(95) Reunion
The short summer in the north was ending, and the weather was getting colder.
In late October, Cyrus worked all night and didn't emerge from his office until well after daybreak.
Cyrus, taking in the sights in the hallway, thought he was dreaming.
The luxurious flowers that decorated the entire hallway, the white carpets on the floor, and the air that was so warm that it made you sweat.
Because the climate in the northern part of the country is relatively cold, flowers are rare. Especially during this period, when winter begins, most flowers are grown in greenhouses, making them extremely expensive.
When the nobles of the Northern Territory held a party and decorated their mansions with flowers, it was considered a very extravagant party.
And it's a white carpet.
Most of the buildings in the North are white, and Maho Castle itself is as white as snow. However, its interior is decorated in the black and red colors that are symbolic of the North. The carpets on the floor were also a deep red, creating a sense of solemnity.
But now Maho Castle is like.
'It looks like a wedding hall.'
Cyrus walked down the hallway on the white carpet, frowning.
Be left Duke Hern alone, worried that he might be feeling lonely after losing his longtime friend, but he's now ready to completely tear down Maho Castle. It's time to stop him.
Cyrus, who was walking briskly to find Duke Hern, ran into Andrei, who was walking from the opposite direction.
“Ugh...”
“Oh, Cyrus. It’s nice meeting you.”
Cyrus watched with a suspicious air as Andrei ran toward him with an excited expression. Andrei stopped in front of Cyrus and spoke.
“Oh, my. You must have stayed up all night. You look haggard.”
“Andrei. It seems your father is planning to squander the entire national treasury...”
"Oh, this is it? That's wonderful. Even though my father is old, doesn't he have a certain sense of humor?"
Andrei was smiling even before the sight of Duke Hern's atrocities.
As expected, something is strange. Something is happening in this Maho Castle that he doesn't know about.
"Andrei. Up until now, I've been keeping an eye on Duke Hern's feelings, but I can't do it anymore."
"Yeah, yeah. No more. Yes, come here for now. Everyone's waiting."
“What are you waiting for?”
“The Return of Isaac.”
Cyrus' handsome face suddenly contorted.
“The Return of Isaac...”
“He sent a letter by Ten yesterday. It should arrive soon.”
Cyrus was so stunned that he couldn't think of anything to say in response.
Although Isaac had been away from the North for longer than usual, his return wasn't something to be excited about. Even when Cyrus returned, Maho Castle wasn't completely gutted and renovated.
Cyrus, led out by Andrei and arriving at the gate, was even more speechless.
Something absolutely incomprehensible was happening.
Knights and retainers stood before the castle gate. They stood watching outside the gate with determined expressions, as if awaiting the King's return.
“What the heck is this...”
As Cyrus licked his lips in bewilderment, someone shouted.
“Here he comes!”
"Come? Who? Isaac? Did he ascend to the throne without my knowledge? Why is everyone so eagerly waiting for Isaac when I, the Northern Lord, am here? They don't even acknowledge me."
While Cyrus was in disarray, Isaac rode into the gates. He looked around at the people waiting for him and elegantly raised a hand.
"Oh, oh, oh. I didn't know everyone would come out and welcome me like this."
He guesses so. He didn't know either.
While Cyrus was locked in his office, he wondered if the world had turned upside down.
Strangely, however, no one responded to Isaac's words. Those who had come out to the gate were staring at Isaac's back.
Just then, a carriage slowly entered the gates. It was an ordinary carriage, without any emblem.
No one spoke until the carriage stopped and the escort knights opened the doors. In the silence, unfamiliar with the crowd, the door opened, and a woman stepped out.
With her tan skin and bright red hair, she had a face Cyrus had never seen before.
As she politely reached out towards the inside of the carriage, a small, white hand took hers.
The moment he saw that hand, Cyrus' world became quiet.
'No way...'
He watched the person getting out of the carriage with his eyes wide open, not realizing that his heart was pounding and vibrating slightly.
