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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: 0010_64
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Ariana was overcome with an emotion difficult to name when Lanster suddenly reached for his sword. His cautious grey eyes gleamed sharply.
"Someone's here."
Ariana tensed at the low warning. She straightened her back and looked around, but a dark figure appeared behind Lanster.
*Swoosh—*
The sword, drawn in an instant, cut through the air horizontally. Ariana didn't even realize what had happened.
All Ariana could see was Lanster's sword pointed at Cyrus's neck, who stood leisurely. Even as the sword tip glinted sharply, Cyrus remained annoyingly at ease.
"Did I startle you?"
"Northern Duke. If you conceal yourself in this mansion, you risk being attacked."
"Indeed, I didn't expect you to notice my concealment so quickly. It's fortunate you're strong. I needn't worry about the Princess's safety."
"The Princess's safety is not for Your Grace to worry about."
Lanster, as a knight, must have known how strong Cyrus was, yet he showed no sign of backing down.
"It seems the Eastern Duke truly dotes on the Princess, to assign such a strong knight as her escort. Are you a captain?"
"I am the Vice-Captain."
Ariana was surprised. She hadn't known Lanster held such a high position as Vice-Captain. A lady's escort was usually entrusted to knights without a specific rank.
"A Vice-Captain serving as an escort knight. Do you have any complaints?"
"It is an honor beyond my deserts to serve the Princess. Why would I have any complaints about escorting the person my lord cherishes most? Rather, I should be proud to have obtained a position everyone desires."
Ariana stared blankly at Lanster, who spoke with an honest voice.
*Does he really think that way?*
"Princess."
At Cyrus's call, Ariana snapped back to reality.
"Would you please order your escort to lower his sword?"
"Ah."
Lanster hadn't lowered his sword even after she confirmed it was Cyrus, and she wondered why, but it seemed he needed his master's command. Since her escorts had always been wandering knights or mercenaries found by Harold on a whim, she hadn't known such a rule existed.
"Lanster, you can lower your sword."
As Ariana's command fell, Lanster lowered his sword. When Ariana asked him to step away for a moment, Lanster glanced at Cyrus with a wary look, then spoke.
"I will be within sword's reach."
After Lanster left, the two walked side by side in the garden.
The garden, with flowers in full bloom due to the warm weather, was not large but beautiful and cozy. The sky, where pure white clouds drifted by, was dazzling, and the occasional breeze was cool, making it perfect for a stroll.
For the first time in a long time—or perhaps, for the very first time—Ariana felt a sense of liberation.
She couldn't tell if it was because the Custody Trial had ended well and the Western Duke and Rachel had left for the Western Territory as if fleeing, or because Cyrus was by her side.
"Your expression has improved."
"Should I hide it?"
"No, it's good to rejoice freely when you've achieved a victory."
"Victory..."
Yes, this sense of liberation might be the joy of victory.
This wasn't the end, but she had inflicted a crushing defeat on the Western Duke and Rachel. If this defeat reached the Bronte Family mansion, Helena and Victoria would surely be seething.
*Just the fact that I've become a Princess will make Helena and Victoria green with envy. No matter how hard they try, they'll remain mere ladies.*
Ariana pulled herself from her thoughts and asked Cyrus.
"Did Louis not come with you?"
"It seems the Princess was more eager to see Louis than me."
"The Northern Duke's beauty is excessively dazzling, a bit overwhelming for me."
"You know how to speak sweetly, too."
"I do when it's necessary. And..."
Ariana subtly glanced sideways. Cyrus wore a cool smile around his lips, looking straight ahead.
His profile was truly like a beautiful sculpture. The perfect, flawless contours were like the finest artwork in the world.
She gazed at his straight forehead, the sharply defined bridge of his nose, and his impeccable jawline, then spoke honestly.
"Thank you, truly, Northern Duke."
"For what?"
"This time, I was truly in the dark. If you hadn't appeared at just the right moment, I might have been swallowed by the darkness."
"That's not true."
Cyrus turned to Ariana.
"Princess, you would have found the light even if I hadn't appeared. You would have merely grievously harmed your own body."
A faint crease appeared between Cyrus's brows. He stopped walking and approached Ariana closely.
"That method is not good. It will surely lead you to your death someday."
"A warrior, to achieve victory, wields their sword without fearing death. Didn't you call me a warrior?"
"Even so, do you mercilessly stab your own stomach? A warrior's sword aims at the enemy, not at oneself."
"But if there's only one way, isn't a warrior someone who unhesitatingly slits their own throat?"
"You don't need to follow that method, Princess!"
"I can do anything to get what I want. And... why are you so angry, Northern Duke?"
"Angry? Me?"
Ariana pointed at Cyrus's brow with her index finger.
"You look very angry. Are you so worried I might die before I can repay my debt?"
"...It seems so."
The anger on Cyrus's brow vanished. For some reason, he looked displeased as he resumed walking.
"Currently, rumors are circulating about a certain countess's daughter and a theater actor. Soon, when an article comes out, the story of a certain lady's Custody Trial will fade from people's memories."
"I see."
