(104) Unexplained feelings (2)
Cyrus swallowed back a laugh and stared at Ariana. Ariana's scheme had outsmarted Cyrus.
I thought they were just trying to hurt investors enough to make them lose their money.
"Not only will investors not be able to recover their investments, but they'll also be forced to compensate the victims. If they pretend not to know, their reputation will be tarnished."
“I see.”
"Count Gabion has already incurred debt for the construction of the factory, so he'll have no money left. Therefore, the victims' rescue will fall solely on the investors. I'll send a letter to my father informing him that the Northern Lord is very interested in Count Gabion's business and wants to invest, so he should do the same."
If it were a business that the wary Northern lords were interested in, many investors would flock to it.
"If Catherine relays this information to Duke Obelius, he'll invest in Count Gabion. It's a business in which none other than the Northern Lord is investing a huge amount of money. But rumors of the Northern Lord's investment won't spread. No one would want to share a chance to make a fortune."
“The Princess is much smarter than I thought.”
"You're flattering me, Northern Lord. I can't even begin to match the wisdom of the Northern Lord."
“You also know how to pretend to be humble.”
The two made eye contact and smiled slightly.
Cyrus said.
“Since the Princess has told me this much, I should also give you some information.”
“Come to think of it, the Northern Lord also said you had something to say. What was it?”
“The Western Lord sent me a letter. He said that Princess Victoria Bronte would be visiting the North soon.”
Ariana's heart sank when she heard Victoria's name.
Victoria's visit to the North at this time was unplanned. As far as Ariana knew, Victoria had never visited the North.
'The future has changed, after all.'
She had expected that the future would change, but she was a little taken aback when she faced that situation.
“Why does Victoria visit the North?”
“Well, perhaps the Western Lord also reads the situation and seeks to establish peace with me before committing any crime?”
"Hmm..."
Ariana lowered her head and thought for a moment.
'Victoria... you're moving quickly too. Yeah, I knew it. You're an impatient person.'
There was no way the Lord of the West would have considered tying Victoria to the Northern Lord. What the Lord of the West was after was the empire. He likely harbored a desire to make one of his own bloodlines Empress and then wield power behind her back.
The Western Lord and the Brontes must have had to pay a considerable amount in fines and bail during her custody trial. But that wouldn't have swayed the Western Lord. If they were shaken again before time passed, even the Western Lord would falter.
Ariana made her decision and looked at Cyrus. Cyrus said.
“If the Princess wishes, I can make it so that Princess Bronte can return without setting foot on the North Ridge.”
“No, Your Excellency. I have a favor to ask.”
"What?"
“If we do it right, we might be able to injure three beasts with just one prey.”
Ariana leaned forward. Cyrus followed suit, bending forward as well, bringing their faces closer together.
Ariana tensed slightly as his breath touched the tip of her nose. She swallowed her words and held her breath.
For some reason, she felt a dizzying sensation running down her spine. A strange, tickling sensation where her hips and waist meet.
She never felt it before, so she didn't know how to handle it. She wanted to close her eyes tightly, but she worried Cyrus would think it was strange, so she strained her eyes instead.
Cyrus's brow furrowed slightly, causing his eyes to narrow. Ariana thought the ruby-like eyes, trapped within crescent-shaped rims, were quite a sight.
“Are you cold?”
Cyrus's question was met with a cool breath on Ariana's lips. Without realizing it, Ariana straightened her back and moved away from him.
“Ariana?”
Cyrus reached out, seemingly taken aback by Ariana's actions. He felt he shouldn't touch her hand. The moment he did, the inexplicable sensation intensified, threatening to engulf Ariana.
Ariana tried to slap Cyrus' hand away, but he was faster. He reflexively dodged her hand and grabbed her wrist.
Her hands were as cold as the wind outside, but for some reason, the part he was holding felt incredibly hot.
“What’s the problem?”
Cyrus asked worriedly.
Ariana was worried about her own condition.
Why am I doing this? I've never felt this way, not even during my first night with Viscount Ingo Alfreich, nor even when I heard the sweet whispers of Third Prince Harold. Why does even the slightest touch of the Northern Lord's breath fill me with such a strange, inexplicable feeling?
It was as confusing as realizing that emotions she had never experienced before, past or present, had been revived.
Ariana swallowed hard and tried to say something, but her mouth was so dry that she couldn't make a sound.
“I guess it was just too cold.”
Cyrus let go of Ariana's hand, worried that his body heat would make her even colder. She wanted to shake his hand off, but when it did, she felt a pang of regret.
Ariana couldn't quite keep up with her emotions.
It felt like a tangled mess of threads was filling her head.
Cyrus took off his coat and draped it over Ariana's thighs. Ariana stared blankly down at the coat, barely regaining her composure.
"I am..."
