“Then I will guide you inside.”
Ariadeline began leading them toward the reception room. The young ladies followed her, looking around the mansion since it was their first time at the Duke of Denaves’ residence.
‘The mansion is magnificent.’
‘Of course. It’s the Duchy of Denaves.’
They exchanged glances. They couldn’t find fault with the mansion like they usually do when criticizing someone. Then, all that was left were the servants who served Ariadeline.
They walked, conscious of the maids following behind them.
However, the maids simply followed them quietly with proper posture, as if they knew this would happen.
‘Well, flaws can be created.’
Dorothy quietly smiled as she read her friends’ expressions.
‘Today, I’ll repay the humiliation I suffered.’
She planned to return the shame and anger she had felt in full.
After passing through the corridor, the five women arrived at the reception room and sat down haughtily.
They didn’t ask for permission to sit, nor was it given.
For some reason, Ariadeline just smiled quietly.
“In the past, this would have been unimaginable.”
“To endure this much… has she really changed?”
Scarlett and Amy whispered to each other. Angela then shushed them, giving a warning.
“Is that even possible? Given her position, she’s probably just enduring it.”
With Angela’s timely caution, Dorothy turned to Ariadeline with a satisfied expression.
“Thank you for welcoming us all like this, Duchess, ah.”
Dorothy covered her mouth as if she had made a mistake.
“You’re just Ariadeline now, right?”
Her words were intentionally provocative. Ariadeline slowly blinked and then answered in a measured tone.
“That’s right.”
“How rude of me…”
Dorothy spoke, covering her mouth with her hand. The words were a deliberate jab, meant to leave a lasting sting.
But Ariadeline’s face remained calm. She truly seemed like a completely changed person.
Seeing that expression, Dorothy secretly gritted her teeth.
‘Why does she look so unfazed?’
Knock-knock—
“Come in.”
Just then, the maids brought in tea. The fragrant aroma filled the reception room.
“It’s definitely the scent of Astolan flower tea, right?”
“They’ve prepared well.”
The tea was of such high quality that it could only be obtained by high-ranking nobles. With nothing left to criticize, the ladies smacked their lips in disappointment.
Ariadeline glanced over at them and smiled lightly. She still looked unbothered, as if she hadn’t been hurt at all.
Dorothy grew anxious. What could make that face contort?
She didn’t think for long. After all, she already had a gift prepared for her.
‘I have a gift for Ariadeline.’
She had said this in the carriage, but it wasn’t because she had an actual “gift”.
Perhaps for Ariadeline, it will be a unique gift. Something very special. As Dorothy contemplated this, she gently fanned her face with her fan and continued speaking.
“I’d like to see the garden of the Denaves’ residence.”
“Oh, the garden?”
Ariadeline said with an innocent smile. She truly seemed like a different person. However, Dorothy was not convinced by her apparent change. After all, she had taken her partner with an indifferent attitude back then.
“Yes, it’s such a magnificent mansion; I really want to see it.”
At Dorothy’s words, her friends began to chime in.
“I’ve never seen such a wonderful mansion before.”
“I really hope you’ll show us around.”
With their insistence, it was difficult for Ariadeline to refuse. No, it seemed she had no intention of refusing at all, as she naturally stood up.
“Then shall we go out now?”
Dorothy and her friends exchanged glances and stood up, as Ariadeline naturally led them.
Scarlett, Amy, and Angela stood up one by one and followed Ariadeline. Just as they were about to leave through the door, Dorothy stood up.
Dorothy casually dropped the ring she was wearing on the floor.
Tick, roll.
The ring made a small sound as it hit the floor. Dorothy smiled secretly and left the drawing room.
Just as everyone had left to explore the garden, someone opened the door to the reception room and cautiously entered.
“Have they all gone out?”
It was Rodi, a young maid. She was still young and inexperienced, so she couldn’t attend to the ladies directly, but she could at least tidy up the drawing room.
Ariadelin had maids who were experienced and flawless. Rodi knew well that she couldn’t fit in there.
She began to clear away the now-cold teapot and teacups. She placed everything on a tray and wiped down the table.
Thud.
Then Rodi noticed she had kicked something small. With a puzzled expression, she looked under the table. A ring with a large gemstone was sparkling.
“What is this? Did someone drop it?”
The child didn’t yet understand the basic etiquette of being a maid, especially how to act when a guest dropped something.
But she did understand the basic principle that “if someone loses something, it should be returned to its owner.”
She picked up the ring and put it in her pocket. She would return it to its owner when the young ladies came back. The thought that she had something to do made her a little happy.
Little did she know what this action would lead to.
Meanwhile, there was silence among the five women strolling through the garden. Ariadeline didn’t bother to speak, and Dorothy and her friends were pondering the most effective way to provoke her.
Then, Scarlett, who was walking slowly behind Ariadeline, spoke up. Her words were laced with thorns.
“How did you end up staying at the Denaves Duchy?”
“Right? Ariadeline, did you ask the Duke for a favor? So, he showed you mercy?”
Angela picked up on Scarlett’s words. They spoke as if the Duke had accepted Ariadeline’s pleas.
Ariadeline responded with a peaceful expression, regardless of how they spoke.
“Oh, he said the temple wasn’t reliable and brought me here himself. I said it was fine, but…”
Sorry, but the Duke personally brought her here.
“Since I’m a sinner, he probably wanted to keep a closer watch on me.”
She added a modest remark, making her answer perfect. Scarlett and Angela laughed, hiding their strangely crumpled faces.
“The Duke is a man with a strong sense of responsibility.”
“It’s so admirable that he’s willing to bear the sins of his ex-wife.”
Even so, aren’t you a sinner? That in itself is a nuisance to the Duke.
Ariadeline smiled as if she didn’t understand their insinuations.
“Of course. That’s why he allowed me to stay in the main house of the estate, right?”
‘Yes, I’m staying in the main house.’
At that, they momentarily fell silent, seemingly taken aback. They had assumed she would be staying in the annex.
Seeing how things were unfolding, Dorothy lightly fanned her face and spoke.
“It looks like it might rain soon. Shall we head back inside?”
Dorothy turned around as she said this. Ariadeline stared at her back for a moment, then slowly followed her.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
It seemed like they were planning something.
I thought silently as I watched Dorothy’s back. She wouldn’t come here just to scratch my nerves without a purpose.
However, it seemed she hadn’t done anything particularly suspicious yet. Probably.
I followed behind them, observing them closely. Even though they knew I was behind them, they whispered among themselves.
Whispering openly in front of someone is bad manners, yet they showed me no courtesy at all.
‘Well, they’re still young, so I guess this is to be expected.’
In truth, they were all around my age, but at least they weren’t seasoned noblewomen. If they had been more experienced, I would have been relentlessly attacked.
It was when they returned to the reception room that Dorothy let out a surprised sound before sitting down.
“Oh my!”
Her friends quickly reacted to her exaggerated tone.
“What’s wrong?”
“What happened?”
Her friends responded as if they were part of a play. I tilted my head, looking at Dorothy.
“What’s the matter?”
Dorothy covered her mouth with a fan. It was obvious she was trying to hide her smile.
“My ring is missing.”
“What?”
“Oh my goodness!”
Her friends continued their performance, acting as if it were perfectly rehearsed.
