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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Seeping Warmth (8)
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Cyrus raised an eyebrow.
"You thank me every chance you get."
"Because I'm grateful. And now, I need to go my own way."
"Where is your way?"
"You know."
"I don't."
Ariana didn't respond. It seemed he was being deliberately contrary.
Cyrus gazed at Ariana intently, then stood up.
"I don't know where you're going, but my path is clear."
He would be heading to the Northern Territory.
Though he could have gone directly from the Western Territory to the Northern Territory, Cyrus traveled with them as far as the Cameria Empire's land. Ariana knew it was for her sake as she headed to the Eastern Territory, and she was immensely grateful.
Even the Empire wasn't entirely safe, but she couldn't ask him to accompany her all the way to the distant Eastern Territory.
She had already received so much that she didn't want to incur any more debt.
"I'm going to the Eastern Territory. Is that the same direction you're headed?"
Ariana was so surprised by his words that she didn't notice Noah and Isaac's jaws drop behind her. Rui still watched the scene with a pleased smile.
"Your Highness, if you're planning to escort me all the way to the Eastern Territory, you don't need to waste such precious time. I can manage perfectly fine on my own from here."
"You're remarkably confident. Why do you think I'm going to the Eastern Territory for your sake?"
"...Aren't you?"
"I have business there."
Ariana narrowed her eyes, trying to discern his true intentions, but his expressionless, doll-like face revealed nothing. So, she turned her head to look at his subordinates, who were all nodding with faint smiles.
As if to say, "Everything His Highness says is right, and everything His Highness says is true."
"Do you truly have business in the Eastern Territory?"
"Yes."
"Is it because of the Paganus?"
At Ariana's question, Cyrus's eyes gleamed with interest.
"You are indeed intriguing. I've never seen a woman speak their name so casually."
The Paganus.
They were a group of heretics who lived in a massive city in the northeastern part of the continent. It was called a massive city, but its size was more than enough to be considered a nation.
Initially, they were just a group that worshipped a different god, but their actions gradually became horrific.
They kidnapped people to offer as sacrifices to their god and drank human blood to grow stronger.
Unable to tolerate it any longer, the Cameria Empire issued an order to subjugate the Paganus, and both sides suffered heavy casualties in that war. Cyrus's parents also died in the war against the Paganus.
When Cyrus ascended to the position of Northern Duke, the first thing he did was attack the Paganus scattered across the north. Cyrus achieved a great victory, and as a result, he attained a status that even the Emperor could not easily disregard.
However, it was impossible to completely eradicate the vast multitude of Paganus. Remnants of the Paganus were still scattered throughout the continent.
Ariana had often heard stories of Cyrus warring with Paganus remnants, so she speculated that this might be why he was going to the Eastern Territory this time as well.
"Many Paganus remnants remain in the east. Since the Emperor lost interest in the Eastern Territory, the Eastern Duke has had to confront the Paganus remnants alone. Isn't that frightening? They say the Paganus find women most palatable."
He was probably trying to scare her, but she wasn't frightened at all. Women feared even uttering the name of the Paganus due to the gruesome rumors, but Ariana had other fears.
Dying again without having exacted any revenge.
"Any place where people live has its dangers. Whether one dies by the hand of their birth mother or is devoured by heretics, death is the same. What is there to fear anew?"
A faint smile touched Cyrus's lips.
"They say all women of the White Family are exceptional warriors. It seems the blood of the White Family truly flows within you too."
"Can I become a warrior?"
"Everyone has a different way of waging war. Whether you use strength or strategy is for you to decide, and you become a warrior by that method."
His resolute words cleared her mind.
Throughout her journey, she had blamed her lack of strength and felt regretful. She had learned self-defense from Cyrus, hoping to become as strong as Rui, but she didn't feel any stronger.
However, his words about finding her own method showed Ariana her path.
Her plan was never to overpower them with brute force in the first place.
As noble as possible, and as vulgar as possible. She would bring them down by their own methods.
"Your Highness is..."
Ariana looked up at the man standing before her, a fresh feeling washing over her.
Strictly speaking, Cyrus was much younger than Ariana. Ariana had lived to be 28 before returning to this age.
Yet, Cyrus was enviably wise.
"Truly dignified."
At the words she uttered, unsure how else to praise him, Cyrus burst out laughing. It was the first time she had heard him laugh aloud, and Ariana's eyes widened.
Laughing so heartily that his silver hair swayed, he was dazzlingly beautiful. His eyes, creased into crescent moons, his widely parted lips, and the neat teeth visible within. It was magnificent enough to be etched deeply into her heart.
Cyrus eventually stopped laughing and gently patted Ariana's head.
"You're no less so."
+++
Noah wore a vacant expression the entire time he rode his horse. Then, he failed to notice a low-hanging branch, hit his face, and fell off his horse.
Cyrus, who was riding ahead, must have heard the sound, but he didn't look back.
'Yes, that's how my Lord should be...'
Earlier, when Cyrus had laughed so heartily, Noah, Isaac, and Rui had frozen. It was a sight they had never witnessed, one they thought they would never see in their lifetimes.
A Lord who laughed aloud?
They had never imagined such a thing.
