# 16
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Ariana's resolve to meet her baby again was unwavering.
And also her determination not to let her die in this life.
But that didn't erase the cold pain she felt when she lost her baby.
“Baby, please, wake up, please.”
On the 120th day of her birth, Baby began to roll over, and at the eleventh month, she began to walk.
She knew how to say “mama” and smiled beautifully.
Then, in an instant, I lost it to a spreading cough.
Ariana did not know what to do, so she embraced her dead child and cried bitterly.
“Don't leave your mother alone...”
The feeling of helplessness that made her want to beg at someone's feet to save her child was a painful memory.
Her baby girl, dressed in a white lace dress, is forever asleep.
And Kenneth, who came late to the funeral, did not shed a single tear.
'Was the child she gave birth to so worthless?'
You should have asked him then.
But Ariana calmly shook her head.
Instead, she held out a small bouquet of flowers to him.
Instead of luxurious roses, she chose small, delicate violets, tied with a purple ribbon, because they are for her daughter.
Impulsively, I asked him: “I made it once.”
“…Do you want to take it?”
Kenneth alternately looked at the flowers and Ariana's face.
Where did those desperate eyes that were looking at him go?
All that remained were two sunken, glassy eyes.
The look in her eyes, as if she was holding on to a lifeline other than him, was tearing at his nerves.
No matter what he thought, it was suspicious.
If you put pressure on a person, it is natural for him to twitch and explode.
“Your husband does not give you pleasure, so are you really looking for a lover?”
He intended to hurt her by pressing on her, anticipating a similar reaction.
But this time too, there was only an indifferent reaction.
He no longer believes in words of love.
But he still believes in words of blame and hatred.
'If she had responded to me indignantly, I would have been reassured.'
It would have reassured him that he still meant something to her. But feeling that Ariana was trying to get away from him, he grabbed the bouquet and threw it on the ground.
“You are wasting flowers in vain.”
As he turned around, the beautiful little flower petals were crushed under his shoe.
The woman did not try to stop him as he walked away.
***
The atmosphere of the first dinner with the Duke and his wife was not bad.
At least, from Damian's point of view.
‘I thought that because of his bad relationship with his wife, he didn’t want to show it to others.’
The Duke of Clifford was known for being reluctant to host guests at his palace unless it was a large banquet. Not even a single tea party was held in this vast palace, and that says it all.
Therefore, some said that women are only beautiful, but incompetent in managing the home.
'But rumors are rumours.'
Contrary to rumours, Ariana was subtly engaging in the conversation without making the atmosphere awkward.
“Mr. Baptiste, you are tired from traveling. Wasn’t the food very heavy?”
"Not at all, ma'am. It's the most comfortable meal I've had since I arrived."
Damian smiled at Ariana friendly.
Not only did the woman look like someone who had been married for a year, but she was very pure. If you removed the dark man next to her, she should still be getting marriage proposals.
Kenneth opened his mouth for the first time in response to Damien's jovial answer:
“This is the first time I have heard this from a mouth criticizing imperial food on a daily basis.”
“Not every day.”
Damian laughed with wrinkled eyes at Kenneth's careless sarcasm, but cursed him inwardly: 'Pace your pace, you idiot.'
But Ariana gently intervened: "I heard that Dobres' dishes are rich in flavour. They are very good at food and drink."
“Heh, thank you for your words. Have you ever visited the kingdom, ma’am?”
“Actually, not yet. I'm ashamed of my lack of experience...”
A hint of pink appeared on Ariana's cheeks.
At that moment, Damian spontaneously whistled in his mind.
Ariana Aberdeen, a humble noblewoman's daughter who rose to the position of Crown Princess through her beauty.
He saw her face in black and white newspaper photos, but the photos did not capture half of her true beauty.
'Am I considered an adulteress because of just two men? That's quite an understatement.'
Her beauty was enough to shake an entire country. If she had been born in Dobris, she would have been a flower of high society.
If you had not been born into this land, into this family, and had not intertwined with the Clifford family…
Damian swallowed some regret and stepped in to calm down the lady of the house's shyness: "Until a few years ago, diplomatic relations were not active, so it's normal for you not to be aware. It may not be comparable to our kingdom, the capital, but the Batiste Feudal Cities are good for strolling around."
He raised his glass to Ariana and Kenneth: “Visit us if you get the chance.”
“Okay, Mr. Baptiste.”
Ariana smiled politely.
It was just that the corners of her mouth were raised slightly, but her white face shone beautifully.
“I hope that day will come. May I ask more about your fiefdom...?”
“Of course, it's an honor.”
Giving the lady of the house a conversation was the duty of the guest. Since light jokes were one of Damian's hobbies, he responded with pleasure.
But when he moved his gaze, he noticed Kenneth's cold expression.
Knock-knock-
The Duke's long fingers were tapping on the back of the chair.
Lightly, very slowly.
He was watching his wife with a keen eye.
***
Before entering the academy, Kenneth's life was a series of severe corrections.
As a boy, in addition to his easy-going appearance, his father always complained about his racehorse personality: “I don’t know how such a reckless child was born into a family that did not produce a single general.”
The noble men in Cremisa were supposed to be insensitive, calm as a sea without waves, so as not to be preyed upon.
Therefore, his parents focused on refining Kenneth's hot temper, cutting off any protruding or sharp part.
He had to be distinguished in speech, walk, and culture, but without being distinctive enough to be a weakness.
“Kenneth, don't tap your fingers on your knee.”
This habit was among what his father tried to strictly correct.
On rare occasions, he would do this unconsciously when he was upset or stressed. Kenneth didn't see it as a big problem, but even small physical habits could reveal the heart.
“Even this could become a weakness. Pay attention and correct it.”
Thus, everything was gradually refined to become perfect and disciplined.
At thirteen, Andrew, who was the same age, once quipped: "Really amazing. My cousin's lucky."
The Crown Prince often smiled silly, but in his early childhood, he clearly showed his feeling of inferiority towards Kenneth.
Kenneth did not understand at the time why he harbored such hostility.
'If I were him, I would use the Clifford family as a shield.'
But treason to change royal lineage was a matter of ancient times.
Now, outsmarting the royal family with money was more efficient.
Kenneth was ready to support them if they avoided foolishness.
But Andrew, not realizing this, sneered: “I wonder how Kenneth Clifford feels. People are willing to sprinkle gold your way.”
“But it makes you lonelier.”
"Doesn't everyone just want to take advantage of you? Do you have friends in the academy?"
At this, Kenneth looked at the ceiling with deliberately emotionless eyes.
He was glad he had corrected the habit of tapping his knee.
'It's not a mistake.'
Everyone Kenneth met, young and old, were full of malicious intent. If he did not satisfy their intentions, they would eventually betray him in one way or another.
His parents said he should get used to it:
“This is the fate of those born into the Clifford family.”
When he met Quentin at the academy, he felt this feeling.
He did not openly covet money or luxury things, but he constantly insisted on visiting his house: “My sister sent a message? Oh, I hope the vacation will come soon so I can come back.”
"Good."
“You know her name, right? I told you.”
“You said it was Ariana.”
"She's very nice. Do you want to meet her?"
In his eyes, Kenneth read something beyond mere friendly communication.
It was the same look that Count Bayern had, trying to court him with Theodora.
He thought he was a good guy, but then he realized he was wrong.
It was tainted by strange adult ideas.
'Maybe I'll meet her once and make him shut up forever.'
Thus, he met Ariana Aberdeen.
He had to admit she was cute, but his first impression was that she was incredibly bold.