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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: I Wanted to Live. (8)
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Lanster carried Sini out of the warehouse.
It was Sini's first time seeing the sky, her first time seeing sunlight. The intense light stung her eyes, causing pain, but she still didn't close them.
Though the bright light obscured her vision, she felt as if she'd glimpsed something sky-blue.
"Close your eyes. This unfamiliar light will burn them."
At Lanster's words, Sini obediently closed her eyes.
"Good... weather..."
"Yes, it's good weather."
"Sky..."
"The sky."
Sini thought the sky in Ariana's eyes was more beautiful than the one she had just seen. Even after Ariana wiped them, hot tears kept flowing from her own eyes.
The moment she wished to see Ariana's eyes one more time, the world turned black.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Sini's body went limp.
Ariana gasped and approached, and Lanster spoke.
"She seems to have fainted. It's likely due to the sudden stress."
"She's too thin. She won't die, will she?"
"She's survived this long, so she'll be alright."
Lanster placed Sini in the wagon. The large wagon, borrowed specifically for Sini, had a soft sleeping arrangement prepared.
The journey was long, and they needed to reach the Eastern Territory before rumors spread that Ariana had purchased a Paganus slave. The Cameria Empire might take issue with bringing a Paganus into the territory.
Thus, they decided to depart immediately, without a moment to treat Sini.
Ariana climbed into the wagon and moved towards the castle gates, where the Eastern Duke's party was waiting.
'Her condition is truly bad.'
When Ariana was with the Bronte family, she was in relatively good shape compared to Sini. Sini's bones, having been confined in a narrow cage since birth, had hardened into a hunched shape, and it was uncertain if treatment would even improve them.
'You've lived a truly pitiful life too.'
Ariana wiped the beads of sweat from Sini's forehead.
Having not washed for a long time, Sini's body was caked with grime and gave off an unpleasant odor, but Ariana felt no revulsion. Instead, her heart ached for Sini's pitiful situation, having never seen sunlight.
Ariana stroked Sini's red hair, recalling the first time she stood before the Eastern Duke.
'Did Father feel the same way when he saw me then?'
Her heart ached at Sini's wretched appearance, even though they were unrelated. How much worse would it be if her own flesh and blood appeared in such a state?
Russell's face, which had twisted the moment he saw Ariana, came to mind.
'Resentment, hatred, and distrust prevent me from even enjoying what I deserve.'
She now understood that the White family's welcoming attitude towards her had been genuine.
'Still, it's not too late.'
Russell had permitted the Paganus to enter the Eastern Territory for Ariana's sake. This meant Ariana, as the princess of the Eastern Territory, had many things she could do.
'When the Third Prince begins to move, he'll target the Eastern Territory first, just like before. Before that, I need to make the Eastern Territory stronger, both internally and externally.'
Just before her thoughts deepened, the wagon stopped. Lanster, who had been following on horseback outside, spoke.
"Princess, we've arrived. I'll open the cover."
Russell, Theodore White, and Caradine White, who were waiting outside the castle gates, peered past the wagon's cover to confirm Sini lying inside. Caradine clicked her tongue at the girl's appearance, while Theodore frowned in displeasure.
Russell, having climbed into the wagon to check Sini's condition, spoke.
"Her skin tone is lighter than other Paganus."
Lanster replied.
"We could make it appear as though she's from a tribe in the southeastern region."
"Yes, that would be better. And it might even be true."
"I will instruct them to prepare the necessary documents as soon as we arrive in the Eastern Territory."
"Her bones are severely twisted. What do you think? Can she recover?"
"It's serious, but I believe it's possible if she has the will. Physician Yuriel is highly skilled, so it would be best to have him examine her condition quickly."
"Indeed. Straightening her twisted bones will depend on her physical strength, so recovering her stamina should be the priority. I should send a telegram to Isaac Peren on the way, asking for stamina restoratives."
Even without Ariana asking, Russell swiftly handled Sini's issues. Ariana watched him, deeply moved.
Theodore, who had worn a displeased expression throughout, spoke in a low voice.
"Ariana, I, your grandfather, am worried that child might harm you. Every master who has owned her as a slave until now has died."
Caradine nudged Theodore's side, but Theodore didn't stop.
"I don't believe in superstitions, but it's true that it's ominous. Perhaps those who targeted her killed her masters, or perhaps she killed her masters herself. With nine masters all dead, it's a reasonable suspicion."
"Grandfather is right. Perhaps that child is a bringer of misfortune to her masters."
"And yet you'll keep her by your side?"
Ariana gazed at the emaciated girl lying in the wagon.
"If the misfortune brought by golden eyes is true, then the legend that they bring good fortune after the age of twenty must also be true."
"But there's no tale of anyone gaining good fortune by keeping golden eyes by their side until now."
"Then I'll be the first."
Ariana said, a radiant smile gracing her lips.
"I'll break that child's curse and grasp good fortune. Grandfather, you'll help me, won't you?"
