(49) I don't know the reason for that feeling. (3)
She jumped from the moving carriage, rolled over, and rolled on the ground. Ariana, raising her head, saw the legs of a black horse. The knight on horseback muttered slowly and lowly.
"What the heck? Why's some kid running out to welcome me?"
She jumped from the moving carriage, rolled over, and rolled on the ground. Ariana, raising her head, saw the legs of a black horse. The knight on horseback muttered slowly and lowly.
"What the heck? Why's some kid running out to welcome me?"
The assassins realized they had made a mistake when they heard a noise behind them.
A girl with sky-blue hair and a luxurious dress had fled from the cart, making it clear that no excuse would work.
The assassins reacted quickly. They abandoned the carriage and attempted to flee. The light- bodied assassins tried to kick the ground and leap.
But there was one thing they overlooked.
The long sword sliced through the air with precision and sharpness, piercing the back of the assassin who had tried to flee first. The blade pierced skin and tore through his lungs in an instant. The assassin fell to the ground without a single scream.
The other assassins fled without a glance, even as their comrades lay dead. Knights and soldiers near the gate blocked the assassins. Some tried to climb over the wall using ropes, but the knights were already running towards their escape route. The silence around the gate echoed with the clash of swords, screams, and shouts. Those trying to exit the gate cowered and fled. The assassins fought well, but they weren't strong enough to take on multiple knights at once.
The man on the black horse shouted, "Leave those two alive!" He dismounted.
Black boots reached his calves. His white uniform was unwrinkled despite his horse's presence. A blue tiger face was embroidered on his chest. Only then did Ariana realize who the man was.
'Geor White.'
A man with a delicate jawline, narrow eyes, and dark blue hair was looking down at Ariana. He studied her face with interest before asking, "You're lucky, you. You'd be dead without me."
Ariana quickly stood up and bowed politely.
"Thank you for your help."
“Yeah, I'll be thankful. It's not often you see such a remarkably strong coincidence—a righteous knight appearing before the men trying to kidnap the Princess of the East. I should thank the gods. Shall we pray together?”
" ...Huh?"
"But come to think of it, the fact that you were in a situation where you deserved to be kidnapped by such dangerous men in the first place is something to blame God for. Shall we join in cursing God?"
Ariana, unable to find the words to respond, stared blankly at Geor. She found it difficult to relate to him in a different way than Cyrus.
'What on earth is this man talking about?'
Geor grinned as Ariana blinked. His face, which had a cold expression when it was expressionless, softened the moment he smiled. His already narrow eyes narrowed even further, making it seem as if they were closed.
“It seems like their work is over. What do you want to do? I’m going to torture those guys. Do you want to watch?”
Ariana smiled at him as he discussed torture in a casual tone, as if inviting her to have a cup of tea.
“Yes, I would be grateful if you would give me the opportunity.”
Geor’s smile deepened.
“You’re an interesting person, aren’t you? Have you come to reclaim your position as the East's Princess?”
“Yes?”
“Your face is prettier than I imagined, your figure is also beautiful, and you dare to face torture. I think you’re more suited to be the Eastern Duke than I.”
Ariana couldn’t quite figure out what the man was trying to say.
“I wouldn’t dare aim for the Eastern Duke’s position, Your Grace.”
“How do you know who I am? I don’t remember telling you my name.”
“I guess it’s the same reason Your Grace knows me.”
“Oh, that makes sense. I understand.”
Geor extended a white-gloved hand to Ariana. She stared at the hand extended to the noble lady, as if asking her to dance, for a moment, then gently placed her own hand on top of it. The two walked lightly, as if heading to the center of a stage, to the place where a bloody fight had just occurred.
***
There were two surviving assassins. The two men, who appeared to be in their thirties, glared at Geor with blazing eyes. As soon as they were caught, they tried to chew the poison hidden in their mouths, but Geor's subordinates forced their mouths open and pulled out the poison. Geor was the one who pulled out their teeth as they bit their tongues. Ariana watched the entire process from his side. Geor took off his blood-soaked gloves and said.
“Now, since I feel like you’ve escaped death, how about you be honest about who sent you? Who wants to tell? I’ll praise the first one who speaks.”
The assassin’s pronunciation was slurred due to his lack of teeth. Geor turned to Ariana and asked,
“Did you know that your pronunciation is worse without teeth?”
“Thanks to you, I’m learning a lot.”
“That’s right. I’m a great teacher.”
Geor looked back at the assassin, pleased.
“Now, I’ll name a few people I can think of. If you think it’s right, raise both hands. Oh, you can’t do it because you're tied up. Then nod. You can do that much, right?”
“Now, since I feel like you’ve escaped death, how about you be honest about who sent you? Who wants to tell? I’ll praise the first one who speaks.”
“My dear Madam, back then.”
“Did you know that your pronunciation is worse without teeth?”
“Thanks to you, I’m learning a lot.”
