Spoiler The Grand Duke’s Little Lady

Discussion in 'Spoilers' started by morticia_addams, May 22, 2019.

  1. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    Everyone in the house was busy from the morning because it was the day that the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess Monica would be visiting.

    “Hurry up you slugs! We’ll be late in preparing the lunch feast!”

    The head maid and butler raised their voices and nagged the workers.

    Ariel took a spoonful of a somewhat burnt, cold grain porridge and put it in her mouth.

    “Ugh.”

    The food was always pretty bad but it seemed even worse today.

    Probably because the kitchen is busy today.

    ‘But being hungry is scary.’

    Ariel ignored the disgusting flavour and pushed another spoonful into her mouth and chewed.





    Ariel’s existence in the Lucilleon family was a very iffy and an unconfortable thing.

    Although her real status was that of a high Marquis’ daughter, but because she was not regarded as a daughter in the household, the people in the house treated her even worse than they treated maids.

    ‘Maids actually help to do work, but you can’t even make that annoying lady do any work.’

    Ariel had heard the servants and maids say this multiple times.

    They also often said it out loud on purpose for her to hear.

    Every time she heard this, her small shoulders would shrink.

    If the Marquis or his son got mad that the servants were treating Ariel this way things would be different.

    But Ariel’s father and brother did not care at all, they actually frowned if anyone treated her well.

    Because of this, the food and clothing given to Ariel, and the attic she lived in were all in a terrible state.

    It was considered good if she received the leftover foods from the servants, and she often could not see any food way past mealtime.

    Ariel finished the entire bowl of porridge and waited patiently for the house to become more busy.

    She also didn’t forget to hide her eye-catching red hair with a bandana.

    There usually weren’t young maids present in the house, but Ariel had heard that a few young servants and maids had been hired to do small tasks.

    Because Ariel’s appearance was pretty worn out, if she walked by quietly with the bandana hiding her hair, they would think she was a maid and would not interfere.

    Ariel waited until the maids were at their busiest time and took her small hands to the door.

    She inhaled and imagined the route she would take in her head.

    “Riplazma.”

    When she cast the spell she could feel the mana moving inside her body.

    She could also feel it taking a toll on her health.

    Ariel got sucked up into the walls, and she was thrown back out into the air.

    In a very rough, unkind way.

    At last, Ariel was able to escape the locked attic.

    She had succeeded after multiple trials risking her life.

    After coming out, Ariel realized that she could not use magic anymore.

    ‘I didn’t even get out of the gate yet…….’

    It was even harder to stand up straight. Even standing in a good posture and breathing was beginning to become difficult for her.

    Her soft, white forehead began forming sweat drops.

    A ten year old’s body was much weaker and easier to break than she had expected.

    A piece of mana that had been pulled out by force violently went back through her bloodstream as if it was mad.

    “Haa, heuk, haa…….”

    Ariel grabbed onto her chest with her small hands and hurried her wobbling legs.

    It was obvious she would faint if she used magic, so she had to walk her way out.

    Once she got to the gate, the gatekeepers blocked her way.

    “Where are you going?”

    Ariel put her head down and mumbled that she was going on an errand as if she was a new maid.

    There seemed to have been many maids going back and forth for errands, because the gatekeeper opened the small door for her with an annoyed expression.

    Relieved that the gatekeeper didn’t recognize her, Ariel was about to step out.

    “Hey, Jeff, Phew. There’s going to be two bags of raisins coming in in a little bit. Check properly before you let them in.”

    The fat butler said as he came up to the gatekeeper.

    “Yes, butler.”

    “Huh, what’s with that maid? Why is she leaving at such a busy time?”

    “She seems to be a maid they hired just for today in the kitchen. I let her out because she said she was on an errand.”

    The butler did not take his eyes off of the girl even after the gatekeeper had explained.

    “……Isn’t she a bit too small to be a maid? She looks seven years old at most. We don’t hire kids that young even if we’re lacking workforce. The youngest maid is thirteen.”

    “Huh? Does that mean that child is an outsider?”

    The other gatekeeper, Hue, shook his head at Jeff’s question.

    “There’s no way. We checked everyone that came in today. There was no child like that. She must’ve been staying inside the house……”

    “……!”

    The fat butler’s eyes widened to the point they looked like they were going to rip at that moment.

    He had finally realized who the girl was.

    After coughing in shock, he yelled.

    “She’s the lady of the household. Get her!”

    The two gatekeepers, who had finally grasped the situation, began chasing the girl with the butler.

    Ariel also began running immediately, but she couldn’t beat the speed of three adult males.

    She was at a risk of getting caught after just a few steps.

    ‘No……!’

    The butler’s hand, which had come near her, nearly got a hold of her but ended up s.n.a.t.c.hing her bandana away instead.

    ‘Ah!’

    Her scarlet red hair was exposed from underneath the bandana.

    “Miss, if the Marquis finds out you’ll be in deep trouble!”

    The fat butler threatened as he panted.

    But because Ariel knew what would happen if she stayed in the house, she was desperate.

    ‘Please…… Just this once……!’

    She instinctively spit out a word once she was desperate.

    “Dirshili!”

    It was an attacking spell she had often used in the past.

    Ariel shut her eyes.

    She could hear the sound of the butler and the two gatekeepers falling after a flash of light.

    ‘It…… didn’t work properly.’

    If the past Ariel had used this spell, it was a kind of magic spell that would’ve ripped the three men into thousands of pieces.

    But perhaps it was because her body was young and weak, the spell she had chanted out merely knocked the men out.

    They seemed to have fainted, since they weren’t following her anymore.

    Ariel sighed in relief at the fact that she didn’t kill anyone.

    But her legs gave out and her body fell forward.

    “Heuk.”

    Her body fell to the floor and she couldn’t move anymore. Her sight was stained with redness and blood rose up from the inside. It was so painful that it felt like her insides would flip.

    It hurts. It hurts. It hurts so bad.

    It seemed to be a side effect of using an offense magic. Feeling her consciousness disappear, Ariel gathered up the last bit of energy she had and thought of the Grand Duke’s house’s location.

    “Ripla…….”

    She remembered the past all of a sudden.

    In the past when she had attacked the La Carte household and killed all the knights, the words that the wizard who teleported her had said.

    ‘We can’t go in using magic to the place we’re going right now because of the barrier. We’ll all put our powers together to open up the barrier, so you have to go in since you’re smallest.’

    They hadn’t even told Ariel that they were going to the La Carte household back then.

    Ah, they even have a barrier placed back then…….

    “……Zma.”

    When Ariel finished chanting the spell, her mana reacted to her desperateness and teleported her somewhere.

    Still lying on the floor, Ariel looked at the building in front of her.

    The building was unclear in her eyes because her entire face was full of tears from the pain.

    Mom, mom, it hurts so bad.

    A b.u.t.terfly shaped mana formed from her fingertips as she shrank her body in pain.

    It was useless magic.

    Please help me.

    Ariel soon lost her consciousness after whispering this.

    After she had lost her consciousness, the b.u.t.terfly flew to a certain window and set down there.

    Someone’s hand came out of the open window and clenched the b.u.t.terfly mercilessly.

    The weak b.u.t.terfly was swallowed up by the hand without any sounds.

    * * *

    When Ariel opened her eyes, it was already night time.

    The little girl was shocked and looked around.

    ‘Where is this place?’

    The place she had woken up in was unfamiliar.

    She was on a soft bed with a thick, soft blanket instead of the hard floor she went to bed every day.

    The bed and blanket were unfamiliar to her, because she was used to a poor functioning blanket.

    The warm air despite it being winter was completely different from the cold and worn out attic Ariel had lived in.

    ‘Huh, it doesn’t hurt anymore……?’

    Ariel thought of the unbearable pain she had experienced until she lost consciousness.

    They weren’t wounds that could simply disappear through a snap.

    Ariel tilted her small head in confusion. She lifted her head and looked around the dark room. It was an extremely large room compared to the attic she had lived in.

    It was larger and fancier than the best guest room in the Marquis’ household.

    The bed was so large that it could fit twelve girls the size of Ariel.

    Ariel stretched her short arms in a yawn and crawled out of the bed with her knees.

    Next to the bed were a pair of slippers that were the perfect size for her.

    Ariel admired the fur slipper and reached her feet out.

    Crash.

    The window opened quite violently and someone jumped in through the window.

    Startled, Ariel crawled back into bed.

    The person who had jumped in through the window spoke, sitting on the window frame.

    “You’re awake.”

    Ariel barely stopped herself from hiccuping.

    Wait…… was this the first floor?

    A night of the full moon.





    The bright moonlight behind the person on the window frame prevented their face from being seen.

    But despite not being able to see his face, his presence was overwhelming.

    She could feel the chills and electricity tingling her skin just by his voice.

    A dangerous and beautiful vibe like the cold winter wind was coming from him.

    His silhouette was that of a male. Short hair and a skinny body. A comfortable att.i.tude. The white curtain fluttered from the wind that came through the window.

    A low voice came from between the fluttering curtains.

    “This. Is it yours?”

    Something was desperately flapping in the intruder’s hand.

    Ariel recognized the b.u.t.terfly shaped mana in his hand right away.



    That mana was something she had called upon whenever she felt lonely in the Attic. He opened his eyes after reading Ariel’s eyes.

    “It is.”

    He came to a conclusion as if he didn’t need a response and lowered his chin in Ariel’s direction to look at her.

    “What’s someone like a young wizard like you doing in here?”

    Ariel flinched and shrunk at the word ‘wizard’. His voice was cold and scary as he said it. In the past, magic had ruined her life.

    It made her father and her brother abandon her, and her magic was used in the hands of someone who acted like the devil.

    Ariel asked in a frightened tone.

    “……Where is this place?”

    “You don’t even know where you came to?”





    The man replied coldly and flicked his finger to close the window. The room became quiet and the dancing curtains calmed down when the window closed. Ariel couldn’t see how the window had closed and rolled her eyes around.

    The man told her.

    “This is the Grand Duke La Carte’s house.”

    La Carte!

    Ariel widened her eyes.

    Her round, strawberry red eyes blinked as they became huge. She must’ve come to the right place despite nearly losing her mind in pain. Returning to her senses, Ariel quickly replied.

    “Then, I’ve come to the right place.”

    The man laughed as if it was funny.

    “But I don’t know you.”

    The question ‘Who are you though?’ was stuck in Ariel’s throat. The man spoke in a cold and arrogant tone.

    “I didn’t know they were guests that didn’t know the Duke’s son existed?”

    The Duke’s son.

    Ariel remembered what those words meant. The only heir to the La Carte family, Lucian Desmond La Carte.

    ‘It’s the person I was trying desperately to meet!’

    More accurately it was the person she wanted to marry. But he seemed to be offended at Ariel’s presence.

    “What’s a child, a wizard at that, doing in front of the Grand Duke’s house?”

    She was fl.u.s.tered that he had taken a disliking to her already when she needed to marry him. Ariel mustered up courage to basically squeeze out her voice.

    “I came to meet you.”

    The Duke’s son spoke in an interested tone.

    “Me?”

    Ariel struggled to crawl out of the bed and onto the carpet. Then she spoke as she stepped closer to the shadow of the man.

    “I have something to ask of you.”

    The Duke’s son, whose face could not be seen, nodded his head as if he was telling her to continue. She breathed heavily and looked up to the duke’s son with her round eyes.

    “Please marry me.”

    * * *

    “…….”

    After a long silence the Duke’s son jumped from the window side lightly. It was like the movement of a fast predator. He walked towards Ariel and reached his hand towards her face, grabbing her by the chin and lifting her face.

    Although he was a boy, it was the first time she had been grabbed by the chin by a male. Ariel couldn’t meet his gaze and looked away.

    “I’m not desperate enough to marry a baby beast.”

    Wh, what does he mean, baby beast?

    Ariel’s white cheeks burned, turning red.

    “I’m a person. And I’m not a baby either.”

    “A human girl must be ten years old to get married. Lady of the Marquis Lucilleon family.”

    He had already known that she was from the Marquis family.

    Then he should also know that he has never been exposed to the public and that he is the secret of the Grand Duke family.

    “Why is a young child like you who should be in a cradle proposing to me?”

    Ariel wanted to release her face from his grip but could not beat his strength. She whispered in an unclear p.r.o.nunciation because her chin was trapped.

    “Yesterday…. I turned 10 years old. Since my birthday already pa.s.sed.”

    The Grand Duke’s son’s tone became slightly brutal.

    “You’re ten? I can’t see you as anything older than seven.”

    He seemed to have a.s.sumed that she was young and did not look quite her age. Ariel also knew she was smaller and had a slow growth rate compared to kids her age.

    Her height was that of a seven or an eight year old child and her skinny body made her look even younger. But even so, she was still ten years old. Ariel stopped avoiding his gaze and looked up at him.

    “I’m saying the truth. I was born during the Aurellic year 801, and I turned ten years old this year. I can prove it.”

    “…….”

    She couldn’t see his expression due to the fact that his face was covered by the light. She couldn’t even see his facial features, but Ariel was somehow afraid to see his face. She was more comfortable not being able to see his face because of the moonlight.

    Ariel wet her lips with her small tongue and looked at him directly. She had to say it. The start of the change in her life.

    “Please let me live as your wife until I become 17 years old.”

    She also added on in clear p.r.o.nunciation.

    “I need someone to protect me. This is the only way for me to escape from my home. Since you can revoke a marriage you did as a child once you become an adult, please protect me from my father just till then.”

    After hearing such a daring statement from a child, the Grand Duke’s son opened his mouth in a relaxed manner.

    “……A marriage with a time limit.”

    Hm, he made a low noise and brushed up Ariel’s chin. It was something you would do to a cat.

    “So, if I do that, what can you do for me?”

    He pushed his face up close to Ariel’s after asking. Ariel flinched and shut her eyes at their close proximity. The Grand Duke’s son let out a coy laugh at her reaction.

    “You don’t have anything I want.”

    He let go of Ariel’s chin after saying this. Ariel, somewhat indignant, clenched her tiny fists.

    “F, first of all, I’ll carry out my duties like a proper wife. And…….”

    She stopped talking and bit her lower lip. Ariel’s lifted eyes sparkled.

    “I’ll become your wizard.”

    It was this.

    The only thing Ariel could suggest as a condition for this contracted marriage. She didn’t have money, power, or beauty, but she was confident in her magic skills. She could be useful to the other person with this method.

    Since magic can become money and power. The Grand Duke’s son leaned his head back as if he was interested.

    “My wizard, you say?”

    Ariel started chirping with all her might after her only card had been revealed.

    “I look strange and I don’t know how to do anything. But magic, I’m powerful in that area. Before…… no, I’m good at attacking magic.”

    She remembered how she had killed all the people in the La Carte household in the past. The Grand Duke’s son could have even been one of the people she killed. Which meant her alliance would be very beneficial to him.

    “I’ll protect you.”

    The Duke’s son responded in a strangely unclear tone.

    “You mean you want to propose a deal with me?”

    His question made it seem like they were about to make a devil’s contract or something. But Ariel nodded with no hesitation.

    “Yes. If you want I can show you magic right here.”

    “……There’s no need.”

    His hand closed in on Ariel’s soft cheek and grabbed it painfully.

    “Ow!”

    Ariel, whose cheek was pinched, looked up at him with teary eyes. The Duke’s son spoke in a relaxed tone.

    “I don’t want to see any more blood from that tiny body.”

    He let go of her cheek and walked towards the window, and released the b.u.t.terfly he had trapped in the gla.s.s cup.

    Ariel watched as the b.u.t.terfly shaped mana flew across the room towards her.

    The b.u.t.terfly landed in her hand and tickled her a little when she reached her hand out to it.

    It seemed to be whining that it suffered from the Grand Duke’s son. Ariel couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

    The Duke’s son, who was leaning on the wall and was watching her, spoke.

    “Okay. I accept your proposal.”

    Ariel widened her eyes.

    “You’re…… really going to accept it?”

    “Yes. But I also have one condition.”

    “What condition…….?”

    He cut her words off roughly.

    “You’ll know when the time comes.”

    Wuuuuh. He really only does stuff his way.

    Ariel puffed up her cheeks in secret in the dark. Did he seriously just turned fourteen? Although she had lived to be seventeen previously, he didn’t feel younger than her at all.

    Ariel nodded as she hoped that his request wouldn’t be too unreasonable.

    “I understand.”

    “Then, now we must earn permission from Marquis Lucilleon.”

    Frightened at the mention of her father, Ariel spoke in a small voice.

    “Father will disapprove for sure. And the Grand Duke…….”

    “I’ll take care of that part. You just need to stick next to me.”

    The Grand Duke’s son smirked at Ariel’s nearly crying expression as he spoke arrogantly without a single bit of doubt.

    “Anything I decide to do comes true. There’s no need for you to worry about that.”

    “……Yes.”

    “Let’s talk in more detail tomorrow, Ariella.”

    She blushed at unexpectedly hearing her name. How long has it been since someone called her by her full name?

    The Duke’s son opened the window he had entered through. He seemed to be leaving through the window, just as he entered.

    Ariel tossed him a question that was crossing her mind as she watched him, dazed.

    “By the way, what floor is this?”

    The Grand Duke’s son turned his head stiffly and brushed his bangs up from where he was holding onto the window frame with half of his body out the window.

    It looked like his face was reflected in the moonlight. Ariel was about to pay attention to his face when his reply took a hold of it. The Grand Duke’s son jumped out the window after casually replying.

    “4th floor.”

    Ariel contemplated if she should scream for a second.

    * * *

    There weren’t many people working at the secret La Carte family’s house.

    This meant people who were worth a hundred people in the work area were the ones who could last a long time in the Grand Duke’s house.

    Dalton, who was the treasurer, solicitor, and administrative processor of the Grand Duke’s household, sighed after seeing Lucian, who had crashed in late at night.





    “Y, you scared me, sir. ……Could you lower your threatening presence?”

    Lucian frowned as if he was annoyed, and the threatening presence that had filled the room disappeared.

    The Grand duke’s son held his hand out to Dalton after crashing in at such a late time.

    “Give it to me.”

    “Wh…… what do you mean?”

    ” A marriage contract.”

    “What?!”

    Dalton asked, so surprised to the point he could faint. He already knew it was impossible to understand the La Carte males’ actions with normal values, but there was no way for him to not be shocked at that time.

    “Why a marriage contract so suddenly? Are you getting married?”
     
  2. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    “What do you mean you need a marriage contract all of a sudden? Are you getting married?”

    “Tomorrow.”

    He’s crazy.

    Isn’t this too much even if he is apart of the La Carte family?

    The son of the Grand Duke was getting married tomorrow, and he was the only person who knew about it!

    “What about your bride? The bride at least knows about the marriage, right?”

    Lucian was someone who could just not tell the bride and drag her into the ceremony on the day of the ceremony.

    “It’s the girl we brought in earlier.”

    Dalton remembered the little girl with red hair he had moved to the guest room on the 4th floor.





    “Marquis Lucilleon’s daughter?”

    “Yes.”

    “So did she agree…….?”

    “You talk too much.”

    When the Grand Duke’s son waved his hand like he was annoyed, the st.u.r.dy oakwood desk broke down like a thin biscuit.

    “Hurry up and give me the contract.”

    Fear rose up out of instinct at the trained fourteen year old’s immense destructive power. It was a fear that would make anyone obey.

    But Dalton stood up against him stubbornly. He didn’t work at the La Carte family for a long time for no reason.

    “Wait, how can you just get married like this? Does the Grand Duke know about this?”

    Because the Grand Duke’s son was just minor, it was his duty to inform his father about the marriage.

    “I’ll tell Matias. You just get the papers ready.”

    “But marrying a lady you met for the first time…….”

    The Grand Duke’s son sat on the broken desk and crossed his legs. He looked like a predator who was in a good, relaxed mood.

    “Let’s just say I fell in love with her at first sight.”

    Love at first sight?!

    Dalton’s jaw dropped to the floor.

    Is that what the Grand Duke’s son, Lucian just said?

    Was he dreaming?

    “Shouldn’t you already be going?”

    Dalton hurried to get the marriage contract ready at the threat. The Grand Duke’s son could not be described as someone who had patience.

    But, wait.

    “The little lady from earlier is ten years old?”

    Dalton had seen the young lady from the marquis’ family as he let the doctor in.

    “Perhaps you mistakened it? Even if you are the son of the La Carte family it’s illegal to marry someone younger than ten!”

    “Then go look into the matter yourself.”

    He took the marriage papers from Dalton’s hand and flicked his fingers to open the door.

    “If she is indeed ten, I’ll break the rest of your desk.”

    After the Grand Duke’s son left, Dalton quickly looked through the information he had gathered and found the girl’s profile.

    “Born in year 801……?”

    She really was ten!

    “…….”

    Dalton looked at the st.u.r.dy, half-left oakwood desk with sad eyes.

    It was time to say goodbye to his precious desk.

    * * *

    Ariel returned to the bed and sat down after the Grand Duke’s son left. All the tension in her body went loose and her energy drained.

    ‘I did it.’

    She did it. She changed my fate. Her heart pounded loudly.

    She didn’t know how the future would change because of this, but it was an unbelievable change for her. It was hard to believe that she had finally escaped the Marquis’ family.

    ‘The Marquis’ family must be in a frenzy trying to look for me by now.’

    The fat butler and the two gatekeepers who fainted must’ve also joined in on the search and should be looking for all the places Ariel could be in.

    Jerome’s hunting dogs may have been called out as well.

    ‘But they won’t be able to find me.’

    Being a Marquis was definitely a high position since there were only seven in the country, but it wasn’t enough to go searching in the Grand Duke’s mansion.

    Ariel realized how she felt more safe in the Grand Duke’s mansion than anywhere else despite having never been here before.

    ‘If I get married……. Will I get to live here?’

    Ariel wrapped her cheeks with her hands after thinking.

    Oh my, I can’t believe I’m getting married.

    She still couldn’t believe she had come to the Grand Duke’s mansion to ask his son to marry her. She hadn’t hit reality yet and was in a daze.