"It's okay, Princess. It's not embarrassing to be unable to withstand the cold of the North. Besides, you're already weak."
“No, I...”
"Shhh."
Cyrus lightly placed his index finger on Ariana's lips, then removed it. The touch was also hot.
Ariana, who had been blinking, lowered her eyes and, for some reason, felt like crying, so she clenched her hands under her coat.
“There are still a few more days until the Princess of Bronte arrives, so rest for now.”
She wanted to escape from the unknown emotions, from Cyrus, who was causing them. But she didn't want to do that.
She felt a contradictory desire to completely embrace his voice and his gaze, which had become much more affectionate than before, his body temperature that was cold yet hot, and his scent that was cool yet refreshing like the northern wind.
Ariana felt like she knew the name of that feeling, but she didn't want to know.
She resolved never to be loved again, never to love again. She didn't want to live a life of longing for affection, constantly on the lookout for it, and fearing losing it.
She wanted to live the life she wanted, the way she wanted to live. She wanted to live the life she couldn't live back then.
So Ariana decided not to name her feelings. She decided to ignore the names that came to mind and crush them.
Because this man.
'Because you only intend to use me. If I'm not useful, you'll turn cold like Mount Graten. You've told me that over and over again.'
Even this affection he shows must be a consideration for someone worth using. It must be courtesy toward someone who has decided to share his goals.
So Ariana must act accordingly. There can be no greater loss than losing someone who understands her so well.
The tangled threads unraveled, and the feeling of bewilderment vanished. Ariana took a deep breath, perfectly sifting through her emotions, and spoke.
“I think I was in shock for a moment, remembering my life at the Brontes. I’m okay now.”
“I didn’t know that the Princess had a personality that could cause confusion due to past memories.”
“I have a heart as soft as pudding.”
“Oh, I have to be careful not to crush it.”
"Please."
Ariana smiled brightly and resumed the conversation she'd been holding back on earlier. Cyrus, who had been listening to Ariana's story silently, smiled.
“The Princess is trying to use me to the bone.”
“But wouldn’t it also be helpful to the Northern Lord?”
"Very well. Now that someone has finally shown up who's willing to take advantage of me, I have to make sure I don't disappoint them."
"Please take good care of me, Northern Lord. I'm glad I don't have to worry if I leave it to you."
“That’s the best compliment.”
Cyrus returned to Maho Castle and, after confirming Ariana's presence in her room, went to find Isaac. Isaac was staying in Gallian Tower, one of Maho Castle's many buildings.
"I heard you went out on a date with Princess Consort today? How was she? It must have been incredibly cold."
Isaac's cheerful question brought Cyrus back to what had happened in the carriage. Ariana, who had always been so cheerful, had suddenly taken on a strange demeanor.
Ariana suddenly stopped talking and showed a look he had never seen before.
Her moist eyes shook incessantly, revealing deep embarrassment and a look of confusion that was inexplicable.
“It seems the Princess hasn’t completely left the Bronte family yet.”
"Of course. She's lived in pain for over a dozen years since birth. How could those wounds easily heal? Seeing her act so bravely, I thought, 'She's grown up so well,' but then my heart ached."
Did you feel that way?
When Ariana acted out of character, a strange impulse came over Cyrus.
He wanted to hug her. Je felt like if he didn't do it right away, she would fall apart.
It was a strange and stupid idea.
It's not like this is an ancient magical age, so people wouldn't scatter, and hugging them wouldn't stop them from scattering.
But that moment of impulse was fleeting. Ariana, who had been wearing a weary expression, soon came to her senses, and Cyrus, too, was freed from the unfamiliar feeling.
“But what’s going on? People don’t come here often because it smells.”
Isaac's words brought Cyrus out of his thoughts.
The Gallian Tower, Isaac's laboratory, was filled with the stench of various chemicals and herbs, making it difficult to breathe. He always wondered how Isaac could eat and sleep in such a place.
“What if we made perfume from hellon flowers?”
Despite Cyrus's sudden question, Isaac remained engrossed in thought. He rubbed his thumb along his fine jawline and muttered.
“Perfume made from hellon flowers... Hmm. It would smell good. Maybe boil it and distill it? That won’t eliminate the toxicity... Just wait and see.”
Isaac disappeared into the warehouse and returned with several dried brown plants.
“These are dried helon flowers that have been around for several years. I dried a bunch of them just in case.”
Isaac manipulated the instruments lining the lab. He boiled one helon flower, crushed another, and burned another. Cyrus stood behind him, watching the process.
Acrid smoke filled the laboratory.
"You and I are both strong against poison, so it won't show, but this smoke right now isn't good. If a normal person were to smell it, they'd cough violently and even vomit blood."
“I see.”
“Perfume is made by steam distillation, so it seems like a lot of the toxicity might be lost..."
