So, as a way to eliminate it, Ariella decided to put down her pride. It was a very emotional decision.
“I hate the world. I hate the people I’ve been with all my life. I hate the darkness, but I hate the glittering things even more. You only saw my public appearance, so you wouldn’t know, but I’m a very pessimistic person.”
“I see.”
Nobert’s answer was cautious. But the affectionate heart reflected in his eyes did not disappear.
Ariella played a stronger hand.
“I, I might be infertile. No, I’m probably infertile. Because I drank tea with strong poison several times.”
This time, he seemed quite surprised. His calm voice momentarily became anxious.
“Poison…! Are you okay?”
But this also failed. He was just more worried about her.
“They said there’s no major problem with my health. It’ll be hard to get pregnant, though.”
“…What about your heart? Is your heart okay?”
It was a strange question. What did her heart matter? Ariella bit her lower lip tightly and averted her gaze without realizing it.
“I’m okay. Anyway, I’m infertile, so even if things go well with you, I won’t be able to give you a child. You said you wouldn’t keep a mistress, so you’ll have to meet a woman you can marry, but I’m not suitable because my family and body are ruined.”
“Ruined, who dares to say such a thing.”
Nobert asked seriously. Ariella didn’t answer.
“…As I said, I know my place well. I won’t trouble the Duchess with such presumptuous expectations. But separately from that, whether you can have children or not. You are too much for me. So please don’t say such things.”
Again.
Nobert always spoke of Ariella as if she were a very noble and great person. At the same time, he tended to excessively belittle himself, who was a Grand Duke.
At first, she thought it was just humility, but after hearing it several times, she realized that it was his true heart.
She didn’t understand at all. He had everything, and because of that, he was the target of Aaron’s jealousy, so why did he look down on himself so much?
‘I’m too much for him. He’s saying that because he really doesn’t know anything.’
He had brushed aside her bad personality and the condition of her body, which would be a huge disadvantage in the marriage market, as if they were nothing. But if she showed him the truth that she had been trying to hide until the end, his certainty would surely collapse.
Ariella wanted to confirm that appearance.
“Nobert. I’m not as precious as you think.”
Surely today she must be out of her mind.
Impulsive, irrational, and emotional.
But even knowing this, Ariella couldn’t help it. She had no choice but to grab the hem of her skirt and confess, no matter what.
Her voluminous dress hitched up, revealing her white ankles.
Nobert seemed utterly bewildered by the sudden exposure. His body, as large as a mountain, stiffened rigidly, and his eyes darted around, unable to find a place to settle.
However, as the hem of her skirt continued to rise, and her gaunt legs appeared one after another, his expression changed dramatically.
When the knees Lizzy had clawed at were revealed, his face turned ashen, and when the thighs above, filled with scars and wounds, were exposed, the whites of his eyes became bloodshot.
“…Who did this?”
After trembling all over for a long while, Nobert finally raised his voice sharply.
“Who did this to you!”
For him, who rarely raised his voice, to shout like this meant that the state of her legs must be truly severe.
Well, it was understandable. The sight of bright red lines etched all over her thighs, and swollen scars with fresh wounds glistening with pus, was repulsive even to her.
“…You always talk about me as if I’m someone precious and noble. But as you can see, I’m not someone who deserves that kind of treatment.”
Ariella didn’t answer his question. She simply pointed out her true situation to him.
She raised her head and looked at Nobert again.
A sharply angled jaw tense with strength, a neck with veins bulging like leeches, a chest rising and falling heavily, arms with roughly bulging muscles… Clear anger was evident in every part of him.
Why was he so angry? As if searching for the reason, Ariella’s gaze traced Nobert’s face. The sight of his red eyes swirling wildly caught her attention.
“Even so, will you… still like me?”
Oh dear, the end of her voice trembled without her realizing it. It was a disastrous development. She bit her lip and feigned composure.
Nobert didn’t answer and remained silent.
His chapped, dry lips twitched sharply a few times, then slowly closed again. As if killing and killing again the emotions surging up like lava.
