(107) Unexplained feelings (5)
Because he seems like a mischievous person.
Yeah, there's no way she eats with something smeared around her mouth. She worked so hard to maintain her perfect figure.
Ariana glared at Cyrus.
“That may be okay for the Northern Lord, but not for me.”
“Why?”
“Everyone will be glaring at me to find fault with me.”
“I never tried to find fault with the Princess.”
“Well, isn’t it because I’m perfect that you decided to join me?”
Cyrus muttered, "I did that," and then smiled.
“Then let the Princess find fault with me first.”
The next moment, Ariana's lips parted involuntarily at his action. He suddenly dipped his hand in the braised meat sauce and rubbed it on his cheek.
A brown sauce left a long mark on his fair, beautiful cheek. Cyrus spoke to Ariana, who was dumbfounded and speechless.
"How is it?"
How is it?
Ariana looked at Cyrus' face, his cheeks smeared with sauce. Even with the sauce on his cheeks, his face was still perfect.
Beneath his silver hair that sparkled in the light, his small face and the features that filled it, his ruby eyes, his high nose, and his jawline like a blade, were flawless.
“Just because a shadow forms on the moon doesn’t mean its beauty disappears.”
Cyrus's eyes narrowed at Ariana's words. His outstretched hand curled around the tips of her sky-blue hair.
“Just because the sky is covered with clouds doesn’t mean its beauty disappears.”
Her hair should be numb, but she felt his body heat flowing through it. His fingers were only gently grasping the ends, but the back of her neck felt hot.
“If this sauce is not a flaw for me, then the breadcrumbs on the Princess’s lips are not a flaw either.”
“There will be people who will criticize me for not having manners.”
"Then how about this? Even if the Princess were to drink from the bowl of soup, the Eastern Lord wouldn't abandon you. Perhaps even that would be endearing to him."
It meant that no matter what Ariana did or how she was evaluated, she would always be the daughter of the Eastern Lord and the Princess of the East.
“Isn’t it the case that you risked your life to escape the Bronte family so that you can break free from the cage and fly freely?”
“But the hunter is still after my wings.”
“The hunter’s skills are not good, and the Princess’s sky is incredibly high. What are you afraid of that makes you hesitate?”
She felt like she was hit in the back of the head.
Cyrus was staring at Ariana, who had yet to escape the Bronte household.
Ariana was still haunted by nightmares from that day. She feared that showing even the slightest flaw would lead to her abandonment, and that making even the smallest mistake would earn her hatred.
Having resolved never to be loved or love again, never to strive for recognition, yet here she was, yearning for recognition and affection once again.
The excuse that she needed the status of Princess of the East was just an excuse.
In truth, she simply didn't want to see her father's affectionate gaze turn cold towards Ariana. She simply hoped her father, who awkwardly handed her a light green teddy bear, would remain the same.
Cyrus said, letting go of Ariana's hair that he was holding.
"Let's see if many people are working to protect the Princess's sky, or if many hunters are aiming for your wings. That way, you won't tire, and you'll grow a little taller."
After receiving the letter from the North, Duke Obelius thought about it for a week before sending a telegram to Count Gabion of the Empire.
[I want to know about the business. I also want to know about investors.]
The answer came soon.
[I'll send you the business plan. It's difficult to share investor information, as much of it is valuable.]
He sent a telegram again.
[Has there ever been a major transaction in the North?]
[I can't say for sure, but the trade is going in a good direction. There aren't many seats left.]
It was a vague answer, but it was understandable.
When nobles invested their personal funds in businesses, they kept their names a secret. They feared that it would only benefit themselves and incur the resentment of the common people.
Even though everyone knew that the nobles earned incomparably more money than the commoners, it was a different matter to publicly reveal it. It wouldn't do any good to appear obsessed with making money.
'Ariana doesn't know that my person is by her side. So, there's no way the letter is a trap... If the Northern Lord is investing more than half of the national treasury, it must be a fairly trustworthy business.'
Northern Lord Cyrus was a resourceful man who quickly restored the Northern Territory, which had fallen into disarray after the death of his predecessor. Everyone knew, knowingly or unknowingly, that most of the businesses he undertook were successful.
Duke Obelius owned a large estate, and the profits he earned from it were considerable, but hearing about the investment made him greedy.
'If I can earn personal funds without the Eastern Lord knowing, it will be easier to raise my own army.'
A lord needed the King's permission to raise an army. Duke Obelius had only enough troops to defend his territory.
Raising one's own army without the King's knowledge was also the wish of many lords.
Count Gabion claimed there weren't many investor positions left. It was a blatant lie from a businessman, but Duke Obelius, blinded by greed, didn't think much further.
"If the Northern Lords invested more than half of the national treasury, it's understandable that there aren't many positions left. I must secure one before it's too late."
