(64) Another Enemy
While Ariana was overcome with an emotion difficult to name, Lanster suddenly reached for his sword. His cautious, gray eyes gleamed sharply.
“There’s someone.”
The quiet warning made Ariana tense. Straightening her back and looking around, a dark figure appeared behind Lanster. With a swish, the sword slashed through the air. Ariana didn’t even know what had happened.
All she could see was Lanster’s sword aimed at Cyrus’s neck, who stood leisurely. Despite the sharp glint of the sword’s tip, Cyrus looked annoyingly relaxed.
“Did I startle you?”
“Your Excellency, the Northern Duke. If you hide in this mansion, you will be attacked.”
“I didn’t think you would notice my hiding so quickly. Fortunately, you’re strong. I don’t have to worry about the Princess’s safety.”
“The Princess’s safety is not your concern, Your Excellency.”
As a knight, Lanster must have known just how strong Cyrus was, yet he showed no sign of backing down.
“It seems the Western Duke cherishes the Princess. Assigning a strong knight like you as her bodyguard. Are you the captain?”
“Vice-captain.”
Ariana was surprised. She hadn’t realized Lanster held such a high position. The young lady’s escort was usually entrusted to a knight without rank.
“Vice-captain, yet a bodyguard. Are you not dissatisfied?”
“It is a great honor for me to serve the Princess. What could I possibly be dissatisfied with, protecting the one my lord holds most dear? In fact, I have secured the position everyone desires, so I should be proud.”
Ariana stared blankly at Lanster, who spoke with such sincerity.
Was he really thinking that way?
“Princess.”
At Cyrus’s call, Ariana came to her senses.
“Would you please order the Princess’s bodyguard to put away his sword?”
“Ah.”
Even after confirming it was Cyrus, Lanster didn't put his sword away, which made her wonder why. Apparently, it was a master's order. Since the only guards were wandering knights or mercenaries, sent to the Heralds as soon as they could find them, she hadn't even realized there was such a rule.
"Lanster, you can put your sword away."
At Ariana's command, Lanster lowered his sword. When Ariana asked him to step aside for a moment, Lanster glanced at Cyrus warily before saying,
"I'll be where the sword touches."
After Lanster left, the two walked side by side through the garden.
The garden, though not large, was beautiful and cozy, filled with warm, blooming flowers. The sky, dazzling with puffy white clouds, was dazzling, and the occasional cool breeze was perfect for a stroll.
Ariana felt a sense of liberation for the first time in a long time, or perhaps for the first time.
Whether it was because the custody trial had concluded successfully, and the Western Duke and Rachel had fled to the West as if being chased, or because Cyrus was by her side, she couldn't tell.
"Your expression has improved."
"Should I calm down?"
"No, it's okay to celebrate to your heart's content when you win."
"Victory..."
Yes, this sense of liberation might be the joy of victory.
It wasn't the end, but it left the Western Duke and Rachel with a terrible sense of defeat. If this defeat reached Bronte Manor, Helena and Victoria would seethe.
'The mere fact that I've become an Eastern Princess will drive Helena and Victoria crazy with jealousy. They'll remain Duke's Princesses no matter how hard they try.'
Ariana snapped out of her thoughts and asked Cyrus.
"Didn't Louis come with you?"
"It seems the Princess missed Louis more than me."
"The Duke of the North's beauty is too dazzling, a bit overwhelming for me."
"You know how to say sweet things, too."
"I do it when I have to. And..."
Ariana glanced to the side. Cyrus was staring straight ahead, a cold smile on his lips.
His profile was truly a beautiful sculpture. The perfect curves, without a single flaw, seemed like the world's most exquisite work of art.
Staring at the sharp nose that fell from the smooth forehead and the flawless jawline, she spoke honestly.
"Thank you so much, Northern Duke."
"What?"
"This time, things were really dark. If the Northern Duke hadn't appeared at such a time, I would have been plunged into darkness."
"No way."
Cyrus turned to Ariana.
"The Princess would have found light even if I hadn't shown up. You would have only terribly damaged her body."
Cyrus's brow furrowed slightly. He stopped walking and came closer to Ariana.
“That’s not good, that method. It will definitely lead to the Princess’s death someday.”
“A warrior takes up his sword without fear of death for victory. Didn’t you call me a warrior?”
“But do you stab yourself in the stomach so mercilessly? A warrior’s sword is aimed at the enemy, not himself.”
