(50) I don't know the reason for that feeling. (4)
Ariana was treated as if she were seriously ill.
Duke Langsty White suddenly hugged Ariana and carried her to his room. He wouldn't listen even when Ariana said she was okay.
She thought Fellowes was the only one in the White family who was so stubborn, but Langsty was no pushover.
After the attending doctor, Uriel, came to treat her wounds and left, Isabelle arrived. Isabelle ran in with a pale face, clutching the blanket tightly and shouting,
"Hey! Me! Me... I'm sorry, Ariana."
What?
Looking at Ariana's wide-eyed face, Isabelle's eyes welled up with tears.
"I should have protected you... I'm sorry I ran away, Ariana. I shouldn't have run away. You were scared, weren't you? I'm sorry."
"I told you to run. I was safe because my sister called for people."
Isabelle shook her head.
“It must be late. If Geor hadn’t been returning, we would have been in real trouble. Every time Geor returns from a war, he’s the type to get cheers and feel proud, and I’ve never felt so fortunate as I have today.”
Ah, that’s the kind of person he is.
Ariana thought of Geor, who had an arrogant and cold gaze, but who only spoke incomprehensibly.
“I’m so sorry, Ariana. If I had known something like this would happen, I would have practiced my swordsmanship harder... This won’t happen again. I’ll practice my swordsmanship hard so I can protect you no matter what happens.”
Did Isabelle need to do that?
Ariana couldn’t understand why she was so apologetic and so determined to protect her.
The adults left the bedroom, leaving Isabelle alone. As she was trying to comfort Isabelle, who kept apologizing, she heard people coming in.
“I’m back, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncles, and Aunts. Not only have I returned victorious from the war, but I’ve even saved the Princess. Isn’t this return truly a success?”
Geor’s voice came through the bedroom door.
“Let’s go outside and talk.”
Russell’s voice could also be heard.
Ariana got up from the bed. Isabelle blocked her path.
“Where are you going? Just lie down. You don’t have to get up.”
“I have something to tell the adults.”
“Just lie down.”
Marley soothed Isabelle and left the bedroom. The others, who were about to leave Ariana’s room, turned to look at her.
Theodore said,
“What happened? Just lie down.”
“If you’re going to talk about this incident, I want to join you.”
“Honey, we’ll handle this. You just need to eat and sleep well.”
“It’s my problem, so please allow me to join you.”
Everyone looked a bit uneasy, but eventually they agreed.
After Isabelle was dismissed, only the adults remained in Ariana's drawing room. Facing anxious and worried looks, Ariana asked,
"When will my custody trial be held?"
Everyone looked dumbfounded, as if they hadn't expected the issue of custody to arise after being kidnapped by assassins.
Russell answered, puzzled.
"Just to be sure, I've requested a trial from the Imperial Grand Court. I think it'll be early May at the earliest."
"Did the two witnesses I mentioned agree to testify?"
"Yes. They agreed without much hesitation."
Ariana lowered her eyes, staring at the table for a moment before saying,
"The one who sent the assassins to me today was likely the Western Duke, not the Duchess of Bronte. If the assassins don't return, he'll be convinced I'm in the East. The Western Duke will also anticipate a custody trial. That would put the Director of Investigation in danger."
"The Director of Investigation?"
“Yes. The Western Duke is a quick thinker, and from the moment I disappeared, he must have suspected I might have relied on the East. If I spoke of abuse, I would have been monitoring anyone who could corroborate it. If the East had sent someone to contact the Chief Investigator, the Western Duke would have already heard of it. The moment the Chief Investigator tried to leave the West to testify, he would have killed him.”
Ariana was treated as if she were seriously ill.
Duke Langsty White suddenly hugged Ariana and carried her to his room. He wouldn't listen even when Ariana said she was okay.
She thought Fellowes was the only one in the White family who was so stubborn, but Langsty was no pushover.
After the attending doctor, Uriel, came to treat her wounds and left, Isabelle arrived. Isabelle ran in with a pale face, clutching the blanket tightly and shouting,
"Hey! Me! Me... I'm sorry, Ariana."
What?
Looking at Ariana's wide-eyed face, Isabelle's eyes welled up with tears.
"I should have protected you... I'm sorry I ran away, Ariana. I shouldn't have run away. You were scared, weren't you? I'm sorry."
"I told you to run. I was safe because my sister called for people."
Isabelle shook her head.
“It must be late. If Geor hadn’t been returning, we would have been in real trouble. Every time Geor returns from a war, he’s the type to get cheers and feel proud, and I’ve never felt so fortunate as I have today.”
Ah, that’s the kind of person he is.
Ariana thought of Geor, who had an arrogant and cold gaze, but who only spoke incomprehensibly.
