(101) Just looking at it (2)
At Ariana's comment, Cyrus brought his hand to his mouth.
He didn't even know he was laughing.
Ariana was smarter and more useful than Cyrus had expected. But that wasn't why Cyrus laughed.
He loves Ariana's sparkling blue eyes and the way she speaks clearly, and he loves seeing her lips move and the sound that flows out from between them.
'I'm crazy.'
That's why he was laughing like an idiot. He didn't even realize he was laughing.
This was his first time experiencing something like this, so he was embarrassed.
Ariana lowered her eyebrows in confusion, waiting for Cyrus's answer. Even that sight was so adorable that Cyrus smiled again.
'This is driving me crazy.'
Cyrus barely managed to tear his gaze away from her and pretended to look at the painting on the living room wall as he spoke.
“I think the Princess is doing well.”
"Yes?"
"It seems you're doing well in the East. You used to be wary of me, like a cat that's never been touched by humans."
"Ah..."
Cyrus watched in awe as Ariana's pale cheeks flushed with red paint. He didn't waste any time watching her blush.
Cyrus was always pressed for time.
He was always anxious and nervous, thinking that he couldn't rest until he avenged his parents.
He hated it when the conversation went off on a tangent when he was having an important conversation, and he considered sharing updates to be unnecessary.
But that couldn't be done against Ariana.
From the moment he saw the little girl who was allowed only a very small world in that vast and beautiful place at the Duke of Bronte, from the moment he watched her quietly and calmly do what she had to do.
There was no anxiety during his time with Ariana.
It was the same today.
Ariana's unexpected visit left Cyrus with nothing to do today, so he sat in the living room chatting with Ariana like he had nothing better to do.
Even though he spent the whole day with her, it wasn't enough, so he was hoping that tomorrow would be like today.
'What on earth is this woman?'
Cyrus was wondering about Ariana's identity, which made him not like himself, and Ariana said.
"The White family is truly pure and kind people. My father also showers me with so much affection that sometimes I'm at a loss as to how to react."
Ariana's expression seemed calm as she spoke of the White family, and Cyrus felt a sense of relief.
"The Northern Feudal said, 'You have to trust those you trust.' I didn't intend to, but sometimes, it was so warm that it made my heart numb."
“As expected, the Princess has a soft heart.”
“Only to those who would do that.”
“Are you weak to me, too?”
"The Northern Prince has been a great help to me since I was a child. Why wouldn't I be grateful?"
That felt good.
Cyrus smiled faintly, then realized his expression had relaxed and tightened his lips.
“The Princess helped me a lot.”
“Did I do that?”
"You're still helping me like this. To be honest, I never thought the Third Prince would harbor such ambitions."
“Will it be of any help to the Northern Lords to learn of the Third Prince’s ambitions?”
“If he joins hands with the Western Lord, it will be of great help.”
“Is there any way to take advantage of that fact?”
“I’m going to look into it now. Does the Princess have something in mind?”
"I'm going to look into it, too. However, those two won't easily reveal their actions. They'll likely be steadily working behind the scenes to solidify their position."
Cyrus smiled broadly.
“Then I guess I just have to keep interfering with that underground work.”
Ariana laughed, too.
“That’s what I’m trying to do.”
It was very late when Ariana returned to her room. Despite having been on the move nonstop since arriving in the North, she felt completely untired.
Rather, she felt good, and her heart was pounding.
Until now, Ariana had to think and deal with everything on her own. She couldn't easily reveal information, as she couldn't let anyone know she'd returned to the time.
Although the Chase Castle in the East was warm and affectionate, Ariana sometimes felt a deep sense of loneliness there.
But Cyrus.
'Don't ask me anything.'
He doesn't ask how she knew or how she could think that far. He doesn't treat Ariana merely as a little Princess. He treats her as someone with whom he can share opinions and plans.
So Ariana was able to speak her mind without hesitation.
'Is this what it means to have a trustworthy friend?'
She never had close friends. Neither the Brontes nor the Alfreich family, whom she later married, allowed Ariana to make friends.
Victoria and Helena would spread bad rumors about Ariana whenever they went out to social gatherings, so many people would look at Ariana with disapproval whenever she showed up at a party.
The harsh gaze made Ariana feel even more intimidated, and no one wanted to be close to her, who was timid and lacked confidence.
“Princess, your bath is ready. Are you tired?”
At Catherine's voice, Ariana snapped out of her reverie and turned to look at her. Catherine was looking at Ariana with her usual kind eyes.
'Did this woman really sell me to the Duke of Obelius? And if so, how much was she promised?'
Ariana was curious, but she didn't show it. She spoke with her usual elegant smile.
“I was already wanting to soak in warm water, thank you.”
"Still, I'm glad Maho Castle isn't as cold as rumored. When I first arrived, I thought I'd stepped into a steamer."
