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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Seeping Warmth (2)
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Cyrus chuckled and pointed somewhere with his chin. There was a small travel bag.
“A travel essential.”
“I didn’t see it earlier.”
“I carry it under my cloak. You’d be surprised what Rui hides in his clothes.”
“Speaking of which, where’s Rui?”
“He’s gathering mushrooms. Rare medicinal mushrooms grow in this cave. I understand you have a lot of questions, but why don’t you eat first? Your stomach has been screaming without a break.”
Ariana blushed and picked up a piece of meat with her hand, putting it into her mouth. The meat, seasoned with salt, was savory and rich. After chewing and swallowing the tender meat, she asked,
“Where did you get the meat?”
“There was fresh meat scattered around earlier, wasn’t there?”
“Earlier…? Oh!”
Ariana recalled the gruesome sight she had seen before entering the cave and her eyes widened.
Cyrus said calmly,
“It’s a joke.”
“Your Highness… You are truly… mischievous.”
“Are you angry?”
“No.”
“You seem angry?”
“How could I possibly be angry with Your Highness after you’ve shown me such grace?”
“Does that mean you’re boiling with anger, wanting to punch me, but you’ll hold back because you’ve received something?”
Ariana pressed her lips together and glared at him.
Cyrus smiled faintly and said,
“Rest assured, that meat was caught outside the cave while you were sleeping.”
“Did Your Highness catch it?”
“Yes.”
“I’m envious.”
“Of what?”
“Your strength.”
“Catching a small rabbit doesn’t require much strength.”
“But I can’t even catch a small rabbit on my own.”
“But you made me move to catch a rabbit, didn’t you? You’re the first woman to make me hunt for a meal, so you can be proud.”
“Yes, that’s truly comforting.”
Ariana resumed her meal.
As the two fell silent, the sound of water droplets falling, *drip, drip*, became loud.
The scenery of the lake, enveloped in a soft, spreading blue light, was otherworldly beautiful.
Before, she had been too busy fleeing to properly take in this beautiful sight.
“How are your feet?”
“My feet? Oh…”
Now that he mentioned it, the pain in her feet had significantly subsided.
“They hurt terribly earlier, but now they don’t hurt much.”
“I used a good ointment. I know an excellent alchemist.”
“Ointment…”
Ariana wiggled her toes to check her feet.
She had expected them to be a mess, too horrible to look at after running barefoot through the forest, but they were clean, and the ointment applied had helped the wounds heal.
She blinked, examining her small feet, then cautiously asked,
“Who… did this?”
“I did.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s a joke.”
“Your Highness…”
“I couldn’t possibly touch the feet of an unmarried woman so carelessly. Rui did it, so rest easy.”
“Yes. That’s truly. Reassuring.”
“Are you angry again?”
“No!”
Cyrus chuckled and turned his head.
Ariana wondered why it was so hard to control her emotions when Cyrus was around, and finished eating the remaining meat.
“Is it not enough?”
“It’s enough.”
“You eat too little. You’ll be small forever that way.”
“If eating well could make me as strong as Your Highness, I’d eat as much as you want.”
“Becoming as strong as me is difficult. There’s no one stronger than me on this continent.”
“I am truly envious.”
“That wasn’t sincere just now. Was that sarcasm?”
“How could that be? How could I possibly be sarcastic in front of Your Highness?”
“Oh, you’re being sarcastic again.”
Ariana narrowed her eyes and glared at Cyrus.
Cyrus was too different from the rumors Ariana had heard.
Could this person really be the Northern Duke? Or was he someone else entirely, and she was mistaken because of a similar appearance?
Ariana only knew Cyrus from his portrait. Any stage actor could easily make themselves resemble a portrait.
‘But that man actually used ice magic.’
Magic that only a select few in the Northern Territory could use.
‘And his stealth was perfect too. He *must* be the Northern Duke, right?’
Cyrus, still gazing at the lake, said,
“Are you doubting whether I am truly the Northern Duke?”
“Does Your Highness read minds?”
“I wish I had such a skill. Then I would know what you’re plotting.”
“I simply wish to live comfortably.”
“It doesn’t seem so.”
Cyrus turned his head and met Ariana’s gaze.
“Your eyes always shine with desperation. I’ve seen someone with such eyes before.”
“Who has eyes like mine?”
Cyrus pointed to his own chest with his index finger.
“Your Highness? From my perspective, you seem quite relaxed.”
“It’s practice and effort. You should practice too. Eyes that burn brightly are beautiful, but they make others wary.”
“I will engrave your valuable advice deeply within my heart.”
“What will you do next? Will you go to the Empire?”
Ariana hesitated, wondering if she should tell Cyrus her plans, but soon made up her mind.
There was no need to hide it now that she had come this far. The astute Cyrus would likely have guessed what Ariana intended to do.
In that case, it would be better to be honest and win his favor. He might be useful someday.
“It would be meaningless to stop by the Empire now. I plan to go to the Eastern Territory.”
