If Lizzy chooses Aaron instead of the Earl Wrexham, she will thoroughly hide the fact that she received the ruby necklace, considering the possibility of one day ascending to the position of empress. The risk is too great to enjoy it as mere gossip.
So, he simply had to send the gift and wait for Lizzy’s choice.
“Even if things don’t go as you wish, it’s just a loss of a ruby necklace.”
Gulp. The earl swallowed hard as he looked down at Ariella.
The crescent-shaped smile caught his attention. He thought it resembled the smile of a witch enchanting a child, yet he couldn’t pull himself away.
All he could do was nod his heavy head once.
For a moment, he felt overwhelmed by the woman before him, and suddenly, shame surged within him. To hide this, he deliberately made a fearsome expression and threatened her.
“…If you even whisper about this to anyone else, I won’t let you off easily.”
“Of course, I won’t.”
Having received a firm answer, Earl Wrexham fled the scene as if escaping. It was as if he felt ashamed for secretly promising cooperation with a woman whom everyone else turned away from, and his hurried steps betrayed his anxious heart.
He was always this kind of person. He would chase after beautiful women, but the moment things went awry, he would quickly resort to threats.
That’s why he could use her more comfortably.
Ariella, having wiped the false smile off her face, took another step forward. She intended to return to the duke’s residence quickly, as lingering here could attract the attention of other nobles.
However, before she could take a few steps, she suddenly stopped.
An unexpected variable had arisen.
Next to the pillar adorned with the moon and stars, symbols of the Lancashire Earl family, stood a tall man.
He was handsome enough to be called a living statue, but he looked far too fierce to approach. It was Nobert Ashbon.
“The Count Mccoy’s family was under the moonlight. This time, it’s next to the pillar engraved with the moon.”
It was both perplexing and absurd.
Why on earth did she keep showing this side of herself to this man? Was he perhaps a voyeur by hobby?
If that were the case, the way his red eyes were staring at her was far from pleasant. No, beyond unpleasant, he looked very angry.
She didn’t know why he was angry, but if this man went back to his seat and talked about what had just happened, it would be a disaster. He was standing not far from where she had spoken with the Izan.
Ariella forced another fake smile to prevent her plans from going awry.
“…Could you keep it a secret?”
Nobert furrowed his brows. The aura emanating from his fierce expression was nothing short of menacing. However, Ariella did not back down and added more.
“It’s about the conversation I just had with Izan Wrexham. It would be troublesome if someone else found out.”
“…Before I answer, I have something I want to ask.”
His low voice echoed in her ears.
Perhaps because she was not yet accustomed to his particularly deep and resonant voice, chills ran down her skin involuntarily. The tension was entirely different from when she had spoken with Izan Wrexham just moments ago.
‘What could this man possibly want to ask me?’
Someone who showed no interest in anyone in high society, who seemed to dislike her intensely. What could he possibly be curious about? She thought hard for a brief moment, but nothing came to mind.
This man was always someone who exceeded her expectations. So, no matter what question he asked, she decided not to be flustered.
However, despite her resolve, his next question left her bewildered once again.
“Is it true that you still have feelings for the Crown Prince?”
The sudden question wiped the smile off her face.
His voice, rough and grating, continued.
“Or is it a lie to use the Izan to deceive the fake princess?”
As expected of the great Lord Ashbon, he immediately hit the nail on the head.
She found it strange that he referred to Lizzy as the fake princess, even after seeing the atmosphere of the gathering just moments ago, but it was probably just an expression from the listener’s perspective.
“…It has nothing to do with His Grace the Duke.”
Ariella stopped forcing a smile. While her act had worked on Izan Wrexham, the man before her was not someone who would fall for such tricks.
He was known to be endlessly weak against the citizens of Ashbon, but merciless towards the nobility, a person of integrity and coldness who would not be swayed by bribes or flattery.
Nobert was known to be that way. Now that he had figured out this much, asking him to keep it a secret with a smile would hold little meaning.