Victoria arrived in Lake City, the capital of the Northern Territory.
The North was colder than expected, and despite wearing several layers of coat, the cold wind still seeped through. Victoria was battered by the cold that struck her immediately after crossing the northern border, having been in the hot desert.
By the time she reached Lake City, she felt like giving up on everything. But her mood changed when she caught sight of Maho Castle in the distance.
Even in Lake City, Maho Castle, perched high above the ground, was as beautiful as its reputation. The snow-white castle, seemingly enshrined in the protection of Mount Graten, boasted its majesty.
The white buildings of Lake City, the castle nestled in the mountains, made her feel like she arrived in a fantasy land.
Her heart was pounding.
Victoria gazed out the window at the street, then pulled out a small box hidden under the carriage seat. Inside, she found the beast hearts she'd been collecting. A few had rotted, but the hearts she'd collected after entering the North were intact, perhaps due to the cold temperatures.
'Should I be a fox or a cat?'
If she returns with good relations with the Northern Lord, the Western Lord will be very pleased and will not spare his support for Victoria.
'Fresh would be better.'
While it's best to eat it immediately after catching it, she found that eating it a few days later still has some effect. Victoria sustained herself throughout her time in the desert by eating the beast's heart.
The heart of the fox the knights had brought to her just before arriving at Lake City was frozen, but fresh.
'A fox's talent would be great when seducing a man.'
Victoria took the little heart out of the box and put it in her mouth.
Eating lizard food in the desert used to make her sick, but now she is used to it. She is also looking forward to seeing what effect it will have.
After a moment of swallowing, Victoria's gaze changed. A seductive aura settled over her, and her childlike body took on a radiant glow.
Victoria stared out the window again, a smile on her face. Maho Castle was approaching.
Andrei stood before the gates of Maho Castle with Cyrus. Unlike when Ariana had visited, it was just the two of them.
Cyrus, as always, watched the carriage approach with a blank expression. It was late the night before yesterday that his old friend, always so inscrutable, finally revealed his true feelings.
.
.
As Andrei was about to go to bed, he heard a low voice in the darkness.
“Are you sleeping?”
“You can tell just by looking at me that I was just about to go to sleep.”
Cyrus, who had been hiding in the shadows, emerged. Andrei climbed down from the bed and approached Cyrus.
“What happened?”
It was not a good thing that Cyrus came to the Duke of Hern's bedroom at this hour.
“Did the Princess Consort get angry and leave?”
“...Why do you think the Princess left in anger?”
“Because you don’t speak nicely.”
“Treat those who deserve to be treated accordingly.”
"That's exactly your problem. Why do you speak so rudely?"
Cyrus frowned as if he couldn't understand what Andrei was saying, then said.
“The Princess you cherish so much has asked me for something.”
"However?"
“The Princess has no doubt that I will do very well.”
“You always do well.”
“It’s a woman’s problem.”
"Ah."
It's a woman's problem.
It was something that could never have come out of Cyrus' mouth. Andrei didn't know how to react.
Why did a girl come into play between Ariana and Cyrus? When did a woman come into their relationship?
There's no way Cyrus would let that woman show up. No, Louis and Noah would be in an uproar before Cyrus even got to them.
Cyrus spoke to Andrei, who was thinking about this and that.
"The youngest Princess of Bronte is scheduled to visit Maho Castle soon. According to the secretaries, she'll arrive in the next day or two."
"The youngest Princess of Bronte? Why is she here? Isn't she one of the women who wronged the Princess Consort?"
“The Princess has a favor to ask regarding that woman.”
"What? Are Princess Consort asking me to kill her? Yeah, if you step forward, it'll cause trouble between our countries... So, should I just kill her?"
Cyrus raised his index finger as if to tell them not to go ahead.
“He told me to do well.”
"What?"
“He told me to treat her so well that she would be so captivated by me that she would have no other thoughts than winning me over.”
Andrei gaped at the unexpected answer.
Cyrus came a little closer and spoke in a low voice about the perfume business, the Western Lord, and the Third Prince.
The more he heard about it, the more it seemed like a scheme that could not possibly come from the head of a 16-year-old girl, leaving Andrei speechless.
“My Princess Consort is really...”
“That’s clever.”
Andrei shook his head.
“Beyond the level of cleverness... I think she can even foresee it?”
Ariana saw through the Third Prince's ambitions and also found out that the Western Lord was sending Victoria to the Third Prince to make her the most noble woman on the continent.
Anyone could have known that much, but things like the perfume business and Victoria's future actions were things that were difficult to know without foresight.
Since Cyrus didn't seem interested in talking about that part any further, Andrei sorted things out.
“In short, the Princess Consort wants you to use your handsomeness against that woman.”
