IWRU 21

Chapter 21

Listening to the rattling sound of the carriage, Ariel recalled the final words that still refused to leave her mind.

It had already been three days since the Marquis family’s finances had been given some breathing room thanks to the Tower Master’s help.

To clear her father’s name, Ariel had been investigating the incident from every possible angle. In particular, she had been visiting nobles who had been close to her father, asking whether anything strange had happened around him at the time or whether anyone might have held a grudge against him.

But most nobles would not even meet her. The few who did only said that they knew nothing and were sorry they could not help.

And every one of them mentioned the Grand Duke at least once.

After all, the most powerful person connected to her was still Kailance Seyard, the Grand Duke. Some even subtly tried to find out whether their relationship had truly ended.

It was only natural.

At first, everyone’s attention had been focused on the broken engagement and the downfall of Marquis Blante. But now people were curious. They wanted to know whether the story between the two—something worthy of a bard’s love song—had really come to an end like this.

And Ariel drew a clear line every time.

She told them that things were truly over with His Grace the Grand Duke. That she would never be involved with him again.

Of course, because she made that so clear, the nobles withdrew even further from helping her.

No matter how unwilling His Majesty was to completely destroy the Marquis family, it was obvious that the family’s revival would be extremely difficult.

Still, she could not lie and pretend there was something left between her and Kailance.

She genuinely wanted nothing more to do with him.

“Tell the Grand Duke this. He should stop taking interest in the Blante family. I don’t need his help.”

She had already delivered those words herself.

Yet despite her wishes, Kailance Seyard refused to disappear from her life.

Wherever she went, people saw her not as Lady Blante, but as the Grand Duke of Seyard’s former fiancée.

The unfortunate fiancée abandoned by the Grand Duke.

It was a label that seemed destined to follow her forever.

“Seriously, what a stubborn connection… no, a cursed one.”

Ariel swallowed a heavy sigh.

She straightened her head from where it had been resting against the wall and sat upright.

She needed to pull herself together.

Although she had achieved absolutely nothing over the past three days, she could not allow herself to collapse.

Furthermore, just as she had expected, the Emperor seemed unable to bring himself to destroy the Marquis family completely. He had put everything on hold. The investigation itself had even been halted the day before yesterday.

Therefore, while the Emperor was still deciding the severity of the family’s punishment, she had to find even the smallest piece of evidence or witness that could clear her father’s name.

For now, it seemed impossible to get any information or help from the nobles, so she needed to change directions.

According to the butler, her father had not been on bad terms with any noble before the treason incident occurred.

Nor had he behaved suspiciously.

He had never brought suspicious strangers into the Marquis estate or done anything unusual.

Then…

That meant her father had been accused as the mastermind behind the rebellion without any warning at all.

Ariel frowned.

The more she thought about it, the more difficult uncovering the truth seemed.

And unfortunately, when the incident happened, she had been staying at the Grand Duke’s estate, so she knew even less about what had occurred.

Where had everything gone wrong?

She could not even begin to untangle the hopeless knot before her.

Then, suddenly, she remembered words someone had told her long ago.

“As you live, there will be times when sorrow beyond your ability to bear falls upon you without warning. But Ariel, nothing in this world lasts forever. Even sorrow eventually comes to an end.”

“Sniff… really?”

“Yes. If one day, when you’re older, an unexpected hardship comes your way, come find me. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure your suffering doesn’t last too long.”

It was her mother’s friend.

The woman who had comforted her at her mother’s funeral.

That woman was now serving as the principal of the Empire’s academy, Remblue Academy.

Remblue Academy was a place that not only nobles but even members of the imperial family were required to attend. Founded by the First Emperor himself, the academy’s principal held tremendous influence.

That person…

Perhaps she could help.

She had extensive connections and was acquainted with the Emperor as well.

For the first time in three days, life returned to Ariel’s eyes.

But only for a moment.

She hesitated.

