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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: 0012_66
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Cyrus is sharp, as expected, Ariana thought, replying calmly.
"Must one experience it to understand?"
"You are too young, Princess, to grasp such things before they happen. The methods I observed you employ in the Western Territory didn't seem to have been perfected in just a day or two."
"And didn't the Northern Duke make a splendid comeback at merely fourteen years old?"
"I had many who aided me. But you, Princess, are alone."
"I had the Northern Duke's help."
"No, even without my help, you would have found your own way out of that situation, Princess."
Cyrus gently took Ariana's chin between his thumb and forefinger. Ariana lifted her head, following his touch.
His red eyes pierced her, scrutinizing her intently. His intense gaze felt almost tangible, as if it were meticulously sifting through every fiber of her being.
His hand was cold, yet for some reason, where it touched, she felt a burning heat. She started to step back, trying to escape his hand, but he lowered his hand first.
"Do you know who was the first person to enter my room when the news reached the Northern Territory that my parents had died in the war? I was just a boy, reading a book in my room, completely oblivious."
"...Who was it?"
"My father's younger brother. The man I called my uncle tried to smother me with a pillow. Because that was how he could sit on the Northern Duke's throne."
It was the first time Cyrus had spoken of his own story.
"Our relationship had always been good. No, it was excellent. When my parents were away due to war, I followed him as if he were my father. My parents trusted him so much that they told me to depend on him if anything happened."
Cyrus's expression remained calm even as he recounted the betrayal.
"Those I trusted tried to kill me. My father's loyal retainers were, in fact, eyeing his position. I was lucky to escape, but I couldn't trust anyone. There were helping hands, but I had no choice but to push them all away. Duke Hern and Sir Peren found me and tried to help, but I couldn't trust them, and Sir Peren died in the process."
"Sir Peren, you mean..."
"Isaac's father."
"..."
"Only then did I realize my mistake. It's natural to harbor hatred and wariness in a precarious situation, but I learned that there must be a distinction in where it's directed."
Cyrus, who had been speaking while maintaining eye contact with Ariana, turned his gaze to the river. Ariana stood beside him, also gazing at the river shimmering like the night sky.
"Fleeting hatred and wariness will only hinder your objectives, Princess. You will grow weary, and someday that weariness will shackle you."
"Did you forgive them?"
"Who?"
"Those who tried to kill the Northern Duke."
"No. I killed them all."
"..."
"I killed those who betrayed me. But I trusted those who showed me loyalty."
"What if they betray the Northern Duke then?"
"Then I would kill them. I would sever their heads without hesitation."
"What if the Northern Duke is harmed before that?"
"Then I would lament my foolishness and die."
"...I don't want to do that anymore."
At the word 'anymore,' Cyrus looked at Ariana as if something was amiss, but Ariana did not notice his gaze.
She spoke, her eyes fixed on the quietly flowing river.
"I don't want to die from trusting, nor do I want to be betrayed from trusting."
Her tone was as if she had been betrayed and died several times before, but Cyrus did not point it out.
Standing rigidly with her hands clasped in front, Ariana appeared both elegant and precarious. She seemed so fragile as if she might scatter with a gentle spring breeze, yet at the same time, she looked as though she could stand firm against a storm.
Her blue eyes, fixed on the river, held traces of sorrow, regret, and loneliness. That piteous gaze clutched at Cyrus's heart.
He couldn't understand why his chest ached for Ariana's emotions, which had nothing to do with him. He simply wanted to wipe away all the uninteresting feelings that filled her clear blue eyes.
He felt he could do anything to see those bright, pure eyes.
He wanted to convey this to Ariana, but Cyrus, who had spent his entire life upholding his position and living solely for his parents' revenge, did not know how to express his feelings.
"There are those who inflicted a dishonorable death upon my parents. I intend to erase them from this world."
As Cyrus revealed his objective, Ariana looked back at him in surprise.
"I had believed the Eastern Duke was involved in my parents' deaths, but I found evidence to the contrary."
Cyrus remembered the warmth of the Eastern Duke, with whom his parents had interacted before their deaths. He thought the White Family's warmth might erase the cold pain etched into Ariana's eyes.
But Cyrus didn't know how to speak such sweet words.
"I need the Eastern Duke's power. So, Ariana, if you wish to repay your debt to me, establish yourself firmly in the Eastern Territory. Completely win their hearts and become the beloved Princess of the East. Only then can you repay your debt to me."
He didn't realize his words were freezing Ariana's heart.
Only when a picture-perfect smile graced Ariana's lips did he realize he had said something wrong.
"Of course, Northern Duke. I must repay it, naturally. You have many concerns to attend to, Northern Duke, so please stop worrying about my affairs and focus on what you must do. I, too, will do what I must to repay my debt."
+++
The next day, Cyrus parted ways with Ariana's party in that city.
