(63) My daughter Ariana (3)
The prison for the Duke was nice enough to have a separate bathroom in each room, but Rachel was feeling deep humiliation and fear.
Born as a Princess of the Oblen family, and becoming the Duchess of Bronte after becoming a Duchess consort, Rachel had never experienced such harsh treatment.
The dozens of times she had locked Ariana in a dark dungeon had long since faded from Rachel's mind. Even though she was being treated incomparably better than Ariana, Rachel couldn't contain her anger.
'Ariana! How dare you...'
She couldn't believe that Ariana had done this.
Rachel had deliberately not taught Ariana anything. If you have wisdom, you want freedom, and if you want freedom, you take up a sword.
Ariana was planned to be raised as a fool, married into a worthy family, and then establish a foundation for Victoria, Helena, and Joyson.
But at some point, Ariana changed.
'Since that party.'
The garden party was held at the Bronte mansion in February to establish connections for Helena's debutante. That was the beginning.
Ariana appeared at the party that day and acted foolishly, but her actions shook the nobles present.
'Why did she suddenly change like that? Since when did she harbor a knife inside her?'
They couldn't understand it.
They wouldn't even let her set foot in the study, and when they called in a tutor for their two daughters, they wouldn't let her near. It was natural for Ariana to lack knowledge or etiquette, but from that day on, she acted more cleverly than anyone else and practiced etiquette like a royal.
'I gave birth to her after all that hardship.'
“He used to say he was careful even when holding you, for fear you might break, as if he missed you. Every time we knights heard that, we felt a pang of sadness.”
“...”
“I felt like he only talked about it because it was the only memory he had of the Princess.”
Ariana clenched her jaw.
-' I will always wait here for you.'
The thought she had had when she became Russell came to mind.
A sudden pang of sadness filled her heart, but she couldn't explain it.
“We longed for you to visit the East even just once, to create another memory for our lord. And now that you have become the Princess of the East, of course, we are happy.”
Ariana gulped, swallowing the tears welling up in her throat.
-"I never wanted to give birth to someone like you."
-' I will always wait.'
-"I wish you had died in my womb."
-"I wanted to hold our baby's hand."
-"Shouldn't you pay for the meal?"
-“Everything’s okay, so let’s rest first, okay?”
-“Why are you like that? Shouldn’t you at least do what you’re told!”
-“Why are you sitting here doing something you don’t want to do?”
-“Don’t even say it hurts that much. Don’t bother me and just get out of here.”
-“Just think of me as your only uncle and relax. Yes?”
Other voices mixed with Rachel’s voice that always came in. The warmth that spread from a rough yet warm voice pushed out the cold voice.
The chains that Rachel had constantly cursed cracked.
Just a little, Ariana could breathe.
The prison for the Duke was nice enough to have a separate bathroom in each room, but Rachel was feeling deep humiliation and fear.
Born as a Princess of the Oblen family, and becoming the Duchess of Bronte after becoming a Duchess consort, Rachel had never experienced such harsh treatment.
The dozens of times she had locked Ariana in a dark dungeon had long since faded from Rachel's mind. Even though she was being treated incomparably better than Ariana, Rachel couldn't contain her anger.
'Ariana! How dare you...'
She couldn't believe that Ariana had done this.
Rachel had deliberately not taught Ariana anything. If you have wisdom, you want freedom, and if you want freedom, you take up a sword.
Ariana was planned to be raised as a fool, married into a worthy family, and then establish a foundation for Victoria, Helena, and Joyson.
But at some point, Ariana changed.
'Since that party.'
The garden party was held at the Bronte mansion in February to establish connections for Helena's debutante. That was the beginning.
Ariana appeared at the party that day and acted foolishly, but her actions shook the nobles present.
'Why did she suddenly change like that? Since when did she harbor a knife inside her?'
They couldn't understand it.
They wouldn't even let her set foot in the study, and when they called in a tutor for their two daughters, they wouldn't let her near. It was natural for Ariana to lack knowledge or etiquette, but from that day on, she acted more cleverly than anyone else and practiced etiquette like a royal.
'I gave birth to her after all that hardship.'
She carried Ariana in her womb for ten months. The child she didn't even like felt like a parasite, but she carried her for ten months.
She couldn't forgive herself for the fact that, instead, Ariana turned the knife she'd held against her.
'Ungrateful!'
