Chapter 2.4

“Do you even know why I’m upset to say such a thing?”  

“I don’t know, but I hate seeing you upset. Please don’t be, alright?”  

“Then how will you make me feel better?”  

“Hmm.”  

Alena groaned softly, her eyes darting back and forth as if searching for an idea. Then, with a clap of her hands, she exclaimed, 

“Your mother and Miss Flory are here, so why don’t we all enjoy a delicious meal together? A delightful feast should cheer you up!”  

Just as she was about to dash off, Rowen reached out and gently pulled her back into his arms.  

“Where do you think you’re going?”  

Alena, now nestled in Rowen’s embrace, looked up in surprise. He chuckled softly, finding her reaction endearing, and patted her back.  

“Do you still think you’re a maid? A woman carrying the Earl’s child shouldn’t be doing a servant’s work, like preparing meals.”  

“But no one’s coming, no matter how much I pull the bell… I just wanted to cheer you up quickly…”  

Alena murmured shyly, her face turning red. Rowen frowned, glaring at the bell. The mansion’s servants dared to neglect a woman carrying the Earl’s child. Grinding his teeth, Rowen thought about the root cause of this disrespect.  

Seeing Rowen’s clenched jaw, Alena burrowed deeper into his chest. His broad frame enveloped her, offering warmth and comfort.  

Alena and Ariana had been born in the same year and raised under the same roof by the same mother. They ate together, studied together, and met people together, but Ariana was always the star of the show.  

But things were different when she was with Rowen. He cared for Alena, not Ariana. Every time Rowen looked at her with affection, Alena felt a deep sense of fulfillment and superiority.  

In truth, Alena had known from the moment Rowen came to propose to Ariana that he was the one who would open doors for her. She wanted to continue walking this comfortable path, no matter what it took.  

***

Sensing a presence behind her, Ariana closed her newsletter. Her eyes were strained from focusing on the text for so long, and the atmosphere behind her felt tense. Stretching her arms, she turned her head to find none other than an unwelcome guest. It was Rowen, his face hard and his anger barely concealed.  

Ariana rose from her seat to address him.  

“What’s the matter?”  

“You should know better than anyone.”  

“What are you talking about? I have no idea.”  

Shouldn’t he be happily entertaining his mistress in the guestroom by now? 

Rowen’s accusatory gaze made her pause to consider, but no matter how she thought about it, there was no reason for him to storm in like this. Maintaining a blank expression, Ariana’s indifference only fueled Rowen’s rage.  

“Are you playing dumb?”  

“I genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about.”  

“Ridiculous. No one responded when Alena pulled the bell repeatedly. If I hadn’t been there, she would’ve suffered in silence, ostracized. Are you still going to feign ignorance?”  

Ariana quickly pieced together the situation. She hadn’t given any specific orders, but the reason was obvious. Until yesterday, Alena had been living in the basement with the other servants, yet now she was a guest demanding their service. How many would willingly bow their heads and serve her with a smile?  

Moreover, Alena’s breach of servant conduct likely stirred resentment. Servants in noble households often valued loyalty to their masters above all else, sometimes even more than the law. Especially in Astaroth, where many had worked since the late Earl’s time and regarded Ariana as their own daughter. For them, Alena, who had betrayed Ariana by engaging in an affair with her husband, was no guest deserving of hospitality.  

‘And yet, he flaunted her in the guestroom, so I assumed he had some plan in mind. Turns out he didn’t.’

Ariana realized her mind was utterly blank. She admitted to herself that she had grossly overestimated Rowen. With each passing day, her evaluation of him dropped, and it seemed only a matter of time before it hit rock bottom.  

‘Even if Rowen doesn’t realize it, Alena surely knew how the servants would treat her.’  

No matter how innocent she pretended to be, blinking her wide eyes, Alena had lived her entire life as a maid in noble households. She knew their dynamics better than anyone. Yet, the thought of Alena boldly pulling the bell rope in front of Rowen, feigning ignorance, left Ariana speechless.  

Of course, what was even more baffling was Rowen’s firm belief that Ariana had given the childish order to ostracize Alena.  

“Why would you think I’d waste my time on something as unproductive as tormenting you and Alena?”  