“That’s right. I’m a great teacher.”
Geor looked back at the assassin, pleased.
“Now, I’ll name a few people I can think of. If you think it’s right, raise both hands. Oh, you can’t do it because you're tied up. Then nod. You can do that much, right?”
When the assassins didn’t answer, Geor kicked them in the side.
“Ugh!”
“Ugh!”
Geor didn’t stop smiling even as the assassins screamed. He kept kicking them as if their screams were wonderful music.
Just when the assassins were losing the strength to scream.
KWANG-!
The guardhouse door swung open roughly.
“Ariana!”
Russell and Fellowes rushed in.
Just as Russell, rushing in, could hug Ariana, Ariana spoke.
“Your Excellency.”
Russell froze in place at the sound of a voice as cold as frost. The arm he had been trying to hug only brushed the air before falling to the ground.
“I’m safe. Thanks to His Grace’s help, nothing happened to me.”
“Nothing happened to me, what do you mean, nothing happened to me! Your wrists are all cut up!”
Fellowes shouted harshly, grabbing Ariana’s wrists and shaking them. The pain was worse than the ropes.
“Uncle. Would a Princess’s arm fall off like that?”
Fellowes was startled by Geor’s remark and let go of Ariana’s wrists.
“Oh, did it hurt?”
“It’s okay.”
“T-by the way... Geor, why did you bring the child to a place like this and expose her to such a horrific sight?”
“Uncle, are you already discriminating? Yeah, well. The Princess is pretty, and I’m not, so you’ll naturally discriminate. But if you do it too openly, I’ll cry. I’ll cry a lot.”
“Come here, Ariana. You don’t need to see that.”
Geor said that often, so Fellowes ignored him and carefully wrapped his arms around Ariana’s shoulders and led her outside. Russell, who had been standing there blankly, came to stand next to Geor as Ariana left.
Geor glanced at Russell and said,
“She's prettier. More beautiful than I heard.”
“Yeah, you are.”
“Ugh!”
“Ugh!”
Geor didn’t stop smiling even as the assassins screamed. He kept kicking them as if their screams were wonderful music.
Just when the assassins were losing the strength to scream.
KWANG-!
The guardhouse door swung open roughly.
“Ariana!”
Russell and Fellowes rushed in.
Just as Russell, rushing in, could hug Ariana, Ariana spoke.
“Your Excellency.”
Russell froze in place at the sound of a voice as cold as frost. The arm he had been trying to hug only brushed the air before falling to the ground.
“I’m safe. Thanks to His Grace’s help, nothing happened to me.”
“Nothing happened to me, what do you mean, nothing happened to me! Your wrists are all cut up!”
Fellowes shouted harshly, grabbing Ariana’s wrists and shaking them. The pain was worse than the ropes.
“Uncle. Would a Princess’s arm fall off like that?”
Fellowes was startled by Geor’s remark and let go of Ariana’s wrists.
“Oh, did it hurt?”
“It’s okay.”
“T-by the way... Geor, why did you bring the child to a place like this and expose her to such a horrific sight?”
“Uncle, are you already discriminating? Yeah, well. The Princess is pretty, and I’m not, so you’ll naturally discriminate. But if you do it too openly, I’ll cry. I’ll cry a lot.”
“Come here, Ariana. You don’t need to see that.”
Geor said that often, so Fellowes ignored him and carefully wrapped his arms around Ariana’s shoulders and led her outside. Russell, who had been standing there blankly, came to stand next to Geor as Ariana left.
Geor glanced at Russell and said,
“She's prettier. More beautiful than I heard.”
“Yeah, you are.”
“She's colder. More beautiful than I imagined.”
“I made her like that.”
“Yeah, well. First, let’s get these guys to open their mouths. If we do it right, won’t it help us in the custody trial?”
Fellowes put Ariana in a carriage and took her to Chase Castle. He fidgeted the whole way.
"Are you sure you're okay? Yes? Your wrist is so scratched... I'll have to call the doctor right away."
"It's okay. This kind of thing will heal quickly if you leave it alone."
"Why do you keep saying it's okay? It's so red and swollen!"
Ariana pursed her lips, and Fellowes panicked.
"No, you're surprised? This uncle has a loud voice... I'm sorry."
That wasn't the reason.
Ariana strained her eyes and stared at the wound on her wrist, afraid that if she did, tears would well up in her eyes.
The wound on her pale wrist was nothing serious. Even though it was badly scratched and bleeding, even though the area where it had been tightly bound was red and swollen, it really wasn't a big deal.
Ariana had suffered worse injuries in her life. She'd nearly died, and even when the wound had festered so badly because it wasn't treated properly that it had to be cut out.
Had anyone ever worried about her wounded body like this?
“I made her like that.”
“Yeah, well. First, let’s get these guys to open their mouths. If we do it right, won’t it help us in the custody trial?”
***
Fellowes put Ariana in a carriage and took her to Chase Castle. He fidgeted the whole way.
