# 23
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Knock-! ,knock-! ,knock-! …
A member of the yacht’s crew shouted as he rang the bell announcing the dates: “We announce that the auction will start soon, so whoever wishes to attend...”
Upon hearing this, Theodora frowned elegantly and took out her pocket watch. She was responsible for setting the schedule for the main events on board the yacht.
But the auction started a little earlier than I had planned.
She didn't understand why, but instead of showing her confusion as a beginner, she decided to pass the matter off subtly as if it were planned.
“Oh, it's getting late already. Ladies, shall we move in together?”
While everyone was laughing and talking excitedly, Ariana quietly pulled away from her place.
She knew that the Empress and Theodora had seen her, but if she missed this opportunity, she felt that she might vomit in front of everyone.
At least, she could be proud to raise her head and emerge steadily to the stern of the deck. But as soon as she reached the railing, she held on to the cold metal and felt the loss of her strength.
“Huff...ha...”
While Ariana was breathing hard, Emily, who followed her, approached and quickly held out a cup to her: “Ma’am, are you okay? Here, drink water.”
“Yes, yes. Thanks...”
Ariana quickly drank the water, panting. The salty sea breeze soothed her cheeks, and the cold sweat ran down her forehead.
Her vision, which had been as narrow as the hole of a needle, gradually began to expand, and she was able to breathe. Ariana secretly wiped her forehead with a handkerchief.
'I heard there was an auction for this yacht, but has time passed so quickly?'
But at that moment, she heard a familiar man’s voice behind her: “Ma’am, are you okay?”
“…Mr. Baptiste?”
Ariana raised her head with difficulty and looked at the next man.
His platinum blonde hair was shining in the sun.
“Why are you here now...?”
Aren't the paintings of the artists you sponsor supposed to be up for auction?
But instead of answering, Damian offered a small box containing lemon candy: "Would you like to have one? It's better than water or bad drinks here."
“Sh… thanks.”
The people of Dobris seem to find the food of this place really bad.
Ariana felt like laughing, but she didn't lower her guard.
“But why are you giving me this?”
“You seemed tired a little while ago.”
“A while ago?”
“When you were with everyone on the roof.”
Ariana blushed and hung her head.
He was talking about the moment she had with Kenneth.
“I… showed an imperfect side. I apologize.”
“No, that's not what I meant.”
Damian rubbed his neck.
In fact, he wasn't sure how much this was a compliment to his family's patron, or an interference from a foreigner.
As she headed towards the gathering of women, Ariana was smiling with a beauty worthy of a duchess. But she looked like a porcelain doll cracked by the fire, fragile and threatening to collapse.
“You looked like you needed a break.”
“Don't worry, I'm not making fun of you in Cremisa's twisted way. My skills in the Imperial language are not that high.”
Ariana smiled awkwardly at Damian's joke.
I felt grateful, but with a hint of bitterness.
'If someone I've only met a few times noticed it, Kenneth must have noticed it too.'
She once admitted to Kenneth with difficulty that people's gazes still weighed heavily on her.
Each time, Kenneth sighed quietly:
“You can't even handle this?”
In those moments, she wanted to say:
You are a strong person who has returned from the threshold of death, but I am not.
But she kept her mouth shut, because it was a miserable excuse.
Ariana smiled sadly: “Thank you for your concern. I will rest for a while and then come back, so you go first.”
It was in no one's interest to be seen with a woman like her for too long.
It's true that Emily, who was hired by Kenneth, is with her now, but who knows when she might report something strange to him?
Damian turned around, but added quietly: “Maybe it's best to always carry medicine.”
“Then, I'll go”
Ariana raised the corner of her mouth in embarrassment. I understood what he wanted to say.
He was suggesting carrying tranquilizers. But Dr. Piyali, who might prescribe it, would upset her with his hurtful words.
'Anyway, I won't take it. The wrong medication could harm my baby if I get pregnant.'
How harmful these medications may be to the child.
Ariana put a lemon candy in her mouth.
The taste of the fruit from beyond the sea, sour and sweet, was strong. It was much better than water or tea at calming her troubled heart.
Emily, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, whispered excitedly, "Ma'am! I know I'm overstepping my bounds, but I think you should call in Dr. Bialy. He may be annoying, but he's clever."
“Okay, I’ll ask him, don’t worry.”
“But, ma’am, when he said ‘dirty water’, he meant our empire’s tea, right…?”
“Huh, probably.”
Ariana smiled weakly.
In this life, there are those who worry about her.
This was a source of greater comfort than I expected.
It was also a relief that this person was no longer Kenneth.
***
After the late afternoon tea party,
The Empress was in her suite with a few ected women, quietly exchanging conversations.
She was praising Theodora, the star of this party, endlessly: "They said you built a little palace on the water, and that was no exaggeration. With a palace like this, you'll never be bored, Theodora."
“I am grateful, Your Majesty.”
“But, by contrast, the Duchess...”
When the Empress got to the topic she really wanted to discuss, her voice rose excitedly: “At moments like these, the Duke really appears to be a gentleman. Ha! I don’t know how his taste can be so similar to Andy.”
The Empress could not make a direct criticism of Kenneth Clifford.
So, she directed her anger in another direction as much as possible: "Of course, Andy might have been jealous of Kenneth. They had been comparing each other since childhood...but who said that the Clifford family should be harmed in such a barbaric way?"
“You are correct, Your Majesty. The real mistake was made by people like the Aberdeen family who spread false talk.”
"Yes! And yet that Aberdeen girl survived brilliantly. 'Extra love', how dare she!"
Theodora endured the Empress's constant praise and ridicule.
She also hates the Aberdeen girl just as much.
‘Ha. Even my father allowed me to humiliate her.'
This girl, usually shy, looked like she had taken the wrong medicine, holding her head up with disturbing confidence.
But more than annoyance, there was a feeling of bewilderment: 'Why did Kenneth postpone the auction date?'
Although the schedule was completed smoothly, Theodora was angry and fired the organizer.
But the organizer was also confused:
“My apologies, ma'am. But the Duke asked the Count directly.
“Kenneth? What did he say to my father?
“He said he would discuss business matters in the evening, but he was interested in the prepared paintings...”
When an important guest shows signs of boredom, the host has no choice but to introduce the next event. That's why the tea party ended early...
'Does it make sense?'
Was that guy paying attention to the Aberdeen girl?
Aberdeen's family is the reason his parents were torn apart, and he himf was seriously injured because of it.
Theodora quickly shook her head sarcastically. Kenneth Clifford, that stubborn avenger, will never forget his grudge for a moment.
'But I'd rather be sure, Kenneth.'
Even if there were relationships between the families, would he dare to question them if the matter was discovered?
“Your Majesty, the Duchess must be arrogant for trusting the Duke. Shouldn’t we give her a little warning?”
"Warning? How can we do that?"
“Since our Duchess loves men so much, can’t we make her the center of their attention?”
“They...”
“And in the evening, the Duke will be busy in discussions with my father.”
“Good idea.”
The Empress smiled wryly and looked over her shoulder.
In the room, servants were standing with their heads lowered and motionless.
There were enough discarded tools.