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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Rachel's Scheme (5)
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Rachel's maids brought clothes to Ariana's room. They were Helena's old clothes, stored in the warehouse after she outgrew them.
This time, she didn't refuse. She obediently changed into the dress and headed to the drawing-room as Rachel had instructed.
It was her first time entering the Duke of Bronte's drawing-room for a reason other than cleaning.
Victoria, who was sitting on the sofa, smiled brightly and waved when she saw Ariana.
"Sister, come here."
Helena pursed her lips, seemingly displeased with Victoria's attitude, but she didn't openly reprimand her.
'What's her game?'
Given that Helena was deliberately suppressing her temper, there had to be some ulterior motive that kept her quiet.
Ariana walked towards the sofa with a relaxed expression, yet she didn't let down her guard.
Helena merely scowled disapprovingly as Ariana sat next to Victoria, but then quickly turned back to Victoria and spoke.
"I hope His Highness the Northern Marquis arrives in Seoryeong before we depart for the capital. Then we could travel to the capital together."
Victoria shot her a chiding look, but Helena continued.
"I'm not sure why he's coming to Seoryeong, but he's probably here to see Grandfather, isn't he? And of course, he'll stop by our Bronte estate. The girls from other families will be so jealous. His Highness the Northern Marquis won't visit just any family, after all."
Helena was convinced that if the rumored Northern Marquis visited Seoryeong, he would naturally come to meet the Duke of Bronte's daughters. And she believed Ariana would not be invited to any meeting with the Northern Marquis.
Ariana, knowing Helena's intentions behind these words, suddenly grew curious.
'What kind of expression would she make if she knew the Northern Marquis was already in this mansion and had encountered me several times?'
Ariana recalled Cyrus's excessively beautiful face.
His reddish eyelids and crimson eyes exuded a dangerous decadence, and his red lips, contrasting with his pale skin, carried a hint of sensuality.
Beneath his moonlit silver hair, his face was breathtakingly handsome, but the coldness in his eyes was chillingly sharp.
Ariana wondered if Helena would even be able to breathe properly standing before Cyrus.
"Oh, everyone's here."
Rachel entered the drawing-room with a pleasant expression and spoke. She gave Ariana a gentle smile.
"Ariana, you look lovely dressed like that. From now on, make sure you're properly dressed. Understand?"
Her tone implied that Ariana had been wearing maid's clothes all this time by choice. Ariana replied obediently.
"Yes, Mother."
"The tailor will be here soon. Ariana, you'll have much to prepare for this year's social season. We'll depart for the capital after mid-March, so until then, learn the etiquette of a noble lady from your sister. Understand?"
"Yes, Mother."
Seeing Ariana's docile compliance, Rachel smiled contentedly. Ariana felt her mother's smile was unpleasantly slimy, like a snake's.
'The old me would have foolishly smiled, delighted by that woman's kindness.'
Her situation, where she had to be suspicious and wary the kinder her mother was, felt bitter. Ariana erased the dry wind stirring in her chest with a faint smile.
"Her Majesty the Empress will surely be fond of you, Sister. You're so beautiful, after all."
Victoria gently placed her hand on Ariana's, speaking affectionately. Ariana clearly saw Helena's face contort sharply.
"Oh, thank you. But Miss Helena will surely stand out far more than I."
At Ariana's words, Helena gave a smug smile.
Rachel subtly narrowed her brows at Helena, who was failing to control her expression, then quickly smiled elegantly and spoke.
"Ariana, 'Miss Helena'? She's your sister. Don't go around calling her 'Miss' again; call her 'Sister' affectionately."
"Yes, Mother."
"Helena, you too, get along well with your sister."
"...Understood."
Soon after, the tailor arrived with his assistants. He was the most renowned tailor in Seoryeong.
While the assistants took the daughters' measurements, Rachel examined the fabric samples and catalogs the tailor had brought.
"For the eldest, these two. For the second, these two. And for the youngest, these two."
As Rachel chose the fabrics and designs, the tailor tilted his head and spoke.
"The designs for the eldest and youngest duchesses would suit them well, but I'm concerned the one for the second duchess might look too mature for her age."
"Our second daughter has a mature side to her, so this color will suit her perfectly. Don't you think a mother knows best, more than you?"
"Of course, madam."
The tailor replied, seemingly trying to appease Rachel, and glanced at the three duchesses whose measurements were being taken.
Helena with her brown hair, Ariana with her sky-blue hair, and Victoria with her dark blonde hair. The three Bronte duchesses were all exceptionally beautiful, but Ariana boasted the most outstanding beauty among them.
The tailor, sensitive to trends and rumors, had also heard gossip about the second duchess of the Duke of Bronte's family. Recently, noblewomen and young ladies who had visited had chattered endlessly about the incident that occurred at the Duke of Bronte's garden party.
"- 'It was truly pitiful...'"
"- 'If only His Highness the Western Marquis hadn't been behind the Duchess, I would have reported the matter to the authorities.'"
"- 'The second duchess was like a beast, having learned no manners at all. It must be because of her parents.'"
The tailor had expected the second duchess to truly be a beast-like girl.
