Chapter 171

Chapter 171. Revenge (III), Part VIII

[His name is Chloe.

He was banished from the imperial family and has no family name, and he is thirty-seven years old. Known as the eldest son of Violet, who was the wife of Franz David, he grew up in the royal family but was later exiled from the empire with Violet, who was later found out that he was not David's biological son. That was seventeen years ago. His biological father is presumed to be a former lover of Violet, Marquis Piaast of the Kingdom of Croa, but it is impossible to confirm because they kept all the information secret. And the whereabouts of Violet and Chloe are unknown. I'm looking for a portrait. I'll let you know as soon as I get it.]

When he finished reading the report, he remembered a vague story.

‘A long time ago, someone in the royal family fell in love with a foreign aristocratic woman at the first meeting, but it did not bear fruit because she had promised her life to someone. Although he had to give up, the royal man couldn't stop thinking about her and forced her to marry him.

Later, he lived happily with two children, but realized that one of them was an extramarital child of a woman's extramarital affair, he then kicked out his wife and son in anger and expelled them.'

‘That was a true story. That's why the report arrived quickly.'

Although it was a while later, he seemed to have been involved in the case that had made a fuss in the imperial castle, so he seemed to be able to get information quickly. It was a shame that the garbage who had forced a woman to marry him even though she had already had her lover was part of the royal family. A sneer leaked through his tightly closed mouth.

A child made outside by a foreign aristocratic woman who had been married to a royal family! He grew up to a royal family, but in fact, he had nothing to do with the imperial family. Rather, he was born to his mother and father, who were nobles of the Kingdom of Croa.

Franz David.

That was the reason why he had died drunk all his life.

‘What the hell does a man with such a complex background have to do with Lady Aria?'

Asher had heard that Frey, the eldest daughter of Franz David and Violet, had dressed Aria in the clothing of her brother, who had been deported with her mother. The portrait was still being sought, so he couldn't confirm it, but in dim memories of the past, he remembered that the face looked alike. He had thought it was simply because of the resemblance in the face, but was there a deeper story? The puzzle seemed to be in order, but it didn't work out, creating wrinkles in the middle of his forehead.

‘I'd better keep it secret until it's more certain.'

It would only increase her anxiety if he would let her know the lack of information because he was not yet sure how it related to Aria.

‘It's hard to believe that time has gone like this.'

Before he knew it, the sun was completely gone and it was getting dark outside the window. The carriage, which no one else was riding on, had lost weight, so it was more likely to have arrived earlier than scheduled because it was a little faster. He had to wake Aria up quickly and get on the waiting wagon and get through the gate formally.

“Lady Aria, it's time for us to leave.”

“…”

“Lady Aria?”

“…”

So he called Aria's name several times outside the door, but there was no answer. As she had said during the day, once she really fell asleep, she couldn't seem to wake up.

“... You said it's okay to come in, so I'll really go in.”

So he gave notice of what Aria had given her permission and opened the door carefully. Although he had ever sneaked in once, and he had been given permission, he went inside clearing his throat in vain. It was obvious that someone would misunderstand.

“... Lady Aria.”

She seemed to have no sleeping habits, so Aria's face was somehow pale. It also looked sick. Come to think of it, she looked very strange today. She had suddenly pushed the child with an excuse of a bug.

‘Is she okay? Should I call a doctor?' He began to worry that she might have been sick by a series of things. It wasn't too much to think like that. ‘Even though she was not a biological sister, how could she remain intact when she was framed by her sister?'

“Lady Aria.”

As he thought of it, he stroked Aria's hair carefully. It wasn't so messy, but somehow he wanted to do that. He felt at the end of his hand that he didn't want to wake her up.

It would be better to just put her to sleep like this. They had already made solid evidence and witnesses. Thinking so, he turned his head for a while, and he saw a box on the bedside table, which Aria had usually carried on.

‘It's the box with an hourglass...'

It was a box containing an hourglass that she had said she felt comfortable to have. It was a little unusual for a woman to carry around in her arms.

As soon as he saw Aria asleep, he took the box carefully. It was a little heavy for a weak lady to carry around. Nevertheless, she had carried it with her, and she seemed to cherish it.

As he thought about it, he was curious about the contents, and opened the box and checked the hourglass; he looked at Aria again and took it in his hand.

By the way, he felt like he wasn't touching things, somehow.

‘... What is it?'

Still, it was like a strange sensation he had ever felt somewhere, a very strange sensation that could not be felt on an hourglass. The familiar yet unfamiliar sense made the heart of Asher beat fast, who had been beset with anxiety.

‘What the hell is this? Why is it felt in Aria's hourglass?' The gaze of Asher, who had touched it for a long time, soon went to the hand of Aria, who had fallen asleep. The ring on the ring finger had its own color as if nothing had happened.

‘The child of a woman who married a royal family and drank holy water; Aria resembling the child; an hourglass with a strange feeling; a man named Chloe, who was expelled from the empire seventeen years ago; the ring which seemed to have changed color… Besides, Aria will also turn seventeen years old after her birthday this year.'

... Even though it made no sense to think for himself, the hand with the hourglass began to tremble a little. Even though the puzzle was already on its way, he shook his head, saying, “It's conjecture.”

Still, the strange sensation of the hourglass from his hand indicated that he was getting the right answer. But at the same time, he felt great anxiety. It was a sense of uneasiness that he should not hold the hourglass still. It was time to hurry back the hourglass.

“My hourglass…!”

Suddenly, Aria held Asher's wrist, as soon as she opened her eyes wide. It was like asking why he had her hourglass. It was a very cold eye as if facing another.

As a result, he made an excuse with embarrassment. “... I thought it was going to fall off the table, so I was going to put it back.”

“Was it going to fall off the table?”

But the inquiring Aria's speech was full of thorns. If it simply seemed to fall off the table, she wanted to ask why he was holding the hourglass himself, not the box.

No matter how embarrassed he was, he lied to Aria and felt like he was a criminal who had committed treason, and he quickly put the hourglass back in place, telling the truth.

“... No. Actually, I was wondering about this box that you carry all the time. I'm so sorry.”

‘I'm sure she'll get angry. That's her favorite hourglass.'

It was she who even woke up with a sense of deja vu. After looking at him in a calm, unspoken stare for some time, she soon slowly closed her eyes and nodded her head, saying, “I see. I would have shown you if you had told me.”

In addition, the sharp expression on her face had disappeared. It was because she had great confidence in Asher.

“Is the carriage here?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. We have to go.”

“Then I'll change my clothes and see you outside.”

“... Okay.”

Then he left Aria's room and glanced back. There was a box of the hourglass within the reach of his gaze.

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