She couldn't forgive herself for the fact that, instead, Ariana turned the knife she'd held against her.
'Ungrateful!'
Her hatred had swelled to the point of explosion after being locked up for a week. She wanted to rush out and grab Ariana's hair and beat her to a pulp. No, she wanted to plunge the knife into Ariana's heart with her own hands.
Ariana shouldn't have done that. She shouldn't have done such a cruel thing to her mother.
As she gnashed her teeth, burning with anger, she heard the prison door open. Footsteps trudged toward her. The one who stopped in front of the bars was the Western Duke.
"Father!"
"You'll be released today."
"Has the verdict been overturned?"
Rachel's foolish remark caused the Western Duke's expression to warp.
The verdict was overturned?
The imperial decree had been issued. Even if it were a wrongful decree, it wouldn't change anything.
"I paid the bail."
"Uh, how much...?"
"Ten million gold."
Ten million gold was the Duke's annual living expenses. Adding Rachel's 30 million gold fine and the Western Duke's 10 million gold fine, this incident cost a staggering 50 million gold.
It was a sum that would devastate the finances of the West.
However, Rachel, the Princess of West, couldn't be allowed to spend six months in prison. The Western Duke needed to get Rachel out of prison, no matter the cost.
It was a painful defeat. It was heartbreaking, but there was no other way.
The Western Duke knew how to weigh the pros and cons.
The custody issue of a sixteen-year-old girl, not even a Princess, wasn't something worth expending any more energy on. With Ariana's abuse already known, there was no need to exert any more effort to silence her.
He had several plans to use the beautiful Ariana, but he could do those things with his other granddaughters.
The Western Duke knew full well that there was no gain from dwelling on a sure defeat.
“Ariana... Ariana, what is that woman doing now? Did she leave for the East?”
Ariana shouldn't have done that. She shouldn't have done such a cruel thing to her mother.
As she gnashed her teeth, burning with anger, she heard the prison door open. Footsteps trudged toward her. The one who stopped in front of the bars was the Western Duke.
"Father!"
"You'll be released today."
"Has the verdict been overturned?"
Rachel's foolish remark caused the Western Duke's expression to warp.
The verdict was overturned?
The imperial decree had been issued. Even if it were a wrongful decree, it wouldn't change anything.
"I paid the bail."
"Uh, how much...?"
"Ten million gold."
Ten million gold was the Duke's annual living expenses. Adding Rachel's 30 million gold fine and the Western Duke's 10 million gold fine, this incident cost a staggering 50 million gold.
It was a sum that would devastate the finances of the West.
However, Rachel, the Princess of West, couldn't be allowed to spend six months in prison. The Western Duke needed to get Rachel out of prison, no matter the cost.
It was a painful defeat. It was heartbreaking, but there was no other way.
The Western Duke knew how to weigh the pros and cons.
The custody issue of a sixteen-year-old girl, not even a Princess, wasn't something worth expending any more energy on. With Ariana's abuse already known, there was no need to exert any more effort to silence her.
He had several plans to use the beautiful Ariana, but he could do those things with his other granddaughters.
The Western Duke knew full well that there was no gain from dwelling on a sure defeat.
“Ariana... Ariana, what is that woman doing now? Did she leave for the East?”
The Duke of the West stared at Rachel, who was asking with wide eyes, and then said,
“Now, don’t worry about her. She has nothing to do with us.”
“We can’t end it like this!”
“The imperial decree has been issued.”
“There must be a way!”
“There is no such thing!”
Rachel flinched as the Duke of the West shouted. The Duke of the West spoke with a face distorted like a demon.
“It is the imperial decree! Even without that, His Majesty must have changed the way we look at each other. If you mess around and fall out of His Majesty’s favor again, then it will be impossible to recover. Do you understand, Rachel? Don’t touch her anymore. Don’t even think that she was born in the first place. Live as if such a thing doesn’t exist in this world!”
“But...”
Tears flowed from Rachel’s eyes, but the Duke of the West stared at her daughter coldly.
“As soon as you return to the West, educate the children well. One of them must be admitted to the palace somehow.”
“How can that be possible in this situation? My children and I have become the greatest villains who abused Ariana!”
“We can cover that up with a more sensational incident. Sooner or later, rumors will break out about the affair between the Imperial Countess and a theater actor. Rumors will also spread that a certain Countess fell in love with a knight and was preparing to run away. There are stories more sensational than child abuse everywhere, so don’t worry.”