"Are you sure you're okay? Yes? Your wrist is so scratched... I'll have to call the doctor right away."
"It's okay. This kind of thing will heal quickly if you leave it alone."
"Why do you keep saying it's okay? It's so red and swollen!"
Ariana pursed her lips, and Fellowes panicked.
"No, you're surprised? This uncle has a loud voice... I'm sorry."
That wasn't the reason.
Ariana strained her eyes and stared at the wound on her wrist, afraid that if she did, tears would well up in her eyes.
The wound on her pale wrist was nothing serious. Even though it was badly scratched and bleeding, even though the area where it had been tightly bound was red and swollen, it really wasn't a big deal.
Ariana had suffered worse injuries in her life. She'd nearly died, and even when the wound had festered so badly because it wasn't treated properly that it had to be cut out.
Had anyone ever worried about her wounded body like this?
No.
Ariana was the kind of person who could handle it. Because that's what she was born to do. Otherwise, she'd be useless.
She didn't know there could be someone who cared so much about a minor injury like this.
Ariana was flustered. She didn't know what expression to make, what response to make, or how to respond appropriately.
So she kept her mouth shut and stared at her wound.
Thinking Ariana was scared and speechless, Fellowes kept mumbling apologies until they reached the castle.
"I never dreamed something like this would happen in the East. We should have been more careful... You were scared, weren't you? I'm so sorry, Ariana. I'll assign you stronger knights in the future. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
The warmth in his deep voice was so intense that Ariana finally couldn't hold it in and squeezed her eyes shut.
The carriage arrived at Chase Castle. When she got off, Ariana was once again speechless. Everyone in Chase Castle was running out to wait for Ariana.
From the former Duke and his wife, to the Duke and Duchess of White, the servants and maids, the servants and maids. They watched Ariana step out of the carriage with eyes full of anxiety and worry.
"It's really nothing."
She didn't think the Duke would just let her go. The Duke was a suspicious man. No matter how young Ariana was, since he had taken her into his household, she would probably know at least one secret of the Oblen family.
And Ariana had been abused.
If this became a big deal and became a topic of conversation, even the Emperor would frown and shun the Oblens and the Brontes.
Kidnap her before she opens her mouth, and if that doesn't work, kill her.
It was a thought the Western Duke would have.
She always anticipated being kidnapped or seriously injured. That's why she always kept a dagger hidden, one in her pillow and one on her body, even when she slept.
So it wasn't a big deal. It could happen at any time.
But why were these people acting like it was such a big deal?
She wasn't dead or seriously injured, and she wasn't tortured and released, so why were they making such a fuss?
Why was the former Duchess embracing her and crying? Why were the former Duke's eyes so red? Why was the White Duke so angry and sullen?
And why does she keep feeling like crying?
'I really don't know.'
Ariana closed her eyes quietly, still in the old woman's warm embrace.
'I really don't know.'
Ariana was the kind of person who could handle it. Because that's what she was born to do. Otherwise, she'd be useless.
She didn't know there could be someone who cared so much about a minor injury like this.
Ariana was flustered. She didn't know what expression to make, what response to make, or how to respond appropriately.
So she kept her mouth shut and stared at her wound.
Thinking Ariana was scared and speechless, Fellowes kept mumbling apologies until they reached the castle.
"I never dreamed something like this would happen in the East. We should have been more careful... You were scared, weren't you? I'm so sorry, Ariana. I'll assign you stronger knights in the future. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
The warmth in his deep voice was so intense that Ariana finally couldn't hold it in and squeezed her eyes shut.
The carriage arrived at Chase Castle. When she got off, Ariana was once again speechless. Everyone in Chase Castle was running out to wait for Ariana.
From the former Duke and his wife, to the Duke and Duchess of White, the servants and maids, the servants and maids. They watched Ariana step out of the carriage with eyes full of anxiety and worry.
"It's really nothing."
She didn't think the Duke would just let her go. The Duke was a suspicious man. No matter how young Ariana was, since he had taken her into his household, she would probably know at least one secret of the Oblen family.
And Ariana had been abused.
If this became a big deal and became a topic of conversation, even the Emperor would frown and shun the Oblens and the Brontes.
Kidnap her before she opens her mouth, and if that doesn't work, kill her.
It was a thought the Western Duke would have.
She always anticipated being kidnapped or seriously injured. That's why she always kept a dagger hidden, one in her pillow and one on her body, even when she slept.
So it wasn't a big deal. It could happen at any time.
But why were these people acting like it was such a big deal?
She wasn't dead or seriously injured, and she wasn't tortured and released, so why were they making such a fuss?
Why was the former Duchess embracing her and crying? Why were the former Duke's eyes so red? Why was the White Duke so angry and sullen?
And why does she keep feeling like crying?
'I really don't know.'
Ariana closed her eyes quietly, still in the old woman's warm embrace.
'I really don't know.'
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