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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: I Will Prove My Worth (2)
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The bathroom, floored with white marble, was spacious and luxurious.
The large window was adorned with stained glass in dazzling colors of green, red, and gold, preventing anyone from seeing inside, yet sunlight streamed in, scattering brilliant light across the white marble bathroom.
The warm water, filling the large tub, carried a pleasant scent, as if a few drops of perfume had been added. On the trolley beside the tub rested a plate of cookies and cool grape juice.
Though traveling with Cyrus's party had made the journey comfortable, the accumulated fatigue from the long journey, however, was inescapable.
As she immersed herself in the warm water, her tension eased, and the travel weariness she had been suppressing descended upon her like a heavy weight. Though she desperately wanted to simply fall asleep, Ariana endured.
‘How extravagant.’
Forcing her heavy eyelids open, Ariana surveyed the bathroom.
‘Yes, the Eastern Territory’s influence was indeed greater than the Western Territory’s. That’s why the Western Duke was wary of the Eastern Duke.’
The Northern and Eastern Territories were permitted to cultivate strong armies to contend with the Paganus, who were situated to their northeast. The Eastern Territory, naturally blessed with a good climate and abundant resources, grew so powerful with the added military strength that it rivaled the Empire itself.
The Western Duke, who harbored dreams of one day becoming an imperial in-law, grew wary of the Eastern Territory’s growing power. Thus, he sent Rachel to sow discord between the Emperor and the Eastern Duke with a few cunning schemes.
The Emperor, already prone to suspicion, turned his back on the Eastern Duke due to that minor instigation.
Had the remnants of the Paganus not still lingered, the Emperor would have crushed and uprooted the Eastern Duke. However, the Emperor needed a force to keep the Paganus in check from the east, so he had no choice but to leave the Eastern Territory be.
He did, however, strip them of their military command, which allowed them to mobilize imperial troops when needed. Consequently, the Eastern Territory was left to defend against the Paganus solely with its own strength.
Because of the Paganus, who worshipped false gods and employed strange sorcery, the Eastern Territory's eastern border was always under strict vigilance. Ariana had expected the atmosphere in the Eastern Territory to be somber, given the constant threat of war, but it was surprisingly peaceful.
‘The Eastern Duke lived in a place like this.’
To survive, Ariana had been forced to read everyone's expressions, endure exploitation, abuse, and all manner of humiliation. She had to smile for those who sought to use her for their own convenience, and submit her body to their will.
And then she died.
While she lived and died so fiercely and desperately, the Eastern Duke lived in such a beautiful and peaceful place.
For a moment, she barely managed to suppress the resentment welling up inside her.
Instead of crying out in bitter rage, she picked up a cookie from the tray beside her and put it in her mouth. The cookie was sweet, but her heart was bitter.
Ariana finished the entire cookie, which was as big as her face, before getting out of the tub.
+++
The head maid, a woman with a kind demeanor, introduced herself as Countess Effrin Roman.
“Everyone is waiting in the dining room.”
Though her whole body felt heavy from the warm bath, making her feel as if she could collapse at any moment, Ariana composed herself and followed the head maid to the dining room.
Chase Castle had several dining rooms, and they were led to one of the smaller ones. It was the elderly lady's consideration, meant for a cozy meal together, but Ariana found the cramped seating at the small table uncomfortable.
Still, without showing any sign of it, she sat down in the chair a servant pulled out for her. It was next to the Eastern Duke.
Across from them sat the former Eastern Duke and Duchess.
Ariana sat upright and poised, meeting their scrutinizing gazes.
Caradine, the former Eastern Duchess, spoke.
“I’m not sure if there’s anything here you’ll like. For now, we’ve prepared dishes our children enjoy.”
Only then did Ariana look at the food laid out before her.
The dishes, beautifully decorated to a surprising degree given the short preparation time, all looked delicious.
“I am grateful for anything, so please don’t worry, former Eastern Duchess. I am simply thankful for such a precious meal, especially given my sudden visit.”
Even though nothing particularly grand had been prepared, Ariana's effusive gratitude made Russell furrow his brow.
How deprived must she have been to call this "precious food"?
Theodore spoke.
“Child. Please eat.”
“Thank you for the meal.”
Ariana picked up her fork and calmly began to eat.
Slowly, elegantly, yet not too deliberately. With the same dignity she had displayed when dining before the Empress.
Her impeccable demeanor left no room for criticism, making Theodore inwardly marvel.
How much must the child have lived on edge, to be so cautious even while eating?
Ariana’s behavior seemed as noble as a member of the imperial family, yet it was not the kind of grace a young girl, who hadn't even had her debutante ball, should possess. One could only imagine what Ariana's life must have been like for her to have mastered such etiquette at such a young age.
Under the gaze of the adults, whose hearts ached so much they couldn't even lift their forks, Ariana finished her meal as if undergoing an examination. Even the sherbet served for dessert was eaten with flawless manners, not a single fault to be found.
Caradine asked.
“Was it enough?”
“Yes, thanks to your consideration, it was more than enough. I ate very well.”
