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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Reason for That Emotion, I Don't Know. (1)
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The day after returning to the Northern Territory, Cyrus was busier than he could breathe. He punished those who deserved punishment, rewarded those who deserved rewards, and eliminated those who needed to be eliminated.
After days of handling official business with hardly any sleep, a moment of respite finally arrived, and Cyrus rode his horse out of the castle.
Even though it was April, the Northern Territory was still covered in snow, and a clear blue sky, the color of Ariana's hair, met his gaze.
Suddenly, he wondered.
No, in fact, even amidst his relentless schedule, during brief moments of breath, he wondered.
‘What could she be doing right now?’
+++
Three weeks had passed since Ariana arrived in the Eastern Territory.
During that time, the Eastern Duke Russell had captured and killed the spy sent by the Western Territory, and Rachel, who had been awaiting news from the spy, eventually sent a telegram to the Eastern Duke.
“Are you perhaps holding Ariana, Your Highness?”
The Eastern Duke replied.
“No.”
Meanwhile, he secretly exchanged letters with witnesses to prepare for the trial. The maids who had been expelled from the Bronte family showed some reluctance, but the witnesses Ariana had mentioned readily agreed to testify.
Preparations for the custody trial were proceeding steadily, with only the notification to Rachel remaining.
During those three weeks, Ariana lived comfortably, to the point where her initial apprehension felt almost embarrassing.
Catherine, the lady-in-waiting assigned by the former Duchess Caradine, moved at Ariana's beck and call without any hint of surveillance, and most of the maids who came and went were kind and respectful to Ariana.
Count Pelos White, who occasionally visited, was as boisterous as ever, and even Duke Langsty White, who was usually more composed, showed no sign of assessing her usefulness.
While breakfast and lunch were often eaten separately, dinner was always taken in the dining room with Russell and the former Eastern Duke and his consort. What had initially been an awkward and tense situation was gradually becoming more comfortable.
The Eastern Territory was slightly cooler than the Western Territory but had a crisp, dry air. It rained less often than in the Western Territory, so the sky was always clear.
In the Western Territory, she always had to do housework, but in the Eastern Territory, she was asked to do nothing, leaving her with no tasks. This was the first time she had lived without anything to do, and she didn't know what to do with her abundant free time.
Knock-knock-
A bright, clear voice followed the knocking.
“Move. What permission do I need to enter my sister’s room?”
The door burst open, and Isabel swept in, her vibrant lime-green dress fluttering. Her long, navy hair was neatly tied back, and her blue eyes sparkled, making Isabel look full of life.
This was the first time Ariana had seen Isabel since the White family gathered for a meal shortly after Ariana arrived at the estate.
Isabel stopped in front of Ariana and frowned.
“You, you’re still dressed like that?”
“Lady Isabel, please stop.”
Catherine said gently, but Isabel ignored her.
“I told you, people don’t wear that color anymore! Didn’t His Highness buy you any dresses?”
“I have more than enough.”
Ariana’s wardrobe was filled with dresses.
After arriving in the Eastern Territory, she had eaten well and rested well, gaining some weight. Whenever a dress became a little too small, Catherine must have reported it to Russell, as a tailor would visit each time to take her measurements and create new dresses.
She wondered if she would ever be able to wear all those dresses in her lifetime.
“They’re all pink anyway, aren’t they?”
Isabel entered the dressing room without permission and checked the wardrobe.
“See? See? I knew it. His Highness has no taste.”
Ariana didn’t know what Isabel was trying to do, so she stood still and watched her.
Isabel returned to Ariana and grabbed her hand firmly.
“Let’s go out.”
“Where to?”
“Where else? To a dress shop. I’ll buy you a dress that’s perfectly in style and suits you.”
“Lady Isabel, I...”
“I told you not to do that!”
Isabel yelled.
“If you say ‘Lady Isabel’ again, I’m going to swear! I’m barely holding back right now!”
“...”
“Call me ‘Sister.’ And stop using that annoying formal speech. Ugh, seriously, it’s like you’re trying to act innocent. How obnoxious.”
Ariana looked back at Catherine for help, but Catherine could only offer a helpless smile.
‘Right, if the whole family found her difficult to handle, Catherine couldn’t possibly manage her.’
Ariana decided to do as Isabel wished.
“Okay, Sister.”
Isabel looked at Ariana and smiled brightly. It was a fresh smile, like a ripe fruit.
“Ah, that’s better. Let’s go, we need to prepare for the festival. Even if we get a dress made now, it’ll be cutting it close for completion.”
“Festival?”
“Yes, the Eastern Territory holds a festival called the Festival of Abundance from May 6th to 8th. It’s a festival to pray for a good harvest this year. Every house and shop prepares an abundance of delicious food and treats people. Lots of merchants also come, it’s so much fun.”
Isabel held Ariana’s hand tightly and chattered on endlessly about how exciting the Festival of Abundance was as they walked down the corridor.
When Isabel paused for a moment, Ariana spoke.
“But Sister, I shouldn’t be seen in the Eastern Territory yet.”
“It’s fine, I got permission.”
“From whom?”
“Of course, from His Highness the Eastern Duke…”
“Isabel, you’re lying again.”
At the stern voice from behind, Isabel stopped dead in her tracks. Ariana also stopped and slowly turned around.
