The Useless Duchess' Second Chance

A Big Conspiracy

When Ariana was about to return to the crown prince's palace to meet her grandfather, the girl happened to see the king coming with his servants and royal knights. Seeing the king, Ariana hesitantly stopped her movement. Just dealing with the queen and crown prince was exhausting enough for her. Ariana was afraid that she would only create an awkward situation, if she met King Alexius without being accompanied by her grandfather.

Her intention was, Ariana would pretend she wasn't there until King Alexius walked into the room. The girl slipped between the palace trees. James also pulled to do the same. The two of them hid, with James staring at Ariana in confusion, until the sound of footsteps came closer and closer to them.

“Glad to see you're well, Ariana.”

Ariana looked up to see King Alexius who was looking at her with a faint smile. For a moment, Ariana was surprised when she saw the new expression on the young king's face. In the past, the man who was king before Emilio had never smiled sincerely at her. His face always looked stiff and firm. Ariana thought King Alexius was because he was never satisfied with her. But like her grandfather, who now continues to spoil her, Ariana suspects that her change in attitude has also changed the attitude of those around her.

But after Ariana severed ties with the royal family and went on a whim, the king should be even more dissatisfied with her. That gentle face, and that small smile, weren't something Ariana expected to come from King Alexius.

“Lady Aria, His Majesty the King greets you.”

As Ariana kept silent while looking at Alexius, James hurriedly reminded Ariana to pay respects to the king. Ariana also immediately came to her senses after being reprimanded by James. The girl bowed respectfully, then greeted King Alexius politely.

“Ariana greets His Majesty the King. May prosperity and health always be with you.”

King Alexius smiled bitterly as his eyes continued to stare at Ariana. The man let out a long breath, until the people around him guessed that the king was not very satisfied with Ariana's greeting.

Ariana herself was already starting to get alert when the sound of Alexius' sighs reached her ears. The girl started searching for her fault, until she didn't notice that King Alexius was kneeling to help her get up from her sitting position on the ground.

“Your grandfather said you've just gotten better, but you've been wandering around the palace. The royal palace is always open for you, Ariana. When you're completely well, come back if you want to play in here.”

Ariana's brain was no longer able to think, as King Alexius's change in attitude was too much to believe. Even to his son Emilio, King Alexius had never spoken so softly. This change in attitude was too frightening, to the point that Ariana looked like an i***t for remaining silent when spoken to by the king.

“James, Ariana doesn't seem well. She's a little pale, and she's warm too. I'll talk to Queen Melisa and Crown Prince Emilio. Tell Duke Andrew that he can go home with Ariana first.”

“Thank you so much, Your Majesty!”

It was only when James tried to help Ariana to walk away that the girl's senses finally returned. Ariana looked at King Alexius who looked lonely and sad. The girl remembers. Even though he was the husband and father of those who were mean to her in the past, King Alexius was different from Queen Melisa or Crown Prince Emilio. The man was a kind and gentle king. Even if he was a king, he never differentiated a person from where they were born. King Alexius also enjoyed helping his people from a very young age. His story of often sneaking into cities to help troubled residents is even told in songs that are popular in the city.

If he didn't die from an illness in the upcoming years, the tragedy that befell their kingdom probably wouldn't have happened under King Alexius' leadership.

“Died from an illness ….”

Ariana's face grew paler as she suddenly realized her thoughts had led the girl to an even greater reality. Death due to disease is a common reason to cover up the cause of death that occurs in the noble family. Almost all of her family was declared dead of the disease, even though they had no previous history of the disease. Illness and accidents, both of which are the main reasons for the decline of offspring in the Alison family.

In her previous life, Ariana knew some parties had tried to bring down her family for generations. But matching the sudden death of King Alexius, Ariana suspects that the death of King Alexius also has something to do with Queen Melisa trying to destroy her entire family.

Because no matter how you look at him, King Alexius was a healthy king and was very active in his youth. Suddenly dying in his prime years should be a big question in people's minds. But everyone strangely took it for granted, so the issue was never brought up again. Remembering her past life, Ariana suspects that almost everyone in the palace is siding with the wrong person.

“What's wrong Ariana?”