A long time ago, a newspaper had reported about a child raised by wolves found in the mountains, and he had expected her to have the same wild, unlearned demeanor as that child.
'Indeed, rumors should only be half-believed.'
In the Ariana he actually saw, he couldn't find a single trace of the rumored characteristics.
Unlike her two taller sisters, Ariana was rather petite, but the aura she exuded made her seem the tallest in the drawing-room.
Her composed posture and faintly smiling expression were utterly flawless, and her quiet, graceful movements were like those of a butterfly.
As the most famous tailor in Seoryeong, he had dealt with countless noblewomen and young ladies, but Ariana was the first to possess such lofty grace.
Even the outdated dress couldn't diminish Ariana's beauty.
Her sky-blue hair, flowing over her shoulders, was as clear as a spring sky embracing the sun, her skin was like a precious pearl, and her eyes were like expensive sapphires.
'She's like a doll.'
Her face and demeanor were so perfect, like a doll crafted and controlled by a god himself. This, paradoxically, made her feel eerie.
He knew that children of high-ranking nobles tended to be more mature than their peers due to their upbringing, but Ariana surpassed that level.
Having dealt with many people, the tailor could recognize Ariana's inherent dignity even more clearly.
'Could a young lady rumored to have learned no manners possess such grace?'
It was highly unlikely. There had to be some underlying circumstances that the tailor couldn't even begin to guess.
But the tailor was clever, so he didn't reveal his doubts at all and simply took the measurements before leaving.
After the tailor left, Rachel had a maid bring tea and cookies. Ariana even had the honor of enjoying tea time on the drawing-room sofa with her mother and sisters.
"Tomorrow, I'll be hosting a tea party for noblewomen who live nearby. The ladies will be spending time together, so you girls should keep quiet. Understood?"
Ariana found it odd that Rachel was informing her of tomorrow's schedule, but she replied obediently.
"Yes, Mother."
"And soon, we're going to the jewelry and shoe shops. Ariana, what about you? Do you want to come along?"
Rachel's voice clearly held the intention for her to refuse. Ariana also had no intention of going out with them.
"No, I'm fine. Mother, please choose good jewelry and shoes for me."
"Very well, I shall."
Rachel didn't press her further.
Ariana left the drawing-room and returned to her room, smiling coldly.
The dresses Rachel chose for Ariana, though made of luxurious fabric, had designs so mature they would be embarrassing to wear in public.
If she appeared at an imperial party in a dress that looked fit for an old woman, she would undoubtedly be ridiculed. The ladies would gossip about the dress Ariana wore to her debutante ball for ages.
'Standing next to Helena in such a dress would make me look even more provincial. But it doesn't matter. I have no intention of receiving the Empress's favor anyway.'
What Ariana wanted during this social season was not a reputation in high society.
'There's a little over two weeks left until mid-March, when we depart for the capital. I need to get my hands on it before then.'
Ariana's weapon for dealing with the Eastern Marquis when she stood before him. She absolutely needed to obtain the secrets of the Western Marquis and Rachel.
+++
After Ariana was released from the underground prison, she was able to eat three meals a day regularly. Rosalyn brought high-quality meals to Ariana's room for every meal.
On the morning of Rachel's tea party, Rosalyn brought her breakfast.
As always, Ariana called out to Rosalyn, who was about to set down the tray and leave.
"Rosalyn."
"Yes, Miss."
"What are your duties?"
"Mainly washing dishes and laundry. When there aren't enough hands, I clean too."
"I see."
Ariana quietly looked down at the food on the tray.
Freshly baked bread, rich soup, crisp salad, tender meat stew, fried fish, and even pudding.
Rachel was showing Ariana an excessive amount of favor.
It didn't seem to be for the purpose of making Ariana healthy in preparation for the social season.
If she gained weight now, the dresses that began being made based on yesterday's measurements would be too small to wear. If that had been the intention, Rachel should have asked for a more generous size when the measurements were taken yesterday.
'It must be one of two things. Either guilt about what she's planning to do, or I won't have a chance to wear those dresses.'
Rachel would never feel guilt towards Ariana, so the latter reason was likely. Or perhaps, just perhaps, it could be both.
She'd had an ominous feeling ever since Rachel had deliberately mentioned the tea party schedule yesterday.
"Rosalyn, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
"Yes, Miss. Please tell me."
Ariana took out a piece of jewelry she hadn't sold and handed it to Rosalyn.
"No matter what happens today, no matter what anyone asks you, could you testify that you were with me all day?"
"What kind of 'something' are you referring to...?"
"Well, I don't quite know myself. But even if nothing happens, I'll still compensate you, and then we can pretend this conversation never took place."
"Yes, Miss. I'll remember that."
Ariana lowered her gaze for a moment, pondering, then spoke.
"If I am summoned by the Duchess, watch what I do. And..."
Ariana stopped speaking there. Rosalyn stood with her hands clasped, waiting for Ariana to continue.
After a considerable pause, Ariana leaned closer to Rosalyn and whispered in a low voice. It was a strange instruction, but Rosalyn answered calmly.
"Yes, Miss. I'll remember."
