(39) To Chase Castle (2)
“You’re so small. You still seem so young. Weren’t you scared carrying that much money?”
“It’s okay. Thank you for helping me.”
“Yes. I’ll return the money for now.”
He handed Ariana a gold coin. Ariana politely accepted it and put it carefully in her pocket.
The knight, who had been watching her, said,
“Where were you going? I’ll take you there.”
“Sir, I know you’re busy with official duties, so I can’t take up your precious time. It’s enough that you took the time to help me.”
He widened his eyes in surprise at Ariana’s mature response.
“You seem so young, but you speak so maturely. My cousin is older than you, but he acts like a lunatic.”
“Yes...”
“It’s good to be mature, but children need to know how to receive help from adults. The city of Elles is safe, but there’s always danger for children with a lot of money. Protecting the citizens is also my job, so I’ll take you there.”
With that out of the way, she couldn’t refuse any longer.
“Yes, you’ll find out eventually anyway.”
Since she had a rough idea of the Duke's family, she could guess who this man was.
“Then please. I’m on my way to Chase Castle.”
“Chase Castle? Is there something you want to tell His Highness the Duke?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask what it is?”
“No.”
“I’m Averaster White. I’m the Count’s nephew.”
Ariana wore a shabby cloak, but her posture was dignified, and her voice was commanding. Even though it was a child's voice, it held an air of dignity unusual for her age, making the knights unconsciously adopt a cautious demeanor.
"Huh? Who are you...?"
Ariana stared straight at them.
"I am Ariana. The daughter of His Excellency the Duke."
The knight, who had watched Ariana flustered and then hurriedly rushed inside, returned quickly.
"P-Please come in."
Until then, Averaster had been staring down at the back of the small child standing before him, barely able to breathe properly. Then, when Ariana moved, he suddenly came to his senses and said,
"Me, me, me too!"
"Excuse me, Sir. Th-this one, please come in."
Averaster couldn't stand the curiosity of whether this unusual child was really the Duke's daughter, and if not, what her true identity was, and what would happen next, but he could not ignore the Duke's order.
He simply watched Ariana walk away without a second glance, then hurriedly mounted his horse and galloped away.
He had to tell his father this news.
Ariana sat alone in the spacious and ornate reception room.
The interior, a beautiful blend of white and gold, was beautiful, but she was so tense that she couldn't even take it in.
'His Excellency. Russell White.'
How would he treat his daughter, whom he was meeting for the first time?
'He'd frown.'
One thing was certain. She had experienced it firsthand.
'He'd ask why I came?'
Perhaps. Since the two territories weren't on good terms, it was highly likely that she'd approach him with ulterior motives, just like Rachel.
'The first thing I can offer is the location of the letters Rachel exchanged with the Western Duke while she was in the Eastern Duke's palace. And the Western Duke's weakness. If I give you these two, you won't be kicked out, right?'
The process of earning the respect of a true Eastern Princess could be accomplished step by step after securing a room at Chase Castle.
Don't be too greedy from the start. To be acknowledged as a daughter, that was the goal.
Knock—
A low voice rang out along with a knock.
“This is Count Foshard Roman, Lord Chamberlain. I will come in.”
The door to the reception room opened, and an elderly gentleman with white hair entered.
“Well, the Duke himself won’t appear from the start, will he?”
Ariana composed herself and sat on the sofa, staring at Lord Chamberlain. The Lord Chamberlain bowed slightly to Ariana, introduced himself, and said,
“I heard you said you were Ariana, the daughter of His Excellency the Duke.”
“...”
“Can you show me proof?”
Ariana rose from the sofa without answering. She faced the Lord Chamberlain and removed her hood.
The Lord Chamberlain stared blankly at the sky-blue hair she had hidden, radiating a refreshing light as it flowed down. His eyes fluttered and wavered.
“You’re so small. You still seem so young. Weren’t you scared carrying that much money?”
“It’s okay. Thank you for helping me.”
“Yes. I’ll return the money for now.”
He handed Ariana a gold coin. Ariana politely accepted it and put it carefully in her pocket.
The knight, who had been watching her, said,
“Where were you going? I’ll take you there.”
“Sir, I know you’re busy with official duties, so I can’t take up your precious time. It’s enough that you took the time to help me.”
He widened his eyes in surprise at Ariana’s mature response.
“You seem so young, but you speak so maturely. My cousin is older than you, but he acts like a lunatic.”