It took over ten days for Ariana to fully recover.
While she was sick, the Eastern Duke and the previous Duke and his wife visited several times a day to stay by Ariana’s side before returning.
As soon as Ariana woke up, the first thing she did was visit the previous Duke and his wife and thank them for their help during the trial.
“There’s nothing to be thankful for,”
Carradine said, holding Ariana’s hands tightly in hers.
"Ariana, this is something we should do, understand? We shouldn't be grateful. We should be sorry for not being able to look after you all this time."
Ariana couldn't understand the White family's culture at all.
Rachel always told Ariana that she needed to repay the favor of raising her. It was natural to thank her every time she did something for her.
But the Eastern Duke and the previous Duke and his wife told her not to say such things every time she thanked them, so she didn't know what to say to them.
Theodore said,
"Can you go on the trip? You could rest more."
"I'm really feeling better now. The medicine Isaac gave me really worked."
"Yes. The Peren family has always had a talent for that. We've been helped by his father many times before."
“Now, don’t worry about her. She has nothing to do with us.”
“We can’t end it like this!”
“The imperial decree has been issued.”
“There must be a way!”
“There is no such thing!”
Rachel flinched as the Duke of the West shouted. The Duke of the West spoke with a face distorted like a demon.
“It is the imperial decree! Even without that, His Majesty must have changed the way we look at each other. If you mess around and fall out of His Majesty’s favor again, then it will be impossible to recover. Do you understand, Rachel? Don’t touch her anymore. Don’t even think that she was born in the first place. Live as if such a thing doesn’t exist in this world!”
“But...”
Tears flowed from Rachel’s eyes, but the Duke of the West stared at her daughter coldly.
“As soon as you return to the West, educate the children well. One of them must be admitted to the palace somehow.”
“How can that be possible in this situation? My children and I have become the greatest villains who abused Ariana!”
“We can cover that up with a more sensational incident. Sooner or later, rumors will break out about the affair between the Imperial Countess and a theater actor. Rumors will also spread that a certain Countess fell in love with a knight and was preparing to run away. There are stories more sensational than child abuse everywhere, so don’t worry.”
***
It took over ten days for Ariana to fully recover.
While she was sick, the Eastern Duke and the previous Duke and his wife visited several times a day to stay by Ariana’s side before returning.
As soon as Ariana woke up, the first thing she did was visit the previous Duke and his wife and thank them for their help during the trial.
“There’s nothing to be thankful for,”
Carradine said, holding Ariana’s hands tightly in hers.
"Ariana, this is something we should do, understand? We shouldn't be grateful. We should be sorry for not being able to look after you all this time."
Ariana couldn't understand the White family's culture at all.
Rachel always told Ariana that she needed to repay the favor of raising her. It was natural to thank her every time she did something for her.
But the Eastern Duke and the previous Duke and his wife told her not to say such things every time she thanked them, so she didn't know what to say to them.
Theodore said,
"Can you go on the trip? You could rest more."
"I'm really feeling better now. The medicine Isaac gave me really worked."
"Yes. The Peren family has always had a talent for that. We've been helped by his father many times before."
They were all ready to leave for the East. They decided to depart the next morning.
Then Ariana went to see the Eastern Duke. Russell, who was reading a book in the study, hurriedly closed it and approached Ariana when she entered.
His blue eyes, filled with concern, swept Ariana up and down. Looking at Russell's slightly frowning face, Ariana recalled the Russell they'd first met at the royal party.
She'd thought his gaze was filled with contempt, but it wasn't. It was a strange dream she'd had after passing out that made her think it might be.
'What was that really?'
In that dream, she became Russell. Every time she recalled the emotions she felt as Russell, her heart grew numb. She kept interpreting Russell's gaze, his frown, his firm lips in a positive light.
"Ariana, is it okay to walk now?"
Even his gruff voice was now considered affectionate.
Ariana braced herself, her heart slowly softening.
"Yes, I'm all better now. Thank you for taking care of me."
"Thank you. This is something I should have done. Don't say things like, 'There's nothing to be thankful for, Ariana.'
Then Ariana went to see the Eastern Duke. Russell, who was reading a book in the study, hurriedly closed it and approached Ariana when she entered.