Throughout their farewells, Ariana maintained a perfect smile.
Ariana's party departed first in their carriage. Isaac, who had been watching the carriage recede into the distance, asked,
"Hey, Cyrus. There's something I want to ask."
Cyrus ignored Isaac's words and mounted his horse. Isaac quickly followed suit, riding after Cyrus.
"Did something bad happen with the Princess Consort during your walk yesterday?"
"Why do you think that?"
"Are you asking because you don't know? Her smile was like ice!"
"Hmm."
"What on earth did you do? Surely... you didn't do anything terrible, did you?"
"Why would I do anything terrible to such a valuable asset?"
"There you go again!"
Cyrus furrowed his brow.
"I told you that you'd regret it if you kept talking about using or not using me."
"That's useless advice. I haven't regretted anything yet."
"Surely, Cyrus, you didn't tell the Princess Consort last night that she was a valuable asset, did you?"
"..."
"You did!"
Cyrus ignored him and kicked his horse's flank. The horse sped up.
"Wait for me!"
Isaac shrieked, but Cyrus pretended not to hear.
'I'd regret it?'
In front of Cyrus, Ariana had shown various expressions—frowning, being surprised, becoming flustered. But ever since she displayed that perfectly painted smile last night, she had kept only that smile on her lips.
It was unpleasant and irritating, but not enough to cause regret. What was there to regret, anyway? He had merely offered appropriate advice.
Cyrus's eyes grew cold.
'If Ariana White can't accept that advice, then that's as far as she'll go, I suppose.'
+++
A cold wind swept through her chest.
Ariana sat rigidly in the carriage, gazing out the window.
The carriage's sofa, large enough to lie down on, was plush and even smelled pleasant, yet her frozen heart remained unthawed.
'I'm such a fool.'
She knew Cyrus had approached her with an agenda. She also knew that his kindness and consideration were all for his own purposes.
She knew, yet she didn't know.
Even while claiming to know, she had, in fact, unconsciously let her guard down with him.
She trusted him enough not to hesitate in revealing her true thoughts, enough to unconsciously show her genuine self in his presence.
She had completely forgotten that everyone treated her well because they had an agenda.
'It was the same with the Third Prince.'
Harold was sweet.
At the Imperial Ball, to Ariana, who, feeling dejected, was nervously observing the party, unable to blend in anywhere, he was exceptionally kind and gentle.
He greeted Ariana, whom no one else bothered to speak to, and asked her to dance. Even after the party ended, he sent flowers and letters to her mansion, making her heart flutter.
To Ariana, who, despite having a wealthy husband, possessed nothing of her own, Harold showered her with gifts. Earrings that would suit her, necklaces that would make her shine...
There was always one condition attached.
—"If you strive for me."
That was all.
Everyone was just like him.
She knew from the beginning that Cyrus, like Harold, simply discovered her value and intended to use her. The difference between Cyrus and Harold was that Cyrus didn't hide that fact.
'Yes, the Northern Duke never hid the fact that he would use me.'
But why did her chest feel so cold? She had only re-acknowledged a fact she already knew, yet why did it feel as though she had lost so much?
"Ariana, are you feeling unwell?"
Caradine, who was sitting opposite her, asked cautiously.
Lost in thought, Ariana had forgotten Caradine was with her.
"No, I'm just a little tired."
"Yes, no matter how good the medicine, you won't recover immediately."
That wasn't true.
Isaac's medicine was effective. She had only been taking it consistently for a few days, but she was already gaining a little weight, and the breathlessness she used to feel after walking just a short distance had stabilized.
She felt sorry for Isaac, who had made such good medicine, but Ariana nodded.
"Yes, but I'm much better than before, so I'm sure I'll get even better."
"Yes, I'm sure you will."
"We'll arrive in the Eastern Territory in about ten days, won't we?"
"That's right. We're hurrying, so we might arrive a little earlier. Is there anything you want to do when we get to the Eastern Territory?"
"I don't know. Grandmother, what should I do?"
Caradine's eyes widened in surprise when she heard the address 'Grandmother.' Caradine blinked, then asked cautiously,
"Ariana, are you calling me..."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I called you Grandmother without permission..."
"No, no. What are you talking about? Why would you need permission to call your grandmother 'Grandmother'? Hmm? Don't say such things. Don't say them."
Ariana noticed the old woman's voice trembling, and a pang went through Ariana's heart.
It wasn't because she had accepted them as family, as Caradine thought, that she had called her Grandmother.
—"Completely win their hearts and become the beloved Princess of the East."
It was to follow Cyrus's advice.
Just as Cyrus intended to use Ariana, Ariana also intended to use him.
The Northern Duke possessed immense power, was intelligent, and considered Ariana valuable, so there was no better card to play than him. She refused to be merely used until her death, but if it was a relationship where they could use each other, she was in favor.
To achieve that, she needed to become a more valuable asset than before.