“Yes...”
“It’s good to be mature, but children need to know how to receive help from adults. The city of Elles is safe, but there’s always danger for children with a lot of money. Protecting the citizens is also my job, so I’ll take you there.”
With that out of the way, she couldn’t refuse any longer.
“Yes, you’ll find out eventually anyway.”
Since she had a rough idea of the Duke's family, she could guess who this man was.
“Then please. I’m on my way to Chase Castle.”
“Chase Castle? Is there something you want to tell His Highness the Duke?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask what it is?”
“No.”
“I’m Averaster White. I’m the Count’s nephew.”
“As expected... ”
Averaster White was the son of Duke Langsty White, the Eastern Duke's younger brother, and a minor Duke.
As far as Ariana knew, he hated the Empire so much that he had never set foot on Imperial soil. So, it’s inevitable that she wouldn’t remember seeing him.
Averaster said kindly.
“If you or your family have suffered injustice, tell me. I will convey it to His Excellency.”
“I want to tell him myself.”
“His Excellency is a busy man, so I’m not sure if he’ll be able to meet with you easily.”
“It’s okay. I can wait a month, a year, or whatever time you have.”
Averaster stared at Ariana with pity.
He seemed to think the child was being unnecessarily stubborn, but Ariana remained firm and refused to change his mind.
“Yes, then. I’ll take you to Chase Castle.”
Averaster lifted Ariana up onto his horse.
His casual demeanor caught her by surprise, but she didn’t show it and just followed his lead.
Averaster also mounted his horse and rode slowly, with Ariana in front of him.
-“They’re all the same cold-hearted and cruel people.” Ariana, who had often heard about the White family from Rachel, was amazed at Averaster’s actions, which were so different from what she had heard. For someone as noble as he to be so kind to a child who had simply been robbed by a pickpocket was astonishing.
Averaster White was the son of Duke Langsty White, the Eastern Duke's younger brother, and a minor Duke.
As far as Ariana knew, he hated the Empire so much that he had never set foot on Imperial soil. So, it’s inevitable that she wouldn’t remember seeing him.
Averaster said kindly.
“If you or your family have suffered injustice, tell me. I will convey it to His Excellency.”
“I want to tell him myself.”
“His Excellency is a busy man, so I’m not sure if he’ll be able to meet with you easily.”
“It’s okay. I can wait a month, a year, or whatever time you have.”
Averaster stared at Ariana with pity.
He seemed to think the child was being unnecessarily stubborn, but Ariana remained firm and refused to change his mind.
“Yes, then. I’ll take you to Chase Castle.”
Averaster lifted Ariana up onto his horse.
His casual demeanor caught her by surprise, but she didn’t show it and just followed his lead.
Averaster also mounted his horse and rode slowly, with Ariana in front of him.
-“They’re all the same cold-hearted and cruel people.” Ariana, who had often heard about the White family from Rachel, was amazed at Averaster’s actions, which were so different from what she had heard. For someone as noble as he to be so kind to a child who had simply been robbed by a pickpocket was astonishing.
It's said that many nobles have recently begun to practice noblesse oblige, but they often donate for show or delegate the duties to their employees. It was rare to find a noble who actually put it into practice.
As they approached Chase Castle, Averaster said,
"If you can't wait for His Excellency, go to the guard post at the other gate and ask to see me. I'll notify the soldiers there."
"Yes, thank you."
They finally arrived at the main gate of Chase Castle. Averaster dismounted first and let Ariana off. Ariana gazed at the castle, deeply moved.
"We're finally here."
It had been about two months since her return. After experiencing many, many, and many things, she had finally arrived. The land of the Eastern Duke, a land she had never set foot on before her death.
"The land of my birth. But it's not mine."
"Come here, little one."
Averaster's voice broke her thoughts. Averaster, with no intention of returning, led Ariana to the knight guarding the gate. The knights, recognizing Averaster, saluted.
"Sir, have you come to see my lord?"
"Yes, are you busy?"
"Yes, I'm sorry, but he ordered that no one be allowed in for the time being."
"Oh, no."
Averaster turned to Ariana as if to demand attention. But instead of looking at him, Ariana stepped forward and stood before the knight. Then, with her hands clasped together in a dignified manner, she said,
"Please tell His Excellency the Duke that I request to see him."
Ariana wore a shabby cloak, but her posture was dignified, and her voice was commanding. Even though it was a child's voice, it held an air of dignity unusual for her age, making the knights unconsciously adopt a cautious demeanor.
