# 24
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As night fell, the lights began to turn on one by one on the lamps crossing the roof.
The scene was like the flashing of fireflies in the middle of the Black Sea, in an enchanting sight.
Ariana wore a silver dress that highlighted her shoulders and arms, clearly showing her curves, more daring than her daytime outfit.
She turned to the head maid: “Did you tell the Duke that I would join him soon?”
"Yes, ma'am. He's already talking to others outside."
"Okay. I have to hurry."
You don't want to be blamed again like you did before for something trivial.
But as she walked down the long corridor, familiar people approached her.
The moment she recognized the Empress's servants whom she frequently used, her body stopped involuntarily.
“…What’s wrong?”
“Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence, Madam Duchess.”
“At this time?”
“She said she wanted to discuss what happened that afternoon seriously.”
“She said she was harsh and wanted to talk to you alone before the party.”
She wasn't entirely convinced. But she couldn't say that she would just accept the apology and refuse to go.
“I will take my companions with me.”
“Madam, such disrespectful behavior is unacceptable in front of Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Don't you know the origins?”
Ariana nodded reluctantly. At least, since they announced the Empress's invitation in front of the others, maybe it would be okay to go.
“Chief maid, tell the Duke that I will be a little late.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Ariana followed the Empress's servants, nervous.
They did not lead her to the master suite, but rather through complex passages to the yacht's deck.
'I hear the sound of music.'
So, they weren't too far from the concert hall.
But when she saw the sparkle of the lights on the roof, she frowned: 'Wait, this pool?'
She remembered how Emily was surprised that there was a pool on the yacht.
A bad feeling quickly came over her.
“Wait, Her Majesty-”
The moment Ariana turned around, her vision suddenly soared towards the black sky.
"Yes!"
In an instant, her body was immersed in the cold water of the pool.
The sound of the terrified servants fleeing was mixed with the sound of the water spray she was making, adding to her confusion.
'Cold...!'
Even in early summer, the water was not heated, so I felt dizzy.
But fortunately, the pool was not deep, so she was able to climb in quickly.
“Cough…! Ha…!”
Ariana coughed hard and looked around. The servants who brought her had disappeared.
“How…cough, is this…?”
She thought she had handled the daytime tea party well.
But she did not expect that this would be used as an excuse to humiliate her in such a strange way.
She crawled with difficulty to the tile wall, but could not climb up and shouted: “Ah!”
Her evening dress, made of delicate silver satin, was… needless to say how shameful her appearance was.
In fact, a long part of the dress's leg was torn.
It wasn't just getting wet that was a problem, it was also unimaginable for her to have her bare legs visible to others.
'What should I do?'
Ariana hugged her body and looked around.
Could she go back to her room like this?
'If you're too late, the palace attendants might think something strange is happening.'
But the lights above her head began to turn on one by one.
The party had already begun, with the sounds of music and drunken laughter arriving in the breeze.
Ariana's lips twitched.
What if the men from the party came first?
'No way.'
If it became known that she appeared like this in front of other men, that would be the end of her. Not only will you be locked in the palace, but you may fall into the abyss forever.
'I will not be able to meet my child.'
Despite the embarrassment, she had to return to her room on her own, even if she relied on a miracle.
But as soon as she got out of the water, she heard the sound of shoe steps from behind her. She was still a long way from a hiding place.
Perhaps, if there was a sound that heralded the end of her life, it would be something like this.
Before darkness fell before her eyes, a familiar, cold voice rang out: “…What are you doing here?”
When Ariana raised her head, tears almost fell.
Kenneth, wearing a black tuxedo, was standing a few steps away from her.
***
Kenneth felt that the discussion with Count Byrne was strangely long.
They were repeating the same things, and raising topics that were not necessary now.
After he finished the repetitive conversation with difficulty and left, Ariana's companions quickly approached him:
“Sir, Madam has been summoned by Her Majesty the Empress. Our companions were not allowed to go with her...”
They roughly understand what they are up to. Even people with blue blood do not refrain from childish behavior.
'But they did something more vulgar than I expected.'
He looked at Ariana as she sat on the tile floor, curled up on herf. Her hair was wet from the middle, and her silver dress stuck to her white skin because of the water.
“Her Majesty...summoned me, so I came out.”
“I was pushed into the pool...”
Ariana looked at her body and shrugged. Her white skin quickly reddened.
“Sir Duke, help me...”
Ariana looked at him and the hallway pleadingly, her eyes demanding his coat.
“I'll go back to the room and change my clothes, just until then-”
“Why would I?”
"What?"
Shock sparkled in her blue eyes.
She looked around, then quickly whispered: “Because...you are my husband!”
"truly?"
Kenneth tilted his head slantingly.
“You don't seem to treat me like a husband.”
“What do you mean suddenly...?”
Ariana held her breath and gasped:
“I'm treating you politely, and I'm not bothering you anymore...!”
“No matter how much I look, you don't seem to respect me. You're just trying to trick me.”
Ariana's white face froze.
Kenneth looked at her neck, bending weakly.
He was getting impatient with Ariana's politeness and rudely keeping his distance.
And ever since he heard that Damien Baptiste checked on Ariana's condition, his fuse has been completely blown out.
He knew it was just a simple act of kindness for the lady of the family he cared for.
But if Ariana takes the hand of someone who offered kindness and suddenly chooses to disappear one day...
Is this an obsession? Or a bad feeling stemming from the experience?
He wanted to end this annoying discomfort.
Through experience, he knew the easiest way:
Crushing the opponent when he is at his weakest, and wounding him until his feelings bleed, this is the best solution.
“So, you should beg me, Ariana. Even if you hate me.”
“Sir Duke-”
“So, I'll ask again. What do you want to say?”
“...I'm sorry, Sir Duke. Please...help me.”
Ariana raised her head and looked directly at him.
It was the same look he had seen one day in the shadowed palace, staring at him from behind the window.
“Kenneth, please.”
He approached her without speaking, and took off his coat. He wrapped her in a coat and carried her quickly.
Ariana quickly grabbed his shoulders. His clothes were wet too, but he didn't have time to pay attention to that.
But at that moment, she whispered, holding his shoulder and crying: “Why are you doing this to me...?”
“I was the one who made the mistake. I tried to be less annoying...”
Her fingers holding it were trembling.
But before Kenneth could answer, loud voices came from the music venue: “Sir, what happened? Are you okay…?”
He was Count Bayern, the host of the party.
Beside him, Theodora covered her mouth as if in shock: “Oh my God, what happened? Madam Duchess, are you okay?”
The moment Ariana convulsed, Kenneth twisted his body to block her legs from view.
“It looks like my wife got into an accident.”
With the pool right next to them and the ground wet beneath his feet, anyone could deduce what happened.
“I'll leave first. Have a good evening.”
"my lord!"
The attendees shouted, but he ignored them and headed into the corridor leading to the room.
I heard the panicked voices of the palace attendants.
They had been prevented from accompanying Ariana by the Empress's servants, and were waiting anxiously.
"Ma'am! What happened...?"
“Prepare bath water.”
The ward began to move quickly according to his instructions.
In no time, the luxurious bathtub was filled with steaming hot water.
But when the maids approached Ariana, Kenneth shook his head: “All of you, go away.”