Cyrus swallowed back a laugh and stared at Ariana. Ariana's scheme had outsmarted Cyrus.
I thought they were just trying to hurt investors enough to make them lose their money.
"Not only will investors not be able to recover their investments, but they'll also be forced to compensate the victims. If they pretend not to know, their reputation will be tarnished."
“I see.”
"Count Gabion has already incurred debt for the construction of the factory, so he'll have no money left. Therefore, the victims' rescue will fall solely on the investors. I'll send a letter to my father informing him that the Northern Lord is very interested in Count Gabion's business and wants to invest, so he should do the same."
If it were a business that the wary Northern lords were interested in, many investors would flock to it.
"If Catherine relays this information to Duke Obelius, he'll invest in Count Gabion. It's a business in which none other than the Northern Lord is investing a huge amount of money. But rumors of the Northern Lord's investment won't spread. No one would want to share a chance to make a fortune."
“The Princess is much smarter than I thought.”
"You're flattering me, Northern Lord. I can't even begin to match the wisdom of the Northern Lord."
“You also know how to pretend to be humble.”
The two made eye contact and smiled slightly.
Cyrus said.
“Since the Princess has told me this much, I should also give you some information.”
“Come to think of it, the Northern Lord also said you had something to say. What was it?”
“The Western Lord sent me a letter. He said that Princess Victoria Bronte would be visiting the North soon.”
Ariana's heart sank when she heard Victoria's name.
Victoria's visit to the North at this time was unplanned. As far as Ariana knew, Victoria had never visited the North.
'The future has changed, after all.'
She had expected that the future would change, but she was a little taken aback when she faced that situation.
“Why does Victoria visit the North?”
“Well, perhaps the Western Lord also reads the situation and seeks to establish peace with me before committing any crime?”
"Hmm..."
Ariana lowered her head and thought for a moment.
'Victoria... you're moving quickly too. Yeah, I knew it. You're an impatient person.'
There was no way the Lord of the West would have considered tying Victoria to the Northern Lord. What the Lord of the West was after was the empire. He likely harbored a desire to make one of his own bloodlines Empress and then wield power behind her back.
The Western Lord and the Brontes must have had to pay a considerable amount in fines and bail during her custody trial. But that wouldn't have swayed the Western Lord. If they were shaken again before time passed, even the Western Lord would falter.
Ariana made her decision and looked at Cyrus. Cyrus said.
“If the Princess wishes, I can make it so that Princess Bronte can return without setting foot on the North Ridge.”
“No, Your Excellency. I have a favor to ask.”
"What?"
“If we do it right, we might be able to injure three beasts with just one prey.”
Ariana leaned forward. Cyrus followed suit, bending forward as well, bringing their faces closer together.
Ariana tensed slightly as his breath touched the tip of her nose. She swallowed her words and held her breath.
For some reason, she felt a dizzying sensation running down her spine. A strange, tickling sensation where her hips and waist meet.
She never felt it before, so she didn't know how to handle it. She wanted to close her eyes tightly, but she worried Cyrus would think it was strange, so she strained her eyes instead.
Cyrus's brow furrowed slightly, causing his eyes to narrow. Ariana thought the ruby-like eyes, trapped within crescent-shaped rims, were quite a sight.
“Are you cold?”
Cyrus's question was met with a cool breath on Ariana's lips. Without realizing it, Ariana straightened her back and moved away from him.
“Ariana?”
Cyrus reached out, seemingly taken aback by Ariana's actions. He felt he shouldn't touch her hand. The moment he did, the inexplicable sensation intensified, threatening to engulf Ariana.
Ariana tried to slap Cyrus' hand away, but he was faster. He reflexively dodged her hand and grabbed her wrist.
Her hands were as cold as the wind outside, but for some reason, the part he was holding felt incredibly hot.
“What’s the problem?”
Cyrus asked worriedly.
Ariana was worried about her own condition.
Why am I doing this? I've never felt this way, not even during my first night with Viscount Ingo Alfreich, nor even when I heard the sweet whispers of Third Prince Harold. Why does even the slightest touch of the Northern Lord's breath fill me with such a strange, inexplicable feeling?
It was as confusing as realizing that emotions she had never experienced before, past or present, had been revived.
Ariana swallowed hard and tried to say something, but her mouth was so dry that she couldn't make a sound.
“I guess it was just too cold.”
Cyrus let go of Ariana's hand, worried that his body heat would make her even colder. She wanted to shake his hand off, but when it did, she felt a pang of regret.
Ariana couldn't quite keep up with her emotions.
It felt like a tangled mess of threads was filling her head.
Cyrus took off his coat and draped it over Ariana's thighs. Ariana stared blankly down at the coat, barely regaining her composure.
"I am..."
