# 46
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Waiting all life for a loving role affects the development of patience.
[You are after your brother, Ariana. You should know your place!]
Ariana has learned to eagerly await the trifles she can't eat. If she hadn't grown up this way since childhood, she might have lost her mind in the Duke's Palace long ago.
As she carefully reviewed the papers one by one, her patience was unabated.
'Everything looks good overall, but some models need to be adjusted.'
Moreover, one particular decoration in particular caught her attention.
Her blue eyes automatically narrowed as she saw the list of ivy ornaments placed lightly in various places.
'Bayern family crest mixed in here...'
The Bayern family crest is the ivy, while Duke Clifford's family crest is the lion.
It might pass as a common decoration to those who didn't know, but to those who did, it was obvious what it would look like.
'Bayern, this woman will take it all when it's her turn anyway.'
Her haste was just funny. But there was no need to suggest that it should be changed.
Ariana closed the cover of thick papers.
“Mrs. Byrne, Mr. Ingalls, you have worked hard.”
“Nothing, ma'am.”
Roger, impatient with waiting, was grinding his teeth.
“So, now you can sign-”
“But I have some questions. Can I check the ballroom directly?”
Roger's mouth twitched. Did she really intend to examine the vast place as carefully as she was doing now?
But as an assistant who knew the principles, he had to accompany her reluctantly.
* * *
Kenneth's outside schedule has been temporarily cancelled. It wasn't a hurricane, but the heavy rain made navigation difficult.
After all the interior work was done, there was no reason not to return to the dorm.
He had avoided dealing with Ariana for a while.
Because of the effects of the medicine, he couldn't lower his guard since he went to her bedroom on the train in a daze.
'Anyway, I know Ariana's entire schedule.'
But he was a little surprised when he heard that she had gone to the ballroom with Roger and Theodora.
'Aren't you still under Dr. Piyali's prescription?'
She said she would not be a burden in the South, but if she suddenly fell ill, it would be troublesome.
So, he headed to her residence to check, but received an unexpected report from the servants.
“The lady is still inspecting the ballroom with Mrs. Byrne and Mr. Ingalls.”
“…still?”
His eyebrow rose automatically.
He knew that she would be checking on the opening ceremony preparations with his secretary today. But he didn't expect her to make such a big effort.
'A woman finds gatherings stressful, what should she do?'
Ariana was supposed to formally sign what Roger had prepared, and then Kenneth would review it once and for all.
Crown Prince Andrew was keeping her so close to him that she couldn't touch the troublesome matters.
But Ariana was in the middle of the ballroom, walking quickly with two people, and asking questions more animatedly than he expected.
“There is a plan to open two large halls. Wouldn’t that distract people during the opening speech? It might be chaotic with people moving around.”
“But considering the number of invitees-”
“However, can’t they be accommodated if we open the main door and balcony? I heard that the weather here is still warm at this time.”
Roger stopped talking, as if her questions had confused him.
Kenneth listened from behind, his arms crossed, without making a sound. Some people noticed his presence, but since he showed no intention of announcing himf, they kept watching warily.
Meanwhile, Ariana internally laughed desperately, unaware that he was watching her.
'Ah, I shouldn't have been so serious.'
All she wanted out of this was to confront Roger.
She wanted to tell him that she was not stupid, so he should not treat her rudely, and to make it clear that she had no attachment to the position of duchess.
This way, Roger's resentment wouldn't suddenly explode to the point of putting a gun on her bed.
'But with the arrival of Theodora Byrne, everything went to waste.'
Moreover, the documents looked good on the surface, but when considering the movement of people, they were not effective.
‘They assumed that since there were many guests, using large spaces would be sufficient.’
It was clear from Roger's silence that she had hit the target.
Ariana looked around without sarcasm.
“By the way, would this place usually stay empty?”
“Ah, Madam Duchess.”
Theodora smiled, as if she were teaching a child who knew nothing.
She was starting to feel annoyed by this ignorant girl's behavior.
"Of course, the plan is to rent it out to people who want to hold parties in the area. There's demand for the season of social events and family events, right?"
“So... but I wonder, will it be frequent?”
Ariana asked in good faith, out of genuine curiosity.
'Instead of leaving it to ridicule, wouldn't it be better to find ways to use it constantly?'
This place was meant to make profits, after all.
The season for social events is in summer and winter, and how many noble families in the area can afford to rent a banquet hall from the afternoon until midnight?
'Renting it for more than half a day is a big expense.'
Theodora's eyebrows and lips twitched in dissatisfaction.
But she smiled smoothly and asked.
"Sure, there might be a possibility of remaining empty. So, you must have a great opinion about this, ma'am?"
“Asking questions without offering alternatives, isn’t that just unproductive criticism?”
Ariana blinked softly at the implied sarcasm.
If you want to be the master of this place in the future, shouldn't you use your mind when you see such a problem?
But at that moment, clear footsteps interrupted their conversation.
“Ariana.”
“…Sir Duke?”
“Have you been checking yet?”
When Kenneth finally approached, Ariana and the rest quickly turned around.
Theodora approached him with an immediate smile.
“I was accompanying the lady to inspect the ballroom, sir. She had so many questions, we didn’t feel the time passing.”
“Theodora, you have done enough service.”
Kenneth grabbed Arianna's arm and led her, half heading out.
Under the bright lights of the banquet hall, the woman's cheeks looked unusually pale.
“We're all in a busy period, so let's wrap it up here. I hope everyone has a good evening.”
“Yes, Sir Duke.”
Kenneth led Ariana down the aisle to everyone's greetings, but her shoulders were still stiff from the previous implicit disdain.
“…When did you come?”
“Since you started asking Roger questions.”
Kenneth looked at the stunned Ariana and raised an eyebrow.
He was surprised that she was checking things more seriously than he expected.
Her question about “will there be frequent events to use the ballroom” hit the mark.
'Well… she was diligent in her studies when she was in school.'
He has not forgotten that Ariana Aberdeen was once passionate about her studies.
But publicly supporting her in front of others was not important compared to boosting the morale of the staff in the banquet hall.
“The Byrne family and Roger are helping with the preparations for this project. Don’t waste their time.”
Ariana's lips moved for a moment, but she didn't say anything.
You waste other people's time.
He had certainly heard Theodora Byrne's insulting remarks about her.
'When has this man ever cared about my dignity in front of others?'
Kenneth respected others, but he always excluded Ariana from that respect.
“…Yes, I apologize for my overbearing behavior.”
Ariana answered with difficulty, staring at her feet.
“I forgot that my worth only lies in the bedroom. Anyway...”
She thought she was immune to people's ridicule, but perhaps because of a new wound in her heart, she wanted to say something belittling her deliberately to erase the pain.
If she spoke the truth that everyone knew, maybe she would regain her composure.
“Anyway, I'm less of a wife than a mistress.”