(57) I can do it. (1)
The Western Duke's voice tightened around Ariana's neck like a rope. Ariana swallowed hard and tried to back away, but she couldn't overcome the handmaids' firm grip on her arms.
"If that good opportunity is a judge named Odmill, you'd better give up hope."
Odmill.
The situation Ariana had been anxious about had now occurred. The Western Duke knew Odmill, which meant he had already taken action.
"You relied on someone you shouldn't have. The Eastern Duke may be affectionate, but he's not smart enough to protect you. If he had at least assigned a few guards to Odmill, he wouldn't have committed suicide."
'You faked it as suicide!'
She wanted to close her eyes, but held them back.
She wanted to scream, but swallowed it.
“Odmil’s body will be found soon. But you won’t be able to see how the matter is handled. We are returning to the West with our beloved granddaughter, our lovely daughter.”
Ariana kept her mouth shut. The Western Duke smiled faintly, straightened again, and ordered her maids.
“Pack your bags. We will be leaving in an hour.”
Ariana threw herself onto the sofa and squeezed her eyes shut.
A cool breeze blew across her chest.
‘Odmil is dead. The Western Duke must be saying this with such certainty because she even confirmed the body.’
Rachel would have sent someone to kill him and then excitedly rushed to tell Ariana, but the Western Duke was different. He sent someone, killed him, and only after receiving the report would he have told Ariana.
‘The verdict cannot be overturned.’
The Eastern Duke would never be able to regain custody of Ariana from Rachel. Even if he tried to regain it, Ariana would already be gone by then.
"I can't die like this."
Becoming a Princess of the same age wasn't the only way. It would take a longer detour, perhaps even bowing to someone she didn't like, but there was definitely another way.
Ariana opened her eyes slightly and looked around. The maid who had been watching her closely, seemingly thinking she'd given up, was preparing to leave with the other maids.
Ariana moved quietly and felt for the cushion where she'd hidden her knife and fork earlier. She felt something hard.
"Thank goodness. The Western Duke didn't find them."
Ariana searched the cushion, pulled out the cutlery, and quickly placed it in her petticoat pocket.
She sat quietly, lost in thought, determined not to be searched again.
'First, I have to escape the Western Duke.'
Ariana tried to visualize future opportunities for escape.
'The Western Duke will ride in the carriage with me, just like when we came here. He won't take his eyes off me. But he didn't pay attention to where I was sitting. I guess it's because he thinks he can easily handle it even if I open the carriage door and run away.'
Ariana, who lost in the trial, became a reckless child who played along to annoy her parents. Even if Ariana jumped out of the carriage, he could easily avoid the situation by saying, "Here she is again." Since Rachel had rightfully won custody through the trial, there was no way anyone would help Ariana, who was trying to escape.
"But there is a way to prevent this from being easily handled."
Everyone present knelt at the imperial knight's words, obeying the imperial command. Only the Duke of the West, the king of the West, remained standing, bowing his head and waiting for the knight to recite the imperial command.
"The witness who questioned the outcome of Arianna Bronte's custody trial has personally reported to His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor has ordered an immediate retrial. Rachel Bronte and Arianna Bronte are to appear before the Grand Court within one hour."
The witness who questioned the outcome of the trial.
Arianna couldn't understand what the imperial knight was saying.
Questioning the outcome meant he was a witness on Arianna's side. However, Arianna had used all the available witnesses. Now, there were no new witnesses left to testify on Arianna's behalf.
'Odmill? No, Odmill is dead. Even if he were alive, he wouldn't be able to move His Majesty the Emperor. Who on earth is he?'
As soon as the imperial knight left, the Duke of the West turned and glared at Arianna. Ariana quickly gathered up her dress and hid the knife stuck in her stomach.
"I can't let them find out."
The escape plan proved poisonous. If the Western Duke saw the knife in her stomach, she'd use it as an excuse to delay the trial and find out who the new witness was and eliminate him.
Ariana gritted her teeth and thrust the knife deeper, then used her ample sleeve to hide the handle.
The pain threatened to knock her out at any moment, but she fought to keep it from showing, staring at the Western Duke.
The Western Duke strode over and grabbed Ariana's arm, pulling her up from the ground. The knife shifted as she moved, causing a pain so severe it wouldn't have been strange if she had fainted.
The Western Duke, like a kind grandfather, patted Ariana's clothes and hugged her with one arm.
"That's great, huh?"
The voice that came out of her clenched teeth was laced with anger.
Ariana endured the pain and answered calmly.