Because he seems like a mischievous person.
Yeah, there's no way she eats with something smeared around her mouth. She worked so hard to maintain her perfect figure.
Ariana glared at Cyrus.
“Just because something got on your face, why are you making such a fuss? It's no big deal. It can happen when you're enjoying your food.”
“Why?”
“Everyone will be glaring at me to find fault with me.”
“I never tried to find fault with the Princess.”
“Well, isn’t it because I’m perfect that you decided to join me?”
Cyrus muttered, "I did that," and then smiled.
“Then let the Princess find fault with me first.”
The next moment, Ariana's lips parted involuntarily at his action. He suddenly dipped his hand in the braised meat sauce and rubbed it on his cheek.
A brown sauce left a long mark on his fair, beautiful cheek. Cyrus spoke to Ariana, who was dumbfounded and speechless.
"How is it?"
How is it?
Ariana looked at Cyrus' face, his cheeks smeared with sauce. Even with the sauce on his cheeks, his face was still perfect.
Beneath his silver hair that sparkled in the light, his small face and the features that filled it, his ruby eyes, his high nose, and his jawline like a blade, were flawless.
“Just because a shadow forms on the moon doesn’t mean its beauty disappears.”
Cyrus's eyes narrowed at Ariana's words. His outstretched hand curled around the tips of her sky-blue hair.
“Just because the sky is covered with clouds doesn’t mean its beauty disappears.”
Her hair should be numb, but she felt his body heat flowing through it. His fingers were only gently grasping the ends, but the back of her neck felt hot.
“If this sauce is not a flaw for me, then the breadcrumbs on the Princess’s lips are not a flaw either.”
“There will be people who will criticize me for not having manners.”
"Then how about this? Even if the Princess were to drink from the bowl of soup, the Eastern Lord wouldn't abandon you. Perhaps even that would be endearing to him."
It meant that no matter what Ariana did or how she was evaluated, she would always be the daughter of the Eastern Lord and the Princess of the East.
“Isn’t it the case that you risked your life to escape the Bronte family so that you can break free from the cage and fly freely?”
“But the hunter is still after my wings.”
“The hunter’s skills are not good, and the Princess’s sky is incredibly high. What are you afraid of that makes you hesitate?”
She felt like she was hit in the back of the head.
Cyrus was staring at Ariana, who had yet to escape the Bronte household.
Ariana was still haunted by nightmares from that day. She feared that showing even the slightest flaw would lead to her abandonment, and that making even the smallest mistake would earn her hatred.
Having resolved never to be loved or love again, never to strive for recognition, yet here she was, yearning for recognition and affection once again.
The excuse that she needed the status of Princess of the East was just an excuse.
In truth, she simply didn't want to see her father's affectionate gaze turn cold towards Ariana. She simply hoped her father, who awkwardly handed her a light green teddy bear, would remain the same.
Cyrus said, letting go of Ariana's hair that he was holding.
"Let's see if many people are working to protect the Princess's sky, or if many hunters are aiming for your wings. That way, you won't tire, and you'll grow a little taller."
***
After receiving the letter from the North, Duke Obelius thought about it for a week before sending a telegram to Count Gabion of the Empire.
[I want to know about the business. I also want to know about investors.]
The answer came soon.
[I'll send you the business plan. It's difficult to share investor information, as much of it is valuable.]
He sent a telegram again.
[Has there ever been a major transaction in the North?]
[I can't say for sure, but the trade is going in a good direction. There aren't many seats left.]
It was a vague answer, but it was understandable.
When nobles invested their personal funds in businesses, they kept their names a secret. They feared that it would only benefit themselves and incur the resentment of the common people.
Even though everyone knew that the nobles earned incomparably more money than the commoners, it was a different matter to publicly reveal it. It wouldn't do any good to appear obsessed with making money.
'Ariana doesn't know that my person is by her side. So, there's no way the letter is a trap... If the Northern Lord is investing more than half of the national treasury, it must be a fairly trustworthy business.'
Northern Lord Cyrus was a resourceful man who quickly restored the Northern Territory, which had fallen into disarray after the death of his predecessor. Everyone knew, knowingly or unknowingly, that most of the businesses he undertook were successful.
Duke Obelius owned a large estate, and the profits he earned from it were considerable, but hearing about the investment made him greedy.
'If I can earn personal funds without the Eastern Lord knowing, it will be easier to raise my own army.'
A lord needed the King's permission to raise an army. Duke Obelius had only enough troops to defend his territory.
Raising one's own army without the King's knowledge was also the wish of many lords.
Count Gabion claimed there weren't many investor positions left. It was a blatant lie from a businessman, but Duke Obelius, blinded by greed, didn't think much further.
"If the Northern Lords invested more than half of the national treasury, it's understandable that there aren't many positions left. I must secure one before it's too late."
