“Don’t be upset. You have eyes, so isn’t that guy better than Duke Turner to live with?”
“But, a mistress is…!”
“You said it. That it is a daughter’s duty to marry the man with the best conditions and repay the family. The best condition you’re getting right now is that mistress position. That’s the result you made, not me. So take responsibility.”
Ariella, who had been looking at the Duke with faintly shaking eyes, lowered her head.
Unlike the Duke’s expectation that she was holding back tears, she was struggling to hold back laughter.
To think that he, who hated the unaristocratic people of the world, would even think of selling his daughter as a mistress for money.
It seemed that the situation was really serious. It was a good thing for her.
‘That’s right, this is the result I made.’
Ariella agreed with his words for once. She also agreed with the idea that she should take responsibility for the results she had created herself.
‘This kind of me is the result you made, Father.’
So you have to take responsibility too. She bit her lip and swallowed the words she wanted to say.
“……I understand, Father. I’ll meet the Grand Duke and ask. But, could I send another letter to Baron Turner? The Grand Duke’s interest in me might fade with time.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. From the looks of it, his interest won’t die down easily. You’d be better off devising a way to thoroughly seduce the Grand Duke. Since you’re going to be his mistress anyway, shouldn’t you aim to be a mistress who is loved for as long as possible? If you want your life to be even a little more comfortable, heed my words.”
This was advice earnestly given by the Duke of Bedford, who had raised Ariella as his real daughter for ten years, supposedly for her sake.
The sentiment was so absurd and disgusting that Ariella clenched her teeth.
“…Yes, Father.”
At her obedient reply, the Duke of Bedford waved his hand, gesturing for her to leave, as if he were bothered.
Since she didn’t want to see his face any more than he wanted to see hers, Ariella bowed politely and immediately turned and took a step.
Tap-tap!
It was as she opened the door to the study and came out. The sound of footsteps hurriedly moving away could be faintly heard from somewhere.
Ariella strode towards the direction of the sound.
At the edge of her vision, the hem of a flamboyant dress fluttered briefly before disappearing behind the wall.
The only person in the Duke’s residence who would wear such a dress was Lizzy.
‘Did she eavesdrop on my conversation with Father?’
If not, there seemed to be no reason for Lizzy to run away so hastily.
Ariella reviewed the conversation to see if there was anything Lizzy shouldn’t have heard. Fortunately, there was nothing particularly concerning.
What could have made her run away so urgently? She was curious, but she didn’t chase after Lizzy.
It was because she knew very well that Lizzy would suffer enough, even without her deliberately tormenting her.
‘And she’ll suffer even more in the future.’
***
Tap, tap-tap!
Rough footsteps echoed through the hallway, and the moonlight streaming in through the window brightly illuminated Lizzy’s path.
Amidst the constant fluttering of her thick blonde hair, the cold and resolute voice of the Duke of Bedford rang in her ears.
“Ask Grand Duke Royster. Ask what he can offer in exchange for taking the Bedford’s daughter as his mistress.”
Ariella was to become Grand Duke Royster’s mistress.
Lizzy now knew how much nobles valued honor, and how unusual it was for a high-ranking noble’s daughter to become someone’s mistress.
However, this was not the outcome she had wanted.
‘Not enough!’
Yes, it wasn’t enough. It was far from what she had desired.
Lizzy wanted a result that was far more agonizing, incomparably more painful.
‘Not some comfortable, well-fed mistress position!’
Unlike other nobles, Ariella was someone who didn’t care about honor. Lizzy knew that better than anyone.
Even if she became a mistress, Ariella wouldn’t suffer much. No, she might even welcome the Duke’s decision.
“Is this the nobility and elegance you speak of? Then I’d rather remain a lowly, uneducated wretch a hundred times over.”
At the dinner party held at Catalina’s mansion, Grand Duke Royster had defended Ariella with a confident attitude.
It might have been just to upset Aaron, but Lizzy had sensed a liking for Ariella in the Grand Duke.
Moreover, the Grand Duke was a man who had consistently helped Ariella, such as having a dress made for her debutante ball and saving her from a thug.
How could being involved with such a man be painful in any way?
‘Unless it’s fate.’
Bang!
Lizzy, who had run non-stop from the Duke’s study to her room, slammed the door shut violently.
