Chapter 3.2
Making sure that the chest of drawers was properly locked, Ariel opened the door and called for her maid.
“Can someone help me?”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
As she glanced to the right of her hallway at the sound of the voice, a maid was already standing readily.
She was a maid with brown hair, neatly dressed and standing in a slightly stern posture. She was the one who had been explaining to the unanswering lady about the daily cooking and covering the food with a cloche so that it wouldn’t get cold.
“Canon.”
“Yes.”
“Were you waiting all along?”
“Today is the day the prince is coming, so we have to prepare well because the Countess gave us a notice in advance.”
“I see.”
“Yes. I will help the Young Lady put on the dress first.”
As if she had been waiting, Canon took Ariel and headed for the dressing room. The dressing room was originally a place that was rarely used since The Ariel, in the past, would lock herself in her room all day and dress only in a nightgown.
But today, the space that was only meant to establish prestige as the County’s Princess finally showed its usefulness.
At the same time as they entered, Ariel went straight into preparations. In the room, a dark green dress that seemed to have been selected in advance was hung neatly. She gazed admiringly at the quality of the fabric.
‘It looks expensive… Am I wearing that?’
It seemed that it didn’t sink into her yet that she had to dress up nicely and face the prince.
Meanwhile, Canon skillfully prepared the outfit. She put Ariel’s hair up in a ponytail and applied makeup on her face in order. Within the next three hours, she had to dress up and be ready to welcome the imperial family.
Fortunately, there was no doubt about Canon’s ability. She finished in an hour what would normally take her hours to dress up, so much so that even the Countess admired her competence.
Ariel, who looked into the mirror, flashed a faint smile that she usually wouldn’t show. Seeing her dense facial features come to life, she expressed her gratitude to Canon with the corners of her mouth slightly raised.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for Canon, I wouldn’t have been able to act like a human being.”
She uttered her words softly to the maid, who was in charge of her, and smiled with her eyes.
Beneath her long eyelashes, the graphite eyes slightly curled and cast down. The ripple effect of her appearance made Canon momentarily forget what she was saying. She glanced at her master and exclaimed inwardly.
‘Where else can I see such a beautiful person?’
Even when she was too quiet and seemed empty, Ariel’s appearance was mesmerizing. When she talked and laughed, there was nothing to be disappointed about.
Her sleek black hair resembled the finest silk, harmonized with her skin as white and illuminated like a snowflake. In addition, her lips, which occasionally sigh lightly, were pale red. Even the sparsely exposed teeth were small and neat, with no sharp corners.
The way she stood in front of the mirror and checked her appearance was as innocent as seeing a fairy marveling at her appearance.
Ariel looked at her reflection in the mirror and took a small deep breath as she put her hands together and clasped her fingers together tightly. Even her simple movements seemed delicate and graceful. It felt miserable because it was so captivating.
“No… the Young Lady would’ve still shined even if it wasn’t for me.”
Canon lowered her head, correcting her thoughts that had become so hazy that she forgot her answer for a moment.
When she peered into the mirror, Ariel felt the same way as her. After the elaborate makeover, Ariel Huckley’s appearance was admirable.
‘It would be nice if this worked well, and I could make a good impression on the prince…’
Thinking so, she peeked out the window with a slightly distraught look. The overcast sky was gradually darkening.
The Prince arrived an hour later than the appointed time.
The rain fell one after another from the darkened sky, and the mansion was as quiet as a mouse. All the main figures of the mansion, including the Countess, stood in front of the main gate and waited for the visit of the imperial family.
Ariel stared impatiently at the wide-open iron gate.
As she caught a black car approaching the mansion from afar, tension ran through her fingertips. The rain-soaked, classic car stopped right in front of the mansion’s entrance, creating an eerie atmosphere. At the end of the jet-black bonnet was a golden eagle symbolizing the imperial family of Lévretin.
The expression of the servants clearly froze at the intuitive sign indicating that the royal family was riding.
The aide who got out of the car first opened an umbrella. Then, cautiously, he opened the door to the rear door, and blonde hair was exposed through the open car door. The hair that glistened white stood out even in the gloomy atmosphere.
The golden hair, a symbol of the royal family, was filled with tension. All the attention in the mansion was gathered in one place.
However, the Prince didn’t get out of the car right away. He stuck one arm out of his car first and shook it annoyingly. Seeing as there were raindrops on his sleeves, it seemed that his mood was quite dirty because of it.
“Hold it correctly.”
As he ordered ferociously, the aide straightened the umbrella and hurriedly corrected his posture.
The owner of the blonde-hair then ducked under the umbrella. Straightening his back, he gazed straight ahead at him. A fresh blue gaze cast in front of the mansion and scanned the welcome guests with a sharp look.
Except for the Countess, who was expressionless all the time, not only regular servants but also the veteran head butler and head maid were very nervous.
Ariel, of course, was the same.
Her throat tightened from the excessive tension, and it felt like she was about to cough with her head facing the floor, showing respect for the imperial family. Because of that, she couldn’t even see the face of the person who must be the Prince, and her eyes only caught the hem of the beige coat he was wearing.
‘…Is this person really one of the targets?’
Only the same thoughts went round and round in her head as her mouth became dry and she gulped her saliva.
“Did the Countess have children?”
A nonchalant voice broke through the rain and entered Ariel’s ears.
“Yes. She’s been inside the house so much that only a few people know about my daughter.”
“I see.”
The first conversation between the two ended abruptly.
Right after that, Ariel felt intense stares pouring down on her. Anxiety raced through her body, ready to prick like needles.
“You’re not even a servant, why don’t you raise your face?”
A stern voice pierced like a command.
Hesitated for a moment, she eventually raised her head slowly to look at him—from the hem of the smooth, wrinkle-free coat to the chest of the vest, gradually. There was a refreshing scent that erased the wetness of the falling rain. As he approached, his scent grew thicker.
The raised gaze stopped at the white neck visible through the stiff collar of the shirt.
“She’s much smaller than the Countess.”
The voice, which had been mixed with the sound of rain until just now, was clearly audible, this time just above the top of her head.
Ariel reflexively raised her head.
Looking up at him, her eyes met cold-colored pupils as if sharpened with knives. It seemed that he had climbed the steps to the front door before she knew it, and he was now standing about two steps away from her, staring down at her.
Ariel could feel her whole body freeze at the sight of the probing eyes.
As if frightened, her field of vision narrowed to one spot, and then slowly, she recognized him as if paint was spreading in water. His sharp eyes, straight eyebrows, straight nose, expressionless lips, sharp jawline, and finely-determined blonde hair stand out exceptionally under a black umbrella.
You could say it was ecstatic.
He seemed to be a being who showed the nobility of the imperial family entirely through his appearance. Even Ariel, who had a weak perception and appreciation of human appearance, ended up staring at him in silence.
…He was the perfect target no matter who saw him.
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