(43) I will prove my worth. (4)
Langsty, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.
“There must be a custody issue.”
Russell, who was standing next to Ariana’s bed, turned his head and stared at his younger brother. Langsty continued.
“Usually, when parents divorce, unless there are major issues, the mother gets custody of the girl, and the father gets custody of the boy. That’s why I couldn’t take Ariana away when that woman took her.”
“But bro, that woman did this to her! Are you saying she’s fit to be a mother?”
“Fellowes, listen to me until the end. Just because Ariana ran away to the East because she couldn’t stand the abuse doesn’t mean we can keep her. If Rachel finds out Ariana is here and wants to take her, we have no choice but to let her go.”
Russell sighed deeply because Langsty was right.
Russell stopped Fellowes from lashing out again and spoke.
“First, we need to hide the fact that Ariana is in the East realm. Then we need to gather evidence and testimony of the abuse.”
“Yes, brother. You might want to declare Ariana the Princess of the East realm right away, but that’s not possible. Our priority is to gain custody of Ariana.”
Langsty looked down at Ariana with dark eyes.
“I feel sorry for Ariana, but as soon as she recovers, we need to ask her about her life in the East realm. That way, we can find witnesses and evidence and win the custody battle.”
When Ariana woke up after three days, the first thing she saw were blue eyes. Eyes as blue as the sky on a clear day.
Those blue eyes had such a gentle light that she thought they were beautiful. It was only a moment later that she realized that those eyes belonged to Russell.
As soon as she realized Russell was beside her, Ariana tried to sit up.
“Just lie down.”
A low, deep voice tried to stop her, but Ariana stubbornly sat up.
“Greetings to Your Excellency, the Duke. Please forgive me for not being able to get up due to my poor health.”
“What are you talking about!”
The sudden shout startled her. She hadn’t realized there was anyone else in the room besides Russell.
Looking past Russell, she saw a man of similar build and appearance. He strode over to the bed and said,
“It’s Dad. Your Dad! Your Excellency, the Duke? Who calls him Dad?”
Why was this man yelling like this? And Dad? Ariana had never imagined she’d ever call Russell “Dad.”
“Fellowes. Keep your voice down.”
Only after hearing Russell’s words did she realize he was the youngest son of the White family. Count Fellowes White. As far as Ariana knew, he was also the commander of the White Knights.
“Greetings to Count White...”
“Uncle.”
“Yes?”
“Your youngest uncle. Sir, Count... If you’re going to call me that, then don’t call me that at all!”
Ariana didn't know what to do at Fellowes's harsh command.
Her mind was spinning from being bedridden for so long. There must have been a proper response, but she couldn't figure out how to sound mature and competent.
"Go ahead."
"Yes?"
"Call me 'uncle.'"
Ariana glanced at Russell. Russell nodded slightly, so Ariana said cautiously.
"Uncle..."
"Ugh! That's it!"
Fellowes shouted, covering his eyes with one hand.
Ariana couldn't figure out what he was doing.
Uncle.
Of course, there were people in the West who could be called 'uncle.' But none of them told Ariana to call him 'uncle.' They treated her like a slave child, living off the Brontes.
"See, Langsty? I was the first to be called 'uncle,'"
Fellowes said, turning around. Only then did Ariana realize there was someone else there.
He was smaller than Russell or Fellowes, but he was slender and tall, and he had a calm, cool gaze.
'Is he the second son of the White family?'
Duke Langsty White.
Unlike Fellowes, he gave Ariana a searching gaze, and Ariana tensed.
"Ariana. My name is Langsty White. I'm your father's younger brother. Fellowes' older brother."
"Are you the Duke of White?"
"Did you hear that from Rachel... your mother?"
"Yes. Duke White, it's an honor to meet you. I'm sorry I can't get up and greet you..."
"Ariana. You're still very ill."
His voice was gentle, unlike his cold, sharp gaze.
“There are so many things I want to ask and say, but I think it would be best for you to eat well and rest first.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Duke. But I’m fine now. If you have any questions, I’ll answer them.”
Ariana tried to sound cheerful, but Langsty’s expression hardened, leaving her flustered.
'Why do you look so angry? Did I have to do as you said?'
Ariana felt that clearing the Whites’ suspicions was the most important issue. They would also be uneasy if they didn’t know the purpose of Ariana’s visit.
“Why are you like that, brother? Why are you pressuring the child?”
Fellowes snapped, pulling Langsty back.
“What did I put pressure on you...”
“If you say you have so many questions and things to say, the child will feel pressured. Just telling her to get some rest isn’t enough, so what are you going to ask or say?! Isn’t that right, Ariana?”
Ariana blinked, not knowing how to respond.
Russell, who had been quietly observing Ariana, said,
“Fellowes is right.”