Small feet, a lavender skirt fluttering lightly in the wind, and then hair resembling the clear sky appeared.
When Ariana finally came out of the carriage and smiled at the people who came out to greet her, the people cheered.
“Welcome, Princess Consort!”
“Welcome to the North!”
Cyrus held his breath.
'I must be dreaming.'
Otherwise, Ariana wouldn't have come to the North at a time like this. Ariana's appearance wouldn't have made time seem to stop, nor would it have caused his heart to pound.
There was no reason for the air that had been darkened by the Marquis of Brown's betrayal to clear up, for the unpleasant emotions to suddenly change as if they had never existed, and for the heavy breathing to become lighter.
The reason why he feels refreshed, as if all his problems have disappeared just because a woman named Ariana appears in front of him, is that this is all a dream.
Cyrus watched, dumbfounded, as Ariana slowly made her way through the crowd. She walked with her usual upright, graceful demeanor and stopped in front of Cyrus.
Those who had been cheering held their breath and watched her and Cyrus.
Ariana looked up at Cyrus and held out her hand. Cyrus absentmindedly took the small hand.
A small hand poured over his cold palm, sending a surge of warmth. Only after feeling that warmth did Cyrus realize it was real.
Ariana came to the North.
Ariana is in front of me.
Why is this happy?
Despite his puzzlement, Cyrus gently kissed the back of her hand, perfectly poised. He stopped, bending down to kiss her hand, then raised his eyes to gaze at her. Ariana's blue eyes were also fixed on Cyrus.
In those eyes as clear as a lake, only Cyrus existed.
For some reason, Cyrus felt like he owned the world.
Those who came out to welcome the 'Northern Lady' were actually half in doubt.
Our Excellency has a crush on a woman? That His Excellency is completely infatuated with her? That's impossible.
But the moment they saw Cyrus kissing the back of Ariana's hand, the moment they witnessed their gazes lock, the moment they saw their lord's expression soften.
They were sure.
'The Northern grandson will be born soon!'
Ariana, who had no idea that the people of the North were expecting Cyrus and Ariana's child, entered Maho Castle with Cyrus.
It was cold outside, but it was warm inside Maho Castle.
Ariana admired the white and red flowers that filled the lobby.
“That’s cool.”
A pleased smile appeared on Duke Hern's face as he followed behind. Cyrus realized that Duke Hern had been so busy just for that one word.
Even though he thought it was absurd, he didn't feel bad.
'Duke Hern worked hard for the Princess.'
Ariana looked back at Duke Hern and bent her knees slightly.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, even though it was a sudden visit. I had no idea Maho Castle was such a wonderful place."
"Princess Consort, you've come a long way, and this is nothing. I feel heavy-hearted because I feel inadequate and inadequately prepared."
"That's impossible. You wouldn't find a castle as splendidly decorated in any country. And, Duke, I'm not a concubine, I'm a Princess of the East."
“Yes, Princess Consort.”
Ariana clicked her tongue inwardly as she watched Duke Hern answer politely.
Even if young people like Isaac, Noah, Louis, and Andrei could call each other by their nicknames as a joke, it was embarrassing to see even Duke Hern, who was in charge of such a high position, come out like that, and Cyrus felt ashamed.
He was already embarrassed because the people who came out to greet her were welcoming the Princess.
'Still...'
Ariana stole a glance at Cyrus walking beside her.
He still had the chiseled features she seen him with the first time: a sharp nose that fell from a straight forehead, a chiseled jawline, and red eyes beneath long eyelashes.
At first, she was daunted and scared, not knowing what Cyrus was thinking, but now she wasn't as scared as she once was. On the contrary, from the moment she arrived at Maho Castle and saw his face, a weight on her chest lifted, as if a boulder had been weighing on her.
Although it was her first time at the Maho Castle in the North Realm, both in her past and present life, and Ariana's home was the Chase Castle in the East Realm, she felt at ease, as if she had returned to her own home.
