# 5
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Duchess Clifford is completely crazy.
The maids who were waiting outside the wife's room met the cleaning lady when she returned and began asking questions.
“How is she?”
“I think she's really crazy.”
“Pfft, though, who's going to feel sorry for her?”
In the first place, there were no employees who respected this woman as a proper duchess.
“Crown princess for a day”, “extravagant whore”, “daughter of a traitorous family”.
A woman with all kinds of notoriety was the most enjoyable snack for all classes.
What is noteworthy is her beauty and calmer than expected attitude?
“I cannot believe that the Duke bears such a burden.”
“I feel so sorry”
All the maids shook their heads. Ariana was listening to all the criticism coming through the crack in the door.
Only a few days passed until she was pulled from the site of her child's grave.
As the confusion at that time gradually subsided, the current situation began to emerge clearly.
She is now twenty-one years old.
It's been more than a year since she married Kenneth.
Also, after a time when the political situation was at its most chaotic, it was a time when there was a moderate truce between the Clifford family and the imperial family.
There were times when she would beg Kenneth to treat her the way he used to.
“Please listen to me, Kenneth.”
She thought that if their relationship improved even a little, he would listen to her position.
I'm willing to put up with my family's mistakes, just a little.
But he coldly rejected her advances every time.
“Do you really think it's worth spending time on?”
Even though I've known him for about 13 years, from when he was 10 until he was 23.
In the end, the first and last time he listened to her was that night when she grabbed a gun to kill herf.
It was truly the perfect ending for a doomed couple
They were bound to fail from the start.
But do you want to do this process again?
“I can't”
Even if it was your first love, this thing was impossible.
Moreover, he described their child as a “mistake.”
“Shouldn't we have grieved together?”
“…why should I do that?”
He won't like the baby Ariana will have.
Regardless of gender, etc.
“Beatrice”
My eyes, which were unstable, trembled.
If this continues, will my daughter be born again? Even if it's not that baby girl, is the birth of a baby really a happy event? …?
“But how can I forget her?”
Although Kenneth did not acknowledge the child, Ariana's daughter was a blessing.
When the pregnancy was confirmed, no one took care of her kindly.
I hid my morning sickness out of fear, and often secretly vomited until my stomach hurt.
However, I was happy.
At least the child will need it.
In this world where no one loves her...
As I got deeper into my thoughts, I started to hear footsteps behind the door.
'Will the servants return?'
They may want to double-check its status. However, when the door was opened without permission, the man standing with his back to the streaming light was not the employee.
“You're having a really great protest.”
Ariana took a deep breath.
Kenneth Clifford stood in the doorway with his arms crossed.
With his black hair neatly slicked back without a trace of dishevelment, and his tall body covered by a black suit, he looked powerful.
So much so that no one else would dare to find even a flaw...
Ariana looked into his eyes and bit her lip. Although Kenneth might once laugh as if he was teasing others, the light in his turquoise eyes never went out.
But now he looked as gloomy as a grim reaper.
How many people were tried and hastily executed before marrying her?
Kenneth smiled sweetly at Ariana, but if she was deceived by that expression, a painful thorn was waiting for her.
"I heard there's been chaos for a few days. Are you going to try to hurt yourf now?"
“Something like that...”
“If you're going to do it, you gotta make sure you do it.”
“If you are clumsy, you will feel miserable when others find out.”
During his absence, the story of his digging in the ground had evidently been heard. But the strange thing is that Ariana's heart gradually calmed down after hearing that cruel sarcasm.
'I can finally let go of my feelings for this person'
How exhausting it was when unconsummated love was mixed with guilt.
It was hard to breathe from just one emotion, but when they came together, it felt like hell.
But after dying once, the weight became lighter.
So I no longer feel sad because of his sarcasm or ridicule.
“That was not the case, Duke.”
Ariana squeezed her hand and whispered softly.
She only called him that on public occasions, but inside the palace she called him by his first name.
I felt like if I constantly called him “Kenneth,” he would look at me with more affection, just like before.
But I didn't want to do that anymore.
'Because I realized that all this was uess'
I couldn't even dare ask for his forgiveness anymore.
There was only one thing I wanted: to be less hurtful.
“It was a mistake. I didn’t mean to make such a big fuss.”
And there was no shield protecting the distance in the heart like a general title.
Kenneth also seemed to notice the discomfort and frowned.
“What is the point behind this?”
“No ulterior motive. Just trying to move on...I was trying to be polite.”
Thinking about it, she was still clinging to Kenneth at this point. He might find it a bit strange, but it was spilled water after all.
Kenneth looked at her, but then smiled coldly.
“If you want to be polite, you should at least not act like a crazy person.”
“I thought you forgot why I saved your life.”
“I have not forgotten,”
Ariana answered slowly.
Those who did not know the inside story of this marriage, including the palace residents, were very curious.
Why did the Duke take such a flawed woman as his wife?
“I think it's because of her body.”
There were a lot of people who spoke harshly about this relationship at first.
“Wouldn't it be fun if a woman took over the crown prince?”
However, this relationship had a lot of practical calculations behind it.
“This way other families will feel safe. Even for your job.”
A young duke receives overwhelming support from the public.
When he returned, those who had been watching the Duke's family involved in the tragedy were breaking out in a cold sweat.
Their anxiety came to a head when many families, including Aberdeen's, were destroyed. Although they were not directly involved in the assassination, were they not guilty of aiding and abetting it, which led to their execution?
But Kenneth knew well the benefit of revenge.
“I just hope that only those who commit crimes will be punished.”
As proof of this, isn't it just looking at the fact that he saved the life of the daughter of the most evil Aberdeen family?
Even when the imperial family made a last-ditch effort to hand Ariana Aberdeen over by force, saying, “You can handle Ariana Aberdeen on your own,” the Duke accepted the trick like a great man.
After that, those who were afraid finally felt relieved and hurried to resume work with the Clifford family.
Did Ariana really want to become a bride who was forcibly given to him? … Well, everyone will tell you not to say that.
Kenneth looked at Ariana and smiled with a bored look in his eyes.
“I'm glad you remember. So please make sure you don't do something like this again in the future.”
“Remember, I can only be generous once.”
Kenneth nodded and pointed to the window.
Another traitor he had recently tracked down was hanging on a large wooden scaffold.
Doesn't he casually threaten me with death?
Kenneth was so alien that he was resurrected in exchange for sacrificing his humanity.
“But Duke...”, I decided that I would no longer beg this person for forgiveness or a chance to mend our broken relationship.
However, I wanted to check this again.
“You said you wouldn't bring me an heir. But in the world of guarantees… I know there are no children worth bringing.”
"So what are you planning to do...? How long are you going to leave me like this?"
The greatest purpose of noble marriage was to produce heirs. However, Kenneth stressed that the child she gives birth to will not be a “suitable heir.”
At one point I was too afraid to ask, but now I had to know.
'I think I finally got the courage to ask the question'
Kenneth smiled crookedly and lifted Ariana's chin.
“When I'm done with you, then everything will fall into place.”
“Your place should be free for the right woman. So you don't have to worry about succeeding me.”
“But, if he still-”
“Anything unpleasant that comes from you will not be recognized as my baby, Ariana.”