(77) The never-ending danger (3)
Victoria was relieved that the Western Lord had accepted the meeting. Even though she was her granddaughter, the Western Lord wasn't someone she could easily meet.
Moreover, an unfortunate incident had occurred in the empire. The fact that he had accepted the granddaughter of the Bronte family at such a time meant that the Western Lord's respect for the Bronte family had not yet completely faded.
'Now the only person I can trust is my grandfather.'
From the beginning, Victoria knew her parents' affections were strangely focused on Helena. But their attitude when she was taken to the investigative agency convinced her that she shouldn't trust them.
'No matter how hard I try, I can never surpass Helena.'
As it turned out, guilt was at the foundation of that love.
The guilt of having to raise Helena as the daughter of a woman of noble birth. As long as that guilt persisted, Helena would always be her parents' first choice.
'They weren't that great anyway.'
This incident has made her realize this for sure.
Her father, Jacob, was an incompetent fool, and her mother, whom she thought was great, was defeated miserably by Ariana.
'They're not people I can lean on.'
Even so, they are merely the Duke and Duchess of West. Their mother was a Princess of the West, but that was before their marriage. Furthermore, the Princess's power ultimately stems from the protection of her father, the Lord of the West.
"I'm sure Grandpa is very disappointed in Mother after this incident. He won't be as protective as he used to be. But I'm different."
Victoria walked with unwavering, upright posture. She mimicked the figure of Ariana, whom she had once glimpsed, and stood before the Western Lord with the dignity of a royal person.
She didn't wear fancy clothes.
She wore a simple yet elegant dress that highlighted Victoria's elegant beauty. Her hair was tied back, and she wore low-heeled shoes.
Victoria, standing before the Western Lord with a pitiful girlish appearance, bowed slightly to greet him.
“I come to see Your Excellency, the Lord of the West.”
Listening to his granddaughter's voice ringing out loud, the Western Lord quietly observed Victoria.
The Duke and Duchess of Bronte were weak towards Helena, but the Western Lord originally cherished Victoria. Victoria was far more beautiful and smarter than her sister.
Considering the two granddaughters, Victoria was a better choice to use.
“What brings you here?”
Victoria considered asking the Western Lord about his well-being, but decided against it. The Western Lord didn't like such empty words.
She has to please the Western Lord. Only then can she show that damn Ariana hell.
But she didn't intend to set a trap for Ariana directly. Now she knows Ariana isn't such a naive girl.
Victoria raised her head and looked at the Western Lord, speaking calmly.
“Grandpa, I came to ask you a favor.”
“Yes? Tell me.”
“Please make me Empress.”
The Western Lord stared blankly at her granddaughter, who was casually making such a dangerous remark. She didn't seem to be making such a rash remark.
“Do you want to become an Empress?”
“Yes, Grandfather. I must become Empress.”
The Western Lord had only daughters. Each of these daughters married a Duke or Count and had several sons and daughters.
The Western Lord planned to select a few of them and bring them into the imperial family.
Of course, he also planned to educate the best girl well and have her aim for the position of Crown Princess.
The one he had in mind most was Victoria. Victoria was the smartest and prettiest of the granddaughters.
The problem was the Crown Prince.
'The Crown Prince is close to the Northern Lord.'
When the Northern Lord's hostility was unknown, all it took was one granddaughter to become Crown Princess. But now, things were different.
The Northern Lord harbored hostility toward the Western Lord, and this fact was made clear. In such a situation, it was impossible to predict how the Crown Prince, with his close ties to the Northern Lord, would react.
The Western Lord had other plans.
"The road to becoming Empress won't be easy. The current Empress is no pushover either..."
"Grandpa, I'm ready to walk the thorny path with a smile. I've even thought about a few things."
As the Western Lord nodded, Victoria approached him gently and whispered something in his ear. The Western Lord's eyes lit up sinisterly as he listened to Victoria's plan.
After a while, the Western Lord spoke.
“Once you go down that road, you’ll never be able to turn back.”
“If I could become the highest woman on this continent, would I ever need to come back?”
The Western Lord smiled happily at Victoria's bold answer.
"Yes, you are indeed the best of my granddaughters. But wait a moment. The current Crown Prince has no answer. Sooner or later, someone worthy of contact will come to me. Until then, hone your skills. So that no one dares find fault with you."
After receiving a positive response, a strange smile appeared on Victoria's lips. As she climbed into the carriage, she clenched her fists and thought of Ariana's smile.
That radiant smile, she saw the moment Victoria was taken away.
"Ariana, you must be happy now. Enjoy that happiness to the fullest."
Victoria's eyes sparkled.
'While you're having a happy time in the East, I'll gain power you'll never have.'
Victoria recalled Paganus's abilities.
The power of Amanthal, possessed by Paganus. What must be done to obtain it?
