(32) Seeping Warmth (2)
Cyrus chuckled and pointed somewhere with his chin. There was a small suitcase lying there.
“It’s a travel essential.”
“I didn’t see it before.”
“She carries it under her cloak. You’d be surprised what’s hidden inside Louis’ clothes.”
“By the way, what about Louis?”
“She’s digging for mushrooms. I heard there are precious mushrooms used as medicine growing in this cave. I understand you’re curious, but why don’t you eat some first? Your stomach is screaming nonstop.”
Ariana blushed and picked up a piece of meat with her hand and put it in her mouth. The salt-seasoned meat was salty and savory. After chewing and swallowing the tender meat, she asked,
“Where did you get the meat?”
“There was fresh meat lying around earlier.”
“Earlier...? Ah!”
Ariana’s eyes widened as she recalled the horrifying sight she had seen before entering the cave.
Cyrus said calmly.
“I was just joking.”
“...Your Excellency. Truly. Mischievous.”
“Are you angry?”
“No.”
“I think you are.”
“How could I be angry at Your Excellency after you have shown me such kindness?”
“You're so angry you want to punch me, but does that mean you’ll endure it because you owe me something?”
Ariana shut her mouth tightly and glared at him.
Cyrus grinned.
“Don’t worry, I caught that meat outside the cave while you were sleeping.”
“Did Your Excellency catch it?”
“Yes.”
“I envy you.”
“What?”
“Your strength.”
“It doesn’t take much strength to catch a small rabbit.”
“I can’t even catch one on my own.”
“Did Your Excellency catch it?”
“Yes.”
“I envy you.”
“What?”
“Your strength.”
“It doesn’t take much strength to catch a small rabbit.”
“I can’t even catch one on my own.”
“But you make me hunt rabbits, don’t you? You’re the first woman to make me hunt for food, so you can be proud.”
“Yes, it is truly comforting.”
Ariana resumed eating.
As the two remained silent, the sound of water drops falling loudly grew louder.
The lake, enveloped in a soft, spreading blue, was ethereal and beautiful.
Previously, she had been so busy running away that she hadn't even been able to properly take in this sight.
"How are your feet?"
"My feet? Ah..."
Now that she thought about it, the pain in her feet had subsided significantly.
"They really hurt earlier, but they don't hurt much anymore."
"I used a good ointment. I know a great alchemist."
"Ointment..."
Ariana moved her feet, slowly checking them.
She'd expected them to be a complete mess, a complete mess from running barefoot through the forest, but they were clean and even had ointment applied, and the wounds were beginning to heal. She blinked, examining her small feet, and then asked cautiously,
"Who did this...?"
"Me."
"Yes?"
"Just kidding."
"Your Excellency..."
"I can't just touch the feet of an unmarried woman. It was Louis, so don't worry."
“Yes. Indeed. I feel relieved.”
“Are you angry again?”
“No!”
Cyrus chuckled and turned his head away.
Ariana finished the rest of her meat, wondering why she found it difficult to control her emotions in front of Cyrus.
“Is it not enough?”
“It’s enough.”
“You eat too little. That’ll keep you small.”
“If I could eat well and become as strong as Your Excellency, I’d eat as much as I want.”
“Becoming as strong as I am would be difficult. There’s no one stronger than me on this continent.”
“I’m truly jealous.”
“That wasn’t sincere. Was it sarcasm?”
“No way. How could I be sarcastic in front of Your Excellency?”
“Oh, you’re sarcasm again.”
Ariana narrowed her eyes and glared at Cyrus.
Cyrus was far different from the rumors Ariana had heard.
Was he really the Northern Duke? Was he actually a different person, but perhaps she was mistaken because of their similar appearance?
Ariana had only known Cyrus through portraits. Any actor could easily dress up to resemble a portrait.
'But that man actually used ice magic.'
Magic that only a select few in the North could wield.
“And your stealth is perfect. I suppose you are indeed the Northern Duke... right?”
Cyrus said, his gaze fixed on the lake.
“Do you doubt that I am the Northern Duke?”
“Can Your Excellency read minds?”
“I wish I had that skill. Then I could know what you are up to.”
“I just want to live comfortably.”
“I don’t think so.”
Cyrus turned his head and met Ariana’s gaze.
