“Refrain from using disrespectful language towards my fiancée.”
She was filled with indignation, but she couldn’t push further. If she did, she would truly be marked by the prince.
‘Ha! Hiding behind my fiancé and acting like a fox, how cowardly!’
Catalina glared at Lizzy like a wolf eyeing its prey. It was a look that conveyed that a proud woman should not hide behind a man but step forward.
Ignoring her gaze, Lizzy pretended to be frightened and tilted her head toward Aaron. She thought he would respond kindly, but instead, Aaron coldly brushed her head away.
When she looked up at him in surprise, she saw a glimmer of suspicion in his beautiful golden eyes. He too felt that Lizzy’s excuse was somehow unconvincing.
‘Lizzy accepted Arrie’s gift and wore it? On such an important day?’
That couldn’t be true. While it was true that Lizzy was simple and foolish, she wasn’t generous enough to warmly embrace her rival.
If she were, she wouldn’t have made such a petty request to avoid talking to Ariella.
However, there were too many eyes watching to point this out directly. For now, it was best to postpone the interrogation and shift all the blame onto Calum Wrexham.
To avoid any dirty scandal following the names of Abercorn and the royal family.
“Lord Wrexham, from now on—”
From now on, don’t even come near my fiancée. He intended to say this.
If only the servant standing on the stairs hadn’t suddenly shouted.
“Lady Ariella is calling!”
The servant, shouting at the top of his lungs to announce his presence, immediately made a startled expression as soon as he finished speaking.
Because Amira outside kept chattering, “Miss Ariella, Miss Ariella,” he inadvertently shouted the name “Ariella” instead of “Arrie.”
It was a mistake for which he would have no excuse, even if he faced severe punishment after the ball.
The guests, who had been focused on the fight between Lizzy and Catalina, naturally turned their attention to the top of the stairs. The timing was so exquisite that not a single person missed the appearance of the fake princess.
The massive door opened, and a slender woman walked out slowly, without a partner. As she finally revealed herself at the top of the stairs, a profound silence filled the Violet Hall.
Ariella, looking down at the ballroom with an expressionless face, appeared incredibly delicate. However, the aura she exuded was as intense and noble as that of an emperor.
What took away the breath of the people was not just the atmosphere. Her appearance, descending the stairs at a leisurely pace, was so beautiful that it made one doubt whether she was truly ‘that Ariella Bedford.’
Her hair, almost platinum blonde, was loosely tied back, with naturally wavy strands cascading down her back, fluttering like moonlight over her fair skin.
Her elegantly curled eyelashes, neat nose, and rosy lips seemed unchanged from before, yet perhaps due to her light makeup, she appeared much more beautiful.
Among the many shocks, what astonished Lizzy the most was the dress Ariella was wearing.
The dress, perfectly fitted at the bust and waist, had layers of chiffon fabric that shimmered in a dazzling golden hue.
Despite its simple design, without ribbons or jewels, the color alone had an irresistible charm that drew the eye.
Especially striking was how it revealed her long neckline, rounded shoulders, and straight arms; despite the considerable exposure, the absence of jewelry like necklaces or bracelets made her look more elegant rather than vulgar or cheap.
“Lady Arrie was this beautiful?”
“I knew her face was pretty, but I never imagined she was hiding such beauty and figure beneath an old-fashioned dress.”
“Compared to her, Lady Lizzy looks like a child trying to imitate an adult.”
With the appearance of a beauty that was unmatched in the country, the nobles became noisy again. Just a little over ten minutes ago, they had been praising Lizzy, but now their admiration had swiftly shifted.
Gentlemen began to approach Ariella one by one, eager to speak to her, while those whose partners were with them stood dumbfounded, busy taking in Ariella from head to toe.
Lizzy’s perfect partner was no exception.
“Arrie…”
Not content with merely staring at Ariella as if entranced, he even murmured her nickname, which could be considered even more inappropriate.
‘This is absurd. It can’t be…!’
She had clearly torn the dress. Where had the white dress Courtney mentioned gone? Why was she wearing a dress she had never seen before?
Could it be?
As a hypothesis crossed her mind, Lizzy clenched her teeth, her face pale. She shot a piercing glare at Ariella, and their eyes met in the air.
Ariella, spotting Lizzy, smiled brightly. There was nothing more delightful than a gaze that seemed ready to kill her.