She didn't want to be treated like some filthy pagan, but she wanted that power. Now that the Western Lord had given her permission, there was nothing left to fear.
Victoria smiled coldly, remembering the day she stood on Ariana's head.
Her maid, Catherine, had prepared a bath for Ariana. The bath, filled with lemon and orange juice, exuded a refreshing scent that was soothing just to smell.
Ariana took off her clothes and soaked her feet in the bathtub.
It was just the right temperature.
Stepping into the bathtub, Ariana examined her body. The ointment Isaac had given her was working well, and the scars she had formed here and there were slowly fading. Someday, she would have a clean body, as if nothing had happened.
The horsefall incident left her feeling uneasy, but she decided not to think about it while bathing. Cyrus said rest was the most important thing.
'How are Louis and Noah doing?'
As she soaked in the bathtub, she remembered the makeshift bathtub they'd made for her during their trip. That bathtub, made just for Ariana, was truly warm and pleasant.
That was the most comfortable time she ever had.
There was no need to fear enemy raids or be wary of hidden enemies.
'I never thought that journey would be safer than in this castle, where so many people cared for me.'
Ariana doesn't want to think about the fall from her horse, but it keeps coming back to her, and it makes her mind go blank.
Just because something is familiar doesn't mean it's not scary.
Every time she jumped from the carriage, every time she fell from the horse, she was always scared. She was afraid of the physical pain it would inflict.
'It would be convenient if I knew who was after me. Could it be Geor?'
Ariana recalled the names of the nobles she had memorized while helping the Third Prince. None of them seemed to be him.
'This is a headache.'
It was impossible to inform the lords or their families of this fact.
Because they were peaceful comrades, it was difficult for such things to come to light.
Even though they might be nice to her now because they feel bad for her, if Ariana kept causing problems, there would be people who would frown upon her.
For the time being, she had to act like a pure but slightly clever girl.
“Ariana, I’m coming in!”
A brisk voice pierced Ariana's thoughts. Before she could respond, the bathroom door burst open with Catherine's voice, "Oh my, Miss. You can't do that."
"Look, Ariana. This is the dress you're wearing tomorrow. Isn't it pretty?"
Isabelle held a lavender dress. The top of the dress was a lavender that deepened to a deeper shade as it went down. The deep purple of the skirt was studded with diamonds, resembling stars in the night sky.
“Yeah, it’s really pretty.”
Isabelle smiled, as if she was relieved, left the dress with Catherine, and entered the bathroom. She pulled a small chair over to the side of the bathtub and sat down. She spoke.
"You're the main character tomorrow, so you have to look your best. I even picked out some accessories for you. Dress up so pretty it almost seems overdone. Got it?"
“Yeah, I understand.”
“But Ariana. I couldn’t ask you earlier because of the atmosphere...”
"Yes?"
“What about the Northern Lord? Is he really handsome, like in a portrait?”
“Did you see the portrait too, Sister?”
"Of course. Every portrait shop has at least one. Some of it might have even paid a high price for a portrait."
“What about you, sister?”
"Hey, I'm not that good. So what do you think? Is he really that handsome? Like the moon god?"
Ariana pictured Cyrus' face. His features were so perfect they almost seemed too perfect, and his red eyes were so terrifyingly beautiful.
-“I need the power of the East. So, Ariana, if you want to repay my debt, take a proper position in the East.”
Suddenly, Ariana remembered the last conversation she had with him, and her mood dropped. She didn't want to say anything good about Cyrus.
“It’s just like that.”
"Yes?"
“It’s just normal. Rumors are just rumors.”
A look of disappointment clearly appeared on Isabelle's face.
"What, really? Yeah, I knew it. There's no way someone that pretty could exist. How does he compare to Averaster or Geor?"
“Of course, those two are much better.”
"Hey, then it's really nothing special. How are his skills? I heard the Northern Lord saved you from those thugs? Then you must have seen him fight."
“Yeah, I saw him.”
“Strong?”
“Hmm. Yeah, he was strong. Very strong.”
Isabelle's eyes sparkled.
"Really? You're saying he's that strong? If he and my dad fought, who would win?"
“Count...is Uncle Fellowes that strong?”
"Awesome. He may not be able to use magic like the Northerners, but he could probably handle several Northern Knights on his own without it. I followed him to the battlefield once and saw him fight Paganus. I used to think he was just a fool, but then I saw him again."
Isabelle, who was proud of her father, was dazzling with her sparkling eyes.
Isabelle was as unruly as Helena, but she possessed something Helena lacked: a starlight so clear and bright.
A girl who grew up receiving so much love is so pretty.
Ariana unconsciously reached out to Isabelle. Her wet fingers brushed Isabelle's cheek.
Isabelle tilted her head to the side as if asking why. Ariana said with a faint smile.
“Just because you look so pretty.”
