Mated To The Barbarian King Who Is My Ex-husband's Father.

A large crowd had gathered in front of Aunt Freya’s tent by the time they arrived. The onlookers quickly parted, clearing a path for Arianna and Ragnar to pass through.

Stepping inside together, they found the heavy wooden chest sitting right in the center of the room.

​Her jewelry boxes had been dragged out one by one, their contents turned upside down and dumped onto a cloth spread across the floor.

​Aunt Freya’s trembling hands frantically sifted through the piles. Arianna watched in confusion, trying to make sense of the chaos. Had the woman simply misplaced her jewelry, or was it something worse?

​"Mother, is everything alright?" Ragnar asked, taking a step forward.

​"N-no... it was right here. They should be right here!" Aunt Freya stammered, refusing to look up. She clutched a tiny empty box in her hands, her expression crumbling with bitter disappointment before she threw it to the floor.

​"Mother, will you stop this already?" Ragnar asked, his patience wearing thin. He walked over and knelt beside her on the floor. "What is going on?"

​"They were here the last time I checked! I put them away with my own hands!" she gasped, clutching her chest as tears began to pool in her eyes.

​Arianna couldn’t help but wonder what kind of jewelry had been stolen. Seeing Aunt Freya this distraught made it clear whatever was missing was completely irreplaceable.

​"What is missing, Mother?" Ragnar pressed, taking her by the arms and helping her up off the ground. Standing face-to-face with her, he asked softly, "Is it one of your gold pieces?"

​Before she could answer, Samantha pushed her way into the tent, her brows furrowed in confusion. She cast a disdainful, sharp glare at Arianna before brushing past her toward her mother.

​"What is she doing here?"

​"Who are you to demand an explanation for where she chooses to be?" Ragnar asked, his eyes narrowing sharply at his sister.

​Arianna nearly let out a faint laugh at his swift defense. Even though Ragnar was younger than Samantha, he carried himself with far more wisdom and composure.

​"I came when I heard your mother scream," Arianna explained calmly. "We feared something terrible had happened."

​"There is no need for you to explain yourself, Queen Arianna," Ragnar said, turning to her. "Forgive my sister. She rarely thinks before speaking."

​Arianna gave a polite nod, but Samantha bristled, her eyes flashing with anger.

​"I can’t believe you, Ragnar! Who asked you to apologize on my behalf?"

​"Both of you are insufferable!" Aunt Freya snapped, instantly cutting through the rising argument between her children. "I am in absolute agony, and all you two can do is bicker! When on earth are you going to grow up?"

​"Forgive me, Mother," Ragnar murmured, lowering his gaze in quiet shame.

​"He started it, Mother!" Samantha chimed in, showing not a single trace of remorse. She shifted her attention to her mother’s distressed state. "What happened? You look terrified... is your ring missing?"

​Aunt Freya nodded in sheer frustration. Bringing it up again sent another wave of emotion crashing over her.

​Arianna’s gaze flicked over to Samantha. It struck her as curious how quickly the girl had pinpointed exact missing items before her mother had even named them, but Arianna kept her thoughts to herself. It wasn’t her place to voice her suspicions.

​"I locked it inside the box the very day you left on your journey, Ragnar," Aunt Freya sobbed, tears finally spilling over her cheeks. "I am positive of it! The ring, along with the golden necklace your father gave to me..."

​"Maybe you didn’t check properly," Ragnar suggested, scanning the chaotic floor to help search through the clutter.

​"We can help you look for it," Arianna offered gently.

​"W-wait..."

​Aunt Freya’s face contorted as a sudden memory sparked in her mind. Her gaze snapped away from the floor and locked onto her daughter.

​"How did you know it was my ring that was missing?"

​Samantha opened her mouth to speak, but the words died in her throat. She stared at her mother, her lips parted in frozen shock.

​Arianna studied her closely, wondering if Samantha had actually stolen her own mother’s jewelry. But why would she do such a thing? It would be nearly impossible for her to wear such recognizable pieces without raising immediate suspicion.

​"Tell us, Samantha," Arianna pressed quietly. "How were you able to pinpoint that so easily?"

​With every pair of eyes in the tent pinned on her, Samantha’s heart hammered violently against her ribs. If she didn’t regain her composure immediately, her mother would realize the truth.

​Ragnar stepped forward, gently shifting his mother behind him as he came face-to-face with his sister. "Why aren’t you answering?"

​Samantha nervously brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, swallowing hard as she forced herself to meet her brother’s sharp glare.

​"W-what do you think you’re doing?" she stammered, trying to mask her panic with indignation. "I am your older sister—you will not speak to me in that tone!"

​"Stop dodging the question and answer me!" Ragnar insisted, his posture unyielding.

​"Mother, do you see how disrespectful he is being right now?" Samantha’s voice grew agitated as panic began to take over.

She quickly crossed her arms, desperate to hide her trembling fingers from her brother’s sharp eyes.

​"Ragnar is right, Samantha," Aunt Freya said, her eyes squinting in growing suspicion and confusion. "If you have nothing to hide, then simply answer the question."

​"W-what?" Samantha let out a bitter, nervous chuckle, her gaze frantically darting from her mother to her brother.

She couldn’t believe they were humiliating her like this right in front of Arianna.

​"If you feel uncomfortable speaking in my presence, I can step outside," Arianna offered smoothly. She turned toward the tent entrance to give them privacy, but Samantha snapped before she could take a step.

​"What are you trying to instigate now?" Samantha demanded, glaring directly into Arianna’s eyes.

​"I didn’t say anything wrong, Samantha," Arianna replied, her brow furrowing into a firm frown. "Simply address your family and answer the question before you."

​Ragnar’s eyes widened as the realization hit him, his voice cutting through the tent like a blade. "Wait... did you steal Mother’s ring? Are you the thief?"

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