“You’re human, aren’t you? You must be angry at us. We ruined everything, so naturally, you’d want to take it out on us.”  

Rowen’s sarcasm prompted Ariana to feign shock.  

“Oh my, so you knew.”  

She had assumed he was acting out because he was clueless. Ariana widened her eyes as if genuinely surprised, and Rowen’s face twisted in frustration.  

“Are you trying to deflect the situation with sarcasm? If this continues, I won’t stand for it.”  

“And if you won’t stand for it?”  

“I won’t provide the mansion’s operating funds until you fulfill your duties as the Countess.”  

Rowen knew Ariana valued everything about the Astaroth mansion. Without the operating funds, she wouldn’t be able to pay the staff, so using it as leverage would force her to comply. After all, Ariana had no money of her own.  

But Ariana’s response was far from what Rowen expected.  

“The only contribution you make to Astaroth as the Earl is providing money. If you stop doing even that, then I have no reason to treat you as an Earl.”  

“Are you blaming me now?”  

“Who else should I blame?”  

“Obviously, it’s your fault! I said I’d give you the money if you just acted like a proper Countess!”  

“If you hadn’t acted like a fool, I would’ve quietly fulfilled my role as Countess. Just as I always have.”  

“Unbelievable…”  

Rowen gritted his teeth as Ariana refused to back down even an inch.  

“Do you ever lose an argument? Don’t you know how to respect your husband? Or have you ever respected me as your husband?”  

“Is losing an argument the same as respecting a husband? Is that really the kind of respect you want?”  

Unlike Rowen, who was fuming, Ariana remained calm.  

“Our arrangement was clear—duties and benefits. Until now, I’ve overlooked your actions because you fulfilled your duties and guaranteed my benefits. But things are entirely different now.”  

Her golden eyes, calm yet chilling, made Rowen clench his fists. Though she stood still and spoke evenly, her words carried far more weight than his angry shouting.  

“So don’t barge into my room with empty threats anymore. Take care of the woman carrying your child yourself.”  

***

After their heated argument, the mansion fell silent for a while. Ariana had anticipated the worst—that Rowen, consumed by wounded pride, would withdraw the operating funds entirely. Surprisingly, he took no drastic action. Since Ariana was the one demanding a divorce while Rowen wanted to maintain the marriage, it seemed he had decided to fulfill his contractual obligations as the Earl.  

‘Camio must have advised him.’  

Someone must have explained that failing to fulfill his marital obligations could become grounds for divorce. That someone was undoubtedly Camio, Rowen’s asset manager and the only person in his employ who had any sense. The way Rowen calculated the operating funds to just barely avoid issues was proof enough.  

Ariana wanted a divorce, but Rowen didn’t. Camio must have reminded him of that simple reality.  

‘If I could bring Camio to my side, things would become much easier.’  

But when she thought about the possibility, it seemed unlikely. Camio was too meticulous.  

“Miss.”  

Lost in thought, Ariana turned to see Madame Helen approaching with a peculiar expression.  

“You have a visitor. They said they didn’t have an appointment, but…”  

An unannounced visitor implied a close relationship. For Ariana, the only people who fit that description were the twin siblings from the Duke Etzel family, with whom she had been close since childhood. However, both Winslet, the brother, and Lydia, the sister, were currently away from the Empire.  

“Did they say who they were?”  

“No, but he’s a very handsome gentleman. He said you’d recognize him if he mentioned the blue door.”  

Ariana abruptly stood up.  

The blue door! It had to be the man from the agency. 

But a ‘handsome gentleman’? The man she had met at the agency’s blue door was certainly attractive, but he wasn’t someone she’d describe as a gentleman.  

Standing but still unsure, Ariana furrowed her brows. Helen’s expression grew even more curious at her reaction.  

“Is he not someone you know?”  

“No, um… I think he is.”  

Whether it was him or not, someone from the agency had clearly come.  

“Is he in the drawing room?”  

“Yes. We’ve served him tea.”  

“Tea…”  

If Helen had served tea without hesitation, he must have truly looked like a noble gentleman. Ariana, filled with questions, headed to the drawing room.