“That’s right. It seems Duke Hern was very concerned about our visit.”
“I’m relieved that the Princess won’t have to suffer from the cold.”
The bathroom was as large as the room.
The entire room was made of white marble, and the bathtub was trimmed in gold. A tea table and chairs were placed next to the bathtub, which was large enough to accommodate ten people.
The bathtub was filled with cool, fragrant water.
Ariana got into the bathtub and closed her eyes.
She wanted to think about how the Third Prince, the Western Lord, and Victoria would move forward, but she was so tired from the tension that she couldn't think straight.
'Let's rest today.'
There was no need to think alone.
It is unclear what Cyrus's purpose was, but it was clear that he was after the Western Lord.
'That's why he attacked the Western Lord without hesitation during my custody trial.'
Sharing the same target as Cyrus would be a huge boost for Ariana. Ariana's sights extend beyond the Western Lord, targeting Rachel, Helena, and Victoria, but they pose no significant threat.
'The truly difficult ones to deal with are the Third Prince and the Western Lord. If we can keep those two tied down, the rest won't be difficult.'
Ariana knew the personalities of her mother and her two sisters to the point of exhaustion. Ariana's rise to the throne as Princess would change things, but she knew exactly how they would behave.
Ariana recalled one day when she had been summoned to Victoria's room, where she was taking a leisurely bath in the large bathtub.
-“Oh, sis. I’m thirsty. Could you bring me some juice?”
For Ariana, who had to share the bathroom with the employees and couldn't even wash properly, Victoria's private bathroom was a dream come true. Ariana longed to soak in such a large tub and helped Victoria with her bath.
At the time, she didn't even know it was wrong.
-“Sister, when did you shower? You smell a little.”
As the maids were drying Victoria's body with a towel after she got out of the bathtub, Victoria spoke to Ariana with pity.
-“Would you like to wash over there? The water will still be warm.”
Ariana, who had been treated like a stinker by the maids, couldn't say anything and ran out of the bathroom. Victoria's giggles followed Ariana as she left the bathroom.
'That's how it was back then. I couldn't even raise my voice and just ran away.'
Ariana scooped up the clear water with both hands, letting the full volume slip through her fingers.
'Victoria, I want to see how you're doing with my own eyes, but I feel like I know what you're doing even without seeing you.'
Victoria had a strong sense of pride. She didn't show it, but whenever something hurt her pride, she would ruminate over it and plot revenge on the person who had humiliated her.
There were many times when she was embarrassed when she tried to do things Victoria had planned for her.
'With me gone, moving around like a hand, you'll have to do it yourself.'
Because Helena won't move the way Victoria wants.
"Since you've never done it yourself, there will be holes in your actions. Every time that happens, you'll be so angry you can't stand it. Your resentment towards me will only grow."
Ariana wanted Victoria to resent and hate her even more intensely. She wanted her mind to be filled with resentment toward Ariana, preventing her from ever having the chance to grow.
'No matter how smart you try to be, you're still just a 15-year-old who grew up in a Duke's house and was loved.'
She was at an age where she didn't realize that she was missing out on a lot if she just followed her hatred.
'If I were to lose everything and suffer alone like the Northern Lord, I might be able to grow greatly...'
Victoria still had many avenues to lean on: the Western Lord, the Bronte family, and even her status as Princess of a Duke.
'Victoria will rely on the Western Lord.'
The Western Lord would lend Victoria his wisdom. Wisdom not cultivated through her own brain would hinder Victoria's growth and would undoubtedly one day come back to haunt her.
'Besides, the Western Lord wouldn't lend Victoria only good wisdom. He's someone who would exploit even his own blood relatives.'
Ariana washed her face with the water she scooped up, a smile on her lips.
She felt so good today that she thought she could sleep well.
Victoria almost burst into tears.
The Henan region is a desert, so it's extremely hot during the day and extremely cold at night. She knew about deserts, but experiencing them firsthand was something else.
The place where the wise king of Paganus resided was impassable, so a carriage couldn't be used. They had to travel by camel, which was even more inconvenient than a horse. For Victoria, who had never ridden a horse before, the camel proved a torture.
Even though she was wrapped in a long, thin cloth, the sand blown by the wind stung her skin, and the scorching sun felt like it was burning her skin. She was so thirsty, but she couldn't quench her thirst because she had to conserve water.
She thought she could do anything to strangle Ariana, but she already felt like giving up.
'Why do I have to do this?'
It's because of Ariana.
'Why do I have to suffer like this?'
It's because of Ariana.
If it weren't for Ariana, Victoria would still be the beloved princess of the Bronte family, invited to parties big and small and playing the leading role.
The days of wearing elegant dresses, tilting teacups, smiling gracefully, and chatting seemed like a distant dream.
All because of Ariana, that one hateful woman.
