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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: To Chase Castle (2)
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"You're really small. You look so young, weren't you scared carrying so much money around?"
"I'm fine. Thank you for your help."
"Alright. I'll return your money, but..."
He held out the gold coins to Ariana. Ariana politely took the coins and carefully put them into her pocket.
The knight, who had been watching her, spoke.
"Where were you headed? I'll take you."
"Sir Knight, you must be busy with your duties. I couldn't possibly take up your valuable time. Your help has already been more than enough."
At Ariana's mature response, he widened his eyes in surprise.
"You seem so young, yet you speak so maturely. My cousin is older than you, but he acts like a complete lunatic."
"Oh..."
"It's good to be mature, but a child should also know how to accept help from adults. Ellus City is safe, but a child with a lot of money will always be at risk. It's my job to protect citizens, so I'll take you."
With him insisting so much, she couldn't refuse any longer.
'Right, they'll find out eventually anyway.'
She had a rough idea of the Eastern Duke's family relations, so she could guess who this man was.
"Then, I'd appreciate it. I'm on my way to Chase Castle."
"Chase Castle? Do you have something to tell His Grace the Eastern Duke?"
"Yes."
"May I ask what it's about?"
"No."
"I am Averster White. The Eastern Duke's nephew."
'Just as I thought...'
Averster White was the son of Duke Langsty White, the Eastern Duke's younger brother, making him a Grand Duke.
As far as Ariana knew, he despised the Empire so much that he had never once set foot on Imperial land. So, it was natural she wouldn't remember seeing him.
Averster spoke gently.
"If you or your family have been wronged, tell me. I'll relay it to His Grace."
"I wish to tell him myself."
"His Grace is a busy man, I'm not sure he'll see you easily."
"It's alright. I can wait, whether it's a month or a year, until he makes time."
Averster gazed at Ariana with a look of pity.
He seemed to think she was just being stubbornly childish, but Ariana kept her mouth shut, not correcting his assumption.
"Alright then. I'll take you to Chase Castle."
Averster lifted Ariana up and placed her on the horse.
His unceremonious manner was surprising, but she didn't show it, remaining still as he guided her.
Averster also mounted the horse, sitting Ariana in front of him, and slowly rode on.
-"Every single one of them is cold and ruthless."
Ariana, who had often heard about the White family from Rachel, found Averster's behavior incredibly surprising, so different from what she had been told.
For a Grand Duke to show such kindness to a mere child who had only lost her money to a pickpocket was astonishing.
While it was true that more nobles had recently begun practicing *noblesse oblige*, it was usually just for show, through donations or by having their servants do the work. Nobles who personally carried it out were rare.
As Chase Castle drew near, Averster spoke.
"If it becomes too difficult to wait for His Grace, go to the guard post by the castle gate over there and say you want to see me. I'll tell the soldiers there."
"Yes, thank you."
They finally arrived at the main gate of Chase Castle.
Averster dismounted first and helped Ariana down.
Ariana gazed at the castle with a feeling of deep emotion.
'I finally made it here.'
About two months since her regression. After experiencing what could be considered many or few events, she had reached this place.
The Eastern Duke's land, a place she had never once set foot on before she died.
'The land where I was born. But not a land that is mine.'
"Come here, little one."
Averster's voice broke her reverie.
Averster, seemingly with no intention of leaving, took Ariana and headed towards the knight guarding the main gate.
The knights, recognizing Averster, saluted.
"Grand Duke. Have you come to see our lord?"
"Yes, is he busy?"
"Yes, I apologize, but he has instructed that no one be allowed in for the time being."
"Oh dear."
Averster looked back at Ariana, as if to say, "See?"
But instead of looking at him, Ariana stepped forward and stood before the knight. Then, with her hands neatly clasped, she spoke.
"Please tell His Grace the Eastern Duke that I request an audience."
Ariana wore a shabby cloak, but her posture was confident, and her voice carried an air of dignity. Despite being a child's voice, its uncommon grace caused the knights to instinctively adopt a cautious demeanor.
"Pardon? Who might you be...?"
Ariana stared straight at them and said,
"I am Ariana. The daughter of His Grace the Eastern Duke."
+++
The knight, who had been watching Ariana in a daze before rushing inside, returned quickly.
"P-Please come in."
Until then, Averster had been holding his breath, staring down at the back of the small child standing before him. When Ariana moved, he suddenly snapped back to attention and spoke.
"M-M-Me too!"
"I apologize, Grand Duke. He, uh, only this person is permitted to enter."
Averster was consumed with curiosity about whether this unchildlike child was truly the Eastern Duke's daughter, or if not, who she was, and what would happen next, but he couldn't disregard the Eastern Duke's command.
He could only watch Ariana's back as she walked away calmly without a single backward glance, before hastily mounting his horse and galloping off.
He had to inform his father of this news.
+++
In a spacious and opulent reception room, Ariana sat alone.
The interior, a harmonious blend of white and gold, was beautiful, but she was too nervous to truly take it in.
