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Chapter 04
04. Still No One Knows (2)
“Y–You…!”
Just one word, yet its effect was perfect.
Terence’s face flushed bright red as he clenched his fist, struggling to contain his anger, while Owen narrowed his eyes sharply, grinding his teeth.
Watching them, Ariana almost laughed out loud.
Still… I should hold back.
This was the limit of what was currently permitted to her.
Later—once she held greater power—she would repay every humiliation she had endured.
For now, she had to stop here.
Otherwise, Terence might swing that fist at her at any moment.
Ariana gave a light curtsy once more toward her two brothers, whose eyes burned with different intensities, then opened the study door without permission.
That too—was something only Ariana could do.
“Father.”
Behind her, she heard the door close.
Ariana smiled more brightly than ever.
From this moment on, she must never let go of that smile.
Now was the perfect time to use that face and that smile as weapons—while the queen was secluded in the deepest part of the palace under the excuse of illness, showing not a single strand of hair.
Knowing that her face, so similar to her mother’s, was especially effective against the king, Ariana approached him and casually dropped herself beside his chair.
Less like a daughter about to come of age… and more like a careless child.
The king, however, seemed delighted by it.
“Ari, you’re late.”
“I ran into my brothers and exchanged greetings. You’re not angry, are you?”
Resting her cheek on her folded hands atop the armrest, Ariana looked up at him with softened eyes.
Pleased by her defenseless expression, the king gently stroked her head.
“How could I ever be angry at you?”
“I’m relieved. I was so worried you might scold me, Father.”
“Then I suppose I must punish those who stole my precious daughter’s time.”
In the past, hearing such words from the king had once made her feel comforted—like some of the humiliation she received from her siblings was being repaid.
But now, having returned from a much longer life, Ariana understood.
It was nothing more than soothing a pet that had sulked.
In truth, the king had never once reprimanded any prince or princess for such matters.
The reason she had once felt comforted by those words was simple: she believed he was the only one in the palace who truly cared for her.
“Father.”
“Hmm? It seems my Ari has another request.”
Keeping her smile carefully in place, Ariana spoke in a voice full of practiced affection.
“I want to go outside.”
“Outside?”
“There’s somewhere I really want to visit.”
“Ari, the world outside the palace is dangerous for you.”
“But I really want to go. Please? Sister Olina has already been out several times and keeps bragging about it.”
“Olina did?”
At the mention of his first daughter, the king frowned.
The first princess—Olina, born as a twin with the second prince Owen—was not particularly favored.
Her careless behavior had earned her many reprimands, yet she still hadn’t learned restraint, even bragging in front of Ariana when she shouldn’t have.
If that “bad influence” touched his most precious flower of Molbian…
The king’s brow furrowed deeply.
Seeing this, Ariana continued innocently, as if unaware of anything.
“I’ll be an adult soon anyway. Just once, please? My brothers and sister have all gone out before, but I never have.”
“Ari.”
“Please, Father.”
She lightly tugged at his embroidered sleeve, swaying it side to side.
The king’s lips curved upward—but he still did not immediately agree.
Ariana knew it was not only concern holding him back, so she pushed further, her voice sweet and pleading.
“There’s nothing dangerous in Molbian, right, Father?”
“Ari.”
“You’ll protect me, won’t you?”
That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?
How about it? Are you satisfied, Your Majesty?
As if pleased by his beloved youngest daughter’s praise, the king suddenly laughed.
Seeing his daughter—so like his wife in appearance, yet so unlike her in behavior—adoring him so openly clearly pleased him greatly.
“Very well. In my Molbian, nothing can possibly harm you.”
Everything in Molbian belonged to the king.
At least, that was what he believed.
Yet you can do nothing before the Empire.
Suppressing a cold smile, Ariana clung to his neck as though delighted.
Her stomach churned with disgust, but she had endured far worse in the slums.
Compared to that, this was tolerable.
“Then it’s settled? I’m so happy!”
Still holding onto the chair, she looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
“Still, since you’ll worry, I’ll go out secretly and come back.”
“Secretly?”
“Yes. Without anyone knowing.”
That, too, pleased him.
As expected, the king nodded, lifting the corners of his mouth subtly.
“I will have your escorts follow you in secret as well. Then no one will notice.”
“Thank you!”
Ariana kissed the back of his hand in gratitude, then sprang up as though preparing immediately and left the study.
Coming and going… she moved without ever truly asking permission.
Yet no one questioned her.
Leaving behind the king’s pleased laughter, she returned to her room and immediately wiped her lips harshly—the ones that had touched his hand.
“Your Highness, the invitation—”
“Name.”
“…Pardon?”
“From now on, call me by my name.”
“…Ah. Yes, understood.”
Maia bowed her head after dismissing the maids.
She was already used to the youngest princess’s whims.
It wasn’t a matter of replacing all palace maids or acquiring some extravagant dress designer on the spot—just changing how she was addressed.
It was simple.
Meanwhile, Ariana silently regretted her earlier sharp tone toward Maia.
She had lashed out because she was frustrated—having nothing yet, she had to act like a child in front of the king, and that irritation had spilled over.
If it had been Rosa, it wouldn’t have mattered.
But Maia was someone she intended to fully use this time.
Everything must be different now. I need to be careful.
Of course, for now, she only intended to show this changed self in front of a few people she trusted.
“What were you going to say?”
“I obtained the invitation.”
“I thought it would take longer… that was fast.”
“I was lucky.”
The invitation—carefully distributed, one per cycle, to make each guest even more “special.”
It was not something money or status alone could easily secure, so Maia’s ability to obtain it in half a day was impressive.
“When is the earliest event?”
“Tonight.”
“Perfect timing.”
Ariana’s eyes sharpened.
The ticket to an illegal fighting arena known as the “Dog Arena.”
In her previous life, the first princess had obtained a “mad hunting hound” from there first.
And now—
Ariana was about to move to take it from her.