“But when there’s only one way, isn’t it a warrior to cut off his own head without hesitation?”
“The Princess doesn’t have to follow that method!”
“I can do anything to get what I want. And... why is the Northern Duke so angry?”
“Angry? Me?”
Ariana pointed between Cyrus’s eyebrows with her index finger.
“You seem very angry. Are you that worried that I might die before I repay my debt?”
“...I see.”
The anger that had been forming between Cyrus’s eyebrows disappeared. He continued walking with a strangely displeased expression.
“Rumors are going around these days about an affair between a certain Countess’s daughter and a certain theater actor. Soon, when the news comes out, the story of a certain Princess’s custody trial will fade from people’s memories.”
“I see.”
Ariana had expected that. She hadn’t thought the Western Duke would return to the West without doing anything.
“But even if it fades from memory, that doesn’t mean it never happened. I don’t really care.”
Cyrus glanced at Ariana, who answered calmly, and asked,
“What are you going to do from now on?”
“Well, when we return to the East, how about spending some leisurely time doing embroidery like a Princess?”
While Count Russell was away, Geor, who had taken over his duties, was busy with his work.
Before Ariana and her party returned from the Empire, they had received news of the victory in the custody trial. Geor’s expression crumpled when he heard that the outcome of the trial would implicate the Emperor and the Northern Duke.
“This is getting annoying.”
As expected, trouble soon arose. Less than a day after receiving the news, Duke Ceodis Obelius came to visit Geor.
Duke Obelius was Geor's biological father, a distant cousin of House White.
The founder of House Obelius had blue hair like the rest of House White, but over the generations, it had lost its color and now possessed a completely different color.
Duke Obelius had brown hair, Duchess Obelius had scarlet hair, and the younger son and daughter also had scarlet hair like their mother. But Geor was the only one with blue hair.
This blue hair was the reason Geor, Duke Obelius's second son, was adopted by Russell and became the Duke of Edinburgh. As soon as Duke Obelius entered the office, he sat down on the sofa and asked,
"Did you hear that?"
"This, this. Duke Obelius, isn't that rude in front of the Duke of Edinburgh? Not even greeting him properly."
"Stop that nonsense. No matter how much you sit there, you're still my son."
“Well. Have you forgotten that when you sent me to the Eastern Duke, you told me to treat His Excellency as a father and to act without a single flaw?”
“Even so, that doesn’t change the fact that you are my son!”
“So, is that why you came here so brazenly as soon as His Excellency left? You were always cautious when His Excellency was around.”
“When did I ever hesitate! Anyway, you never change your ways.”
Geor sat down across from Duke Obelius with a bitter smile. Crossing his long legs, Geor lifted his chin and looked down at Duke Obelius.
“I’m busy, so why did the Duke come running here in such a hurry?”
“I was just about to talk about that, and you interrupted me! You must have heard the results of that girl’s custody trial, right?”
Geor frowned.
“This isn’t the time for such wordplay! Why would a girl who knew nothing about the East suddenly come to the East and covet the position of Princess? Yeah?”
“She came back to find her rightful place. Isn’t that admirable?”
“What’s admirable about that?”
Duke Obelius slammed both fists on the table.
"That bitch even got the Emperor to move the Northern Duke. You could lose your position if you're not careful, you bastard!"
While Ariana was overcome with an emotion difficult to name, Lanster suddenly reached for his sword. His cautious, gray eyes gleamed sharply.
“There’s someone.”
The quiet warning made Ariana tense. Straightening her back and looking around, a dark figure appeared behind Lanster. With a swish, the sword slashed through the air. Ariana didn’t even know what had happened.
All she could see was Lanster’s sword aimed at Cyrus’s neck, who stood leisurely. Despite the sharp glint of the sword’s tip, Cyrus looked annoyingly relaxed.
“Did I startle you?”
“Your Excellency, the Northern Duke. If you hide in this mansion, you will be attacked.”
“I didn’t think you would notice my hiding so quickly. Fortunately, you’re strong. I don’t have to worry about the Princess’s safety.”
“The Princess’s safety is not your concern, Your Excellency.”
As a knight, Lanster must have known just how strong Cyrus was, yet he showed no sign of backing down.
“It seems the Western Duke cherishes the Princess. Assigning a strong knight like you as her bodyguard. Are you the captain?”
“Vice-captain.”
