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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: I Will Prove My Worth (6)
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Isabel, who had been waiting in the large dining room, couldn't hold back and asked in a small voice.
"You said you saw her, didn't you, Brother? How is she? Is she pretty?"
"Hmm. I didn't get a proper look at her face... but she's small."
"Small? How small?"
Averster cupped his hands to indicate the size of a small ball.
"This small?"
"That can't be!"
"Isabel, be quiet. Ariana has a lot of scars, so don't act thoughtlessly when she arrives."
Isabel's mother, Countess Briant White, said. Isabel pouted her lips but kept her mouth shut.
Soon, the voice of a servant was heard from outside the dining room.
"Princess Ariana White is entering."
Everyone straightened their backs and stared at the dining room door.
Behind the slowly opening door, Ariana appeared.
Soft sky-blue hair and a small face, skin as white as pearls, and a light pink dress that draped her slender frame.
From Ariana, who stood with her back straight, exuded a dignity unbefitting a child, making those present momentarily mistake her for a high-ranking noble lady.
Even under everyone's gaze, Ariana's steps were unwavering. She walked gracefully and lightly, barely disturbing her skirt, and stopped at the seat the servant guided her to.
Ariana gently held her skirt and curtsied.
"I am Ariana."
"Oh, Ariana! No need for formalities among family. Please, sit down."
Pelos said in a booming voice.
Ariana offered Pelos a faint smile before taking her seat.
Isabel, who had been scrutinizing Ariana with piercing eyes, muttered.
"What is that? Who wears pink these days? It's so tacky."
"Isabel!"
When Countess White glared, Isabel scoffed.
"Did I say something wrong? Who wears pink? Light green is perfect for this kind of weather. Eastern Duke, her room isn't still pink, is it?"
As Russell wore a troubled expression, Ariana spoke in a calm voice.
"Thank you for your concern, Lady Isabel. But I like pink, so I'm quite fond of it."
At Ariana's words, Isabel frowned.
"Hey, what's with 'Lady Isabel'? Why do you call people like that?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm your older sister. Your older sister, your cousin."
"Ah..."
"What is she, really stupid? No, who talks so politely to their older sister like that... Ouch! Mother! Why did you pinch me!"
"Isabel. You, we'll talk about this when we get home."
As Countess White glared with burning eyes, Isabel grumbled but said nothing more to Ariana.
Pelos laughed heartily.
"I'm sorry, Ariana. My daughter is a bit... well. She's a bit like that, but she's a good kid, so please try to get along with her."
"It would be an honor to get along with Lady Isabel, Count."
"What, Father. You said she called you 'Uncle,' but she hasn't called you that at all."
As Isabel grumbled, Countess White gave Isabel a sharp glare. Averster quickly spoke to Ariana before Isabel could spout any more nonsense.
"Hello, Ariana. We've met before, haven't we?"
"Yes, thank you for your help earlier."
"What, when? You helped her, Brother? Without me knowing?"
"I was truly surprised to hear you were the Eastern Duke's daughter. If you had told me sooner, I would have taken you to Chase Castle more comfortably."
Averster completely ignored Isabel.
"Thanks to you, I was able to come comfortably. It would have been a disaster without your help, Young Duke. Thank you."
As a Young Duke, Averster had heard the details of Ariana's situation, so he understood why she kept everyone at a distance.
Everyone could only guess what Ariana had endured in the Western Territory.
But if she had suffered abuse severe enough to leave such long-lasting bruises, could she forgive her father, who pretended not to know despite his high position, and his family? Could she not resent them?
The gathering, meant to introduce her to the other children in the family, proceeded quietly and calmly.
Ariana answered questions diligently but never initiated conversation or asked questions, and she moved her cutlery with such consistent grace that it impressed everyone.
"Ariana, your manners are truly excellent. It's like watching Imperial etiquette."
At Pelos's compliment, Ariana offered a faint smile.
Imperial etiquette. To aid the Third Prince, she had mastered grace through blood-sweating effort. Horseback riding, manners, dancing, and social skills—all had to be learned to survive, to live as a human deserving of respect.
Her resolve was different from that of other noble ladies who simply learned these things as a means to gain the Empress's favor and find a better husband.
Countess White said.
"I wish our Isabel would watch and learn a bit."
As if that remark had pulled a trigger, Isabel, who had been sitting, only rolling her eyes, suddenly stood up. Without a moment for anyone to stop her, she strode over to Ariana's side and picked up the plate in front of Ariana.
"You don't like carrots, do you?"
At Isabel's aggressive demeanor, Ariana slowly raised her eyes to meet her gaze.
"Then don't eat them."
Isabel pushed the plate aside and picked up a juice glass.
"You don't like lime juice either, do you? Then don't drink this either."
"Isabel!"
Averster stood up and grabbed Isabel's arm. When Russell and Langsty gestured for him to take her out, Averster pulled Isabel away.
Even as Averster dragged her out, Isabel didn't lose her momentum.