“Your eyes always shine with a fierce gleam. I’ve seen someone with that look before.”
“Who has eyes like mine?”
Cyrus pointed to his chest with his index finger.
“Your Excellency? You look very relaxed to me.”
“Yes, it is truly comforting.”
Ariana resumed eating.
As the two remained silent, the sound of water drops falling loudly grew louder.
The lake, enveloped in a soft, spreading blue, was ethereal and beautiful.
Previously, she had been so busy running away that she hadn't even been able to properly take in this sight.
"How are your feet?"
"My feet? Ah..."
Now that she thought about it, the pain in her feet had subsided significantly.
"They really hurt earlier, but they don't hurt much anymore."
"I used a good ointment. I know a great alchemist."
"Ointment..."
Ariana moved her feet, slowly checking them.
She'd expected them to be a complete mess, a complete mess from running barefoot through the forest, but they were clean and even had ointment applied, and the wounds were beginning to heal. She blinked, examining her small feet, and then asked cautiously,
"Who did this...?"
"Me."
"Yes?"
"Just kidding."
"Your Excellency..."
"I can't just touch the feet of an unmarried woman. It was Louis, so don't worry."
“Yes. Indeed. I feel relieved.”
“Are you angry again?”
“No!”
Cyrus chuckled and turned his head away.
Ariana finished the rest of her meat, wondering why she found it difficult to control her emotions in front of Cyrus.
“Is it not enough?”
“It’s enough.”
“You eat too little. That’ll keep you small.”
“If I could eat well and become as strong as Your Excellency, I’d eat as much as I want.”
“Becoming as strong as I am would be difficult. There’s no one stronger than me on this continent.”
“I’m truly jealous.”
“That wasn’t sincere. Was it sarcasm?”
“No way. How could I be sarcastic in front of Your Excellency?”
“Oh, you’re sarcasm again.”
Ariana narrowed her eyes and glared at Cyrus.
Cyrus was far different from the rumors Ariana had heard.
Was he really the Northern Duke? Was he actually a different person, but perhaps she was mistaken because of their similar appearance?
Ariana had only known Cyrus through portraits. Any actor could easily dress up to resemble a portrait.
'But that man actually used ice magic.'
Magic that only a select few in the North could wield.
“And your stealth is perfect. I suppose you are indeed the Northern Duke... right?”
Cyrus said, his gaze fixed on the lake.
“Do you doubt that I am the Northern Duke?”
“Can Your Excellency read minds?”
“I wish I had that skill. Then I could know what you are up to.”
“I just want to live comfortably.”
“I don’t think so.”
Cyrus turned his head and met Ariana’s gaze.
“Your eyes always shine with a fierce gleam. I’ve seen someone with that look before.”
“Who has eyes like mine?”
Cyrus pointed to his chest with his index finger.
“Your Excellency? You look very relaxed to me.”
“Practice and effort. You should practice too. A fierce, burning gaze is beautiful, but it makes others wary.”
“I will take your valuable advice to heart.”
“What will you do next? Will you go to the Empire?”
Ariana hesitated, wondering if she should tell Cyrus her plan, but quickly made up her mind.
There was no need to hide it, now that she'd come this far. The shrewd Cyrus would have guessed what Ariana was planning.
In that case, it would be better to be honest and win his favor. It might be useful someday.
"It's pointless to come and visit the Empire now. I'm planning to go to the East."
"Yes."
"I'm not sure the Eastern Duke will accept me readily. He'll let me stay for a few days, but I'll have to prove my worth to him during that time."
"The Eastern Duke will be happy to accept you, so don't worry."
“I will take your valuable advice to heart.”
“What will you do next? Will you go to the Empire?”
Ariana hesitated, wondering if she should tell Cyrus her plan, but quickly made up her mind.
There was no need to hide it, now that she'd come this far. The shrewd Cyrus would have guessed what Ariana was planning.
In that case, it would be better to be honest and win his favor. It might be useful someday.
"It's pointless to come and visit the Empire now. I'm planning to go to the East."
"Yes."
"I'm not sure the Eastern Duke will accept me readily. He'll let me stay for a few days, but I'll have to prove my worth to him during that time."
"The Eastern Duke will be happy to accept you, so don't worry."
"Well, I'd be grateful if he could even give me a room in Chase Castle."
