CH 254

Marquis Charne hesitated to answer with an awkward smile.

Ariel stared at Arthur with a cold gaze.

Immediately after, Ariel's furious voice cut through the air.

"Do you happen to know the value of the item I gave you?"

"Sorry? Ah, that… I mean…"

"No wonder. I'm sure you have never encountered something precious like a magic stone since your family doesn't have any dignity."

"…"

"Do it properly. Properly. I won't accept any further mistakes."

"I-I apologize. Princess Ariel."

"You should think of the dead Baron Noir."

"…"

"If you don't want to go to his side."

Arthur's eyes shook anxiously as he heard Ariel whisper in his ear.

Ariel lifted one corner of her mouth and patted the terrified Marquis Charne's shoulder a couple of times.

"Ugh, that spiteful bitch."

Marquis Charne let out a deep sigh and muttered in a low voice towards Ariel's back as she moved away.

"Hey, you there!"

"!"

Diane, who was leaning against the wall and hiding, flinched at Arthur's nervous voice and came out.

Marquis Charne's sharp eyes slowly scanned through Diane.

Standing in front of the Marquis, Diane gulped and said,

"Did… you call?"

She wondered if Marquis Charne had noticed that she had secretly overheard the conversation between the two of them.

Diane's heart thumped and started beating fast.

From the contents of the conversation, it seemed that Ariel and Marquis Charne were quite close.

Discussing funds with a princess from another country, whatever it was, was an issue for which he deserved to receive punishment.

What kind of relationship did they have?

Once that question was raised, it was not easily solved.

Although she was sure she was close to Claire, his daughter, being close to Marquis Charne, who was known for having no honor…

They had a disposition that did not fit together at all, like humps and bags, water and fire.

Though ironically, they seemed to be on the same boat.

Baron Noir, who had taken his own life a few months ago, was apparently involved with the ‘funds' they were talking about.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for the noble princess to use the dead baron as a means of blackmail.

She felt that there was something between them that no one else knew about.

Diane's squinting eyes stared at Marquis Charne.

"Go to the banquet hall and bring me a glass of wine."

"…"

The words that came out of Marquis Charne's mouth were extremely ridiculous.

A faint laugh flowed out of Diane's mouth as she couldn't believe he was asking for alcohol.

"Why are you standing there so blankly?"

"But His Majesty…"

"I just told you to bring me a drink, what is there to talk about!? Things aren't going to get solved, so even a petty bitch… It's fine, so just go."

"…"

"Is there something in your ears? Go!"

Diane closed her mouth tightly at Arthur's panting and slowly lowered her head.

Idiot.

After turning around, a satisfied smile appeared on Diane's lips.

***

Rain poured from the dark sky.

Thanks to that, the floor was wet and muddy.

"Be careful not to slip."

Ayla nodded silently at Theon's worried words.

Theon and Ayla's expressions inside the carriage also sank heavily.

There was an awkward atmosphere that had never existed before between the two of them.

"I don't know if you heard about it, but… It seems that the owner of the magic stone is Ariel Clermant."

"I heard something about it from Miss Diane. Not in detail, though."

After she finished speaking, Ayla's empty gaze turned out of the window.

Diane, who suddenly came to her room last night, said something shocking.

The cooperation between Marquis Arthur Charne and Princess Ariel, and the connection between the two and the deceased Baron Noir.

The unexpected variables were causing confusion.

‘I heard in passing that Count Serdian had met with Princess Ariel of the Libert Kingdom on the day he was framed.'

Diane's significant last words flashed through her mind.

Ayla frowned at the incoming headache and grabbed her forehead.

"You don't look good. We should go back."

"No. I'm fine. You said that Marquis Charne might come."

"You're my priority."

"I heard that Arial Clermant… may be involved in my father's affairs."

"I'm not sure about that part yet. So you don't have to overdo it. If it's about the community, Orhan and I can take care of it."

"If we miss Marquis Charne like this, it's all over."

"…"

"I can't give up. No, I won't."

Ayla's eyes filled with determination stared at Theon.

Who could break that stubbornness?

Theon hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly and let out a shallow sigh.

***

"Ugh, is today a waste of time too?"

Orhan, who was staring at the window with his arms crossed, muttered with a sigh.

There were a lot of people coming in and out of the community that was suddenly established.

The problem was that there was no significant profit except for trivial gossip.

"Let's end it here today. I'm a little tired."

Standing next to Ayla, Elin's face filled with anxiety as she heard her struggling voice.

As much as her workload had increased, Ayla's face had a tired look.

Even more so since there was no news that that person was coming even after a week had passed.