'The Eastern Duke. Russell White.'
How would he treat a daughter he was seeing for the first time?
'He'll frown, won't he?'
That much was certain. She had experienced it herself.
'Will he grill me about my intentions for coming?'
He might. Given the strained relations between the Western and Eastern Territories, he would likely suspect she had approached him with ulterior motives, just like Rachel.
'First, what I can offer is the location of the letters Rachel exchanged with the Western Duke during her time in the Eastern Territory. And the Western Duke's weakness. If I offer these two, he won't kick me out, will he?'
The process of being treated as a true princess of the Eastern Territory could be handled step by step once she secured a room in Chase Castle.
She shouldn't be too greedy from the start. Being acknowledged as his daughter, that was the goal.
*Knock-knock-*
Along with the knocking sound, a low voice was heard.
"It is Count Fosshard Roman, the Chamberlain. I will enter."
The reception room door opened, and the person who entered was an elderly gentleman with white hair.
'Right, the Eastern Duke himself wouldn't appear right away.'
Ariana calmly settled her mind and, remaining seated on the sofa, gazed at Chamberlain Fosshard. The Chamberlain bowed slightly to Ariana, introduced himself, and then spoke.
"I heard you declared yourself Lady Ariana, daughter of His Grace the Eastern Duke."
"..."
"Could you please provide proof?"
Ariana rose from the sofa without a word. Then, facing the Chamberlain, she removed her hood.
The Chamberlain stared blankly as the hidden sky-blue hair cascaded down, shimmering with a refreshing light. His eyes wavered, startled.
Ariana gently pushed the hair that had fallen below her shoulders back and said,
"Is that enough proof?"
The Chamberlain replied with a faint smile.
"Please wait a moment."
After the Chamberlain left, Ariana sat back on the sofa and looked down at her hair. She had inherited the White family's blood, but somehow, the color had faded, turning her hair sky-blue.
'The Eastern Duke should remember what color his daughter's hair was, shouldn't he?'
+++
The Chamberlain, who had exited the reception room and closed the door, paused for a moment and took a deep breath. Outside, his wife, Effrin, who was also the Head Maid, nervously waiting, asked in a small voice.
"Really...?"
When the Chamberlain nodded, the Head Maid clapped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes welled up with tears.
The Chamberlain left his sniffling wife and hurried towards the Eastern Duke's office.
In Eastern Duke Russell White's office, the former Eastern Duke, Theodore White, and the former Eastern Duchess, Caradine White, were present.
The former Eastern Duke and Duchess had been residing in one of Chase Castle's various buildings, and upon hearing the news that 'Ariana, the Eastern Duke's daughter' had arrived, they had rushed over.
Tense eyes turned to the Chamberlain.
The Chamberlain swallowed hard, his throat tight, and spoke solemnly.
"Her hair is sky-blue. She has the same eyes as His Grace. It is undoubtedly Lady Ariana."
Instantly, Caradine collapsed onto the sofa. Theodore's eyes widened, and he asked in a trembling voice,
"Count Roman, is it true? Are you certain? It's not dyed, is it?"
"It's not a color that can be achieved with dye. Furthermore, her face..."
The Chamberlain's gaze shifted to the Eastern Duke.
"It is identical to His Grace's."
Russell, who had been listening to the Chamberlain's report with an indifferent and cold expression, buried his face in his hands.
His dark navy hair became tangled in his strong, long fingers. His broad shoulders trembled imperceptibly. A slightly ragged breath escaped from within his palms.
After what felt like a slightly long time, Russell lifted his head.
With a slight frown, a firm mouth, and cool eyes—the same expression Ariana had seen on him before—he looked at his father and mother and asked,
"What should I do?"
Theodore strode forward and lightly slapped the back of Russell's head.
"Snap out of it, you fool! What do you mean, 'What should I do'? Go and hug her right now!"
"Hug her? Is that alright?"
"Of course! She's your daughter, isn't she?"
"But... she must be grown up now... it's the first time I've seen her since she left the Eastern Territory... uh... won't she be scared of me?"
Theodore sighed, looking at his son's sharp, piercing eyes.
"If you know that, then soften your gaze a bit."
"I have softened it, Father."
"Soften it more! With eyes like that, the child will cry!"
"I suppose so, won't she?"
Russell, who had jumped to his feet, paced nervously around the office before stopping in front of a mirror to examine his face.
Due to his naturally stern demeanor, children were so afraid of Russell that they would burst into tears if their eyes met his. Even his nephews used to avoid approaching him when they were young.
Furthermore, Russell was a man of few words and no sense of humor, so he couldn't comfort a child with kind words.
"It seems impossible."
However he looked at his reflection in the mirror, Russell only appeared angry.
"Father, Mother, let's go together."
Caradine said,
"If we all rush in, Ariana might get scared, dear."
"No, it might be better than him going alone. He's not good with words, so he won't be able to comfort the child if she gets scared."
