(75) The never-ending danger (1)
"What!"
At Helena's shout, the door opened slightly, and a maid entered. The young maid, seemingly unable to read the mood in the room, spoke politely.
“Miss, what about lunch...?”
“Do you think I feel like eating right now?”
"Yes?"
The maid, who knew nothing, blinked.
The maids looked at her with pity.
“Can I eat comfortably now?”
Helena picked up the teacup next to her and threw it away.
Chaeng-grang-!
The teacup brushed past the maid's face and shattered against the door. Only then did the maid realize the atmosphere in the room was ominous, and she shrugged.
“I’m sorry, Miss.”
“If you’re sorry, that’s all!”
Helena needed somewhere to vent her anger.
Her mother, who had returned a few days ago, had an expression on her face she never seen before. Anger, despair, hatred, and resentment were all over her, so dark that she couldn't dare speak to her.
Her father, the Duke of Jacob Bronte, rarely returned home after that day. Sometimes, when he did return, he smelled like a woman's perfume.
The dinner table where the whole family gathered every evening is no longer there.
A father who never comes home, a mother who is sick and won't come out of her room, and Victoria, who is locked in her room with a gloomy expression while reading a suspicious book.
The Bronte mansion was destroyed because of one Ariana.
But Ariana not only received help from the Northern Duke, but she was also now the Princess of the East.
When Helena thought of Ariana, who was happily living in the land of the East, known for its beauty, and called 'Princess,' she felt like her heart was going to burst.
Helena grabbed the young maid's hair and kicked her, screaming. The maid, oblivious to the torrent of kicks, begged and pleaded.
“I was wrong, Miss. I was wrong.”
Helena kicked the maid until her body was red and swollen, but she still felt uneasy. She picked up the crumpled newspaper and ran to Victoria's room.
Victoria was reading a book, seemingly content with the atmosphere at home. Helena tossed the newspaper she was holding at Victoria.
“Is now a good time to read a book?”
The newspaper fell and hit Victoria in the face.
Victoria calmly closed the book. The words "Paganus and the Blood Curse" were written on the cover, but Helena didn't see them.
“Just read that article!”
Victoria picked up the newspaper and began reading without a change in expression. Her face, which would have been distorted with discomfort before, was devoid of any emotion.
"The Northern Duke helped Ariana! Even His Majesty the Emperor intervened in the trial. Now, everyone knows we harassed Ariana. We'll never be able to set foot in Imperial society again!"
“...”
"No matter how much we read and cultivate our knowledge, you and I will still be like the sisters who tormented poor Ariana. Do you still feel like pretending to be noble while reading books?"
While Victoria read the newspaper, Helena continued to chatter beside her. Finally, Victoria put the newspaper aside and got up from the sofa.
“Where are you going!”
“I have to go see my grandfather.”
“Grandpa...? I, I’ll go with you.”
“Sister, just stay at home.”
“Why? I’ll go too. I have something to tell Grandpa, too...”
Helena couldn't finish her sentence because of Victoria's gaze.
The unidentifiable madness in Victoria's eyes.
Helena's eyes met, and she felt a chill, releasing her grip on Victoria's wrist. For some reason, the younger sister before her didn't seem like her own.
Victoria said, looking at Helena with ominous eyes.
“I’ll be back, sis.”
It was a clear day in early June when Ariana arrived in Elles, the capital of the Eastern Kingdom, after a month-long journey.
Ariana, who entered the city gates of Elles, was startled by the scene unfolding outside the carriage window.
The sky was falling over the entire city.
“That is...?”
Carradine smiled cutely at Ariana, her eyes wide.
“This is a festival to welcome you, Ariana.”
"Festival..."
Only then did Ariana realize why Carradine had made her change into a beautiful dress in the city they had just arrived at.
“Everyone is waiting for you to come back.”
Ariana blinked and looked at the sky that had descended upon the city.
Sky blue fabrics adorned the buildings, making them appear almost white in the sunlight. The sight of the sky-blue fabrics draped between the buildings, fluttering in the breeze, was spectacular.
Soon, the carriage stopped, and its door opened.
Ariana got out of the carriage, holding the hand of her father, Russell, who was waiting outside.
On both sides of the wide street, nobles lined up, and behind them, commoners were craning their necks to watch.
Everyone was watching Ariana.
As this was her first time at a welcoming procession, Ariana was nervous.
'I am now the Princess of the East.'
Now, finally, she stands here as the Princess of the East.
Everyone is watching to see what kind of person the Princess of rumors is.
There must be no hesitation. Everyone will remember today's events for the rest of their lives.