Ariana was surprised. She hadn’t realized Lanster held such a high position. The young lady’s escort was usually entrusted to a knight without rank.
“Vice-captain, yet a bodyguard. Are you not dissatisfied?”
“It is a great honor for me to serve the Princess. What could I possibly be dissatisfied with, protecting the one my lord holds most dear? In fact, I have secured the position everyone desires, so I should be proud.”
Ariana stared blankly at Lanster, who spoke with such sincerity.
Was he really thinking that way?
“Princess.”
At Cyrus’s call, Ariana came to her senses.
“Would you please order the Princess’s bodyguard to put away his sword?”
“Ah.”
Even after confirming it was Cyrus, Lanster didn't put his sword away, which made her wonder why. Apparently, it was a master's order. Since the only guards were wandering knights or mercenaries, sent to the Heralds as soon as they could find them, she hadn't even realized there was such a rule.
"Lanster, you can put your sword away."
At Ariana's command, Lanster lowered his sword. When Ariana asked him to step aside for a moment, Lanster glanced at Cyrus warily before saying,
"I'll be where the sword touches."
After Lanster left, the two walked side by side through the garden.
The garden, though not large, was beautiful and cozy, filled with warm, blooming flowers. The sky, dazzling with puffy white clouds, was dazzling, and the occasional cool breeze was perfect for a stroll.
Ariana felt a sense of liberation for the first time in a long time, or perhaps for the first time.
Whether it was because the custody trial had concluded successfully, and the Western Duke and Rachel had fled to the West as if being chased, or because Cyrus was by her side, she couldn't tell.
"Your expression has improved."
"Should I calm down?"
"No, it's okay to celebrate to your heart's content when you win."
"Victory..."
Yes, this sense of liberation might be the joy of victory.
It wasn't the end, but it left the Western Duke and Rachel with a terrible sense of defeat. If this defeat reached Bronte Manor, Helena and Victoria would seethe.
'The mere fact that I've become an Eastern Princess will drive Helena and Victoria crazy with jealousy. They'll remain Duke's Princesses no matter how hard they try.'
Ariana snapped out of her thoughts and asked Cyrus.
"Didn't Louis come with you?"
"It seems the Princess missed Louis more than me."
"The Duke of the North's beauty is too dazzling, a bit overwhelming for me."
"You know how to say sweet things, too."
"I do it when I have to. And..."
Ariana glanced to the side. Cyrus was staring straight ahead, a cold smile on his lips.
His profile was truly a beautiful sculpture. The perfect curves, without a single flaw, seemed like the world's most exquisite work of art.
Staring at the sharp nose that fell from the smooth forehead and the flawless jawline, she spoke honestly.
"Thank you so much, Northern Duke."
"What?"
"This time, things were really dark. If the Northern Duke hadn't appeared at such a time, I would have been plunged into darkness."
"No way."
Cyrus turned to Ariana.
"The Princess would have found light even if I hadn't shown up. You would have only terribly damaged her body."
Cyrus's brow furrowed slightly. He stopped walking and came closer to Ariana.
“That’s not good, that method. It will definitely lead to the Princess’s death someday.”
“A warrior takes up his sword without fear of death for victory. Didn’t you call me a warrior?”
“But do you stab yourself in the stomach so mercilessly? A warrior’s sword is aimed at the enemy, not himself.”
“But when there’s only one way, isn’t it a warrior to cut off his own head without hesitation?”
“The Princess doesn’t have to follow that method!”
“I can do anything to get what I want. And... why is the Northern Duke so angry?”
“Angry? Me?”
Ariana pointed between Cyrus’s eyebrows with her index finger.
“You seem very angry. Are you that worried that I might die before I repay my debt?”
“...I see.”
The anger that had been forming between Cyrus’s eyebrows disappeared. He continued walking with a strangely displeased expression.
“Rumors are going around these days about an affair between a certain Countess’s daughter and a certain theater actor. Soon, when the news comes out, the story of a certain Princess’s custody trial will fade from people’s memories.”
“I see.”
Ariana had expected that. She hadn’t thought the Western Duke would return to the West without doing anything.
“But even if it fades from memory, that doesn’t mean it never happened. I don’t really care.”
Cyrus glanced at Ariana, who answered calmly, and asked,
“What are you going to do from now on?”
“Well, when we return to the East, how about spending some leisurely time doing embroidery like a Princess?”
***
While Count Russell was away, Geor, who had taken over his duties, was busy with his work.