Victoria was relieved that the Western Lord had accepted the meeting. Even though she was her granddaughter, the Western Lord wasn't someone she could easily meet.
Moreover, an unfortunate incident had occurred in the empire. The fact that he had accepted the granddaughter of the Bronte family at such a time meant that the Western Lord's respect for the Bronte family had not yet completely faded.
'Now the only person I can trust is my grandfather.'
From the beginning, Victoria knew her parents' affections were strangely focused on Helena. But their attitude when she was taken to the investigative agency convinced her that she shouldn't trust them.
'No matter how hard I try, I can never surpass Helena.'
As it turned out, guilt was at the foundation of that love.
The guilt of having to raise Helena as the daughter of a woman of noble birth. As long as that guilt persisted, Helena would always be her parents' first choice.
'They weren't that great anyway.'
This incident has made her realize this for sure.
Her father, Jacob, was an incompetent fool, and her mother, whom she thought was great, was defeated miserably by Ariana.
'They're not people I can lean on.'
Even so, they are merely the Duke and Duchess of West. Their mother was a Princess of the West, but that was before their marriage. Furthermore, the Princess's power ultimately stems from the protection of her father, the Lord of the West.
"I'm sure Grandpa is very disappointed in Mother after this incident. He won't be as protective as he used to be. But I'm different."
Victoria walked with unwavering, upright posture. She mimicked the figure of Ariana, whom she had once glimpsed, and stood before the Western Lord with the dignity of a royal person.
She didn't wear fancy clothes.
She wore a simple yet elegant dress that highlighted Victoria's elegant beauty. Her hair was tied back, and she wore low-heeled shoes.
Victoria, standing before the Western Lord with a pitiful girlish appearance, bowed slightly to greet him.
“I come to see Your Excellency, the Lord of the West.”
Listening to his granddaughter's voice ringing out loud, the Western Lord quietly observed Victoria.
The Duke and Duchess of Bronte were weak towards Helena, but the Western Lord originally cherished Victoria. Victoria was far more beautiful and smarter than her sister.
Considering the two granddaughters, Victoria was a better choice to use.
“What brings you here?”
Victoria considered asking the Western Lord about his well-being, but decided against it. The Western Lord didn't like such empty words.
She has to please the Western Lord. Only then can she show that damn Ariana hell.
But she didn't intend to set a trap for Ariana directly. Now she knows Ariana isn't such a naive girl.
Victoria raised her head and looked at the Western Lord, speaking calmly.
“Grandpa, I came to ask you a favor.”
“Yes? Tell me.”
“Please make me Empress.”
The Western Lord stared blankly at her granddaughter, who was casually making such a dangerous remark. She didn't seem to be making such a rash remark.
“Do you want to become an Empress?”
“Yes, Grandfather. I must become Empress.”
The Western Lord had only daughters. Each of these daughters married a Duke or Count and had several sons and daughters.
The Western Lord planned to select a few of them and bring them into the imperial family.
Of course, he also planned to educate the best girl well and have her aim for the position of Crown Princess.
The one he had in mind most was Victoria. Victoria was the smartest and prettiest of the granddaughters.
The problem was the Crown Prince.
'The Crown Prince is close to the Northern Lord.'
When the Northern Lord's hostility was unknown, all it took was one granddaughter to become Crown Princess. But now, things were different.
The Northern Lord harbored hostility toward the Western Lord, and this fact was made clear. In such a situation, it was impossible to predict how the Crown Prince, with his close ties to the Northern Lord, would react.
The Western Lord had other plans.
"The road to becoming Empress won't be easy. The current Empress is no pushover either..."
"Grandpa, I'm ready to walk the thorny path with a smile. I've even thought about a few things."
As the Western Lord nodded, Victoria approached him gently and whispered something in his ear. The Western Lord's eyes lit up sinisterly as he listened to Victoria's plan.
After a while, the Western Lord spoke.
“Once you go down that road, you’ll never be able to turn back.”
“If I could become the highest woman on this continent, would I ever need to come back?”
The Western Lord smiled happily at Victoria's bold answer.
"Yes, you are indeed the best of my granddaughters. But wait a moment. The current Crown Prince has no answer. Sooner or later, someone worthy of contact will come to me. Until then, hone your skills. So that no one dares find fault with you."
***
After receiving a positive response, a strange smile appeared on Victoria's lips. As she climbed into the carriage, she clenched her fists and thought of Ariana's smile.
That radiant smile, she saw the moment Victoria was taken away.
"Ariana, you must be happy now. Enjoy that happiness to the fullest."
Victoria's eyes sparkled.
'While you're having a happy time in the East, I'll gain power you'll never have.'
Victoria recalled Paganus's abilities.
The power of Amanthal, possessed by Paganus. What must be done to obtain it?
She didn't want to be treated like some filthy pagan, but she wanted that power. Now that the Western Lord had given her permission, there was nothing left to fear.