“I’m so sorry, Ariana. If I had known something like this would happen, I would have practiced my swordsmanship harder... This won’t happen again. I’ll practice my swordsmanship hard so I can protect you no matter what happens.”
Did Isabelle need to do that?
Ariana couldn’t understand why she was so apologetic and so determined to protect her.
The adults left the bedroom, leaving Isabelle alone. As she was trying to comfort Isabelle, who kept apologizing, she heard people coming in.
“I’m back, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncles, and Aunts. Not only have I returned victorious from the war, but I’ve even saved the Princess. Isn’t this return truly a success?”
Geor’s voice came through the bedroom door.
“Let’s go outside and talk.”
Russell’s voice could also be heard.
Ariana got up from the bed. Isabelle blocked her path.
“Where are you going? Just lie down. You don’t have to get up.”
“I have something to tell the adults.”
“Just lie down.”
Marley soothed Isabelle and left the bedroom. The others, who were about to leave Ariana’s room, turned to look at her.
Theodore said,
“What happened? Just lie down.”
“If you’re going to talk about this incident, I want to join you.”
“Honey, we’ll handle this. You just need to eat and sleep well.”
“It’s my problem, so please allow me to join you.”
Everyone looked a bit uneasy, but eventually they agreed.
After Isabelle was dismissed, only the adults remained in Ariana's drawing room. Facing anxious and worried looks, Ariana asked,
"When will my custody trial be held?"
Everyone looked dumbfounded, as if they hadn't expected the issue of custody to arise after being kidnapped by assassins.
Russell answered, puzzled.
"Just to be sure, I've requested a trial from the Imperial Grand Court. I think it'll be early May at the earliest."
"Did the two witnesses I mentioned agree to testify?"
"Yes. They agreed without much hesitation."
Ariana lowered her eyes, staring at the table for a moment before saying,
"The one who sent the assassins to me today was likely the Western Duke, not the Duchess of Bronte. If the assassins don't return, he'll be convinced I'm in the East. The Western Duke will also anticipate a custody trial. That would put the Director of Investigation in danger."
"The Director of Investigation?"
“Yes. The Western Duke is a quick thinker, and from the moment I disappeared, he must have suspected I might have relied on the East. If I spoke of abuse, I would have been monitoring anyone who could corroborate it. If the East had sent someone to contact the Chief Investigator, the Western Duke would have already heard of it. The moment the Chief Investigator tried to leave the West to testify, he would have killed him.”
This was not something a sixteen-year-old noblewoman could have foreseen. Ariana’s eyes, as she spoke with conviction, shone sharply like a strategist about to go to war.
Everyone was speechless, staring at the little girl.
“The Western Duke’s expectations likely didn’t extend to the Duchess of Rowenta of the Empire. The Duchess of Rowenta showed me favor because of what happened at Bronte Manor. The Duchess of Bronte still fears the Western Duke, so she wouldn’t have reported the taint of low-level social life to the Western Duke.”
Ariana met Russell’s eyes.
“We must protect the Investigator.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll send someone.”
“Did the assassins open their mouths?”
Geor answered.
“They died before they could. I tried to kill them gently.”
Geor pointed at Russell with both palms facing up.
“He couldn’t do it gently. What’s so angry about that?”
“It’s okay. Their testimony probably wouldn’t have been of much help anyway. If the Director of the Investigation Agency can safely reach the Empire, his and Duchess Rowenta’s testimony alone will suffice.”
Russell headed to the office with Geor.
Sitting in his chair, Russell rubbed his forehead with a somber expression.
Ariana was smarter than necessary. She was smart enough to see through schemes that even adults couldn’t see through.
That was heartbreaking.
He wished she could live her life completely unaware of such problems. He prayed that she would grow up in the Bronte household, adored and pretty, and as reckless as any other young lady.
He remembered Ariana, indifferently watching the torture of the assassins captured at the guard post. Even the fierce Isabelle couldn't have watched such a scene without a care.
Russell knew well how Geor tortured his enemies. Sometimes, it was so cruel that even Russell wanted to look away.
Ariana watched it as if it were a play.
"I feel bad."
"Because of the Princess?"
"Yes. How has she lived..."
"She's overly clever. She's a smart girl. She'll be of great use."
"I have no intention of using her for anything."
"Hmm. The Princess seems to want to be used. Wouldn't it be better to let her do what she wants?"
"She's had enough suffering so far. From now on, she should just live comfortably, wearing pretty dresses and enjoying parties like other children."
Geor remembered Ariana's fiery eyes.
"Well, I don't think she wants to live like a doll. By the way, Father. I came back victorious from the war, and you didn't even praise me?"
"Well done."