Before Ariana and her party returned from the Empire, they had received news of the victory in the custody trial. Geor’s expression crumpled when he heard that the outcome of the trial would implicate the Emperor and the Northern Duke.
“This is getting annoying.”
As expected, trouble soon arose. Less than a day after receiving the news, Duke Ceodis Obelius came to visit Geor.
Duke Obelius was Geor's biological father, a distant cousin of House White.
The founder of House Obelius had blue hair like the rest of House White, but over the generations, it had lost its color and now possessed a completely different color.
Duke Obelius had brown hair, Duchess Obelius had scarlet hair, and the younger son and daughter also had scarlet hair like their mother. But Geor was the only one with blue hair.
This blue hair was the reason Geor, Duke Obelius's second son, was adopted by Russell and became the Duke of Edinburgh. As soon as Duke Obelius entered the office, he sat down on the sofa and asked,
"Did you hear that?"
"This, this. Duke Obelius, isn't that rude in front of the Duke of Edinburgh? Not even greeting him properly."
"Stop that nonsense. No matter how much you sit there, you're still my son."
“Well. Have you forgotten that when you sent me to the Eastern Duke, you told me to treat His Excellency as a father and to act without a single flaw?”
“Even so, that doesn’t change the fact that you are my son!”
“So, is that why you came here so brazenly as soon as His Excellency left? You were always cautious when His Excellency was around.”
“When did I ever hesitate! Anyway, you never change your ways.”
Geor sat down across from Duke Obelius with a bitter smile. Crossing his long legs, Geor lifted his chin and looked down at Duke Obelius.
“I’m busy, so why did the Duke come running here in such a hurry?”
“I was just about to talk about that, and you interrupted me! You must have heard the results of that girl’s custody trial, right?”
Geor frowned.
"Watch your words. Calling the princess that girl? Even if your head were to roll right here, you'd have no excuse for such speech."
“She came back to find her rightful place. Isn’t that admirable?”
“What’s admirable about that?”
Duke Obelius slammed both fists on the table.
"That bitch even got the Emperor to move the Northern Duke. You could lose your position if you're not careful, you bastard!"
“It’s not taking it away, it’s giving it back, Duke. This position wasn’t mine to begin with.”
Duke Obelius's eyes burned at Geor’s relaxed attitude. He looked at his son with pity and said,
“You shouldn’t be so greedy. You’ve been like that since you were young. It would have been better if Piersin had been born with blue hair.”
Geor’s expression hardened at the mention of the name of the eldest son, Little Duke Piersin Obelius.
However, Duke Obelius didn’t notice and continued speaking.
“She swayed the heart of the Duke of the East by saying she was abused in the West and escaped, and she even started a custody battle in the Empire and defeated the Duke of the West. Even the Duchess of Rowenta appeared as a witness in the trial, didn’t she? And the Emperor and the Northern Duke... She’s no ordinary girl. How old was she, you say?”
“I don’t think the Duke needs to worry about that. If that’s all you have to say, then let’s go now. As you can see, I’m busy.”
“Get a grip, Geor Obelius.”
“It’s Geor White, Duke.”
“No, even if you die and come back to life, you’ll still be one of our Obelius. Your mother and I have high expectations of you.”
Duke Obelius clearly witnessed Geor’s gaze waver at the word “mother.” Duke Obelius smiled bitterly.
“I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand seeing my son being pushed around by a girl who doesn’t know where she came from. Geor, don’t make me, your father, come forward.”
After Duke Obelius left, Geor washed his face with both hands. A wrenched sigh escaped his fingers.
Duke Obelius knew Geor's weakness all too well. His mother was the one weakness that prevented Geor from completely severing his ties to the Obelius family.
She was pure, innocent, and fairy-like.
She didn't know what Duke Obelius was thinking when he adopted Geor into the White family. She didn't know the grand ambitions he harbored.
She was simply a loving woman who trusted and believed in her husband and children.
Geor recalled the day before Arianna left for the empire. Arianna had calmly exchanged glances with Geor, unafraid of his murderous intent. He didn't completely trust her, but he didn't want to harm her when she wasn't doing anything.
However, Duke Obelius's last words weighed heavily on his mind:
"Don't make me act."
Geor knew the lengths Duke Obelius would go to fulfill his ambitions. If Geor misbehaved, his mother would be in danger.
His temples were throbbing.
'What should I do with this...?'
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