"You're welcome."
The Western Duke's voice tightened around Ariana's neck like a rope. Ariana swallowed hard and tried to back away, but she couldn't overcome the handmaids' firm grip on her arms.
"If that good opportunity is a judge named Odmill, you'd better give up hope."
Odmill.
The situation Ariana had been anxious about had now occurred. The Western Duke knew Odmill, which meant he had already taken action.
"You relied on someone you shouldn't have. The Eastern Duke may be affectionate, but he's not smart enough to protect you. If he had at least assigned a few guards to Odmill, he wouldn't have committed suicide."
'You faked it as suicide!'
She wanted to close her eyes, but held them back.
She wanted to scream, but swallowed it.
“Odmil’s body will be found soon. But you won’t be able to see how the matter is handled. We are returning to the West with our beloved granddaughter, our lovely daughter.”
Ariana kept her mouth shut. The Western Duke smiled faintly, straightened again, and ordered her maids.
“Pack your bags. We will be leaving in an hour.”
***
Ariana threw herself onto the sofa and squeezed her eyes shut.
A cool breeze blew across her chest.
‘Odmil is dead. The Western Duke must be saying this with such certainty because she even confirmed the body.’
Rachel would have sent someone to kill him and then excitedly rushed to tell Ariana, but the Western Duke was different. He sent someone, killed him, and only after receiving the report would he have told Ariana.
‘The verdict cannot be overturned.’
The Eastern Duke would never be able to regain custody of Ariana from Rachel. Even if he tried to regain it, Ariana would already be gone by then.
"I can't die like this."
Becoming a Princess of the same age wasn't the only way. It would take a longer detour, perhaps even bowing to someone she didn't like, but there was definitely another way.
Ariana opened her eyes slightly and looked around. The maid who had been watching her closely, seemingly thinking she'd given up, was preparing to leave with the other maids.
Ariana moved quietly and felt for the cushion where she'd hidden her knife and fork earlier. She felt something hard.
"Thank goodness. The Western Duke didn't find them."
Ariana searched the cushion, pulled out the cutlery, and quickly placed it in her petticoat pocket.
She sat quietly, lost in thought, determined not to be searched again.
'First, I have to escape the Western Duke.'
Ariana tried to visualize future opportunities for escape.
'The Western Duke will ride in the carriage with me, just like when we came here. He won't take his eyes off me. But he didn't pay attention to where I was sitting. I guess it's because he thinks he can easily handle it even if I open the carriage door and run away.'
Ariana, who lost in the trial, became a reckless child who played along to annoy her parents. Even if Ariana jumped out of the carriage, he could easily avoid the situation by saying, "Here she is again." Since Rachel had rightfully won custody through the trial, there was no way anyone would help Ariana, who was trying to escape.
"But there is a way to prevent this from being easily handled."
She kept a fork and knife tucked inside her skirt.
If she used them wisely, she would definitely have a chance to escape.
Exactly an hour later, the Western Duke's carriage left the villa.
The streets were peaceful, as if Odmil's death had not yet been reported.
As the Western Duke's carriage rolled down the wide street, people stopped and watched the carriage. In the imperial capital of Sterion, everyone knew about yesterday's trial.
Ariana sat in the carriage, staring blankly out the window.
The people outside the window cast unfriendly glances at Ariana.
"Not yet."
She wanted to jump out of this carriage right now.
She wanted to escape the suffocating gaze of the Western Duke and Rachel. But she endured.
There weren't many people yet. She had to hold on until we reached the bustling downtown area.
'No one will help the villainess who jumped herself, but...'
Ariana moved the dull knife to her skirt pocket for easy access.
'There will be someone who helps the dying villainess.'
Ariana's plan was to take out the knife and stab her in the stomach the moment she jumped.
'There’s always a clinic in a downtown area. People would find it suspicious to go back to the villa and call a doctor instead of the nearby clinic. The Western Duke has a brain, so he’ll probably consider that before he acts.'
The Western Duke will take Ariana to the clinic. He’ll definitely be watching her there, but it’s easier to find an opportunity to escape than at the villa.
Ariana kept her gaze blank, trying not to show her nervousness, and waited for the carriage to enter the downtown area.
Duke Russell paced anxiously in the drawing room, waiting for news from Odmill. There should have been a message from Odmill by now, but there was no word.
Theodore said,
“Russell, sit down. It won’t change anything to be so anxious.”
“How can I stay still? Rachel, we don’t know what that woman might do to Ariana.”