    ‘I didn’t think he would accept so easily.’

    He had accepted the marriage proposal even though she hadn’t showed him how she can attack using her magic. It seemed like he wasn’t interested in her strength.

    ‘And he didn’t treat me strangely even after seeing my face.’

    Just by that, Ariel developed positive feelings for the Grand Duke’s son, who had behaved as he pleased.

    He was as arrogant as what a Grand Duke’s son should be, but the arrogance didn’t seemed to be directed at Ariel. He was probably arrogant towards everyone.

    ‘I wonder what he looks like…….’

    She became a little disappointed that she couldn’t see his face because of the dark room and the moonlight that shined behind him.

    Speaking of, she just got engaged without even seeing her fiancé’s face! Even though Ariel showed him her strange looking face and red hair. Ariel puffed her cheeks because she felt that it was unfair.

    “Yawn”

    She had only been sitting for a short while, but sleep came easily to a young girl.

    Ariel crawled back into the soft blanket after yawning with her small mouth. She felt like her body could melt at the difference in texture from the blanket she had used till yesterday.

    ‘I’m tired…….’

    Not only had she been tense the whole day, but the aftereffects of using magic was pouring in and Ariel’s mind began to lose focus.

    Without knowing that the boy who she had gotten engaged to had already set up the wedding for tomorrow, or that a kind maid would come in in the morning to get her ready.

    The small girl curled up her small body and fell asleep.

    * * *

    The air became colder as the night deepened.

    The cold wind was howling on the outside, but it was quiet in the Grand Duke’s mansion.

    Lucian Desmond La Carte frowned as he headed towards the Grand Duke’s office.

    If it was just some marriage he would’ve told Dalton to inform the Grand Duke and left it there. But this one was a complicated one.

    Lucian put his dark hair back to get rid of his disgust for the Grand Duke.

    The Grand Duke’s office was open.

    When he entered the room, the man with long black hair at the desk lifted his gaze slightly from his files.

    Lucian and the Grand Duke’s cold gazes met.

    “What is it?”

    “Matias. I don’t know what you had in mind to let them in.”

    The Grand Duke was silent for a moment, and replied.

    “How could I not? An injured little girl was lying in front of the house.”

    “You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

    “…….”

    The mood between the Grand Duke and his son got more and more tense with each statement.

    The Grand Duke spoke first.

    “……You’re right, I had to let the crimson heart in since it came to us with its own feet.”

    “Don’t you find it strange that it did?”

    “Of course I was suspicious. It’s not normal for a child like her to come find us coughing up blood.”

    “But you still put her in the guest room.”

    “I wanted to ask her why she was here when she woke up.”

    The Grand Duke switched the subject after replying.

    “But you got to her before me. I’ll ask you since you went to see her. How was it, is she worth being suspicious of?”

    “…….”

    Lucian glared at the Grand Duke and dropped his gaze to his right hand.

    The touch of grabbing the red haired girl’s chin was still in his hand. He thought of the sweet eyes he saw close up. And the wish the girl had desperately asked him.

    ‘Please marry me.’

    Lucian clenched his teeth.

    “……It doesn’t seem like she knew anything. If she did, she wouldn’t have come to this monster’s den.”

    After speaking as if he was making fun of himself, he lifted his gaze.

    “And even if she did know, it doesn’t matter.”

    “It doesn’t?”

    Lucian’s eyes became dark.

    “It said it would become mine. Since it reached its hand out to me first, I don’t plan on getting my possession stolen. Of course, I won’t leave it to die either.”

    He placed the marriage agreement contract down loudly on the Grand Duke’s desk after he had finished speaking.

    The Grand Duke calmly looked over the contract and signed.

    “I’ll allow it. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep her around.”

    The ink the Grand Duke used to sign let out a strange light and stained in blue.

    Right, you and I are monsters like this.

    He held the signed marriage agreement contract as if he was crumpling it.

    “I’ll take care of the rest.”

    The air from the Grand Duke’s son as he walked out the room was cold enough to freeze all the air in the world.

    To the Grand Duke, Matias, Lucian’s last words came off as terrifying.

    “Once I become an adult, I’ll kill you.”

    After the door was shut closed, the Grand Duke, who was left alone, spoke with a drained expression.

    “He’s not cute at all.”

    * * *

    The blackout drapes that were on top of the white curtains opened and the morning sun shined brightly into the large room.

    “Please wake up, little miss.”

    “Uuung…….”

    Ariel covered her face with her arms and pushed herself into the pillow because of the bright light.

    The pillow was large and soft enough to hide Ariel’s entire head.

    “Miss.”

    The unfamiliar calling was what woke Ariel up.

    A soft, kind, voice of an adult woman.

    Ariel woke up immediately due to her lack of experience waking up to such a voice.

    When she woke up, the middle aged woman in front of her made a warm smile.

    “What a good girl you are, not making a fuss.”





    The woman put a cushion behind Ariel’s back to make her sit up straight while Ariel blinked, trying to figure out the situation.

    “I heard you were from a n.o.ble family. How did you normally eat for breakfast? Did you have a simple soup? Or would you like an egg, white bread, and thick bean soup?”

    Finally realizing she had come out of the Marquis’ house and was at the Grand Duke’s mansion, Ariel spoke.

    “Um, Who are you?”

    The woman smiled as if Ariel was the cutest thing ever. Because everyone in the house was a male, having a girl around was extremely rare.

    “I’m the head maid of this mansion, Madam Susan.”

    Head maid……?

    Ariel’s eyes widened. She knew how much power a head maid had in the house. The head maid was like the right arm of the mistress.

    If there was no mistress like Ariel’s family, the head maid had even more power.



    There was a proverb that said, “If you look at a maid wrongly, you won’t even get any soup.” A head maid of a high status family would receive good treatment. From what Ariel saw, all the maidservants were afraid of a Head Maid’s words.

    “Ah, h.e.l.lo Madam Susan.”

    If Ariel was a normal daughter of the Marquis, right away she would’ve informally given orders to the Head Maid in a comfortable manner.

    However, at home Ariel was treated even lesser than a maid. To her, the Head Maid was to be regarded with absolute respect.

    Sensing the little girl in front of her was being respectful, Susan was a little impressed by her.

    For Susan, who had no idea about Ariel’s background, thought that this young lady from a prestigious household was very humble.

    Laughing gently, Susan spoke.

    “Miss is allowed to treat me comfortably.”

    “No. I still have many things I don’t know. Later, I’ll be learning from Madam Susan… I can’t treat your comfortably.”





    There was some truth to Ariel’s words. It was clear that Ariel would have a lot to learn when she got married in the near future. Ariel’s answer gave Susan’s heart a warm feeling. The little girl who spoke in childlike voice about wanting to learn was praiseworthy and adorable.

    “Alright then, Miss. But excluding me, you have to speak informally to the other maids. Understand?”

    “Yes, I will do that.”

    “And don’t call me Madam Susan, just call me Susan.”

    Ariel looked at her with wide eyes.

    “Can I really?”

    “I don’t see why not. It’s because I want Miss to be friendly with me that’s why I’m requesting.”

    At her kind words, Ariel’s cheeks flushed.

    “Then…I’ll call you Susan.”

    Susan smiled and offered breakfast to Ariel.

    “If you don’t mind, it’ll be good to have a full meal. Today will be a long day for Miss.”

    Ariel nodded her head and was rewarded. A bed table was set up so she could eat while sitting up, and Susan placed her food on top of it. With one bite, Ariel was surprised by the mild, milk-fragrant pea soup.

    “It’s delicious!”

    At Ariel’s childlike reaction, Susan gave a pleased laugh.

    “The Grand Duke’s Chef is an excellent cook. Even so, I’m glad it suits your taste.”

    Ariel had never had anything like this before. In particular, she only thought that soup was supposed to be watery and had poor ingredients. But this pea soup was thick, and the chef generously added the cream which made it sweet.

    Her cheeks glowed with delight. Savory half-boiled eggs partnered with white wheat bread which were baked until they were golden brown. It seemed like it was just a simple dish that required no skill, but for this taste, the effort was two or three times of such a simple dish.

    At the end of Ariel’s meal, Susan began to speak softly.

    “In a little bit, you will be going to your parents with the Grand Duke’s son to ask your father’s permission for marriage.”

    Ariel nodded her head. For Marriage regarding n.o.ble children under the age of 18, parental consent was the primary obstacle.

    The Grand Duke’s son and Ariel had already promised to marry each other, but if the Grand Duke or the Marquis would forbid the marriage, it cannot happen.

    It was only natural to get permission from both parents before discussing the contract marriage with the Grand Duke’s son.

    Will the Grand Duke really allow his only son to marry?

    At Ariel’s worried expression, Susan smiled.

    “Don’t worry. The Grand Duke has already agreed to your marriage with Sir Lucian. Now it’s time for the Grand Duke to have a hard time taking away another’s precious daughter.”

    Precious daughter…

    Ariel hid her troubled look on her face.

    ‘Susan treats me like a young princess who grew up to be treated dearly by her father. In reality, it’s not true at all’

    Susan, who cleared the bowl away neatly, clapped energetically.

    “If you’ve eaten your fill, why don’t we get started already?”

    Susan brought Ariel to the bathroom, informing her she was the only one who would be helping her get ready.

    “Young maidens who haven’t been married yet should not let other servants simply touch them.”

    As she said so, she poured the steaming bath water in the stone bathtub where Ariel would be placed, and scented foam rose from the water.

    “Now, into the bath you go, Miss.”

    Ariel faltered and clenched her clothes.

    “Could I wash alone?”

    Taking it that the little girl was shy, Susan smiled playfully.

    “Grown up girls shouldn’t be shy about taking baths. You’ll need to get used to this.”

    “But…”

    “Quickly! Now, hooray!”

    In a whirl her clothes were lifted over her head. Susan lifted Ariel up and plopped her into the bath.

    “There you go, soak your body in the warm water…”

    Ariel tried to cover her naked body with her small hands and arms, but it was not enough.

    Not knowing what to do, she turned her back to Sujan.

    “How are you this thin…”

    Looking at Ariel’s small, skinny frame, Susan’s muttering died down. The little girl, who looked like she was only seven, was covered with scars all over her body from being beaten.

    “Miss, what is this…”

    Ariel shut her eyes, as if hoping the time would disappear.

    Susan was very angry that someone would even have the audacity to beat such a beautiful young girl. Where do they think they’re hitting! Her eyes glared at the scars, thoroughly examining them. There was only one who could habitually a.s.sault such a young aristocratic daughter.

    The father.

    Susan realized Ariel did not live a favourable life in a normal respectable family. Her eyes softened and she turned Ariel around with a gentle hand.

    Ariel lowered her head. She was afraid that Susan would hear how it happened. The marquis and everyone always explained to her that she was being hit because she was in the wrong.

    Because you did wrong, you need to be hit.

    You deserve to be hit.

    Ariel was afraid Susan, who she met for the first time, would see her that way, and would ask in detail about the Marquis. Then she heard Susan speak in a friendly voice

    “Miss, are your wounds still painful?”

    Ariel shook her head and gestured at her arm which was relatively fresh from being hit.

    “Besides here… it doesn’t hurt anywhere anymore.”

    Susan looked at Ariel with pitiful eyes and kindly wrapped her in a hug.

    “Okay, I’ll wash the foam off. If it hurts, tell me.”

    The bath was gentle as it can be. Susan didn’t hurt her at all, and skillfully cleaned Ariel with speed.

    Ariel, who had been cowering because of the possibility that she was going to be asked about the cause of her wounds would arise, gradually had her worries fade away as Susan didn’t say anything and gently washed her.

    After finishing, Susan dried Ariel with a large towel. Ariel was so small she was enveloped in the towel. Susan, who finished wiping her body, started drying her red hair.

    “When you get married, I’ll have to trim your long hair. For now, you’re still another household’s daughter.” Sujan said ruefully.

    Susan braided her striking scarlet red, which came down until Ariel’s behind, and arranged it into a child’s bonnet, leaving a curly charming crown on top. Then she brought out a pretty dress that was fitted to Ariel’s body.

    The light beige baby-doll dress was a set with the bonnet. The interior of the bonnet was layered with white lace and on the side was an ivory ribbon. Her dress was also made of white lace overlaying thick, light beige cloth, giving a dainty and elegant feel. At the center of the dress’s chest was a cream colored ribbon made of silk broadcloth. The center of the ribbon was decorated with a cameo brooch. The dress had a soft lining so it was snug.

    It was completely different from Ariels baggy, tattered clothes. To be wearing a dress and a bonnet, even a pair of non-heeled boots made of soft leather,

    ‘Wow, I look like a lady.’

    Looking at herself, Ariel really looked like she transformed into a n.o.ble’s daughter.

    “Though you’re young, I was about to put a red color on your lips, but I see you don’t need it! The color of your lips is very beautiful.”

    Susan, who spoke brightly, praised Ariel for being blessed with pink lips.

    “Like a lady, you’ll enter with such a beautiful ambiance. Everyone will definitely fall in love with you.”

    At those words, Ariel was doubtful. Beautiful? That was impossible.

    ‘I’ve obviously become more neat, but…’

    Ariel, who believed she looked ugly, did not really think she was pretty, although Susan’s compliment only strengthened her impression that Susan was a good person.

    “If we don’t hurry up, we’ll be late. Now, shall we go?”

    Susan led Ariel out by the shoulders and as they exited the mansion, dazzling sunlight poured from the skies. Beyond the sunlight was a handsome tall boy.

    “The Grand Duke’s son is already here.”

    The boy was slim, tall, and beautiful. Those that didn’t know could see the black suit he wore was extremely costly. Only his necktie was noticeably loose and he looked slightly defiant.

    “You’re here.”

    “Yes…uwahh?!”

    He abruptly s.n.a.t.c.hed her from Susan, catching her by her side like a toy.

    “It’s not a good hobby to keep me waiting.”

    Ariel had knit her eyebrows in the glare of the sun, but now she gazed upon him.

    The Grand duke’s son’s face who she didn’t see yesterday was full of delight under the sunlight.





    But..

    Ah?

    Ariel stiffened at the sight of the Grand Duke’s son Lucian.

    ‘This person is….?’

    It was a face she knew. Short jet black hair and dark blue eyes.

    ‘Killing all of La Carte’s knights. What are you?’

    ‘I’ll help you so grab my hand.’

    A daunting and beautiful young man she met on the streets of La Carte in the past.

    The Grand Duke’s successor, Lucian Desmond La Carte, had that guy’s face.
     
    AerynJay, Shey_04, augacutan and 7 others like this.
  3. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    “…….”

    Ariel was so shocked that she could not even blink and just continued to stare at his face.

    ‘The person back then…… was actually the Grand Duke’s son?’

    She never could have guessed.

    Since there was no mention of an heir at the La Carte family at all back then.

    She did not know much about the things that happened in the world because she followed ‘him’ and his group of wizards, but even she knew that much.

    The story of the Young Grand Duke who became the Grand Duke when he was just twenty years old.

    By that time he was already the grand duke, people didn’t even know there was even an heir in the first place.

    And the previous grand duke…… what happened to him?





    It wasn’t just a normal pa.s.sing of status. She couldn’t really remember what was it.

    The face of the boy in front of Ariel took away all other suspicions. His looks were not realistic at all. His pitch-black hair was neat, and his exposed forehead looked hard and elegant like gypsum.

    But the gradient in the shape of his eyes gave off a dangerous atmosphere. Not only did it place fear in the people who looked at him, but it also enchanted them at the same time.

    His long eyelashes covered his eyes as he looked down arrogantly. One could feel an incredible feeling by watching him do this and Ariel felt her heart pause for a moment before thumping fast once more.

    ‘How could someone look like this?’

    His long nose and red lips were perfect, and his jawline and neck, which were not developed enough to be called a man’s, were white like a boy’s. The little mole at the edge of his eyes added on a s.e.xy atmosphere to him as well. Not only was his face different, but the air coming off of him was simply different from all the other average men.

    This was why she could be sure of it.

    The boy she had seen in the past was the same person as the Grand Duke’s son. The Grand Duke’s son’s appearance was much younger than she remembered. He was already tall and had a strong aura that was incomparable to normal fourteen-year-olds, but he was still a boy.

    “Why are you looking at me like that?”

    Ariel answered as if she had been hypnotized at his sudden question.

    “B-because you’re pretty…….”

    Her face turned red as she blurted out the truth subconsciously. Lucian twisted the corner of his mouth and smiled.

    “I thought there was something wrong with your beauty standards, but I guess that wasn’t the case.”

    “What?”

    He completely ignored Ariel’s question and climbed into the carriage.

    “Let’s go.”

    Seriously, he only says whatever he wants.

    Ariel complained in her head and wiggled out of his arm to take her seat in the carriage. The seat in the carriage was high, so her feet were in the air instead of the floor.

    Ariel moved her feet a little in the air. The inside of the carriage was silent. She felt like the Grand Duke’s son was gazing at her, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze and continued to stare at the floor.

    ‘I was too scared in the past to think about it, but he really is a beautiful person.’

    I can’t believe I have to stand next to someone so beautiful.

    Ariel could feel her confidence disappearing completely. Of course, his face was one that would make anyone’s confidence disappear.

    “Raise your head.”

    A command fell over her as she was staring at the patterns on the bottom of the carriage. Ariel instinctively lifted her head. Lucian spoke as he stared down at her coldly.

    “Only those in front of me can put their heads down. I won’t forgive anyone if it was someone standing next to me was staring at the floor.”

    He added arrogantly as Ariel blinked.

    “Standing next to me means you belong to me.”

    In conclusion, he meant to say was ‘stop staring at the floor and raise your head’.

    Ariel nodded as she wet her dry lips.

    “Yes.”

    He loosened his lips in satisfaction as Ariel faced him. The scene looked just like a piece of art.

    “…….”

    Ariel finally felt a sense of realization.

    Ah.

    ‘Come to think of it, I actually did meet that person.’

    The one person she truly wanted to meet when coming to the Grand Duke’s mansion. The man with black hair and blue eyes. The fact that he was actually the Grand Duke’s son made it a little difficult for her, but one of her greatest wishes had been granted today. She felt as if she had moved onto a new chapter in her life.

    ‘Is it…… changing?’

    Warm and soft dresses, soft leather boots that don’t even need getting used to, and even the people she was with……. Many things changed in a short amount of time and as she saw the morning scenery through the carriage’s window, another realization hit Ariel.

    ‘Yesterday already pa.s.sed!’

    The day her life had begun breaking apart in the past. The night she supposedly lost her left leg from her father’s beating had pa.s.sed. The little girl who had gotten her hair grabbed, pulled down the stairs, and beaten till she fainted was not here anymore.

    Just like how the sun pushed away the darkness to create morning. Ariel, who had pushed away the tragedy of the past had definitely changed.

    She smiled slightly as she saw the Marquis’ mansion approach from far away.

    * * *

    Marquis Lucilleon was not in his right mind.

    He had poured all his attention into serving the Monica couple for a mine business but received a report early in the afternoon telling him that the cursed bas.e.m.e.nt girl had disappeared.

    “What? How did she run away when we locked her up?!”

    “T-the thing is…… the miss used magic…….”

    The Marquis grabbed the ashtray and threw it.

    “I told you not to speak of magic in this household didn’t I?!”

    He beat up the servant who reported the issue to him and sent out people to find the girl.

    d.u.c.h.ess Monica did point out the messy atmosphere of the mansion, but there was no impact on their business proposal.

    But Ariel had not been found even after the Monica couple left late at night. They could not even find a single strand of red hair.

    “You’re trying to get money out of me but you can’t even find a ten year old girl!”

    The Marquis’ anger had stacked up all the way to the tip of his head, and he began grinding his teeth.

    I provided a girl who wasn’t even my real daughter with food and clothing, and this is how she repays me?

    “Just wait till you’re caught. I’ll fix your manners for good this time!”

    She won’t even think about running away if her limbs are broken. The Marquis drank endlessly as he thought of how to punish Ariel the moment she was caught and fell asleep afterward.

    And when he woke up the next morning feeling sick, he received shocking news.

    “The heir of the La Carte Grand Duke is visiting our house?”

    Lucian, the Grand Duke’s son.

    Even the Marquis had only ever heard of him through rumors.

    He had been telling his thirteen-year-old son Jerome, who would begin attending the academy next year, that he had to befriend the Grand Duke’s son.

    But he was coming to visit!

    ‘It hasn’t been long since the new year began, and I’ve met the Duke and now the Grand Duke. I seem to be having good luck this year.’

    The Marquis laughed inside. The thought of Ariel disappeared from his mind as soon as he heard the news about the Grand Duke’s son.

    Ariel’s existence was insignificant to him.

    He kicked out the fat butler who had fainted yesterday and ordered the servants to clean the mansion again.

    And he went out to greet the carriage at the time the Grand Duke’s son had said he would come.

    As expected of the Grand Duke’s family, the carriage was majestic despite the fact that only one person was riding in it.

    There was a seal of the Grand Duke etched into the wall of the carriage in gold, and four healthy horses pulled on it. The coachman, who was dressed as well as the Marquis, opened the door and a boy got off elegantly.

    His look was one that dominated the surrounding immediately.

    “Sir La Carte.”

    He pressed his son’s head as he lowered his body to greet the Grand Duke’s son.

    Jerome lowered his head as he made noises of complaints.

    “Are you going to stay like that?”

    An arrogant voice poured over them. The Grand Duke’s son smiled as the Marquis lifted his head slowly. It was a smile that somehow sent chills down one’s spine.

    “Not everyone has gotten off the carriage.”

    The Marquis turned his gaze towards the carriage at his words.

    If it’s someone with a status that can ride in the same carriage as the Grand Duke’s son…….

    ‘Perhaps……!’

    Did the Grand Duke come as well?

    If that was the case, this was something big.

    The Marquis gulped at stared at the person getting off the carriage after the Grand Duke’s son.

    The Grand Duke’s son offered his hand and gently pulled the person out. It was a little girl who looked about eight. The Marquis could not recognize the face of the girl who was dressed so regal for a moment.

