# 62
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The day before Kenneth left, Ariana looked at herf in the mirror wearing earrings.
The pink gems sparkled in the sunlight, sending a rosy halo across her white cheeks.
“My heart’s desire”
What did he mean by that? Was he saying that giving a reward depends on his mood?
Or does it have another meaning?
Ariana gently felt her lower stomach. It was flat of course now.
But she had a feeling.
‘The feeling is very similar to last time.’
The few days she spent with Kenneth...were very much like the night she held Baby.
A tender and warm marital night. The time she desired throughout her marriage.
Maybe having the same child is not just about choosing the right time for love, but about following the feelings in that moment.
But since she couldn't see a doctor, she had to wait until her next period.
'Hmm. I wish I could see Saint Colette again to be sure.'
Unfortunately, the patron saint confirmed that their meeting in the cathedral was their last. Didn't you say that this meeting was impossible in the first place?
Ariana remembered that conversation carefully.
At the time, she was confused, but the last conversation particularly stuck in her mind.
“Your coming here was a condition for me telling you this much.”
'Condition, then. Condition of access to this cathedral.'
For a 'condition' to be met, shouldn't there be a prior 'deal'?
But she did not remember any clear conversation with Saint Colette in her early life.
'Could it be the child's spirit that set the condition?'
Ariana felt her stomach again in confusion.
Baby, what did you do?
At that moment, she heard the sound of Emily's feet rushing, followed by an urgent knock on the door.
“Emily, what's going on?”
“Madam, I heard from Mr. Engels that there is a guest coming from the capital!”
“Guest from the capital? Who at this time?”
“It's Mr. Baptiste. He's the one who called our tea dirty water!”
* * *
In the office suite of the hotel, shoe steps echoed loudly in the hallway.
Theodora couldn't bear it any longer, and felt as if her eyes were burning with anger.
Since renting the banquet hall for the wedding, the atmosphere in charge of the business has changed significantly. Weren't they always praising Theodora, and now they were watching that parasite?
'Those filthy bats!'
Where did the time go when they were elevating Theodora as the duke's 'rightful lady' and trying to win her favor?
It's time to make Kenneth choose her.
‘Otherwise, you will fall into a trap when you go to the capital.’
Kenneth's trip to D.C. will be a trap.
He has not yet realized that Count Bayern is a traitor.
That she helped save Kenneth's life would affect those close to Clifford in the capital. They were reporting strange signs but still deemed it safe to return to the capital.
‘The Emperor is eager to declare war.’
If he showed any hesitation, the Duke's family would be accused of being unpatriotic and criticized by the masses.
But Theodora knew she could be Kenneth's savior.
'My father listens to me a lot.'
She will be guaranteed to reign as queen of beautiful Port Elysia for a few years.
Meanwhile, she can mediate between Kenneth and the Empire so that everyone can live in peace, and become a saint.
In this way, the fact that the Byrne family is traitors can be buried forever, if Kenneth gets rid of Ariana completely.
Theodora rushed into Kenneth's office and shouted.
“Kenneth!”
Kenneth was standing with his back half to the door, frowning.
He had just finished communicating with Damien Baptiste.
“…Theodora.”
“Kenneth, when are you going to get rid of that woman?”
Theodora opened her eyes sharply, demanding her legal rights.
“When the Empire threw her to you, no one thought she would remain Lady Duke forever.”
"Everyone knows the rumors about her trying to give herf to Prince Andrew first! Who would consider children from such a woman as heirs to the Duke's family?"
Theodora, in her excitement, did not see Kenneth's jaw harden.
"You've never been a woman of your level. In this land without princesses-"
“So what?”
When Theodora became angry, Kenneth raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
“Are you saying I should marry you, Theodora?”
“Isn't that obvious? If you're not going to marry a foreign princess!”
“Moreover, if you knew what my family gave you, you couldn’t do this-”
Theodora's words stopped when she encountered Kenneth's expression.
“Keep going, Theodora.”
Kenneth approached her slowly.
Today, I learned for the first time that his blue eyes can shine even in the shadows.
“The Bayern family devoted themves to me?”
“We helped you when you needed to hide.”
Her shoulders trembled under his cold anger.
“Secretly... when I fled this country, we...”
“So, you forgot what your father took from me.”
“Not that, but-”
“Supporting shipping costs including passage and brokerage fees. Supporting the right to win first bids for ships used in trade.”
“And we even invested in building the last cruise ship, right?”
It was like cutting off a limb from the body. No one could disagree that that was more than enough reward for helping him escape.
“And Theodora, the one who has the right to demand a reward from me is your father. Do you think you have the right to scold me now?”
“I'm not trying to scold you. If only you were to get rid of that woman, I would naturally be next-”
“Enough.”
Kenneth interrupted her in a sharp, hard voice.
“Theodora, we were never engaged, and we never will be.”
"but!"
“As I warned you, maintain your dignity, Mrs. Byrne.”
Theodora staggered under this cold rebuke as if a rock had fallen on her shoulders.
“The person who has the right to decide about the position of duchess is me, not the Byrne family.”
“Kenneth-”
“Since you have been sufficiently involved as the ‘Bayern Family Agent’ in the business, return to the capital in time.”
Theodora opened her mouth like a fish that couldn't breathe.
To expel her from here because she crossed the limits he set!
'How can you do this?'
But under Kenneth Clifford's steady gaze, she had no choice but to walk out helplessly. As she left, stunned, Theodora remembered something from her childhood.
When she said confidently that he should betroth her, the noble prince replied:
[I'll have everything I want, so the place next to you is mine!]
[What a pity, I also only keep what I want by my side]
Kenneth Clifford has not changed since those days.
So, the realization that perhaps from the beginning she was nothing less than Ariana Aberdeen's mistress made Theodora feel miserable.
“Your grave, you dug it.”
Theodora mumbled quietly, trying to contain her anger.
If she couldn't get it, the Clifford family's reputation would be completely ruined. Kenneth and that obnoxious girl both.
'Anyway, it's time. I must escort Prince Andrew safely.'
Kenneth's absence was the perfect time to make a move.
Before she left the hotel, a maid from the ducal palace ran to her.
“Mrs. Byrne!”
She was one of the maids who had previously been seduced by Theodora. It's finally time to hand over what you secretly collected while cleaning Ariana's rooms.
“I brought what you asked for!”
“Give it to me”
Theodora forgot to maintain her usual pleasant face and snatched the envelope of papers from the maid.
Inside were papers written by Arianna Aberdeen as Lady Duke during her stay here.
Signatures, drafts of invitations, etc.
The content wasn't important.
“The line is fairly acceptable.”
Theodora laughed sarcastically, but inside her, the snake was writhing.
'I wish that girl would die.'
But a simple death would be disappointing.
Isn't death something that ends once? Suffering just once would be a waste.
If you make me feel this humiliated and steal what's mine in the first place, you will have to suffer for life.
So, Ariana Aberdeen, I will write you the most beautiful love letter in the world.
A letter so emotional and scandalous that everyone who reads it will blush when thinking about you and the prince.