“Since it’s just after that trial, they can’t do anything bad to Ariana right now. The Western Duke won’t just let it go.”
“The Western Duke... It’s more problematic because there’s a Western Duke.”
Theodore clicked his tongue.
The Western Duke ascended to the throne around the same time as Theodore, but even after Theodore passed the throne to his son, he still held onto his position.
The Western Duke didn’t point his sharp sword at the East while Theodore was the Duke. He concealed his true intentions and maintained a good relationship with Theodore.
However, as soon as Theodore stepped down as Duke, his dark intentions began to reveal themselves. When Russell was wary, the Western Duke sent Rachel as a gesture of goodwill.
Langsty was suspicious of Rachel, but the others foolishly trusted her. Because they remembered the good relationship they had with the Western Duke, they accepted Rachel as family without question.
This is the result.
Russel had fallen out of favor with the Emperor, his granddaughter had been taken away, he had lived without knowing how miserable her life was, and now she was about to be taken away again.
“This can’t be happening. Something must have happened!”
Russell was striding towards the parlor door when his confidant, who had gone outside to check on the situation, returned and announced in an urgent voice,
“The Western Duke is leaving the empire.”
The number of people visible outside the window gradually increased. A street densely packed with commercial buildings came into view.
“Here we are.”
They had finally entered the downtown area.
The knowledge of the pain that would be inflicted on this body terrified her, but it was not as terrifying as returning to the West.
'The pain is temporary. If I don’t escape like this, it’s death.'
Ariana steeled her resolve and leaped towards the carriage door.
“Ouch!”
Rachel reached out belatedly, but her hand merely grazed the hem of Ariana’s skirt. Ariana flung open the carriage door and jumped out.
Before anyone could startle Ariana, who had suddenly leapt from the carriage, she pulled out the knife she kept in her skirt pocket.
It was a blunt knife, like one used to slice bread. It would be even more painful if it pierced the skin.
But she didn't hesitate.
Holding the knife with both hands, she plunged it straight into her abdomen. The dull blade tore through her skin. The pain came before the sound of the skin being torn. The pain was so intense it made her body tremble, but she didn't stop.
When the knife was halfway through, the sound of hooves rang in her ears.
A sturdy brown horse brushed past Ariana, blocking the Western Duke's carriage. Ariana suppressed a scream and looked up at the man on horseback. He was wearing a red uniform with gold embroidery.
If she used them wisely, she would definitely have a chance to escape.
***
Exactly an hour later, the Western Duke's carriage left the villa.
The streets were peaceful, as if Odmil's death had not yet been reported.
As the Western Duke's carriage rolled down the wide street, people stopped and watched the carriage. In the imperial capital of Sterion, everyone knew about yesterday's trial.
Ariana sat in the carriage, staring blankly out the window.
The people outside the window cast unfriendly glances at Ariana.
"Not yet."
She wanted to jump out of this carriage right now.
She wanted to escape the suffocating gaze of the Western Duke and Rachel. But she endured.
There weren't many people yet. She had to hold on until we reached the bustling downtown area.
'No one will help the villainess who jumped herself, but...'
Ariana moved the dull knife to her skirt pocket for easy access.
'There will be someone who helps the dying villainess.'
Ariana's plan was to take out the knife and stab her in the stomach the moment she jumped.
To a healthy Ariana, they might say, “Here she goes again,” and put her back in the carriage, but they couldn't do that to Ariana, bleeding profusely.
The Western Duke will take Ariana to the clinic. He’ll definitely be watching her there, but it’s easier to find an opportunity to escape than at the villa.
Ariana kept her gaze blank, trying not to show her nervousness, and waited for the carriage to enter the downtown area.
***
Duke Russell paced anxiously in the drawing room, waiting for news from Odmill. There should have been a message from Odmill by now, but there was no word.
Theodore said,
“Russell, sit down. It won’t change anything to be so anxious.”
“How can I stay still? Rachel, we don’t know what that woman might do to Ariana.”
“Since it’s just after that trial, they can’t do anything bad to Ariana right now. The Western Duke won’t just let it go.”
“The Western Duke... It’s more problematic because there’s a Western Duke.”
Theodore clicked his tongue.
The Western Duke ascended to the throne around the same time as Theodore, but even after Theodore passed the throne to his son, he still held onto his position.
The Western Duke didn’t point his sharp sword at the East while Theodore was the Duke. He concealed his true intentions and maintained a good relationship with Theodore.
However, as soon as Theodore stepped down as Duke, his dark intentions began to reveal themselves. When Russell was wary, the Western Duke sent Rachel as a gesture of goodwill.