    Right then, Jerome, who had been standing next to him, opened his mouth with a surprised expression.

    “Huk, dad, that’s…….”

    And the Marquis realized.

    The n.o.ble young lady in front of him was none other than the bas.e.m.e.nt girl he was determined to punish just a few hours ago.

    * * *

    “You……!”

    Ariel could see the Marquis’ face had turned red and blue in a matter of moments.

    She imagined that she would get grabbed by the collar or get hit by a fist instantly. The Marquis’ expression was so uncontrolled to the point Ariel thought this way.

    Cough.

    Dalton, who had followed Lucian’s carriage, had come up and coughed awkwardly. The Marquis, finally noticing the Grand Duke’s son, changed his expression. Lucian flicked his finger in an unfriendly way.

    “Dalton, tell Marquis Lucilleon how this happened.”

    Dalton began speaking skillfully.

    “Sir. The Grand Duke’s son found Miss Ariel, who was lost, while on an outing yesterday. He called the doctor to heal her as well because she seemed injured.”

    That wasn’t the case at all but it was a story that made sense. The fact that Ariel, who was the daughter of a Marquis, was outside without a supervisor was enough to ruin the Marquis’ reputation.

    Which was why there was no way the Marquis could deny this lie.

    Lucian added on smoothly.





    “But the Grand Duke seemed to take a liking to this lady. He says he would like to take her in as his daughter-in-law.”

    There was no hesitation in Lucian’s voice as he used his father as an excuse.

    “Of course……”

    He lowered himself to kiss Ariel’s hand and looked up at the Marquis.

    “I also have taken a liking to this young lady.”

    The Marquis began stuttering after looking at the two of them with a pale expression.

    “Y-you mean.”

    Lucian twisted his red lips into a devilish smile.

    “I’m officially proposing to Ariella Lucilleon.”

    A huge disturbance rose up in the Marquis’ house.

    There had already been a huge disturbance when news. .h.i.t that the Grand Duke’s heir, Sir La Carte would be visiting.

    But the scene that was unfolding right now was one that no one had expected.

    The lady of the house was next to the Grand Duke’s son as the Marquis showed them around while sweating?

    The maids and servants were busy glancing and whispering in the corners.

    The Marquis glared at them as he looked around the mansion.

    The Marquis waved his hand as if he was telling the servants to scram, and they immediately ran away.

    After moving indoors and sitting across the Grand Duke’s son, the Marquis began calculating furiously in his head.

    ‘I don’t know what magic that b.i.t.c.h used to lure the Grand Duke’s son, but this is a chance for our family.’





    It couldn’t get better than a marriage with the Grand Duke’s son.

    ‘That useless thing is finally repaying me. And here I thought she’d be useless forever.’

    The Marquis, forcefully hiding his inner thoughts, sent a warm look towards Ariel.

    “Ariella, you don’t know how worried I was when you disappeared yesterday. I couldn’t even sleep because I was trying to find my precious daughter…….”

    That b.i.t.c.h was always dying to earn my love.

    So if I just act nice now, she’ll take her father’s side.

    And since the Grand Duke’s son was young enough to be his son, it would be a piece of cake to lure him into doing what he wanted.

    “Everyone in the house was looking for you. Jerome and I were planning on giving up food and water until we found you.”

    It was a shameless lie.

    But Ariel wasn’t foolish enough to refute him right then.

    She even felt that the situation was very funny since it got this far.

    “You’re not blaming your father for not being able to find you sooner, are you?”

    The Marquis who always brought her down and abused her was now struggling to match her mood.

    Before Ariel could respond, a laugh came from Lucian.

    “Isn’t it normal to ask your daughter about her injury first?”

    Sweat formed at the Marquis’ forehead.

    “T-that’s right! Ariel, how is your injury? Where were you injured?”

    He was acting so kindly, but Ariel kept an emotionless expression.

    “I’m fine, father.”

    Ariel replied in a rigid tone, and Lucian taunted him.

    “Oh my. You must not have received that much love from your daughter.”

    Darn it, that b.i.t.c.h wasn’t like this before. Why is she making such an unfamiliar look……!

    The Marquis was about to come up with an excuse, but Lucian flicked his finger and changed the atmosphere.

    He was a mere boy, but he had the power to make everyone look at him.

    “I’m getting sick of this. I would like to talk about the marriage now, Marquis.”

    He laughed coldly.

    “As you know, I don’t have that much time.”

    At that moment Ariel thought to herself.

    Lucian must have an ability that allowed him to control anyone he faced.

    * * *

    The Marquis gazed at the marriage papers Dalton laid out in front of him.

    A parent consent form for the minor’s marriage, marriage contract, pre-marriage contract…….

    Out of those, the pre-marriage contract was not about the contract Ariel and Lucian had.

    After all, a marriage between n.o.bles wasn’t so simple.

    Because it was a contract between two families, the land, property, succession, and other things had to be properly discussed because it could bring complications in the future.

    To prevent these problems, n.o.bles made pre-marriage contracts.

    Since it was a pre-marriage contract from the La Carte family, there was bound to be information on the wedding gifts.

    The Marquis pressed down his curiosity about the wedding gifts he would receive.

    He had to be patient if he wanted something more.

    The Marquis foolishly believed that he still had the upper hand in this situation.

    “Sir, I’m grateful that you and the Grand Duke have taken a liking to my daughter, but my daughter is too young.”

    He made a fake loving expression.

    “I don’t want to send off my precious daughter for marriage all of a sudden. So, how about you guys just get engaged instead?”

    If they got engaged, he could still keep Ariel in the house and form a relationship with the Grand Duke family.

    The Marquis planned on harshly teaching Ariel during the engagement period to bring him fame and power from the Grand Duke’s family to the Marquis family.

    Lucian leaned into the chair comfortably. Then he spit out arrogantly.

    “That doesn’t work.”

    “What?”

    “There is no such thing as engagement in the La Carte book. If we say we’re getting married, we’re getting married.”

    He frowned slightly.

    “Or maybe you have some significant problem why you can’t let your daughter get married?”

    The Marquis clenched his fists under the table.

    d.a.m.n, how does this young kid not back down even just one bit?

    Seeing the hostility pa.s.s by in the Marquis’ eyes, Lucian let out a bit of his powers.

    When he did so, everyone in the same s.p.a.ce was trapped in an illusion that they were facing a beast’s shadow.

    The Marquis, who felt Lucian’s power from right across, turned pale and was trembling.

    You couldn’t stay sane after feeling this much fear.

    ‘What the h.e.l.l…… This can’t possibly be a young child’s power!’

    Lucian controlled his power again after seeing that even Ariel, who was sitting next to him, had frozen up a bit.

    He could hear everyone in the room sighing once the power that had been pressing the atmosphere disappeared.

    Lucian smiled in a frightening matter as if nothing was wrong.

    “If you don’t agree, your business will be impacted. Will that be okay?”

    “…….”

    Afterall, Marquis Lucilleon was someone who was ‘strong to the weak, and weak to the strong’.

    He thought of the fear he had felt just now, and thought of the Grand Duke’s power, which had the possibility of cutting off his business completely.

    And he quickly came to a conclusion.

    “N-no…….”

    “Then it’s decided.”

    Lucian said refreshingly and flicked his finger at Dalton.

    Dalton pushed the agreement paper towards the Marquis.

    The Marquis, whose expression stained with defeat, signed the paper.

    Then he appealed to Ariel, who he thought of as a pushover.

    “Ariel, you’re going to come and see your father and brother even after you get married right? We treated you so well because you were the youngest child. We’ll be so lonely once you’re gone…….”

    He searched Lucian’s face.

    “I’ll need a lot of things to distract me from that loneliness.”

    He’s demanding money.

    Understanding the Marquis’ intent immediately, Lucian tossed the pre-marriage contract at him.

    “I’ll give you the sapphire mine at Hilton as a marriage gift.”

    A sapphire mine!

    The Marquis’ eyes widened.

    Not a bag of sapphires or a year’s right to mine at the mine, but the whole mine?

    For this one girl?

    Then Lucian pointed at Dalton with his chin.

    “The details will be covered by our family’s treasurer.”

    “T-thank you, sir!”

    Lucian twisted the corners of his mouth upwards.

    “To me, Ariel’s worth is incomparable to something like a mere mine.”

    Ariel looked up at him silently.

    “…….”

    The situation right now was similar to the past when her father sold her to the villain.

    The villain wanted her, and her father had bargained until he reached a price he was satisfied with.

    ‘They’re bargaining with me just as they did in the past…….’

    Somehow, this time she didn’t feel offended by it.

    It actually felt like her confidence was being boosted.

    Perhaps it was because this boy was treating her like she was a precious individual rather than treating her as an object in order to bargain prices?

    The Marquis’ happy expression soon became dark.

    “Uh, Sir. About the dowry…….”

    Normally, the marriage gift from the groom and the dowry from the bride had to be similar.

    But the Marquis could not prepare something worth as much as the sapphire mine for the dowry.

    It would be difficult even if he stopped all his businesses and changed it to cash.

    Lucian closed his eyes as if he was annoyed.

    “No need for a dowry.”

    He twisted his chin and looked at the Marquis coercively.

    “Those who want a dowry are just men who can’t even care for their own woman or think their woman is not worth too much.”

    “Y-you’re right.”

    Lucian smiled in satisfaction when the Marquis agreed to match his mood.

    He tapped his fingers lightly on the chair’s armrest.

    “But since Ariella is a young lady, I will take the things she used in this house.”

    “What……?”

    The Marquis’ face went rigid instantly.

    “I would love to buy a complete new set for her, but I don’t want her environment to change until she gets used to it.”

    The boy’s deep blue eyes glinted wickedly.

    “Marquis, please lead the way to the room Lady Ariel used.”

    * * *

    This time, Ariel was a bit surprised as well.

    She planned on getting an agreement out the Marquis and leaving as soon as possible.

    She thought Lucian felt the same.

    Since this was just a part of the contract for him.

    So, she believed he wouldn’t do anything to make things bothersome for himself.

    But after having taken care of the agreement papers, Lucian’s eyes were gleaming with motivation, more than any other time.

    Ariel gazed at the Marquis, who had turned pale.

    The room she had stayed in was the terrible attic at the top of the mansion. There was evidence of abuse in several parts of the room as well.

    There was no way the Marquis could take Lucian there.

    But for some reason, the Marquis began laughing loudly.

    “Hahaha, of course! I’ll take you there immediately.”

    The Marquis began leading the way with Lucian, Ariel, and Dalton following.

    As expected, he was not headed for the stairs that led to the attic.

    Heading for the 2nd floor through the large stairs in the middle, he reached a room and pulled the handles to open the door.

    “Here it is!”

    The room was full of furniture and things that a child would use.

    The oakwood furniture polished in oil were luxurious, and there wasn’t a single toy that was cheap.

    The only problem was…….

    “Ah, Dad!”

    This was Jerome’s room.

    The Marquis quickly spoke to Jerome before anyone else could.

    “Gosh, Jerome! You’re in your little sister’s room again!”





    “Huh?”

    Jerome, who was slow-witted unless if it was to play pranks on her, did not understand the meaning behind his words.

    “What are you talking about, this is my…… heup!”

    The Marquis quickly covered his son’s mouth and made a fake smile.

    END OF CHAPTER 10.

    I know it’s been a while since we’ve updated any of our novels, rest a.s.sured that we’d be back on track for translating them. Frankly, I’m not the one to post a lot of my ramblings whenever I post because I think people wouldn’t read them.

    These days, I just think about how SLC has grown to what it is and we literally have a lot of staff more than even my fingers could count. And to all our amazing commoners, who’s just always active in SLC and also to others who give their silent support and love, I just couldn’t believe how much we’d grown until now.

    I honestly just wanted to thank each and every one of the staff for keeping SLC as it is right now, it always gives me a warm feeling to upload every time, because I know the staff has worked incredibly hard on it.

    I am not a perfect person by far and I know I make a lot of mistakes, I guess what I wanted to say is I’d strive to be better to always give you guys quality content. This is me just being very emotional at 2:47 am.

    I wish you all a good day and good health~ Always take care of yourselves guys and adios! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did.
     
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  4. Geedi

    Geedi Well-Known Member

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    So whAt happend to her dad and how did je get his due
     
  5. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    “My son often visits this room because I buy Ariel such nice things. Jerome, go back to your room.”

    “This is my……!”

    Jerome left the room with a frustrated look after his mouth was once again covered while he spoke.

    Lucian leisurely looked over the room.

    “The color of the room is quite dark for a lady’s room.”

    “Haha, it’s because Ariel doesn’t like pink colors or lace.”

    It must have been because he had already seen Ariel gasp in amazement at the soft pink slippers.

    Lucian scoffed.

    “That doesn’t seem true.”





    After saying this, he looked around and pointed at a few objects in the room.

    “Is that a statue you gifted to the lady?”

    “What? Ah, yes. I gifted it to my daughter after a trip…….”

    It was actually an expensive gift he gave to his son Jerome.

    Lucian spoke gladly.

    “Then I’ll be taking it since it belongs to her.”

    The Marquis was at a loss for words.

    “What about the painting on the wall? That belongs to the lady as well?”

    “……Yes.”

    It was actually a precious painting that was there as an inheritance and as an investment piece for his son.

    But since he had said the room was Ariel’s, there was no choice but to give it up.

    After taking all the expensive things in Jerome’s room, Lucian looked out the window.

    “Whose toy carriage is that outside? It can’t possibly belong to your son since he’s all grown up, right?”

    The Marquis clenched his teeth and barely replied.

    “O-of course it belongs to my daughter…….”

    Soon, all the things that Jerome treasured and bragged about belonged to Ariel.

    Lastly, Lucian turned back to the Marquis after he ordered Dalton to take everything out.

    His expression was even more evil and playful than before.

    “Right, shouldn’t you give Ariel a gift to remember her family?”



    He looked over the Marquis from head to toe.

    His eyes showed that he thought he was looking at someone lower than him.

    “The necklace you have on would do the job.”

    The Marquis clenched the expensive necklace that had a bronze-colored jewel.

    The necklace was one of their family heirlooms.

    “T-this…….”

    Lucian spoke as if he were threatening the Marquis.

    “You’re not planning to not even gift a family heirloom to your only precious daughter who’s getting married, are you?”

    The Marquis shut his eyes.

    He repeated the words ‘sapphire mine’ over and over in his head.

    Ultimately, after thinking of the immense profit the sapphire mine would bring, he handed the heirloom necklace to Lucian.

    With that, Lucian left the Marquis’ house.

    Dalton rode on the carriage behind them transporting all of Jerome’s possessions that now belonged to Ariel.

    When he saw them, the Marquis pressed his lips together to control his anger.

    “When are you planning on holding the wedding?”

    “Today.”

    “What?!”

    As if the Marquis’ shock didn’t even matter, Lucian grabbed Ariel’s waist and climbed into the carriage.

    “Kya.”

    Lucian spoke after practically kidnapping Ariel into the carriage.

    “After today she’ll be Ariella La Carte, not Ariella Lucilleon.”

    He declared like a devil after smiling like a fallen angel.

    “The next time we meet, I hope you’ll address my wife as the Lady of the Grand Duke’s house, Marquis. If you don’t, I’ll take it that you are looking down on the La Carte family.”

    And Lucian added refreshingly.

    “Right, you can’t attend the wedding. I won’t allow it.”

    His eyes and tone while saying this was so fearsome that the Marquis could not even nod his head.

    Lucian’s eyes looked over the servants that had come out to greet them.

    And when he did, all of them turned pale and lowered their gaze.

    The people of the Marquis’ house could not do anything but stare until the carriage that held Lucian and Ariel completely disappeared from their sight.

    * * *

    “Is that really alright?”

    Ariel asked carefully in the carriage.

    Lucian raised his eyes after loosening his tie completely.

    “What?”

    “Not allowing my father to come to the wedding.”

    He replied shortly.

    “Yup.”

    Uh…… So can you explain why it’s okay? Don’t just say what you want.

    Ariel stared up at him with round eyes.

    Lucian glanced at her and let out a laugh.

    “You couldn’t even look at me earlier.”

    “I-I’m going to become your real wife now so…….”

    Lucian tossed a file onto her knees as she let out an unreasonable excuse.

    “Read it.”

    Ariel widened her eyes and lowered her gaze towards the papers.

    It was one of the two contracts the Marquis had signed earlier.

    On the contract was information about the sapphire mine Lucian was providing as a marriage gift.

    Her jaw dropped at the mine’s income.

    This…… was something really valuable!

    And there were two lines written at the bottom.

    [After signing, Ariel La Carte becomes an individual completely unrelated to the Lucilleon family.

    The Lucilleon family cannot demand anything regarding their daughter from this point on.]

    “This is…….”

    Ariel looked at Lucian in surprise.

    He smiled as he messed up his own hair.

    “Why, you don’t like it?”

    She blurted out immediately.

    “No. I’m happy.”

    “That’s good. Since you’re a part of the La Carte family from now on.”

    Ariel was truly grateful for the condition Lucian put in the contract.

    Even if it was for his family, not Ariel.

    “Thank you.”

    He simply nodded without replying.

    With his hair and tie messed up, he really looked like a rebellious child.

    Kind of like an angel rebelling against G.o.d.

    Now Ariel’s thoughts were on the huge carriage of goods behind the carriage they were in.

    This was also one of Lucian’s works.

    Lucian had said that he would take all of the things she normally used to help her adjust to the Grand Duke’s mansion.

    ‘Although, there isn’t a single thing that’s mine.’

    Ariel put her hand over her heart, which was thumping a bit.

    ‘I feel like he may care about me a little bit…….’

    As soon as she completed her thoughts, she heard Lucian ordering Dalton.

    “Dalton. Those things, throw them all away.”

    ……?

    Lucian frowned as if he was annoyed when Ariel’s eyes widened.

    He growled and spoke in a low voice.

    “You didn’t think I would bring all that garbage into my mansion, did you?”

    ……As I thought, I shouldn’t expect any care from him.

    * * *

    When they returned to the mansion, Susan greeted Ariel warmly.

    “Miss, did you have a nice outing?”

    “Yes.”

    Ariel replied shyly.

    She felt like she was always a child in front of Susan.

    Lucian disappeared into the mansion after handing Ariel over to Susan.

    “Feed her well.”

    A short and arrogant command.

    Susan wrapped her arms around Ariel’s shoulders and led her into the drawing room.

    “You can’t go into your room right now because it’s still being prepared. Are you hungry?”

    It was past lunchtime by the time they had returned from the Marquis’ house.

    All of the hunger that she couldn’t feel before because she was nervous came pouring in.

    “A…… little.”

    “I’ll help you get changed first. Outdoor clothing is a little uncomfortable to eat in.”

    Susan sat Ariel down in the playing area and brought her indoor clothing.

    The dress was white with three pink vertical stripes going down it. There were cream-colored rectangles covering the shoulder area and a pink satin ribbon at the waist.

    Susan undid Ariel’s hair, brushed it, and put on a hairband that was the same color as the dress.

    “Gosh, you look just like a doll.”

    The dress is pretty…….

    Ariel touched the light indoor dress that fit her perfectly several times without anyone knowing.

    The light beige colored lace dress she wore when going out looked too expensive to even touch, but this pink dress was pretty and comfortable.

    She wouldn’t get sick of it even if she stared at it for a long time.

    Ariel had been abused at home and was later dragged around by ‘him’, so this was the first time she saw such pretty things.

    Ariel moved carefully so that the pretty dress wouldn’t get wrinkled.

    “Pink suits you well because your skin is so fair. I really am good at picking out clothes for girls.”

    After speaking, Susan got up.

    “I’ll prepare something delicious right away. You need to eat a lot. Your body is the size of a seven-year-old.”

    Susan soon returned with a tray of steaming, warm food.

    Ariel struggled to crawl up the high table chair.

    Then Susan placed a white cloth napkin on her lap.

    “Woah.”

    Ariel’s eyes widened at the sight of food.

    There was a healthy bread that had nuts and dried fruits in it and marmalade jam that had a strong orange scent.

    And the food that caught her eye the most was the huge chicken dish that had been prepared to be soft.

    When she was at the Marquis’ house, she could barely eat meat. Every year, when there was a huge party for Jerome’s birthday, there was a huge amount of food left. That was the only time she could have any.

    Susan spoke in a singing voice as she handed Ariel the utensils.

    “Once you finish this, I’ll give you a huge mug of hot chocolate in the afternoon.”

    Hot chocolate? What’s that?

    Ariel blushed at her unfamiliar desire to eat because her body had previously been too messed up to feel hunger.

    Susan smiled in pleasure as Ariel began stuffing her cheeks with food.

    “There’s a lot of food, so please let me know if you want more.”

    Ariel ate the bread, jam, and chicken until she was full.

    She felt like she could eat ten plates of this delicious food.

    But unfortunately, her small stomach filled up rather quickly.

    “If you’re done, please rest for a moment.”

    Susan handed Ariel a soft fur cushion before cleaning the table.

    Because of her full stomach, Ariel began dozing off with her head against the cushion.

    How long has it been?

    “Um, Miss?”

    A man’s respectful voice woke Ariel up.





    When she rubbed her tired eyes and looked, Dalton was standing in front of her.

    “Ummm, h.e.l.lo.”

    “I know it’s time for your nap, but you have one more thing on your schedule today.”

    “What thing?”

    She didn’t know.

    Dalton made a hesitant expression.

    “The thing is…… the wedding ceremony for you and the Grand Duke’s son …that’s the event.”

    Ariel blinked her eyes twice.

    Wedding?


    Wedding?

    It did seem like Lucian had said the wedding was today when they were leaving the Marquis’ house earlier.

    She had thought she had misheard and had a.s.sumed he had just said it to get rid of the Marquis.

    “The wedding is really today?”

    Dalton felt even worse after hearing Ariel’s pure, chick-like question.

    “……Yes.”

    He was nervous that the lady may feel upset since the Grand Duke’s son was deciding things as he pleased.

    She was still a young girl, but it had been decades since a lady had been brought into the house that they needed to serve, and things were like this from the start.

