“I promised. Not to be sick where you’re not.”
This meant that she was planning to be sick at this year’s Hunting Festival.
Nobert, who immediately understood the meaning, clenched his fist tightly. His handsome face twisted fiercely in an instant. Even more so than when she mentioned another woman.
“It’s a difficult promise to keep, but I feel like I have to at least pretend to keep it. That’s why I’m saying this.”
Ariella added quietly, fiddling with the warm coffee cup.
This was an apology, or rather, an apology for not keeping her promise last time. Nobert quickly understood this as well.
“…Is it absolutely necessary to be sick?”
His voice, asking slowly, was desperate. His roughly distorted face desperately hoped that the answer would be no, but Ariella nodded firmly.
“That’s the only way to end it.”
“…”
“This tiresome revenge, this hatred that I’ve devoted my whole life to. That’s the only way to see the end.”
Ariella slowly reached out her hand to him.
His face, with his large fist clenched tightly, looked much more tormented than her own. Feeling sorry for him, Ariella gently wrapped her hand around his fist as if to comfort him.
“There’s really not much left now. So please, bear with me a little longer.”
Yes, there really wasn’t much left.
Especially this revenge didn’t require much preparation. It was thanks to the fact that she had been preparing for it a long time ago. For a very long time, even while being very sick.
“Don’t make that face. It’s probably not as big of a deal as you’re worried about.”
I don’t like being sick either, Ariella added playfully. It was meant to lighten the mood, but judging by Calsian’s expression, it didn’t seem to help much.
It’s best to just change the subject. Having made up her mind, she cleared her throat and continued.
“Ah. On that note, could you recommend a reliable physician?”
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Calsian quickly turned his gaze and scanned her up and down, as if checking for any injuries.
“No, not at all. I’m healthy.”
Ariella hastily waved her hands, reassuring him.
“I’m just trying to see one in advance, before I get sick. I thought I’d get a check-up after a long time. Of course, my family has a personal physician, but…”
She paused mid-sentence.
A wry smile involuntarily crept onto her lips. A particularly memorable memory had suddenly surfaced.
“Miss Arrie, I have shocking news!”
It had been a few days prior. Someone had suddenly started banging on her door at dawn, and when she opened it, there stood Bedford’s personal physician, his face completely covered. He was someone Ariella had bribed in advance.
“The Duke has ordered Miss Lizzy to become pregnant. To produce both the Crown Prince’s child and an heir for Bedford. It seems they will be bringing men into Miss Lizzy’s room soon.”
The news he secretly delivered was indeed shocking.
‘Ordered to become pregnant.’ Just hearing it made her ears feel like they were rotting.
Lizzy, who had insisted on having her name and ended up in a situation no different from livestock, was pathetic, but the situation itself filled her with revulsion.
Perhaps it was because her hatred for her father was far greater than her hatred for Lizzy. Or perhaps it was because she had enough余裕 in her heart to consider the plight of others.
She didn’t feel entirely comfortable. Not because she pitied Lizzy, but because she knew that if Lizzy hadn’t been there, she would have been in that position.
For the same reason, Ariella secretly hoped that Lizzy would be infertile. Now that Aaron was castrated, this outcome was as good as predetermined.