"It's okay, Princess. It's not embarrassing to be unable to withstand the cold of the North. Besides, you're already weak."
“No, I...”
"Shhh."
Cyrus lightly placed his index finger on Ariana's lips, then removed it. The touch was also hot.
Ariana, who had been blinking, lowered her eyes and, for some reason, felt like crying, so she clenched her hands under her coat.
“There are still a few more days until the Princess of Bronte arrives, so rest for now.”
She wanted to escape from the unknown emotions, from Cyrus, who was causing them. But she didn't want to do that.
She felt a contradictory desire to completely embrace his voice and his gaze, which had become much more affectionate than before, his body temperature that was cold yet hot, and his scent that was cool yet refreshing like the northern wind.
Ariana felt like she knew the name of that feeling, but she didn't want to know.
She resolved never to be loved again, never to love again. She didn't want to live a life of longing for affection, constantly on the lookout for it, and fearing losing it.
She wanted to live the life she wanted, the way she wanted to live. She wanted to live the life she couldn't live back then.
So Ariana decided not to name her feelings. She decided to ignore the names that came to mind and crush them.
Because this man.
'Because you only intend to use me. If I'm not useful, you'll turn cold like Mount Graten. You've told me that over and over again.'
Even this affection he shows must be a consideration for someone worth using. It must be courtesy toward someone who has decided to share his goals.
So Ariana must act accordingly. There can be no greater loss than losing someone who understands her so well.
The tangled threads unraveled, and the feeling of bewilderment vanished. Ariana took a deep breath, perfectly sifting through her emotions, and spoke.
“I think I was in shock for a moment, remembering my life at the Brontes. I’m okay now.”
“I didn’t know that the Princess had a personality that could cause confusion due to past memories.”
“I have a heart as soft as pudding.”
“Oh, I have to be careful not to crush it.”
"Please."
Ariana smiled brightly and resumed the conversation she'd been holding back on earlier. Cyrus, who had been listening to Ariana's story silently, smiled.
“The Princess is trying to use me to the bone.”
“But wouldn’t it also be helpful to the Northern Lord?”
"Very well. Now that someone has finally shown up who's willing to take advantage of me, I have to make sure I don't disappoint them."
"Please take good care of me, Northern Lord. I'm glad I don't have to worry if I leave it to you."
“That’s the best compliment.”
***
Cyrus returned to Maho Castle and, after confirming Ariana's presence in her room, went to find Isaac. Isaac was staying in Gallian Tower, one of Maho Castle's many buildings.
"I heard you went out on a date with Princess Consort today? How was she? It must have been incredibly cold."
Isaac's cheerful question brought Cyrus back to what had happened in the carriage. Ariana, who had always been so cheerful, had suddenly taken on a strange demeanor.
Ariana suddenly stopped talking and showed a look he had never seen before.
Her moist eyes shook incessantly, revealing deep embarrassment and a look of confusion that was inexplicable.
“It seems the Princess hasn’t completely left the Bronte family yet.”
"Of course. She's lived in pain for over a dozen years since birth. How could those wounds easily heal? Seeing her act so bravely, I thought, 'She's grown up so well,' but then my heart ached."
Did you feel that way?
When Ariana acted out of character, a strange impulse came over Cyrus.
He wanted to hug her. Je felt like if he didn't do it right away, she would fall apart.
It was a strange and stupid idea.
It's not like this is an ancient magical age, so people wouldn't scatter, and hugging them wouldn't stop them from scattering.
But that moment of impulse was fleeting. Ariana, who had been wearing a weary expression, soon came to her senses, and Cyrus, too, was freed from the unfamiliar feeling.
“But what’s going on? People don’t come here often because it smells.”
Isaac's words brought Cyrus out of his thoughts.
The Gallian Tower, Isaac's laboratory, was filled with the stench of various chemicals and herbs, making it difficult to breathe. He always wondered how Isaac could eat and sleep in such a place.
“What if we made perfume from hellon flowers?”
Despite Cyrus's sudden question, Isaac remained engrossed in thought. He rubbed his thumb along his fine jawline and muttered.
“Perfume made from hellon flowers... Hmm. It would smell good. Maybe boil it and distill it? That won’t eliminate the toxicity... Just wait and see.”
Isaac disappeared into the warehouse and returned with several dried brown plants.
“These are dried helon flowers that have been around for several years. I dried a bunch of them just in case.”
Isaac manipulated the instruments lining the lab. He boiled one helon flower, crushed another, and burned another. Cyrus stood behind him, watching the process.
Acrid smoke filled the laboratory.
"You and I are both strong against poison, so it won't show, but this smoke right now isn't good. If a normal person were to smell it, they'd cough violently and even vomit blood."
“I see.”
“Perfume is made by steam distillation, so it seems like a lot of the toxicity might be lost..."
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