(42) I will prove my worth. (3)
The day after Ariana arrived at Chase Castle. Duke Langsty White, the second son of the White family, and Count Fellowes White, the youngest, arrived at Chase Castle almost simultaneously.
Theodore forced his way into his office and explained Ariana's situation to them.
Fellowes, who had been listening with a flushed face, shouted indignantly.
"That's what I told you, brother! Didn't I say that no matter what that woman says, you should go to the West and check on Ariana?"
"It won't be easy. Do you think the Emperor would have been kind if Russell had moved to the West?"
"Even in this situation, Mother, are you taking my brother's side? What father in the world neglects his child for fourteen years and never bothers to visit her? Even if the Emperor is suspicious or he's at war with the Western Duke, you should have gone and checked on the child!"
"Stop it, stop it. And Russell is regretting it too,"
Theodore scolded, but Fellowes's momentum remained undiminished.
"What good is regretting now? The time has passed when she should have been receiving so much parental love!"
Every word of Fellowes's utterance pierced Russell's heart. They were all true.
He was unworthy of being a father. That's why, when Arianna called him "Your Excellency the Duke," he couldn't dare ask her to call him "father."
They simply stared at the tiny girl lying motionless on the bed.
Fellowes, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth so hard his jaw muscles twitched, spoke as if he couldn’t bear it any longer.
“Let this crazy woman go...”
Thud!
Theodore slapped Fellowes on the back of the head, who looked ready to grab Rachel at any moment.
“You should be quiet, you punk.”
“She put the child in that state, and you’re just going to leave her alone? Yes?”
“Or you won’t? You’re going to start a war?”
"That's right! Do we really need that many soldiers to defeat those Western bastards who live off the Emperor's honey? I can go alone. I'll kill them all and bring back Rachel, that woman's head, and Ariana will feel better."
Theodore sighed.
The problem was that his youngest son was too radical and short-sighted. However, he understood his feelings.
After all, Theodore wanted to go to the West right now, capture Rachel, and kneel before Ariana.
The day after Ariana arrived at Chase Castle. Duke Langsty White, the second son of the White family, and Count Fellowes White, the youngest, arrived at Chase Castle almost simultaneously.
Theodore forced his way into his office and explained Ariana's situation to them.
Fellowes, who had been listening with a flushed face, shouted indignantly.
"That's what I told you, brother! Didn't I say that no matter what that woman says, you should go to the West and check on Ariana?"
"It won't be easy. Do you think the Emperor would have been kind if Russell had moved to the West?"
"Even in this situation, Mother, are you taking my brother's side? What father in the world neglects his child for fourteen years and never bothers to visit her? Even if the Emperor is suspicious or he's at war with the Western Duke, you should have gone and checked on the child!"
"Stop it, stop it. And Russell is regretting it too,"
Theodore scolded, but Fellowes's momentum remained undiminished.
"What good is regretting now? The time has passed when she should have been receiving so much parental love!"
Every word of Fellowes's utterance pierced Russell's heart. They were all true.
He was unworthy of being a father. That's why, when Arianna called him "Your Excellency the Duke," he couldn't dare ask her to call him "father."
"I must go and see Arianna first."
Fellowes remembered the moment Arianna was born.
On the day Arianna was born, the entire White family had gathered, desperately awaiting her arrival.
Fellowes already had a daughter, but when Russell came out holding the little one in his arms, he vowed, looking at her sparkling light blue hair, that he would love her as if she were his own daughter.
But Rachel had stolen her from him. Without a word, Rachel had fled to the West with Arianna, sending nothing but a letter requesting a divorce.
Fellowes was always worried about whether Rachel, who was always looking for a chance to escape from the East realm, would be able to raise Ariana well.
As Fellowes was about to head to Ariana's room, Theodore stopped him.
"Ariana is sleeping. She's been sleeping for a long time; she must be exhausted. Don't even think about waking her up. She gets nervous if she's awake."
"Damn it! Why would a child be nervous about meeting her family? Does that make any sense? How did you raise her!"
"I'm not deaf, so keep your voice down. Where did you learn that temper..."
"I learned it from my father, from my father!"
Finally, Fellowes was silenced only after being struck in the back of the head by Theodore.
Langsty, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up.
"Have you heard anything from the West realm?"
Carradine answered.
