Chapter 48: Uninvited Guest

 “I really can’t believe it.”

 “I knew she was a bad person for a long time, but to think she tried to commit murder.”

 “Lady, are you alright?”

 The Hersher ducal residence was filled with people who came to comfort Aria.

 Everyone looked at her with pity and cursed Clea, wondering how anyone could do such a thing to the tender-hearted Aria.

 With a pitiful expression, Aria quietly spoke to the people who were trying hard for her sake.

 “I’m fine. She probably didn’t mean to do it.”

 “Lady, how could that be? We all watched that person bully you throughout our school days!”

 “That’s right. She’s not even worth your defense, lady. From what I hear, she was even expelled from her family? Now she’s not even a lady, just a worthless commoner.”

 Hearing their words, Aria laughed inwardly.

 Aria knew.

 She knew that if she just pretended to care for others with this appearance, other people would step forward and act on their own.

 Aria felt at ease watching people who moved on their own without her needing to dirty her hands.

 If things continued like this for a while longer, people would come to hate Clea just as they had during their days at the academy.

 If that happened, she naturally wouldn’t be able to become the crown princess.

 She almost laughed at the thought and turned her head.

 But Aria’s smile froze quickly.

 “Aria, are you okay?”

 “L-Lloyd, how did you get here?”

 “I pay my respects to the young grand duke.”

 When Lloyd appeared before her, Aria’s expression froze coldly.

 People were also surprised by Lloyd’s sudden appearance.

 After a moment, they began to bow one by one in greeting.

 In contrast, Aria couldn’t even bring herself to greet Lloyd.

 “You shouldn’t be here.”

 “Why shouldn’t I be here?”

 “Because you…”

 Aria was bewildered.

 She also felt anxious.

 When she declared they should never meet again and cut ties, Lloyd didn’t accept it.

 At that time, Aria tried to persuade Lloyd somehow, but Lloyd ultimately didn’t listen to her and returned in the carriage he came in.

 Nevertheless, Aria had felt relieved.

 Because she knew Lloyd was under house arrest.

 She had heard that the grand ducal couple were so angry about whatever trouble he had caused this time that they had confined him to a separate room.

 She thought they wouldn’t be able to meet for a while unless he somehow sneaked out.

 Yet here he was, appearing before her eyes. His presence left her dumbfounded.

 “It’s a gift, Aria. I bought it on the way because it reminded me of you.”

 Meanwhile, Lloyd smiled and handed her a bouquet.

 The bouquet he handed her was very beautiful and fragrant.

 The people watching expected Aria to be delighted to receive the bouquet.

 But no joyful reaction came from the frozen Aria.

 People’s reactions also began to grow puzzled.

 Since Lloyd hadn’t acknowledged their greetings, people still couldn’t raise their heads.

 The entire situation was a burden for Aria.

 She tried to suggest that he should acknowledge the greetings with a forced smile. But Lloyd’s words were faster.

 “I escaped from the mansion to see you, Aria.”

“Lloyd.”

 She almost said that this shouldn’t happen.

 Though she barely held back because of the listening ears, Aria still couldn’t change her wary expression.

 Not realizing that her expression was provoking Lloyd’s anger.

 Lloyd still looked at Aria with a welcoming expression.

 ‘Why did you come here, why on earth.’

 There were countless people present.

 If Lloyd said anything here that suggested there had been something between them, it could cause strange misunderstandings.

 She needed to avoid being romantically linked with Lloyd as much as possible.

 The situation had changed a lot from before. Now, if she became romantically involved with Lloyd, strange rumors would certainly circulate.

 The situation was already unfavorable. Aria extremely disliked the idea of creating a scandal before marrying Edmund.

 “Lloyd, come with me for a moment.”

 “If you have something to say, you can say it here, Aria.”

 “Follow me.”

 Aria grabbed Lloyd’s wrist and went outside.

 People knew they were friends, so they didn’t pay much attention.

 But somehow feeling an uncomfortable atmosphere, they watched with concerned looks as Aria and Lloyd left.

 ‘A lady and a young grand duke.’

 Considering their status, they were as well-matched as the crown prince and his lady.

 When they were at the academy, the two appeared to be close friends.

 But this place wasn’t the academy.

 The fact that both were still unmarried, and that one side always gave affectionate glances, couldn’t be ignored.

 * * *

 After coming outside while holding Lloyd’s wrist, Aria bit her lip.

