Clea finally got out of her sickbed.

People wanted her to rest more, but Clea now wanted to move her body.

As rumors about her had just begun to spread, making it difficult to go outside, Clea pondered what she could do.

‘It’s too troublesome to go see Aria’s maid again.’

The maid remained imprisoned in the dungeon.

It happened at a noble family’s mansion, and everyone present pointed to her.

Moreover, since she confessed that she had indeed committed the crime, there was no need to determine guilt or innocence.

Normally, she would have already been executed as an attempted murderer.

‘She must be trembling with anxiety as time passes.’

Alone and isolated with no news coming in, she must be feeling extreme fear.

In this situation where the Hersher family, including Aria, couldn’t take any action, no one would step up to support the maid.

As time passed, Clea’s position became more solidified.

The one who would become the consort recognized by the Crown Prince.

Even the current Emperor Odin was a lover of the century who married despite everyone’s opposition.

With such a precedent, what couldn’t Admund do?

Moreover, now all the royal family members liked her.

Although she might not be a noble like them by birth, she was the future Crown Princess with a guaranteed future.

No one wanted to antagonize the royal family over a mere maid.

“Still, I didn’t expect you to say you’d write wedding invitations.”

Clea raised the corners of her mouth at Rupia’s words beside her.

As Rupia said, Clea was now sitting at a desk writing wedding invitations.

“If I didn’t say that, they would have told me not to do anything.”

In fact, it was because she said she would write the invitations that persuasion was possible.

Even Admund, who had been the most strongly opposed, showed a flustered expression, blushing and stammering.

Wedding invitations.

‘I never thought there would be a day in my life when I would write something like this.’

She never imagined she would end up writing wedding invitations.

Clea examined the pattern still remaining on the back of her hand.

Until just recently, she had been waiting for death, having given up on everything.

That’s why she had never thought about marriage.

‘Everything changed after meeting you.’

The complete transformation of her life was entirely due to one person.

Before meeting him, her days were a succession of pain.

Her emotions were dried up, and her expression was unchanging, as if she had become a doll.

Everything changed after meeting Admund.

Being by his side, she felt a warmth she had never experienced before.

As if that warmth melted her frozen heart, happiness bloomed as she sometimes smiled and sometimes shed tears.

She gradually began to feel emotions she thought she would never experience, all because of him.

Before she knew it, their wedding day was fast approaching.

Clea hoped that Admund felt the same way.

That he was very happy they could meet, and that their meeting could lead to marriage.

“Do you know how many families have sent me letters?”

“Roughly all the families in the capital, except for a very few.”

“What about the Hersher family?”

“They expressed even more regret in their message, and when stating their position, they said it was unfortunate things turned out this way.”

“Well. Even though Aria has just escaped a crisis, she’s not safe yet, so it’s better to make things certain.”

The knife that had been aimed at Aria’s neck had not yet been completely withdrawn. It had just moved a little farther away.

Clea was also regularly receiving rumors from within the capital through Rupia.

People who heard the rumors were generally perplexed, she said.

No matter how high and mighty the Hersher Ducal family was, this incident had plenty of potential to become a problem for the family itself.

She was more than just an ordinary maid; she was born into one of the Hersher family’s vassal houses, and moreover, she was Aria Hersher’s personal maid.

Even if she claimed she committed the crime impulsively on her own, everyone’s gaze turned towards Duke Hersher.

“Other families don’t look good either. Until the confession, they all stood on Lady Hersher’s side and criticized you.”

“What can we do? We can’t turn all the nobles in the capital into enemies.”

Those who once stood on Aria’s side and gleefully disparaged Clea were now changing their stance as if they had never done such a thing.

Those who had tried to curry favor with Aria were now sending letters expressing deep regret for past actions and seeking to establish relations.

Clea did not reject them. Rather, she let them approach.

She had no desire to seek bloody revenge against them, nor did she want to turn Admund into a cruel tyrant.

‘He seems like the type who would really do it if I asked.’

Or he might retaliate against those who tried to hurt her first.

But Clea didn’t want him to become a tyrant because of her.

As much as she felt her own emotions, Clea wanted Admund to be happy too.

“Our family will be loyal to Lady Clea.”

“I can trust and rely on the Philip family too.”

Seeing Rupia, Clea recalled something that happened in the past.

The cold, contemptuous gaze Oberon had given her after she spent the night with Admund.

In a way, Clea fully trusted them because they were very loyal to the one they served.

“By the way, are you planning to send wedding invitations to the Hersher and Odoi families as well?”

“Don’t you think it’s better to send them? At least I’ll definitely send one to the Hersher Ducal family.”

From their perspective, it was a problem whether they received one or not.

“And I’m not planning to invite people who support them.”

They would have to quietly keep their seats in a completely uncomfortable situation, enduring people’s sharp glances.

If they didn’t keep their seats, they would be suspected of having other intentions.

And as a bonus, it would show one person what reality is like.

“Actually, it’s not good for them to come to a sacred place that should only have blessings.”

A grand wedding ceremony that should only have congratulations and blessings.

Rupia expressed concern about the appearance of figures who would muddy the waters at such an occasion.

But Clea didn’t mind.

She thought it would be enjoyable in its own way to look down on them writhing in agony there.

“So, has Aria participated in any social activities recently?”

Clea asked after finishing the work on the invitation for the Hersher family.

She wondered if Aria had continued her activities outside since rumors began to circulate.

And the answer to that was calm.

“I heard she’s been banned from going out by Duke Hersher.”

* * *

“What on earth is going on here!”

The Duke thundered at Aria.

The Duke was already racking his brains over matters related to the royal family.

While he was busy trying to improve relations and rectify previous issues as much as possible, suddenly strange news arrived.

When he first heard the news, the Duke sighed, thinking they were now making up even nonsensical things.

After all, who could believe at once that a maid of the ducal family had stabbed Clea with a weapon at the Odoi family mansion?

So he thought it was a rumor that would naturally die down if left alone.

But the rumor didn’t subside.

The story completely changed when Oberon personally visited the Hersher mansion.

“Explain why you were there that day, and why your maid is now in the royal dungeon!”

Having realized too late, it was almost impossible to take any measures.

They tried their best, but all they could do was wait.

The Duke, who had lost his reason, came to Aria’s room and asked.

“Father, I don’t know anything about this.”

Aria was also frightened by the current situation.

She never thought things would turn out like this.

She had only intended to quietly cover up the matter by sacrificing her maid.

“Don’t think about making excuses. The coachman who drove your carriage that day said he went to the Odoi Duke’s mansion.”

At the Duke’s words, Aria gritted her teeth.

At the same time, she was trying to recall in her mind who the coachman was that day.

The Duke continued to press Aria, and Aria kept denying it, saying it wasn’t her.

She was also afraid of being found out that she had almost committed murder.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the Duke raised his hand.

“Darling! What are you doing!”

The Duchess appeared and tried to stop the Duke, but Aria’s cheek had already turned red.

“It’s my fault for spoiling you. I ruined you.”

“What are you doing now! How could you do this to our precious Aria.”

“…”

Aria didn’t answer.

After that, the Duke’s gaze turned to the Duchess.

“You’re just like me. Can you say that behavior is for Aria’s sake? No. Look at what happened because you gave all your dowry to that thing!”

The Duke, still not having vented his anger, glared at Aria once more.

“Don’t even dream of going out for a while!”

With those final words, the Duke left the room, and the Duchess cried while looking at Aria.

Aria bit her lip and raged.

‘This is all because of you. It’s all because of you!’