    What kind of husband doesn’t even tell his wife when the wedding is?





    But Ariel was only slightly fl.u.s.tered and wasn’t too surprised.

    Marriages that occurred between children were usually just small ceremonies anyway.

    It would be foolish to dress little children in a wedding dress and suit, and it was pointless to have a huge ceremony since they could split up when they grow up.

    A small wedding was where there was one attendant, the bride, and groom, and it would end after the wedding rings were exchanged and the contracts were signed.

    Ariel nodded after she had completed her thoughts.

    “I understand.”

    Dalton’s eyes widened.

    Just like that?

    She was getting married into the Grand Duke’s family, after all, and not some other random family.

    He expected that she would at least want a proper wedding, of all things…….

    Unlike Dalton’s thoughts, Ariel believed this was normal.

    She and Lucian were in a relationship bound by a contract anyway, and since they would split up when they were older, there was no need for a huge ceremony.

    And the one who wanted to escape the Marquis’ grasp quickly through marriage was her, not Lucian.

    ‘Since he said the wedding would be today in front of father earlier, he technically did tell me when the wedding would be.’

    She got up after stretching her arms.

    “Where is he?”

    She had something she needed to confirm with him before the wedding.

    Ariel’s condition was that ‘she would be his wizard if they got married’, but Lucian’s interpretation could have been different.

    ‘I hope it’s something I can accomplish with my abilities.’

    She followed Dalton as he led her to the room of the Grand Duke’s son.

    Dalton tilted his head in confusion as he matched his pace with Ariel, who walked far slower than him.

    He had felt like he was being tricked or watching a terrible play when the Grand Duke’s son announced that he would be getting married to the overnight visitor.

    But it was strange to see how calmly the little girl who would be his bride was taking the situation.

    ‘Is it because she’s someone the Grand Duke La Carte’s son chose, even if he’s not quite sane? She doesn’t act like other children around her age.’

    Of course, she just looks like a cute little animal on the outside…….

    Dalton struggled to keep his face from loosening up at the thought.

    “We’re here, Miss.”

    Dalton knocked and opened the door for her.

    Ariel gasped in admiration at the tall doors.

    But it’s what was inside these doors that she should have really been admiring.

    When she stepped into the room, a magnificent scene unfolded in front of her eyes.

    It was a large and luxurious room that made her realize that it really was the Grand Duke’s place.

    ‘You can’t even compare this room to the room I was on the first night.’

    The plum-colored carpet on the floor and the huge lion leather carpet next to the bed caught her eye.

    The sunlight poured in from several long windows – which were the height of two people – and filled the room.

    There was a fire sparking from the coal in the huge fireplace which was made of marble that had a pattern crafted into it as if it were a piece of art, and there was a deer head on the wall above it, showing off its beautiful antlers.

    The dark-colored ebony desk was messy as if it were reflecting the room owner’s personality, but there wasn’t a single pen on that desk that was useless.

    There was the fur of a rare gray bear on a long chair, and the candle holder by the bedside had been made from red coral.

    It was a luxurious and fancy environment that looked like it could compete against the room of any country’s prince.

    ‘This was why the things in Jerome’s room…….’

    This made it easy to understand why he thought of the expensive items in Jerome’s room were all trash.

    And in the middle of this room was a beautiful boy whose beauty made all the color in the room except him disappear.

    “You’re here, kid.”

    Ariel puffed her cheeks.

    How dare he call his wife a kid!

    “Come in.”

    Dalton closed the door silently after letting Ariel in.

    She walked carefully on the carpet, which looked too expensive to step on.

    Frustrated by this, Lucian walked towards Ariel and lifted her up.

    “Ah.”

    Then he tossed her onto the large ebony desk.

    “It must take hours for you to walk around this room with those short legs of yours.”

    It wouldn’t take hours.

    Ariel thought that she needed to get used to him lifting her up as if she were a small baby rabbit.

    After Lucian sat on the table with her, she carefully asked.

    “Can I hear your contract conditions now?”

    “You’re impatient.”

    He tapped his fingers slowly on the large ebony desk.

    Even this simple action looked like a painting when he did it.

    “The later you hear it, the better.”

    Lucian looked into Ariel’s eyes.

    She shivered subconsciously as she met his cold, dark blue eyes.

    Lucian leaned on his arm on the desk where Ariel sat.

    “The contract conditions are simple.”

    He stretched his long, fair fingers slowly.

    “Do your job as my wife. Obey my commands. And…….”

    Lucian smoothly lifted Ariel’s red hair.

    He spoke in a sweet voice.

    “Your life is mine even after the marriage is over.”

    * * *

    “…….”

    Ariel gulped.

    What did he mean when he said her life was his even after their marriage was over?

    Did Lucian want to own her magic and use it as he pleased forever like ‘he’ did?

    Since everyone she met wanted to have her magic, Lucian may not be any different from them.

    But deep down in Ariel’s heart, she believed otherwise.

    ‘No. Lucian said he wanted to help me.’

    He had offered his hand to her even when they had met as enemies previously.

    She believed he wouldn’t do anything that would bring her harm.

    Ariel had a bit of trust in him because of her memory of him from the past.

    ‘And if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have been able to escape from the Marquis’ house.’

    There would have been no life left for her if that happened.

    Ariel had nothing to lose.

    It was better to jump into something uncertain than walk towards a miserable ending.

    “I understand.”

    When Ariel replied simply, Lucian paused for a moment and frowned elegantly.

    “Aren’t you scared? Who knows what I’ll do with you.”

    She bit her small lips.

    “I’ll be prepared for it.”

    “…….”

    He let out a laugh after a long silence.

    “You, you’re a funnier kid than I expected.”

    Ariel tilted her head.

    Lucian whispered ‘I thought she was an herbivore because she’s small and white, but I guess she’s a carnivore’, and pulled out a piece of paper.

    “Then let’s write the contract.”

    Ariel followed his writing on the contract and read it.

    There were four things on the contract.

    Lucian was the contractor, and Ariel was the subcontractor.

    1. The subcontractor will receive 7 years of protection from the Grand Duke family as the wife of the contractor until she becomes an adult.

    2. During the marriage, both will act as a couple publicly and fulfill their own roles.

    3. For 7 years, the subcontractor will obey the contractor’s commands as his wizard.

    4. The marriage will be over once the subcontractor reaches adulthood.

    Ariel raised her head after she had finished reading.

    ‘There aren’t any conditions that work against me?’

    Just be by his side for 7 years as his wizard and then she would be free.

    There was no condition anywhere that restricted her forever.

    When she looked up at him with confused eyes, he smiled and stamped the area next to the text that said ‘contractor’.

    “……Do you not have any more conditions?”

    “I don’t.”

    He pushed the stamp ink towards her.

    “Here. You fearless kid.”

    Ariel noticed that the ink was magic stamp ink.

    Magical items in the empire were very rare and expensive.

    Among those, magical stamp ink could make a normal contract into a magical contract.

    This meant the effect of the contract would still be there even if the contract itself was lost.

    Ariel read the contract again several times before stamping because she couldn’t believe it.

    Push.

    There on the paper were two fingerprint stamps which were significantly different in size.

    Ariel’s thumb was similar in size to Lucian’s pinky.

    Lucian handed the contract to her and spoke as he rubbed the red stamp ink off his finger.

    “I’ll let you know now. Even though you’re my wizard, there’s no need for you to protect me. I’m not weak enough to be protected by you.”

    “……?”

    Ariel felt like she was diving deeper and deeper into a labyrinth.

    She was getting into an unfair contract, and it was advantageous for her.

    What was she supposed to do at times like this?

    Lucian lightly tossed something at her as she continued to be fl.u.s.tered.

    “Keep this.”

    Toss.

    Ariel caught the velvet case he threw in midair with her two hands.

    “It’s a wedding gift.”

    Ariel wondered what gift she could possibly need at this point.

    The mine was given to the Marquis, he refused marriage gifts from her family, and even the contract conditions were advantageous for her.

    “Open it.”

    “Yes.”

    When she opened the box, the family heirloom necklace from earlier was on a piece of silk cloth.

    “Why this……?”

    Lucian got up from his chair and faced Ariel, who was still sitting on the desk.

    He spoke as if he were whispering.

    “This is trash, but keep it well until I completely ruin Marquis Lucilleon’s family.”





    If you took out what he was saying, it sounded pretty caring.

    The problem was that you couldn’t take it out.

    Lucian raised her chin with his index finger to meet her eyes.

    He seemed strangely joyful.

    “This is the last piece of trash you’ll ever have. From now on you won’t be having any more of these poorly made toys.”

    For Ariel, this was already too much.

    Since it was like a pillar of the Marquis’ family had been taken out and brought to her.

    But Lucian declared arrogantly.

    “You’re only going to have real things now.”
     
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  6. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    should I continue ?:oops::oops::oops::oops::oops:
     
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  7. Rika77

    Rika77 Well-Known Member

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    :sushi_yes:Please do:aww:
     
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  8. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    “You’ll only have the real thing now.”

    Ariel gasped and nodded, then he took his hand off her chin.

    Lucian’s eyes glowed with satisfaction.

    “Then let’s go get married.”

    The informal wedding soon ended.

    The role of the witness was played by the treasurer Dalton, and Ariel and Lucian exchanged a pair of rings, which are relics of the Grand Duke.

    Ariel briefly wondered why the Grand Duke did not come to his own son’s wedding, and soon remembered that her father was absent as well.

    After the short wedding ceremony, Dalton resolutely pushed Lucian and Ariel into one room.





    “You two have to use one room today because it’s the first day of your marriage.”

    “I’ll have to get rid of the man who made that law.”

    Lucian gave off a scary and displeased look, but when he was told that the marriage ceremony would be complete, even if it was nominal, he left her in his room and disappeared.

    Ariel, who was left alone, sat idle and went out at Susan’s call.

    Susan held a big mug at Ariel’s hands.

    “Try it, it’s hot chocolate.”

    ‘So this is a hot chocolate.’

    On the surface, it was just a hot, light brown liquid.

    But the liquid had an immensely sweet smell.

    Ariel closed her eyes tightly and took a sip of the hot chocolate.

    “…..!”

    She felt like she finally knew what ecstasy was after tasting hot chocolate for the first time in her life.

    As the dark brown liquid flowed into her stomach, her whole body melted.

    ‘I think I can drink this every day if they ask me to.’

    Susan knew that she had a hard time getting married, so she sprinkled marshmallows on hot chocolate.

    When the night came, Susan took Ariel to the bath and changed her dress to a child’s nightgown with white lace.

    “After today, your room will be all decorated.”

    Susan, speaking kindly, kissed Ariel’s cheeks.

    Ariel shyly stroked her cheek that got kissed.

    Susan smelled like freshly baked bread and sun-dried laundry.

    Susan sent Ariel back to Lucian’s room.

    Ariel waited for Lucian for some time, but when he hadn’t returned for a while, she burrowed herself under the covers.

    That was how close she was to falling asleep.

    *step*

    Lucian came through the window into the room.

    ‘He comes in through the window when he comes to his room as well?’

    Ariel thought it was amazing so she smiled slightly.

    But Lucian stumbled a little, grabbed the window frame and spat out curses.

    “That bastard, Hector…. I said I wouldn’t drink.”

    Wrapping his hand around his temple, he stumbled and fell into the chair.

    Ariel thought Lucian was sick, so she got up and ran to him.

    “Lord…Are you all right?”

    She asked, but there was no answer.

    Ariel walked a little closer to look at him.

    Lucian smelled like wine.

    ‘Alcohol?’

    Ariel, who got startled started backing away.

    This was more of a reflexive action.

    Her father, the Marquis, becomes more violent when he getsdrunk.

    She hurried back and returned to the bed.

    Then she wrapped herself with the quilt, from the top of her head like a cocoon.

    Drunk men are scary.

    Lucian is still a boy rather than a man, but she was still scared.

    As if to protect herself, she wrapped the quilt tightly and focused closely on Lucian.

    But after a long time, he didn’t move an inch.

    It looks like he had fallen asleep.

    Ariel who slowly relaxed, slipped out of the quilt and crept up to Lucian.

    ‘Oh my gosh. Who gave a 14-year-old drink?’

    Come to think of it, I think I saw a very big man with Lucian earlier.

    Is it him?’

    Ariel, who was trying to recall the culprit’s appearance, soon got caught up by the appearance of the boy in front of her.

    Words flowed out of her mouth without realizing it.

    “…..pretty. “

    Lucian, who fell asleep, seemed a little distressed.

    But he did not seem to be like the vicious Young Lord that he is during the day, but a harmless boy who was only 14 years old.

    Ariel once again thought he was very beautiful.

    ‘…..I want to touch him.’

    She would never have done it if Lucian was a little awake, but now he was not even moving.

    Ariel looked back and carefully looked down at him, hoping that he would not wake up.

    ‘Can I touch him?’

    In the pouring moonlight, Lucian look like an unrealistic sculpture.

    Ariel poked him in the face, with her fingertips.

    ‘It’s warm.’

    The boy’s cheek, which was still a little rounded, was warm.

    Then she touched his sharp nose and lips.

    The lips, which seemed to be red, were soft and moist.

    Ariel reached out a little more boldly.

    His black hair is a mess.

    When she swept the boy’s hair with her small hand, a smile came out of her lips.

    ‘Wow, it feels so good…’

    Even though it’s just a contract, she still can’t believe that this handsome man in front of her is her husband.

    Ariel held Lucian’s head with both hands and leaned it on the chair that he is lying in.

    Being next to him while he’s asleep made her realize that they are really married.

    Well, come to think of it, his clothes might feel uncomfortable…’

    Lucian was dressed in the same robes he wore at the wedding earlier.

    The buttons of his shirt were buttoned up to the neck, and the cape was tied tightly.

    Ariel shook Lucian’s shirt slightly.

    “Well, My Lord. I’ll just remove this…then I’ll go to sleep.”

    She whispered, but the sleeping boy didn’t budge.

    Ariel had no power to move Lucian, who was much taller than her.

    Besides, she had a strong fear of a drunk man.

    ‘But, since I’m his wife… I guess I should at least untie them.’

    Ariel carefully unbuttoned Lucian’s shirt.

    When the top two buttons were unfastened, his fair collarbone was revealed between the open clothes.

    Ariel’s cheeks flushed.

    She felt ashamed of herself.

    She unknotted his cape.

    When she loosened some stuff that might give Lucian a hard time breathing, his expression in sleep became slightly comfortable.

    Ariel search him for more things that might cause him discomfort.

    ‘I wish you could take off your shoes, but I don’t know how to undo the buckle…

    Ah, he’s wearing a sword.’

    Lucian had a long sword tied to his waist.

    It seemed uncomfortable.

    Ariel gently stretched her hand to pull out the sword.

    But as soon as her small hand was about to reach it,

    Lucian, who had never moved before, suddenly tossed and turned.

    ‘Kyaaa! ‘

    Ariel screamed internally and ran away back to the bed.

    ‘Is he awake? Is he awake?’

    She covered herself with the quilt once again and closed her eyes tightly.

    ‘I don’t know anymore. I did my best as the Young Lord’s wife.’

    She thought with a quilt still round her head like a hibernating squirrel.

    ‘I wish tomorrow would come sooner.’

    And then she fell asleep uncomfortably in that position.


    It was already late in the morning when Lucian opened his eyes the next day.

    When he got up and pulled the string, Allen, the butler, came in and prepared water to drink.

    The wine Hector forced on him yesterday had long been gone, but he tilted the glass of water with an unpleasant look.

    “Get Dalton.”

    “Yes, young lord.”

    Lucian, who is left alone once again after the butler Allen left, smiled at the loose cape strap and the unbuttoned button on the top of his shirt.

    ‘I could see whose skill this was.’

    “……that little kid. “

    No one in this house could touch his clothes. Even the people outside this house.

    There is no need to recall the last days of humans who dared to touch his body.

    ‘But for now, Ariel is my wife…’

    A light flashed through his eyes, imagining that a little girl unbuttoning his shirt.

    *knock**knock*

    Dalton, who had combed his hair neatly, knocked in.

    He coughed loudly when he saw a black-haired boy with a disheveled clothes and hair.

    “Dear young lord, today is the day you have to go to the academy and you decided to drink alcohol last night.”

    Lucian ignored his words and asked.

    “What about the kid?”

    “If you’re talking about the girl, she’s gone back to sleep after eating breakfast. Young master must have made her sleep badly last night.”

    “You’re already on my wife’s side?”

    Lucian, who looked at him ridiculously swept his hair up.

    “I have a work for you. Spread the rumors on the capital.”

    “What rumors?”

    Lucian loosened the cape on his shoulder and threw it into the bed.

    “The rumor about Ariella. Didn’t you bring a bunch of junk out of the Marquis mansion yesterday?”

    “Yes. “

    “The Marquis of Lucilleon pampered his daughter, whom he had only kept inside the mansion, so much that when she got married, he sent his family heirloom and other valuable items to her by carriage.”

    “That’s….”

    The boy took off his top and grinned widely

    “You know what my wife’s reputation is. I’m asking you to save that kid’s honor.”

    Dalton asked out of spirits.

    “Could it be that this was the reason the marquis were in trouble yesterday?”

    “Then what do you think I brought out those garbage for?”

    Due to Lucian’s intimidating aura who asked back, Dalton gave up asking more.

    Even though this young Grand Duke had a severe personality problem, this shit probably had his own reason.

    “Is that all I have to do? Oh, here’s the Academy’s papers.”

    Lucian picked up his bathrobe and pointed at the desk with his jaw.

    “Leave it there. I’ll take a shower and look at it.”

    “Yes. Then I’ll go out.”

    Just as Dalton was leaving the room, Lucian’s voice was heard.

    “Ah, I’ll change your desk into marble.”


    “What? “

    Dalton had a puzzled look on his face for a moment.

    ‘What’s the matter… has the young master gone crazy? ‘

    When Lucian saw his blank face, he laughed evilly.

    “The wood is not good for breaking down.”

    Ariel who just woke up from her sleep took the small spoon that Susan gave her.

    “You have to eat this while it’s warm, dear. It’s a freshly made milk pudding.”

    “Milk? Pudding?”

    The savory scent spread in her mouth when she tried a spoonful of it, while still half asleep and half awake.


    Susan drizzled brown caramel sauce on the milk pudding.

    As the intense scent of the thick syrupy sugar oozes away, and her sleepiness disappeared.

    Ariel scooped up a spoonful of pudding.

    ‘Ah, it’s so soft.’

    “We’ve finished decorating your room just now. Are you excited?”

    “Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

    When Ariel spoke frankly while still holding a spoon full of the pudding, Susan smiled and stroked Ariel’s face.

    “You’re so cute.”

    Then another voice interrupted.

    “Let me borrow that cute thing.”

    “Young master!”

    Susan called in panic when she saw Lucian put his arms around Ariel’s waist and lifts her up.

    “You can’t treat her like that.”

    But Ariel quickly chimed in and said,

    “It’s all right, Susan.”

    ‘I should get used to this.’

    Lucian took Ariel down to the first floor.

    Ariel noticed that he was dressed quite neatly.

    “Lord, where are we going?”

    “Not we, just me.”

    ‘Ah, so I have to be a wife seeing her husband off?’

    Ariel hugged her head and face in case she looked shameful.

    “You look like a cat, washing its face.”

    Lucian teased.

    She was a little upset, but she had nothing to refute because it was true.

    Ariel asked him.

    “When will you come back after you go?”

    “Next year.”

    “What?”

    She was now wondering if she had misheard what he said.

    It’s January. It’s a year from now, isn’t it?

    Lucian put her down about three steps up from him on the stairs.

    The difference in their line of sight has narrowed.

    “I originally have to go to the academy in January.”

    Ariel felt like she was suddenly splashed in cold water.

    “You’re going to the Academy?”

    Come to think of it, when she still lived in the marquis’s house, her brother, Jerome went to the Academy in January when he was 14.

    Jerome seems like a completely different creature from Lucian that she completely forgot.

    He folded his arms and leaned against the railing of the stairs.

    “I was supposed to leave yesterday. I
    delayed it for a day because we had the wedding.”

    “I… “

    Ariel wanted to say something, but there was nothing she could say.

    Lucian didn’t do anything against the contract.

    He married her, and he kept his promise that he’ll take her out of the Marquis’ house and protected her here.

    ‘It’s just that….he’s leaving.’

    But that alone began to make her feel uneasy at one moment.

    Although he is an unruly boy, Lucian was the only one who had ties with her in this house.

    ‘Can’t you….not go?’

    But she couldn’t say that.

    She wanted to act childish, but Ariel knew well that she didn’t deserve it.

    She felt like tears would come out of her eyes.

    “….”

    Lucian felt a strange feeling when he saw the face of the girl in front of him turn into like a child getting separated apart from her mother.

    ‘What the hell did you see in me to believe in me like this.’

    He didn’t expect this reaction because she ate and slept just fine in this house.

    He thought she’d just wave her hand to say goodbye.

    “…You’re weird.”

    He felt strange seeing it, too.

    Isn’t it normal to feel good because my desire to dominate is satisfied?’

    He pinched Ariel’s cheeks as he looked at her moistened eyes.

    “P-pweash wet gwo. “

    It was not until he found out that the tears were about to spill out from her round eyes that he let go.

    “I have an order for you before I go.”

    “Order?”

    Ariel grabbed her throbbing cheek and looked up at him.

    “That’s right. “

    Lucian stretched his white, long fingers one after the other.

    “First. No magic until I come back.”

    Ariel was puzzled.

    A master who tells his Mage not to use magic?’

    “Second. When I’m not there, your guardian will be the Grand Duke Mathius. My father… just ignore him. “

    ‘I-is that an order?’

    “The third and the last.”

    Lucian held Ariel’s little cheek with one hand and pressed her lips with his thumb.

    “Call me properly.”

    I thought I was calling him quite properly.’

    Ariel looked at him with an expression that clearly says her thoughts and Lucian crumpled his forehead.

    “Are you going to keep calling me Lord?”

