Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 63: Spreading rumors

Chapter 63: Spreading rumors

"W-what?"

Ara clenched her fist tightly to control her rising anger. He’d bedded her?? She’d really deal with whoever the man was later!

The rumor was vicious and terrible than she had expected. Soon this would become a full blown scandal, and the rumors had even said Hamon was another victim of her seduction. The rumor would be difficult to handle with the fake witnesses Claire had gathered. Furthermore, if the king knew about such things, he wouldn’t allow her marriage with the crown Prince.

_ This isn’t right, I have to do something to stop the rumors from spreading further!_

If she wanted to prove that she’d been meeting with the crown Prince, nobody would believe it, they would see her as a liar. Since Claire had brought fake witnesses to back up her claim. Moreover, she wouldn’t want to implicate Hamon in all this mess. She’d have to resolve this in a way that’s not related to Hamon.

Anger burned deep into her bones, but she tempered it with a cool head. The most important thing was to handle the matter than succumb to her anger. If it’s impossible to collect spilt milk, then it should be cleaned up with no trace.

However, a solution didn’t come to mind, as the case with gossip in society, words of ill spread faster than words of praises. No matter how much she would claimed the rumors were false, she wouldn’t be able to control people’s tongue. It would be hard to restore a bad reputation.

_How will I get out of this? It’s impossible to resolve._

Mary noticed Ara’s dazed expression, "Are you alright, Lady Ara?"

"Yes. I don’t know what to do anymore..." She admitted.

"Please don’t think much about it...it will slowly be forgotten over time. It will leave just like it came."

Mary’s words may have comforted others, but not Ara, she had to marry Hamon as soon as possible. King Frederick would die in few months, and the traitorous Cornell would take the throne in about a year from now. There was only little time left for to make Hamon the king before then.

But, with such rumors about her, there was no way the kingdom would approve of her to be their crown princess. Although, Ara couldn’t hide her distress, but she was grateful for Mary’s concern.

"Thank you so much for coming to inform me about this, Lady Cabrera."

"Oh, please don’t mention it. I’ve been worried since after the grand ball that lady Tudor might do something to you, but I wasn’t sure what she was up to...if I hadn’t known lady Tudor for a long time, I also might’ve believed the rumors with the witnesses she’d gathered to back up her words."

While others were fooled by the rumors, Mary had taken it to be false in no thoughts. Ara thought back to the day of the Morrison banquet.

"Thank you for the other time in the Morrison banquet as well..."

She hadn’t trusted Mary before, because she thought she might still be doing everything to be close to her sister under Claire’s orders, and Ara couldn’t stand the fact, she had been less forgiven because she’d drank the wine in her previous life, and ended up doing crazy things at the banquet.

Mary quickly waved her hands in protest, "Oh, No. You don’t have to thank me for that. I’d followed Lady Tudor’s orders like a fool, if I were you, I’d never have forgiven me. But I’m grateful you did..."

The word "Let’s be friends" suddenly came to Ara’s mind. In her previous life, she had never given those words to anybody, as she rarely left the mansion, she had never been friends with a woman her own age before.

Ara’s present situation wasn’t the worst she had experienced before, but what Mary had done brought a new warmth to her,

"Lady Cabrera..." Ara wore a gentle smile that she did not often show others, then continued in a soft gentle voice, "Thank you for your help...you’re welcome to come to our mansion anytime you feel like it..."

Mary’s eyes widened. Does that mean the eldest daughter of the Boxton was now her friend?? Mary smiled at that thought, her doll like Brown eyes shone with happiness.

__

After they were done speaking, Ara saw Mary off. She had to find a way out of this difficult situation Claire put her in. However, No matter how hard Ara tried, she couldn’t think of a way to put the rumors to rest.

Suddenly, an idea came to her mind, Ara’s green eyes shone bright.

_There is another way I can stop these rumors!_

She smirked, "I hope you won’t blame me for this spoiled brat."

It was Claire who stepped on a sleeping lion’s tail, and now she’d face the consequences of her actions!

Ara went through all the invitation cards she’d received, to confirm the dates of the events that would happen the soonest. Her reputation had changed dramatically in weeks after the grand ball. And since Claire had been going around every event to spoil her image, she’d have to attend one of the event to restore her reputation.

_I will have to prove my innocence...I’ll make the spoiled brat eat her words, and make her the culprit!_

That was her best course of action, as Claire was now spreading false stories about her, she’d do the same to her, she’d gather as many witnesses and evidences against Claire.

_I’ll also include when she tried to feed me spite wine as a peace offering at the banquet in the north._

Mary had agreed to testify on Ara’s behalf, but that wouldn’t be enough. Just like the fake stories about Ara meeting with different men every night, there had to be something tantalizing and provocative about Claire, that would make the rumors stop and turn to Claire’s...

However, Ara wasn’t sure how many people would be at the event, but it was clear that there would be quite a crowd,

"Claire Tudor, I will pay you back double for this." She murmured.

Ara hadn’t intended to sit still like a fool, not after her reputation was tarnished like this. Now, she wasn’t a naive young lady anymore, she might not be able to use her sword on Claire, but she wasn’t so soft as to allow herself to be subjected to a shameful deceit.

Ara stood up and went to her window, she whistle three times to summon Merek.

_

The next day.

"My lady, here’s the report you asked for." Merek said.

"Did you get all the information?"

After he handed her the report, she thanked him for his help, then Merek left through the window as usual.

Ara read through the report. She smiled at what she saw. Then she called the butler to set up an appointment with lady Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Bennett!

Elizabeth Bennett was a very important figure in Findara because she was good at spreading words, she was one of the most mentioned names in Merek’s report. But the report was not her only source of knowledge about Lady Bennett. However, Ara knew the woman after a shocking revelation in the future.

There was only one reason why she asked for the information about such person, she needed help from an influential person in high society.

_No matter what I say, people won’t believe me easily_

Ara had no connections, no one would listen to what she’d say, and with her already tarnished image in society, she’d likely be ignored and avoided by others as well.

_I need someone like Lady Bennett to spread the rumors that Claire is a liar._

If someone like Lady Bennett could back up Ara’s words, everybody would believe her, as Elizabeth was known for always having the right information ( gossip). However, the woman’s nose was held high and was a friend of Luanda Morrison. She wouldn’t do Ara a favor so easily.

Ara wasn’t sure if the woman would welcome her, since it had taken Elizabeth few days to respond after the butler went to set the appointment personally.

Finally the butler came to deliver the woman’s answer,

"My lady...Lady Bennett responded to your request to meet her..."

"What did she say?"

"She says, it’s impossible to meet with you as she’ll be going to Dumbarton for some business in a few days..."

Gossip business!

A long frustrated sign escaped from Ara’s mouth, "Huu!"

She hadn’t been able to sleep much because of the rumors, she rubbed her stiff eyes with her hands and spoke again to the butler, who was looking at her with corner.

"Give me a minute..."

"Yes, My lady."

Ara walked to her desk and began writing something down on a paper, then placed the paper in an envelope, sealed it, and handed it over to the butler.

"Give this to lady Bennett, and tell her to make an appointment with me or this will be out in public."

He took the envelope with curiosity.

"But she’d refused to meet you once...Will she agree this time?"

At the butler’s doubtful expression, Ara replied determinedly, "Definitely!...She will not refuse this time, am sure."

Ara hadn’t wished to use her knowledge of the future as a threat, but now that the situation has come to this, she had no choice. She wasn’t the type to send threatening letters, but she was in no position to wait any longer.