Ariana's thoughts were broken when King Alexius reprimanded her again. The girl smiled bitterly. Even if she knew the king's death was most likely due to someone's interference, right now, she couldn't do much as a child.

Again, she could only be a bystander until she was strong enough to uncover other possibilities.

“It's all right, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful for your concern. I have taken up a lot of your time. Since I am not feeling well, I will return first with my grandfather.”

After discovering new facts on her second chance, Ariana felt so dizzy that she felt that staying in the palace would also only make her dizzier. King Alexius also didn't want to hold Ariana down any longer when he saw the pale expression on the girl's face. The two separated soon after. Ariana immediately went to rest in the family carriage, while James returned to the palace to inform Duke Andrew, who was still at the Crown Prince's Palace.

***

It was late afternoon when Ariana finally returned from the tiring birthday party. As her body was still young and developing, Ariana unconsciously fell asleep as she waited for her grandfather to come back to their residence. Seeing Ariana sleeping, not only didn't wake her up, but Duke Andrew also personally carried Ariana to take the girl to her room. Duke Andrew laid Ariana on her bed, then let the other maid help his granddaughter to sleep in a more comfortable position while he left the girl's room.

“James, your report.”

When Duke Andrew was out of Ariana's room, his stern face returned as he commands his trusted servant. James immediately explained Ariana's activities in great detail to the man. The explanation also includes Ariana's encounter with Raoul, and the fact that despite being a prince, Raoul gets unfavorable treatment from those under his position.

“The real culprit is unquestionable. Marquis Daedalus is part of the group that supports the queen and crown prince. Prince Raoul might be considered useless and stupid at this time. But as long as he is alive, that child will still be Crown Prince Emilio's rival for the throne.”

Andrew told James what was on his mind, and the waiter nodded in agreement.

“However, I still can't understand why Aria had turned this drastic towards the Queen and the Crown Prince. She faced people calmly today, and even dared to act nonchalantly in front of the Crown Prince without my help. Instead, her gaze turned life-changing when she saw Prince Raoul. James, my granddaughter shouldn't have met Prince Raoul before this birthday party, right?”

James nodded. “Prince Raoul's life is no different from exile, so not many know for sure where he lives. Even at important events, Prince Raoul hardly ever shows his face in public. No one knows why Prince Raoul suddenly appears so boldly this time. And why is Lady Aria suddenly seeming so interested in this poor prince, Your Grace.”

The more Duke Andrew tried to understand what was in his granddaughter's mind, the more often the man hit a dead end. His granddaughter should be just a simple-minded little girl. But ever since her accident, Duke Andrew almost felt that he had watched Ariana grow up because of her ability to act as well as think.

“Then … Lady Aria also acted strangely when she accidentally ran into King Alexius while about to return to the palace. The lady's face turned pale from time to time. But her expression didn't contain any hatred or resistance, like when Lady Aria saw the Queen or the Crown Prince. Lady Aria only looks a little sad, and helpless, when she looks at King Alexius."

“Could it be …." Andrew paused as he spoke. “Aria's accident has something to do with the secrets within the palace? So far, we can only suspect the palace's slightly odd movements. But what if Aria actually found out what was wrong? I can't believe Aria could change so drastically just because of an accident. She must know something. Something serious enough to prevent her from telling us right away.”

Since Ariana's accident, Duke Andrew begins to feel that Ariana's every action has been carefully considered by his granddaughter. Every request that the girl made was always reasonable, even too reasonable for a little girl like her to think.

As a direct descendant of the Alison family, there is no doubt that Ariana has inherited the same powerful abilities as her predecessors. There must be a special reason why the girl remained silent and chose to do things her own way. Right now, Ariana might be struggling, to sort things out on her own like a real Alison.

From the information he got at the palace, Duke Andrew knew that Ariana's change was indeed related to Queen Melisa and Crown Prince Emilio. The two of them looked even more restless since Ariana woke up and decided to break off the engagement between the two of them. But gathering better evidence would be difficult for Duke Andrew. The Queen and the Crown Prince are famous for having only their loyal servants as their escorts. The two of them were so wary that digging deeper into the information would only harm the spies Andrew had planted in the royal palace.

Andrew pinched his forehead in frustration. He never thought that his young granddaughter would be involved in a conspiracy that took place in the palace to this depth.