Ariana straightened her back, and a graceful smile graced her lips. Her eyes were lively yet slightly tense. She looked around at the faces of those gathered, her expression brimming with the joy of a Princess finally settling in her new home after enduring many hardships.
Among the nobles, some looked at her with discontent or wariness, but most of them had eyes filled with favor and curiosity.
Geor, who had been waiting at the very front, walked briskly towards her.
“Welcome back, Princess.”
Geor spoke cheerfully and draped the cloak he was holding over Ariana's shoulders. The blue cloak, trimmed with white fur, matched Ariana's blue dress.
Beginning with Geor, the White family approached and offered greetings of welcome. Then, the vassals bowed and shouted in unison.
“Welcome back, Princess.”
Ariana hesitated to say anything here, then decided not to. There would be a meeting later, so it seemed best to maintain the mystery until then.
Geor said.
"A parade carriage, or a horse. We need to get to the main square. What do you want to take?"
Ariana thought for a moment.
'If a horse is an option, it means riding a horse would be better.'
Even if the King rode on horseback, the Queen or Princess usually rode in a parade carriage. However, the Eastern was a place where "women were also warriors."
For a woman to ride safely in a parade carriage could have made her look weak.
Now that she was the Princess of the East, it was better to act like an Eastern person.
“I’ll ride a horse.”
“Oh, you know how to ride?”
“A little bit.”
Choosing the horse was the right choice.
From the Eastern Duke to the previous Duke, Carradine and Isabelle, they were all skilled horsemen.
Ariana also took Geor's hand and climbed onto the white horse.
Averaster asked cautiously.
“Are you okay?”
“It should be enough to arrive safely at the main square.”
Averaster looked at Ariana with concern before returning to his seat.
Today, Ariana was the main character, so she and the Eastern Duke stood side by side, followed by Geor and the former Duke and his wife. The members of the White Duke and the Dukes' families followed in a line behind them.
Those who came to see the 'Princess of Rumors' were amazed by her courageous appearance as she took possession of a horse, as they expected Ariana to be a pitiful and weak girl.
Ariana rode her horse elegantly, her back straight, her face a shy smile.
Running alongside the massive Russell, Ariana looked remarkably small, but her figure was flawless. Seeing her striking resemblance to Russell and her confident demeanor, people thought, "As expected, she's the daughter of His Excellency the Duke."
Some people gave Ariana unkind looks.
'She lived her whole life in the West, and now she is being made a Princess.'
'Aren't she a spy of the West?'
'Why did both Geor and Averaster protect her like that?'
'She been living like a maid, but she acts like she accomplished something.'
Among them, the one with the most eerie gaze was Duke Obelius.
The more perfect Ariana's actions became, the more uncomfortable Duke Obelius became.
Duke Obelius wanted his son, Geor, to succeed him as peer. If Geor assumed the throne, his father, Duke Obelius, would be able to control the peerage to his heart's content.
But suddenly, Ariana, who was in the West, came to the East and said she was a Princess.
'The lord missed his daughter very much.'
Everyone who knew knew how much Russell missed Ariana.
'The lord will definitely hand over the position of lord to that woman.'
If that were to happen, many of the projects Duke Obelius had been planning would be ruined. Projects he had been steadily working on for years. Projects that would blossom into glorious success in the years to come. He couldn't just abandon them.
Although he had left the task of dealing with Ariana to Geor, he had no intention of missing out on an opportunity as good as today.
Duke Obelius, who had been quietly watching the White family march, gestured toward a figure hiding in an alley. The man in a black cloak, lurking in ambush, nodded slightly, then pulled something from his pocket and aimed it at Ariana.
Ariana had no idea what was going on behind her. Neither did Russell.
“Ariana, when we reach the Great Square, I will proclaim you the Princess of the East.”
“Yes, Father.”
“If you become a Princess...”
The moment he asked if there was anything she wanted to do, something small and sparkling split the air.
The small silver needle shot from the ambush's device went straight ahead and embedded itself deeply into the thigh of the horse Ariana was riding.
The horse raised its upper body, screaming in agony at the stabbing pain.
“Heeeeeeeeeee!”
A shrill scream. A violent struggle and groaning, as if trying to throw Ariana off.
Everyone was frozen by the sudden commotion in the middle of the peaceful march.
The body of a small girl sitting on a white horse rose into the air. Her blue cloak fluttered, and her blue skirt billowed.
Everyone watched in a daze as their Princess floated into the air, unable to fully comprehend what had happened.
“Ariana!”
Russell reached out.
"Princess!"
Geor, who was behind, kicked the horse's waist.
Russell's fingertips touched the edge of the fluttering cloak, but it wasn't enough.
Ariana, who had been floating in the air, fell towards the ground.
Everyone watched, unable to breathe, as the girl's body fell like a single blue petal.