 ‘Why didn’t you let me know you were coming.’

 If she had known Lloyd was coming, Aria wouldn’t have been so relaxed.

 She would have avoided meeting people, even if she had to make excuses about being sick.

 But thinking about it, there were too many people who had come to the mansion after hearing the rumors.

 It would have been impossible to distinguish Lloyd, who had deliberately hidden himself among the crowd.

 That’s how overwhelming the number of people who came to check on Aria was, more than the ducal family could handle.

 After confirming they had reached a place with few people, Aria turned to look at Lloyd.

 Meanwhile, Lloyd was smiling at Aria with a happy expression.

 “Why did you come?”

 “Why? I told you I came to see you.”

 “I told you not to meet me anymore.”

 Aria made a tearful expression.

 When she made this kind of face, Lloyd usually showed weakness.

 This time too, she hoped Lloyd’s heart would soften.

 “I never agreed to that.”

 “Lloyd!”

 But Lloyd’s lips didn’t drop at all.

 Rather, his mood was elevated seeing Aria’s tearful face.

 “Why are you doing this? I don’t want to meet you, so why do you keep coming!”

 Annoyed at being interrupted during the most crucial time, Aria raised her voice.

 She thought that if time passed like this, she could surely connect with Edmund.

 Lloyd, far from being disgusted by Aria’s behavior, moved even closer.

 “I heard you were sick.”

 “I’m not sick. So please go back right now.”

 “How can I believe that? And they say Clea did something terrible to you.”

 “That’s a thing of the past. You already knew about it.”

 A thing from the past.

 These words came from the same mouth that had dredged up something from the past that happened so many years ago.

 But the part Lloyd focused on was precisely the past.

 If she considered what happened with Clea as the past, he became anxious that she might similarly dismiss what happened between them as just a thing of the past.

 “Aria, what kind of relationship do we have?”

 Lloyd carefully asked her.

 He was asking what kind of relationship they had until now, and if she had ever looked at him as a man.

 Although he wasn’t fully healed from the heartache caused by her previous words, he still wanted to confirm.

 He wanted to know what their relationship, which had continued since the academy, really was.

 At Lloyd’s question, Aria still had a frowning expression.

 She answered without much thought after hearing the question.

 “Obviously we’re friends, why are you asking?”

 “Friends……”

 At the word ‘friends,’ Lloyd felt something sinking inside him.

 “You have a fiancée too.”

 “Why do you keep saying I have a fiancée? You know I broke off the engagement!”

Seeing Aria answer without a moment’s hesitation, Lloyd’s expression quickly hardened.  

Caught off guard by Lloyd’s sudden change in demeanor, Aria was momentarily flustered.

 He was hardening his expression just like that night.

 After confirming Lloyd’s expression, Aria tried to leave.

 Before, there had been iron bars between them, but now even those didn’t exist.

 Feeling fear toward Lloyd who stood before her, she thought.

 That she needed to get away from this place somehow.

 But Aria couldn’t escape.

 “Where are you trying to go?”

 “Lloyd, let go of me.”

 “You were the one who grabbed me first and led me here, Aria.”

 Lloyd was holding her wrist and wouldn’t let her go.

 Aria tried to break free from him, but the more she tried, the tighter Lloyd held on.

 The more she tried to push him away, the more unbelievable the situation became to Lloyd.

 He had clearly thought she would welcome him when he visited.

 But that wasn’t the case. She was trying to run away from him with a frightened expression.

 Lloyd held Aria so she couldn’t escape.

 Aria’s expression gradually distorted from the pain in her wrist, and she was eventually pushed against the wall.

 “Move! I said move!”

 Aria regretted making the wrong judgment.

 Thinking he would understand her intentions was a complete misconception.

 Other men couldn’t dare approach her when she drew a line, considering the difference in status.

 But Lloyd was different. He was from the grand ducal family, which ranked higher than Aria’s family.

 That’s why she hadn’t expected it. That Lloyd would act like this.

 There was no one around to help her.

 Pushed against the wall, Aria looked up at Lloyd and pushed him away as much as she could.

 Lloyd, not budging at all, looked down at Aria and confessed.

 Aria felt chills as she heard his confession.

 “The person I love is you, Aria.”

 Following his confession that paid no attention to others, Lloyd lowered his head toward her.

 “I’m sorry, but I don’t love you, Lloyd. So stop it.”

 But what came back was a clear rejection and Aria’s hand blocking his lips.