    “Then… Sir Lucian?”

    His expression became a little scarier.

    “Get rid of the Sir”

    “….Lucian.”

    “That’s right. “

    He smiled as if he was proud of her but what comes next after that sounded more like a threat.

    “I’ll punish you if you don’t say it right the next time we meet.”

    “Yes. “

    When Ariel responded, Lucian glanced outside.

    “Then I’m going.”

    Ahh, wait…

    Ariel hesitated, but quickly closed her mouth when she caught sight of people who had come to see him off.

    Perhaps due to the departure of the only heir in the Grand Duke, all the servants, including Susan, and Dalton, were seeing him off as well, at the front door.

    Lucian walked towards an old man with gray hair and took a coat from him.

    He looks very natural being served.

    Ariel stopped on the stairs and watched him go.

    He’s really…..going away.’

    But Lucian, who went out to the front door and was greeted, suddenly turned around.

    He walked back as if he had forgotten something.

    The eyes of the everyone present turned to Lucian at once.

    With a long legs that looks different from other boys his age, he quickly strode and approached Ariel and pulled her back towards himself.

    And his lips touched Ariel’s forehead.

    *chu*

    “…….?!”

    As Ariel looked at him in astonishment, Lucian grinned.

    “You have to gain some weight before we meet again. You look like a hairless chick than a human right now. “

    With a kiss on her forehead, he disappeared from her sight with faster steps than when he walked back towards her.

    Ariel frowned and mumbled.

    “Uh…really rude.”

    ‘But… ‘

    Ariel rubbed her forehead where his lips touched.

    Somehow, my heart is fluttering.’

    “You have to go see the Grand Duke now, my lady.”

    Dalton, who returned after seeing Lucian off, led Ariel.

    The Grand Duke….’

    Ariel felt her lips dry from tension.

    Although he married the Grand Duke’s heir, she still never met the Grand Duke himself.

    He didn’t come to the wedding either.’

    Although Lucian had agree with the marriage, it was highly likely that the Grand Duke did not like the marriage.

    A shabby girl who suddenly fell in front of the gate married his son in a day.

    Besides, Ariel doesn’t have anything worthy to become the bride of Lucian, the next Grand Duke.

    She’s ten years old but looks too young for her age and she’s ugly, and has a hideous appearance as well.

    The only thing I can do is magic, but now it’s useless because Lucian banned it.’

    Wherever you look, there isn’t anything in herself that’s likable for an adult.

    When she still lived in the Marquis’ house, the maids said that all children that adults favor are liked for a reason.

    “Look at Young Master Jerome. How pure! How can you even compare that attic child to him? That child is so weird, she doesn’t make a single sound even when she gets beaten.”

    “It’s cute when kids are little chubby like Young Master Jerome. Isn’t it obvious that you’ll like to give more delicious things to a chubby kid and a stick-like one?

    “Like Young Master Jerome, you have to speak informally to an adult and act spoil sometimes to be like a child. You’re not even asking for anything. You’re just being sullen.”

    Ariel, who has her existence always been denied since she was young, could not have glowed as a child.

    In addition, the body of a child who’s always abused could not have been chubby without proper eating.

    But the servants didn’t care a bit about it.

    They were all on Jerome’s side.

    No matter how violent Jerome was towards her, they still loved him, and Ariel, who had no one at all, was hated by him breathlessly.

    Even the butler and the head maid talked about how upsetting and creepy Ariel was in every situation.

    They used to compare the weak Ariel to the next Marquis, Jerome.

    Ariel, who had never been treated so warmly by an adult until she was seventeen years old, thought that the reason was herself.

    But this time… I don’t want to be hated by Lucian’s father.’

    She didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings just because she wanted to change her life.

    Ariel froze up and entered the Oval Office of the Grand Duke.

    Dalton carefully knocked inside to get the attention of the Grand Duke, who was busy, focusing on his work.

    When the Grand Duke raised his head, Ariel forgot her fear and admired him instead.

    Wah! He looks like Lucian…’

    And he’s so handsome.’

    Unlike Lucian, who had short black hair, the Grand Duke had long black hair.

    He looks so young.’

    It was an unbelievable that he already has a grown son like Lucian.

    Still, there was no denying that black hair and deep blue eyes were the same as Lucian’s.

    However, if Lucian looks like an arrogant and spoiled little boy….

    The Grand Duke was a proud handsome man with a solemn and cool impression.

    Both were as sure as having a very beautiful appearance.

    Dalton said in a small voice.

    “I… Grand Duke. The pressure.”

    The Grand Duke nodded half-heartedly at his words.

    The pressure filling the room slowly disappeared.

    Ariel greeted him with courtesy.

    “Hello, Grand Duke Mathius. My name is Ariel.”

    “…….”

    The Grand Duke responded to her with an indifferent look.

    After a while, he opened his mouth.

    “….So you’re the girl Lucian took in.”

    After hearing the Grand Duke’s words, Ariel lowered her head a little,

    As expected.’

    As expected, the Grand Duke won’t welcome this marriage.

    If he look at me, he will feel more betrayed…’

    The first thing I said when I saw her was that she was “The girl Lucian took in”.

    Ariel couldn’t even tell the Grand Duke that she’ll divorce him once she became an adult because Lucian told her to keep everything about the contract marriage a secret.

    He’ll probably feel better if I told him that.’

    Ariel was wallowing in her negative thought, when the Grand Duke suddenly talked in a blunt tone.

    “I can’t believe he left this girl to me. What a crazy boy.”

    Ariel blinked her long eyelashes and opened her eyes round.

    Why does it sounded like….Lucian is the problem, not me.’
     
    AerynJay, Shey_04, augacutan and 12 others like this.
  9. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    The Grand Duke muttered as he looked at Ariel, who held her small hands together.

    “I think, I understand it now that I see you.”

    Dalton crept in from the side.

    “Yes. I was wondering what the Young Master was going to do again, but I was convinced when I saw her as well. She’s a very lovely person.”

    Ariel shook her head.

    Somehow things were going against her expectations.

    The Grand Duke beckoned Ariel.

    “Come closer.”

    Ariel faltered but she stepped closer.

    Then, with a gesture that urges her to come closer, she started walking towards the Grand Duke’s desk and approached the chair where he was sitting.





    The Grand Duke asked Ariel.

    “How old are you?”

    “I’m ten years old…Grand Duke.”

    He looked at Dalton with an unconvinced face.

    “Dalton. Wasn’t Lucian this small when he was six?”

    “Yes, he’s as big as this girl back then.”

    “There must be a problem.”

    The Grand Duke frowned his brow.

    His cool handsome face of the ascetic impression looked beautiful even with a frown.

    He rose from his chair and stood opposite Ariel.

    The height of the Grand Duke was enormous, and Ariel has to raise her head all the way just to look at him.

    ‘My neck hurts.’

    ‘Will Lucian grow this big when he grows up?’

    The Grand Duke looked at her and said in a leisurely manner.

    “All right, Ariella. Starting now, you’re the Lady of this house.”

    ‘Pardon?’

    Ariel breathed, only half-understanding his words.

    “B-but I only got married yesterday.”

    “Since there is no Lady of the house right now, you will take that position.”

    The Grand Duke’s words were as clear as the day.

    Feeling a little flustered, Ariel recalled her contract with Lucian for a moment.

    [First, you have to fulfill your duty as my wife]

    ‘Yes, I promised him to do my duty as a wife….’

    Of course, the wife’s duty would also include the work of the Grand Duchess.

    Ariel clenched her small fists.

    “Yes, I’ll do my best.”

    “No.”

    “Excuse me? “

    The Grand Duke said with a cool look.

    “I mean this house is all yours now. You don’t have to work hard.”

    “Uh… “

    “Don’t work hard and enjoy yourself for now.”

    ‘I didn’t do anything but he told me to enjoy things. That’s… ‘

    Ariel hesitated to answer.

    The Grand Duke spoke in a stiff tone.

    “For young children, rights come first. Duty comes next. Adults are the opposite.”

    “…..”

    “So learn to enjoy your rights first before doing your duty as the Grand Duchess.”

    Ariel couldn’t understand what the Grand Duke was saying.

    But she needed to answer for now so she spoke in a small voice.

    “……yes. “

    The corners of the Grand Duke’s mouth loosened.

    “Good girl.”

    He reached out to Ariel’s head.

    “!”

    There was no sign of violence at all, but Ariel got instinctively startled and huddled at the sudden gesture.

    Since she’s often hit by her father, Marquis Lucillion, it was a reflex that occurred by itself.

    “…….”

    The Grand Duke, who was reaching out as if to stroke her head, stopped moving.

    After a moment of silence, he naturally withdrew his hand and pulled a string.

    Are you angry? Because I’m not…acting like a normal child?’

    Ariel tried to read the eyes of the Grand Duke.

    She cannot fully read the expressionless face of the Grand Duke, but it didn’t seemed like he’s angry.

    Ariel, who was often abused and exploited, was sensitive to human touch.

    “I’ll introduce you to some oft he people in the mansion.”

    Two people arrived at the call of the Grand Duke.

    Ariel smiled when she found a familiar face.

    It was the maid, Susan.

    And beside her stood a gray-haired old man who politely handed Lucian’s coat over to him earlier.

    The two came to the place where the Grand Duke and Ariel stood and bowed their heads.

    The Grand Duke pointed at Ariel then continued speaking.

    “From now on, this child is the Lady of La Carte. Treat her as your master.”

    After he gave his order, Susan and the gray-haired old man bowed at Ariel.

    It was a very polite greeting.

    “Nice to meet you for the first time, Milady. I’m Allen, head butler of the house.”

    She’s still young, but now that she’s married, it’s natural to be called Milady.

    Ariel, who grew up differently from other esteemed daughters of the nobility, feels awkward to be called a lady anyway.

    When Allen, the old butler, finished greeting, the maid Susan approached Ariel and bent her waist to meet her eye level.

    “Hello, Little Lady. You already know me, right? I’m going to be the babysitter for the time being.”

    Susan’s greeting was sweet and friendly.

    Ariel liked both the old butler Allen, who was polite to her, and Susan, who treated her like a normal child.

    The Grand Duke who introduced the two turned to Ariel.

    “These two will show you around the house and get you what you need.”

    “Yes, Grand Duke.”

    When Ariel bowed politely, the Grand Duke looked strangely uncomfortable.

    “Mathius. “

    “Yes?”

    “Call me Mathius.”

    This time, Ariel didn’t hesitate either.

    “I can’t do that.”

    “Why? “

    “It’s okay because Lucian is my husband, but you’re an adult. I can’t just call you by name.”

    Ariel also had her own standard.

    The Grand Duke laughed low at her bashful voice.

    “Then what will you call me? I will not accept you calling me Grand Duke.”

    “Um, then….”

    Ariel frowned her small forehead and said after much thought.

    “Sir Mathius, I’ll call you this.”

    The Grand Duke nodded.

    “I accept it. Go ahead. Your room is ready.”

    “Yes, Sir Mathius. “

    Ariel replied quietly, and after contemplating for a while, she added other words.

    “……Thank you. “

    For accepting me as Lucian’s wife and as the lady of this house.’

    For not forcing to stroke my head.’

    And most of all…. for not hating me.’

    Whispering only in her heart, Ariel expressed her gratitude for him.

    Mathius only nodded his head bluntly when at her words.

    When they finally left the office, the words ‘Find out about the Marquis of Lucilion.’ seemed to be heard behind the closed doors.

    “Milady, I’ll tour you around the mansion step by step. Is that gonna be okay?”

    When they left Mathius’ office, the old-man who introduced himself as Allen asked politely.

    Ariel nodded.

    It was clear that the mansion would be very huge that she would get lost if she walked around by herself without being guided.

    Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if the Lady of the House got lost in her own house? ‘

    Moreover, I had to stay in this house for seven years anyway, so I think it would be better to know about the mansion as soon as possible.’

    “Okay. Nice to meet you, Allen.”

    As Ariel smiled shyly and spoke, Allen’s expression, who had been polite all the time, was slightly loosened in affection.

    “…..yes, Milady. “

    Ariel, who parted with Allen, headed to her room with Susan.

    The road was quite long, but Susan told me many stories so that I wouldn’t get bored.

    “Mr. Allen’s previous family has served the La Carte family for a very long time. Nobody even knows how many generations exactly they have been in charge of the Grand Duke.”

    “Uwaa…, that’s incredible.”

    “Mr. Allen was also the person who got permission to serve the Great Lord.”

    I see.

    Ariel’s new respect for the old butler Allen has grown.

    It was great to be loyal to one family for a long time, but it seemed great to have gained the trust of Lucian.

    “Well, I’m more surprised that you were calling the Great Lord by his name.”

    Susan had a slightly troubled look on her face, and soon smiled amiably.

    “The Great Lord hates being called by his name. No one calls him by his name but you.”

    What? But Lucian told me to call him that himself…

    Surprised by the unexpected fact, Ariel felt puzzled.

    “Even Mr. Allen call the Great Lord just as Lord.”

    “I see. “

    Ariel nodded without further questioning why.

    There must be a reason why Lucian hates being called by his name.

    But for some reason, he asked her to call him by his name.

    Susan sounded excited as they got closer to the room.

    “I had so much fun decorating your room. The general outline came from the Grand Duke, but I’m the one who decided how to decorate it.”

    Even though it wasn’t her own room, Susan’s image of being happy and devoted to her work tickled Ariel’s heart.

    “I like everything…..Susan does.”

    “Oh dear.”

    Susan smiled, moved at her words.

    “Do you want to see it so that we’ll know if you’ll like it more? I really hope you’ll like it.”

    Soon, Susan stopped in front of a room.

    It was a room with double tall doors like Lucian’s.

    The door was beautifully painted in light pink on a white background.

    From the outside, it was a door obviously belongs to a little girl’s room.

    However, the borderline of the door was engraved in the shape of chocolate and painted in gold, adding to the elegance of the Grand Duchess.

    “Come on, go in.”

    Susan opened the door wide in front of Ariel.

    “….!”

    Ariel looked around the room and stopped at the threshold.

    Her large round strawberry-colored eyes were filled with awe.

    So pretty! ‘

    The whole interior was decorated with a charming and girly look, just like a princess’ room of a certain country.

    The first thing that caught her eyes was the large pumpkin carriage-shaped bed inside the room.





    Warm pink body, dazzling white wheels, and its side was carved with dreamlike patterns.

    Inside the bed were creamy bedding and light pink cushions.

    “Is this really my room?”

    Ariel walked slowly into the room.

    There was a huge round rug on the floor.

    It’s made up of a very soft fur, she thought she could fall asleep on it.

    A full-body mirror with a pink frame was slanting slightly upward, illuminating the ceiling’s chandelier, which illuminates the entire room.

    There was also a large desk that Ariel could use.



    On the desk were gold candlesticks covered with porcelain and small cherub-shaped decorations made of white plaster.

    “I feel like I’m dreaming.”

    Ariel’s words brought a low laugh to Susan.

    The room was wide enough to run around it freely. The sofa was made of pink-toned velvet and the table was covered with a carefully woven lace cover.

    The day bed, where she can take a nap, had a cozy tent-shaped canopy, so she could easily fall asleep during the day when the sun was still shining.

    Next to it, the round chair, which was lined from the ceiling, looked lovely and comfortable.

    But the most surprising thing was the window. As Ariel approached the window, she stepped up and opened it.

    “Woooow! “

    Outside the 4th-floor glass window, a view of the garden can be clearly seen.

    Ariel always wanted a room with such a big window.





    It fills the room with warm sunshine and a sweet floral scent from the wind…

    The attic where she was confined by the Marquis was full of dust and was always dim, and there were only palm-sized windows that could not be opened inside.

    ‘This feels so unreal.’

    Ariel’s pale cheeks, who grew up with little sunlight, were stained with the sun and wind pouring through the window.

    Ariel looked around the room one more time, enchanted.

    This place was very different from the attic where Ariel lived until she was nine years old.

    The attic was hot in summer and cold in winter.

    It was particularly really hard for her whenever it’s winter, like this.

    She had to spend a whole winter’s night cowering, shivering in the cold while only wearing old clothes that almost look like rags and without any warm blanket or even bed.

    If Ariel could not keep warm by magic, she would have frozen to death already.

    Ariel’s room, which Susan showed and prepared for her, was such a nice room that looks like she had been in the imperial palace.

    “I’m really…. happy. “

    Ariel spoke sincerely.

    She couldn’t believe to be in such a pretty room.

    “…….”

    Susan looked mournful when she heard Ariel.

    It was obvious that the little girl in front of her had never experienced anything like this.

    Besides, she was abused by her biological father.

    Susan felt proud of Ariel, who grew up so lovingly in such a place.

    “Did you like it?”

    Ariel stretched out his arms into the sky and cried out in a circle.

    “Yes! Very, very.”

    When living in the Marquis, Ariel didn’t own anything for herself.

    Even the lowest maids have their own clothes, and Jerome’s hounds have their own rice bowls, but Ariel didn’t.

    She received only the leftovers of the servants’ rations or the clothes of the small maids that were to be discarded.

    It was an unimaginable treatment for the young lady of a Marquis.

    Even the attic, where she lived, was originally a place to put away books that took up unnecessary space.

    But it was different in the Grand Duke.

    Clothes prepared only for her, food that is only meant to be eaten by her, space only for her.

    Rather than the pretty decorations and a room that looks like it belongs to a princess, Ariel was more moved that all this was only for her.

    Perhaps she would be already glad to have a simple bed and a desk in a room.

    But this room was so pretty.

    “There’s a lot of ….pink.”

    Ariel thought pink was the most beautiful color in the world.

    The mere sight of pink made her feel good.

    It’s a color that’s never found in anything old or dirty.

    She also likes soft and fluffy things.

    To Ariel, who had never experienced her mother’s embrace, it reminded her of something warm and cozy.

    Ariel thought the soft slippers were warm to her when she wore them.

    She thinks lying on a fluffy bed feels warm and cozy.

    This house is warm to her. This fire is also cozy for her.

    Ariel really liked the warm and cozy things.

    This room is all pink and fluffy things, and Susan is gently stroking her hair…

    Susan explained kindly.

    “The room right next door is my room. Pull that rope over there and I’ll come running. If you need anything, feel free to call me. You got it, right?

    “Okay, Susan.”

    When she saw a cute red-haired girl looking at her with confidence, Susan swallowed a small sigh.

    ‘How can you be so lovely?’

    She patted Ariel’s hair.

    “Then shall we finish up our next schedule?”

    Ariel opened her round eyes and asked.

    “What is it?”

    “My next job is to walk you around the house and introduce you to the other servants so why don’t we dress you up a little bit more?”

    Susan, who said so, called in a hairdressing maid dedicated to the Grand Duke to trim Ariel’s hair.

    Her scarlet red hair down to her hips was very pretty, but it was a little cumbersome because it was too long.

    The maid cut off her hair near Ariel’s waist.

    Susan made it stop because she thought it was a perfect length.

    “Any hairstyle would be cute at this length.”

    After sending the maid off, Susan put Ariel in a small chair and styled her hair.

    It was all pretty to tie a ribbon low and tie it high, leaving only some baby hairs.

    It’ll be cute in half up-do, half twisted bun, or even plain straight!

    After decades of not taking care of a girl, Susan smiled merrily, recalling dozens of different hairstyles in her head.

    Lucian was the only young child in this house, but Lucian was a formidable master who never had a cute side even from the beginning.

    But this cute child suddenly came in.

    Susan felt like a big pretty ruby came to her heart and hugged her.

    Ariel, meanwhile, closed her eyes because she liked the feeling of someone gently touching her hair.

    *caress*

    Small, regular noises gently combing her hair to prevent it from being messy.

    And a warm touch in her back.

    Ariel wished this moment would last forever.

    If someone touches her hair like this all her life, she won’t need a nice room at all. She can even go back to the attic if she had this warmth with her.

    At this moment, a room in Ariel’s heart that could not be seen with eyes opened.

    Ariel welcomed someone in that new room in her heart.

    And the person who now lives in that new room was Susan.

    The next morning.

    Ariel woke up from the pumpkin carriage bed and rubbed her eyes.

    “Haaaaa-m. “

    She pulled herself up after a while and crawled back in the warm blanket.

    When she looked at the ceiling of the bed, she could see a map of the constellation drawn in soft colors.

    “Aries, snow-capped mountain constellation, Gemini….”

    Ariel who stretched out her little finger and followed the map of constellations, suddenly heard her stomach growl.

    Ariel rose up and carefully pulled the leash with her shaky hand.

    Is this right…?’

    She looked at the rope with a nervous heart and Susan came into the room.

    “You’re up.”.

    Susan approached Ariel and kissed her cheek.

    “Young Lady, did you sleep well?”

    “I slept well. How about Susan?”

    “I slept well, too.”

    Susan, who spoke as if she were singing, diligently rolled up the window curtains in Ariel’s room and set Ariel at the table.

    Her breakfast was cream soup with young mint leaves and bread with candied chestnuts.

    When Ariel finished eating, Susan wiped the area around her mouth like a baby.

    “You’re done. I’m so proud of you.”

    Ariel got shy and wiggled her toes.

    All I did was eat delicious food, but I was praised.’

    The marquis often scolds her for leaving food behind when she’s too full, but he also often ridiculed her for finishing it when she’s hungry.

    Susan dressed Ariel in a sky-blue dress and tied a white silk ribbon beautifully from the back of her head to the top of her head.

    The red hair and the white ribbon contrasted with each other, making them look very bright and lovely.

    “Now, shall I call for Mr. Allen?”

    Allen, the old butler, showed up again today with a fixed posture and a unique polite atmosphere.

    Then he greeted Ariel the same as before. He bowed down with his nose almost touching the ground before he even said hello.

    “It’s good to see you, milady. “

    Although she is still not used to such polite treatment, Ariel also greeted him.

    “I’ll show you around the La Carte mansion.”

    Ariel looked back briefly, and Susan smiled and waved at her.

    Ariel looks up at Allen slightly from time to time while they were walking.