"You don't have to eat what you don't like, do you? Why are you forcing yourself to eat it? There's so much delicious food in the world, so much to eat! Eat what you want. Isn't that why you came to Chase Castle? Why are you still sitting here doing things you don't want to do?"
Her shrill, shouting voice pierced Ariana's heart.
"You tiny thing, acting all dignified! You don't look pretty at all!"
Ariana remained seated calmly, but her chest was churning. Every word Isabel spoke seemed to say, 'Live as you please.'
Thump—
The dining room door, through which Isabel had been dragged, closed.
Isabel continued to shriek from the hallway, "What did I do wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have?" As her sharp voice faded into the distance until it was no longer audible, Countess White spoke with an embarrassed expression.
"I'm sorry, Ariana. My daughter is a bit... spirited."
"It's nothing."
Ariana looked down at the carrots she had left, not wanting to eat them.
"I'm only grateful for your concern."
The meal ended in awkward silence. Averster and Isabel did not return until it was time to move to the drawing room.
The Duchess and Countess excused themselves, saying they needed to check on the children, and the rest moved to the drawing room. After a servant set down refreshments and left, Langsty spoke.
"Ariana. There are a few things I'd like to ask."
So, it begins.
Ariana steeled herself and raised her head.
"Yes, please ask."
"I want to know why you came here. You must have come because you want something, correct?"
"Yes. I wish to stay at Chase Castle until I become an adult and can live independently. Would you allow me to reside here under the name Ariana White until then? Of course, I will strive not to bring shame to the White family name."
"Tsk."
Pelos clicked his tongue, as if displeased with the answer.
"What are you saying, Ariana? Until you become an adult... you should stay here permanently after that. You should live here until you meet a good man and get married. Don't you agree, Brother?"
Russell did not answer. His blue eyes sharply observed Ariana, as if trying to discern her thoughts.
"I dare not ask for too much. If you would simply provide me a place within Chase Castle, I will handle the rest myself. Furthermore, I will never forget the kindness you show me and will surely repay it twofold, so it will not be a wasted investment."
Listening to Ariana's resolute voice, Russell slowly closed his eyes.
Every word Ariana spoke pierced Russell's heart. Her attitude, rejecting any help or affection, seemed to harshly rebuke Russell.
*What did you do while I suffered like this? You're my father. Did you truly not know I would live through such a plight?*
The people Caradine sent found out how Ariana had lived in the Western Territory. The maids who had been beaten and dismissed from the Bronte Ducal Estate after making small mistakes readily spoke.
Old clothes that even a maid wouldn't wear. A single thin outfit even in the dead of winter.
Even on cold days, she would do dishes and laundry with ice-cold water, get beaten for even small mistakes, and often be locked in her room, missing meals and writing reflection papers.
Even when she was severely ill with a cold and on the verge of death, they wouldn't call a physician, and she had to drag her aching body to do chores.
When Ariana, while cleaning, collapsed with a high fever, the Duchess merely expressed annoyance, saying, "She's useless. I wonder who she takes after to be like this."
A series of reports, more horrifying than imagined, followed. Even the usually composed Langsty couldn't hide his trembling fists.
It was only natural, then, that Ariana could trust no one and couldn't open her heart.
Who among those present would dare to utter words like, 'We are family,' to Ariana?
"There's no need to repay any debt."
Russell said in a deeply somber voice.
"Nor is there a need to consider it a favor. This is where you rightfully belong, so as soon as you are ready, you will become the Princess of the Eastern Territory."
"Thank you, Your Grace."
"To do that, we must retrieve your guardianship. We have found witnesses and evidence. However, we don't know what schemes they might devise in the Western Territory, so we intend to prepare more thoroughly."
"Are the witnesses you found the dismissed maids?"
"Yes."
"There are witnesses with stronger influence."
As if she had anticipated this, Ariana calmly recited two names. The distinguished names, seemingly unrelated to a young girl, surprised the adults.
Ariana, who had just uttered those names, continued calmly.
"The testimony of these two individuals would be more valuable than that of a hundred maids."
"Indeed..."
"I ask for your kind assistance, Eastern Duke."
Ariana stood and bowed deeply towards Russell. Russell did not know what to say to his daughter, who was showing the respect a subject would give to their lord.
A fractured voice escaped his trembling red lips.
"You must... resent me."
Ariana bit her lower lip, her head still bowed.
Of course. How could I not resent you? If you were going to abandon me like that, why bother giving birth to me? If you were going to neglect me like that, why didn't you just let me die in the womb? If I had died then, I wouldn't have known loneliness or pain. I wouldn't have felt solitude or cold.
Just before dying, the sensation of the coarse rope digging into her neck vividly resurfaced. That despair and sorrow were still raw.
Only two months had passed since her regression. Too short a time to forget. The terrible stench of those past twenty-eight years, a life of nothing but darkness, still clung stubbornly to Ariana.
Ariana quietly folded and swallowed the emotions that raged like a storm in her chest.
When she raised her head, Ariana was wearing a radiant smile. With a clear smile that was utterly flawless, Ariana spoke.
"How could that be? How could I possibly resent the parents who gave birth to me?"