With a smug expression, Fellowes pulled Langsty’s arm and led him out of the bedroom. Returning, Fellowes stood beside the bed and stroked Ariana’s head.
His hands were as large as bears', but warm and affectionate. Ariana froze, taken aback by his cautious stroking.
“Ariana, Langsty has a tendency to be repulsive to words, so don’t take it to heart. And don’t call him uncle. Just think of me as your only uncle and relax. Understand?”
“Yes...”
“The doctor said you need to eat well and get plenty of rest. You’re malnourished, you idiot!”
Fellowes snapped again, causing Ariana to flinch. He quickly softened his expression.
“I wasn’t talking to you, so don’t be afraid.”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to call me uncle again?”
“Yes, uncle.”
“Ugh. Right, this is it.”
“...”
“Ariana, when you were this big.”
Fellowes showed a little bit of his index finger.
“I saw you then, and this is the first time I’ve seen you. I wondered how you’d grown up, but you’ve grown so beautifully. You’re truly so pretty. How can you be so cute? You’ve grown up so well, Ariana.”
Something so touching filled her chest that Ariana couldn’t answer. “Thank you for the compliment,” she knew she should say, but her voice was choked up.
Langsty, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.
“There must be a custody issue.”
Russell, who was standing next to Ariana’s bed, turned his head and stared at his younger brother. Langsty continued.
“Usually, when parents divorce, unless there are major issues, the mother gets custody of the girl, and the father gets custody of the boy. That’s why I couldn’t take Ariana away when that woman took her.”
“But bro, that woman did this to her! Are you saying she’s fit to be a mother?”
“Fellowes, listen to me until the end. Just because Ariana ran away to the East because she couldn’t stand the abuse doesn’t mean we can keep her. If Rachel finds out Ariana is here and wants to take her, we have no choice but to let her go.”
Russell sighed deeply because Langsty was right.
Russell stopped Fellowes from lashing out again and spoke.
“First, we need to hide the fact that Ariana is in the East realm. Then we need to gather evidence and testimony of the abuse.”
“Yes, brother. You might want to declare Ariana the Princess of the East realm right away, but that’s not possible. Our priority is to gain custody of Ariana.”
Langsty looked down at Ariana with dark eyes.
“I feel sorry for Ariana, but as soon as she recovers, we need to ask her about her life in the East realm. That way, we can find witnesses and evidence and win the custody battle.”
***
When Ariana woke up after three days, the first thing she saw were blue eyes. Eyes as blue as the sky on a clear day.
Those blue eyes had such a gentle light that she thought they were beautiful. It was only a moment later that she realized that those eyes belonged to Russell.
As soon as she realized Russell was beside her, Ariana tried to sit up.
“Just lie down.”
A low, deep voice tried to stop her, but Ariana stubbornly sat up.
“Greetings to Your Excellency, the Duke. Please forgive me for not being able to get up due to my poor health.”
“What are you talking about!”
The sudden shout startled her. She hadn’t realized there was anyone else in the room besides Russell.
Looking past Russell, she saw a man of similar build and appearance. He strode over to the bed and said,
“It’s Dad. Your Dad! Your Excellency, the Duke? Who calls him Dad?”
Why was this man yelling like this? And Dad? Ariana had never imagined she’d ever call Russell “Dad.”
“Fellowes. Keep your voice down.”
Only after hearing Russell’s words did she realize he was the youngest son of the White family. Count Fellowes White. As far as Ariana knew, he was also the commander of the White Knights.
“Greetings to Count White...”
“Uncle.”
“Yes?”
“Your youngest uncle. Sir, Count... If you’re going to call me that, then don’t call me that at all!”
Ariana didn't know what to do at Fellowes's harsh command.
Her mind was spinning from being bedridden for so long. There must have been a proper response, but she couldn't figure out how to sound mature and competent.
"Go ahead."
"Yes?"
"Call me 'uncle.'"
Ariana glanced at Russell. Russell nodded slightly, so Ariana said cautiously.
"Uncle..."
"Ugh! That's it!"
Fellowes shouted, covering his eyes with one hand.
Ariana couldn't figure out what he was doing.
Uncle.
Of course, there were people in the West who could be called 'uncle.' But none of them told Ariana to call him 'uncle.' They treated her like a slave child, living off the Brontes.
"See, Langsty? I was the first to be called 'uncle,'"
Fellowes said, turning around. Only then did Ariana realize there was someone else there.
He was smaller than Russell or Fellowes, but he was slender and tall, and he had a calm, cool gaze.
'Is he the second son of the White family?'
Duke Langsty White.
Unlike Fellowes, he gave Ariana a searching gaze, and Ariana tensed.
