# 20
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In the days after tea time ended with a bang, Ariana found herf subconsciously rubbing her lips several times.
There was no wound, but the pain caused by Kenneth remained as a spot.
The memory of the horror of his threat was still fresh.
“If you are planning to choose another man and run away, stop now.”
'Scary man.'
Would an ordinary man think that the lady of the house, merely by conversing with a guest, would run away?
Especially since her face is well known in the port of Rentia.
But as much as Kenneth turned into an obsessive person, it can be said that, surprisingly, he realized her inner intentions.
Because of his harsh threat, she strengthened her resolve in response.
'If I escape, I should never be caught.'
Kenneth didn't care about her misery. So, it was better for both of them to break up and never meet again.
'However, it seems that I did something good by mentioning the competition to Mr. Batiste.'
She saw the sparkle of curiosity in Damian's eyes.
If good news came, maybe he'd talk to her again.
'Now, what should I bring next?'
While she was deep in thought, Emily entered, pushing the tea cart and greeting cheerfully: “Ma’am, I apologize for interrupting! I have prepared more tea as you requested.”
"Thanks."
“And also, here's an interview request from a fashion magazine!”
"…Yes."
Ariana frowned upon seeing the envelope Emily offered with both hands.
The fashion magazine was a newspaper larger than half the regular newspaper, but with less content, full of illustrations.
Unlike boutique catalogs offering dresses for sale, journalists would quickly observe and sketch what upper-class women wore to events.
'They say they're attending a cruise ship event, and they're asking for a short time.'
As Ariana looked on disapprovingly, Emily's eyes sparkled as she thought: “That's why I came to town!”
“Ma’am, if you agree, will you appear in the newspaper?”
“Yes... if you want to call it a newspaper.”
"Oh my God, so amazing! But won't you be tired? Do you have to stand for hours like in the paintings?"
"No, it's not. One hour is enough."
If the painter is skilled, he may finish in half an hour and leave.
But Ariana, who always suffered from being perceived as “luxurious,” rarely responded to these requests in her previous life.
Ariana read the message with an uninterested expression: “Maybe I will refuse-”
“Oh, you'll refuse? What a pity!”
“I wanted to see something you featured in... ma'am?”
Emily tilted her head when Ariana was silent for a long time.
But Ariana, after seeing the name of the person who requested the interview, couldn't say anything.
‘This person… sent me an interview request at this event?’
I quickly looked at it then and sent a rejection, so I completely forgot about it.
You never met that person again.
But Ariana remembered how this person later became a controversial and famous figure.
'This has nothing to do with Baby's birth.'
But the moment she saw the name, her intuition whispered that meeting this person would affect her future affairs…
"Maybe I shouldn't say no, Emily. Can you get me a pen and paper?"
"Yes! Ma'am, may I stay in the room during this?"
"naturally."
Ariana smiled.
You could let Emily enjoy the dresses and then send her on a proper mission.
Moreover, since the interviewer was a woman, Kenneth would not mock her further.
***
Royal Grace Palace is no longer used as a royal residence.
However, as a palace built since the beginning of the royal dynasty, there have been secret hiding places throughout it since ancient times.
So, it was not unusual for the Emperor to raise a glass in a room hidden behind an ancient wall tapestry late at night.
But tonight, there was another cup on the small table.
As a breeze blew, the person who had been secretly summoned by the Emperor cautiously entered the door hidden behind the tapestry.
“So, you came?”
Emperor Alexander Claude, the Great Emperor, smiled with harsh, distorted features.
“Ernest Byrne, my wily friend.”
“Your Majesty...”
The large man, despite his size, trembled at the Emperor's sharp sarcasm.
Count Bayern, Theodora's father, was so pale that his black mustache stood out.
“I'm sorry, but what do you mean? I'm always loyal-”
“I saved you from being purged, Kenneth, how much longer are you going to act like a rat?”
Is this why he was summoned? The Count's closed jaw trembled violently.
It was clear that Quentin Aberdeen led the sale of the joint venture with Kenneth.
Most of those who had plundered the Clifford family's wealth had been liquidated.
But the Emperor took great pains to hide the last person.
“Isn’t this funny? But the world praises you as a loyal man to the Duke’s family.”
“Your Majesty...!”
“And I have to watch that asshole trample me with my eyes wide open!”
It was a good idea to secretly smuggle Andrew into Bayern territory.
But contacting him was not easy, and the fiancée of his youngest son, who was much younger, was from a family close to Clifford.
The Count tried with difficulty to calm the Emperor: “But Your Majesty, you know that my loyalty is to you. That is why I proposed increasing the temporary peerage.”
“Huh… when will we be able to start a war like this?”
The Emperor violently emptied the whiskey into his mouth.
It was humiliating for the royal family to be powerless before the House of Lords, to which Duke Clifford belonged, and the House of Commoners.
So, the Count whispered to start a war.
“How long will the Great Empire share the sea routes with other countries, Your Majesty?”
As shipbuilding technology developed, it was clear that struggles for naval dominance would break out. When war breaks out, public opinion will naturally move around the royal family to boost morale.
More importantly, if war breaks out, Duke Clifford's family, which focuses on tourism and domestic business, will be harmed.
This was also what the Emperor wanted deep down.
“When conditions mature, I will put more people in place to prevent any unpatriotic actions.”
"Yes."
“Have a little patience, Your Majesty. Great plans take time, don’t they? Just give me a little reprieve...”
The Emperor nodded reluctantly, but stuck to his stubbornness: “But in the meantime, we can’t leave that idiot Clifford unharmed, right?”
“This...”
“He must suffer some loss. Otherwise, I would say you were in cahoots with Aberdeen.”
“Don't worry, Your Majesty!”
The Count quickly assured the Emperor, but he was thinking hard.
'What to do?'
He still wanted investments from Kenneth...and his daughter Theodora was determined to marry him no matter the cost.
How could he reconcile the royal family and Duke Clifford in this situation?
‘The destruction of the Duke’s family must be avoided just as the Emperor wants.’
Just weaken them a little, so that Bayern is not ashamed to control them.
Thus, his daughter's marriage will be acceptable.
So, the excuse to discredit them would be none other than that Aberdeen girl.
***
The Byrne family's cruise ship was like a small palace floating on the water.
The invitees to this time's party had already gathered in friendly groups on the roof.
There were three first-class staterooms, with private passage to the deck, containing two large bedrooms, a reception room, and modern bathrooms.
The first room was for the Empress, the second for the Byrne family, and the third, of course, for the Clifford family.
Ariana felt like a mouse trapped in a cage.
Emily, one of her companions, was marveling at the cruise ship: "Wow...! Ma'am, can this really sail? It's so luxurious and beautiful!"
“Yes. This time just to celebrate, we will sail for one night and then return to port.”
"Oh, what a pity! There's an outdoor pool too!"
Unlike the delighted Emily, Ariana, while preparing, wished to return to the palace as quickly as possible.
Even the familiar prison was more comfortable.
'Most importantly, the date for marital relations is after the end of this schedule.'