At that moment, a new character burst in with a loud shout.
“What’s all this commotion!”
The Duke of Abercorn, following the young butler, frowned at the unexpected disturbance.
He arrived sooner than expected. Lizzy, irritated, bit her lip and hurriedly explained the situation.
“I’m sorry, Father. It’s just that… someone placed Arrie’s earrings in my jewelry box.”
“And?”
“If it were anything else, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but it just so happens that it’s the earrings you gave me for my birthday. I felt like I would be framed, so I immediately summoned the servants.”
“Someone is clearly trying to frame someone. But suddenly, Lady Arrie says it’s not hers? Saying it’s a counterfeit? If you lied to get out of this situation, that would mean you’re calling the royal gift a fake, so I’m calling an appraiser to find out!”
David, excitedly pointing out Ariella’s wrongdoing, only irritated the Duke further.
He was displeased with both daughters for causing unnecessary trouble and with his son for trying to escalate the situation.
Just as his annoyance was about to boil over again.
“There’s no need to escalate this, Father.”
Ariella, who had been bowing her head in apparent regret, interjected with a calm voice.
For a brief moment, a doubt crossed the Duke’s mind, wondering if Ariella had indeed tried to frame Lizzy and was now backpedaling after failing.
If she were truly innocent, it should have been her demanding the gem appraiser.
“Amira, did you bring it?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Just then, a maid appeared holding a box she had never seen before, turning the situation upside down.
‘No way.’
Lizzy’s face turned pale in an instant.
The box Amira was holding was old and shabby. It looked like something a thief wouldn’t even bother to open, aiming for something valuable.
Realizing this, her heart sank.
Before she could stop it, the box opened with a click.
Inside was an earring. A gold earring that looked exactly like the one Lizzy was holding.
Even from the shabby box, the dazzling diamond immediately captured the servants’ attention.
“I told you. It’s not mine.”
Ariella took the earring out and held it up to her face, so the audience could see it more clearly.
“Though they may look similar at first glance… the fakes always reveal themselves.”
Her gaze seemed to pierce through Lizzy.
A fake that only looks similar on the surface. Lizzy quickly realized that it was hinting at her.
‘This b*tch did it on purpose…!’
She had intentionally flaunted the earrings at the dining table and hidden the counterfeit in the jewelry box. She had planned this entire situation!
“Even at a glance, the quality of the gems is so different. It would be harder not to notice it’s fake… Ah, of course, Lizzy, it might be a bit difficult for you to tell the difference. I understand.”
In reality, the gems embedded in both earrings were not significantly different, aside from the difference in luster.
Unless compared side by side, it was natural for an ordinary person to find it difficult to distinguish between what was real and what was fake.
In fact, even the Duke of Abercorn and David hadn’t noticed that the earrings Ariella wore at yesterday’s breakfast were fake. They were that well-made.
However, this truth was not very important to the servants. It was far more exciting to compare the two princesses and determine who was superior than to examine a boring truth.
‘Though she pretends to be an elegant lady, seeing her not even recognize something like this shows that her upbringing really matters.’
‘No matter how much she learns, it seems she can’t catch up to Lady Arrie.’
After the commotion ended, it was obvious what the gossiping maids would say. Lizzy seemed to have the same thought, trembling with rage.
This couldn’t end like this. With a venomous expression, she racked her brain.
‘It’s not over yet. First, I need to demand an investigation into where this counterfeit came from…’
If she could find out where Ariella had made the counterfeit, she could turn the situation around again. Just as Lizzy was about to part her lips to speak.
“Arrie. Have you really kept the birthday gift I gave you in such a shabby box all this time?”
The Duke of Abercorn, watching the unfolding situation, interjected with a fierce voice.
Regardless of the incident, he seemed angry that Ariella had kept the gift he gave her in such a crude box.
If used well, this could turn the situation around. David, having made that judgment, grinned and joined in.
“How dare you keep a gift from Father in something like that? You must be out of your mind!”
“Of course not, Father. How could I carelessly manage a gift from you? Originally, I kept it in the best jewelry box I had.”
Ariella neatly ignored David’s words. She acted as if she didn’t even hear him.
‘Originally.’ The Duke of Abercorn picked up on her choice of words with suspicion.