"Huh? Who are you...?"
Ariana stared straight at them.
"I am Ariana. The daughter of His Excellency the Duke."
***
The knight, who had watched Ariana flustered and then hurriedly rushed inside, returned quickly.
"P-Please come in."
Until then, Averaster had been staring down at the back of the small child standing before him, barely able to breathe properly. Then, when Ariana moved, he suddenly came to his senses and said,
"Me, me, me too!"
"Excuse me, Sir. Th-this one, please come in."
Averaster couldn't stand the curiosity of whether this unusual child was really the Duke's daughter, and if not, what her true identity was, and what would happen next, but he could not ignore the Duke's order.
He simply watched Ariana walk away without a second glance, then hurriedly mounted his horse and galloped away.
He had to tell his father this news.
***
Ariana sat alone in the spacious and ornate reception room.
The interior, a beautiful blend of white and gold, was beautiful, but she was so tense that she couldn't even take it in.
'His Excellency. Russell White.'
How would he treat his daughter, whom he was meeting for the first time?
'He'd frown.'
One thing was certain. She had experienced it firsthand.
'He'd ask why I came?'
Perhaps. Since the two territories weren't on good terms, it was highly likely that she'd approach him with ulterior motives, just like Rachel.
'The first thing I can offer is the location of the letters Rachel exchanged with the Western Duke while she was in the Eastern Duke's palace. And the Western Duke's weakness. If I give you these two, you won't be kicked out, right?'
The process of earning the respect of a true Eastern Princess could be accomplished step by step after securing a room at Chase Castle.
Don't be too greedy from the start. To be acknowledged as a daughter, that was the goal.
Knock—
A low voice rang out along with a knock.
“This is Count Foshard Roman, Lord Chamberlain. I will come in.”
The door to the reception room opened, and an elderly gentleman with white hair entered.
“Well, the Duke himself won’t appear from the start, will he?”
Ariana composed herself and sat on the sofa, staring at Lord Chamberlain. The Lord Chamberlain bowed slightly to Ariana, introduced himself, and said,
“I heard you said you were Ariana, the daughter of His Excellency the Duke.”
“...”
“Can you show me proof?”
Ariana rose from the sofa without answering. She faced the Lord Chamberlain and removed her hood.
The Lord Chamberlain stared blankly at the sky-blue hair she had hidden, radiating a refreshing light as it flowed down. His eyes fluttered and wavered.
Ariana gently brushed back the hair that had fallen below her shoulder and said,
“Will this serve as proof?”
The chamberlain replied with a faint smile.
“Please wait a moment.”
After the chamberlain left, Ariana sat back down on the sofa and looked down at her hair. Although she had inherited the White family’s blood, something had gone wrong, and it had faded to a light blue.
‘The Duke should remember what color his daughter’s hair was.’
The chamberlain left the drawing room and closed the door, stopping for a moment and taking a deep breath. Ephrin, the chief maid and the chamberlain’s wife, had been waiting anxiously outside and asked in a small voice.
“Really...?”
When the chamberlain nodded, the maid covered her mouth with both hands. Her eyes filled with moisture.
The chamberlain left his wife, who was sniffling, and ran towards the Duke’s office.
In the office of Duke Russell White, the former Duke Theodore White and the former Duke’s wife, Carradine White, were together.
The former Duchess and her husband were staying in one of the buildings of Chase Castle, but upon hearing the news that "the Duke's daughter, Ariana," had arrived, they had rushed here.
Nervous eyes focused on the chamberlain.
The chamberlain swallowed hard, his throat tight, and spoke solemnly.
"Hair is sky blue. Eyes exactly like Your Excellency's. It must be Ariana."
In an instant, Carradine collapsed onto the sofa. Theodore glared at him, his voice trembling.
"Count Roman, is that true? Are you sure? She didn't dye it?"
"It's not a color that can be achieved with dye. And her face..."
The chamberlain's eyes turned to the Duke.
"It's exactly the same as Your Excellency."
Russell, who had been listening to the chamberlain's report with an indifferent, cold expression, buried his face in his hands.
His dark blue hair tangled around his strong, long fingers. His broad shoulders trembled imperceptibly. A slight, ragged breath escaped from the back of his palm.
After what felt like a long moment, Russell raised his head.
His brows were slightly furrowed, his lips firm, and his eyes cold. With the same expression Ariana had seen him for the first time, he looked at his father and mother and asked,
"What should I do?"
