Ariel blinked slowly, still processing the sight before her.

“Teleportation…” 

Seeing someone disappear right before your eyes was not something you could get used to, no matter how many times it happened.

But after a brief moment of disbelief, she quickly snapped back to the present.

She couldn’t afford to lose herself in thoughts of the Tower Master’s magic; there were more pressing matters to focus on.

Lowell was waiting.

Lowell, Kylance’s trusted assistant and right-hand man, had arrived with Sir Deryl, the Captain of the Knights, who had also delivered the annulment agreement.

The fact that someone of his stature had come in person meant that this wasn’t just a casual message.

But then again, was there really anything of importance for him to discuss between her and Kylance? 

Ariel was filled with a mixture of grief and fear, her mind clouded with doubt. Every recent encounter with him had only added to the pain.

The annulment letter sent on the day of her father’s funeral. His public affection for Cier, openly kissing her hand. And the cold, indifferent look he had given her, completely ignoring her.

It was all so fresh in her mind.

What more could he want? What new shock would he inflict?

The wounds he’d inflicted hadn’t even begun to heal, and now the thought of reopening them filled her with dread.

For now, she wanted to avoid anything to do with Kylance…

As Ariel hesitated, unable to bring herself to summon Lowell, the butler spoke softly.

“…My Lady, shall I bring in the Duke’s assistant? It wouldn’t be right to keep him waiting.”

The butler was right.

Although Lowell had come unannounced, he was a representative of the Duke and keeping him waiting was not an option. 

Keeping him waiting could be seen as disrespecting the Duke’s family.

She was no longer Kylance’s fiancée and therefore had no power to make such decisions.

Ariel sighed deeply as she watched the butler wait for her answer. Despite her reluctance, there were things she couldn’t avoid.

She turned to the butler, her lips barely parting as she spoke.

“Please attend to the guest.”

“Yes, my lady.”

* * *

As Lowell entered the drawing room he bowed slightly to Ariel who was sitting on the sofa.

“Lady Blante.”

“It’s been a while, Lowell.” 

“Yes, it’s been a while. I hope you’ve been well…” 

Lowell hesitated in mid-sentence. 

He was well aware of the dire state of the Marquis of Blante’s estate, so asking if she had been well seemed almost inappropriate. 

What made it worse was that his master had played a significant role in creating this dire situation. 

It was almost as if he was mocking her.

Lowell looked down, embarrassed, but the words had already slipped out.

With an apologetic look he bowed his head. 

Ariel, sensing his discomfort, smiled faintly. 

While her bitterness towards Kylance was undeniable, she had no ill feelings towards Lowell or Deryl. 

And as far as she knew, Lowell was not the type to mock others. 

“Please, lift your head.”

Ariel said gently, giving him a reassuring smile.

“Come, sit over here, Lowell.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Lowell took a seat across from her.

A fresh pot of fragrant fruit tea was placed in front of him and the sweet scent of the tea filled the room.

Ariel reached for her cup and took a sip. Although she kept her composure, she was just as tense as Lowell, whose expression remained rigid.

Moistening her dry lips, she set the cup down and, seeing Lowell still as stiff as a stone, spoke first.

“From the look on your face, this doesn’t seem like a time for casual conversation over tea.”

“…”

“Lowell, what is it that Kylance wants me to hear?”

Ariel asked directly and Lowell’s gaze shifted slightly.

It seemed difficult for him to speak as he sighed heavily before placing the envelope on the table in front of her.

“His Grace the Duke has asked me to deliver this to you, my lady.”

When Ariel saw the Duke’s seal on the envelope, her heart raced.

It was a fear triggered by a sense of déjà vu.

The annulment agreement Sir Deryl had brought had been in a similar envelope.

“What is this…?”

“…Please open it, my lady.”

Lowell replied, pushing the envelope towards her without further explanation.

Ariel hesitated before reaching out to open it. As she started to remove the contents, her hand stopped.

“This is…”

Inside the envelope was a cheque.

Ariel’s expression hardened. This was completely unexpected.

The cheque had the seal of the Duke of Seyerd on it, and the amount written on it was one million krangs.

“This is the settlement that His Grace the Duke has instructed me to deliver to you, my lady… the settlement payment.”

At Lowell’s cautious words, Ariel let out a bitter laugh, unable to hold it back.

“A settlement payment, huh… How interesting that the agreement clearly stated that the Duke’s household was to receive nothing, but now he’s sent the exact amount to cover the Marquis’ largest debt.”

Her voice was thick with sarcasm.

There was no way the amount was a coincidence. Kylance had clearly done her research on the Marquis’ estate.

Unable to deny it, Lowell looked away from her and replied slowly and hesitantly.

“…His Grace the Duke is trying to help the Marquis of Blante, my lady.”

“The Duke is helping the Marquis?… Lowell, I’m sorry, but this just doesn’t make sense. The person who abandoned me when the Marquis’ estate was at its worst was His Grace. And now he’s offering this money?”

Ariel didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but she couldn’t hide the twisted emotions inside her.

It was only yesterday that he had completely ignored her. He had been a bystander, indifferent to her suffering.

So what had changed to make him suddenly offer financial help to the estate.

For a moment she remembered something Cier had said.

‘There’s a charity event coming up, and I’m donating the proceeds to the Marquis’ estate

“Ah, is this perhaps a charitable donation from the Bayern heiress?”

Ariel asked, her voice cool and cutting.

“What? The Bayern heiress? No, this has nothing to do with her. This is money that His Grace the Duke has sent specifically for you, my lady.”

Lowell shook his head in surprise, and there was no sign of deception in his face.

Ariel knew she had let her suspicions get out of hand.

But she couldn’t help it. It was Kylance who had made her think that way.

The image of him kissing Cier’s hand still lingered in her mind, tormenting her.

“My Lady… I think His Grace really wanted to help you…”

“So this is the charity of the Duke who really cares for me?”

At Lowell’s implausible explanation, Ariel let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

She looked down at the cheque with cold eyes. 

You really know how to get me down.

“……”

“Lowell, I’m not stupid. This money was sent after His Grace the Duke made a thorough investigation into the financial situation of the Marquis of Blante. How does that show he cares about me?”

If Kylance really wanted to help her, he wouldn’t have sent money like that. No, he couldn’t have.

It was an insult to her and to the Marquis of Blante.

He knew full well that she would find out about his investigation. Yet he sent the exact amount, as if he dared her to notice.

He didn’t care if she found out. He knew that even if she did, there was nothing she could do about it.

The financial situation of the Marquis’ estate was so desperate that refusing the money wasn’t even an option.

Just as when she had signed the annulment agreement to secure the Emperor’s decree, it was either take the money or face ruin.

He left her no choice. So how could she believe it was done for her benefit?

Ariel couldn’t hold back her rising anger, her hands clenching into tight fists.

“I’m in no position to refuse, so I’ll accept it quietly. Nothing has changed since the day you handed me the annulment papers at my father’s funeral. Tell His Grace the Duke that I’ve received his insult once again.”

Ariel placed the envelope on the table with a forceful motion, almost as if throwing it. Lowell flinched and bowed his head deeply.

“I seem to have made a mistake in my words. I apologise.”

Ariel exhaled slowly, her frustration subsiding.

She realised there was no point in directing her anger at Lowell.

He wasn’t the one behind this. He was simply carrying out Kylance’s orders.

With a calm expression, Ariel looked at Lowell, her gaze now firm and determined.