(100) Just looking at it (1)
Cyrus glanced back at Ariana.
Sometimes Ariana would say things that touched Cyrus' heart. Now was one of them.
A person as beautiful as that sunset.
Cyrus thought of his mother. She was a woman with beautiful crimson hair like that sunset and eyes as red as Cyrus's. She was a beauty with a cold air, yet to Cyrus, she was incredibly affectionate.
The previous Northern Duke and his wife had not been able to have children for a long time, and had Cyrus at a late age, so they had a special affection for their son.
Why is that?
Why is it that whenever he has this woman by his side, his heart becomes numb, as if he were with his parents, and he recalls past memories so vividly?
His mother's hand stroking his hair, his father's firm arm lifting him with a smile. A forgotten feeling came flooding back, and Cyrus felt a mix of joy and sadness.
He spoke, barely suppressing his fluttering emotions.
“She was a beautiful person.”
“That’s why the Northern Lord is so beautiful.”
“I don’t look like her. My mother’s hair was the same color as that sunset.”
Ariana turned to Cyrus and reached out her hand. Cyrus closed his eyes, thinking the hand was touching his face.
But her small, slender fingers only brushed Cyrus' hair before returning to their original position.
“The Northern Lord’s hair is also dyed in the sunset and has the same color.”
When he opened his closed eyes, he saw them folded into a crescent shape. The blue pupils within the narrowed eyes were as clear and transparent as a midwinter lake.
Cyrus found himself reflected in those eyes.
As Ariana said, his hair was dyed red.
A profoundly poignant and poignant emotion filled Cyrus's heart. An inexpressible impulse took over his body.
Cyrus barely managed to lower his trembling arms and speak.
"The Duke of Hern has probably prepared a very grand banquet. Let's go back now."
The only people present at the dinner were Duke Hern, Andrei, Isaac, Cyrus, and Ariana. While not as bustling as the White family's banquet, it was a grand and enjoyable event.
Duke Hern repeatedly asked Ariana if she lacked anything, and Andrei was curious about the East's martial arts. Isaac talked about the rare herbs he had discovered in the East, and Ariana occasionally answered their questions.
Meanwhile, Cyrus just listened to the story in silence.
After Duke Hern left, saying that the old man would get up first, Isaac asked.
“Your Excellency. I heard the Crown Prince came to visit?”
Ariana looked at Cyrus at the mention of the Crown Prince. Cyrus, sitting at the head of the long table, put down his fork and nodded.
“Yeah. Did Andrei tell you?”
“There are no secrets between Rei and me.”
When Cyrus shot Andrei a reproachful glare, Andrei shrugged.
“I’m sorry, Your Excellency. There are no secrets between Isaac and me.”
“But is it true? The Crown Prince tried to run away with his lover.”
"Yes."
"Wow, I've never seen the Crown Prince like that before, but he's really passionate. They say that when you fall in love, your eyes go crazy, but I never dreamed the Crown Prince would be like that."
“Yeah. I knew he was weak-willed, but I’m still disappointed.”
"I'm sure His Royal Highness must be very disappointed that you didn't accept it. What will the Crown Prince do from now on?"
“He will choose a Crown Princess soon.”
“Oh! The continent will be in an uproar.”
To Isaac, it was just a story of interest, but not to Ariana.
The Crown Prince is trying to choose a Crown Princess.
The moment has come for the Crown Prince, who has been blinded by his lover for a long time, to come to his senses and move to choose a Crown Princess.
‘Finally.’
Cyrus glanced back at Ariana.
Sometimes Ariana would say things that touched Cyrus' heart. Now was one of them.
A person as beautiful as that sunset.
Cyrus thought of his mother. She was a woman with beautiful crimson hair like that sunset and eyes as red as Cyrus's. She was a beauty with a cold air, yet to Cyrus, she was incredibly affectionate.
The previous Northern Duke and his wife had not been able to have children for a long time, and had Cyrus at a late age, so they had a special affection for their son.
Why is that?
Why is it that whenever he has this woman by his side, his heart becomes numb, as if he were with his parents, and he recalls past memories so vividly?
His mother's hand stroking his hair, his father's firm arm lifting him with a smile. A forgotten feeling came flooding back, and Cyrus felt a mix of joy and sadness.
He spoke, barely suppressing his fluttering emotions.
“She was a beautiful person.”
“That’s why the Northern Lord is so beautiful.”
“I don’t look like her. My mother’s hair was the same color as that sunset.”