"What!"
At Helena's shout, the door opened slightly, and a maid entered. The young maid, seemingly unable to read the mood in the room, spoke politely.
“Miss, what about lunch...?”
“Do you think I feel like eating right now?”
"Yes?"
The maid, who knew nothing, blinked.
The maids looked at her with pity.
“Can I eat comfortably now?”
Helena picked up the teacup next to her and threw it away.
Chaeng-grang-!
The teacup brushed past the maid's face and shattered against the door. Only then did the maid realize the atmosphere in the room was ominous, and she shrugged.
“I’m sorry, Miss.”
“If you’re sorry, that’s all!”
Helena needed somewhere to vent her anger.
Her mother, who had returned a few days ago, had an expression on her face she never seen before. Anger, despair, hatred, and resentment were all over her, so dark that she couldn't dare speak to her.
Her father, the Duke of Jacob Bronte, rarely returned home after that day. Sometimes, when he did return, he smelled like a woman's perfume.
The dinner table where the whole family gathered every evening is no longer there.
A father who never comes home, a mother who is sick and won't come out of her room, and Victoria, who is locked in her room with a gloomy expression while reading a suspicious book.
The Bronte mansion was destroyed because of one Ariana.
But Ariana not only received help from the Northern Duke, but she was also now the Princess of the East.
When Helena thought of Ariana, who was happily living in the land of the East, known for its beauty, and called 'Princess,' she felt like her heart was going to burst.
“Hey! If you work for the Brontë family, you'd better have some common sense!”
“I was wrong, Miss. I was wrong.”
Helena kicked the maid until her body was red and swollen, but she still felt uneasy. She picked up the crumpled newspaper and ran to Victoria's room.
Victoria was reading a book, seemingly content with the atmosphere at home. Helena tossed the newspaper she was holding at Victoria.
“Is now a good time to read a book?”
The newspaper fell and hit Victoria in the face.
Victoria calmly closed the book. The words "Paganus and the Blood Curse" were written on the cover, but Helena didn't see them.
“Just read that article!”
Victoria picked up the newspaper and began reading without a change in expression. Her face, which would have been distorted with discomfort before, was devoid of any emotion.
"The Northern Duke helped Ariana! Even His Majesty the Emperor intervened in the trial. Now, everyone knows we harassed Ariana. We'll never be able to set foot in Imperial society again!"
“...”
"No matter how much we read and cultivate our knowledge, you and I will still be like the sisters who tormented poor Ariana. Do you still feel like pretending to be noble while reading books?"
While Victoria read the newspaper, Helena continued to chatter beside her. Finally, Victoria put the newspaper aside and got up from the sofa.
“Where are you going!”
“I have to go see my grandfather.”
“Grandpa...? I, I’ll go with you.”
“Sister, just stay at home.”
“Why? I’ll go too. I have something to tell Grandpa, too...”
Helena couldn't finish her sentence because of Victoria's gaze.
The unidentifiable madness in Victoria's eyes.
Helena's eyes met, and she felt a chill, releasing her grip on Victoria's wrist. For some reason, the younger sister before her didn't seem like her own.
Victoria said, looking at Helena with ominous eyes.
“I’ll be back, sis.”
***
It was a clear day in early June when Ariana arrived in Elles, the capital of the Eastern Kingdom, after a month-long journey.
Ariana, who entered the city gates of Elles, was startled by the scene unfolding outside the carriage window.
The sky was falling over the entire city.
“That is...?”
Carradine smiled cutely at Ariana, her eyes wide.
“This is a festival to welcome you, Ariana.”
"Festival..."
Only then did Ariana realize why Carradine had made her change into a beautiful dress in the city they had just arrived at.
“Everyone is waiting for you to come back.”
Ariana blinked and looked at the sky that had descended upon the city.
Sky blue fabrics adorned the buildings, making them appear almost white in the sunlight. The sight of the sky-blue fabrics draped between the buildings, fluttering in the breeze, was spectacular.
Soon, the carriage stopped, and its door opened.
Ariana got out of the carriage, holding the hand of her father, Russell, who was waiting outside.
On both sides of the wide street, nobles lined up, and behind them, commoners were craning their necks to watch.
Everyone was watching Ariana.
As this was her first time at a welcoming procession, Ariana was nervous.
'I am now the Princess of the East.'
Now, finally, she stands here as the Princess of the East.
Everyone is watching to see what kind of person the Princess of rumors is.
There must be no hesitation. Everyone will remember today's events for the rest of their lives.
Ariana straightened her back, and a graceful smile graced her lips. Her eyes were lively yet slightly tense. She looked around at the faces of those gathered, her expression brimming with the joy of a Princess finally settling in her new home after enduring many hardships.