"Trust me. The Eastern Duke won't reject you."
"I trust no one, Your Excellency."
Cyrus stared at Ariana for a moment.
"Yes, that's a good attitude. Then trust yourself. Who wouldn't want a bright child like you?"
Ariana swallowed a bitter smile and looked away.
If she acted cleverly before she died, would everyone have loved her?
'No, I don't think so.'
Being clever would only hasten her death. Isn't that true even now? When Ariana began to act with thought, Rachel tried to kill her.
The same goes for the Eastern Duke.
Only by acting with a certain amount of cleverness and a certain amount of stupidity could she survive.
Just like a sixteen-year-old, but a pitiful child who'd been abused and overly cautious, and matured a bit too quickly. That's how she planned to act until she secured her position as the Eastern Duke's daughter.
In that sense, Cyrus was actually easier to deal with than the others.
He didn't seem particularly suspicious of Ariana's unusually mature behavior.
'It's not that he doesn't find it suspicious, but he's suspicious and wary of every aspect of me. That's probably why he acts so retarded in front of me.'
As the two exchanged suspicious glances, Louis returned from her mushroom foraging trip.
She was holding a large fish in her hand.
“I caught it in the lake. Would you rather have it grilled or boiled, Duchess?”
Ariana nearly screamed.
“Rosal... Louis. I’m not Duchess.”
“Yes, Duchess. What do you want?”
“I said I’m not Duchess.”
Ariana watched Cyrus, but he didn’t seem inclined to correct Louis’s slip of the tongue.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
Ariana was stunned, but she spoke firmly.
“Call me Ariana, Louis.”
“Yes, Duchess. I’ve had the grilled meat, so soup would be better this time, right?”
“Louis.”
Louis didn’t answer, but went to a corner and began cleaning the fish. Ariana, still wrapped in a blanket, moved to sit next to Cyrus.
“Why does Louis call me Duchess?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m not Duchess.”
“I know.”
“Don’t let her.”
“Are you ordering me around?”
“Your Excellency, would you please scold Louis so that she doesn’t call me Duchess? That title is too heavy.”
“I’m truly sorry to you, but I don’t want to be a petty lord who cares about the titles my subordinates call others.”
“I’m telling you this because I’m worried about what will happen to your great name.”
“Regardless of what my subordinates call each other, my name will not be tarnished because of it, so please stop worrying.”
Ariana glared at Cyrus's fiercely handsome profile. But Cyrus didn't even glance at her.
Ariana clenched her fists, suppressing the urge to punch him.
"Why is Louis playing such a prank?"
"Everyone has the right to prank, right?"
"I trust no one, Your Excellency."
Cyrus stared at Ariana for a moment.
"Yes, that's a good attitude. Then trust yourself. Who wouldn't want a bright child like you?"
Ariana swallowed a bitter smile and looked away.
If she acted cleverly before she died, would everyone have loved her?
'No, I don't think so.'
Being clever would only hasten her death. Isn't that true even now? When Ariana began to act with thought, Rachel tried to kill her.
The same goes for the Eastern Duke.
Only by acting with a certain amount of cleverness and a certain amount of stupidity could she survive.
Just like a sixteen-year-old, but a pitiful child who'd been abused and overly cautious, and matured a bit too quickly. That's how she planned to act until she secured her position as the Eastern Duke's daughter.
In that sense, Cyrus was actually easier to deal with than the others.
He didn't seem particularly suspicious of Ariana's unusually mature behavior.
'It's not that he doesn't find it suspicious, but he's suspicious and wary of every aspect of me. That's probably why he acts so retarded in front of me.'
As the two exchanged suspicious glances, Louis returned from her mushroom foraging trip.
She was holding a large fish in her hand.
“I caught it in the lake. Would you rather have it grilled or boiled, Duchess?”
Ariana nearly screamed.
“Rosal... Louis. I’m not Duchess.”
“Yes, Duchess. What do you want?”
“I said I’m not Duchess.”
Ariana watched Cyrus, but he didn’t seem inclined to correct Louis’s slip of the tongue.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
Ariana was stunned, but she spoke firmly.
“Call me Ariana, Louis.”
“Yes, Duchess. I’ve had the grilled meat, so soup would be better this time, right?”
“Louis.”
