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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: 0011_65
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From April to June was the social season, so many nobles gathered in Sterion City, the Imperial Capital.
The streets lined with villas where nobles from other nations and regions resided, and the luxury inn districts, were bustling, and salons were fully booked.
Recently, whenever nobles gathered, they chattered about Ariana's custody trial and the Northern Duke. While a certain Countess's scandal was an interesting topic, it couldn't surpass the conflict between the Eastern Duke and Western Duke, and the Northern Duke's intervention.
Nobles ceaselessly sent party invitations to the Northern Duke and Eastern Duke, but both had left the Empire without ever responding.
The story of the Northern Duke, who appeared like a knight on a white horse to save the pitiable girl Ariana just before she was bound by her wicked mother's shackles, became the lyrics of bards' songs, and a certain theater troupe began preparing to turn it into a play.
Thus, Ariana and Northern Duke Cyrus, who had stirred a storm in the Imperial Capital, were now staying in the small city of Aubang and leisurely enjoying a dinner.
Eastern Duke Russell had rented an entire large inn in Aubang City, providing rooms for Cyrus and Isaac, and hosted a dinner in the evening, inviting both of them.
"I apologize for only being able to offer such a humble reception in a place like this to my benefactor."
Cyrus replied calmly to Russell's words.
"It's perfectly adequate. The Capital had too many prying eyes, making it inconvenient to visit."
"If you visit the Eastern Territory later, I will treat you with honor."
"Yes, I would gladly accept your invitation."
Russell sent a gaze filled with complex emotions towards Cyrus, who was calmly eating.
In the past, the Eastern Territory and Northern Territory maintained a rather close relationship.
This was due to Hedran, the massive Paganus city located in the Hinan Region, in the northeast of the continent.
Paganus would frequently cross the borders of the Northern or Eastern Territories, abducting or plundering people, and it was natural for the Northern and Eastern Territories to cooperate to keep them in check.
Both the previous and the one before that generations of dukes treated each other's territories like their own, maintaining close ties. Until that war broke out a decade and some years ago.
After the previous Northern Duke and his wife died in the war, the Northern Territory truly became a lawless land. This was because Cyrus, the Northern Duke at the time, was too young.
Russell wanted to help Cyrus, but he couldn't openly act because the Emperor had stripped him of his military command and issued an Imperial Decree for him to remain confined.
He secretly sent people to search for Cyrus, but they couldn't find him. No matter how many people he sent, there was no news, so he thought Cyrus had died, but he had survived and even splendidly reclaimed the Northern Duke's position.
Russell had received no reply when he sent letters of congratulation to Cyrus, nor when he sent invitations.
But he understood.
He couldn't reach out to Cyrus in his most difficult moment, so he could more than guess how Cyrus must have felt.
And that same Cyrus had helped Ariana.
Feelings of gratitude, regret, and a longing for an old friend filled Russell's chest.
Unlike Cyrus, who ate quietly, Isaac's seat was lively.
"Of course, Grandmother. If the Princess applies this ointment every day, her scars will disappear completely. Older scars might take a bit longer, but I'd estimate they'll be gone in about three months."
"Thank you for caring so much for our child."
"There's no need to thank me; I merely did what I do best. My father always said that there should be no discrimination when it comes to healing others."
"Yes, Sir Peren was truly generous and kind-hearted."
As Caradine spoke with a nostalgic tone, Isaac's green eyes also filled with longing. But it was only for a moment; Isaac soon smiled brightly and chattered about other things.
Ariana, who was dining next to Russell, subtly raised her eyes to observe Isaac and the previous Eastern Duke and his wife.
'The Northern and Eastern Territories were closer than I thought.'
She knew that the Northern and Eastern Territories had maintained friendly relations before Cyrus's parents died in the war. However, she hadn't realized their relationship was so close that they would even forge ties with the Peren Family, who were part of the bourgeoisie, not even nobility.
'The Third Prince had said their relationship was very poor when he investigated it before.'
What Third Prince Harold, who coveted the throne, was most concerned about were the Northern and Eastern Territories, both possessing strong military power. He wanted to draw both nations to his side, but the Northern Duke and Eastern Duke wouldn't budge.
If the Northern Duke and Eastern Duke joined hands and sided with the Crown Prince, it would be impossible for the Third Prince to ascend the throne, no matter what he did. Thus, the Third Prince paid great attention to the movements of the two nations.
Until Ariana died, the relationship between the Northern Duke and Eastern Duke never recovered. Even when the Eastern Territory fell, the Northern Territory did not extend a helping hand.
So she had thought their relationship was merely that, but this dinner now felt like a gathering of long-lost family. Cyrus and Isaac seemed more like family to the White Family than Ariana herself.
'The Northern Duke intends to use me someday, so he must be forging friendly ties with the Eastern Duke for that purpose. It would make it easier to conspire with me then.'
At this point, she couldn't tell if the improved relationship between the Northern Duke and Eastern Duke was a good thing.
'The Third Prince had been eyeing the throne even before this time. He must still be receiving reports on the movements of the Northern and Eastern Territories. If he learns of the exchanges between the Northern Duke and Eastern Duke, he'll surely prepare appropriate countermeasures.'
Ariana didn't yet have the power to contend with Imperial family members, so she didn't know how best to react if the Third Prince were to launch an attack.