At Ariana's comment, Cyrus brought his hand to his mouth.
He didn't even know he was laughing.
Ariana was smarter and more useful than Cyrus had expected. But that wasn't why Cyrus laughed.
He loves Ariana's sparkling blue eyes and the way she speaks clearly, and he loves seeing her lips move and the sound that flows out from between them.
'I'm crazy.'
That's why he was laughing like an idiot. He didn't even realize he was laughing.
This was his first time experiencing something like this, so he was embarrassed.
Ariana lowered her eyebrows in confusion, waiting for Cyrus's answer. Even that sight was so adorable that Cyrus smiled again.
'This is driving me crazy.'
Cyrus barely managed to tear his gaze away from her and pretended to look at the painting on the living room wall as he spoke.
“I think the Princess is doing well.”
"Yes?"
"It seems you're doing well in the East. You used to be wary of me, like a cat that's never been touched by humans."
"Ah..."
Cyrus watched in awe as Ariana's pale cheeks flushed with red paint. He didn't waste any time watching her blush.
Cyrus was always pressed for time.
He was always anxious and nervous, thinking that he couldn't rest until he avenged his parents.
He hated it when the conversation went off on a tangent when he was having an important conversation, and he considered sharing updates to be unnecessary.
But that couldn't be done against Ariana.
From the moment he saw the little girl who was allowed only a very small world in that vast and beautiful place at the Duke of Bronte, from the moment he watched her quietly and calmly do what she had to do.
There was no anxiety during his time with Ariana.
It was the same today.
Ariana's unexpected visit left Cyrus with nothing to do today, so he sat in the living room chatting with Ariana like he had nothing better to do.
Even though he spent the whole day with her, it wasn't enough, so he was hoping that tomorrow would be like today.
'What on earth is this woman?'
Cyrus was wondering about Ariana's identity, which made him not like himself, and Ariana said.
"The White family is truly pure and kind people. My father also showers me with so much affection that sometimes I'm at a loss as to how to react."
Ariana's expression seemed calm as she spoke of the White family, and Cyrus felt a sense of relief.
"The Northern Feudal said, 'You have to trust those you trust.' I didn't intend to, but sometimes, it was so warm that it made my heart numb."
“As expected, the Princess has a soft heart.”
“Only to those who would do that.”
“Are you weak to me, too?”
"The Northern Prince has been a great help to me since I was a child. Why wouldn't I be grateful?"
That felt good.
Cyrus smiled faintly, then realized his expression had relaxed and tightened his lips.
“The Princess helped me a lot.”
“Did I do that?”
"You're still helping me like this. To be honest, I never thought the Third Prince would harbor such ambitions."
“Will it be of any help to the Northern Lords to learn of the Third Prince’s ambitions?”
“If he joins hands with the Western Lord, it will be of great help.”
“Is there any way to take advantage of that fact?”
“I’m going to look into it now. Does the Princess have something in mind?”
"I'm going to look into it, too. However, those two won't easily reveal their actions. They'll likely be steadily working behind the scenes to solidify their position."
Cyrus smiled broadly.
“Then I guess I just have to keep interfering with that underground work.”
Ariana laughed, too.
“That’s what I’m trying to do.”
***
It was very late when Ariana returned to her room. Despite having been on the move nonstop since arriving in the North, she felt completely untired.
Rather, she felt good, and her heart was pounding.
Until now, Ariana had to think and deal with everything on her own. She couldn't easily reveal information, as she couldn't let anyone know she'd returned to the time.
Although the Chase Castle in the East was warm and affectionate, Ariana sometimes felt a deep sense of loneliness there.
But Cyrus.
'Don't ask me anything.'
He doesn't ask how she knew or how she could think that far. He doesn't treat Ariana merely as a little Princess. He treats her as someone with whom he can share opinions and plans.
So Ariana was able to speak her mind without hesitation.
'Is this what it means to have a trustworthy friend?'
She never had close friends. Neither the Brontes nor the Alfreich family, whom she later married, allowed Ariana to make friends.
Victoria and Helena would spread bad rumors about Ariana whenever they went out to social gatherings, so many people would look at Ariana with disapproval whenever she showed up at a party.
The harsh gaze made Ariana feel even more intimidated, and no one wanted to be close to her, who was timid and lacked confidence.
“Princess, your bath is ready. Are you tired?”
At Catherine's voice, Ariana snapped out of her reverie and turned to look at her. Catherine was looking at Ariana with her usual kind eyes.
'Did this woman really sell me to the Duke of Obelius? And if so, how much was she promised?'
Ariana was curious, but she didn't show it. She spoke with her usual elegant smile.
“I was already wanting to soak in warm water, thank you.”
"Still, I'm glad Maho Castle isn't as cold as rumored. When I first arrived, I thought I'd stepped into a steamer."
