As the sharp voice repeatedly jabbed at his eardrums, Aaron pressed his fingers against his temples, as if he had a headache.
“That prince, unable to distinguish between heaven and earth, in front of the maids—!”
‘That prince.’ How many times had he heard that vulgar expression today?
At this point, Aaron felt his anger beginning to rise. It seemed that he needed to put a stop to that noisy mouth of hers at least once.
“Could you lower your voice, mother? You’re just two years older than that woman, and you’re sulking because you’ve lost your father’s attention to her?”
“What…?”
“Mother, you should really distinguish between right and wrong. How can you wrestle with your son in front of someone who is to be your daughter-in-law? How can a man who has lost the respect of his wife accomplish anything great?”
As the unbelievable words continued, Empress Genevieve trembled, her frail body shaking as her lips merely quivered.
“I’m not a child. Stop threatening me with the idea of telling father at every turn. If my reputation gets tarnished and the throne passes to that woman’s son, it will be your loss, mother. I’m the only son you have left now.”
“I…! Who do you think I lost my son for? How dare you…!”
A thunderous rage directed at Aaron.
The empress grabbed the collar of her unfilial son with her bony hand. However, the strength of the small, thin woman was far too weak, and Aaron easily shrugged it off.
“Who do you think? Someone might misunderstand if they hear you. The madness that has manifested in my brother is merely due to terrible misfortune.”
“Aaron!”
“Yes, it’s Aaron. Your one remaining son, your only hope. Aaron Fernandit de Bingham.”
Aaron’s brother, the first prince Harrison, was not dead yet. However, due to his horrific madness, he was confined to a villa in a distant region, making his situation no different from death.
Thus, the only way for the empress to maintain her position was for Aaron to ascend to the throne. He personally reminded his mother of this fact.
“You wouldn’t want that insignificant woman to become the emperor’s mother, would you? I have no desire to be usurped by my two-year-old half-brother either. So, mother.”
Aaron firmly grasped his mother’s hand that had clutched his collar.
“Please cooperate with me.”
***
A few hours later, Lizzy returned to the Duke of Bedford’s residence, looking extremely exhausted. It seemed she had been quite troubled by Countess Annabelle.
However, despite her fatigue, her animosity towards Ariella had not diminished in the slightest, and as soon as she entered the mansion, she went straight to find the duke.
The reason was painfully obvious. She intended to report what had happened today and stain Ariella’s reputation once again.
As expected, it wasn’t long before the Duke of Bedford summoned Ariella.
Dressed in comfortable loungewear and resting, Ariella headed to her father’s study, fully expecting the confrontation.
To cut to the chase, Ariella did not receive a single blow that day. Thanks to the logic she had prepared in advance, she managed to persuade the Duke of Bedford.
“I’m just as bewildered, father. I knew Aaron was a fickle person, but how could I have known he would change his mind so suddenly?”
She expressed genuine frustration as she passionately explained.
“If I had done something to Aaron, I wouldn’t be this frustrated. But father, I truly did nothing. When we met at the ball, we didn’t even exchange a word. Yet, Aaron suddenly sent a letter saying he urgently needed to speak, and thinking it might be something important related to the wine business, I went out, only to hear such things today. I was just as taken aback.”
The Duke of Bedford scrutinized Ariella closely, but he could find no trace of deceit on her face as she expressed her grievances. It was only natural; most of what she said was the truth.
If Ariella had any intention, it was merely to show off her beautifully adorned self at the ball. That was the only thing. Even that had been something the duke had instructed her to do in search of a new husband.
So, if anyone were to be held responsible for this incident, it could only be Aaron.
“It’s true that I was jealous of Lizzy and acted out at the ball, but… I’m not foolish enough to try to take Aaron’s side now. If I had such thoughts, I wouldn’t have so easily given my place to Lizzy in the first place. Father, please understand my feelings.”
There was no room for rebuttal in Ariella’s explanation. Moreover, the Duke’s recent negative assessment of Aaron only helped her case.
Thus, the Duke of Bedford withdrew his suspicious gaze from her and gave a brief warning.
“I understand. I’ll let this one slide, but always be careful in your conduct. Remember that I am always watching you.”
