# 22
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Edith remembered Duke Clifford's facial expression again.
Although it was a fleeting moment, she was known for the accuracy of her observation, so she could say with confidence that she noticed the clear difference between his look at his wife as she stood elegantly, and his look at her, Edith, as if she were something annoying getting in his way.
She wasn't sure about Ariana Clifford's feelings, but the Duke, of course...
'There were rumors of their cold relationship. But that doesn't seem to be true?'
Anyway, she had to use this opportunity to make as many connections as possible.
who knows? Maybe write exciting news that will shake the empire?
***
People gathered from far and wide in search of Kenneth like a flock of sheep.
They were desperate to attract Duke Clifford's attention, but they pretended otherwise.
“Welcome, Sir Duke! It has been a long time.”
“I knew I'd see you at the Bayern family event.”
Ariana didn't open her mouth much.
Her role was not to speak, but to stand next to the Duke with a happy smile.
People greeted her politely, but they couldn't hide the vile curiosity in their eyes.
Kenneth didn't care about protecting her from such things.
She had to survive on her own, that's Ariana's skill.
People crowded around the couple, talking excitedly about the business of the South.
“By the way, I heard that Ilysia Port will officially open soon.”
“Haha, I visited it once. Even from afar, it was amazing!”
Port of Elysia, the flower and crown of the Clifford family enterprises.
The former Duke aspired to transform the beautiful southern region into a huge tourist city, with hotels directly overlooking the beach, and other projects ready.
If the Clifford family's plans had gone as planned, the area would have become a thriving second social center after the capital.
If it weren't for the accidents caused by the Aberdeen family.
'That's why Kenneth never took me there.'
Despite knowing this background, people continued to talk enthusiastically. One of them, affected by the atmosphere, had relaxed too much.
“If I collaborate with the Byrne family, it will be a perfect partnership! A trip to the south on this yacht will be a win-win.”
"Maybe," Kenneth replied simply, with what seemed logical, "If I set out on a real sea voyage, it might be possible."
“And didn’t Lady Theodora decorate this yacht? With this vision, even the Place Hotel in Elysia-”
Suddenly, the speaker's companion poked his side.
It was wrong to say that Theodora would excel in a job that a lady of the house was supposed to do.
The atmosphere almost became tense because of this misstep.
But before Ariana had to respond, the yacht's valet approached just in time.
“Madam, I came to take you to the invitation to tea.”
"Good."
Ariana smiled weakly and looked at the puzzled audience.
“I will go now, Sir Duke. I will see you later, gentlemen.”
Kenneth looked at her face indifferently without stopping her.
This was to be expected, as tea was a time when the most prestigious women gathered on the yacht, and Ariana could not miss it.
But when I arrived in the dining room with the servant, I felt upset.
'Huff, as I expected.'
The lady of the house usually took care of the seating arrangements, but since Count Bayern's wife had died early, Theodora was in charge.
So, it was Theodora’s arrangement for Ariana to sit next to the woman who almost became her mother-in-law, under the pretext of a “place of honor.”
The Empress smiled as if she was really happy: “Heh, it’s been a long time, Ariana.”
“Greetings, Her Majesty the Empress. I apologize for my long absence.”
“What absence? You look radiant. Even more radiant than you did when you were preparing to become Crown Princess.”
“How could that time be so different from now?”
“Well, you might think that way.”
The Empress slowly examined Ariana's uniform from top to bottom.
“Weren't you always as showy as a peacock? The Aberdeen family always enjoyed shining in the broad daylight.”
“Your husband seems to be taking good care of you. Duke Clifford is very generous.”
This was clear sarcasm. Even the women sitting at the table exchanged hesitant smiles mixed with curiosity.
At that moment, Theodora, who was sitting to the right of the Empress, smiled softly: “Oh, Your Majesty, you have hidden the lady.”
“Oh, look at my forgetfulness.”
The Empress laughed briefly as if nothing had happened.