“That’s right. It seems Duke Hern was very concerned about our visit.”
“I’m relieved that the Princess won’t have to suffer from the cold.”
The bathroom was as large as the room.
The entire room was made of white marble, and the bathtub was trimmed in gold. A tea table and chairs were placed next to the bathtub, which was large enough to accommodate ten people.
The bathtub was filled with cool, fragrant water.
Ariana got into the bathtub and closed her eyes.
She wanted to think about how the Third Prince, the Western Lord, and Victoria would move forward, but she was so tired from the tension that she couldn't think straight.
'Let's rest today.'
There was no need to think alone.
It is unclear what Cyrus's purpose was, but it was clear that he was after the Western Lord.
'That's why he attacked the Western Lord without hesitation during my custody trial.'
Sharing the same target as Cyrus would be a huge boost for Ariana. Ariana's sights extend beyond the Western Lord, targeting Rachel, Helena, and Victoria, but they pose no significant threat.
'The truly difficult ones to deal with are the Third Prince and the Western Lord. If we can keep those two tied down, the rest won't be difficult.'
Ariana knew the personalities of her mother and her two sisters to the point of exhaustion. Ariana's rise to the throne as Princess would change things, but she knew exactly how they would behave.
Ariana recalled one day when she had been summoned to Victoria's room, where she was taking a leisurely bath in the large bathtub.
-“Oh, sis. I’m thirsty. Could you bring me some juice?”
For Ariana, who had to share the bathroom with the employees and couldn't even wash properly, Victoria's private bathroom was a dream come true. Ariana longed to soak in such a large tub and helped Victoria with her bath.
At the time, she didn't even know it was wrong.
-“Sister, when did you shower? You smell a little.”
As the maids were drying Victoria's body with a towel after she got out of the bathtub, Victoria spoke to Ariana with pity.
-“Would you like to wash over there? The water will still be warm.”
Ariana, who had been treated like a stinker by the maids, couldn't say anything and ran out of the bathroom. Victoria's giggles followed Ariana as she left the bathroom.
'That's how it was back then. I couldn't even raise my voice and just ran away.'
Ariana scooped up the clear water with both hands, letting the full volume slip through her fingers.
'Victoria, I want to see how you're doing with my own eyes, but I feel like I know what you're doing even without seeing you.'
Victoria had a strong sense of pride. She didn't show it, but whenever something hurt her pride, she would ruminate over it and plot revenge on the person who had humiliated her.
There were many times when she was embarrassed when she tried to do things Victoria had planned for her.
'With me gone, moving around like a hand, you'll have to do it yourself.'
Because Helena won't move the way Victoria wants.
"Since you've never done it yourself, there will be holes in your actions. Every time that happens, you'll be so angry you can't stand it. Your resentment towards me will only grow."
Ariana wanted Victoria to resent and hate her even more intensely. She wanted her mind to be filled with resentment toward Ariana, preventing her from ever having the chance to grow.
'No matter how smart you try to be, you're still just a 15-year-old who grew up in a Duke's house and was loved.'
She was at an age where she didn't realize that she was missing out on a lot if she just followed her hatred.
'If I were to lose everything and suffer alone like the Northern Lord, I might be able to grow greatly...'
Victoria still had many avenues to lean on: the Western Lord, the Bronte family, and even her status as Princess of a Duke.
'Victoria will rely on the Western Lord.'
The Western Lord would lend Victoria his wisdom. Wisdom not cultivated through her own brain would hinder Victoria's growth and would undoubtedly one day come back to haunt her.
'Besides, the Western Lord wouldn't lend Victoria only good wisdom. He's someone who would exploit even his own blood relatives.'
Ariana washed her face with the water she scooped up, a smile on her lips.
She felt so good today that she thought she could sleep well.
***
Victoria almost burst into tears.
The Henan region is a desert, so it's extremely hot during the day and extremely cold at night. She knew about deserts, but experiencing them firsthand was something else.
The place where the wise king of Paganus resided was impassable, so a carriage couldn't be used. They had to travel by camel, which was even more inconvenient than a horse. For Victoria, who had never ridden a horse before, the camel proved a torture.
Even though she was wrapped in a long, thin cloth, the sand blown by the wind stung her skin, and the scorching sun felt like it was burning her skin. She was so thirsty, but she couldn't quench her thirst because she had to conserve water.
She thought she could do anything to strangle Ariana, but she already felt like giving up.
'Why do I have to do this?'
It's because of Ariana.
'Why do I have to suffer like this?'
It's because of Ariana.
If it weren't for Ariana, Victoria would still be the beloved princess of the Bronte family, invited to parties big and small and playing the leading role.
The days of wearing elegant dresses, tilting teacups, smiling gracefully, and chatting seemed like a distant dream.
All because of Ariana, that one hateful woman.
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