“That’s… if we investigate…”
“Of course, there won’t be. You’ve hated talking to me. The servants will testify that we haven’t met alone recently. Yet you, who has never wanted to see me, came here wearing the necklace I supposedly gave you?”
Ariella shook her head wearily.
“Lizzy, when will you stop lying about receiving gifts from me after doing so many bad things?”
Her gaze suddenly fell on someone standing among the crowd. The woman who caught that gaze involuntarily opened her mouth and murmured.
“Oh, then could it be that hat from that time…!”
The one who spoke was Loveth, the charming daughter of Count Anders, with her lovely curly hair.
The similarity between the hat Lizzy wore at Catalina’s dinner party and the decoration Ariella wore flashed through her mind, causing her to blurt it out against her will.
As the attention of those around turned to her, she hurriedly shut her mouth, but it was too late; the people had already heard.
‘It seems she has done this before!’
Naturally, since it came from the ‘angelic Loveth,’ people began to think this way.
Amidst the exchanged glances among them, Lizzy felt thoroughly isolated.
Should she reveal the truth instead? That she had silently borrowed the necklace Ariella had, and that Ariella had intentionally set up this situation.
No, she could never do that. If she did, it would expose that she had habitually stolen from her.
Or should she deny it until the end? Claiming she knew nothing and that Ariella had truly given her a gift in secret?
But the accusing gazes pressing down on her made her lips seal shut. Her heart raced, and her vision blurred.
Catalina, Loveth, and even the men who had been eyeing her were not on her side.
The only one left was…
Suddenly!
Lizzy looked up at Aaron. He was the only one who could save her from this situation.
However, the Aaron who had whispered sweet nothings in bed and delved into her soft skin was now of no help when his fiancée was in crisis.
It was as if only Ariella and he remained in this world, as he continued to stare intently at Ariella.
Ariella thoroughly ignored Lizzy’s longing gaze and turned her head to look around the room.
“…I believe that nobles should take responsibility for their actions. It’s childish to accept gifts and then pretend not to know when it’s time to return them. However, as you know, Lizzy is still unfamiliar with noble culture. She probably didn’t even know what the ruby necklace truly meant. It was merely a mistake on her part, so I kindly ask for your generous forgiveness. I apologize on behalf of everyone for taking up our guests’ precious time and for the embarrassment caused to Lord Wrexham and Lady Catalina.”
Her calm demeanor, speaking in a tone that wasn’t too high or low, felt even more dignified in contrast to Lizzy’s earlier behavior. Especially her mature attitude of covering for someone who was practically her enemy and apologizing on her behalf left a good impression on the nobles.
Indeed, she was once the most talented individual in juvenile circles and was noted as the next empress. The older nobles thought this way and lamented that the royal family had missed out on such talent.
Meanwhile, Lord Wrexham, seizing the opportunity after Ariella defended him, claimed his innocence.
“Indeed! This is merely a small incident caused by Lady Lizzy’s foolish mistake. However, in the future, there should be no more attempts to seduce a man who is already engaged, nor should there be requests for gifts. We must prevent more victims like myself!”
He had no hesitation in dragging down a woman he had once held affection for with lies.
The reason he raised his voice was simply to portray himself as an innocent victim. However, unfortunately, this led to unexpected consequences.
His fiancée turned out to be far more proactive and reckless than he had anticipated.
“I knew it! You wicked girl!”
As soon as Lord Wrexham finished speaking, Catalina charged at Lizzy like an enraged bull.
She had no intention of hitting her with her hands, just as Lizzy had done to Ariella. Such physical violence was something only commoners would resort to.
The method of revenge Catalina chose was, in contrast, very noble-like.
“How dare you touch my Calum?!”
At the end of her venomous voice, a glass filled with red wine tilted toward Lizzy without a moment’s hesitation.
Splat-!
The white and pristine dress, symbolizing the debutante ball’s protagonist, was stained red with wine in no time.
