Aaron interpreted this in a good way and continued in a tender voice.
“Ariella Bedford, my precious fiancée. I don’t want to lose you to such misunderstandings.”
His large hand slowly caressed her soft blonde hair. Ariella stood frozen, as if turned to stone.
“Since you’re tired today, it’s best to head back now. Eli, shall I take you back to the Duke’s residence?”
“…No. It’s alright. You must be tired, so please go back first. I’ll just stay here for a bit to get some fresh air.”
“Alright then. I’ll drop by again soon.”
Aaron lightly patted her shoulder and left.
Finally, Ariella, left alone, slowly lifted her head to gaze at the sky.
The sky had darkened, and a bright moon hung overhead.
As she took in the moonlight that softly colored her palm, she replayed the voice echoing in her mind.
“I still cherish you.”
“Ariella Bedford, my precious fiancée.”
Some might find that voice sweet like a dream. However, she found it chillingly unpleasant.
‘Aaron does not cherish me.’
Ariella chuckled softly as she looked at the moonlight piercing her skin.
Then she slowly began to walk. Towards a dark and uncomfortable alley where no one was searching for her.
‘Ariella Bedford. He only cherishes that name.’
No matter who it was.
Ariella, who had been riding around the capital for a while in search of peace of mind, returned to the Duke’s residence late in the evening and headed straight to her room to rest. Perhaps due to the cold wind she had been exposed to for too long, her head throbbed.
Checking the time, she realized it was already close to midnight. It seemed she should get some sleep soon.
However, the moment she passed through the mansion’s front gate, she sensed something. Going to bed right away was out of the question.
The mansion was unusually chaotic at this late hour, and to her surprise, someone unexpected was there to greet her.
“Did you have a good trip?”
The one who greeted her with a warm smile was neither the butler, the head maid, nor Adam, but Lizzy.
The moment Ariella saw her, she instinctively paused. It was just a brief moment, but it felt as if she had returned to the past.
When she used to find Lizzy utterly adorable, and Lizzy would excitedly follow her around, chattering away. Those days when, after returning from the palace or a party, Lizzy would rush out to ask whom she had met and what she had eaten.
It felt like it had been months, even though it was only a short while ago.
But the sight of Lizzy in her splendid dress and the presence of two maids standing behind her brought Ariella back to reality.
‘Right, I did say they would assign maids to Lizzy.’
She recalled what her father had said at breakfast. It was a result of Aaron questioning whether it was appropriate to treat someone who might be a real princess in such a manner.
It seemed the Duke of Abercorn thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have someone keep an eye on Lizzy’s every move, but to Ariella, it didn’t seem like a good idea.
That was because they were not the right people to carry out the surveillance.
The maids standing behind Lizzy were Gianna and Aurora, who had been quite friendly with Lizzy for some time.
They were of similar ages and had compatible personalities, so Ariella had often seen them wandering around the mansion together.
Even then, it felt like Lizzy was leading the group, but now it seemed more like a relationship between a power holder and a follower.
It looked as if they were glaring at Ariella, as if to protect their master from any threats.
‘It seems she has firmly chosen her path.’
Ariella raised one eyebrow slightly.
It was not a bad bet. If Lizzy turned out to be genuine, they could be recognized for their contributions and become her closest maids.
The treatment and salary of a lowly maid compared to that of a lady-in-waiting were significantly different, so it was understandable that they would be tempted.
“Aaron went to the palace.”
“Really? Ah, I’m supposed to meet His Highness tomorrow. I was waiting for you, Miss. I wanted to talk…”
Lizzy spoke cautiously, forcing a smile. She must have been conscious of the others’ eyes.
Ariella let out a small, derisive laugh.
She had recognized Lizzy’s acting skills from the moment she cried and claimed to be the real one, but her talent was top-notch. She had known Lizzy was a versatile child, but she hadn’t expected this level.
“Next time. I’m too tired to join you right now.”
Ariella waved her hand dismissively and walked past Lizzy. But soon, a cheerful voice stopped her.
