Chapter 17

Edward, still not in a good mood, kept emptying his wine glass. Isabella glanced sideways at Edward.

In fact, she had noticed Edward’s subtle feelings early on.

Edward’s close friend and his dedicated maid, Aria. Isabella also couldn’t believe at first that the relationship between the maid and the young master was that of friends.

I thought it was just Edward’s joke. He was a kind and considerate person to everyone.

The day Aria followed Edward to assist him on her birthday was when she first noticed this strange relationship.

That day, Aria’s appearance was distinctly different from what I had imagined. Unlike the other maids, Aria was beautiful and had a dignified demeanor.

As long as she dresses properly, she wouldn’t look out of place even as a noble lady.

A pale face with delicate features and a slender figure. Even in a plain maid outfit, she stood out far more than the other maids around her.

Moreover, the only person she had cherished her whole life, Edward, also couldn’t take his eyes off Aria.

It is natural for the maid in charge of assisting in any position to work hard, but Edward did not let his guard down, fearing that my maid might get into trouble.

Could it be from that time? Isabella was seized by an inexplicable small sense of unease.

But I couldn’t show it. It was clear that the daughter of the count would only earn the stigma of being jealous of a mere maid.

“Edward, have you found a separate mansion to stay in? Does the Earl of Cecil have any other comments?

Suddenly awakened by the Countess’s voice, which stirred her thoughts, Isabella could barely emerge from the deeply ingrained memories.

“Still no word from you.”

At Edward’s words, his wife’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Then that’s good.  I’ll prepare a separate mansion for the two of you to stay in.  I should look for a place that isn’t too far from both families.”

Isabella smiled faintly.

“Oh my.  Just your words are enough to make me grateful.  When you look for a mansion, please include me.  I want to get to know your mother better while checking it out myself.

“Mother? Did you hear? Cecil called me “Mom”!

“That’s so good, madam.”

The lady and Isabella laughed amicably.

The day I formally introduce the person who will become my wife to my family. It was a moment that couldn’t be anything but the most joyful and nerve-wracking of all.

However, Edward remained seated with a consistently cold expression.

To anyone who sees me, I must look like an animal being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

Isabella couldn’t stop thinking about it.

After finishing their meal, Edward strolled through the mansion’s garden with Isabella.

Her appearance, with her voluminous pink wavy hair cascading down one side, was dazzling.

However, despite having won over this dazzling woman, Edward’s expression was somehow stiff.

To be precise, it was after Aria’s incident.

Isabella noticed this and spoke cautiously.

“I’m worried that Aria might be hurt somewhere. I feel like it happened because of me for no reason.

Only then did Edward’s gaze turn towards her.

“Oh no. It seems that my precious Young-ae heart is being troubled because of me. You know how much I care for Aria, right?

“Then It feels like my mind is always filled with worries about Aria, to the point where it makes me strangely jealous. I feel like my mind is always filled with worries about Aria, to the point where it makes me strangely jealous.”

When Isabella gave a crescent moon smile, Edward’s brow furrowed slightly.

“That’s difficult. I don’t want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings with the person who will become my wife.

“Hey, just talk! If you love me more than Aria, you must never get angry no matter what I do here. Can you do that for me?

Edward found Isabella so cute that he gently curled the corners of his mouth upwards.

At that moment, Isabella gently brought her red lips to Edward’s lips.

Before Edward could even react, Isabella quickly pulled her lips away.

“I really have no pride. This kind of thing should be done nicely by the man first. Next time, can I expect something even more romantic, my future husband?

At the sight of Isabella’s reddened cheeks, Edward’s gaze wavered like waves.  Her pupils, as if filled with poison, were solely focused on her.

Edward gently wrapped his arms around Isabella’s waist and slowly kissed her.  Isabella’s heart swelled at his actions.

A sinister smile spread across Isabella’s lips.  It was like the smile of a victor.

While they kissed for a long time, Isabella recalled what had happened earlier.

Pushing my own plate away with my hand was an instinctive reaction.

I wanted to make it clear to everyone present what position Eric and Aria should be in.

In high society, she knew how to gracefully dominate others without much effort.

That was precisely about clearly announcing the position one should hold in front of everyone.

How dare a mere illegitimate child monopolize the love of an earl?  Isn’t it a funny thing?

Moreover, I can also trample on Aria, who has always been a thorn in my side.

‘If only those two would disappear. Especially you, Aria, if only you weren’t around, my married life would be perfect.

The Cecil Count family, who have such considerable wealth that even members of the imperial family cannot be treated lightly.

The noblewoman Isabella, whose fame soars to the heavens as the daughter of a powerful figure, and a mere maid whose name is even unknown, with significant flaws.

Perhaps it was something that had already been decided from the beginning. Daring to even compete.

Isabella was tightly embraced in Edward’s broad arms. She closed her eyes gently, thinking that this man’s heart, body, and everything about him belonged to her.

Aria shook off Eric’s hand and ran to her room in a daze.

I couldn’t even care whether blood was flowing from my hand or not.

She entered the room and collapsed onto the floor, exhausted.

I should have gotten used to the contemptuous gazes by now. I didn’t want to be subjected to such looks, at least not in this place today.

The wedding of Edward and Isabella is a place of coming and going. A place where everyone’s blessings come together.

Aria also sincerely wanted to bless their happiness.

I didn’t want to become such a neglected existence.

Why did Isabella’s plate suddenly fall to the floor? That plate, which I hadn’t even touched, just happened to fall…

Aria, who was lost in various thoughts, shook her head repeatedly. What’s the use of that?

He has become someone who is treated worse than those broken pieces.

Aria bit her lower lip tightly to hold back the tears that were pouring down. Sorrowful tears continuously streamed down her cheeks.

At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door. It was the door that had remained almost open since the day he collapsed and had not yet been repaired.

Could it be Edward? In a moment of hope against hope, Aria peered through the broken door and instinctively sensed who had arrived.

Aria hurriedly wiped away her tears with her sleeve. And then she hurriedly checked her reflection in the small mirror.

There was still a faint rosy hue around her eyes.

In the midst of the confusion, Eric, holding a first aid kit, entered the room.

Aria awkwardly stood up from her seat. She lowered her head to hide her eyes as much as possible.

I didn’t want to show my shabby and weak side. Especially to that man.

Eric’s gaze quietly settled on her face with his hand. He silently sat Aria next to him.

Then he opened the first aid kit he had brought and began to administer simple treatment. Aria tried to push him away, but his large hand firmly grasped her arm.

“Listen to me.”

A voice with clenched jaws. A clear gaze that seems to pierce through everything about me.

Aria couldn’t resist at all. Eric began to treat Aria’s hand as it was.

Aria quietly lifted her eyes and looked at Eric. The sleeves of the shirt stretched over his broad shoulders and sturdy build were torn, but it still looked quite fitting.

Once, they treated themselves harshly as if they were about to break, and now they are tending to their painful wounds.

A man who shamelessly exploits a woman’s body without offering any excuse, not even asking for forgiveness.

How on earth should I treat this man? Should I just leave this awkward relationship to run its course with time?

As a sigh escaped from Aria’s lips, Eric slowly lifted his head and met her gaze.

A brief encounter with pupils as blue and cold as thin ice. Aria, without realizing it, immediately did just that.

Aria stared blankly for a while at the small, flickering glimmer hidden within the deep blue eyes.

The boy, who was smiling with bright eyes that couldn’t be hidden even by the darkness. Because it was Eric from the past, whom he knew very well.

“If you look at me with those eyes, it’s going to be difficult.”

Suddenly, as I came to my senses at the sound that came out of nowhere, Eric was already wearing a faint smile.