‘Really… what a strange person.’
There was nothing wrong with him, yet the way he worried that his feelings might upset her was both incomprehensible and strikingly impressive.
Ariella took a small breath to calm her racing heart.
Was she displeased with Nobert’s affection? No, it wasn’t that.
If she had to specify, it was closer to a pleasant feeling. It was the first time someone had liked her like this, and he was attractive both objectively and subjectively.
It wasn’t quite romantic, but to be honest, she found him quite appealing.
However, she could not honestly express such feelings. After all, she could not accept his heart. So if she truly cared for him, she should not leave any room for it.
“No, I don’t find it unpleasant. But please don’t like me anymore. This is for the Grand Duke’s sake.”
As she answered firmly, Nobert’s gaze trembled. He seemed to be trying to discern her intentions.
For him, Ariella added honestly, with gratitude in her heart.
“You saw my behavior today, didn’t you? Wasn’t it truly despicable? Using someone else’s feelings for my personal revenge, creating misunderstandings to incite fights, setting up spectators to throw them bait… And in front of them, I acted as if I knew nothing. In fact, I was enjoying their downfall more than anyone else.”
There was nothing beautiful about revenge. After all, revenge was a miserable and vile thing.
Knowing this, the inability to stop midway was the most cruel aspect.
“In the future, there will be many such instances. I will continue to use unrelated people to drag someone into the mud. And I will press their heads down until their breath stops. Very persistently and maliciously.”
She looked directly into Nobert’s eyes.
Perhaps it was because it was spring, or perhaps it was because the cherry tree standing not far from the balcony caught her eye. She thought the color of his transparent, glistening eyes resembled the hue of cherry blossoms.
“There is nothing more painful than seeing the bottom of someone you like. I think it would be quite heartbreaking for me to disappoint someone who has said they like me. So…”
Ariella unconsciously let go of the collar she had been holding onto. Then she smiled gently.
“I think it would be better for both of us if you let go of the feelings you have for me after today.”
This was a perfectly soft rejection. She thought so as she finished speaking.
“Thank you so much for everything until now. I won’t forget the debt I owe to the Grand Duke and will gradually repay it.”
Ariella, who bowed her head in gratitude, slowly tried to turn away.
Perhaps he would no longer hold her back. He had heard all of her sordid nature.
“…Princess. Do you know that?”
She had guessed as much, but Nobert, as always, called Ariella back, far exceeding her expectations.
“Even what you call the bottom, feels to me like an infinitely high and noble sky.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I am a more wicked person than you think. If you could peek into my thoughts, you would surely leave, cursing me as vile and brutal.”
A bitter smile flickered at the corners of Nobert’s mouth, tinged with self-deprecation.
Ariella frowned, as if she couldn’t understand, but he did not bother to explain further.
If he were to tell her what he planned to do to those two who had just spoken filthy words about her…
If she were to find out how cruel his plans were, she would surely flee from him in a panic.
“The bottom you speak of can never disappoint me. If the path I wish to walk leads to the mire, I will gladly follow it.”
Ariella clenched her fists tightly.
It was such an unfamiliar statement. The idea of willingly sharing the mire… even Kaia, who cherished her so much, had never said such a thing.
Perhaps out of confusion or shock, her heart raced. It felt more painful than when she learned of Lizzy’s betrayal.
She thought, biting her lip, that it was easy for him to say since he didn’t know where her mire was or how deep it was.
Then she had to push back even more.
“Your Grace, I do not like you at all.”
“Yes, I know. I have no intention of daring to ask you for feelings like mine. What I originally wished for was simply that you do not regard me as filthy and terrible.”
She thought she had pushed him away forcefully, but he remained steadfast, standing there with a weighty demeanor.
“However, I hope you will not say that you will suppress my feelings. No matter how much it is your command, I cannot comply with that.”