Louis didn’t answer, but went to a corner and began cleaning the fish. Ariana, still wrapped in a blanket, moved to sit next to Cyrus.
“Why does Louis call me Duchess?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m not Duchess.”
“I know.”
“Don’t let her.”
“Are you ordering me around?”
“Your Excellency, would you please scold Louis so that she doesn’t call me Duchess? That title is too heavy.”
“I’m truly sorry to you, but I don’t want to be a petty lord who cares about the titles my subordinates call others.”
“I’m telling you this because I’m worried about what will happen to your great name.”
“Regardless of what my subordinates call each other, my name will not be tarnished because of it, so please stop worrying.”
Ariana glared at Cyrus's fiercely handsome profile. But Cyrus didn't even glance at her.
Ariana clenched her fists, suppressing the urge to punch him.
"Why is Louis playing such a prank?"
"Everyone has the right to prank, right?"
"I don't want you playing pranks on me. "
"Then you should scold Louis."
Ariana pursed her lips.
Scolding Louis?
She couldn't do that.
Louis had helped Ariana, been stabbed by an arrow while protecting her, and still cooked for her. She'd sworn to live this life without giving in to others, but she was still human, and she couldn't be cold to someone who had constantly helped her.
While she bit her lower lip, helpless, Louis finished the fish soup. She filled a round bowl with the soup and brought it to Ariana.
"Eat, Duchess."
“Louis, call me Ariana.”
“I hope it suits your taste.”
Ariana swallowed a sigh and accepted the bowl.
The sizzling heat from the bowl warmed her chilled hands.
Louis was a good cook. There was no fishy smell at all, and the seasoning was just right. The scales and spines were completely removed before boiling, making it easy to eat.
Louis and Cyrus watched quietly as Ariana savored the soup. Only after halfway through did Ariana realize they weren’t eating anything.
“Aren’t you two eating?”
“We ate a lot of meat. You eat a lot.”
Ariana studied them suspiciously for a moment before returning to her soup.
Louis spoke to Cyrus in a small voice.
“Just seeing the Duchess eating makes me full.”
“Yes.”
“Since the Duchess seems to like fish, I’ll prepare fish for future meals.”
“Yes.”
“Does Your Excellency need to eat nothing?”
"You're full just watching that kid eat?"
"Yes, I am, but..."
Cyrus rested his chin on the back of his hand and quietly watched Ariana.
Ariana tucked her flowing light blue hair behind her ear, blew on the hot soup, and ate diligently.
Her body was so thin that her bones were showing. Will she ever gain weight if she keeps eating like that?
Cyrus thought, watching Ariana munch on the fish.
'Me too.'
"Then you should scold Louis."
Ariana pursed her lips.
Scolding Louis?
She couldn't do that.
Louis had helped Ariana, been stabbed by an arrow while protecting her, and still cooked for her. She'd sworn to live this life without giving in to others, but she was still human, and she couldn't be cold to someone who had constantly helped her.
While she bit her lower lip, helpless, Louis finished the fish soup. She filled a round bowl with the soup and brought it to Ariana.
"Eat, Duchess."
“Louis, call me Ariana.”
“I hope it suits your taste.”
Ariana swallowed a sigh and accepted the bowl.
The sizzling heat from the bowl warmed her chilled hands.
Louis was a good cook. There was no fishy smell at all, and the seasoning was just right. The scales and spines were completely removed before boiling, making it easy to eat.
Louis and Cyrus watched quietly as Ariana savored the soup. Only after halfway through did Ariana realize they weren’t eating anything.
“Aren’t you two eating?”
“We ate a lot of meat. You eat a lot.”
Ariana studied them suspiciously for a moment before returning to her soup.
Louis spoke to Cyrus in a small voice.
“Just seeing the Duchess eating makes me full.”
“Yes.”
“Since the Duchess seems to like fish, I’ll prepare fish for future meals.”
“Yes.”
“Does Your Excellency need to eat nothing?”
"You're full just watching that kid eat?"
"Yes, I am, but..."
Cyrus rested his chin on the back of his hand and quietly watched Ariana.
Ariana tucked her flowing light blue hair behind her ear, blew on the hot soup, and ate diligently.
Her body was so thin that her bones were showing. Will she ever gain weight if she keeps eating like that?
Cyrus thought, watching Ariana munch on the fish.
'Me too.'
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