Rui stopped his horse and asked, sounding annoyed,
"Are you alright?"
"Rui, it seems His Highness is serious. Truly, truly serious. So serious that I wonder if this is even allowed."
"You're just realizing that now?"
"But why... why is he sending the Duchess to the Eastern Territory? Couldn't he just take her to the Northern Territory?"
"Well. His Highness must have his reasons."
+++
The Cameria Empire was vast, and they had to travel avoiding watchful eyes, so even though they hurried, it took over 15 days to cross the eastern border.
They had departed in the slightly chilly weather of early to mid-March, but now it had grown warm.
Unlike the humid Western Territory with its many jungles, the Eastern Territory exuded a dry, pleasant atmosphere. It was surprising how much the scenery changed, despite being on the same continent with only the Empire separating them.
After entering the Eastern Territory, they rode for several more days before finally arriving at the outskirts of Ellus City, the capital of the Eastern Territory.
Outside the city gate, a vast field stretched across the area where farmers lived.
The sight of the farmers working in the fields seemed peaceful, but Ariana's heart was not. Ariana pulled the hood of the cloak she had bought in the previous city deep over her head and gazed at the high city walls.
Chase Castle, where the Eastern Duke resided, boasted a formidable grandeur visible even from outside the city.
'This is it.'
She had been near the Eastern Territory before, but she had never come all the way to Ellus City, where the Eastern Duke lived. When the Third Prince planned to eliminate the Eastern Duke, she had no affection for the Eastern Duke to help with the groundwork.
The Eastern Duke's cold gaze, which she had only seen once at an Imperial Party, vividly reappeared in her mind as if she had just seen it.
His furrowed brow, his displeased, distorted expression, his tightly sealed lips, and his cold, sharp eyes. His gaze was so chilling that Ariana couldn't even offer him a casual greeting.
'It will be the same this time.'
Since she had escaped from the Western Territory and intruded here, he might wear an even more displeased expression than when they accidentally met at the Imperial Party.
'If only I had gotten Rachel's letter...'
The memory of failing to obtain the letter due to Cyrus's interference flashed through her mind, and for a moment, she felt resentful towards him, but that feeling quickly faded.
Thanks to Cyrus, she had been able to come here safely and comfortably. So, that matter was now settled.
'It's fine. The worst that can happen is a repeat of the treatment at the Bronte Ducal Estate. I'm used to that, aren't I?'
Thinking that, her heart felt lighter.
In any case, all she expected from the Eastern Duke was the position of Princess of the Eastern Territory. She wasn't seeking his affection, so his expression didn't matter to her.
"Are you nervous?"
Cyrus's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Not anymore."
"Good, there's no need to be nervous. Who wouldn't like a woman as intelligent as you?"
Everyone. Everyone disliked me.
Ariana swallowed those words and turned to Cyrus to express her gratitude. But Cyrus had already vanished, and his subordinates were nowhere to be found.
Ariana was left alone on the path winding through the vast fields.
There was no trace of them, not their presence, their scent, or even their footprints, to the point where she wondered if everything that had happened with Cyrus's group had been a dream.
Suddenly, an inexpressibly melancholic feeling washed over Ariana.
Ariana squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them, chasing the feeling away.
'It was never mine to begin with. It was just a fleeting connection, like a dream.'
She might meet him again someday if she became useful enough to him, but she didn't think such a day would come. Cyrus would have countless intelligent and versatile individuals around him even without Ariana.
Ariana gently bowed her head towards the spot where Cyrus had stood, expressing her gratitude, then walked towards the city gate of Ellus City.
+++
Cyrus, having concealed himself, watched Ariana walk towards the city gate. Her back was straight and unwavering as she walked, appearing confident and spirited.
He felt a strange sensation. He wanted to grab her arm and tell her not to go, and he also wanted to kidnap her right then and there and take her to the Northern Territory. Without knowing why he felt this way, he kept his gaze on Ariana as she moved further away.
Isaac asked in a low voice,
"Are we really going back to the Northern Territory like this?"
"Yes."
"Why don't you leave Rui or Noah behind? We don't know what might happen."
Rui and Noah also looked eager, their eyes shining as if they wished for such a command from Cyrus. But Cyrus was firm.
"No. There's no need. The Eastern Duke is different from the Western Duke. It won't be easy to deceive his eyes. And the Eastern Territory will be warm to Ariana."
"How do you know that? The Eastern Duke ignored his Duchess until she ended up in that state. Why would he suddenly treat his daughter well now that she's appeared?"
Cyrus recalled the letters he had found inside Rachel's coat.
The Eastern Duke's letter, tucked among the letters exchanged with the Western Duke.
"I'm not particularly worried about that part, but I am worried about Duke Hern's nagging."
"Ah..."
Isaac sighed, thinking of Duke Hern, who would be waiting impatiently in the Northern Territory. Not only were they returning much later than planned, but it seemed they wouldn't be bringing the future Duchess with them.
"I sent a letter to Duke Hern... This is a big problem."
"A letter? What did it say?"
Cyrus asked curiously, but Isaac didn't answer.
He would die before he'd say it was about bringing back the Northern Duchess.