    Unlike when she walked with Susan, there was no conversation between the two.

    The butler, Mr. Allen was so polite that it was difficult to act like a child in front of him, unlike with Susan.

    Instead, whenever she stood in front of Allen, she felt that somehow, she really became an elegant princess.

    Still…. ‘

    Ariel smiled shyly at Allen’s steps.

    Even in polite circumstances, Allen’s pace of walking was very slow, as if he had taken into account young Ariel’s stride.

    Allen, who came out of the main hall of the building, began to explain the shape of the mansion.

    “This is the main hall. It leads all the way to the mansion.”

    The Grand Duke of La Carte’s castle was made up of two tall buildings connected to a cross-shaped building.

    “The two tall buildings that look like twins contain the office of the Grand Duke and space where the people in charge of the Grand Duke work.”

    Ariel recalled eagerly not to forget.

    ‘The tall building is Sir Mathius’ office. The tall building is Sir Mathius’ office.’

    “The cross-shaped building is a living space, but it has different uses in different directions.”

    The servants use the North Wing, and the Grand Duke’s family uses the South Wing.

    Ariel’s room was also in the south.

    “That’s why the south wing is also called the main building.”

    The East and West wings are rooms for guests, but they were mostly empty.

    “There is a tall tower in the center of the cross-shaped building. It is also called the Ice Star Tower.”





    Ariel’s eyes glistened at the word that the tower had a name.

    “Why did you name it that?”

    Mr. Allen explained wisely.

    The old butler Allen knew the history of the mansion and family as much as he had been here for a long time.

    “The Ice Star Tower is the bell tower of the Grand Duke’s residence, and in terms of height alone, it is the tallest tower in the capital. It is even higher than the Imperial Palace.”

    It’s higher than the Imperial Palace.

    It was surprising that such a building existed, and the most surprising thing was that it was her home from now on.


    “When it gets cold enough to freeze, ice forms first in the tower here. They say that the ice shines like a star from afar.”

    “It’s wonderful. ”

    When Ariel spoke, Allen’s expression softened in a moment.

    He had an infinite sense of pride in this mansion and this family.

    With less tension, he began to brag a little more about the wealth of the Grand Duke.

    “This building is the capital’s grandest residence, and there are two more mansions in the estate.”

    “Two more? “

    “Yes, it’s just in case of a generation separation, and one is bigger than the capital city, the other one is a little small but very colorful. You and the Grand Duke will inherit it when you become adults.”

    ‘I don’t think that will happen.’

    When she becomes an adult, Lucian and her marriage will be over.





    Ariel closed her mouth and nodded only.

    “It’s not a large garden due to lack of land, but the estate has a large area.”

    “This…is a small garden? “

    Ariel had already seen the garden where they are right now.

    The garden can be clearly seen through the window of her new room.

    It definitely doesn’t look small no matter how she looks at it.

    But the old butler Allen continued with a look of regret.

    “Some gardens of the land were so wide that they sometimes hold horse racing or hunting competitions in there.”

    ‘Uh…I don’t think that’s still a garden.’

    Ariel couldn’t even imagine how big the alternate archaic estate was.

    Maybe that’s why she suddenly wondered.

    “Well, by the way, Allen.”

    “Yes, milady.”

    “Umm….The mansion is so spacious, how do you clean it all?”

    Allen’s expression grew unusual when he heard her naive question.

    He looked as if he were holding back his laughter.

    ‘Ah, did I said something wrong?’

    But for Ariel, it was a really valid question.

    She saw the maids sweep and wipe here and there all day long when she still lived in the Marquis.

    It took a great deal of labor to keep an aristocratic mansion clean.

    But she heard from Susan that there aren’t that many people who work for the Grand Duke.

    But Ariel still hasn’t seen a single dusty spot while she was walking around.

    Allen cleared his throat, rebuking himself, who almost laughed upon hearing Ariel’s question.

    “Ehem, ehm. About that… “

    The new Young Lady had the ability to release even his serious and solemn self.

    He finally came to his senses and answered.

    “There is a wizard dedicated to the Grand Duke here. He does the large-scale housework.”

    Ariel’s eyes were as big as glass.

    ‘There’s a wizard here?!’

    She had never heard of anything like this from Lucian. Ariel seemed very surprised and Allen explained further calmly.

    “He wasn’t doing housework from the beginning. He was originally the head wizard of the imperial family….”

    Ariel’s jaw dropped a little lower.

    The Head Wizard of the Imperial Household?!

    “But he quit for some reason, stayed here as a guest, and established a small business…”

    Ariel was completely speechless.

    ‘T-then, what for did I offer Lucian to be his magician for?’

    ‘Did he thought of making me a cleaning servant?’

    ‘Is that why he told me to get stronger?’

    ‘Shouldn’t I learn some magic now that is useful for cleaning then?

    Regardless of Ariel’s confusing situation, Allen continued.

    “He’s not only cleaning, but also controlling the temperature of the mansion.”

    “He’s controlling the temperature?”

    “Yes… “

    Ariel replied in a low voice, full of worries, ‘What if I was just a petty wizard to Lucian?’

    So Ariel looked around the mansion with Allen all morning, but the mansion was so big that she could only look around a fraction. She wondered if they even had seen even a tenth of it.

    Allen checked the watch he was wearing in his vest pocket.

    “It’s time for your snack. I’ll leave you alone.”

    “Ah.”

    Ariel realized why she was hungry.

    ‘It’s because it’s time for snacks.’

    Allen took Ariel to Susan himself.

    “I’ll show you the gallery with artworks and sculptures in the East Wing tomorrow.”

    “Yes! Allen, thank you.”

    Ariel greeted him brightly and Allen bowed politely.

    “No, I’ve only done my job.”

    “I’ve learned a lot from Allen.”

    Ariel held Allen’s wrinkled hands and leaned her cheek against it.

    “See you tomorrow, Allen.”

    After Ariel followed Susan’s footsteps and disappeared, the old butler Allen paused at the spot.

    It was unusual behavior for Allen, who worked for the Grand Duke did not sit still even for a moment.

    The old butler Allen, who had stopped, looked down at his hands.

    “……”

    The warm warmth from the little girl’s soft cheeks remained in his hands.


    Susan served a savory yellow cheese cookie and a cup of milk as a snack.

    Ariel who tasted the flavor of the fragrant cheese cookies now has cookie crumbs on her lips.

    Susan taught her to put cookies in milk.

    “If you soak cookies in milk and eat them, you will feel more flavor.”

    “……I’ll try.”

    Ariel dipped the yellow cookie in milk and took a bite.

    It was crispy when she ate it as it is, but it melted smoothly when she ate it soaked in milk because it’s wet.

    “It’s delicious!”

    Susan laughed.

    “The chef’s been putting a lot of effort into baking cookies lately. I’ll bring you more in the future.”

    ‘I can’t believe I can eat such delicious cookies often.’

    She doesn’t know why the chef is suddenly eager to bake cookies, but Ariel thought it was very lucky.

    After finishing the snack, Susan said to Ariel.

    “By the way, the Grand Duke sent a doctor for the young lady today.”

    “Is the doctor….going to talk to me?”

    “Yes. “

    Ariel, instinctively afraid of the doctor, hurriedly made excuses.

    “I’m not sick.”

    “She’s not here because you’re sick, she’s here to see how much better you’re going to grow. You don’t have to worry.”

    Susan explained kindly.

    Ariel is still scared, but she managed to nod her head when Susan coaxed her.

    The doctor of the Grand Duke is a woman in her thirties.

    The Grand Duke had both male doctors for men and female doctors for women.

    He followed the law even when he had not been able to have a lady in the house for decades.

    So the female doctor who had been called was a person who had been working on medical research for years without a patient.

    “Hello, ma’am. My name is Miller.”

    Dr. Miller greeted her.

    She felt different from friendly Susan and courteous Allen.

    ‘Very professional and intelligent?’

    Ariel feels like she can trust Miller because she looks so confident.

    Moreover, Miller, who has a suitcase, looked so cool.

    “I’m Ariel. Nice to meet you.”

    “Yes. Then, I will ask you some questions for a medical examination.”

    Miller saw Ariel as a patient, not as the lady or a child of this house.

    She didn’t ask Susan who was next to Ariel about her condition just because she was young, She asked her directly.

    “How is your appetite in the morning? How is your digestion?”

    Ariel, feeling respected as a person, tried to answer sincerely.

    But when Miller saw Ariel’s body, her face which had been so calm all along visibly hardened.

    “This…. “

    Miller was speechless when she saw the scars all over Ariel’s body.

    The scars that Susan saw as very severe did not appear to be unusual in the eyes of Dr. Miller.

    Dr. Miller wrote down quickly in her notebook.

    [Traces of habitual assault. Presumably caused by an adult man.

    Scars and bruises all over the body.

    There is also a scab on the inner scalp of the hair, so it looks like he grabbed her hair and pulled it hard.]

    Miller had Ariel move her arms, legs, and shoulders slowly.

    “……fortunately, no bones or joints have been damaged.”

    Growing tall is close to impossible when joints got damaged when young.

    Dr. Miller breathed a sigh of relief.

    Ariel recalled what would have happened if she hadn’t come here and got married.

    Perhaps she will never be able to use her left leg properly. Just like in the past.

    Miller, who had touched all Ariel’s scars, concluded.

    “You’re still young, so if you eat well and rest well, most of the marks will heal and disappear…but some places are too severe. It’ll probably leave a scar when you grow up.”

    Susan’s face hardened at Miller’s words.

    The doctor told her some precautions about diet and exercise, prescribed medicine to strengthen her body, and then went back.

    After the doctor returned, Ariel looked at Susan.

    Susan seemed to be feeling low for some reason.

    She didn’t smile sweetly, nor pat her on the head. Ariel approached Susan out of concern.

    “Susan, what’s wrong? Did I… do something wrong?”

    Susan, who was busy cleaning her room, sighed and turned to Ariel.

    She held the little girl’s body tightly.

    Ariel is not Susan’s own.

    Even if the atmosphere was a little bad, she felt sorry for a child who immediately looked at the mood of an adult.

    She was like a young animal who gave her heart to her because she was hungry for affection.

    “You did nothing wrong. It’s just that I’m heartbroken.”

    “Because of me? “

    “……”

    Susan kept thinking about what the doctor said.

    ‘That means you’ll still have scars when you grow up.’





    Ariel had it hard.

    “I’m fine now. My fa….ther, I won’t see him anymore. I’m not in pain anymore. I’m fine.”

    Susan gently swept Ariel’s back.

    “It’s not like that, young lady.”

    Susan, who took Ariel off, pointed to the girl’s chest.

    “Sometimes body wounds leave scars here, too. And the scar inside it is much, much harder to erase.”

    “Susan… “

    “So young lady. You don’t have to say you’re okay when you’re not. It should be the most precious word in the world. Do you understand?”
     
    AerynJay, Shey_04, augacutan and 11 others like this.
  10. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    Ariel still didn’t understand why she shouldn’t say she’s okay easily.

    But one thing that she understands is that Susan really cares for her.

    That’s why she wanted to relieve Susan who’s heart is breaking.

    “Yes, I will. “

    Susan peppered Ariel’s cheeks with kisses.

    “But I’m proud of you for growing up so prettily.”

    Then Susan grabbed Ariel’s hand.

    “Now, shall we go eat delicious fattening foods as the doctor said? Dinner will be served with the Grand Duke soon, and I’ll make sure it’ll be loaded with high-calorie content.”

    “Can they do that for me? “

    “Of course. The food in the mansion is supposed to follow the tastes and preference of the masters.”


    “Ah… “

    Susan had a mischievous smile on her face.

    “So if you want to become a great Lady of the house soon, you should try and experience a lot of delicious food.”

    ‘Is that true?’

    Ariel’s head was wobbly.

    She felt a little suspicious that the conclusion is that she has to eat a lot of delicious food to be a good Lady of the House.

    But she soon held Susan’s warm hand.

    She felt like she’s okay with anything as long as she’s here.

    That kind of routine went for a day or two.

    Her morning starts with a kiss on the cheek from Susan and during the day, Allen, the butler, guides her around the mansion.

    Then she’ll share dinner with the blunt Grand Duke, Mathius in the evening.

    Mathius didn’t say much when he saw that his diet was changed following Ariel.

    Their meals were very quiet because Mathius says nothing, while Ariel, didn’t have any courage to speak first.

    But for Ariel who liked to eat with someone, this is better than the breakfast and lunch she eats by herself.

    “What did you do today?”

    That surprised me.’

    Ariel almost dropped the knife she was holding.

    Today was the first time Mathius spoke to her during a meal.

    I mean…it’s the first time for a month.’

    “Me?”

    “I asked you.”

    Mathius’s tone was calm. It’s as if he had been asking this on daily basis.

    Ariel’s mouth opened as she blinked her eyes.

    She was so nervous that her small hands under the table began to tremble.

    “Today, I finally got introduced to all the people in the mansion.”

    She still hasn’t officially met anyone yet except for Susan and Allen.

    The other people greeted her whenever they ran into each other, but she still doesn’t know any of them.

    Susan said that it was such a sudden marriage so Ariel needed time to adjust to the mansion….

    But Ariel knew.

    She knew that it was a consideration for her, who was skinny, shabby, and had scars everywhere in her body.

    Ariel had been eating a lot for a month now and her cheeks looks slightly plumper than before, and many scars on her hands and face had faded.

    So it wasn’t until today that she met and got introduced to the people who worked in the mansion, of course, with the accompany of the maid, Susan, and the head butler Allen.

    Officially, as the little Lady of this house.

    Ariel picked her finger and thought of the people she met.

    Susan said there’s only a few of them, but the house was so big that it wasn’t actually a small number.

    “I said hello to gardener Woods, and I also met chef Holston. I also met the maids in charge of the women’s quarters. Becky, Sally and, Anna.”

    Ariel didn’t forget the promise she made with Susan and told the maids to do it properly.

    It was difficult to use the Lady’s way of speaking, but no one ignored or laughed at Ariel just because she was young.

    Everyone was kind to her.

    ‘Everyone seemed to look up to the name La Carte.’

    Ariel is a wife of a La Carte, so she was able to receive all the respect as well.

    Mathius, who had his chin on his finger and listened quietly to her, opened his mouth.

    “What more?”

    “More?”

    Hmmm….’

    Ariel frowned

    She unconsciously pouted as she tried to focused on remembering all that happened earlier.

    “Ah, I painted today.”

    “Paint?”

    Ariel began painting these days during the day as well.

    Susan brought small toys that can be played with indoors, including paints and drawing tools for her, who can’t go out and play because it’s still cold outside.

    Ariel became interested in painting among them, because of the novelty of colored paints she had never encountered before.

    She wasn’t great at it, but painting was a bit like using magic.

    ‘I can’t use magic because of the promise with Lucian….’

    Ariel hesitated and asked.

    “Do you mind if I show you?”

    She thought he’d say no, but Mathius surprisingly let her.

    Susan brought all the paintings that Ariel painted today.

    Mathius leaned against the back of the chair and looked over the painting.

    Ariel swayed her legs nervously in the table chair.

    She was the one who spoke first, but when Mathius saw the painting, she felt embarrassed and anxious.

    What if he say I couldn’t draw?’

    It is true that I couldn’t draw well, but I still felt ashamed.

    He picked out a painting.

    “This painting, I like it.”

    Ariel’s face lit up.

    Mathius said he liked it without saying if she drew it well or not.

    Ariel asked gladly.

    “Would you like to have it?”

    “You can give it to me just like that?”

    Mathius said while looking at her through the paper.

    But before Ariel could even say ‘Yes!’, he bluntly affirmed.

    “I’m going to turn this painting into a 50 million denal piece soon.”

    Denal was the monetary unit of the empire.

    F-fifty million denal?!

    Ariel wasn’t even sure how much the worth of a single piece of Denal is.

    But she was sure that the amount that Mathius just said was huge.

    By the way….why is the painting I just drew suddenly became worth such a price?’

    Ariel looked at her painting closely.

    Even though it was painted on quality paper with quality pigment, it only looked like an ordinary painting painted by a ten-year-old child.

    Moreover, the painting is just scribbled and abstract, so it was difficult to find it’s characteristics except that it was free-spirited.

    Mathius reached out to Allen next to him.

    “Allen. The fountain pen.”

    “Yes, Grand Duke.”

    Allen drew a fountain pen from his vest pocket and offered it respectfully to Mathius.

    The fountain pen, which had briefly gone through the hands of Mathius, headed towards Ariel.

    “Now. “

    ‘……?’

    Ariel looked at Mathius, not understanding what he meant.

    Mathius pointed to the bottom of Ariel’s painting.

    “Write your name,”

    Ariel accepted the fountain pen.

    She was surprised that the fountain pen with a smoky, sleek body was more frightening than she thought.

    [Ariel La Carte]

    When she carefully put her name in it, Mathius turned her head off as if she was satisfied.

    “Good job,”

    Then he handed over Ariel’s painting to Allen.

    “Put it in a suitable frame.”

    Allen held the painting dearly and Mathius turned back to Ariel.

    “I’ll take it for a month and then return it. By the time it gets back in your hands, it’ll include a certificate proving that your painting has a value of more than 50 million denals.”

    ‘H-how?’

    Ariel could only blink her big eyes.

    Mathius, who was looking at Ariel, touched his lips and smiled.

    The smile that appeared so quickly also disappeared just as fast. Ariel blinked her eyes again.

    ‘I think…I just saw something amazing.’

    “Everything that comes from this house is worth a fortune.”

    Mathius called her in a low voice.

    “Ariella.”

    “Yes?”

    “All the people in the capital are talking about you right now. Even though it’s been a month, there’s no sign of the rumors going away. There are a lot of socialites who agonize to see you even just once.”

    It’s Ariel’s first time hearing this.

    She never thought too deeply about the people outside since she’s been living in a huge and comfortable mansion.

    Mathius lazily swept his long black hair.

    “It’s too early to let you go out…, the painting should be enough.”

    Ah’

    Ariel seemed to be able to understand the situation a little.

    She has no idea what’s the deal with her, but now the capital is probably half-crazy in curiosity about her identity.

    The Marquis of Lucilleon’s 10-years-old veiled daughter who had never been shown in the aristocratic circle suddenly got married to the heir of the Grand Duke.

    She’ll definitely look like a mysterious existence in the eyes of others.

    It was certain that the social nobles, who like to talk about others, would be curious.

    The corner of Mathius’ mouth crept up.

    “Throw them the painting and let them have a dogfight. What do you say?”

    “….okay. “

    Ariel wanted to satisfy their curiosity but she didn’t want to please those who tried to bring her out.

    One of Ariel’s paintings will tell them nothing about her.

    It will only lead to flurry speculation and miscellaneous interpretations.

    When Ariel agreed, Mathius reached out his hand as if he was trying to stroke her head but he hesitated.

    A large hand, which had stayed in the air for a while, came down and patted Ariel’s pale cheeks.

    Ariel’s cheeks blushed brightly.

    He got up from the table.

    “I won’t be able to join you for dessert. I have a schedule.”

    “Yes…. “

    Ariel suddenly felt a sense of regret.

    She finally managed to have a conversation with Mathius in a month but it seemed to have ended too quickly.

    Mathius, who was about to leave, picked up one of Ariel’s other paintings on the table.

    His cold, indifferent eyes got filled with a feeling of contentment.

    “I’ll have this. I’ll add it to my collection.”


    Ariel’s mouth opened widely when she heard him say that he will add it to his collection.

    For some reason, she felt more pleased about that than when her other painting became worth 50 million denals.

    As he went out with the picture, Mathius commanded Allen like a pleasant lion.

    “Hang it in my room where I can see it.”

    The painting, which Ariel signed with a fountain pen, was handed over to Allen, the old butler, and was carefully framed.

    There were a lot of luxurious picture frames at the warehouse of the Grand Duke, that’s expensive is enough to buy a house in the capital.

    Ariel’s paintings, however, were framed in a luxurious but simple Gothic style frame. It was to emphasize the painting rather than the frame.

    Dalton, who was sent out to put the painting out, wore white gloves and carefully looked at the painting through tiny lenses of his glasses.


    After a long time, he tilted his head.

    ‘I can’t figure out what she drew.’

    Judging from the shape of the painting, it was clear that it was painted by a child.

    The color scheme is quite plausible as well.

    Dalton shook his head as he tried to infer what the painting expressed.

    “No, I don’t need to judge what Ariel drew.”

    Ariel is now a La Carte, so it was wise not to make a judgment on her.

    One of the Empire’s proverbs is [Don’t judge what La Carte does.]

    Whatever the way that works, it’s written in the sense of trust that whatever the La Carte did always has perfect results.

    But thousands of years have passed and now its meaning has changed a lot.

    [La Carte will not let those who judge him live] or [Don’t think about what a La Carte tells you to do, just obey him.]…?

    Well, it changed in a slightly overbearing direction.

    Anyway, it was foolish of him to give a remark to a La Carte’s work.

    Dalton neatly wrapped Ariel’s painting and sent it as a donation to the upcoming imperial charity banquet.

    It is a place where each aristocratic family proudly presents all kinds of rare treasures.

    And Ariel’s painting was about to make its debut there.

    After a month’s tour of the mansion with the butler, Allen, Ariel finally got to know the way so that she wouldn’t got lost from that house.

    ‘I should visit Dalton today. ‘

    There have been a lot of questions bugging her mind, but she’s afraid to ask Susan openly because she might get worried and it was difficult to ask Mathius so he’s out of the list as well.

    Ariel safely entrusted her hair to Susan’s hand, determined to go to Dalton.

    ‘Haaa-m, why do I feel sleepy when someone touches my hair….? ‘

    Susan gently untangled her tangled hair, then she skillfully twisted it on both sides to make half a ponytail.

    And finally, she tied it in black silk ribbon with an embroidery in it.

    “Oh my, our little lady looks like a lady now!”

    Ariel carefully twirled in front of the mirror.

    I’ve hardly gotten used to these compliments.’

    “Then, go and have fun! “

    Susan pushed her back gently.