His blue eyes, filled with concern, swept Ariana up and down. Looking at Russell's slightly frowning face, Ariana recalled the Russell they'd first met at the royal party.
She'd thought his gaze was filled with contempt, but it wasn't. It was a strange dream she'd had after passing out that made her think it might be.
'What was that really?'
In that dream, she became Russell. Every time she recalled the emotions she felt as Russell, her heart grew numb. She kept interpreting Russell's gaze, his frown, his firm lips in a positive light.
"Ariana, is it okay to walk now?"
Even his gruff voice was now considered affectionate.
Ariana braced herself, her heart slowly softening.
"Yes, I'm all better now. Thank you for taking care of me."
"Thank you. This is something I should have done. Don't say things like, 'There's nothing to be thankful for, Ariana.'
He said it again.
I said thank you because it was something to be thankful for, but why did he keep telling me not to say thank you?
"I've sent word to the East. The people of the East will be happily waiting for the Princess's return by now."
I said thank you because it was something to be thankful for, but why did he keep telling me not to say thank you?
"I've sent word to the East. The people of the East will be happily waiting for the Princess's return by now."
Would they really be waiting happily?
Would anyone be happy to see a child who left the East immediately after birth and grew up in the West finally return?
Having lived a life that brought no joy to anyone, she couldn't help but accept the Eastern Duke's words with skepticism.
"The Western Duke left the empire the day before yesterday, so there's no one here targeting you. If you wish, you may wander around the city before leaving. Be sure to bring your escort knight with you."
"Yes, Your Excellency. I will."
Ariana bowed slightly and left the study. Lanster, her escort knight, was waiting in front of the study.
As Ariana headed for the main door, Lanster asked,
"Are you going out?"
"No, I'm just going to get some fresh air in the garden."
Ariana had no intention of wandering around town.
She'd been in plain sight during the custody trial, and she didn't want to be seen again until she returned.
Would anyone be happy to see a child who left the East immediately after birth and grew up in the West finally return?
Having lived a life that brought no joy to anyone, she couldn't help but accept the Eastern Duke's words with skepticism.
"The Western Duke left the empire the day before yesterday, so there's no one here targeting you. If you wish, you may wander around the city before leaving. Be sure to bring your escort knight with you."
"Yes, Your Excellency. I will."
Ariana bowed slightly and left the study. Lanster, her escort knight, was waiting in front of the study.
As Ariana headed for the main door, Lanster asked,
"Are you going out?"
"No, I'm just going to get some fresh air in the garden."
Ariana had no intention of wandering around town.
She'd been in plain sight during the custody trial, and she didn't want to be seen again until she returned.
"Everyone will be happy when the Princess returns,"
Lanster said, following Ariana into the garden.
Lanster said, following Ariana into the garden.
"Well, I doubt it. I used to live in the West, but now I'm the Princess of the East. Won't there be a backlash?"
"His Excellency often spoke of the Princess."
Ariana stopped and turned to Lanster.
"His Excellency spoke of me?"
"Yes. She was this small when she was born."
Lanster made fists with both hands.
“He used to say he was careful even when holding you, for fear you might break, as if he missed you. Every time we knights heard that, we felt a pang of sadness.”
“...”
“I felt like he only talked about it because it was the only memory he had of the Princess.”
Ariana clenched her jaw.
-' I will always wait here for you.'
The thought she had had when she became Russell came to mind.
A sudden pang of sadness filled her heart, but she couldn't explain it.
“We longed for you to visit the East even just once, to create another memory for our lord. And now that you have become the Princess of the East, of course, we are happy.”
Ariana gulped, swallowing the tears welling up in her throat.
-"I never wanted to give birth to someone like you."
-' I will always wait.'
-"I wish you had died in my womb."
-"I wanted to hold our baby's hand."
-"Shouldn't you pay for the meal?"
-“Everything’s okay, so let’s rest first, okay?”
-“Why are you like that? Shouldn’t you at least do what you’re told!”
-“Why are you sitting here doing something you don’t want to do?”
-“Don’t even say it hurts that much. Don’t bother me and just get out of here.”
-“Just think of me as your only uncle and relax. Yes?”
Other voices mixed with Rachel’s voice that always came in. The warmth that spread from a rough yet warm voice pushed out the cold voice.
The chains that Rachel had constantly cursed cracked.
Just a little, Ariana could breathe.
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