“Indeed, how can Lizzy look so cute even while eating?”
“Cute? Loveth is just as pretty. Are you teasing me now?”
“Of course not. She really is cute. Isn’t that right, everyone?”
As Loveth broke the ice, everyone chimed in with compliments. It was customary to offer praise when such topics arose.
However, Ariella, who was well aware of this, remained focused on her meal without saying a word.
‘How can she be so inconsiderate!’
Loveth wanted to immediately confront Ariella about her rudeness, but the Duke was present. Nobert was also maintaining silence alongside Ariella.
For some reason, Nobert was glaring at Lizzy with his eyebrows deeply furrowed.
Was he enchanted by Lizzy’s beauty? Whatever the reason, rudeness was still rudeness.
Even if he had fallen out of favor with the Crown Prince, a Duke was still a Duke; he was not someone one could dare to point out as being impolite. Thus, Loveth could only stifle her grievances and fume silently.
At that moment, someone spoke to Nobert.
“It seems the Duke is eating less than expected?”
No one had anticipated that Lizzy, the Crown Prince’s new fiancée and the real Ariella Bedford, would be the one to initiate a conversation with Nobert. Aaron looked equally astonished, his brow deeply furrowed.
Whether she knew it or not, Lizzy smiled sweetly at Nobert.
‘Hmph, distracted enough to stare.’
She mocked Duke Ashbon in her heart.
Whether it was the Crown Prince or the Duke, men were all the same. It was laughable how nobles had once seemed so high and mighty in her childhood.
“Oh my, your eye color is quite unique. It’s like a beautiful, expensive ruby.”
No man dislikes compliments. Especially when they come from a pretty and cute woman, and when accompanied by a bright smile, the effect is doubled.
This was a truth Lizzy had mastered over her lifetime. She was confident it would never be broken as long as she didn’t grow old and fat.
“…We must have met for the first time.”
Thus, the response she received from Nobert truly bewildered Lizzy.
“That is quite rude. Even a servant, who is ignorant of etiquette, would not evaluate someone’s appearance without an introduction.”
She was so taken aback that her carefully maintained mask nearly shattered. Her white cheeks flushed red, and the breath passing her lips grew hot.
The mention of a servant only heightened her embarrassment.
Most of the nobles present knew that Lizzy had grown up as Ariella’s maid. Thus, they might be laughing at her internally right now.
“The Duke is the one being rude!”
Aaron exploded in anger. It was only natural. He was the one who most disapproved of Lizzy having grown up as a maid.
Whether he spoke knowingly or unknowingly, at least Aaron believed that Nobert had intentionally humiliated him.
“How dare you refer to my fiancée as ‘that’? Do you not know that the one who should be greeting first is the Duke?”
“…Fiancée?”
Nobert questioned back. His fiercely arched eyebrows seemed to ask what nonsense he was spouting.
“It’s alright, Your Highness. The Duke didn’t know. Please don’t be angry.”
Lizzy composed herself and resumed her benevolent expression. Thanks to Aaron’s outburst, she was able to regain her composure.
“Lizzy. You are too soft.”
“Your Grace, I am Lizzy. Lizzy Bedford. I hope to get along well with you.”
As Lizzy gently stroked Aaron’s hand, smiling brightly, his blood-red eyes widened.
The changed fiancée, the newly appeared Princess Bedford. And Ariella, who sat alone as if resigned to everything.
Clues began to fit together one by one, revealing the truth. A truth that was utterly unbelievable and nonsensical.
“This is something to be angry about, Lizzy. To insult you is to insult me.”
“Your Highness, please look at my face. Huh? I don’t want to ruin the atmosphere.”
It was hard to watch the unfolding scene. Feeling nauseated, Ariella hurriedly took a sip of water.
She subtly rolled her eyes to see Nobert, who was stiffly frozen. His sharp jaw was set, and veins bulged at his temples.
Perhaps it was the attitude of Aaron and Lizzy that had irritated him; the aura he exuded was anything but ordinary.
Why did Lizzy have to unnecessarily speak to the Duke? Ariella clicked her tongue inwardly.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
It seemed she was not the only one who disliked the sight of the couple whispering to each other, as Lord Wrexham cautiously left the dining room, presumably to go to the restroom.
Seizing the moment, Ariella also set down her glass.
“Catalina, thank you for the invitation, but I don’t think this is a place for me. So, I will take my leave first.”
She stood up and gathered her hat from the hat rack.
She hesitated about whether she should greet Duke Ashbon, who had come here without knowing anything, but she felt that conversing here would benefit neither party.