Even though she had said it in a hushed tone, her words were still quite unexpected. Moreover, this was Molitiaâs first time as a guest at this party. It wasnât just because she wasnât frequent here, it was also due to her contrast with Arjan, who had attended the party several times already.
Arjan then deliberately added her dismay as the buzzing kept on permeating, starting with the people she had met.
âItâs all right. It was my choice to take care of her. Plus, itâs usually fine except for the occasional pain. Please, donât worry too much.â
Molitia let out a soft sigh. She felt as if she had already located the hotbed of those rumors.
âYou actually did that during my absence.â
Molitia could then slightly grasp the idea why those hated eyes of theirs were like that, and the reason people who had been away from her were lavished. She had guessed it before, but she still failed to understand her feelings when it occurred right in front of her eyes. Molitia gathered the little strength she had to her small hands, which were trembling uncontrollably.
If she were to run away from here, she would not only lose to Arjan, but she would also drag down the reputation of the Duke of Linerio.
Those maids who had taken care of many things for her.
The butler who had seen her off when she departed before.
Even the knight who was in charge of escorting her.
She didnât want them, whom she really appreciated, to be criticized for being a part of the family by those who didnât even know the truth at all. Her small set of eyelashes shot up suddenly, albeit tremblingâstill.
âIâm so sorry, Arjan. Did it hurt a lot?â
Arjan immediately went round-eyed at Molitiaâs unexpected words. She thought that Molitia would shudder like always. Then, Arjan unintentionally stammered in response to her sisterâs behavior, which she had never seen before.
âOh, huh? No, it was truly my decision. So, you donât really have to take responsibility for what you did before.â
âI really am sorry, though. I didnât think too much of your wounds because I was too distracted avoiding the pottery, which you threw at me.â
âHuh?â
âYou were so mad during that day. Due to the Countess of Barlowâs love, those silverwareâŠâ
âSister!â
A moment of silence filled the airânot only at the table where she was at, but at other places as well. Arjan took a look around a little second later to see that everyoneâs eyes were already locked onto her.
This is not it
. Arjan quickly blinked her eyes before laughing out loud.
âI surely donât know what youâre talking about. I believe you must be clearly mistaken.â
âThatâs a possibility as well. Itâs true that my fever was really high back then.â
Molitia quietly recalled.
It was definitely true that she was preoccupied with her high fever. But still, it wasnât Molitia who hurt Arjan on that day. Rather, it was Arjanâs own fault as she was the one who flung those tableware that were in her room.
âBut of course, it was definitely my fault when I couldnât stop you then. I apologize, Arjan. I really should have stopped you back then.â
Molitia didnât expect her to cover up that day in this manner at all. Still, she tried to blur her words by adding some bitterness of her heart.
âNo, sister⊠âŠitâs my fault, so it canât be helped.â
âIâll watch over so that my precious sister will no longer get hurt.â
When Molitia drew a smile, the wives who were present began to chat once again.