It was unclear whether it was because she had met Cyrus, with whom she had been in a relationship since returning, or because the people of the North cheered her on more enthusiastically than she had expected.
The two headed to the reception room.
There was a piano on one side of the spacious living room, and a violin hung on the wall next to the piano.
Ariana wondered if Cyrus could play an instrument.
“It’s cold, so I’ll bring you some warm tea, Princess.”
Ariana smiled faintly at Duke Hern's words.
“It’s cold outside, but it’s a little warm here.”
Isaac had repeatedly warned Maho Castle that it was a cold place.
-"The people of the North don't feel the cold. The chill emanates from your body. Even inside Maho Castle, it'll be chilly, so you should dress warmly."
Contrary to his words, the inside of Maho Castle was as hot as early summer in the East, and sweat beaded on her forehead as she walked to the reception room.
“Oh, my. Should I light the fire a little more?”
Cyrus answered Duke Hern's words on his behalf.
"I'm not beating around the bush, Duke. Turn down the heat and bring me a cold drink."
The drink that Duke Hern had his servant bring was a red juice with ice floating on it, and it was sweet and sour and delicious.
“What kind of fruit is this made from?”
"The mountain you see over there is called Mount Graten. Deep within that mountain lies a lake, and there's a tree that grows only by the lake. The fruit from that tree is famous for its health benefits."
Ariana's eyes widened.
“Could it be the Lorea fruit?”
The Lorea fruit is one of the special products of the northern region. It is good for the body and tastes good, but it is difficult to obtain, so it is a precious fruit that costs more than 1 silver coin each.
Ariana had only heard about it, but had never tried it.
“Yeah. You know a lot.”
“Because it is a famous specialty of the North.”
Cyrus, who had been watching Ariana curiously peer into the glass, turned his gaze to the red-haired woman standing behind her. Blood-red hair, golden eyes, light brown skin, and a blank expression on her face.
When Cyrus's sharp gaze met hers, she flinched and lowered her head. Cyrus, who had been observing her quietly, spoke.
“She’s Paganus.”
The short summer in the north was ending, and the weather was getting colder.
In late October, Cyrus worked all night and didn't emerge from his office until well after daybreak.
Cyrus, taking in the sights in the hallway, thought he was dreaming.
The luxurious flowers that decorated the entire hallway, the white carpets on the floor, and the air that was so warm that it made you sweat.
Because the climate in the northern part of the country is relatively cold, flowers are rare. Especially during this period, when winter begins, most flowers are grown in greenhouses, making them extremely expensive.
When the nobles of the Northern Territory held a party and decorated their mansions with flowers, it was considered a very extravagant party.
And it's a white carpet.
Most of the buildings in the North are white, and Maho Castle itself is as white as snow. However, its interior is decorated in the black and red colors that are symbolic of the North. The carpets on the floor were also a deep red, creating a sense of solemnity.
But now Maho Castle is like.
'It looks like a wedding hall.'
Cyrus walked down the hallway on the white carpet, frowning.
Be left Duke Hern alone, worried that he might be feeling lonely after losing his longtime friend, but he's now ready to completely tear down Maho Castle. It's time to stop him.
Cyrus, who was walking briskly to find Duke Hern, ran into Andrei, who was walking from the opposite direction.
“Ugh...”
“Oh, Cyrus. It’s nice meeting you.”
Cyrus watched with a suspicious air as Andrei ran toward him with an excited expression. Andrei stopped in front of Cyrus and spoke.
“Oh, my. You must have stayed up all night. You look haggard.”
“Andrei. It seems your father is planning to squander the entire national treasury...”
"Oh, this is it? That's wonderful. Even though my father is old, doesn't he have a certain sense of humor?"
Andrei was smiling even before the sight of Duke Hern's atrocities.
As expected, something is strange. Something is happening in this Maho Castle that he doesn't know about.
"Andrei. Up until now, I've been keeping an eye on Duke Hern's feelings, but I can't do it anymore."
"Yeah, yeah. No more. Yes, come here for now. Everyone's waiting."
