“The reason I came to visit him in secret, avoiding my father’s eyes, and the reason I came to Your Majesty because I couldn’t bear to see him continue to be used by my father, is all because of that. Because I still love Aaron.”
It was a sound that even the person acting found disgusting and unbearable. Ariella barely managed to suppress the urge to vomit.
If she had said these words in front of Empress Genevieve, the Empress wouldn’t have believed her. She would be lucky if she wasn’t ridiculed.
As a daughter of a prestigious family who had been educated to become the Crown Princess since childhood, she would know very well how absurd it was to love her fiancé in this situation.
But, ridiculously, William IV seemed to believe Ariella’s words. He not only believed her, but even showed signs of being wary. He seemed worried that her love might become an obstacle to Aaron’s future.
Ariella kindly reassured him.
“But Your Majesty. I know my place well. If I had vain hopes, I would have accepted Aaron’s proposal today. I would have tried to stay by his side, even as a mistress. The reason I didn’t do that is because I know the line I must keep. Also, you may have heard, but I have decided to become the mistress of Grand Duke Royster soon. It was not what I wanted, but as a woman born and raised as a noble, I intend to accept my fate.”
Only after she said that did the wariness that had been prevalent in his golden eyes lessen somewhat.
“So don’t worry, Your Majesty. I will not cause any harm to the Imperial Family with childish and dirty emotions. I only want to be of some help to Your Majesty and Aaron, even if only until I head to Royster.”
When she finished speaking, the Emperor remained silent for a long time again.
But Ariella didn’t get impatient and waited leisurely for his answer. Now that the conversation had progressed this far, his choice was obvious even without hearing it.
Sure enough, William IV soon nodded his head greatly.
“…Alright. I will trust you once.”
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
That one nod.
With that as a signal, the final act of revenge finally began.
As summer deepened, the dress shops in Edinburgh became noticeably quieter. The social season, which had started in the spring, ended in early summer, and the nobles who had come up from the distant provinces were returning to their estates one by one.
However, as the night breeze gradually became chilly and the end of summer approached, the dress shops were once again crowded with customers who had come to order new clothes.
The approach of autumn meant that the Hunting Festival, an event that received the full attention of Edinburgh’s high society, was not far away.
The Hunting Festival. This event, which began as a way to hunt wild animals such as foxes before winter to reduce damage to private homes, had somehow become a popular sport among the nobles.
The Juvenil Imperial Family had traditionally held the Hunting Festival every autumn, and although some called it a luxurious act of animal abuse and opposed it, the event was not canceled this year either.
Before autumn arrived, the nobles were excited to order clothes for the Hunting Festival, buy well-trained hunting dogs or horses, or purchase riding equipment.
The Hunting Festival was nothing short of a large social event, so both women and men prepared to attend without fail.
On the other hand, Ariella didn’t originally like events where many people gathered, and she didn’t like the appearance of the Hunting Festival, which deviated from its original purpose, so she used to refrain from attending.
But this year was an exception.
“Oh my! I knew it would suit Lady Ariella perfectly. You should wear this to the Hunting Festival this year. I’m worried that someone might mistake you for a fairy when they see you standing in the woods. Hohoho!”
Mrs. Melana showered Ariella with praise as she looked at herself in the mirror.
As she said, the newly worn dress was not overly decorated, the skirt was not heavy, making it easy to move around in, and the color was so bright that it seemed especially prettier under the midday sun.
“Let’s see, which hat string would be good…”
“How about that purple string?”
“Hmm.”
When Ariella suggested it, Mrs. Melana and Amira simultaneously avoided eye contact.
To decorate a light beige dress with a dark and dull purple satin string. It seemed like the worst idea a human could think of.
“Purple is a very experimental and wonderful color, but. The embroidery that decorates the dress is light pink, so how about using the same color for the hat string?”
“Good idea, Miss Amira.”
Mrs. Melana and Amira reached an agreement on their own without asking Ariella for her opinion any further.
Before she could complain, the lady changed the subject.
“But aren’t you ordering riding clothes separately from the dress? I guess you’re not going to attend the hunt.”
“Yes. I don’t have much talent for riding. I’ve never attended before.”
“Good idea. It would be a big problem if you got lost in the forest where the Hunting Festival is held. I heard rumors that the foxes are particularly vicious this year!”
I don’t know why they like such a dangerous event. Mrs. Melana clicked her tongue and muttered. I agree. Ariella chimed in.
“Oh my. When did the time get like this? Let’s stop here today. Oh, come to think of it, Miss Amira. The hat that Lady Ariella wore today, Amira, you decorated it, right? The lace and artificial flower shape look handmade.”
“Yes, but…”
Amira, who was happy that the young lady had a new dress, was startled and lowered her voice.
Her cheeks quickly turned red as if she was ashamed of showing her clumsy skills to the most famous designer in the Empire.
“Would you like to bring a few more samples next time we meet?”
“Yes?! My, my, my things? Why would you want something so shabby…!”
“Shabby? It’s a little lacking in sophistication, but. You have talent. If you learn properly, you seem like you’ll do quite well, aren’t you interested?”
Amira’s mouth dropped open. Her blue eyes were shaking so fast that it made the person watching dizzy.
Say you have it quickly! Ariella tapped her on the shoulder with this meaning.
Then, Amira, who had barely recovered from the shock, moved her lips a few times and then answered as if she had made up her mind.
“No, I’m okay. I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to learn such things-”
“You do. You definitely do.”
Ariella, who couldn’t stand listening, grabbed her mouth.
“Mrs. Melana, Amira will bring samples next time we meet. Please keep that in mind, and you must have a lot of next appointments, so please go quickly.”
“Ugh! Ugh ugh!”
“Did you hear that? Amira says she likes it too.”
Amira resisted fiercely, but for some reason, no matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t take Ariella’s hand off. It was unbelievable that such strength came from an arm that had never done hard work in its life.
Mrs. Korkos chuckled as she watched the two women bickering, then left with a brief greeting.
Only then did Ariella release Amira’s mouth.
