"Don't you trust her too much? She even offered to make an oath," he questioned.
"It's because she proposed to make one that makes a difference. If anyone else were to propose the same deal, you would think they were joking."
"Well, not many realize what an oath truly is, but it's not completely forgotten. If she came from the church, she would have known about an oath."
"Even the church is against doing such a thing. No one throws their life at an unknown case anymore, people should maintain their lives."
"So? Why would you trust someone like her?"
"You were there. You've interacted with her. You should also know. Besides, you were the one who agreed to the contract."
"Because it was your idea. It is because you were there that I didn't hesitate to make a decision. However, you trusted her when she asked of the ridiculous."
"Why didn't you say anything if you were against letting her decide what to tell us?"
"Again, because it was you. You know that I trust you right?"
She silently looked at him and pursed her lips.
"Well?" he once again asked.
"She looked… so confident yet can be naive. She reminded me of myself when I made my first deal. A part of it is pity, I will admit. But you also need to account for her background."
"Emberlynn Levin, correct? The Levin household recently rose to fame yet their eldest daughter is here."
"I did some research before proposing anything. Her siblings all have different colored hair but no one questioned it because it was the same color as her father."
"... Is she?"
"She is his illegitimate child. He gave the woman a lot of hush money and kept her due to their resembling features."
"Then his wife must have mistreated her, causing her to run away."
"Well, I think so at least. However, she has always acted as a high and mighty noble in public. Always demanding and feared by other noble ladies. Her temperament was said to not be the best yet she gained a high-status socializing. Considering her nature, do you think she would be suppressed at home?"
"The Levin household must be fed up with her reputation. In any case, it's concerning how optimistic she is now."
"Something must have changed if it causes such a shift in personality. Of course, if this was how she behaved behind the scenes, she must have been overwhelmed by her sibling and parents."
"That seems more plausible than the former."
"No matter how she was treated in the Levin household, she is here now and has changed."
"We must worry how she would act in public with the protection of my status right?"
"Well, more so how are you protecting her as. Like… a lover-"
"You are going to assign me a lover?
"That was only an example! But a cover like that…"
"Absolutely not."
"But if the story was something like: 'The cold grand duke is blinded by love', it could work."
He only glared at Arisanna in response.
"'Blinded by beauty'."
"You are still pushing for it?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Ari, I will not pose as her lover. Consider it an order."
"Then how are you going to be related? A benefactor?"
"We could spread a rumor of how she made a contract with me."
"But then people would have to guess what were the conditions. They would guess 'offering herself' as the proposal."
"Then we will influence it to the direction of the Levin household."
"Even though they are not involved? They are her prey. Why should we drag them in?"
"She wants them gone, it permits us to drag them in. We work toward the same goal except she takes care of the rest."
"So, you want to shove the work onto her?"
"We wouldn't need to take care of it that way."
Arisanna sighed at the man's cunningness.
"Please don't do the same when it comes to me."
"It's your job to aid me in every way you can."
He came closer to tuck her hair back.
"You can't run from your duties."
She proceeds to step on his shoes and glared at her superior.
"Employees can't be used as objects, my lord."
"Employees also can't disagree with their superior, my aide."
'It was going to be a long day," Arisanna silently thought to herself.
The work piled up and forced them to stop messing around.
***
Cecilia was shown to her room and was once again left alone with her thoughts to herself.
'It's going to come in a few days.'
The imperial family was going to be hosting a ball celebrating the day the emperor was crowned. It was a celebration of the imperial factions and how they continue to remain in power.
'The Grand Duke is forced to come to celebrate, meaning I could as well. I would need to talk about it before attending, which still remains a challenge.'
She was a bit shaken up with the Grand Duke. However, the existence of his aide scared her as she is more of an anomaly. Yesterday, she also met a knight who looked similar to the aide.
'I guess they are siblings.'
What bugged her was their existence despite not being mentioned in the novel.
'How does someone the Grand Duke trust so much not mentioned? Were they similar to me?'
She had so many questions that needed answers.
'No matter, I must prioritize the downfall of the Levin household. Revenge for 'Emberlynn' is still necessary.'
Since she integrated into this body, she has gone through what Emberlynn had to endure. The suffering and pain caused by them despite her best efforts moved Cecilia. She wanted to help this frail body. She wanted revenge for this pitiful girl. Thus, she swore to help her, the villainess of the story.
'Because a villainess could be misunderstood too.'
For the upcoming ball, it just so happened a certain household would also be attending.
'I must carefully plan my next steps. I can't afford to ruin this!'