As she was gently patted by Theodora's hand, they seemed to agree to make fun of one person.
“Decorum must be maintained. It is Theodora's special day.”
“I am grateful, Your Majesty. And, Madam, you are not shocked by Her Majesty’s joke, are you?”
Theodora smiled at Ariana as if she was pitying a naive person: “And you don’t know how much I worried about you when I last saw you. Were you hurt then?”
"What do you mean? Is the Duchess hurt?"
When the Empress asked with eyes full of vile curiosity, Theodora nodded at Ariana with eyes full of pity: “One rainy day, I saw the lady getting hurt in the street. I felt sorry that I could not help her immediately.”
"Oh my God! But how can this be Theodora's fault?"
The Empress mocked Ariana disdainfully: “The position of Duchess is still too heavy for you. You should strive to maintain your dignity more, Ariana.”
Ariana calmly put down the teacup in front of the duo's theatrical sarcasm.
'I knew they would talk about that incident one day.'
On that rainy day, Ariana was hit in the forehead by a rock and fell.
Theodora was standing next to Kenneth, looking at Ariana with eyes full of ecstasy.
Ariana remembered that moment and smiled sweetly. At that time, she had to retreat due to the sudden encounter.
'But I won't let that happen again.'
You will never be humiliated by a woman who insulted her child.
“Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Byrne. I was so disoriented I couldn't even greet you.”
“Oh, you should have told me. It's been a long time since I've seen you.”
“That's right. It's been a long time, and I'm glad you haven't changed, ma'am.”
Theodora's eyes twitched slightly.
Saying “You haven't changed” may be a compliment to older women, but it is a subtle insult that hurts a young woman's pride.
Ariana noticed that Theodora felt insulted, so she smiled more kindly: “You still love my things the same way you did. It really made me happy.”
"What?"
A cold silence fell around the table at Ariana's words.
It was implicitly known that Theodora Byrne coveted the position of Duchess of Clifford, but talking about it was taboo in social circles.
How dare the “current duchess” say that?
But before the atmosphere got tense, Ariana added quietly, "I'm talking about the coat you were wearing that day. When I wore it last year, other stores had nicer designs."
“And now I remember, you seemed to like my sheer lace dress. It seems we have similar tastes.”
Theodora's lower lips began to twitch.
Whether Ariana wants it or not, everything she wears becomes fashionable. And fashion, no matter how much one tries to avoid it, one ends up following it unconsciously.
It was humiliating for the daughter of a prominent noble family to follow a fashion started by the Viscount's daughter.
Ariana nodded politely at the Empress, lowering her eyelashes.
Unfortunately, she did not have the skill to respond to the Empress's hurtful sarcasm with intelligence and lightness.
If you cannot do that, it would be better to make the atmosphere heavy.
“How could I be surprised by your Majesty’s words? They are all true.”
“What do you mean, Ariana?”
“Thanks to my humble background, I have gained the extra love of the imperial family.”
“Ha…”
“I will work on honing my skills as a future duchess, Your Majesty.”
The Empress moved her thin lips.
While everyone knows that the imperial family forced Ariana to marry Kenneth, saying “extra love” was a criticism disguised under the guise of modesty.
But before the atmosphere became more tense, Theodora quickly changed the subject: “By the way, I heard that Prince Cedric will be getting engaged soon!”
“Oh, right”
The dining room soon became lively with talk of the beautiful younger son and his young fiancée.
No one spoke to Ariana after that.
'Well, that's better.'
Unlike her previous life, she felt lighter when she expressed her pent-up grudges.
However, I felt short of breath due to the large number of people in the place.
'I feel a little dizzy.'
Ariana clenched her fist until her nails dug into her hand.
She began to hear a ringing in her ears, and cold sweat gathered on her forehead.
Before her eyes, the light diminished as if passing through the eye of a needle, and everything became black.
'Yes …!'
At the moment when her heart was about to collapse, she heard a refreshing and clear voice.