When his dear granddaughter, both pitiful and lovely, asked for help with such a beautiful smile, Theodore's expression instantly crumbled. He chuckled, as if the cursed golden eyes were no longer on his mind, and said,
"Of course, of course. With this grandfather here, a curse is nothing. Ariana, you have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all."
Caradine shot her husband a bewildered look for his sudden change of heart, but Theodore kept nodding and stroking Ariana's hair.
To Ariana, this entire moment felt like a brilliant dream.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
As Cyrus passed through the narrow gorge, his eyes grew cold.
"Isaac."
At the low call, Isaac stopped his horse.
RUMBLE-CRASH!
Giant boulders came rolling down the gorge's ridge. It wasn't just one or two.
"An ambush."
Cyrus raised both hands. White frost seemed to crystallize on his long fingertips, then a dense, chilling mist erupted like fog.
The chilling mist touched the rolling boulders, freezing them white. As the cold energy emanating from Cyrus's hands grew stronger, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Soon, the boulders, frozen through, began to shatter from the force of hitting the ground. Only then did Cyrus stop his magic, draw his sword, and gallop forward.
Isaac followed close behind.
Cyrus's sword plunged relentlessly into the boulders that hadn't completely shattered. The blade, moving dazzlingly as if dancing, glinted in the sunlight.
CRACK-!
The shattered rocks and the ones following behind collided, breaking into smithereens.
Large and small stones rained down like a shower. Cyrus and Isaac didn't slow their pace, even as they were struck by the falling rocks.
An arrow, flying through the chaotic hail of stones, pierced the thigh of Cyrus's horse.
"NEIGH!"
The horse screamed and collapsed.
"Cyrus!"
Isaac cried out like a scream, extending his hand. Cyrus seized it, flung himself onto Isaac's horse, and settled behind him before speaking.
"Duck."
As Isaac bent his upper body forward, Cyrus extended his left hand.
Above Cyrus's palm, cold energy converged, creating dozens of sharp ice shards. The arrow-tip-sized ice shards shot out in the direction the arrow had just come from.
"Gah!"
A small scream echoed.
Again, several arrows flew simultaneously. Cyrus kicked the horse's flank and raised his left hand above his head. A round ice shield formed from his palm, covering them from above.
THUD- THUMP-THUMP-THUD-
Arrows rained down upon the hastily made ice shield. Several of them scratched its surface. White cracks appeared in the transparent shield, then it shattered with a crash.
Meanwhile, the horse carrying Isaac and Cyrus continued to gallop swiftly.
Cyrus was about to create another ice shield when he suddenly twisted his upper body backward and swiftly extended his hand. An ice blade, instantly formed, flew towards the rear.
The ice blade, soaring through the air, had already descended the ridge and pierced the chest of an enemy who had been secretly pursuing them from behind.
"Ugh!"
The enemy, who had been galloping on horseback, fell backward.
At that moment, another hail of arrows descended.
He created an ice shield again, but it was a moment too late. Before an arrow could pierce Cyrus's shoulder, Isaac's arm shot out, taking the hit instead.
"Ow!"
Isaac cried out, asking,
"What do we do?"
"Keep running. We need to get out of the gorge."
The gorge exit was growing closer. After enduring two more hails of arrows, when they finally reached the end of the gorge, over thirty enemies were waiting there.
They had brown skin and made no attempt to conceal their faces.
'Paganus.'
Cyrus's eyes blazed crimson.
The enemies, each wielding swords or spears, glared at Cyrus with fierce eyes. In front of them, Cyrus brought his horse to a halt.
Cyrus kept his gaze forward but paid attention to the presence behind him. He heard the sound of the ambushers descending the ridge and rushing towards them.
'Arrows.'
Cyrus turned his hand backward and created an ice shield behind him.
WHIZZ-!
Several arrows flew, struck the ice shield, and fell.
"Abandon the horse, Isaac."
Cyrus whispered softly. Isaac didn't hesitate; he leaped from the horse, and Cyrus did the same. As soon as they dismounted, both took up their stances.
As Cyrus extended both arms to his sides, a blizzard of cold energy swirled. The enemies rushing from behind were caught in it and froze, but it wasn't enough.
It was because his strength was depleted from using magic multiple times already.
'I can't use magic anymore.'
But the enemies didn't know that. They felt fear at the sight of their comrades, frozen solid like ice sculptures, and slowed their pace. The enemies waiting in front also couldn't approach easily, merely exuding killing intent.
Isaac, who had been quietly observing the enemies, spoke.
"Cyrus, hold your breath."
His breathing was ragged from using magic without rest, but Cyrus did as Isaac said. Isaac pulled something from his pocket and threw it towards the enemies in front.
It was a vial.
CLINK-CRASH!
With a sharp sound, a green mist erupted from the shattered vial.
The enemies shouted something, and several in the front row collapsed. Their expressions twisted. They hurled curses, then charged at Cyrus and Isaac. The enemies from behind did the same.
Enemies charging from front and back, and dwindling magical power.
It was a situation where everything seemed bleak, yet the Northern Duke's red eyes did not lose their light.
'It's fine. I'm used to it.'
