CHAPTER 62………………………………………………
Aris nodded as if it were obvious.
“Isn’t it? The reason this happened to me is because I was careful not to cause any harm to you or our family after you became a princess.”
“……?”
“I was considerate, but you were laughing and joking with Princess Laratou and Duke Karsatuna’s heir. That’s why I got into trouble.”
I was at a loss for words at her absurd reasoning.
Whether she noticed my expression or not, Aris continued talking as if she were being perfectly rational.
“See how the atmosphere at home got tense because you were worried about me? So, just return the princess title quickly. We’re from the same family, so it wouldn’t matter if I took the title instead.”
Putting aside whether that was even possible, I was curious about the structure of her brain that could present this as a “solution.”
“I don’t mind even if you end up marrying a prince. I can sacrifice that much for the family. You didn’t want to marry that barbarian either, right?”
Tail gracefully curling, Tyrrin wrapped around Aris’s neck.
“What’s with this foolish girl? She reeks of greed. The smell of a disgusting human being.”
For the first time, I agreed with him. She was disgusting. Absolutely.
Unaware that the fierce spirit circled above her head, Aris grabbed my hand and whined.
“Sis, isn’t it okay? If you do that, I’ll treat you really, really well! I can even be as close to Hubert as I am!”
I stared at her.
Her gaze carried a hint of hope.
Tap!
I withdrew my hand. Looking at her wide-eyed, I whispered gently.
“If you want something, show some sincerity, young lady. You’ve long passed the age where throwing a tantrum will get you toys.”
“…….”
“All your friends probably drifted away after this incident, and only Hubert is left. You know him—he likes obedient children but dislikes foolish ones. You’d better put in real effort. I’m sincerely advising you.”
Aris’s rigid eyes began trembling with anger.
Before she could erupt, I quickly kicked her out and closed the door.
Outside, Aris pounded on the door.
Bang bang bang bang!
“Sis, open this! Not opening? I said open it!”
I shrugged and went back to my work as if I heard nothing.
By the time I finished my report and looked up, it was quiet outside.
A playground for nobles. The tavern, known only to a few, was empty.
“Waaah.”
From a corner of the room came the sound of crying.
It was Aris, who had stormed out of the mansion after being embarrassed by Igrein.
She had even disobeyed the royal command to remain in seclusion, but she didn’t care.
She wanted to vent her frustration and hurt to anyone—but what awaited her was the cold reality.
“Oh dear, Lady Dolencia. Is it alright for you to be here? Aren’t you supposed to be in seclusion?”
“Sniff… Waaahhh!”
Her cries grew louder.
The staff exchanged awkward glances.
They could pretend not to notice any disgraceful scenes involving nobles, but they had never seen a young noblewoman cry so loudly in public.
It was understandable; when friends openly avoid you, no one can remain calm.
The young nobles, who had been enjoying themselves just moments before, all got up and left as soon as Aris arrived. The staff sealed their lips tight.
The fall of a flower.
Though Aris wasn’t unique among the beautiful, cultured women of society, her unusual background as a priestess of the Water God made her a shining jewel of the social scene.
But rumors that she had been abandoned by the gods dragged her straight to the bottom.
Her claims of full recovery went unheard.
The priestess’s rampage was rare. Her power, tied to a god, was a mystery to ordinary people.
Ignorance bred fear, and Aris was quickly isolated.
“Igrein… that wretch!”
She cursed Igrein, then turned her anger on the ‘friends’ who ran away like they’d met a bug the moment she looked at them.
“How can everyone be like this? We hung out so much, invited them to my home, yet they ignore me? Hah! Cowards.”
Wiping the unstoppable tears with her sleeve, Aris gritted her teeth.
“They should have listened to me. The strange one is Igrein. Why would her power go haywire at that moment if she were fine?”
Muttering to herself, Aris suddenly stopped at a vague image that surfaced in her mind.
“……I think someone came into my room that day.”
Her memory of the moment her power went berserk was hazy. She wasn’t even sure if she had gone to the bathroom.
The lingering image of Igrein holding her.
Was it a dream? Or a memory?
“I’m sure Igrein did something.”
In truth, her greed and malice had awakened the dead spirit’s nightmare, but Aris, knowing nothing, focused only on the clue she had just caught.
“I have to tell Hubert.”
Her expression darkened as she prepared to stand.
‘What if he finds out I lost my power?’
[Aris, are you alright now?]
[Do you even care about me?]
[Of course. Your health comes first. There’s really nothing wrong, right?]
Her chest tightened.
Hubert smiled kindly as usual, but it sent shivers down her spine.
Would he still love her without her power?
For the first time, she doubted it. Normally, Hubert would love her regardless—but why did she feel so uneasy?
‘People don’t like me just for my water power!’
Aris shouted this mentally to dispel the dark thoughts. She was lovely and beautiful on her own.
But why were people being so cruel to her?
Even Hubert!
‘If he truly cares about me, he should strip Igrein of the princess title. Hubert is siding with Igrein.’
Everything felt wrong.
Aris collapsed forward, tears streaming like tiny raindrops.
Then—
“Are you alright?”
Aris lifted her tear-streaked face. A tall man stood before her, his features blurred through her tears.
Wiping her face, she saw a slightly tanned man with a slender build.
He looked embarrassed as she sniffled silently at him.
Up close, he was quite handsome.
Curiosity sparked in Aris’s eyes.
His tanned skin told her he was not a noble.
A shame, but unlike before, she felt she could forgive him.
She longed desperately for love and attention.
Despite her youthful appearance, Aris was quite experienced with men.
Beautiful, reasonably well-off, with a guardian and a mysterious priestess’s power—men who admired her were as numerous as clouds.
They had all fled at the rumors of her curse from Marta.
‘Cowards!’
Aris studied the man again.
‘Who is he? If he can come to this place, he must be rich.’
She watched as his embarrassment grew, but she didn’t stop observing.
His chestnut beret and well-fitted suit seemed high-quality.
Even without a title, he was clearly from a wealthy merchant family.
‘Merchant family.’
Aris’s initial excitement deflated slightly. Merchants didn’t belong in her circle.
She turned her head with a sigh, her head aching from crying.
Her hand, searching the table, touched a cold cup.
‘What’s this?’
One eye peeked open. The man had carefully placed the cup in her hand.
He even produced a handkerchief from his jacket pocket.
Aris stared silently. He tapped his cheek, embarrassed.
“……You should wipe your face.”
“……”
“You’re very wet.”
His attention, without asking why she cried, revived her curiosity.
‘His voice… reminds me of Hubert.’
Despite some disappointment in Hubert over recent events, Aris liked him deeply.
When she first saw Hubert as Madame Emerne’s ward, she was smitten.
Kind words, a gentle, handsome face, warm attitude, and careful attention—addictive.
She knew how many women secretly competed for his attention.
Initially wary of Igrein, she relaxed after learning her maid background.
Hubert also tended to her more noticeably than Igrein, so she didn’t worry much.
‘But now…’
Her anxiety flared like wildfire, and tears fell again.
Seeing her cry, the man blinked in surprise.
Aris let more tears flow deliberately.
She knew exactly how men would perceive a crying woman.
As expected.
“Do you need comfort?”
Of course he wouldn’t just leave. But his words were somehow more reassuring.
His quiet manner, not prying about the cause, strongly reminded her of Hubert’s gentle care.
Unconsciously, Aris nodded.
“If you eat something sweet, you’ll feel much better.”
He brought sweet cookies and naturally sat beside her.
His casual behavior surprised her, but she didn’t dislike it.
His scent hit her—soft yet deeply masculine.
Her heart fluttered slightly.