“What are you waiting for?”
“The Return of Isaac.”
Cyrus' handsome face suddenly contorted.
“The Return of Isaac...”
“He sent a letter by Ten yesterday. It should arrive soon.”
Cyrus was so stunned that he couldn't think of anything to say in response.
Although Isaac had been away from the North for longer than usual, his return wasn't something to be excited about. Even when Cyrus returned, Maho Castle wasn't completely gutted and renovated.
Cyrus, led out by Andrei and arriving at the gate, was even more speechless.
Something absolutely incomprehensible was happening.
Knights and retainers stood before the castle gate. They stood watching outside the gate with determined expressions, as if awaiting the King's return.
“What the heck is this...”
As Cyrus licked his lips in bewilderment, someone shouted.
“Here he comes!”
"Come? Who? Isaac? Did he ascend to the throne without my knowledge? Why is everyone so eagerly waiting for Isaac when I, the Northern Lord, am here? They don't even acknowledge me."
While Cyrus was in disarray, Isaac rode into the gates. He looked around at the people waiting for him and elegantly raised a hand.
"Oh, oh, oh. I didn't know everyone would come out and welcome me like this."
He guesses so. He didn't know either.
While Cyrus was locked in his office, he wondered if the world had turned upside down.
Strangely, however, no one responded to Isaac's words. Those who had come out to the gate were staring at Isaac's back.
Just then, a carriage slowly entered the gates. It was an ordinary carriage, without any emblem.
No one spoke until the carriage stopped and the escort knights opened the doors. In the silence, unfamiliar with the crowd, the door opened, and a woman stepped out.
With her tan skin and bright red hair, she had a face Cyrus had never seen before.
As she politely reached out towards the inside of the carriage, a small, white hand took hers.
The moment he saw that hand, Cyrus' world became quiet.
'No way...'
He watched the person getting out of the carriage with his eyes wide open, not realizing that his heart was pounding and vibrating slightly.
Small feet, a lavender skirt fluttering lightly in the wind, and then hair resembling the clear sky appeared.
When Ariana finally came out of the carriage and smiled at the people who came out to greet her, the people cheered.
“Welcome, Princess Consort!”
“Welcome to the North!”
Cyrus held his breath.
'I must be dreaming.'
Otherwise, Ariana wouldn't have come to the North at a time like this. Ariana's appearance wouldn't have made time seem to stop, nor would it have caused his heart to pound.
There was no reason for the air that had been darkened by the Marquis of Brown's betrayal to clear up, for the unpleasant emotions to suddenly change as if they had never existed, and for the heavy breathing to become lighter.
The reason why he feels refreshed, as if all his problems have disappeared just because a woman named Ariana appears in front of him, is that this is all a dream.
Cyrus watched, dumbfounded, as Ariana slowly made her way through the crowd. She walked with her usual upright, graceful demeanor and stopped in front of Cyrus.
Those who had been cheering held their breath and watched her and Cyrus.
Ariana looked up at Cyrus and held out her hand. Cyrus absentmindedly took the small hand.
A small hand poured over his cold palm, sending a surge of warmth. Only after feeling that warmth did Cyrus realize it was real.
Ariana came to the North.
Ariana is in front of me.
Why is this happy?
Despite his puzzlement, Cyrus gently kissed the back of her hand, perfectly poised. He stopped, bending down to kiss her hand, then raised his eyes to gaze at her. Ariana's blue eyes were also fixed on Cyrus.
In those eyes as clear as a lake, only Cyrus existed.
For some reason, Cyrus felt like he owned the world.
***
Those who came out to welcome the 'Northern Lady' were actually half in doubt.
Our Excellency has a crush on a woman? That His Excellency is completely infatuated with her? That's impossible.
But the moment they saw Cyrus kissing the back of Ariana's hand, the moment they witnessed their gazes lock, the moment they saw their lord's expression soften.
They were sure.
'The Northern grandson will be born soon!'