    Ariel left the room with a thud. The room where Dalton works was close to Mathius’.

    That means, she have to walk for quite a long time to reach it.

    It was not even possible to know how long it would take to walk this wide mansion on Ariel’s short legs.

    It is a moment where teleportation magic is desperately needed.

    But why did Lucian tell me not to use magic?’

    Can’t I use magic to got to other people because I’m far away?’

    I…wont use it for anything else anymore anyway.’

    Ariel wondered and looked down at her leg.

    Her left leg, which was crippled by the hand of the Marquis in the past, feels so distant now.

    ‘It hurt so much just to walk back then….’

    Thanks to Lucian’s acceptance of her offer, she was able to neither lose her legs nor stay in that house.

    That’s why I won’t magic unless it was for Lucian.’

    Ariel, who made up her mind, stepped forward boldly.

    Even if she doesn’t use teleportation magic, she has two legs that you can walk well.

    “Young Lady?”

    “Hello, Dalton.”

    “What brings you here…… No, come in first.”

    Dalton, who couldn’t make his master wait outside, quickly brought Ariel inside.

    Ariel went inside and sat on the sofa.

    *squeak*

    “Wow, Dalton, this sofa is so soft!”

    The sofa in her room was also soft, but the one in this room was for adults, so there was a lot more cotton in it.

    When Ariel looked up at him with twinkling eyes, Dalton instantly thought of a cute baby cat and grabbed his heart.

    ‘Hyuk, she’s so cute that my heart hurts….’

    He began to rummage through his drawers.

    “Wait a minute, I have something to give you…. “

    Dalton found a lot of sweets inside his drawer.

    And gave it all to Ariel.

    “Eat it, Little Lady.”

    “A…All of this?”

    Even if she tried to eat it as snacks for 3 nights and 4 days, she still wont be able to eat them all.

    But the giver seemed very pleased, so Ariel accepted the package of snacks.

    Then she nibbled a snack and opened her mouth.

    “The reason I’m here today is that I want to ask you something, Dalton.”

    Dalton, who was briefly fascinated by Ariel eating snacks like a rabbit, finally came to his senses.

    “Yes, ask.”

    “Lucian-“

    “Hiccup.”

    Ariel was about to ask but she was suddenly interrupted by Dalton’s hiccup.

    “……?”

    His complexion turned pale and I didn’t even know where he was sick.

    “Dalton? Are you okay?”

    “Yes? Oh, yes… I was surprised to hear to suddenly hear that name.”

    “You mean Lucian?”

    “Hiccup”

    When Ariel said the name once more, Dalton hiccupped again.

    ‘Is it really that surprising?’

    Ariel mumbled in her head.

    ‘Come to think of it, Susan said last time that Lucian hates being called by his name.’

    “Is it because…Luci, I mean the Great Lord, told you not to call him by this name?”

    Dalton, who wiped the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief nodded.

    “Yes. No one is allowed to call him by name except you.

    Dalton trembled as if he had thought of something he didn’t want to think about.

    “In the mansion, the Great Lord’s last name is like a taboo word.”

    He said nobody is allowed to call him by name.

    However, Ariel received an order directly from Lucian, so that seemed to not apply to her.

    Ariel asked the question she originally wanted to ask.

    In fact, she was actually most curious about whether there was a vacation in the academy, but she was interested in the academy itself as well.

    “Anyway, my husband…can you tell me about the place he went to?”

    “You mean the Johannes Academy?’

    Dalton organized the information in his mind about Johannes, the largest and the only academy for nobles in the empire.

    “Johannes is an academy attended by royalty and aristocratic children aged 14 to 18. It’s a very necessary course for aristocrats. His Majesty the Crown Prince is also attending.”

    “Um, is there any school for girls?”

    “There’s been discussion about it for decades, but I don’t think there’s one yet.’”

    Women in the empire were only allowed to engage in social activities.

    So instead of going to the academy and being educated, the girls only learned basic things from tutors.

    Miller, who became a doctor by studying on her own, was a very special case for a woman.

    Dalton explained what is taught at the Academy.

    “Johannes teaches a wide range of swordsmanship, social skills, and art. Among them, the Great Lord entered the school for swordsmanship.”

    “Swordsmanship?”

    “Yes. The Great Lord has already been a Sword Master ever since he was nine. He was the youngest person in the Empire to be one.”

    Ariel’s mouth opened a little.

    The youngest Sword Master.

    Ariel had heard of the Sword Masters when she lived with a group of wizards.

    Unlike wizards who were born with mana, Sword Masters are said to gather mana in their swords.

    “Lucian… is amazing.”

    “Yes, the Grand Duke of La Carte has produced Sword Masters from generation to generation, but he was especially fast to be one.”

    After that, Dalton explained many things.

    Ariel hesitated and finally asked for a direct answer.

    “Lucian said he will return only after a year. Does that mean he really won’t come until then?”

    Dalton made a puzzled look for a moment then he burst into laughter.

    “Are you sad that the Great Lord is not here?”

    Ariel was puzzled by Dalton’s question.

    Ah…. I think that’s a given because she’s his wife.’

    “The only people in this house who wish he were at home would be Sir Allen and the Little Lady.”

    Why? Is Lucian being treated poorly at home?’

    “The Great Lord is as much as, no, maybe even more scary to us than the Grand Duke himself.”

    “Why?”

    “You’ve seen the extension of the mansion with Sir Allen, haven’t you?”

    “Yes, I did. “

    “The Great Lord is the one who made that extension. He often destroyed the mansion, so he had to rebuild it. His specialty and hobby is destruction.”

    My husband’s specialty and hobby is destruction…’

    Ariel felt as if she had somehow discovered a huge fact.

    “In addition, the men of the La Carte family have a peculiar intimidating aura, so it is difficult for people inferior to them to even face them.”

    Ah, I know that.’

    Ariel sensed it before. The overwhelming intimidating aura that she had felt when she met the black-haired man in the past.

    She also felt it from Lucian when they went to see her father, the marquis.

    “That’s why everyone thought they’re seeing some kind of illusion when the Great Lord expressed affection for the Young Lady before he left.”

    Ariel’s face turned red.

    It was because she remembered the forehead kiss at that time.

    “For a moment, we thought the Great Lord looks like a demon- No, no, they’re the same thing already, who turned into an angel. “

    ‘Why is Lucian a demon in Dalton’s head.’

    Dalton spoke with a little excitement.

    “We’ve never seen such a sight before. Not only is Lucian married, but Lucian also kissed the Little Lady. The Lucian!”

    Dalton, you said Lucian three times already. Is he going to be fine saying his name?’

    Ariel didn’t know how people would react to Lucian’s usual behavior.

    Then Dalton asked with great enthusiasm.

    “Any more questions?”

    “Ah, I have!”

    Ariel asked about the noisy nobles and her painting.

    “I heard there’s a lot of gossip about me. What is it?”

    Dalton’s expression became serious.

    “……Did the Grand Duke told you?”

    “Yes.”

    When Ariel answered, Dalton became a little relieved.

    The girl in front of her certainly looked so young and innocent.

    But the fact that his master, the Grand Duke, spoke to this girl about something external…

    ‘Maybe it means that he believes in the Young Lady.’

    If the owner judged it that way, Dalton had no disagreement.


    He faced Ariel with a serious expression.

    “Do you really want to know what happened, my Lady?”

    “Yes, it’s about me after all.”

    “I’ll tell you.”

    Dalton began to explain the impact of Lucian’s rumors little by little.

    Of course, the part that Lucian was actually the one who ordered to spread the rumors was neatly filtered out.

    “The first ones that surfaced were the old rumors about the Little Lady.”

    “If it’s the old rumors….”

    He probably meant about the rumor that Ariel is sick or that the Marquis does not show her because of her ugly appearance.

    “However, when the people witnessed all of the Lady’s expensive belongings being sent away by carriage by the Marquis himself, they began to spread that you are probably loved by the marquis.”
    “Ah…. “

    The rumor has been constantly on the rise.

    The rumor says that Ariel was actually a beautiful child that everyone could easily fall in love with, that’s why she was raised secretly since she was young to not exposed her to the outside world.

    Moreover, Dalton, the treasurer of the Grand Duke of La Carte, was the one who secretly worked on the plan to spread it, that’s why the rumors easily spread like wildfire.

    As the empire’s most powerful and wealthiest family, it was only natural that the attention surrounding the marriage of Lucian, the heir to the Grand Duke, was gaining huge attention.

    Among them, Ariel, whose face is unknown, is the main character of the rumors.

    “The fact that the Marquis of Lucillion kept silent about the Lady’s engagement contributed to the swelling of the rumor as well.”



    In fact, the latter kept quiet because of Lucian’s threats.

    “In the meantime, the society’s interest sored up even more when it became known that the wedding gift was a sapphire mine in Hilton.”

    Dalton paused for a minute and then continued.

    “That’s why the people became curious about the identity of the Lady who became so precious to the Lord.”

    Ariel got a little lost in though.t

    “That’s why my paintings become so expensive? Because of people’s curiosity?”

    Dalton shook his head.

    “At this point in time, that could be a factor. But that’s not the only reason. Raising the price of goods is only a piece of cake for the Grand Duke.”

    “How? “

    “The Grand Duke can increase the price by monopolizing resources with his power, and sometimes the Grand Duke directly invests and raises the worth of an object.”

    People are attracted like ants to investment with money and power.

    Ariel still didn’t know how her painting became worth 50 million, but she understood the principles.

    “I understand now. Thank you, Dalton.”

    Ariel left Dalton’s room with a lighter heart.

    She ate the snacks given by him one by one as she crossed the hall on her way back.

    On the way, she passed by the maid Sally and Anna who smiled and greeted her.

    “Hello, Little Lady. Oh my, your ribbon is hanging loosely.”

    “Ai. How cute.”

    The people of the mansion have spoken to Ariel like this ever since she got formally introduced recently.

    Before, when she went around with Allen, they only bowed their heads and said hello.

    Ariel was shy but also happy for getting attention, so she would smile at them.

    Ariel was currently passing by the windows when the quiet gardener, Woods, who was trimming the ornamental plants in the garden, gave her something.

    It was a branch of a tree bearing a dainty red fruit.

    The round and small red fruits were all over the place, and the branch was well-kept without thorns.

    “Woods?”

    Ariel called with a puzzled expression when she received the branch, but Woods only pressed his hat down and hurried away from the window.

    She decided to show Susan the branch, and she smiled warmly at her.

    “Did Woods gave it to you? “

    “Yes, but he didn’t tell me what is it. “

    Susan fixed the ribbon on Ariel’s hair, which was almost untangled,

    “It’s a winterberry branch.”

    “Is it edible?”

    “No, it’s for ornamental purposes. Isn’t it pretty?”

    “Yeah.”

    Susan patted Ariel gently on the head.

    “There’s a saying that the lady who’ll receive the first winterberry branch in February will have good luck.”

    Uwaa…

    Ariel looked into the branch filled with pretty red fruits.

    “So Woods gave me this for good luck!”

    “You think so, right?”

    Ariel carefully inserted the branch into a vase and jumped out of the chair.

    “I’ll go to Woods and say thank you!”

    Susan shouted behind Ariel as she ran out.

    “Don’t run! You’ll fall!”

    Ariel saw Woods trimming a tree quite far from the window earlier.

    She opened the window with a frown and frantically waved at Woods.

    Woods slowly pulled back the brim of his hat and looked at her.

    “Thank you for the good luck, Woods!”

    Ariel shouted with all her might.

    She was worried that her voice wouldn’t reach him, but Woods bowed his head in acknowledgment.

    Ariel smiled brightly.

    As if the good luck has taken effect already, her empty heart started getting filled with warmth.

    That night, Ariel came back to her room after taking a bath and drank the hot milk sprinkled with the powdered sugar that Susan handed over to her.

    “It’s sweet. It’s delicious.”

    “Hoo-hoo. Sweet things are the best to children your age.”

    Actually, I’m already seventeen…’

    It seems that her tastes and preferences also adjusted into her body which is a child right now.

    Also, the fact that she had never tasted anything good in her past life contributed to Ariel’s love of sweetness.

    She was barely living with burnt oat porridge while she was at the Marquis, but after joining the group of wizards, her body got damaged so she could not eat well.

    The only thing she could eat was soup.

    That’s why everything that she has been given right now, when she started living here in the Grand Duke’s was the first delicious food she had ever tasted before.

    Susan dried Ariel’s wet hair with a fluffy, thick towel that made her feel warm.

    Susan’s voice, which seemed to be singing, tickled her ears affectionately.

    “Your hair color is so pretty. Every single thing about you is beautiful.”

    Ariel, who was sipping and drinking milk, listened to it and clenched the cup with her small hands.

    She had been getting compliments from the people in this house these days, and it tickles her heart every time I hear it, but…

    She wasn’t happy this time.

    “Um…Susan.”

    “Yes.”

    “I really like Susan, so whatever you say won’t hurt my feelings.”

    “My Lady….? “

    Susan, who was drying her hair, stopped moving. Ariel added hurriedly.

    “A-and I know Susan likes me. I didn’t believe it at first, but now I do. That’s why…, I….want to believe everything Susan says.”

    “Lady Ariel.”

    Susan called out to Ariel in a low voice.

    Ariel was not confident to turn around and face Susan.

    She has no idea what kind of facial expression she’s showing right now.

    But I had to say it.’

    Ariel closed her eyes tightly.

    The voice that came out trembled.

    “I know my hair color is unusual and strange. My face looks ugly, too. I know that, but…Susan, Sally and Becky… all of you look at me saying I’m pretty. I don’t like it when people I like lies to me.”

    Susan sighed behind her.

    She managed to pluck up her courage to say what she wanted but the sigh scared her.

    It’ll be bad if Susan got disappointed in me, right?’

    Susan gently turned Ariel around.

    Ariel bowed her head, unable to make eye contact with her.

    Susan pulled the little girl’s shoulders into her arms.

    Ariel hesitated but she put her arms around her as well.

    “Young Lady. Who told you that you looked ugly?”

    Ariel mumbled, burrowing into Susan’s arms like a baby in her mother’s arms.

    “…father. And my brother.”

    Susan sighed again.

    “That’s why you thought it was weird whenever other people told you you were pretty or cute?”

    “Eung.”

    How does Susan know my mind so well?’

    When Susan understood her feelings, Ariel began to stammer out what she had been holding back.

    “At first I thought you were just saying that because I’m the lady of this house. It made me feel sad.”

    She choked up while talking.

    “But Susan is such a good person… You’re generous and very nice to me. That’s why I know that Susan is not trying to deceive me on purpose, but you see me like that because the eyes of your heart are beautiful…”

    No matter how much she thought so, the heaviness in her heart did not disappear.

    “But everybody else besides Susan calls me pretty when they see me. That can’t be true. Everyone’s so weird. It’s so strange.”

    Tears dripped down from Ariel’s eyes and wet Susan’s clothes.

    “I’m afraid I couldn’t believe in what Susan says.”

    “I see… “

    Susan patted Ariel on the back.

    Ariel sobbed and wept as she burst into her tears.

    Susan kept sweeping her back the whole time Ariel cried.

    Ariel’s tears slowly died down due to Susan’s regular patting.

    Susan slowly began to talk.

    “You know? I was actually surprised to hear that Lucian was getting married to the Little Lady.”

    “Because…I look like this?”

    “No.”

    Susan brushed Ariel’s forehead that became sweaty from crying.

    As Ariel raised her head, Susan continued.

    “Look at my eyes. Can you see yourself in them?

    “I can.”

    “What does it look like?”

    Ariel described herself as best she could.

    “Red hair… The eyes are red too. The skin is as white as plaster…”

    “Alright. Stop. “





    Susan, who gently stopped Ariel’s words, pointed to the Winter berry branch that Woods gave her earlier.

    The red berries in the winterberry branch have neatly adorned the vases.

    “What’s the color of that fruit, Lady?”

    “Red.”

    “Is it pretty?”

    “Yes, it’s very pretty.”

    Susan smiled at the honest answer.

    “Your hair color is more beautiful than the color of those fruits. It’s scarlet red.”

    “Scarlet… red?”

    “Yes, it’s the name of the most beautiful shade of red. “
     
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  11. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    I will continue tomorrow :love::unsure:
     
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  12. Smile_for_me

    Smile_for_me Isekai enthusiast/ knovel lover

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    Thank you so much ❤️
     
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  13. Viola202

    Viola202 Well-Known Member

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    of course continueblobmelt_thumbs
     
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  14. Viola202

    Viola202 Well-Known Member

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    Thank you so much for your work:blobsmilehappyeyes::blob_pompom:
     
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  15. Thclownn

    Thclownn Well-Known Member

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    Thank you so much! :blobmelt:
     
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  16. Idioticgarlic

    Idioticgarlic Active Member

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    Thank you so much❤️❤️ Are you the translator and if not where do you get the chapters???? I read on a site but they started putting passwords at ch 36 and I cant find their discord
     
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  17. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    I apologize for being late. I had some work


    Scarlet red…?’

    Ariel whispered blankly.

    “And the Lady’s eyes are like rubies. They look like pretty pieces of jewelry.”

    “I’ve never heard of such a thing before.”

    Susan lifted Ariel’s slender arms and pulled up her sleeve a little.

    “Look at your skin. It’s fair, soft, and moist. The more you grow, the more beautiful and fairer you will be,”

    Susan gently kissed Ariel on the inside of her arm.

    “Your skin is white as snow, I don’t think I can even find you when it snows.”

    Ariel stammered in confusion.

    “But….Isn’t it weird being this white?”





    “It’s not strange. There are so many young kids who want to get white skin and find ways! You are very blessed.”

    “Blessed….? “

    Susan patted Ariel’s cheeks.

    “Yes. The little lady is really blessed with beauty. I don’t know them, but I’m sure that you will be much more beautiful than your father or brother. Both in heart and looks.”

    Ariel asked again as if she had been confirmed.

    “Are you sure I’m pretty, Susan? Aren’t I only pretty in Susan’s eyes?”

    Susan burst out laughing.

    “My Lady, even if you ask anyone else in this world, everyone will definitely say that you have a very lovely appearance. Have you seen the treasurer Dalton or the maids become enamored when they look at you?”

    Susan pretended not to notice, but she knew that the butler, Allen was also the same.

    It would be bad to tease the old man too much.

    “There are only two people in the world who say that you’re not pretty, and you don’t know you’re pretty because you live with them.”

    “Is…Is that really so?”

    Susan nodded vigorously to Ariel, who clasped her clothes with wet eyes.

    “I’m telling you, Little Lady. I swear on my name.”

    Susan took Ariel to the front of the pink full-body mirror.

    Ariel looked frightened when she saw herself.

    “Look straight ahead. Remember that well from now on.”

    “………what?”

    Susan looked at Ariel’s reflection in the mirror.

    “From now on, what you’re seeing right now is beautiful. There is no other standard. The Lady’s appearance is pretty.”

    “From now on, the look I have is pretty… “

    “Yes, your standards always have to be. That way, even if you don’t meet the standards of the world, you still can show your beauty without falling behind it.”

    Ariel approached the mirror.

    Until now, even if there was a mirror, she didn’t look at it often.

    She didn’t want to see herself in the mirror even whenever Susan ties her hair up with pretty ribbons or dressed her up.

    She felt sad seeing her ugly self in pretty things.

    But when she listened to Susan and looked in the mirror, she saw her red hair for the first time.

    She also saw her clear red eyes, that looks like strawberries melted in sugar.

    Her skin was as pale as snow.

    Even if people outside criticized her appearance, she thought she could finally say, “I like this appearance” now.

    If she had bronze hair like her father’s, not red hair, she wouldn’t have met Lucian, Susan, and Mathius.

    She leaned gently against her reflection in the mirror.

    Ariel liked herself for the first time.


    Ariel washed her reddening eyes and went to bed.

    Susan kissed her then turned off the lights, sat next to her and hummed her a lullaby like usual.

    She felt good listening to the lullaby, so when Ariel opened her eyes, Susan smiled and patted her stomach.

    “Lady, I was surprised by your marriage, not because of you, but because of the Lord.”

    “Why? “

    Susan spoke softly.

    “The Lord is young, but he is more determined and sword-like than anyone else. He even told the Grand Duke not too long ago that he would cut off the bloodline of this family.”

    “Cut off the bloodline of this family?”

    “Yes, it means that he won’t get married or have children. But he did.”

    “How come?”

    Susan laughed.

    “I’m just a maid, so I don’t know. But after I saw you, I thought I could understand it now. The reason why he changed his mind. He probably couldn’t help it if you were so pretty and lovely.”

    “…..Susan, I think I’m going to cry again.”

    “No. If you cry before you go to bed, your eyes will look like frog’s eyes tomorrow.”

    (t/n:like those frogs with horizontal pupils?
    Probably.)


    Susan, who said that seriously, carefully covered her with blanket.

    “I was so happy when you came. That’s all I need you to know.”

    Ariel nodded instead of answering.

    Then Susan added merrily.

    “I’ll make you the prettiest when you get married properly later. Your scarlet red hair would go very well with the white wedding dress.”

    But Ariel can’t say that her and Lucian’s wedding was hard just a deal.

    ‘I don’t think Susan will ever see me wear a wedding dress.’

    But that’s not what’s important to Ariel right now.

    Susan likes her without looking at her other conditions.

    She’s calm and warm.

    “Good night, Little Lady.”

    Feeling a faint sound of sweet a sweet lullaby, Ariel fell asleep.


    Even though she didn’t cry in bed last night, Ariel’s eyes still became swollen and became like a frog’s the next day.

    Oh, this is embarrassing.’

    During lunch, Mathius rushed into the room.

    He probably heard it from Allen, the butler, who’s currently standing behind Mathius.

    This is because Susan was busy so she left Allen to prepare Ariel’s meal.

    Ariel only wiggled her eyes that she couldn’t open well.

    She was embarrassed because her mouth was full of turkey sandwiches right now so she can’t explain everything that happened yesterday.

    When Ariel didn’t answer, Mathius looked all over the room.

    “Lack of toys?”

