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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: I wanted to live. (10)
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After several days of travel by carriage, they arrived at Maho Castle.
It was his home after a long absence, but Cyrus's heart was not at ease.
Somewhere in this castle, or this city, or this country, there were still those breathing who sought his life.
As soon as he took his seat on the throne, he issued a command to Duke Hern.
"Begin another purge. Arrest anyone suspicious. Make them talk, no matter what it takes."
"Yes, Your Grace. But..."
It was the first time Duke Hern had ever added 'but' to Cyrus's command. Cyrus raised an eyebrow.
"A telegram has arrived from Princess Ariana White of the Eastern Territory."
Duke Hern clearly witnessed Cyrus's expression soften at the mention of Ariana White's name.
'Impossible! Was Isaac's remark true after all?'
Though his expression was usually unreadable, Duke Hern, who had always served by his side, could clearly discern the change. Since the unfortunate incident involving the previous Northern Duke and his consort, it was the first time Cyrus had worn such a benevolent and gentle look.
"Bring it."
"Ah, but... it's..."
Cyrus silently glared at Duke Hern, who trailed off.
Duke Hern hesitated, then cautiously spoke.
"It was sent to Isaac."
Duke Hern bowed his head slightly, observing Cyrus's reaction.
Cyrus slowly crossed his long legs, folded his arms, and tapped his forearm with his index finger. After a long moment, Cyrus slowly rose and said leisurely,
"Filter out the dross. I need to rest."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Cyrus descended from the throne and slowly walked across the long carpet. Duke Hern was certain his liege was heading to Isaac's room.
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Isaac, who was reading the telegram, was startled by a voice from behind him.
"You seem amused, Isaac."
"Cyrus, my heart just dropped. Would you mind finding it for me?"
Isaac turned to Cyrus, a playful smile gracing his lips.
"Surely, Your Grace... you didn't drop everything and rush here just because the Duchess sent me a telegram, did you?"
"Why did Ariana send you a telegram?"
"She rescued a slave child whose condition is quite poor, she said. She asked for stamina potions and mentioned she would compensate me sufficiently. She even sent a promissory note along with it."
Cyrus's brow furrowed.
"Why is Ariana asking you for help directly?"
"Why would she need to go through anyone else to ask for my help? Besides, I have no intention of taking advantage of the Duchess, so it's probably more comfortable for her to communicate directly with me."
Isaac narrowed his eyes and added,
"Surely, Your Grace isn't going to interfere with my close and amicable correspondence with the Duchess out of jealousy, are you?"
The tension in Cyrus's brow eased. He wore a relaxed smile as he spoke.
"If you, who are my man, are close with the Princess of the Eastern Territory, it would only benefit me. There's no reason to interfere."
"Oh? So you'll allow me to leave for the Eastern Territory right now, then?"
Isaac watched with amusement as Cyrus's lips tightened.
"Why are you going to the Eastern Territory?"
"Because the Duchess needs me, of course."
"Can't you just make a few bottles of stamina potion and send them?"
"From the telegram, it seems stamina potions alone won't be enough. Want to see?"
Isaac fluttered the telegram in front of Cyrus. Cyrus glared at the paper in Isaac's hand, seemingly oblivious to how incredibly rude Isaac was being.
Finally, Cyrus snatched the paper and read its contents.
It stated that they had rescued a child who had been confined in a small iron cage for a long time. The child's physical condition was very poor, and their bones had solidified in a bent position, unable to straighten. It requested stamina potions and inquired if he knew of any good methods to straighten curved bones.
While Cyrus read the telegram without blinking, Isaac spoke.
"If the bones are bent from being confined in an iron cage, they couldn't have been imprisoned for just a year or two. Trying to straighten the bones forcibly could cost the child their life, so I think it's best if I go and examine them myself."
"Is there any reason for you to take such valuable steps for a mere slave?"
"There is. My father always taught me to be impartial when practicing medicine."
Cyrus, who felt indebted to Isaac's father, glared silently at the telegram, unable to retort. As if by staring at it, Ariana herself would appear before him.
Regardless, Isaac was packing his bags.
Cyrus spoke.
"You've just arrived. Why don't you rest a bit?"
"Wow, do you know this is the first time you've worried about me? I'm so touched, I almost shed a tear. Look."
Cyrus couldn't pinpoint the cause of the feeling he was experiencing.
Isaac was Cyrus's man, but he often left his post to help the sick or procure rare herbs. This time was no different.
So why did he feel so bad?
Cyrus reread the telegram Ariana had sent. The telegram only spoke of the ailing slave. There was no mention of Cyrus's well-being.
But even this was no reason to feel upset.
Sending a telegram was expensive, and the longer the message, the longer it took to arrive. It was natural to write only short, important messages in a telegram.