***
Ariana, who had no idea that the people of the North were expecting Cyrus and Ariana's child, entered Maho Castle with Cyrus.
It was cold outside, but it was warm inside Maho Castle.
Ariana admired the white and red flowers that filled the lobby.
“That’s cool.”
A pleased smile appeared on Duke Hern's face as he followed behind. Cyrus realized that Duke Hern had been so busy just for that one word.
Even though he thought it was absurd, he didn't feel bad.
'Duke Hern worked hard for the Princess.'
Ariana looked back at Duke Hern and bent her knees slightly.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, even though it was a sudden visit. I had no idea Maho Castle was such a wonderful place."
"Princess Consort, you've come a long way, and this is nothing. I feel heavy-hearted because I feel inadequate and inadequately prepared."
"That's impossible. You wouldn't find a castle as splendidly decorated in any country. And, Duke, I'm not a concubine, I'm a Princess of the East."
“Yes, Princess Consort.”
Ariana clicked her tongue inwardly as she watched Duke Hern answer politely.
Even if young people like Isaac, Noah, Louis, and Andrei could call each other by their nicknames as a joke, it was embarrassing to see even Duke Hern, who was in charge of such a high position, come out like that, and Cyrus felt ashamed.
He was already embarrassed because the people who came out to greet her were welcoming the Princess.
'Still...'
Ariana stole a glance at Cyrus walking beside her.
He still had the chiseled features she seen him with the first time: a sharp nose that fell from a straight forehead, a chiseled jawline, and red eyes beneath long eyelashes.
At first, she was daunted and scared, not knowing what Cyrus was thinking, but now she wasn't as scared as she once was. On the contrary, from the moment she arrived at Maho Castle and saw his face, a weight on her chest lifted, as if a boulder had been weighing on her.
Although it was her first time at the Maho Castle in the North Realm, both in her past and present life, and Ariana's home was the Chase Castle in the East Realm, she felt at ease, as if she had returned to her own home.
It was unclear whether it was because she had met Cyrus, with whom she had been in a relationship since returning, or because the people of the North cheered her on more enthusiastically than she had expected.
The two headed to the reception room.
There was a piano on one side of the spacious living room, and a violin hung on the wall next to the piano.
Ariana wondered if Cyrus could play an instrument.
“It’s cold, so I’ll bring you some warm tea, Princess.”
Ariana smiled faintly at Duke Hern's words.
“It’s cold outside, but it’s a little warm here.”
Isaac had repeatedly warned Maho Castle that it was a cold place.
-"The people of the North don't feel the cold. The chill emanates from your body. Even inside Maho Castle, it'll be chilly, so you should dress warmly."
Contrary to his words, the inside of Maho Castle was as hot as early summer in the East, and sweat beaded on her forehead as she walked to the reception room.
“Oh, my. Should I light the fire a little more?”
Cyrus answered Duke Hern's words on his behalf.
"I'm not beating around the bush, Duke. Turn down the heat and bring me a cold drink."
The drink that Duke Hern had his servant bring was a red juice with ice floating on it, and it was sweet and sour and delicious.
“What kind of fruit is this made from?”
"The mountain you see over there is called Mount Graten. Deep within that mountain lies a lake, and there's a tree that grows only by the lake. The fruit from that tree is famous for its health benefits."
Ariana's eyes widened.
“Could it be the Lorea fruit?”
The Lorea fruit is one of the special products of the northern region. It is good for the body and tastes good, but it is difficult to obtain, so it is a precious fruit that costs more than 1 silver coin each.
Ariana had only heard about it, but had never tried it.
“Yeah. You know a lot.”
“Because it is a famous specialty of the North.”
Cyrus, who had been watching Ariana curiously peer into the glass, turned his gaze to the red-haired woman standing behind her. Blood-red hair, golden eyes, light brown skin, and a blank expression on her face.
When Cyrus's sharp gaze met hers, she flinched and lowered her head. Cyrus, who had been observing her quietly, spoke.
“She’s Paganus.”
Comments
Post a Comment