will never forgive me.'
Everyone knew that the Count Geo family was supporting the Royal Consort Aelra and the Third Prince. If they fell out of favor now, the entire family would be in trouble.
Today came without being able to find anyone to do the work, and without being able to tell Harold to change the plans.
"Yeah, I'd rather do it myself. There's no connection between the East and our family. Even if the Princess dislikes it, it'll be over once she becomes the Third Prince's person."
Then Ariana slipped away from the ladies and quietly walked toward the terrace. Fabric, after making sure no one was looking, also moved toward the terrace.
***
There was a staircase leading down to the terrace. Ariana sighed softly as she descended the stairs.
Thanks to the Empress creating a more positive atmosphere than expected, none of the noble ladies attacked Ariana directly, but it was tiring to have to put on a perfect front in front of them.
She remembered her days in the East, where she could wake up whenever she wanted and do whatever she wanted.
'Days like this will end someday.'
When that time comes, she'll let go of everything and live her life freely. She'll say what she wants, do what she wants, and live that way.
It was still February, so the wind was cold.
The temperature in the Empire was slightly lower than in the East, so a cold wind seeped through the dress she was wearing. But she didn't want to go inside. People would flock in again, and she had to face them with an uncomfortable smile.
The flowerbeds of the garden were connected like a maze. Ariana walked along the path between the flowerbeds until she reached the place where the sculptures were gathered.
Sculptures depicting various gods. Beautiful in daylight, they exude an ominous aura in the dark.
The light from beneath the statue cast dark shadows on its face, making it even more eerie.
'Not here.'
It seemed like she couldn't rest here, so she turned around. A man appeared on the path Ariana had come from.
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