"What thoughts occupy the Princess so deeply that she eats sherbet with a fork?"
Cyrus's voice pulled Ariana out of her reverie.
Dinner had already finished, and sherbet had been served for dessert, but Ariana was still holding a fork. Everyone at the table saw the fork in her hand, causing Ariana's cheeks to flush pink.
"I was just recalling my days in the Western Territory."
At Ariana's excuse, the White Family's expressions hardened, Isaac's eyebrows drooped sympathetically, and Cyrus's lips curved slightly as if amused.
"Oh."
"My education was lacking, so I didn't even know how to eat dessert properly. I apologize if I bothered the Northern Duke."
Suddenly, Cyrus was made out to be the bad guy.
While the White Family didn't show it, having received great help from Cyrus, Isaac was different. He immediately glared at Cyrus, sending him a reproachful look.
Cyrus slightly bowed his head.
"I have committed a great discourtesy to the Princess. I failed to consider the Princess's painful days. To ask for your forgiveness, I wish to escort you on a walk after dinner; would you permit it?"
"Northern Duke, the Princess is still not well, so a walk might not be advisable."
No matter that they had been separated for over a decade, a father was still a father. As Russell, sensing the subtle atmosphere between Cyrus and Ariana, interjected, Isaac spoke up, not to be outdone.
"The Princess has now fully recovered, Your Grace, Eastern Duke. Although old scars remain, she has consistently taken the stamina recovery potion I gave her, so her body should be healthy. And a short walk after a meal is very beneficial for health."
"However, this city is unfamiliar, so I worry the Princess might be scared."
"Oh, Your Grace. Do you doubt our Northern Duke's abilities? He's incredibly strong, you know. If an attacker appears, he can just freeze them solid."
"What if she stumbles in the dark?"
"Our Duke will escort her safely."
Ariana couldn't understand the subtle battle of wits between Eastern Duke Russell and Isaac.
'Why is the Eastern Duke trying to prevent me from walking with the Northern Duke? Has he found something suspicious about the Northern Duke?'
Ariana, completely unaware of a father's heart for his daughter, listened to their conversation with a puzzled expression, but Tiador nodded, watching Russell's defense with satisfaction.
Unable to watch the two White Family men try to hinder Ariana and Cyrus's walk any longer, Caradine spoke.
"The Northern Duke is a gentleman, so he will escort Ariana well. Ariana would probably like to get some fresh air too."
"Mother."
"Ariana, don't go too far, and be careful."
Russell and Tiador glared at Caradine disapprovingly, but Caradine didn't flinch.
As if pushed, Ariana set out on her walk, with 10 gold held in her hand. It was pocket money Caradine had given her, telling her to buy whatever she needed.
It was the first time she had ever received pocket money, so she felt flustered. A bitter smile escaped her as she recalled the days she secretly sold Victoria and Helena's accessories for when she might need money.
"Since the Princess has 10 gold, I suppose I can get at least one snack. Or will you save that money too?"
"If the Northern Duke's favor can be repaid with 10 gold, would you like me to buy you just one snack? I'd buy you a hundred, even."
"I couldn't eat that much, so I'll decline."
"Before leaving the Western Territory, I had to risk my life to earn around 20 gold, but here in the Eastern Territory, 10 gold just lands in my hand during a walk."
"So, do you resent it?"
At the piercing question, Ariana looked back at Cyrus. Cyrus continued to speak, walking slowly while gazing straight ahead.
"The Princess suffered terribly in the Western Territory while the Eastern Territory lived peacefully and happily. It's natural to feel resentment."
She felt ashamed that Cyrus had seen through her innermost feelings, which she had never told anyone. She also felt pathetic, wondering if her actions had betrayed her thoughts so obviously.
"It's meaningless resentment, Princess. Even if you resent the Eastern Duke's family now, what happened to you won't change."
It was a valid point. Ariana knew that well.
But it wasn't easy.
"I am a person too, Northern Duke. I'm not a doll; I can't just erase feelings that arise naturally."
"Perhaps. You can't erase them, but you can try to. However, from what I see, it doesn't seem like the Princess intends to try."
"..."
"The Eastern Duke is a good man. The previous Eastern Duke and his wife were the same. But the Eastern Territory is also a place where people live, so not everyone can be good. There will be those who envy and resent the Princess, and those who will try to eliminate her for their own purposes."
"I know."
"Someone who 'knows' acts like that?"
Cyrus stopped walking and turned to Ariana. Starlight, fallen upon the small river flowing behind them, enveloped him.
"Meaningless resentment and vigilance will only tire a person. Doubting those you should trust might prevent you from properly responding to an enemy's attack. You might also sharpen your senses for useless things and fail to direct them in the right direction."
"So, are you saying the White Family are good people, and I should open my heart and trust them? What if things go wrong then? What if I accepted them as my family, but they were actually just planning to use and discard me? What then?"
Ariana didn't realize her voice had become sharp.
Cyrus stared silently at Ariana with an expressionless face, then asked.
"Has the Princess ever trusted the Bronte Family?"
Yes, I did. Until the very last moment, until the moment I was strangled to death, I trusted them.
She swallowed the words that hovered in her throat.
Cyrus observed Ariana with keen eyes and said.
"Why does it sound to my ears as if you trusted them and were utterly betrayed? The Princess I saw in the Western Territory seemed to not trust her family for a single moment."