"Yes, not yet. I wonder if they know the child ran away or not."
"What's the situation in the West realm?"
"I sent someone, so I'm sure they'll hear news soon."
“Are you sure Ariana came to the East without any intention?”
Langsty’s sharp question caused everyone there to widen their eyes. Fellowes, who came to his senses first, shouted,
“No, bro! What are you talking about? Are you saying Ariana came here to act as a spy?”
“Do you think a 16-year-old girl can come all the way from the West to here on her own?”
“Of course! Ariana is part of our White family! If our Isabelle were thrown into the mountains, she would survive by hunting and eating bears!”
“That’s right, Isabelle. But Ariana was only here for a few days after she was born. She’s been living in the West ever since. You can fabricate any number of stories about her being abused. And you say she’s more mature than necessary? If she was raised to do her part...”
“Stop it!”
Russell cut Langsty off, his blue eyes blazing with anger.
“Are you doubting Ariana right now?”
“Brother, it’s a necessary doubt.”
“What kind of child would fabricate abuse!”
“Because she’s a child. A child believes what her parents say and does what her parents tell her. Have you forgotten what Rachel did? What if that woman only said bad things about the East to Ariana and told her to work for the West? A child wouldn’t know right from wrong and would do whatever her parents say.”
“Even if that’s true, she’s my daughter.”
“Of course I do. I consider Ariana my niece, too. If Ariana really was abused and ran away to come here, then really... Haa. But, Brother, you are the East Lord. You should put the East first.”
“Then take the position of the Lord. I have nothing more precious than Ariana.”
Fellowes, who had been glaring at Langsty, clenched his fists.
"Well said, Brother!"
Langsty swallowed a sigh.
Of course, Langsty didn't dislike his niece. He was just curious about her intentions.
The White family had a tendency to trust their own family without question. So, even though they knew the Western Duke harbored ill feelings toward the East, they trusted Rachel, who had just arrived as the Eastern Duke's consort.
That trust led to the Emperor's suspicions.
Rachel played the role of the West Princess, who had difficulty adjusting to the East and secretly withheld information. They simply assumed Rachel was keeping her distance from the White family because she was still unfamiliar and awkward.
'Ariana was raised by Rachel, so she might have picked up Rachel's tendencies.'
Children are like blank slates, their personalities drastically changing depending on who raises them. Langsty worried that Rachel might have misled Ariana, who knew nothing about the situation.
Then, Ephrin, the head maid, arrived and spoke anxiously.
"Your Excellency. Ariana...!"
Russell jumped up.
“What’s wrong with Ariana?”
“She’s running a fever. She seems very sick.”
A commotion erupted.
Everyone in the office stood up and rushed out to find a doctor. Even Langsty.
They had ordered the White family’s personal doctor, and even some of the city’s most renowned doctors, to be called in just in case, and rushed into Ariana’s room.
Lying on the large bed, Ariana looked particularly small. Her body was so thin that her bones were visible, her arms were covered in old scars, and her bruises had turned yellow with time.
Her hair, soaked with feverish sweat, clung to her forehead, and her lips were cracked and bloody.
“This can’t be...!”
Fellowes had a daughter about Ariana’s age. So he knew what kind of build a girl her age would have.
“This can’t be... This... How could you possibly fabricate this abuse!”
Langsty felt a sting at Fellowes’s outburst.
Even Langsty couldn't believe Ariana's condition was deliberate. His niece, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, was so small and thin, and covered in old bruises, she looked like a child from the slums.
"Look at this, bro! How dare you pretend to be abused, to run away!"
Perhaps because of Fellowes's shouting,
Ariana's small face, already visibly in pain, contorted into an even more painful grimace.
"I... was wrong..."
Her small lips parted, her voice hoarse and raspy.
"I'm sorry... forgive me... I was wrong... please... please forgive me..."
A desperate plea, a desperate apology.
The White family froze.
Ariana's thin arms flinched, shielding her face. She moved miserably, as if trying to protect herself from the onslaught of violence.
"Please... mother..."
In the breathless silence, the apology to her mother resonated.
Even Carradine, who had wielded a sword on the battlefield alongside her husband, couldn't bear the sight and covered her mouth. Tears flowed from the eyes of the old lady, once known as the "Witch of the Battlefield."
Fellowes remembered the moment Arianna was born.