"Ariana. My name is Langsty White. I'm your father's younger brother. Fellowes' older brother."
"Are you the Duke of White?"
"Did you hear that from Rachel... your mother?"
"Yes. Duke White, it's an honor to meet you. I'm sorry I can't get up and greet you..."
"Ariana. You're still very ill."
His voice was gentle, unlike his cold, sharp gaze.
“There are so many things I want to ask and say, but I think it would be best for you to eat well and rest first.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Duke. But I’m fine now. If you have any questions, I’ll answer them.”
Ariana tried to sound cheerful, but Langsty’s expression hardened, leaving her flustered.
'Why do you look so angry? Did I have to do as you said?'
Ariana felt that clearing the Whites’ suspicions was the most important issue. They would also be uneasy if they didn’t know the purpose of Ariana’s visit.
“Why are you like that, brother? Why are you pressuring the child?”
Fellowes snapped, pulling Langsty back.
“What did I put pressure on you...”
“If you say you have so many questions and things to say, the child will feel pressured. Just telling her to get some rest isn’t enough, so what are you going to ask or say?! Isn’t that right, Ariana?”
Ariana blinked, not knowing how to respond.
Russell, who had been quietly observing Ariana, said,
“Fellowes is right.”
With a smug expression, Fellowes pulled Langsty’s arm and led him out of the bedroom. Returning, Fellowes stood beside the bed and stroked Ariana’s head.
His hands were as large as bears', but warm and affectionate. Ariana froze, taken aback by his cautious stroking.
“Ariana, Langsty has a tendency to be repulsive to words, so don’t take it to heart. And don’t call him uncle. Just think of me as your only uncle and relax. Understand?”
“Yes...”
“The doctor said you need to eat well and get plenty of rest. You’re malnourished, you idiot!”
Fellowes snapped again, causing Ariana to flinch. He quickly softened his expression.
“I wasn’t talking to you, so don’t be afraid.”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to call me uncle again?”
“Yes, uncle.”
“Ugh. Right, this is it.”
“...”
“Ariana, when you were this big.”
Fellowes showed a little bit of his index finger.
“I saw you then, and this is the first time I’ve seen you. I wondered how you’d grown up, but you’ve grown so beautifully. You’re truly so pretty. How can you be so cute? You’ve grown up so well, Ariana.”
Something so touching filled her chest that Ariana couldn’t answer. “Thank you for the compliment,” she knew she should say, but her voice was choked up.
“I shouldn’t believe you, I shouldn’t rely on you,” those thoughts didn’t even cross her mind. This was the first time she’d received such warm praise, such a caressing touch, and she couldn’t come to her senses. All she could do was hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
She couldn’t look like a crying child. She couldn’t be thought of as a bothersome child.
Ariana clenched her fists under the blanket and barely held back her tears.
“I have a daughter. She’s a year older than you, and she’s a bit... well, a bit like that, but she’s a good girl. She’s also very curious about you. I’ll introduce you to her later when you're feeling better.”
“Yes.”
“Fellowes.”
At Russell’s soft call, Fellowes withdrew his hand, which had been stroking her repeatedly.
“You must be hungry. I’ll have someone bring you some food, so wait.”
After Fellowes left, Ariana was left alone with Russell.
Russell had been studying Ariana with his sharp eyes all along. So Ariana straightened her back and met his gaze with flawless posture.
Soon, the maids brought the food.
A small table was placed on the bed. The maids placed a plate on it one by one. All the food was soft, easy to chew, and swallow. Even after the maids left, Russell continued to stay by the bed.
‘I wonder if he’s trying to observe me eating?’
Ariana thought, “I’ll eat well.” After saying that, she picked up the spoon. Perhaps because she had just woken up from a long illness, her hands felt weak, and she dropped the spoon.
Clink—
The silver spoon hit the table with a loud noise.
'Oh no.'
Dropping utensils was the worst of the worst. She had made a huge mistake.
She quickly reached for the spoon to clean it up, but Russell's hands were faster. Russell, who had grabbed the spoon first, opened his mouth heavily.
"Are your hands weak?"
"No. It was my mistake. I'm sorry."
"This is nothing to apologize for."
Russell didn't return the spoon. Instead, he quietly glared at the soup plate.
'Why are you doing that?'
Ariana couldn't read Russell's thoughts. It was hard to discern what thoughts were hidden behind his cold, indifferent face.
After what felt like an eternity, Russell moved his hand. Ariana politely held out both hands, as if he were about to return the spoon, but Russell used the spoon to scoop up some soup.
'Did he want to eat soup?'
Ariana wondered, and a spoonful of soup was brought before her mouth.
"Open your mouth."
"Yes?"
"Open your mouth."
What was this? A new form of torture?
