However, she had not thought of the path to take when she said that she had not been robbed.
“I have no idea about the suddenly appeared fake, nor that it was found in Lizzy’s jewelry box. So let’s just end this here.”
Ariella spoke in a bitter tone, forcing a clumsy smile.
As if she knew everything but was willing to sacrifice herself, as if it were her duty as the Princess of Abercorn.
This answer was a denial, but at the same time, it was a positive one. A positive that was much more persuasive than directly expressing it in words.
“End it? We can’t do that for Arrie, Father!”
Lizzy shouted urgently.
It absolutely could not end like this. If it ended like this, it was all too clear what would be said later.
‘Ariella made a fake to protect her earrings from a thief, and not knowing this, Lizzy fell for the trick, stole the fake, and pretended to be framed.’
‘Yet Ariella did not make an issue of it. She decided to sacrifice for the peace of the family.’
The servants would surely chatter like this. Even though there was no evidence that Lizzy had stolen the fake.
It would be fortunate if it ended as mere gossip among the servants, but if luck was not on their side, there was a risk that the word would spread outside the mansion.
To prevent that, she had to somehow turn the situation around now.
“We need to find out for sure! Who made the fake and who secretly put it in my jewelry box! Otherwise, both Ariella and I would be too wronged, right? Since there are victims, we need to clarify things…!”
“Victims?”
Ariella tilted her head and asked back.
With her chin held high, she threw another piercing gaze at Lizzy.
“Lizzy, there are no victims here.”
An excessively long play only brings fatigue. So it was time to wrap it up.
“I have lost nothing, and you have not been framed. So there seems to be no reason to escalate this further.”
Unless, of course, one wanted to create a commotion. Ariella coldly added.
Although she was speaking to Lizzy, it was meant to persuade others. Someone who valued their own peace and efficient management of the mansion over the grievances of a child.
And that intention seemed to have worked quite well.
The Duke of Abercorn, appearing tired, pressed his forehead and scolded.
“Alright, let’s end it here! I’m already busy preparing for the ball, and gathering the servants like this… what a waste of time!”
It was over. Both Ariella and Lizzy realized it simultaneously.
Since he had instructed to stop, they could no longer bring up this topic. Regardless of what the reality was or who the real culprit was, this incident had concluded as it was.
The foolish young lady Lizzy, trying to drag down Lady Ari, ended up tripping over her own feet in such a childish and pathetic incident.
It was evident that Lizzy’s reputation would plummet. David, who seemed to conspire with her in the incident, would also be ridiculed. Although he had no reputation to fall from in the first place.
“Father, wait a moment! Please listen to more of Lizzy’s story!”
David raised his voice, trying to turn the Duke of Abercorn, who was about to return to his office.
However, unfortunately, such actions only made the Duke more uncomfortable.
“Can’t you be quiet! You, a little duke, don’t even know when to speak and when to be silent…!”
“Ah! Ouch! Father!”
As the Duke grabbed David’s shoulder with his large hand, David screamed and complained of pain.
How could he scream so loudly over just a shoulder grab? The Duke clicked his tongue.
The Duke of Abercorn was a perceptive man. He had already realized that the culprit was Ariella, as his son was blindly insisting on it, and that the true culprit was the one who looked at him with a pitiful expression, Lizzy.
In the first place, Ariella had been the one to suggest that it would be better for the family if Lizzy became the real princess.
There was no way she would now try to frame Lizzy. Especially not with such a clumsy frame.
‘Foolish ones…!’
How many more times could Ariella be used, and yet they dared to try to diminish her value without permission? As the investment he had poured into Ariella came to mind, his irritation only grew.
At the same time, a necessity was felt.
The necessity to firmly suppress the girl who, intoxicated by the joy of becoming a princess overnight, was greedily reaching beyond her station.
“From today, Lizzy’s debutante ball will be entirely managed by Ari. Everyone, take note of that!”
If he took the most cherished thing as a hostage, she would not dare to act recklessly. That was his judgment.
