However, none of them knew.
From a long time ago, Ariella had lived a life unrelated to happiness, and all the adjectives they envied only pushed her deeper into a quagmire.
All misfortune began ten years ago, on the day Ariella left the poorhouse.
Merrilbon Poorhouse. Although it was a charity facility under the Maranatha Church, it lacked proper management or organization, and the poor died almost daily. It would not be strange to call it a place where the most impoverished and unfortunate were gathered.
At twelve years old, having spent most of her short life there, Ariella did not think she was unhappy until that point. Even though she often went hungry and had to endure the cold in a narrow room where only a handful of sunlight came in, it was okay.
Because she had her benefactor, Kaia, who saved and raised her.
Kaia was a woman twelve years older than Ariella. She followed the teachings of the Maranatha Church more faithfully than anyone else and had a younger sister who was just a year younger than Ariella back in her hometown.
She discovered Ariella, who had lost her memory due to an accident, and saved her, taking care of her like a sister.
“God has led me to you.”
Kaia always said this and taught Ariella the doctrines of Maranatha.
Be kind to the weak. Forgive the wicked. Do not follow personal desires, and always be grateful for what you have…
There were many phrases that young Ariella found hard to understand, but she memorized them diligently. As she repeated them daily, the teachings of Maranatha gradually took root in her heart.
Religion gave her the strength to endure her suffering. Even when she lost her meal after standing in line all day, and even when she worked her hardest for a week without receiving proper pay, Ariella was simply grateful to have made it through another day.
It was all thanks to Kaia. Without her, Ariella would not have survived in that harsh environment. She also would not have been able to end each day with a smile despite the relentless poverty.
Thus, the seven years spent in the poorhouse were cold and hungry, but not lonely.
However, after the steward of the Bedford Duke’s household discovered Ariella, her life changed completely.
“Wait, wait! I need to find Kaia…!”
“If you stay in the mansion, we will look for her more. Let’s depart.”
Kaia suddenly disappeared, and Ariella was taken to the duke’s residence without even being able to properly say goodbye to her benefactor.
“My goodness, Ariella! Our daughter!”
The Duke of Bedford was overjoyed to reunite with his lost daughter and embraced her tightly.
The first time she felt her father’s arms, they were incredibly soft and warm. So, foolishly, Ariella dared to hope.
That her life would shine brighter than before. That she would enjoy her father’s love and abundant food, and that she could repay her benefactor, Kaia, greatly.
However, it took less than a month for her to realize that it was all an illusion.
“Be a useful person.”
This was the phrase Ariella heard the most.
The duke, who had warmly embraced her and expressed relief that she was alive, suddenly turned cold and began to mention usefulness just a few days later.
Terrified, Ariella tried hard. To become a useful person, just as he said.
So she wanted to be embraced by her father’s large arms again. She hoped not to be chased out of this mansion.
Ariella was clever. She learned very quickly. However, it was impossible for a child raised in a poorhouse to master the qualities of a noble all at once.
And the Duke of Bedford was very displeased that his daughter was lagging behind other noble children.
“Lift your skirt.”
At first, she thought it was a joke.
She could not imagine that the noble Duke of Bedford, who had searched for her for so long, would wield a rod, especially for getting two questions wrong on a test given by a tutor.
Thus, she foolishly tilted her head, and as a result, she was held by the servants and beaten with a birch rod.
She couldn’t even scream. The servants had covered her mouth after the duke said it was noisy.
From that day on, the beatings continued without fail. Even the smallest mistake would result in severe punishment. Truly, there was not a day when her calves did not bleed.
It was painful and powerless. She missed Kaia, who was unreachable.
“If I do well, it will be okay.”
Ariella thought everything was her fault. In fact, her father said similar things every time he wielded the rod. That she was being punished for her shortcomings.
So she tried harder. She studied and studied, even cutting down on her sleep. As a result, a year later, Ariella was able to hear that she was better than any child her age.