Victoria smiled coldly, remembering the day she stood on Ariana's head.
***
Her maid, Catherine, had prepared a bath for Ariana. The bath, filled with lemon and orange juice, exuded a refreshing scent that was soothing just to smell.
Ariana took off her clothes and soaked her feet in the bathtub.
It was just the right temperature.
Stepping into the bathtub, Ariana examined her body. The ointment Isaac had given her was working well, and the scars she had formed here and there were slowly fading. Someday, she would have a clean body, as if nothing had happened.
The horsefall incident left her feeling uneasy, but she decided not to think about it while bathing. Cyrus said rest was the most important thing.
'How are Louis and Noah doing?'
As she soaked in the bathtub, she remembered the makeshift bathtub they'd made for her during their trip. That bathtub, made just for Ariana, was truly warm and pleasant.
That was the most comfortable time she ever had.
There was no need to fear enemy raids or be wary of hidden enemies.
'I never thought that journey would be safer than in this castle, where so many people cared for me.'
Ariana doesn't want to think about the fall from her horse, but it keeps coming back to her, and it makes her mind go blank.
Just because something is familiar doesn't mean it's not scary.
Every time she jumped from the carriage, every time she fell from the horse, she was always scared. She was afraid of the physical pain it would inflict.
'It would be convenient if I knew who was after me. Could it be Geor?'
Ariana recalled the names of the nobles she had memorized while helping the Third Prince. None of them seemed to be him.
'This is a headache.'
It was impossible to inform the lords or their families of this fact.
No matter how much they cherished Ariana, the time she spent with them was brief. It was doubtful they would believe her, and even if they did, she didn't want to become someone who stirred up trouble the moment she became the Princess of the East.
‘They mustn’t think that the East has become noisy because of me.’
For the time being, she had to act like a pure but slightly clever girl.
“Ariana, I’m coming in!”
A brisk voice pierced Ariana's thoughts. Before she could respond, the bathroom door burst open with Catherine's voice, "Oh my, Miss. You can't do that."
"Look, Ariana. This is the dress you're wearing tomorrow. Isn't it pretty?"
Isabelle held a lavender dress. The top of the dress was a lavender that deepened to a deeper shade as it went down. The deep purple of the skirt was studded with diamonds, resembling stars in the night sky.
“Yeah, it’s really pretty.”
Isabelle smiled, as if she was relieved, left the dress with Catherine, and entered the bathroom. She pulled a small chair over to the side of the bathtub and sat down. She spoke.
"You're the main character tomorrow, so you have to look your best. I even picked out some accessories for you. Dress up so pretty it almost seems overdone. Got it?"
“Yeah, I understand.”
“But Ariana. I couldn’t ask you earlier because of the atmosphere...”
"Yes?"
“What about the Northern Lord? Is he really handsome, like in a portrait?”
“Did you see the portrait too, Sister?”
"Of course. Every portrait shop has at least one. Some of it might have even paid a high price for a portrait."
“What about you, sister?”
"Hey, I'm not that good. So what do you think? Is he really that handsome? Like the moon god?"
Ariana pictured Cyrus' face. His features were so perfect they almost seemed too perfect, and his red eyes were so terrifyingly beautiful.
-“I need the power of the East. So, Ariana, if you want to repay my debt, take a proper position in the East.”
Suddenly, Ariana remembered the last conversation she had with him, and her mood dropped. She didn't want to say anything good about Cyrus.
“It’s just like that.”
"Yes?"
“It’s just normal. Rumors are just rumors.”
A look of disappointment clearly appeared on Isabelle's face.
"What, really? Yeah, I knew it. There's no way someone that pretty could exist. How does he compare to Averaster or Geor?"
“Of course, those two are much better.”
"Hey, then it's really nothing special. How are his skills? I heard the Northern Lord saved you from those thugs? Then you must have seen him fight."
“Yeah, I saw him.”
“Strong?”
“Hmm. Yeah, he was strong. Very strong.”
Isabelle's eyes sparkled.
"Really? You're saying he's that strong? If he and my dad fought, who would win?"
“Count...is Uncle Fellowes that strong?”
"Awesome. He may not be able to use magic like the Northerners, but he could probably handle several Northern Knights on his own without it. I followed him to the battlefield once and saw him fight Paganus. I used to think he was just a fool, but then I saw him again."
Isabelle, who was proud of her father, was dazzling with her sparkling eyes.
Isabelle was as unruly as Helena, but she possessed something Helena lacked: a starlight so clear and bright.
A girl who grew up receiving so much love is so pretty.
Ariana unconsciously reached out to Isabelle. Her wet fingers brushed Isabelle's cheek.
Isabelle tilted her head to the side as if asking why. Ariana said with a faint smile.
“Just because you look so pretty.”
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