Ariana opened her mouth, dumbfounded. She saw the tip of the spoon tremble slightly as it approached her mouth, and at the same time, she tasted the deep, rich flavor of the soup.
Ariana remained confused.
'What is this?'
Russell took another spoonful of soup. As he brought the spoon to her mouth again, as if reading the question in Ariana's eyes, he said,
"I'll feed you."
"Yes?"
“Open your mouth.”
“I... I can eat, Your Excellency.”
“Let me do this much.”
Russell’s voice sounded hurt for some reason, and Ariana could no longer stop him.
Russell slowly and carefully scooped up the soup and placed it in Ariana’s mouth, and Ariana ate it like a baby bird. It was uncomfortable and burdensome, but she did it without showing it.
As she was about to finish her bowl of soup, Russell said,
“I cannot make you the Princess of the Eastern realm right now.”
“Of course not.”
Ariana had expected that.
“Once I have completed the proper preparations and have custody, then I will officially proclaim you the Princess of the Eastern realm.”
Ariana’s eyes widened because she hadn’t expected this.
“You don’t ask me anything?”
“What?”
“Langsty, like the purpose of coming to the East or my intentions.”
“Langsty seems to want to know, but I am free.”
Russell spooned the soft pudding to Ariana's lips and said,
"Whatever your purpose, whatever your intentions, you are my daughter."
She couldn’t look like a crying child. She couldn’t be thought of as a bothersome child.
Ariana clenched her fists under the blanket and barely held back her tears.
“I have a daughter. She’s a year older than you, and she’s a bit... well, a bit like that, but she’s a good girl. She’s also very curious about you. I’ll introduce you to her later when you're feeling better.”
“Yes.”
“Fellowes.”
At Russell’s soft call, Fellowes withdrew his hand, which had been stroking her repeatedly.
“You must be hungry. I’ll have someone bring you some food, so wait.”
After Fellowes left, Ariana was left alone with Russell.
Russell had been studying Ariana with his sharp eyes all along. So Ariana straightened her back and met his gaze with flawless posture.
Soon, the maids brought the food.
A small table was placed on the bed. The maids placed a plate on it one by one. All the food was soft, easy to chew, and swallow. Even after the maids left, Russell continued to stay by the bed.
‘I wonder if he’s trying to observe me eating?’
Ariana thought, “I’ll eat well.” After saying that, she picked up the spoon. Perhaps because she had just woken up from a long illness, her hands felt weak, and she dropped the spoon.
Clink—
The silver spoon hit the table with a loud noise.
'Oh no.'
Dropping utensils was the worst of the worst. She had made a huge mistake.
She quickly reached for the spoon to clean it up, but Russell's hands were faster. Russell, who had grabbed the spoon first, opened his mouth heavily.
"Are your hands weak?"
"No. It was my mistake. I'm sorry."
"This is nothing to apologize for."
Russell didn't return the spoon. Instead, he quietly glared at the soup plate.
'Why are you doing that?'
Ariana couldn't read Russell's thoughts. It was hard to discern what thoughts were hidden behind his cold, indifferent face.
After what felt like an eternity, Russell moved his hand. Ariana politely held out both hands, as if he were about to return the spoon, but Russell used the spoon to scoop up some soup.
'Did he want to eat soup?'
Ariana wondered, and a spoonful of soup was brought before her mouth.
"Open your mouth."
"Yes?"
"Open your mouth."
What was this? A new form of torture?
Ariana opened her mouth, dumbfounded. She saw the tip of the spoon tremble slightly as it approached her mouth, and at the same time, she tasted the deep, rich flavor of the soup.
Ariana remained confused.
'What is this?'
Russell took another spoonful of soup. As he brought the spoon to her mouth again, as if reading the question in Ariana's eyes, he said,
"I'll feed you."
"Yes?"
“Open your mouth.”
“I... I can eat, Your Excellency.”
“Let me do this much.”
Russell’s voice sounded hurt for some reason, and Ariana could no longer stop him.
Russell slowly and carefully scooped up the soup and placed it in Ariana’s mouth, and Ariana ate it like a baby bird. It was uncomfortable and burdensome, but she did it without showing it.
As she was about to finish her bowl of soup, Russell said,
“I cannot make you the Princess of the Eastern realm right now.”
“Of course not.”
Ariana had expected that.
“Once I have completed the proper preparations and have custody, then I will officially proclaim you the Princess of the Eastern realm.”
Ariana’s eyes widened because she hadn’t expected this.
“You don’t ask me anything?”
“What?”
“Langsty, like the purpose of coming to the East or my intentions.”
“Langsty seems to want to know, but I am free.”
Russell spooned the soft pudding to Ariana's lips and said,
"Whatever your purpose, whatever your intentions, you are my daughter."
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