“It’s been too long…”

Since she had last seen that woman.

No, the funeral had been both their first and last meeting.

The woman had said she would help if Ariel ever faced difficulties, but was that promise still valid?

Perhaps she had only said it because she pitied a child who had just lost her mother.

Ariel could not be certain.

“Still… she’s my best option right now.”

She murmured quietly and let out a deep breath.

Even if the woman refused to meet her, she had to knock on the door first.

This was not the time to fear rejection.

I’ll go to the academy tomorrow.

Ariel made her decision.

And for some reason, she had a good feeling about it.

The gaze the principal of Remblue Academy had given her at the funeral that day had not wavered even slightly.

Because of that, Ariel had truly stopped crying.

It was a memory she had long forgotten, but now that it resurfaced, it was surprisingly vivid.

With her mood slightly improved, Ariel slid open the tightly shut carriage window.

She gazed outside at the lively streets, letting her mind relax for a moment.

Then her eyes fixed on a large shop growing closer.

It was Fouranchel Bakery, the most famous bakery in the capital.

Ariel visited it often.

The bakery’s strawberry tart was absolutely heavenly.

She used to eat it at least once a week.

But after her father’s incident, she had not eaten it even once.

She had neither been in the mood for dessert nor in a situation where she could enjoy one.

Yet perhaps because something had finally given her hope today, she suddenly found herself craving that tart.

Something sweet would give her strength.

Opening the small window that connected to the driver’s seat, Ariel spoke.

“Stop the carriage at the bakery.”

After getting out, she walked toward the bakery.

As expected of the capital’s most famous dessert bakery, expensive carriages belonging to nobles filled the area.

The bakery had been created with nobles as its target customers from the beginning.

The extravagant desserts were far too expensive for commoners.

“Welcome.”

As she entered, the manager bowed respectfully.

Ariel immediately pointed at the strawberry tart displayed in the showcase.

“Please wrap one strawberry tart for me.”

The manager lifted his head and looked troubled.

“Ah, my apologies, my lady. That strawberry tart has already been reserved by another customer.”

The faint smile on Ariel’s face disappeared.

It had been a long time since she had felt cheerful enough to want dessert.

Still, if someone had already reserved it, there was nothing she could do.

Suppressing her disappointment, she said,

“Then I’ll place a reservation for tomorrow’s. Please deliver a strawberry tart to the Marquis estate sometime tomorrow morning.”

However, the manager did not respond.

Feeling something was strange, Ariel looked up.

The troubled expression on his face remained.

What?

A strange atmosphere filled the air.

Just as her eyebrow twitched upward, the manager spoke awkwardly.

“My lady, I deeply apologize, but currently… all strawberry tarts are fully booked for the next month.”

“The next month is fully booked? What do you mean by that?”

“As you know, my lady… our bakery only produces a limited quantity of high-quality desserts. Therefore… we prioritize reservations from a select group of customers.”

Ariel’s expression hardened.

The manager was indirectly telling her that the status of the Blante family was no longer what it once had been.

Of course, it was true that the family was in trouble.

But to humiliate them so openly in a public place…

Ariel could feel the gazes directed toward her.

She could even hear laughter from those who seemed to enjoy watching her embarrassment.

The mood she had only just recovered completely sank again.

To think that even buying a single dessert had become difficult.

She had abandoned her pride long ago, but she never imagined she would have to give up even small things like this.

And the expectant stares around her suddenly exhausted her.

They were probably hoping she would lash out at the manager.

That she would demand to know how he dared disrespect the Blante family.

But Ariel had no intention of satisfying their expectations.

After all, the manager was merely an employee carrying out orders from above.

What saddened her was the realization that no matter how hard she tried, she was becoming more isolated with every passing day.

I suppose I can’t come here anymore either.

“I understand. Then I’ll make a reservation… another time.”

Ariel spoke as calmly as possible.

Just as she turned to leave—

A hurried voice suddenly called out to her.