Chapter 1.3

Ariana flung open the door and entered her room. Except for the nights they spent together to fulfill their marital obligations, both Ariana and Rowen spent their time in separate rooms, making this her true personal space. However, despite the room being supposed to be empty, she sensed someone’s presence.  

Ariana narrowed her eyes and looked at the back of a woman rummaging through her vanity. Just by the long blonde hair, she could tell who it was.  

“Flory.”  

It was Rowen’s younger sister.  

“What are you doing here?”  

‘When did she even arrive?’  

Flory was originally staying at a mansion near the capital. Since Rowen was a son-in-law, his mother and sister couldn’t live in the Astaroth mansion even after he became the Earl. The Astaroth family had only accepted Rowen, so the two women remained commoners. Proof of this was the fact that Flory was still “Flory Green.”  

Yet, as the social season in the capital approached, Flory would naturally come to the Astaroth mansion and boldly claim one of the rooms. She even paraded around the social circles with the title of “the Earl of Astaroth’s younger sister.” Her mother, Madame Green, instead of discouraging this behavior, actively encouraged it, hoping Flory would catch a suitable nobleman and fully integrate into aristocratic society.  

‘Now that I think about it, the social season starts next week.’  

It was laughable how Flory was more enthusiastic about the social season than Ariana, the Countess herself.  

Flory closed the jewelry box and turned to face Ariana without showing any sign of surprise at her arrival. She smiled softly, her eyes curving gracefully, resembling Rowen’s.  

“I was just admiring them. You have so many beautiful pieces of jewelry, Sister.”  

Of course, it wasn’t just admiration. Flory already had a history of secretly taking Ariana’s jewelry. Every time Ariana discovered this, instead of scolding her, she would give Flory the jewelry as a gift. Necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings—countless items had been handed over. Ariana understood Flory’s circumstances, which was why she chose to act this way.

No matter how much money one had, it was difficult to purchase the jewelry trending in the social circles unless one was a noble. The high-nosed traditional brands chose their customers carefully, refusing to open their doors to nouveau riche individuals who, in their view, would lower the brand’s prestige by using their products. While it seemed like an absurd sense of pride, if that was their strategy, it wasn’t something others could criticize.  

Ariana’s jewelry box contained many items from such brands. Some were inherited from previous generations, while others were gifts from her parents. What was natural to her might be something Flory coveted, Ariana thought.  

Thus, instead of scolding her, she gave Flory gifts, thinking that if Flory had the same items, she would stop touching Ariana’s belongings. However, no matter how many gifts Ariana gave, Flory never stopped taking her things.  

This time was no different. On Flory’s finger, Ariana’s ring was already shining. Normally, Ariana would have let it slide, but not anymore.  

Ariana had been lenient with Flory because she was the sister of her “husband who had resolved the family’s debts.” Now that the description of the sister’s brother had changed to “the cheating, despicable husband,” the circumstances were entirely different.  

“I’ll be going now. Rest well, Sister.”  

“Flory.”  

As Flory smiled and tried to leave, Ariana called her back. Flory turned to look at her with questioning eyes, and Ariana pointed at her hand with a faint smile.  

“You need to leave that behind.”  

“Pardon?”  

“The ring on your finger. That’s my ring.”  

Flory’s face showed clear signs of embarrassment, as if she hadn’t expected Ariana to say such a thing. However, the expression quickly faded as Flory put on a friendly smile and an imploring look.  

“Sister, it’s just so beautiful. I’ve been invited to a tea party, but I don’t have a ring to wear. Please give this to me. Won’t you?”  

It was far too extravagant for a tea party. The ring, with its large, sparkling gemstone, was something Ariana only wore at grand banquets held in the royal palace.  

‘And it’s not like you don’t have rings. How many have I bought for you?’  

Grinding her teeth inwardly, Ariana maintained her poised smile.  

“You have the rings I gifted you during the last social season.”  

“Those are out of fashion now.”  

“Really? I deliberately chose classic designs so you could wear them for a long time. Such designs don’t go out of style, so you wouldn’t feel embarrassed wearing them this season.”  

“But I like this one, Sister.”  

“Then buy the same ring and wear it. This one is mine. If you want to know where to purchase it, I can tell you.”  

“Oh, Sister, how could I possibly buy a ring from this brand?”  

“Why covet a ring you can’t afford on your own?”  

When Ariana widened her eyes and asked, Flory’s face turned red in an instant.  

“You have it, though.”  

“That’s because I’m qualified to have it.”  

“So you could just give it to me!”  

“Yes, I could. If I wanted to. But I don’t feel like it. So give it back. My ring.”  

When Ariana extended her hand, asking for the ring immediately, Flory’s face flushed red as she glared up at her.  

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”  

“What do you mean?”  

“You’ve always given me things before. Why are you suddenly acting this way?”  

“Just because I’ve done so before, does that mean I must continue doing it?”  

Tilting her head as if she had heard something absurd, Ariana watched Flory bite her lip hard.  

“Ugh, how petty and disgraceful.”  

After glaring at Ariana for a moment, Flory roughly pulled the ring off her finger and threw it to the floor. The ring rolled across the floor and stopped at Ariana’s shoe. As Ariana twitched her eyebrows and stared at the ring at her feet, Flory’s muttered complaints reached her ears.  

“People with wealth are the worst. You have so many pieces of jewelry in your box, but you can’t spare even one for me? I always knew this would happen. You’re looking down on us because our family is from a commoner background, aren’t you? Living luxuriously off the money my brother earned!”  