Langsty was suspicious of Rachel, but the others foolishly trusted her. Because they remembered the good relationship they had with the Western Duke, they accepted Rachel as family without question.
This is the result.
Russel had fallen out of favor with the Emperor, his granddaughter had been taken away, he had lived without knowing how miserable her life was, and now she was about to be taken away again.
“This can’t be happening. Something must have happened!”
Russell was striding towards the parlor door when his confidant, who had gone outside to check on the situation, returned and announced in an urgent voice,
“The Western Duke is leaving the empire.”
***
The number of people visible outside the window gradually increased. A street densely packed with commercial buildings came into view.
“Here we are.”
They had finally entered the downtown area.
The knowledge of the pain that would be inflicted on this body terrified her, but it was not as terrifying as returning to the West.
'The pain is temporary. If I don’t escape like this, it’s death.'
Ariana steeled her resolve and leaped towards the carriage door.
“Ouch!”
Rachel reached out belatedly, but her hand merely grazed the hem of Ariana’s skirt. Ariana flung open the carriage door and jumped out.
Before anyone could startle Ariana, who had suddenly leapt from the carriage, she pulled out the knife she kept in her skirt pocket.
It was a blunt knife, like one used to slice bread. It would be even more painful if it pierced the skin.
But she didn't hesitate.
Holding the knife with both hands, she plunged it straight into her abdomen. The dull blade tore through her skin. The pain came before the sound of the skin being torn. The pain was so intense it made her body tremble, but she didn't stop.
When the knife was halfway through, the sound of hooves rang in her ears.
A sturdy brown horse brushed past Ariana, blocking the Western Duke's carriage. Ariana suppressed a scream and looked up at the man on horseback. He was wearing a red uniform with gold embroidery.
'Imperial knight?'
She couldn't understand why an imperial knight had appeared at this moment. The Western Duke and Rachel, who had dismounted to catch Ariana, also looked up at the imperial knight with bewildered expressions.
'What should I do?'
She couldn't tell if the appearance of the imperial knight was a good thing or a bad thing. She had to decide whether to stab deeper or to escape while the Western Duke and Rachel were distracted, but the excruciating pain made it difficult to think clearly.
'Let's run.'
That would be a good idea for now. Even if she were caught mid-way, Ariana wouldn't be forced onto the carriage with the knife still lodged in her stomach. The knife wasn't bleeding much yet, but if necessary, she could just pull it out.
As Ariana staggered to her feet, the knight spoke in a commanding voice.
"The imperial order."
***
At the same time, Duke Count Russell, who was about to leave the mansion to stop the Western Duke, also saw the imperial knight before his eyes. Russell and Theodore accepted the imperial knight's order with expressions of disbelief.
***
Everyone present knelt at the imperial knight's words, obeying the imperial command. Only the Duke of the West, the king of the West, remained standing, bowing his head and waiting for the knight to recite the imperial command.
"The witness who questioned the outcome of Arianna Bronte's custody trial has personally reported to His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor has ordered an immediate retrial. Rachel Bronte and Arianna Bronte are to appear before the Grand Court within one hour."
The witness who questioned the outcome of the trial.
Arianna couldn't understand what the imperial knight was saying.
Questioning the outcome meant he was a witness on Arianna's side. However, Arianna had used all the available witnesses. Now, there were no new witnesses left to testify on Arianna's behalf.
'Odmill? No, Odmill is dead. Even if he were alive, he wouldn't be able to move His Majesty the Emperor. Who on earth is he?'
As soon as the imperial knight left, the Duke of the West turned and glared at Arianna. Ariana quickly gathered up her dress and hid the knife stuck in her stomach.
"I can't let them find out."
The escape plan proved poisonous. If the Western Duke saw the knife in her stomach, she'd use it as an excuse to delay the trial and find out who the new witness was and eliminate him.
Ariana gritted her teeth and thrust the knife deeper, then used her ample sleeve to hide the handle.
The pain threatened to knock her out at any moment, but she fought to keep it from showing, staring at the Western Duke.
The Western Duke strode over and grabbed Ariana's arm, pulling her up from the ground. The knife shifted as she moved, causing a pain so severe it wouldn't have been strange if she had fainted.
The Western Duke, like a kind grandfather, patted Ariana's clothes and hugged her with one arm.
"That's great, huh?"
The voice that came out of her clenched teeth was laced with anger.
Ariana endured the pain and answered calmly.
"You're welcome."
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