***
December 25, 210 years of the Ratan Era.
The North was colder than expected, and despite wearing several layers of coat, the cold wind still seeped through. Victoria was battered by the cold that struck her immediately after crossing the northern border, having been in the hot desert.
By the time she reached Lake City, she felt like giving up on everything. But her mood changed when she caught sight of Maho Castle in the distance.
Even in Lake City, Maho Castle, perched high above the ground, was as beautiful as its reputation. The snow-white castle, seemingly enshrined in the protection of Mount Graten, boasted its majesty.
The white buildings of Lake City, the castle nestled in the mountains, made her feel like she arrived in a fantasy land.
Her heart was pounding.
Victoria gazed out the window at the street, then pulled out a small box hidden under the carriage seat. Inside, she found the beast hearts she'd been collecting. A few had rotted, but the hearts she'd collected after entering the North were intact, perhaps due to the cold temperatures.
'Should I be a fox or a cat?'
If she returns with good relations with the Northern Lord, the Western Lord will be very pleased and will not spare his support for Victoria.
'Fresh would be better.'
While it's best to eat it immediately after catching it, she found that eating it a few days later still has some effect. Victoria sustained herself throughout her time in the desert by eating the beast's heart.
The heart of the fox the knights had brought to her just before arriving at Lake City was frozen, but fresh.
'A fox's talent would be great when seducing a man.'
Victoria took the little heart out of the box and put it in her mouth.
Eating lizard food in the desert used to make her sick, but now she is used to it. She is also looking forward to seeing what effect it will have.
After a moment of swallowing, Victoria's gaze changed. A seductive aura settled over her, and her childlike body took on a radiant glow.
Victoria stared out the window again, a smile on her face. Maho Castle was approaching.
***
Andrei stood before the gates of Maho Castle with Cyrus. Unlike when Ariana had visited, it was just the two of them.
Cyrus, as always, watched the carriage approach with a blank expression. It was late the night before yesterday that his old friend, always so inscrutable, finally revealed his true feelings.
.
.
As Andrei was about to go to bed, he heard a low voice in the darkness.
“Are you sleeping?”
“You can tell just by looking at me that I was just about to go to sleep.”
Cyrus, who had been hiding in the shadows, emerged. Andrei climbed down from the bed and approached Cyrus.
“What happened?”
It was not a good thing that Cyrus came to the Duke of Hern's bedroom at this hour.
“Did the Princess Consort get angry and leave?”
“...Why do you think the Princess left in anger?”
“Because you don’t speak nicely.”
“Treat those who deserve to be treated accordingly.”
"That's exactly your problem. Why do you speak so rudely?"
Cyrus frowned as if he couldn't understand what Andrei was saying, then said.
“The Princess you cherish so much has asked me for something.”
"However?"
“The Princess has no doubt that I will do very well.”
“You always do well.”
“It’s a woman’s problem.”
"Ah."
It's a woman's problem.
It was something that could never have come out of Cyrus' mouth. Andrei didn't know how to react.
Why did a girl come into play between Ariana and Cyrus? When did a woman come into their relationship?
There's no way Cyrus would let that woman show up. No, Louis and Noah would be in an uproar before Cyrus even got to them.
Cyrus spoke to Andrei, who was thinking about this and that.
"The youngest Princess of Bronte is scheduled to visit Maho Castle soon. According to the secretaries, she'll arrive in the next day or two."
"The youngest Princess of Bronte? Why is she here? Isn't she one of the women who wronged the Princess Consort?"
“The Princess has a favor to ask regarding that woman.”
"What? Are Princess Consort asking me to kill her? Yeah, if you step forward, it'll cause trouble between our countries... So, should I just kill her?"
Cyrus raised his index finger as if to tell them not to go ahead.
“He told me to do well.”
"What?"
“He told me to treat her so well that she would be so captivated by me that she would have no other thoughts than winning me over.”
Andrei gaped at the unexpected answer.
Cyrus came a little closer and spoke in a low voice about the perfume business, the Western Lord, and the Third Prince.
The more he heard about it, the more it seemed like a scheme that could not possibly come from the head of a 16-year-old girl, leaving Andrei speechless.
“My Princess Consort is really...”
“That’s clever.”
Andrei shook his head.
“Beyond the level of cleverness... I think she can even foresee it?”
Ariana saw through the Third Prince's ambitions and also found out that the Western Lord was sending Victoria to the Third Prince to make her the most noble woman on the continent.
Anyone could have known that much, but things like the perfume business and Victoria's future actions were things that were difficult to know without foresight.
Since Cyrus didn't seem interested in talking about that part any further, Andrei sorted things out.
“In short, the Princess Consort wants you to use your handsomeness against that woman.”
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