“All of House Casier’s wealth belongs to us.”
“What kind of nonsense is that...?”
Out of nowhere, Sadina and Mia stepped forward, taking turns spouting absurd logic as if they were completely justified.
“It’s not nonsense. It’s the truth.”
“Exactly. And why were you hiding this jewelry box? Were you trying to secretly steal the Casier family’s property?”
Aileen let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
The jewelry box had been filled with precious keepsakes by her mother before her death and entrusted to Aileen. It was something she would never trade for anything in the world.
“My mother gave this to me herself. It’s not something either of you can touch as you please.”
She had no desire to stoop to their level, but it seemed she finally needed to say it plainly.
The sheer audacity of stealing someone else’s belongings and then acting righteous about it was unbelievable.
“Father said that children can’t own anything until they become adults.”
That was their argument.
The sort of half-understood reasoning children repeated after overhearing adults.
“You practically owe our family for letting you stay here. We’re only allowing you to live in this house because we’re kind—”
“Then throw me out.”
Aileen’s cold voice cut through Sadina’s words.
“Go ahead. Throw me out right now. Let’s see how quickly the rumors spread. The entire city will be talking about how the once-respected House Casier has fallen. And if the story is that you expelled the Emperor’s granddaughter? I’m sure people would love discussing that.”
Sadina and Mia’s faces immediately turned pale.
Because it was true.
That was why they never truly crossed the line.
They were afraid of the rumors.
From the beginning, Aileen had never intended to remain in this house forever. Once she received her inheritance, she planned to leave.
But now, things had changed.
“If I wanted to, I could completely destroy your reputations. I could make sure neither of you ever finds the ‘perfect noble husband’ you dream about.”
Her voice remained calm.
“Remember this. The person who actually holds status in this household is me. I am Casier. Not you.”
Of course, there was some bluffing mixed into those words.
Deep down, Aileen had no intention of destroying the family’s reputation. She could never bring herself to tarnish the Casier name that had been passed down by her parents and grandmother.
“That’s all you’ve got? You’re only engaged to a duke’s son.”
“How long do you think that’ll last? Father said that eventually—”
Just as Mia was about to reveal something important, Aileen narrowed her eyes and waited for the rest—
“Sadina. Mia.”
At that moment, the Countess of Casier’s voice rang through the room.
One of the maids must have run off to report the commotion.
The countess entered the room with perfect composure, carrying herself like the very image of a refined noblewoman.
“It’s time to leave for the banquet.”
Her voice was so gentle that anyone hearing it for the first time might mistake her for a kind person.
“If you’re going to argue over something like this, I’ll simply take it and keep it myself. Wouldn’t that solve everything?”
“What...?”
Before Aileen could react, the woman’s plump hand—adorned with a gold ring set with a massive amber gemstone—snatched the jewelry box away.
The movement was so sudden that Aileen had no chance to stop her.
“That belongs to me.”
“It originally belonged to the Countess of Casier,” the woman replied smoothly. “Naturally, I should be the one safeguarding it. Look—there’s even the family crest engraved on it.”
“My mother gave it to me.”
“And yet the deceased always emphasized the importance of following family rules. You’ll receive your inheritance properly once you come of age.”
Aileen bit her lip but said nothing more.
The countess had already taken complete control of the situation.
“Now then, let’s go. A noble young lady shouldn’t behave so pitifully. Sadina, Mia, get ready. We have a banquet to attend.”
Once she saw that Aileen had stepped back, the countess neatly concluded the matter in her usual soft voice.
Then she left the room with her daughters.
Aileen remained standing there, staring blankly after them.
That was why I hid it so carefully...
How did they even get into my room and steal it?
“Miss...”
Mary, who had followed her out of Sadina’s room, looked as though she was struggling not to cry.
“It’s fine.”
Aileen quickly composed herself and brushed down her dress.
“Let’s go. We need to head to the duchy. My hair isn’t a mess, is it?”
“No, Miss. Just this side is a little out of place. I’ll fix it.”
Aileen had no desire to return to her room.
She couldn’t bear even the thought of seeing those people again.
So she headed straight outside.
While Mary adjusted her hair, the maid suddenly inhaled sharply and looked toward the entrance.
“Miss! I think the young master sent a carriage!”
“That can’t be...”
Their last meeting had ended awkwardly because of Diana’s appearance.
They had barely established any sort of relationship.
And now he had sent a carriage without even saying a word?
In the distance, a carriage pulled by massive black horses stood behind the Casier family carriage.
The stag crest of the Lowell Duchy was clearly visible on its side.
...No way.
Aileen walked toward it.
It was still early, but right now she wanted nothing more than to leave for the duchy as quickly as possible.
“Good afternoon, my lady.”
The coachman removed his hat and greeted her, barely concealing a smile.
“The young master asked me to deliver a message.”
“A message?”
“He said, ‘I’m sending the carriage because I’d rather not see the dress I gave you get ruined.’”
“Cedric actually said that?”
A short laugh escaped Aileen’s lips.
She wasn’t sure whether it was amusement or disbelief.
Honestly, Cedric really needed to work on the way he conveyed his thoughts.
Still...
The feeling of having been tossed aside and trampled somehow eased, if only a little.
“Let’s get in, Mary.”
With the coachman’s assistance, Aileen happily boarded the carriage.
She turned toward the window, intending to enjoy a moment of peace.
Then—
“You’re really going without even a pair of earrings...”
Mary sighed as she looked at Aileen’s bare ears and neck.
“It can’t be helped. At least the dress is beautiful.”
“That’s true. The young master has excellent taste. Just look at this lace...”
Perhaps because she was aware of what had happened earlier, Mary deliberately changed the subject and continued praising the dress.
Before long, they arrived at the Lowell ducal estate.
Unlike the chaotic atmosphere of her previous visit, the estate now appeared organized, elegant, and dignified.
“His taste isn’t as bad as I thought.”
Standing beneath the glow of the setting sun, Aileen stepped down from the carriage.
At first, she had thought the light-colored brickwork was excessively flashy.
But seeing it now, the choice suited the estate surprisingly well.
Soon she spotted Cedric approaching from the distance alongside Cassel.
But as soon as he came close enough for their faces to be clearly visible, he abruptly stopped walking.
Strange.
Aileen waited for a moment.
When he showed no sign of moving, she approached him instead.
Even then, his gaze never wavered.
He simply stared at her as though frozen in place.
“Hello, Cedric. Thanks to you, the trip was much more comfortable today.”
Only after she greeted him did Cedric finally begin moving again, slowly, like a machine creaking back to life.
“Were you planning to walk here again today?”
“I’m not quite that oblivious, Young Master Lowell.”
She answered lightly, but Cedric continued looking at her as though she were someone he had never seen before.
“…Is something wrong?”
Aileen tilted her head.
“If it’s because I’m not wearing any accessories today, just say so.”
Wondering whether she looked too plain, she gave herself a quick glance.
But the dress was flawless.
Not a single wrinkle.
Not a single sign of damage.