Now that she was well-washed and well-fed, Ariana wondered how the White family would react.
Would they cast her out, or would they allow her to prove her worth?
She prepared herself mentally for either outcome, when Theodore spoke.
“Then it would be best for you to go and rest. You must be tired from the long journey.”
“Pardon?”
This was outside Ariana’s expectations.
To tell her to rest without asking anything? Would they really give her a room so easily?
She couldn't shake off her suspicion, wondering if there was some ulterior motive, when Caradine stood up first and extended her hand to Ariana. Ariana didn't know what to do, so she simply stared at the elderly lady's hand.
Her palm was calloused. The hand of someone who had wielded a sword for a long time.
Suddenly, she recalled Cyrus's words that the White family's women were also warriors.
“Child?”
At Caradine's urging call, Ariana shifted her gaze from the palm to Caradine’s face. Then she replied with a mix of boldness and politeness.
“I apologize, I am not yet accustomed to the Eastern Territory’s customs, so I do not know what the former Eastern Duchess desires.”
In that instant, Caradine's face suddenly crumpled, making Ariana realize she had made a great mistake, though she didn't know what. She quickly started to rise to apologize, but before she could, Caradine tightly grasped Ariana's hand.
“This old woman,”
Caradine spoke, her voice suppressing surging emotions.
“This old woman just wanted to hold my child’s hand.”
Ariana looked up at Caradine with wide, startled eyes. She couldn't understand the reason for the sorrow emanating from the face of the elderly lady, who must have once been very beautiful.
She only knew that the hand clutching her small one, though rough from calluses, was incredibly warm.
Led out of the dining room by Caradine’s hand, Ariana couldn't hide her bewilderment.
‘Holding hands...’
Of course, she knew that parents held their children's hands like this when walking. Even Duke and Duchess Bronte had always held Helena and Victoria's hands like this when they were young.
What most children took for granted had never been allowed to Ariana. Even when she was too young to walk well, no one had ever held her hand and walked slowly with her.
Walking and running, she had to do alone. Even getting up when she fell was solely her responsibility.
Because these were things she naturally had to do alone, she had never yearned for them. She had never envied Helena and Victoria holding Rachel’s hand as they walked.
When something she had never even wished for became reality, an inexpressible emotion filled her chest. But not knowing how to express it, she simply pressed her lips together and followed Caradine.
They ascended the central staircase to the third floor and walked down the left corridor. Caradine stopped in front of a large door.
When the accompanying maids opened the door, Caradine held Ariana’s hand tightly and stepped inside.
Upon entering the room, Ariana gasped involuntarily, stunned by its extravagance.
A spacious reception room, two bedrooms, a dressing room, and a bathroom. The large windows let in abundant sunlight, warming the air inside the room, and a subtle, pleasant scent lingered everywhere.
Every piece of furniture in the reception room was luxurious, and there was even a large fireplace.
Not even Victoria or Helena had rooms so large and splendid.
So Ariana thought this room must surely belong to the former Eastern Duchess. Although the colors of the furniture and decorations in the room were a little subtle, she never dreamed it would be a room assigned to her.
“This is your room, Ariana.”
So when Caradine said that, Ariana was startled.
“My room?”
“Yes. I always kept your room ready, thinking that someday you might come to visit the Eastern Territory.”
She didn't know how to respond to such an unexpected remark. Her mind was numb with fatigue and surprise, and no suitable words came to her.
“My room…”
“I’d love to explore the room with you, but you must be very tired. Get some good rest, and when you wake up, we can talk and explore the room together, alright?”
Caradine led Ariana to the bedroom and watched as Ariana lay down on the bed.
Ariana had never experienced such a soft, large, and pleasant-smelling bed in her life, so she wondered if she would even be able to sleep in such a place.
Contrary to her worries, the accumulated travel fatigue fully embraced the soft, sun-scented blanket, lulling Ariana into a deep sleep.
Caradine looked down pityingly at Ariana, who had fallen asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.
“Has she fallen asleep?”
Russell, who had followed a step behind, fearing Ariana might be scared, asked in a low voice.
“This child didn’t even know if I wanted to hold her hand.”
Caradine’s voice was thick with emotion. Russell bowed his head dejectedly, taking in the sight of his tiny daughter.
Her unforgettable light blue hair was spread across the pillow. While awake, she presented a flawless demeanor, leaving no opening, but in sleep, she looked like a child.
However, her distorted expression even in sleep broke Russell’s heart.
It’s alright. It’s alright now.
He withdrew the hand that had been reaching out to caress his young daughter’s cheek with such thoughts. Fearing she might shatter, fearing she might wake up and once again don that wary, tense expression.
What kind of life had she lived, for this small child to be able to present such a perfect demeanor at every moment?
Only then did Russell truly grasp that, as a father, he knew nothing about his daughter.
The fact that Rachel had tried to hide her, and that it had been difficult for him to set foot in the Western Territory, would all sound like mere excuses to this child. Because it sounded like that even to his own ears.
“Now, we must teach her.”
Russell’s voice settled heavily.
“That a child, when walking, should hold their parent’s hand.”