The fact that Isaac had safely arrived in the Northern Territory and received the telegram meant that Cyrus, his companion, had also arrived safely. So there was no need to ask about his well-being separately.
"It'll take over ten days to get to the Eastern Territory, even if I rush, so I plan to leave right away. I'm scared to go alone, so send Rui or Noah with me."
"They're busy with training."
Isaac narrowed his eyes and brought his face close to Cyrus's.
"I wonder why? Why does it look like Your Great Grace is trying to hinder me?"
"It's not interference."
Cyrus pushed Isaac's face away with the palm of his hand.
"Because it's the truth. The recent Paganus ambush made me realize something. We are still ridiculously weak. There's no time to dawdle."
"Alright, then. I guess I'll have to go alone."
Isaac slung his bag over his shoulder, as if he would go to the Eastern Territory no matter what obstacles stood in his way.
"I guess I'll just die if I go alone then."
"Isaac..."
"Then, Your Grace, I'll be back..."
As Isaac was about to offer a light farewell, the door burst open. Standing there, as Isaac and Cyrus turned, was a handsome young man with sparkling black hair.
It was Andrei Hern.
Andrei's clear, amethyst-like eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"I'll go with you. You've worked hard while His Grace was away, so you deserve a vacation, don't you?"
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In the end, Cyrus assigned several knights as escorts for the journey to the Eastern Territory.
Cyrus watched Isaac's party depart with an utterly displeased expression. Andrei looked out the carriage window at Cyrus and said,
"Wow, it's true. It's really been a long time since Cyrus showed so much emotion."
"Right? He's sulking!"
"Wow..."
Andrei had decided to accompany them on this trip to the Eastern Territory because of something his father, Duke Hern, had told him.
"Ray, it seems Isaac was right. The Duchess will be here soon."
"What are you talking about, all of a sudden? Did you have a dream or something?"
"You know His Grace is in a terrible mood because of the Paganus ambush, right?"
"Yes, he looked terrifying when he came in earlier."
"Furthermore, when he heard she sent Isaac a telegram, he became restless and rushed to Isaac's room."
The 'rushed' part might be an exaggeration. But even with such an incident, it was indeed strange that Cyrus didn't handle the related matters and instead headed straight for Isaac's room.
So he had rushed to Isaac's room and ended up overhearing Cyrus and Isaac's conversation.
"What's the Duchess like? Is she pretty?"
"She's pretty."
"Compared to the Princess?"
"I think the Princess is a bit prettier, but His Grace doesn't seem to agree. He's very firm about it. He says the Duchess is the most beautiful in the world."
"That beautiful?"
"He expects the whole world to be in an uproar the moment the Duchess makes her debut in high society."
Andrei simply couldn't believe it.
"Cyrus said *that*?"
"He did. I'm not dreaming. You heard it too, didn't you? How he tried to keep me from going out of jealousy. It's like, if he can't go with her, then no one can."
Andrei kept chuckling.
Cyrus, Andrei, and Isaac had been together ever since they were born a few months apart. Andrei remembered Cyrus from his childhood.
Cyrus Karha, who once laughed and cried so freely.
When the previous Northern Duke and his consort died, Cyrus's emotions died with them. Cyrus would frown and smile, but those were merely expressions he manufactured to suit the situation.
It had truly been a long time since Cyrus had displayed such raw emotion.
He clasped his hands behind his head, leaned back, and murmured,
"The Eastern Territory is a wonderful place. And to be able to meet the Duchess... I'm looking forward to it."
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"This is unbelievable!"
Helena threw down the newspaper.
The front page of the imperial newspaper detailed the beginning and outcome of Ariana's custody trial.
The article, which meticulously described everything from the abuse Ariana suffered to her decision to run away, was so long it took up several pages of the newspaper.
Rachel, Helena, and Victoria were not mentioned by their full names. Although it referred to them as Ariana's mother and two sisters, anyone who knew would recognize them.
But something else infuriated Helena.
"Why on earth did the Northern Duke help Ariana?!"
At her shriek, the maids recoiled.
In their eyes, Helena, who only cared about the Northern Duke's appearance even in this situation, clearly seemed pathetic.
"Who is Ariana that the Northern Duke and even His Imperial Majesty would step forward to help her? What exactly is Ariana?"
Helena was boiling with rage.
Northern Duke Cyrus Karha, who never showed his face even when many women desperately begged for an audience. Called the God of the Moon, he was like a mythical being, never attending any parties, leaving only rumors in his wake.
And *that* Cyrus had actually been at the Western Duke's castle, encountered Ariana on his way back, and even helped her? Not only that, he protected her on her journey to the Eastern Territory?
The newspaper reporter prattled on about Cyrus's picturesque beauty, dedicating half the newspaper to his appearance at the trial.
As Helena ground her teeth, someone knocked on the door.