On the day Arianna was born, the entire White family had gathered, desperately awaiting her arrival.
Fellowes already had a daughter, but when Russell came out holding the little one in his arms, he vowed, looking at her sparkling light blue hair, that he would love her as if she were his own daughter.
But Rachel had stolen her from him. Without a word, Rachel had fled to the West with Arianna, sending nothing but a letter requesting a divorce.
Fellowes was always worried about whether Rachel, who was always looking for a chance to escape from the East realm, would be able to raise Ariana well.
As Fellowes was about to head to Ariana's room, Theodore stopped him.
"Ariana is sleeping. She's been sleeping for a long time; she must be exhausted. Don't even think about waking her up. She gets nervous if she's awake."
"Damn it! Why would a child be nervous about meeting her family? Does that make any sense? How did you raise her!"
"I'm not deaf, so keep your voice down. Where did you learn that temper..."
"I learned it from my father, from my father!"
Finally, Fellowes was silenced only after being struck in the back of the head by Theodore.
Langsty, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up.
"Have you heard anything from the West realm?"
Carradine answered.
"Yes, not yet. I wonder if they know the child ran away or not."
"What's the situation in the West realm?"
"I sent someone, so I'm sure they'll hear news soon."
“Are you sure Ariana came to the East without any intention?”
Langsty’s sharp question caused everyone there to widen their eyes. Fellowes, who came to his senses first, shouted,
“No, bro! What are you talking about? Are you saying Ariana came here to act as a spy?”
“Do you think a 16-year-old girl can come all the way from the West to here on her own?”
“Of course! Ariana is part of our White family! If our Isabelle were thrown into the mountains, she would survive by hunting and eating bears!”
“That’s right, Isabelle. But Ariana was only here for a few days after she was born. She’s been living in the West ever since. You can fabricate any number of stories about her being abused. And you say she’s more mature than necessary? If she was raised to do her part...”
“Stop it!”
Russell cut Langsty off, his blue eyes blazing with anger.
“Are you doubting Ariana right now?”
“Brother, it’s a necessary doubt.”
“What kind of child would fabricate abuse!”
“Because she’s a child. A child believes what her parents say and does what her parents tell her. Have you forgotten what Rachel did? What if that woman only said bad things about the East to Ariana and told her to work for the West? A child wouldn’t know right from wrong and would do whatever her parents say.”
“Even if that’s true, she’s my daughter.”
“Of course I do. I consider Ariana my niece, too. If Ariana really was abused and ran away to come here, then really... Haa. But, Brother, you are the East Lord. You should put the East first.”
“Then take the position of the Lord. I have nothing more precious than Ariana.”
Fellowes, who had been glaring at Langsty, clenched his fists.
"Well said, Brother!"
Langsty swallowed a sigh.
Of course, Langsty didn't dislike his niece. He was just curious about her intentions.
The White family had a tendency to trust their own family without question. So, even though they knew the Western Duke harbored ill feelings toward the East, they trusted Rachel, who had just arrived as the Eastern Duke's consort.
That trust led to the Emperor's suspicions.
Rachel played the role of the West Princess, who had difficulty adjusting to the East and secretly withheld information. They simply assumed Rachel was keeping her distance from the White family because she was still unfamiliar and awkward.
'Ariana was raised by Rachel, so she might have picked up Rachel's tendencies.'
Children are like blank slates, their personalities drastically changing depending on who raises them. Langsty worried that Rachel might have misled Ariana, who knew nothing about the situation.
Then, Ephrin, the head maid, arrived and spoke anxiously.
"Your Excellency. Ariana...!"
Russell jumped up.
“What’s wrong with Ariana?”
“She’s running a fever. She seems very sick.”
A commotion erupted.
Everyone in the office stood up and rushed out to find a doctor. Even Langsty.
They had ordered the White family’s personal doctor, and even some of the city’s most renowned doctors, to be called in just in case, and rushed into Ariana’s room.
Lying on the large bed, Ariana looked particularly small. Her body was so thin that her bones were visible, her arms were covered in old scars, and her bruises had turned yellow with time.
Her hair, soaked with feverish sweat, clung to her forehead, and her lips were cracked and bloody.
“This can’t be...!”
Fellowes had a daughter about Ariana’s age. So he knew what kind of build a girl her age would have.