Ariana had expected as much. She didn't believe the Western Duke would have returned to the Western Territory without pulling any strings.
"But even if it fades from memory, what happened won't become unhappened. I don't mind it much."
Cyrus glanced at Ariana, who answered calmly, and asked.
"What will you do now?"
"Well. When I return to the Eastern Territory, perhaps I'll spend my time idly, like a proper Princess, embroidering?"
+++
Zeor, who was handling the Eastern Duke Russell's duties while he was away from the Eastern Territory, was busy beyond measure.
He first received news that Ariana's party, who had gone to the Empire, had won the Custody Trial before they even returned. Zeor's expression twisted when he heard that the Emperor and the Northern Duke were involved in the trial's outcome.
*This is going to be troublesome.*
As expected, trouble soon arose. Less than a day after receiving the news, Duke Cheodis Obelier sought out Zeor.
Duke Obelier was Zeor's biological father, a distant relative of the White Family.
The Obelier Family's ancestors had possessed navy-blue hair like the White Family members, but over generations, the color had faded, and now they had completely different hair colors.
Duke Obelier had brown hair, Duchess Obelier had scarlet hair, and their eldest son, the Young Duke, and their daughter also had the same scarlet hair as their mother, but only Zeor had navy-blue hair.
That navy-blue hair was the reason Zeor, the Obelier Duke's second son, could be adopted by Russell and become the Eastern Duke.
Duke Obelier sat on the sofa as soon as he entered the office and asked.
"Did you hear?"
"Now, now. Duke Obelier, aren't you being too rude in front of the Eastern Duke? Without even a proper greeting."
"Cut out that nonsense. No matter how high your position, you are my son."
"Is that so? Have you forgotten when you sent me to the Eastern Duke, you instructed me to treat His Grace as my father and act without a single lapse?"
"Even so, the fact that you are my son hasn't changed!"
"Is that why you came rushing here so brazenly as soon as the Eastern Duke was away? You were so careful when His Grace was present."
"When have I ever been careful! Your way of speaking never changes, I swear."
Zeor gave a bitter smile and sat opposite Duke Obelier. Zeor crossed his long legs, lifted his chin, and looked down at Duke Obelier as he asked.
"I'm busy, so what's the reason you rushed here, Duke?"
"I was about to tell you, but you interrupted me! You heard about that girl's Custody Trial result, didn't you?"
Zeor frowned.
"Mind your words. Calling the Princess 'that girl.' That's behavior for which you'd lose your head right here."
"This isn't the time for word games! Why would that girl, who knew nothing while living in the Western Territory Ducal Family, suddenly come to the Eastern Territory and covet the position of Princess? Huh?"
"She simply returned to her rightful place. Isn't that admirable?"
"Admirable, my foot!"
Duke Obelier slammed his fists on the table.
"That girl even moved the Emperor and the Northern Duke. You might lose your position because of her, you fool!"
"It's not losing it, Duke, it's returning it. This position was never mine to begin with."
Duke Obelier's eyes blazed at Zeor's relaxed attitude. He looked at his son with disdain and said.
"Such a lack of ambition. You've been like this since you were a child. If only Piersin had been born with navy-blue hair."
At the mention of his eldest son, Young Duke Piersin Obelier, Zeor's expression hardened.
But Duke Obelier didn't notice and continued speaking.
"She swayed the Eastern Duke's heart by saying she was abused in the Western Territory and ran away, and then she held a Custody Trial in the Empire and defeated the Western Duke. They say Duchess Loventa even appeared as a witness, and on top of that, the Emperor and the Northern Duke... she's no ordinary girl. How old did you say she was?"
"I don't think the Duke needs to concern himself with that. If that's all you have to say, please leave now. As you can see, I'm busy."
"Get a grip, Zeor Obelier."
"It's Zeor White, Duke."
"No, even if you die and come back to life, you are an Obelier. Your mother and I have high hopes for you."
Duke Obelier clearly saw Zeor's eyes waver at the mention of his mother. Duke Obelier wore a sardonic smile.
"You may not care, but I won't stand by and watch my son be pushed aside by some girl who came out of nowhere. Zeor, don't make your father take matters into his own hands."
After Duke Obelier left, Zeor ran his hands over his face. A troubled sigh escaped through his fingers.
Duke Obelier knew Zeor's weakness too well. His mother was the one and only weakness that prevented Zeor from completely severing ties with the Obelier Family.
A pure, innocent, fairy-like person.
His mother didn't know with what intentions Duke Obelier had adopted Zeor into the White Family. She also didn't know the grand ambitions Duke Obelier harbored in his heart.
She was simply a kind woman who trusted and believed in her husband and children.
Zeor recalled the day before Ariana left for the Empire. Ariana, who had met his murderous gaze calmly, without any fear.
He didn't completely trust her, but he also didn't want to harm her, as she wasn't doing anything wrong.
However, Duke Obelier's last words bothered him.
-"Don't make your father take matters into his own hands."
Zeor knew well how far Duke Obelier would go for his ambitions. If Zeor acted incorrectly, his mother would be in danger.
His temples throbbed.
*What should I do...?*