Ariana turned to Cyrus and reached out her hand. Cyrus closed his eyes, thinking the hand was touching his face.
But her small, slender fingers only brushed Cyrus' hair before returning to their original position.
“The Northern Lord’s hair is also dyed in the sunset and has the same color.”
When he opened his closed eyes, he saw them folded into a crescent shape. The blue pupils within the narrowed eyes were as clear and transparent as a midwinter lake.
Cyrus found himself reflected in those eyes.
As Ariana said, his hair was dyed red.
A profoundly poignant and poignant emotion filled Cyrus's heart. An inexpressible impulse took over his body.
Cyrus barely managed to lower his trembling arms and speak.
"The Duke of Hern has probably prepared a very grand banquet. Let's go back now."
***
The only people present at the dinner were Duke Hern, Andrei, Isaac, Cyrus, and Ariana. While not as bustling as the White family's banquet, it was a grand and enjoyable event.
Duke Hern repeatedly asked Ariana if she lacked anything, and Andrei was curious about the East's martial arts. Isaac talked about the rare herbs he had discovered in the East, and Ariana occasionally answered their questions.
Meanwhile, Cyrus just listened to the story in silence.
After Duke Hern left, saying that the old man would get up first, Isaac asked.
“Your Excellency. I heard the Crown Prince came to visit?”
Ariana looked at Cyrus at the mention of the Crown Prince. Cyrus, sitting at the head of the long table, put down his fork and nodded.
“Yeah. Did Andrei tell you?”
“There are no secrets between Rei and me.”
When Cyrus shot Andrei a reproachful glare, Andrei shrugged.
“I’m sorry, Your Excellency. There are no secrets between Isaac and me.”
“But is it true? The Crown Prince tried to run away with his lover.”
"Yes."
"Wow, I've never seen the Crown Prince like that before, but he's really passionate. They say that when you fall in love, your eyes go crazy, but I never dreamed the Crown Prince would be like that."
“Yeah. I knew he was weak-willed, but I’m still disappointed.”
"I'm sure His Royal Highness must be very disappointed that you didn't accept it. What will the Crown Prince do from now on?"
“He will choose a Crown Princess soon.”
“Oh! The continent will be in an uproar.”
To Isaac, it was just a story of interest, but not to Ariana.
The Crown Prince is trying to choose a Crown Princess.
The moment has come for the Crown Prince, who has been blinded by his lover for a long time, to come to his senses and move to choose a Crown Princess.
‘Finally.’
A cold air ran down her spine.
'The time has come.'
She didn't know when the Third Prince started to move actively, but now she knows.
The Emperor was very fond of his son, Crown Prince David Blenwit, born from his relationship with the Empress. David, too, was an obedient and intelligent son.
But that changed when he met Chloe, the daughter of Count Spencer.
The Crown Prince was so infatuated with Chloe that he postponed his work and only thought about being with her, which was very bothersome to the Emperor and Empress.
If Chloe, the daughter of the Count of Spencer, a minor nobleman and a maid of honor in the palace, ascended to the position of Crown Princess, the royal family would become a laughing stock, and the Crown Prince's position would also be shaken.
The Emperor was never one to stand by and watch his family become a laughingstock.
'There was talk of deposing the Crown Prince and choosing a new one from among the Princes. So the Third Prince must have been quietly waiting for that moment to come, keeping an eye on things.'
The Third Prince's mother, Royal Consort Aelra, was the most beloved of the Emperor's consorts, but her humble demeanor allowed her to maintain a good relationship with the Empress. The Third Prince, Harold, was also popular, thanks to his intelligence, modesty, and affable nature.
If Crown Prince David were to be deposed, it was rumored that the next person to take the Crown Prince position would naturally be the Third Prince.
But Crown Prince David came to his senses.
“The Third Prince will make a move.”
At Ariana's muttered words, everyone stopped talking and turned to look at her. Ariana, sitting at the head of the table opposite Cyrus, spoke.
“The Third Prince’s behind-the-scenes work will begin in earnest.”
Andrei and Isaac's eyes widened.
It was because he couldn't understand why the story of the Third Prince came up when the Crown Prince had been talking about his love affair. But Cyrus, his red eyes sharp, asked Ariana.
“Why do you think so?”
"I've heard stories about the Third Prince from all over. They say he's very kind to everyone and very humble."
“I heard he’s a good guy.”