“Wow, you’re so dry. Yeah, well. The Princess is cute, pretty, and overly smart, so she can’t even compare to me. Oh, that’s possible. I understand. Even if I were her, the Princess would be much prettier than I. Of course.”
“Geor...”
Geor smiled at Russell, who was looking at him in astonishment.
“Don’t be depressed, Father. You abandoned the Princess all this time. It’s the past that can’t be changed, and the Princess would hate you terribly. How fortunate is it that you’re in a situation where you can receive the hatred you deserve?”
“...”
“If the Princess hadn’t run away here, Father wouldn’t have even properly felt that hatred. Now that you know the other person hates you, you can slowly ask for forgiveness. Well, I don’t think she’ll forgive you easily, though.”
Two days had passed since the kidnapping.
Ariana had decided to accept that there was nothing she had to do in this mansion. People who were wailing and making a fuss over a small scrape on her wrist weren't going to give Ariana any dirty work to do.
"You can go wherever you want,"
Russell answered without hesitation when Ariana asked if she could use the study.
Ariana had brought a stack of books from the study the night before, stacked them next to her bed, and was reading them. Since no one was waking her up, she woke up whenever she wanted, ate the meals the maid brought her in bed, and read in that state, feeling awkward and ticklish. She worried about whether she could afford to relax like this, but there was nothing she could do about being busy alone.
She was half-lying, reading, and dozing off when there was a knock on the door.
"Ariana. May I come in?"
At Russell's voice, Ariana quickly got up. The fact that she was still in her pajamas bothered her, but she couldn't keep the Duke waiting.
"Yes, please come in."
Ariana stood politely by the bed and waited for Russell to enter. Russell, who entered the bedroom, glanced at Ariana and the crumpled blanket, then said,
“You can lie down comfortably. There’s no need to get up every time I come to visit.”
“How could I dare to lie in bed and greet Your Excellency? Please forgive me for still being in my pajamas.”
“You don’t have to apologize for everything. Aren’t you bored?”
“Yes. Thanks to Your Excellency’s permission, I have many interesting books from the study to read.”
“If you want, you can call a talented person over to watch and play.”
“Yes, I will do so when necessary. Thank you for looking after me.”
The conversation ended there. Russell was staring at Ariana, his hands behind his back.
He seemed to have something to say but couldn’t, so Ariana asked first.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Oh, right.”
Russell cleared his throat. Ariana saw Russell flustered slightly.
'What’s going on? Is he trying to kick me out?'
Suddenly feeling uneasy, she bit her lip, but Russell held something out.
It was a gift wrapped in fancy paper and a large ribbon. Ariana’s eyes widened at the unexpected appearance.
“What is this...?”
“Happy birthday, Ariana.”
Thump—
“I’ve been sending presents to the Duke of Bronte for your birthdays, but you probably haven’t received them.”
Thump—
“Now I can finally celebrate your birthday in person for the first time.”
Thump—
The sound of something falling repeatedly was heard. It wasn’t from outside, but from within Ariana.
Something was pounding hard against the thick ice wall surrounding her heart. The solid ice wall didn’t break, but it was shaking.
“Birthday...”
She thought she had to handle this situation with grace and dignity, without wavering.
“Congratulations and such...”
But it was hard to completely control the emotions that were seeping out through the cracks of my shaking.
“I’ve never received one. Not even once.”
Seriously, not even once. No one had ever congratulated her, so much so that she even forgotten her own birthday. Until the day she died, Ariana had forgotten that she even had a birthday. While celebrating Helena and Victoria’s birthdays with grand parties, she hadn’t realized she had one herself.
“So, Your Excellency.”
With trembling hands, Ariana clutched the birthday present offered to her. She buried her face in the present.
“Please forgive me for not being polite enough.”
Everyone was speechless, staring at the little girl.
“The Western Duke’s expectations likely didn’t extend to the Duchess of Rowenta of the Empire. The Duchess of Rowenta showed me favor because of what happened at Bronte Manor. The Duchess of Bronte still fears the Western Duke, so she wouldn’t have reported the taint of low-level social life to the Western Duke.”
Ariana met Russell’s eyes.
“We must protect the Investigator.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll send someone.”
“Did the assassins open their mouths?”
Geor answered.
“They died before they could. I tried to kill them gently.”
Geor pointed at Russell with both palms facing up.
“He couldn’t do it gently. What’s so angry about that?”
“It’s okay. Their testimony probably wouldn’t have been of much help anyway. If the Director of the Investigation Agency can safely reach the Empire, his and Duchess Rowenta’s testimony alone will suffice.”
***
Russell headed to the office with Geor.
Sitting in his chair, Russell rubbed his forehead with a somber expression.
Ariana was smarter than necessary. She was smart enough to see through schemes that even adults couldn’t see through.
That was heartbreaking.