    She wanted to say no, but the sandwich stopped her.

    Mathius looked at Ariel’s cheek, filled with sandwiches, and muttered.

    “A child is also short of toys,” said Mathius, turning around.

    By the time Ariel had swallowed up the turkey sandwich, he had already disappeared in the hallway.

    In the afternoon, the news that Ariel cried spread throughout the mansion, and people went to Ariel’s room constantly.

    Chef Holston prepared Ariel’s favorite, plum pudding and put it on the pot, and the maids took a pretty silk ribbon and hung it on Ariel’s window.

    Even the gardener Woods, who never leave the first floor, came to visit.

    The quiet Woods installed a strong and pretty wooden swing in Ariel’s room without saying anything and left after seeing the winterberry branch in a vase.

    Ariel asked while sitting on a new wooden swing and dragging her feet.

    “Why is everyone doing this, Susan?”

    What’s was the big deal when I only cried once?’

    Susan, who was busy all day today because of the four curtain changes in the winter season, responded with a smile.

    “Everyone’s just worried about the lady. Children your age usually gets homesick after a month or so away from their parents.”

    “But I don’t want to see my father and my brother.”

    “It’s because other people don’t know that. And even if they know, they might still be worried that you’ll have a hard time staying in this house.”

    Ariel was surprised at Susan’s words. She had never thought of it.

    How can she hate the La Carte mansion when it’s filled with such warm, and good people who always takes care of her?

    Ariel could not suffer from homesickness itself because she had nothing to miss.

    Rather, if she were to stay here and go somewhere else, she’ll miss this place more.

    “Everyone is doing that because they’re hoping that the lady became happy and well adapted to this place. Of course, this is also the first time I have ever seen the Grand Duke do that.”

    Susan, sweetly explained it to her while she changed the outer curtain of Ariel’s room into ivory.

    “And my lady also needs to act a little more child-like. If someone gives me something good, don’t think things like, ‘why give it to me? ’Do I deserve it?’”

    When Ariel was dumbfounded, Susan laughed.

    “If I were a normal kid in a situation like this, I’d act a little more childish. I’m going to ask for more things that I want and take the opportunity.”

    But I already have everything I need?’

    Ariel can only looked away.

    However, it was not long before I realized that her thoughts and those around her were different.

    Allen, the butler, brought out a giant stuffed eagle, which he said to soothe Lucian tears when he was still a baby, and made Ariel play with it.

    Ariel was amazed to see the eagle for the first time and looked at its shiny feathers and orange beak.

    This soothed the baby Lucian that he stopped crying?’

    Ariel thought it was very fun to be able to recall Lucian from my childhood.

    The treasurer Dalton provided a high quality picture book with beautiful illustrations.

    Ariel excitedly put the books neatly on the empty bookshelf.

    And Mathius….

    Within a few hours of Mathius departure, a stream of big toys began to enter Ariel’s room.

    “Uwaa.”

    Even Ariel, who wasn’t interested in toys for children because she had already lived until the age of 17, was surprised.


    “I think these are more like a work of art than toys.”

    The toys that Mathius gave her were a big doll house and an ark-shaped toy.

    The ark-shaped toy was amazing.

    It was a wooden toy made by carefully painting the grain of wood red one by one, then sanding it softly. It was possible to assemble it by matching the rooms in the ship.

    The surprising thing was that no matter how the rooms were combined, the final shape would be a pear shape.

    A large ship, a two-story tower, and a comfortable ark….

    And it was finished with resin that made it look like it actually floats on water.

    The dollhouse was all the more impressive.

    The doll’s house seemed to be a miniature of the La Carte mansion.

    It was very colorful and sophisticated. The furniture and the structure inside the house were almost the same.


    The only difference is that the blue bricks on the roof of the Grand Duke’s Mansion are sapphires in the dollhouse and there are real diamonds embedded on the top of the Ice Star Tower.

    When the mansion was split in half and opened, she saw wooden dolls sitting, standing, or lying down inside.

    Ariel smiled broadly at the little red-haired girl doll among them.

    ‘That’s me!’

    When she saw a boy doll with black hair, she blushed slightly.

    “Lucian…. “

    Ariel, who put the two dolls together nicely, felt better.

    ‘It seemed that I could create a hundred stories just by looking into the pretty dollhouse.

    After all… this looks exactly like the La Carte’s mansion.’

    Ariel hugged a large doll house about two-thirds of her height.

    ‘If I had this, I would be able to keep remembering this place even if I divorced and left this mansion someday.’

    Ariel looked at the gifts for a while.

    It was great enough even for adults to have.

    Both toys had the name of the craftsman written in cursive.

    “Did you like it?”

    Mathius, who was staring at Ariel looking at the toys, asked.

    Only then did Ariel come to her senses and ran to Mathius.

    She hesitated for a moment, but then, she hugged Mathius’ leg.

    “Yes. I like it so much. Thank you, Sir Mathius.”

    Ariel was so short and Mathius was so big that Ariel couldn’t even fully hug him because she was only less than half his size.

    Mathius made a distorted face that seems like he was very eager to stroke her head.

    “This is not all.”

    “What?!”

    When Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise, Mathius narrowed his eyebrows and smiled coolly.

    “Look out the window.”

    Ariel ran and opened the window.

    In the garden, there were bright outing carriages and white ponies for a young girl.

    “Sir Mathius! That’s-…. “

    “It’s yours. You can play with it when the spring comes.”

    “……..”

    Ariel looked at him because she didn’t know what to do.

    “I liked it but it’s a bit scary. Are they really for me?”

    Mathius looked down at Ariel calmly and coolly.

    “Nothing is too good for you. Ariella.”

    And he looked at the play area that still had a lot of space left.

    “By the way, Allan told me that you played with the stuffed eagle. How many stuffed animals do you want?”

    Ariel jumped up and down.

    The stuffed animals were amazing, but they were also a little scary.

    “No, that’s… it’s still…”

    “Then I’ll give you some full-sized dolls.”

    Such a large deer, jaguar, rabbit and sheep stuffed animals were erected on one side of the room.

    They were luxurious dolls that looked just like real animals and had the same glossy furs.

    ‘There’s too many….’

    Ariel’s mind went blank because of the gifts she received all day today.

    Still, she was tickled by the fact that everyone cared about her.

    Mathius, who was about to leave the room by saying ‘see you later in the evening’, looked back.

    He felt a subtle lingering feeling inside him.

    “How many glass greenhouses do you want?”

    ‘No. I really think all of these is enough now, Grand Duke.’

    Overcoming the trauma of her own appearance, Ariel diligently wandered around and tried to get close to the people in the mansion.

    ‘It’s nice to hear the sound of the heavy hand of the clock, ticking. ‘

    She sat in front of a large clock in the middle hall and listen to the sound of seconds passing by.

    ‘Ah, the jewel in the eye of the lion statue looks different.’

    The stone fountains on each floor were found to have different shapes.

    One day, she was played with a deer stuffed-toy in the hallway and fell asleep on the deer’s back.

    “Hhmm….? “

    When she woke up, she was puzzled because people were gathered around her and watching, her holding their breath.

    Getting to know the people in the mansion and making herself feel at home was a new experience for Ariel.

    It was only natural for Ariel who had never had a home before.

    The House of Marquis Lucilion, where she was born and raised, was like a nightmare, and the residence of the sorcerers where she got sold was only the place where she vomited blood every day.

    But the grand duke’s mansion was different.

    For the first time, Ariel learned what home meant.

    The smell of the sun from a freshly pulled blanket.

    The feathered pillows that the maids beat with a bat to make it fluffy.

    The canopy that melts in her sight at sleep.

    The soft fur rug that embraces her even if she stumbles and falls, and Susan’s kiss whenever she had a bad dream.

    Ariel put them in the word “home” step by step.

    Ariel didn’t know but with the people of the Grand Duke who treated her with kindness and affection, she didn’t even have to try to win favor.

    The mansion had been quietly turned upside down since the Grand Duke Mathius, who had been eating his dinner alone for more than 15 years, asked Ariel’s seat at the dinner table.

    Since most servants have worked here for more than 10 years, the ripple effect was even greater.

    “The Grand Duke is having dinner with his daughter-in-law, the young lady!”

    “Oh, my God! “

    The La Carte was a mansion of an old family, and it was really old. That’s why it was normal that it’s dark, quiet, and the atmosphere was also thick.

    The family had so many secrets that most of the servants working in the mansion were quiet and heavy-mouthed.

    But after Ariel came in, something started happening that made even such servants scream in surprise.

    “What kind of wind did blew to make Grand Duke eat with the lady at the same table?”

    “I’m not sure if she’ll be able to eat her meal properly at this point. Just seeing the Grand Duke’s shadow is already making me choke.”

    The servants, who were well aware of the dark aura of the male members of the La Carte family, were heartbroken by the scary dinner table that the young lady had to go through.

    But…

    “The new young lady! She had a meal in front of the Grand Duke without any problem.”

    But that’s not the most surprising part for the servants.

    “The maid said that the Grand Duke even ordered to prepare a meal that’ll be suitable for the lady’s diet.”

    No one believed this part.

    “That can’t be true. Master Mathius is such a scary and cold-hearted man.”

    “That’s right. Of course he will tell them to prepare it separately.”

    But soon it was revealed that Mathius had dinner with Ariel every day and did not complain about Ariel’s diet, which left the mansion in a big shock.

    In the morning, the employees were busy holding their breath and watching when the Grand Duke passed by with the butler.

    Then they gathered in the kitchen in eagerly sang praises.

    “Hey, isn’t she as different as the sky and the earth from Lucian? Even the atmosphere.”

    “That’s right. She seems like a really sweet and cute girl!”

    They couldn’t believe such a cute presence was next to their young master, who was nothing short of a devil.

    “Did you hear that, the story? The fact that the young master fell in love with her at first sight and proposed to her.”

    “I also saw the Young Master running to kiss the young lady. I thought the world was coming to an end!”

    She is not afraid to marry a man of La Carte, who is notorious for his blood, contribution in the war and their madness, and is even recognized as a family.

    Ariel was a great being who made the world of heaven and earth to the servants who have seen the Grand Duke Mathius and Lucian La Carte for a long time.

    Not only that, Ariel’s appearance was enough to put everyone in a honey pot.

    Lovely scarlet red hair that warmed people’s hearts, and white and transparent face like snow aroused a protective instinct to anyone.

    Her dainty nose, fluffy cheeks, and pink lips were also cute.

    Because of her height and body, which is far smaller than her peers, her appearance also played a part in her cuteness.

    Within a few days, everyone began to convince themselves that the cause of the warm breeze blowing over the icy La Carte mansion was her.

    “If you’re such a cute person, it’s doesn’t mean that you don’t understand…”

    Things that Ariel didn’t know were being done in the mansion.

    A few days later. It was the day of the party of the Duchess of Beatrice, the flower of the high society.

    The ladies who attended the meeting were exchanging the same story as if they had been wanting to talk about it.

    They were all whispering in a low voice like little girls.

    “Have you heard the rumors? It’s about the painting by Young Lady of the Marquis of Lucill- I mean the Grand Duchess of La Carte.”

    “Yes. I heard that they are going to bring it to the imperial charity banquet tomorrow.”

    “What kind of painting is it?”

    A lady covered her mouth with her hands and said in secret.

    “I heard from an acquaintance of my in-law’s friend’s cousin….that the Young Lord is very well educated.”

    “Then the painting must be excellent.”

    “I heard that the the Grand Duke made her his daughter-in-law because he like her.”

    “Oh, I’m really curious.”

    Their voice was low and whispered, but the eyes of the noble ladies talking were glistening with unbearable curiosity.

    These days, exaggerated rumors about Ariel have overflowed in the high society.

    Among them, bad stories about her were still buried under the water.

    But the rumors of Ariel’s strange red hair that looks different from the bronze color of the Marquis Lucilion, and the rumors that she may not be the Marquis’ real daughter, did not attract people’s attention.

    They are more madly curious about the girl who’s liked the Grand Duke of La Carte and the girl the youngest swordmaster fell in love at first sight with.

    ‘I’m sure she’s a great girl.’

    It was obvious that she’s liked by the La Carte. They offered the sapphire mine as an engagement gift, and she got married as soon as she turns 10 years old as if they were worried that she would be taken away!

    In the heads of the nobles, Ariel became someone who has boundless of greatness.

    Of course, none of them actually met Ariel.

    Over time, the day of the charity banquet hosted by the imperial family came.


    The banquet was more crowded than ever.

    Even the weak ladies decided to attend under the aid of their maids.

    Over time, everyone’s interest in Ariel grew and was at its peak.

    Count Caterbell, who was in charge of the donation for the banquet, picked up an envelope bearing the La Carte’s crest.

    “This is an item presented by the Grand Duke of La Carte. First, a painting with the handwritten signature of the Grand Duchess*. Next…”

    The Count choked up as he tried to read the letters.

    “H-he put out a blue diamond necklace called the Siren’s tear…..! “

    “Gasp!”

    The inside of the hall became quiet in an instant.

    Everyone stopped after making a choking sound.

    The siren’s tear…

    The blue diamond, the rarest kind of diamond, is a huge thing!

    The Siren’s tear is a necklace that was so expensive that it couldn’t be bought even if they add all the prices of the items presented by the nobles in the banquet.

    There were also nobles who wanted to try it even once in their lifetime.

    People were surprised by the Grand Duke’s wealth of throwing these precious things casually at the charity banquet, but they should be shocked at something else.

    ‘Wait a minute. The…order?’

    When presenting such items, it was a principle to state the more precious one first and the less valuable one following it.

    But there was something else in the order before the Siren’s tear. It’s a painting of the Grand Duchess.

    ‘Does this mean that the p-painting is worth more than the blue diamond?!’

    The nobles all gazed in astonishment at the painting in cloth.

    Count Caterbell lowered the cloth with trembling hands.

    Those who gathered in the hall greeted the painting with their eyes squinted with light.

    “Ooh….!! “

    It was the biggest exchange of charity money in the history of the Empire.

    The aristocrats started bidding and raising its price as if they were hypnotized by it.

    “10 million denals!”

    “15 million denals!”

    “I can’t lose. 15.5 million denals!”

    It was just a common [Figure 1] for Ariel, but now the curiosity about her has reached its highest level.

    Moreover, it looked completely different from those who believed the painting was worth more than a blue diamond.

    Whatever the painting was, the value of the painting was more than diamond, as long as the Grand Duke declared it more valuable than a blue diamond.

    The nobles set aside the blue diamond necklace and began to heat up Ariel’s painting.

    “I’ll buy that.”

    “My Count will double it.”

    “No, I will!”

    The emperor, who was present, laughed at the amusing reaction of the people on the Grand Duke.

    “The one who has paid the most for charity will take it.”

    On that day, the one who won the bid paid exactly 50 million denals and took the painting.

    Even after the painting disappeared from view, the people did not stop talking about it.

    “Ah, the painting seemed to want peace in the world.”

    “Oh, my. I felt the same way.”

    “Then the theme of that painting must be world peace!”

    Ariel would have been very surprised if she heard this series of thoughts.

    Because her intentions were not as profound.

    Later, the painting became worth 70 million denals after going through the hands of two noble families.

    Then a month later, when Mathius bought the painting again and returned it to Ariel, it was with a certificate of 80 million denals.

    The intention of the painting was simple.

    This was the name given by the original author, Ariel, to the painting, which was praised for resembling world peace.

    Susan’s sweetness.

    On top of the white lace table mats, a dazzling porcelain tray was laid gently.

    The tray had freshly baked pancakes and syrup pots, dishes topped with small pieces of butter, neatly arranged plates.

    ‘Yum.’

    Ariel quickly put the pancake with golden syrup in her small mouth so that it wouldn’t drip.

    ‘Ah, it’s soft.’

    She feels stuffed after waking up in the morning and eating a lot of pancakes with sweet maple syrup and butter.

    “I’m going to meet Allen.”

    Ariel loved spending time with the old butler Allen.

    It was pleasant to walk slowly with Allen, who always has a little bit of free time in the late morning.

    No one knew as much about this house and the people here more than Allen.

    Ariel was learning the things she needed to know about the La Carte family one step at a time.

    “Allen. When did the La Carte family get founded?”

    “Yes, about that, milady.”

    A somewhat proud expression always blooms on Allen’s face whenever she asks such a question.

    So Ariel thought he was a little cute even though he was an old grandfather.

    “The La Carte family has existed even before the establishment of this empire. It has a long history. Only direct descendants of the family can know when it originated, so I don’t know in detail.”

    ‘That means, it’s that long….!?’

    “How did they manage to keep their family’s blood alive even when it’s so old?”

    “What everyone needs doesn’t disappear. The La Cartes have traditionally held onto their position as the empire’s guardians.”

    ‘Guardians?’

    When Ariel asked with her eyes, Allen continued his explanation.

    “The north occupies a large part of the entire territory of the empire, but it is not green enough for people to live.”

    There was a huge mountain range in the north of the empire.

    The vast land in the north that followed this mountain range belonged to the La Carte family for a long time.

    And in the ancient forests and rugged rocky mountains forming the northern mountains, the beast appeared frequently

    This was the reason why people could not easily access the mountain range even though there were many valuable mines.

    “The La Carte family defended the empire from the beast by owning this barren land, which allowed the empire to build a mine and revived it with the minerals that came out of it and made it to the present day.”

    ‘Uwaa, what a completely meritorious family.’

    Ariel pondered and asked again.

    “Then can the royal family leave the guardian’s position to another family? The higher the name of La Carte, the more troubled the royal family will be, right?”

    Allen’s eyes widened a little.

    ‘I can’t believe such a young girl can think of such a thing…’

    “You’re so clever,”

    Then he continued politely.

    “But there is no one who can substitute for the La Carte. If you leave your northern enemy to another family, they’ll all be wiped out.”

    “Then…. “

    “Yes. The men who carry the blood of La Carte are stronger than normal. One person does 1,000 or 10,000 per day. Even when defeating the monsters, only the Blue Lion Knights are taken.”

    From the perspective of the emperor, La Carte was an objectionable entity, but without a guardian, he had no choice but to admit that his country’s existence itself was in danger.

    The present emperor also chose to keep the La Carte under the imperial family, recognizing his contribution.

    “La Carte is a pro-Emperor and maintains neutrality. He was awarded the honor of the Grand Duke in exchange for maintaining neutrality without threatening the Imperial Family.”

    The Grand Duke’s family was the only aristocrat to have family autonomy. The Grand Duke is like a king of a small country because it is equivalent to the kingdoms that belong to the Empire.

    “What kind of family autonomy is it?”

    “The right to keep family secrets, and the right to keep the imperial family from interfering in their own family affairs.”

    Ariel was in awe.

    She knew in the past that the La Carte family was great, but it was even more amazing to know it properly.

    The presence of the Grand Duke in the Empire was greater than I imagined.

    “Hey, Allen.”

    “Yes, Milady.”

    “What’s the secret of the family?”

    When Ariel asked, Allen’s face suddenly hardened.

    Ariel quickly added a word.

    “I’m sorry, it was a difficult question.”

    She is currently a member of the Grand Duke’s family right now but she’s also in a position to divorce Lucian and leave this place once she becomes an adult.

    So it was presumptuous to ask for a secret that even the imperial family couldn’t dig out.

    ‘I didn’t want to embarrass Mathius or Lucian after learning the secret.’

    Ariel spoke clearly and calmly.

    “It’s better if you don’t tell me, Allen. I’m going to get going. Thank you again today.”

    “……Yes. Take a look and go back. Milady.”

    Ariel, who said goodbye with Allen, returned to her room.

    She wasn’t very curious about the secrets of the La Carte family.

    Ariel herself has a big secret of coming back from the future.

    It would be strange if there were no secrets from such an old family.

    And La Carte was a family notorious for madness.

    If that’s what’s revealed, what’s hidden will surely be worst.

    There are a ton of things to be hidden from the time of the ancestors.

    “Haaaaam…”

    ‘I’m sleepy after walking too much.’

    Ariel fell flat on her nap bed and leaned her head in a fluffy, round pink cushion.

    The little girl quickly sank into the dreamland.

    It’s been two months since Ariel entered the mansion.

    And something she was worried about had happened.

    Ariel sighed slightly.

    With a small sigh, Ariel’s red hair fluttered like a ribbon.

    ‘I’m lost.’

    Today, she was on the way back from the balcony at the end of the East Building that she went with Allen.

    At the end of the building, there was a room where the former imperial princess stayed as a guest, and there was a marble birdbath on the balcony connected to the room.

    When Ariel, who is not familiar with luxury goods, asks about the concave and elegant stonework with water, Allen politely explained it.

    “The princess who stayed here liked the birds, so there is a birdbath where she can feed the birds or play with the water while they drink water.”

    ‘Wow. Will we be able to see birds bathing water here in the spring?’

    Ariel blushed with anticipation.

    Then she dipped my finger in the water and quickly pulled it out because it was cold.

    An innocent smile filled her cheeks.

    The old butler Allen saw the appearance and felt an emotion poked in his heart.

    He was working hard to crack down on the frivolous words and actions of the other servants in the mansion who said that he was cute when he’s with the lady…

    Really, the young lady was so lovely. It’s as if they turned a sweet colored ruby into a human.

    It was the first time he was loyal to anyone other than his masters, Mathius and Lucian.

    On her way back from looking around the princess’ room, which is preserved in its original form.

    Ariel decided to go back alone in consideration of the busy Allen.

    “The East Wing has been renovated after a long time, so I’ll take you there, madam.”

    “No. I almost memorized my way now. I want to practice by myself.”

    Ariel, who had gone on her way alone, could not return to her room in the South Hall and was circling around a strange place.
     
  18. vvvaanneesssa

    vvvaanneesssa Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I am the translator , I don't know about websites, I don't follow them much, and I really have a lot of work :(
     
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  19. Idioticgarlic

    Idioticgarlic Active Member

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    Okay thanks:)
     
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  20. kitkat97

    kitkat97 Member

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    Hello! By any chance would you be interested in translating some novels for me? I am willing to pay you :)