“Flory.”  

Ariana called Flory’s name as she bent down to pick up the ring. Upon closer inspection, the ornament surrounding the gemstone had broken, likely from being thrown on the floor.  

“Did I look down on you, Flory? No, you looked down on yourself. If you thought of us as equals, would you have rummaged through my jewelry box like a petty thief?”  

“A… a petty thief?”  

“You’ve never refused the countless gifts I’ve given you. People who are equals don’t accept gifts so one-sidedly.”  

“W-what are you saying?”  

“You’re right. I have plenty of jewelry besides this one. Giving you one wouldn’t be a big deal. That’s why I didn’t say anything when you secretly rummaged through my jewelry box and took my things. But that was the problem. I should have scolded you sternly from the beginning.”  

As Ariana walked over and tossed the ring back into the jewelry box, Flory’s eyes widened. It seemed she was momentarily speechless, shocked by Ariana’s behavior. As Ariana calmly observed the stunned Flory, she suddenly seemed to realize something and clapped her hands.  

“Oh, now that I look closely, the dress you’re wearing is mine too, isn’t it?”  

Flory flinched at those words. Ariana’s gaze made it clear she was ready to strip the dress off her immediately.  

“I-I’ll just leave now. If I tell my brother about the humiliation I’ve suffered, he won’t stand for it!”  

Slowly backing away, Flory turned and left Ariana’s room. Watching her retreating figure, Ariana let out a small laugh.  

‘How unfortunate. She thinks that kind of threat would work.’  

Ariana straightened her back confidently and looked into the mirror. In the reflection, her golden eyes sparkled, and the resolute face of a noblewoman with sky-blue hair stared back at her.  

‘Respect ends here.’  

***

‘She’s gone mad. Completely lost her mind.’  

Grinding her teeth, Flory stormed out of Ariana’s room, heading straight to her brother as she had warned. If she told Rowen about what had happened, he would undoubtedly side with her, and the proud Ariana would have no choice but to bow her head and apologize. Thinking this, Flory’s anger subsided slightly.  

Scoffing, Flory looked at the hand where the ring had been moments ago.  

‘It was such a beautiful ring.’  

Everything Ariana owned was beautiful and dazzling. Despite being a penniless woman relying entirely on her brother, Ariana had these things simply because she was a noble. It was infuriating. That was why Flory wanted everything Ariana had.  

‘When she apologizes, I’ll make her buy me the exact same ring.’  

As Flory plotted this in her mind, her feet carried her to Rowen’s room. Before opening the door, she recalled a sad novel she had read recently and widened her eyes. Soon, her eyes turned red, and tears began to stream down her cheeks. As the tears rolled down her face, Flory flung the door open.  

“Brother!”  

“Flory?”  

Rowen, who had been sitting on the sofa with Alena, stood up in surprise at the sound of his sister’s tearful voice. Seeing the reaction she had hoped for, Flory inwardly smiled as she collapsed to the floor. She showed no sign of being startled by the sight of her brother holding hands affectionately with Alena.  

“Waaah! Brother… Sister Ariana… Sister Ariana…”

Flory began to sob bitterly, and Rowen rushed to her side in alarm.  

“What happened, Flory?”  

“Sniff… Sister Ariana said… that I was out of line for coveting such a beautiful ring…”  

As Flory shed tears and poured out lies, Rowen’s face grew increasingly stiff.  

“She threw the ring I was wearing right into the trash in front of me… I felt so humiliated and scared…”  

“…Ariana did that?”  

“Sniff… I didn’t want to tell you this after seeing you for the first time in so long… but I was just so… scared…”  

“…No, Flory. You did the right thing by telling me. I’ll make sure Ariana apologizes, so don’t worry.”  

As Rowen comforted her by patting her back, Flory lowered her head and smirked inwardly.  

“My goodness. You must have been so startled, Miss Flory.”  

Even Alena, Ariana’s maid, patted her back, making Flory feel even more triumphant.  

‘See what happens when you mess with me, Ariana Astaroth?’  

As long as Rowen, who cherished his family, was around—and as long as Rowen was the Earl of Astaroth—Ariana could never defeat Flory. Believing once again that she would emerge victorious, Flory scoffed inwardly.  

***

After a stormy day, Rowen didn’t take immediate action but instead observed Ariana’s behavior closely. He even assigned people to monitor her, suspecting that she might actually be preparing for a divorce.  

If Ariana wasn’t bluffing and truly had a way to push for a divorce…  

‘I’ll do whatever it takes to stop her and prevent the divorce.’  

Ariana had to remain his wife and the Countess of the noble Astaroth family until the day she died. Only then could Rowen and his children continue to enjoy the life of nobility for generations to come.  

‘Could she have found a major source of money? Is that why she’s so confident about discussing divorce?’  

However, contrary to Rowen’s worries, Ariana showed no significant movements even as days passed. After three days, then four, Rowen was completely reassured.  

‘She must’ve just said something out of anger.’  

Of course. The penalty for breaking their marriage wasn’t a trivial amount!  

‘A noblewoman who only knows arranged marriages as a way to make money wouldn’t suddenly become different now, would she?’  

Although Ariana’s excessive confidence had momentarily shaken him, Rowen couldn’t think of any way she could initiate a divorce. Regaining his arrogance, Rowen headed straight for Ariana’s room.