“This can’t be... This... How could you possibly fabricate this abuse!”
Langsty felt a sting at Fellowes’s outburst.
Even Langsty couldn't believe Ariana's condition was deliberate. His niece, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, was so small and thin, and covered in old bruises, she looked like a child from the slums.
"Look at this, bro! How dare you pretend to be abused, to run away!"
Perhaps because of Fellowes's shouting,
Ariana's small face, already visibly in pain, contorted into an even more painful grimace.
"I... was wrong..."
Her small lips parted, her voice hoarse and raspy.
"I'm sorry... forgive me... I was wrong... please... please forgive me..."
A desperate plea, a desperate apology.
The White family froze.
Ariana's thin arms flinched, shielding her face. She moved miserably, as if trying to protect herself from the onslaught of violence.
"Please... mother..."
In the breathless silence, the apology to her mother resonated.
Even Carradine, who had wielded a sword on the battlefield alongside her husband, couldn't bear the sight and covered her mouth. Tears flowed from the eyes of the old lady, once known as the "Witch of the Battlefield."
"It's okay. It's okay now."
She knew she had to say those words, but she couldn't bring herself to approach. The moment she moved, Ariana's thin, small body seemed as if it would crumble and disappear, so no one could move.
Then, Uriel, the family's doctor, entered.
She knew she had to say those words, but she couldn't bring herself to approach. The moment she moved, Ariana's thin, small body seemed as if it would crumble and disappear, so no one could move.
Then, Uriel, the family's doctor, entered.
"Oh my. This is it."
Uriel muttered somberly, examining Ariana's condition from the bedside.
"This, this. Oh my. Why are the bruises like this... oh my."
He let out a heavy sigh as he examined Ariana's condition. Only then did Russell, finally coming to his senses, cautiously ask,
"Is Ariana okay?"
"Your Excellency, this young lady... By the way, who is this young lady?"
"She's my daughter."
Uriel's eyes widened. He had many questions to ask, but knowing that satisfying his curiosity wasn't the priority right now, he explained calmly.
“Your Excellency, the Princess appears to have been suffering from malnutrition for a long time. She has bruises all over her body, and while they don’t seem recent, they appear to have been sustained over a long period of time. It will take a long time for them to disappear. And judging by the wounds on her feet, they appear to have been caused by walking barefoot...”
Every time Uriel spoke of Ariana’s condition, the White family flinched, their shoulders trembling.
“The reason she has such a high fever now seems to be due to accumulated fatigue. Her already weak body must have been unable to withstand the fatigue. For now, she should get a good night’s sleep, and when she wakes up, she should eat a nutritious meal and take some medicine to help her recover.”
Russell asked with a choked voice.
“Are there any problems?”
“It’s already full of problems...”
Uriel muttered, then, seeing Russell’s expression, softened his words as if he had realized something.
“Eat well and get plenty of rest, and she’ll gradually get better. The child’s body recovers quickly, so if she eats nutritious food and becomes healthy, the scar will gradually fade. I’ll go back and make some medicine for her.” Even after Uriel left, no one dared speak.
“Are there any problems?”
“It’s already full of problems...”
Uriel muttered, then, seeing Russell’s expression, softened his words as if he had realized something.
“Eat well and get plenty of rest, and she’ll gradually get better. The child’s body recovers quickly, so if she eats nutritious food and becomes healthy, the scar will gradually fade. I’ll go back and make some medicine for her.” Even after Uriel left, no one dared speak.
They simply stared at the tiny girl lying motionless on the bed.
Fellowes, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth so hard his jaw muscles twitched, spoke as if he couldn’t bear it any longer.
“Let this crazy woman go...”
Thud!
Theodore slapped Fellowes on the back of the head, who looked ready to grab Rachel at any moment.
“You should be quiet, you punk.”
“She put the child in that state, and you’re just going to leave her alone? Yes?”
“Or you won’t? You’re going to start a war?”
"That's right! Do we really need that many soldiers to defeat those Western bastards who live off the Emperor's honey? I can go alone. I'll kill them all and bring back Rachel, that woman's head, and Ariana will feel better."
Theodore sighed.
The problem was that his youngest son was too radical and short-sighted. However, he understood his feelings.
After all, Theodore wanted to go to the West right now, capture Rachel, and kneel before Ariana.
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