Among the nobles, some looked at her with discontent or wariness, but most of them had eyes filled with favor and curiosity.
Geor, who had been waiting at the very front, walked briskly towards her.
“Welcome back, Princess.”
Geor spoke cheerfully and draped the cloak he was holding over Ariana's shoulders. The blue cloak, trimmed with white fur, matched Ariana's blue dress.
Beginning with Geor, the White family approached and offered greetings of welcome. Then, the vassals bowed and shouted in unison.
“Welcome back, Princess.”
Ariana hesitated to say anything here, then decided not to. There would be a meeting later, so it seemed best to maintain the mystery until then.
Geor said.
"A parade carriage, or a horse. We need to get to the main square. What do you want to take?"
Ariana thought for a moment.
'If a horse is an option, it means riding a horse would be better.'
Even if the King rode on horseback, the Queen or Princess usually rode in a parade carriage. However, the Eastern was a place where "women were also warriors."
For a woman to ride safely in a parade carriage could have made her look weak.
Now that she was the Princess of the East, it was better to act like an Eastern person.
“I’ll ride a horse.”
“Oh, you know how to ride?”
“A little bit.”
Choosing the horse was the right choice.
From the Eastern Duke to the previous Duke, Carradine and Isabelle, they were all skilled horsemen.
Ariana also took Geor's hand and climbed onto the white horse.
Averaster asked cautiously.
“Are you okay?”
“It should be enough to arrive safely at the main square.”
Averaster looked at Ariana with concern before returning to his seat.
Today, Ariana was the main character, so she and the Eastern Duke stood side by side, followed by Geor and the former Duke and his wife. The members of the White Duke and the Dukes' families followed in a line behind them.
Those who came to see the 'Princess of Rumors' were amazed by her courageous appearance as she took possession of a horse, as they expected Ariana to be a pitiful and weak girl.
Ariana rode her horse elegantly, her back straight, her face a shy smile.
Running alongside the massive Russell, Ariana looked remarkably small, but her figure was flawless. Seeing her striking resemblance to Russell and her confident demeanor, people thought, "As expected, she's the daughter of His Excellency the Duke."
Some people gave Ariana unkind looks.
'She lived her whole life in the West, and now she is being made a Princess.'
'Aren't she a spy of the West?'
'Why did both Geor and Averaster protect her like that?'
'She been living like a maid, but she acts like she accomplished something.'
Among them, the one with the most eerie gaze was Duke Obelius.
The more perfect Ariana's actions became, the more uncomfortable Duke Obelius became.
Duke Obelius wanted his son, Geor, to succeed him as peer. If Geor assumed the throne, his father, Duke Obelius, would be able to control the peerage to his heart's content.
But suddenly, Ariana, who was in the West, came to the East and said she was a Princess.
'The lord missed his daughter very much.'
Everyone who knew knew how much Russell missed Ariana.
'The lord will definitely hand over the position of lord to that woman.'
If that were to happen, many of the projects Duke Obelius had been planning would be ruined. Projects he had been steadily working on for years. Projects that would blossom into glorious success in the years to come. He couldn't just abandon them.
Although he had left the task of dealing with Ariana to Geor, he had no intention of missing out on an opportunity as good as today.
Duke Obelius, who had been quietly watching the White family march, gestured toward a figure hiding in an alley. The man in a black cloak, lurking in ambush, nodded slightly, then pulled something from his pocket and aimed it at Ariana.
Ariana had no idea what was going on behind her. Neither did Russell.
“Ariana, when we reach the Great Square, I will proclaim you the Princess of the East.”
“Yes, Father.”
“If you become a Princess...”
The moment he asked if there was anything she wanted to do, something small and sparkling split the air.
The small silver needle shot from the ambush's device went straight ahead and embedded itself deeply into the thigh of the horse Ariana was riding.
The horse raised its upper body, screaming in agony at the stabbing pain.
“Heeeeeeeeeee!”
A shrill scream. A violent struggle and groaning, as if trying to throw Ariana off.
Everyone was frozen by the sudden commotion in the middle of the peaceful march.
The body of a small girl sitting on a white horse rose into the air. Her blue cloak fluttered, and her blue skirt billowed.
Everyone watched in a daze as their Princess floated into the air, unable to fully comprehend what had happened.
“Ariana!”
Russell reached out.
"Princess!"
Geor, who was behind, kicked the horse's waist.
Russell's fingertips touched the edge of the fluttering cloak, but it wasn't enough.
Ariana, who had been floating in the air, fell towards the ground.
Everyone watched, unable to breathe, as the girl's body fell like a single blue petal.
Comments
Post a Comment