"Furthermore, the Third Prince's mother is also well-mannered and, despite being the Royal Consort, is loved by the Empress. Therefore, the Third Prince's power in the palace is undoubtedly greater than that of the Crown Prince. That's why there's talk that the Third Prince is more suited to the position of Crown Prince."
Cyrus asked with interest.
“Where did the Princess hear such a story?”
“Do you think the East, who is wary of the Empire, would be in the dark about news from the Imperial Family?”
“Hmm.”
Cyrus crossed his arms. He seemed to disbelieve Ariana's excuses, but nodded.
"So?"
"The opportunity to become the sun of the empire was right in front of him. If the Crown Prince had continued to lose his senses and run away with his lover, the Third Prince would have naturally become the little sun of the empire, receiving the same treatment as the sun without any problems. But the Crown Prince has come to his senses, and now he's trying to resolve the issue of the Crown Princess, which has been a headache for the Emperor and Empress."
“The Princess may have misjudged the Third Prince. Could it be that he is not a greedy person?”
"You might overlook a few coins before your eyes, but you can't ignore a nugget of gold. That's human nature, Northern Lord. The throne of the Emperor flickers before your eyes and then vanishes like a dream. If you accept it as a natural consequence, you've already transcended the realm of humanity."
“Even if the Third Prince had no greed, what was before his eyes was so great that it was difficult to ignore.”
“That’s right. It would have been better if the Crown Prince had been firmly in his position from the beginning.”
Ariana poked a slice of peach in front of her with her fork and brought it to her lips.
“Having missed the meat that was almost in your mouth, how intense must this hunger be?”
Ariana took a bite of the peach, her red lips glistening with peach juice.
“You’ll become so greedy, you won’t be able to tell if it’s okay to eat or not.”
***
Ariana and Cyrus moved to the living room. Isaac and Andrei wanted to join them, but Cyrus pushed them away.
The servant brought Cyrus a cold fruit drink and Ariana a warm, fragrant herbal tea. Ariana gazed down at the steaming herbal tea as Cyrus asked.
“Do you have any idea what the Third Prince’s actions will be?”
“Um... I have a guess.”
"However?"
“If I tell you, will you help me?”
Cyrus stared at Ariana for a moment before answering.
“Have you forgotten? I think I helped the Princess even though you didn’t say anything.”
“That’s weird...”
“Is it weird?”
“You say you’re using me, but you don’t use me and just give to me. I don’t know the Northern Lord’s intentions, so I feel a little uncomfortable.”
“I’m using the Princess well enough.”
“Is that so? I don’t remember being taken advantage of.”
"Sometimes, the Princess's actions coincide with what I'm trying to accomplish. If that happens this time, maybe we can work towards the same goal."
Same goal.
She couldn't understand why the mere fact that those words came from Cyrus' mouth was reassuring. One thing she knew: if their goals were aligned, things would be a little easier going forward.
“Tell me what you talked about when the Crown Prince came to visit.”
Cyrus told her what had happened. Ariana listened calmly, lost in thought for a moment, and then spoke.
"If the Crown Prince has decided to have a Crown Princess to protect Miss Chloe, he will likely choose a young lady with a strong background. And with the recommendation of the Northern Lord, it's highly likely that Marquis Matherin's young lady, Prince Yuria, will become the Crown Princess."
“Probably so.”
"Marquis Matherin is a powerful family, close to a Duke in the Empire. He also runs a large merchant company and engages in various businesses, so he has ample financial resources. He will be of great help to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Cyrus nodded slightly.
"The Third Prince has many supporters, but they're nothing compared to Marquis Matherin. The Duke of Robenta won't betray the Emperor's will, either. In that case, the Third Prince will need a family with even greater power."
Ariana met Cyrus's eyes and spoke firmly.
“The Third Prince will soon make contact with the Western Lord.”
Cyrus' eyes narrowed.
“Why do you think it’s the Lord of the West? Don’t we also have the Lord of the East?”
"Just think about which of the four kingdoms is most desperate. Although my father fell out of favor with the Emperor, the East is the most prosperous, thanks to its favorable climate. The North possesses a formidable military, so there's nothing to be desired. The South has maintained a consistently good, but not bad, relationship with the Empire. But what about the West?"
“The Princess’s custody trial is in crisis.”
"The Emperor is disappointed in the Lord of the West, and the Brontes, one of the great pillars of the West, are now infamous and the target of criticism. There's nothing easier than winning over a desperate person to your side. And the Northern Lord."
Ariana tilted her head and asked.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
Comments
Post a Comment