“I see.”
“However, I don’t know if the Eastern Duke will readily accept me. He might let me stay for a few days, but during that time, I’ll need to prove my usefulness to him.”
“The Eastern Duke will gladly accept you, so don’t worry.”
“Well, if he even gives me a room in Chase Castle, I’d be grateful.”
“Trust me. The Eastern Duke won’t cast you out.”
“I trust no one, Your Highness.”
Cyrus gazed at Ariana for a moment, then said,
“Yes, that’s a good attitude. In that case, trust yourself. Who could dislike a clever child like you?”
Ariana swallowed a bitter smile and turned her gaze away.
If she had acted cleverly before she died once, would everyone have loved her?
‘Probably not.’
Acting cleverly would have only hastened her demise. Isn’t it the same now? When Ariana started thinking and acting for herself, Rachel tried to kill her.
The Eastern Duke would likely be the same.
She had to act just clever enough, and just foolish enough, to survive.
Always like a sixteen-year-old, yet like a pitiful child who had matured a little too quickly due to abuse and constant vigilance. She intended to act that way until she secured her position in the Eastern Territory.
In that regard, Cyrus was, ironically, easier to deal with than others.
He didn’t seem to find it particularly suspicious even when Ariana acted unusually mature.
‘It’s not that he doesn’t find it suspicious; he’s probably suspicious and wary of every aspect of me. That’s why he acts like such an airhead in front of me.’
As the two exchanged wary glances, Rui, who had gone to gather mushrooms, returned.
Rui held a large fish in his hand.
“I caught it in the lake. Does Her Grace prefer it grilled or boiled?”
Ariana almost screamed.
“Rozal… Rui. I am not the Duchess.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Which do you prefer?”
“I told you, I’m not the Duchess.”
Ariana glanced at Cyrus, but he didn’t seem to have any intention of correcting Rui’s slip of the tongue.
‘What on earth are they thinking?’
Ariana was dumbfounded, but she spoke firmly,
“Call me Ariana, Rui.”
“Yes, Your Grace. You’ve had grilled meat, so soup would be better this time, wouldn’t it?”
“Rui.”
Rui didn’t answer and went to a corner to start cleaning the fish. Ariana, wrapped in the blanket, wiggled over and sat next to Cyrus.
“Why is Rui calling me ‘Duchess’?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m not the Duchess.”
“I know.”
“Tell him to stop.”
“Are you ordering me?”
“Your Highness, would you please scold Rui and tell him not to call me Duchess? The title of Duchess is too heavy.”
“I am truly sorry to you, but I do not wish to be a petty lord who concerns himself with what his subordinates call others.”
“I only say this because I am concerned it might tarnish Your Highness’s great name.”
“No matter what my subordinates call someone, it’s unlikely to tarnish my name, so put your worries aside.”
Ariana glared at Cyrus’s ridiculously handsome profile. But Cyrus didn’t even glance at her.
Ariana clenched her fists, suppressing the urge to hit Cyrus.
“Why is Rui playing such a prank?”
“Doesn’t everyone have the freedom to play pranks?”
“I don’t want to be the subject of pranks.”
“Then you scold Rui.”
Ariana pressed her lips together tightly.
Scold Rui?
She couldn’t do that.
Rui had helped Ariana, had been shot by an arrow protecting her, and was still cooking for her despite that.
She had vowed not to grow attached to others in this life, but she was still human, and she couldn’t treat someone who had consistently helped her with cold indifference.
While she was biting her lower lip, unable to do anything, Rui finished the fish soup. Rui filled a round bowl with soup and brought it to Ariana.
“Please eat, Your Grace.”
“Rui, call me Ariana.”
“I hope it suits your taste.”
Ariana swallowed a sigh and took the bowl.
Thanks to the warm heat emanating from the bowl, her chilled hands grew warm.
Rui was a good cook. There was no fishy smell at all, and the seasoning was perfect. He had completely removed the scales and bones before cooking, making it easy to eat.
Rui and Cyrus quietly watched Ariana enjoy the soup. Only after eating half the soup did Ariana realize that they weren’t eating anything.
“Aren’t you two eating?”
“We ate a lot of meat. You should eat plenty.”
Ariana eyed them suspiciously for a moment before focusing on her soup again.
Rui spoke to Cyrus in a low voice,
“Just watching Her Grace eat fills me up.”
“Indeed.”
“It seems Her Grace likes fish, so I will prepare fish for her meals from now on.”
“Indeed.”
“My Lord, are you sure you don’t need to eat anything?”
“Didn’t you say watching her eat fills you up?”
“Yes, that’s true for me, but…”
Cyrus rested his chin on the back of his hand and quietly watched Ariana.
Ariana brushed her flowing sky-blue hair behind her ear, blowing on the hot soup and eating with great diligence.
A body so thin her bones showed. Would she gain weight if she ate like that?
Cyrus watched Ariana chew the fish meat, and thought,
‘Me too.’