Theodore strode over and lightly slapped Russell on the back of the head.
"Come to your senses, you rascal! What can you do? You need to go hug her right now."
"Hug her? Is that okay?"
"Of course. She's your daughter."
"But... she's grown up now... and this is the first time I've seen her since she left the East... Uh... wouldn't she be afraid of me?"
Theodore sighed, looking at his son's piercing eyes.
"If you know that, then relax those eyes."
"Lose them, Dad."
"Lose them even more! If you look at her like that, she'll cry!"
"I see, right?"
Russell jumped up, paced nervously in his office, then stood in front of the mirror to check his face.
Because of his naturally cold demeanor, children were often so scared that they would burst into tears if they made eye contact with Russell. His nephews and nieces, too, had avoided Russell when they were young.
Furthermore, Russell was a man of few words and didn't know how to joke, so he couldn't even offer kind words to comfort the child.
"I don't think that's possible."
Russell's reflection in the mirror looked angry, no matter how you looked at him.
"Father, Mother, you should come with me,"
Carradine said.
"If we all rush in, Ariana might get scared."
"Well, it might be better than him going alone. He's not very talkative, so we wouldn't be able to comfort the child if she were scared."
“Will this serve as proof?”
The chamberlain replied with a faint smile.
“Please wait a moment.”
After the chamberlain left, Ariana sat back down on the sofa and looked down at her hair. Although she had inherited the White family’s blood, something had gone wrong, and it had faded to a light blue.
‘The Duke should remember what color his daughter’s hair was.’
***
The chamberlain left the drawing room and closed the door, stopping for a moment and taking a deep breath. Ephrin, the chief maid and the chamberlain’s wife, had been waiting anxiously outside and asked in a small voice.
“Really...?”
When the chamberlain nodded, the maid covered her mouth with both hands. Her eyes filled with moisture.
The chamberlain left his wife, who was sniffling, and ran towards the Duke’s office.
In the office of Duke Russell White, the former Duke Theodore White and the former Duke’s wife, Carradine White, were together.
The former Duchess and her husband were staying in one of the buildings of Chase Castle, but upon hearing the news that "the Duke's daughter, Ariana," had arrived, they had rushed here.
Nervous eyes focused on the chamberlain.
The chamberlain swallowed hard, his throat tight, and spoke solemnly.
"Hair is sky blue. Eyes exactly like Your Excellency's. It must be Ariana."
In an instant, Carradine collapsed onto the sofa. Theodore glared at him, his voice trembling.
"Count Roman, is that true? Are you sure? She didn't dye it?"
"It's not a color that can be achieved with dye. And her face..."
The chamberlain's eyes turned to the Duke.
"It's exactly the same as Your Excellency."
Russell, who had been listening to the chamberlain's report with an indifferent, cold expression, buried his face in his hands.
His dark blue hair tangled around his strong, long fingers. His broad shoulders trembled imperceptibly. A slight, ragged breath escaped from the back of his palm.
After what felt like a long moment, Russell raised his head.
His brows were slightly furrowed, his lips firm, and his eyes cold. With the same expression Ariana had seen him for the first time, he looked at his father and mother and asked,
"What should I do?"
Theodore strode over and lightly slapped Russell on the back of the head.
"Come to your senses, you rascal! What can you do? You need to go hug her right now."
"Hug her? Is that okay?"
"Of course. She's your daughter."
"But... she's grown up now... and this is the first time I've seen her since she left the East... Uh... wouldn't she be afraid of me?"
Theodore sighed, looking at his son's piercing eyes.
"If you know that, then relax those eyes."
"Lose them, Dad."
"Lose them even more! If you look at her like that, she'll cry!"
"I see, right?"
Russell jumped up, paced nervously in his office, then stood in front of the mirror to check his face.
Because of his naturally cold demeanor, children were often so scared that they would burst into tears if they made eye contact with Russell. His nephews and nieces, too, had avoided Russell when they were young.
Furthermore, Russell was a man of few words and didn't know how to joke, so he couldn't even offer kind words to comfort the child.
"I don't think that's possible."
Russell's reflection in the mirror looked angry, no matter how you looked at him.
"Father, Mother, you should come with me,"
Carradine said.
"If we all rush in, Ariana might get scared."
"Well, it might be better than him going alone. He's not very talkative, so we wouldn't be able to comfort the child if she were scared."
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