Caradine stood with her arms crossed, looking at them with a wrathful expression.
Isabel gave an awkward laugh.
“Grandmother…”
“Where are you taking Ariana?”
“Her clothes are just awful. If she goes out dressed like that, the other noble ladies will just laugh at her.”
“She looks beautiful to me.”
“It doesn’t matter if she looks beautiful to you, Grandmother. You’re old now.”
Ariana was speechless at Isabel’s rudeness. To say such a thing so openly.
However, as if it were a frequent occurrence, Caradine’s expression didn’t change.
“Don’t you know that Ariana shouldn’t be seen by others right now?”
“What does it matter? Her hair is sky-blue, so unless someone tells them, they won’t think she’s from the White family. I can’t stand to see my sister go to the festival dressed like this. I’m going to buy her a dress.”
Isabel seemed determined to take Ariana out. Soon, Caradine chuckled and said.
“Alright, it’s the final stage anyway, so it won’t matter. Take escorts with you. Don’t go anywhere dangerous.”
+++
The Western Duke Rodian Oblen received a report that the Chief Investigator of Weston City, who was affiliated with the Empire, had secretly met with an outsider.
“He was disguised as a merchant, but his demeanor was unusual. We followed him when he left the city gates, but he didn’t go far before vanishing without a trace.”
After Ariana’s disappearance, the Western Duke had also been concerned about her whereabouts. Although she was just a child who knew nothing, if she spoke carelessly, it could tarnish the reputation of the Oblen family, in addition to the Bronte family.
Rachel had informed him that the Eastern Duke Russell had replied, “No,” to her telegram inquiring about Ariana’s whereabouts, but the Western Duke didn’t believe it. So he hired skilled individuals and infiltrated them into Ellus City.
‘A child, in the end, will rely on her parents. The Eastern Duke is a kind man, so he must have taken his daughter in.’
If so, what the Eastern Duke would do was obvious.
To regain Ariana’s custody, he would try to gather evidence of abuse. Therefore, he had placed surveillance on those who might testify.
At the forefront of these individuals was the Chief Investigator, who was affiliated with the Empire.
Since he was from the Empire and personally chosen and sent by the Emperor, his testimony would determine the outcome of the custody battle.
‘He’s not someone who can be swayed by money, so elimination is the only option.’
Killing an Imperial Chief Investigator was a great risk, but there was no other choice. He couldn't allow the family’s reputation to be further tarnished.
‘If that young girl’s custody goes to the Eastern Duke, the rumors spreading now will become truth, and those who were uninterested will become interested. I must do something before then.’
The Western Duke commanded his trusted aide.
“Keep a close watch on the Chief Investigator. If he shows any sign of leaving the Western Territory, kill him just before he sets foot on imperial land. Disguise it as the work of Paganus or bandits.”
+++
As they rode in the carriage, Isabel, who was sitting across from Ariana with her arms crossed, asked.
“Your mother abused you terribly, didn’t she? Is that true?”
“Yes, it’s true.”
“Did she hit you?”
“Yes. She also locked me in a prison and didn’t feed me for days.”
“Ha. Crazy b*tch. She did that to her own daughter?”
“Indeed. She did that to her own daughter.”
Isabel stared intently at Ariana, who replied with a faint smile, then asked.
“So you can’t trust us either? Do you think we’ll hit you and lock you up like that crazy woman?”
Ariana merely smiled, offering no reply.
How could she explain? Her past life. That desperate existence where she was only used and then discarded by everyone.
The kind-hearted had ulterior motives, and the gentle had hidden agendas. While they were at fault, she was also at fault for foolishly believing them.
She shouldn't have trusted anyone. To protect herself, she shouldn't have given her heart to anyone.
So, she resolved to live this life that way.
Not to be loved by anyone, nor to love anyone, she vowed to protect herself with an unyielding wall.
“Well, I understand. But His Highness won’t hit you. Though his appearance might be a bit intimidating, he’s a kind person. And very emotional. He’s been wanting to see you so much.”
That’s a lie.
Ariana gazed out the carriage window.
If he had wanted to see her that much, he would have come for her. He would have walked through flames to find her. He would have rescued her from that hell, no matter what.
If he had even made such an attempt, then the me of that time would have walked through an even greater hell for you.
At the wistful smile spreading across Ariana’s lips, Isabel fell silent.
Ariana was small and young, yet for some reason, she felt more mature than Isabel, who didn’t know what words of comfort to offer. Isabel had lived her whole life as she pleased, but it was hard for her to act brazenly in front of someone who wore such a smile.
But that only lasted a moment, and Isabel suddenly burst out.
“Hey, stop making people feel uncomfortable around you.”
“Huh?”
“If you want to get angry, get angry!”
Isabel stretched out both hands and pinched Ariana’s cheeks, pulling them.
“If you want to curse, curse! Don’t force yourself to smile like that.”
“Sister.”
“What?”
“It hurts.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Ariana found Isabel, who quickly let go and pouted her lips, a little endearing.
After a long drive, the carriage stopped in front of a dress shop. When the escort opened the door, Isabel stepped out first, followed by Ariana.
A man standing in an alley watched the backs of the two noble ladies as they entered the dress shop hand in hand.
