# 36
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Dr. Piyali, a family physician, was part of the delegation on this trip.
When Ariana summoned him, he came wearing an expression of extreme patience, like a university professor summoned to teach a failing student.
“Fuck! It’s just simple hysteria.”
The doctor sighed in a contemptuous tone, as if he felt ridiculous, while his black mustache twitched.
This was after Ariana described her symptoms at the previous concert: cold sweats and vision that turned black.
“A person with a weak heart may suffer from such symptoms when stressed. Aren’t you okay now?”
“Now yes. But...”
"Heh, ma'am. This is something other ladies suffer from, like an autumn cold."
“If you're that worried, I'll prescribe you some sedatives.”
Simple hysteria, aren't you okay now, weak-hearted person.
Words that greatly diminished the pain Ariana felt at the time.
Ariana didn't care about those looks of disdain now.
'I knew it would be like this.'
But as soon as Dr. Beale arrogantly left the bedroom, Emily exploded in anger, violently shaking the cushion of the chair in which he sat.
"… What is this!"
Since the lady injured her ankle and forehead last time, she thought it was bad, but this time it was really exaggerating!
“How can this doctor talk in a way that hurts feelings? The lady was really sick, so why was he treating her like it didn’t happen? We all saw it!”
“It's okay, Emily.”
I felt sorry for Emily who was angry on her behalf, but the difficult doctor's opinions didn't matter as much as they had in the past.
'The doctor's examination bag is the most important.'
When moving from the palace, you should contain the most important medications for the trip. If there was a medication prescribed for Kenneth, there would be it.
'Can I search that bag and replace any suspicious vials?'
She felt funny to herf thinking like that.
'Baby, your mother is even thinking of stealing to meet you.'
She hoped her daughter would one day appreciate her efforts, even if just a little.
But after Dr. Piyali left, the person responsible for her business training came along on that train ride.
“I apologize for the inconvenience, ma'am.”
“Sit comfortably, Mr. Ingalls.”
Roger Ingles was wearing a neutral and polite expression, but Ariana knew very well that he didn't want to be here.
'But the train journey takes four days, and I can't waste this time.'
Since the provincial cities maintained a completely different culture than the capital, they needed the help of advisors to avoid embarrassing the Clifford family.
Now that I think about it, this seemed like my first close encounter with Roger Ingalls, Kenneth's closest confidant.
'In a previous life, Roger Ingalls had completely ignored me.'
Like most of Kenneth's followers, they did not take Ariana, who came from a family of sinners, seriously. Roger did not reprimand her publicly, but it was known that he had more authority than her within the family.
In this life too, Roger read his prepared words in a dry tone without looking at her.
“You see, this trip to the south is to prepare for the opening of the Place Hotel. While my master discusses business with the leaders and neighboring cities, my master must help us with promotion by attending social gatherings before the opening.”
“I see. Is there a specific seat I need to take care of? Or something I need to prepare in advance?”
“Ma’am doesn’t have to do anything special.”
“The hotel officials and I will handle everything, so please just sign the reviewed matters. All you have to do is stay by my master’s side when you arrive.”
His words sounded like he was offering her everything, but the essence of them was rude.
It is true that she will leave, but if even the slightest thing goes wrong, it is clear that Ariana will be blamed endlessly.
“Mr. Engels, is this not wrong in principle?”
“Ma’am, I’m just trying not to waste your precious time.”
“I appreciate your appreciation of the value of my time, but the final decision does not rest with the advisor.”
“And people make mistakes. I may be a beginner, but I will carefully check what I have to show up for.”
“It seems like it would be a waste of your valuable time, but well, if you want, we will do it.”
He didn't give up a single word... Ariana thought while smiling.
'...Really, couldn't it be Roger Ingles who put the gun in my bed?'
She knew very well that Roger supported Theodora. But she wasn't sure if he would risk getting Kenneth shot.
'After going back in time, I was busy with the plan to escape to another country and the problems of the party.'
Maybe, during this trip to the south, she will discover what she missed in her previous life?
If you know who the guilty parties were then, you may be able to prepare for any potential danger this time.
As soon as Roger left, Emily began grinding her teeth and violently shaking the cushion of the chair he was sitting on.
* * *
Kenneth's main reason for booking first class seats was security. But the next most important reason was Ariana.
He was tired of strangers interfering between them. After he embraced her without hesitation more than before, he discovered how Ariana was crying.
Even if the soundproofing was good, he couldn't bear the thought of another man hearing her voice.
He arranged his scattered clothes and looked silently at the woman lying on the bed. Ariana was completely exhausted, curled up in a daze.
Kenneth looked at the traces left on her white neck and collarbone, then turned his head before he was blinded by desire.
He still had a lot of work to do, and keeping looking at her would make him act like a monster. He fixed his cufflinks and turned around.
“I heard that you received instructions from Roger about what to do after arriving.”
“Yes...”
“Just don't make mistakes, and do what it takes.”
He didn't expect much from Ariana from the beginning. Isn't that the woman who trembles in fear and exhaustion from social occasions?
But before leaving, on the first day of the train journey, he could have asked what I had done.
“What else did you do?”
“Um… I had an examination from Dr. Piyali.”
"...Doctor? Why?"
Kenneth turned to look at Ariana. Other than the previous injury to her ankle and forehead, he had not received a report on her illness.
Ariana didn't look sick outwardly, but when he thought about it, her face seemed paler than before. When they met eyes, Ariana got up with difficulty and sat down.
“It wasn't anything big, Dr. Pialli said that too.”
“I decide that.”
“…At Bayern’s previous concert, I felt a little dizzy. Didn’t you hear from the entourage?”
Ariana blinked hard and asked.
Weren't you supposed to not have to say everything?
Emily wasn't the only one there, there were people he had placed too. He must have heard that she had emerged from a women's gathering in a cold sweat.
But Kenneth frowned even more upon hearing her answer.
How much time has passed since that event?
“Why are you asking to be examined now about this matter?”
“…Because I wasn’t really sick?”
Ariana looked puzzled by his displeasure. Since he would be sleeping in another room during the trip, she didn't understand why he would stay and ask so insistently.
Even when she was exhausted on occasions or sick at the palace, Kenneth showed no interest. So, as she saw his frowning face more and more, she couldn't understand the problem.
“Should I have told you?”
“Ha.”
Kenneth snorted sarcastically as he ran his hand across his forehead.
As he once thought, Ariana was unexpectedly good at getting on his nerves.
“Should I have said something obvious?”
“What? But-”
“If you're going to be such a burden on the schedule, why are you telling me so late?”
Kenneth looked at Ariana with more annoyance. Didn't Baptiste say at the hunting ground that he was only asking about her health?
“If you're going to break down later and mess things up, it's best to do nothing.”