The story of David Bedford and Lonnie Griffith getting into a fistfight at a gambling den in Salisbury swept through society in less than a day.
A fight between young, hot-blooded men wasn’t exactly uncommon. However, this incident attracted a lot of attention for two reasons.
The first was the background of the fight. The sons of high-ranking nobles frequenting gambling dens, even low-class places where dogfights took place, and then punching each other.
Elderly nobles clicked their tongues, discussing the lack of decorum in the younger generation. Many felt that the hoLizzyble name of Bedford, which had been passed down since the founding of the empire, had been tarnished.
And the second reason was…
“—Is it true that Duke Ashbon has taken a liking to the fake Lady?”
It was because Ariella and Nobert’s scandal broke on the very same day.
“He even broke off an existing engagement and went after her, that says it all.”
“Oh my goodness, will they get married then?”
“Surely not, no matter how much he likes pretty things! There’s no way the lord of Ashbon would marry a woman whose origins are unknown. At best, she’ll be a mistress, right?”
“Surely not! No matter how much the Bedford family has declined, they wouldn’t let their daughter become a mistress, would they? Of course, she is a fake daughter, but still.”
“…By the way, did you hear about the Bedford heir? It seems like that family never has a peaceful day.”
Duke Ashbon was always the center of attention in society. When his scandal broke, even people who weren’t interested in such rumors listened intently.
The attention, which would normally have faded quickly and moved on to other rumors, continued to gather over time, and David’s scandal spread far and wide.
“David Bedford—!!”
As a result, the Duke of Bedford’s voice echoed through the mansion from early in the morning.
The Duke was furious and hopping mad at the news that his son, who had not long been released from confinement, was once again frequenting gambling dens and disgracing the family.
He was already having a headache because of the Crown Prince, and now his son was adding to his worries, so he couldn’t help but be furious.
‘He’ll probably get beaten again like last time.’
Ariella guessed David’s future, confirming that the Duke’s momentum was unusual. About a week of confinement, and a few days of being unable to move due to violence, would be the price for this.
It was a much lighter punishment than the beatings she had endured many times, but David didn’t seem to think so.
“I, I am sorry, Master. But the Young Master has packed a few simple belongings and left the mansion.”
The last beating must have been incredibly painful. As soon as he heard that his father was looking for him, he ran away as fast as his legs could carry him.
Knowing that he would eventually have to face the Duke, his impulsive escape was very David-like. Especially the fact that it was so foolish and reckless.
David’s sudden runaway caused a great commotion in the Duke’s residence. The Duke, half out of his mind at his son’s rebellion, vented his anger elsewhere.
Sometimes it was on the servants who had failed to keep David in check, sometimes it was on Lizzy, who had met and talked to David the previous dawn, and sometimes it was on Ariella, whose recent behavior had been annoying him.
However, fortunately, she was not whipped again. It wasn’t because the Duke of Bedford suddenly regretted his actions, of course, but because Ariella was about to meet Nobert soon.
In order to sell her for a good price, he couldn’t let them discover such hideous scars on her body.
The Bedford knights, under the Duke’s orders, hurriedly set out to find the Young Master. But David managed to evade capture and survive outside for several days.
It was Ariella who was in trouble.
‘He’s not dead somewhere, is he?’
Considering the karma he had accumulated so far, it wasn’t impossible. There were countless people who hated David, besides herself and Milo.
Dying alone in a place she didn’t even know would be a fitting end for David, but it was still a shame.
She had already prepared the perfect end for him, and she couldn’t let it all go to waste. She also had a promise to keep with Milo.
‘This is why it’s hard to use stupid people.’
You couldn’t expect rationality from David. Impulsive and simple-minded, he acted according to his mood at the time, and often did strange things in a fit of anger. As such, there were many variables in his actions, making him difficult to predict.
Hmph. Ariella sighed deeply and shook her head.
If he were really dead, the news would have reached her by now. The fact that no news had been delivered meant that he was hiding very well.
Besides, today was the day the Duke was leaving to inspect the Bedford territory.
If it was the simple-minded David, he would likely return quietly after confirming that his father had left the capital, longing for the comfort of the mansion.
So, worrying about whether David had died somewhere could wait until she confirmed whether or not he returned home tonight.