He wished she could live her life completely unaware of such problems. He prayed that she would grow up in the Bronte household, adored and pretty, and as reckless as any other young lady.
He remembered Ariana, indifferently watching the torture of the assassins captured at the guard post. Even the fierce Isabelle couldn't have watched such a scene without a care.
Russell knew well how Geor tortured his enemies. Sometimes, it was so cruel that even Russell wanted to look away.
Ariana watched it as if it were a play.
"I feel bad."
"Because of the Princess?"
"Yes. How has she lived..."
"She's overly clever. She's a smart girl. She'll be of great use."
"I have no intention of using her for anything."
"Hmm. The Princess seems to want to be used. Wouldn't it be better to let her do what she wants?"
"She's had enough suffering so far. From now on, she should just live comfortably, wearing pretty dresses and enjoying parties like other children."
Geor remembered Ariana's fiery eyes.
"Well, I don't think she wants to live like a doll. By the way, Father. I came back victorious from the war, and you didn't even praise me?"
"Well done."
“Wow, you’re so dry. Yeah, well. The Princess is cute, pretty, and overly smart, so she can’t even compare to me. Oh, that’s possible. I understand. Even if I were her, the Princess would be much prettier than I. Of course.”
“Geor...”
Geor smiled at Russell, who was looking at him in astonishment.
“Don’t be depressed, Father. You abandoned the Princess all this time. It’s the past that can’t be changed, and the Princess would hate you terribly. How fortunate is it that you’re in a situation where you can receive the hatred you deserve?”
“...”
“If the Princess hadn’t run away here, Father wouldn’t have even properly felt that hatred. Now that you know the other person hates you, you can slowly ask for forgiveness. Well, I don’t think she’ll forgive you easily, though.”
***
Two days had passed since the kidnapping.
Ariana had decided to accept that there was nothing she had to do in this mansion. People who were wailing and making a fuss over a small scrape on her wrist weren't going to give Ariana any dirty work to do.
"You can go wherever you want,"
Russell answered without hesitation when Ariana asked if she could use the study.
Ariana had brought a stack of books from the study the night before, stacked them next to her bed, and was reading them. Since no one was waking her up, she woke up whenever she wanted, ate the meals the maid brought her in bed, and read in that state, feeling awkward and ticklish. She worried about whether she could afford to relax like this, but there was nothing she could do about being busy alone.
She was half-lying, reading, and dozing off when there was a knock on the door.
"Ariana. May I come in?"
At Russell's voice, Ariana quickly got up. The fact that she was still in her pajamas bothered her, but she couldn't keep the Duke waiting.
"Yes, please come in."
Ariana stood politely by the bed and waited for Russell to enter. Russell, who entered the bedroom, glanced at Ariana and the crumpled blanket, then said,
“You can lie down comfortably. There’s no need to get up every time I come to visit.”
“How could I dare to lie in bed and greet Your Excellency? Please forgive me for still being in my pajamas.”
“You don’t have to apologize for everything. Aren’t you bored?”
“Yes. Thanks to Your Excellency’s permission, I have many interesting books from the study to read.”
“If you want, you can call a talented person over to watch and play.”
“Yes, I will do so when necessary. Thank you for looking after me.”
The conversation ended there. Russell was staring at Ariana, his hands behind his back.
He seemed to have something to say but couldn’t, so Ariana asked first.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Oh, right.”
Russell cleared his throat. Ariana saw Russell flustered slightly.
'What’s going on? Is he trying to kick me out?'
Suddenly feeling uneasy, she bit her lip, but Russell held something out.
It was a gift wrapped in fancy paper and a large ribbon. Ariana’s eyes widened at the unexpected appearance.
“What is this...?”
“Happy birthday, Ariana.”
Thump—
“I’ve been sending presents to the Duke of Bronte for your birthdays, but you probably haven’t received them.”
Thump—
“Now I can finally celebrate your birthday in person for the first time.”
Thump—
The sound of something falling repeatedly was heard. It wasn’t from outside, but from within Ariana.
Something was pounding hard against the thick ice wall surrounding her heart. The solid ice wall didn’t break, but it was shaking.
“Birthday...”
She thought she had to handle this situation with grace and dignity, without wavering.
“Congratulations and such...”
But it was hard to completely control the emotions that were seeping out through the cracks of my shaking.
“I’ve never received one. Not even once.”
Seriously, not even once. No one had ever congratulated her, so much so that she even forgotten her own birthday. Until the day she died, Ariana had forgotten that she even had a birthday. While celebrating Helena and Victoria’s birthdays with grand parties, she hadn’t realized she had one herself.
“So, Your Excellency.”
With trembling hands, Ariana clutched the birthday present offered to her. She buried her face in the present.
“Please forgive me for not being polite enough.”
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