(99) Reason for coming to the North (4)
Louisa Cheveni.
Langster had heard of her, the leader of the Black Knights. They said she fought with her sword wrapped in ice, like a witch descending onto the battlefield.
“Sir Cheveni.”
“You can call me Louis.”
“Then please call me Langster too.”
“Yes, Langster.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Louis stared intently up at Langster. Langster wondered how Louis, so much smaller than himself, had risen to the position of Knight Commander.
But now was the time to solve Shini's problem rather than satisfy his own curiosity.
“Louis, if it’s alright with you, I’d like to take over Shini.”
“Is it because you want to become friends?”
"Yes?"
“Shini said she wanted to be friends with Langster.”
Langster glanced at Shini, who was standing there with pursed lips, then said.
“Since you want to be my friend, I think I’ll teach you some simple swordsmanship.”
"Then we're on the same page. I plan to teach this child the art of disguise and assassination. Then, she can stay by Princess Consort's side like air and protect her."
Princess consort.
After coming to the North, Langster was not very fond of that title.
Why does everyone call Ariana the Princess Consort?
“She is not a Princess Consort, but a Princess.”
Louis tilted her head to the side.
“Even the lord of this northern region does not take away my freedom.”
"Freedom and all. Isn't that a big deal when the Princess hasn't even had her debutante? What would others think if they heard it?"
Louis's eyes narrowed.
“The people of the East are too overprotective of their mistress.”
“We are just providing proper protection.”
“Even the Princess Consort does not mention being called Princess Consort, so I don’t think it’s something for you, a mere bodyguard, to do.”
There was no communication.
Langster kept his mouth shut, thinking that he would never be able to get along with this stubborn woman.
The Carha family's carriage was black with red trim and a red eagle emblem.
The carriage wasn't very wide, so Ariana was worried that her knees might touch Cyrus's, who was sitting across from her.
Cyrus stared listlessly out the window. The light streaming in cast deep shadows, making him look like a perfectly crafted sculpture.
“What kind of person is the little Lord?”
Suddenly, he asked an unexpected question.
Ariana answered, though she found it strange that the topic of Geor had suddenly started.
“Well, um. A strange person?”
“He’s a strange person.”
"He's a man who doesn't hesitate to pray to God or curse Him. He seems suspicious of me, yet at the same time, he's trying to protect me. He seems cruel, yet at the same time, he seems tender. It's hard to know what's really going on."
Cyrus frowned, displeased at Ariana's answer, even though he had asked it himself. His red eyes, which had been looking out the window, turned to Ariana.
Ariana felt strange whenever he saw her.
Now that those eyes weren't scary, and she knew he wouldn't do anything bad to her, she felt a strange pang in her heart.
She brought up things she didn't need to say because she was afraid Cyrus would find out how she felt.
“He said he wanted to make a bet and that he wanted a handful of my hair as compensation.”
Cyrus' face contorted.
Ariana was surprised because it was the first time she had seen him show such emotion.
He quickly erased his expression and said.
“So that’s why the Princess’s hair is shorter than before.”
“Yes, I lost.”
“What did you bet?”
"I wonder if I'll ever make it to the North. My father doesn't want to send me away. Little Lord bet that I won't be able to go to the North."
“But the Princess arrived safely in the North.”
“If it weren’t for little Lord’s help, my father wouldn’t have given permission.”
“I see.”
Cyrus turned his gaze back out the window, as if he was no longer interested, but Ariana heard him mutter softly.
“You crazy bastard.”
She must have misheard. There's no way a Northern feudal lord would spit out such vulgar insults.
As she thought that, Cyrus looked back at Ariana.
“No matter how much I hear about him, he’s a strange guy. Why does the Princess believe him?”
“That... no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think the little Lord would betray my father.”
“Where on earth did that belief come from in the little Lord?”
“Hmm. Just my feeling?”
"That's funny. Intuition isn't absolute, Princess."
"I know. But... no, Northern Lord. Why should I be the one being harassed by the Northern Lord for this? Just as the Northern Lord can choose who he trusts, so can I."
“Of course.”
“But why...?”
“It’s strange. Giving away hair as a reward... If the Princess won, was she supposed to receive a handful of Little Lord hair?”
“Why would I accept that person’s hair?”
Cyrus' expression softened slightly as Ariana spoke in horror.
“Then what did the Princess bet?”
“I want the sword of the East.”
“Why do you want little Lord’s things?”
"Then you have to bet what the person has against the one who lost the bet—what else would you bet?"
Louisa Cheveni.
Langster had heard of her, the leader of the Black Knights. They said she fought with her sword wrapped in ice, like a witch descending onto the battlefield.
“Sir Cheveni.”
“You can call me Louis.”
“Then please call me Langster too.”
“Yes, Langster.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Louis stared intently up at Langster. Langster wondered how Louis, so much smaller than himself, had risen to the position of Knight Commander.
But now was the time to solve Shini's problem rather than satisfy his own curiosity.
“Louis, if it’s alright with you, I’d like to take over Shini.”
“Is it because you want to become friends?”
"Yes?"
“Shini said she wanted to be friends with Langster.”
Langster glanced at Shini, who was standing there with pursed lips, then said.
“Since you want to be my friend, I think I’ll teach you some simple swordsmanship.”
"Then we're on the same page. I plan to teach this child the art of disguise and assassination. Then, she can stay by Princess Consort's side like air and protect her."
Princess consort.
After coming to the North, Langster was not very fond of that title.
Why does everyone call Ariana the Princess Consort?
“She is not a Princess Consort, but a Princess.”
Louis tilted her head to the side.
“Even the lord of this northern region does not take away my freedom.”
"Freedom and all. Isn't that a big deal when the Princess hasn't even had her debutante? What would others think if they heard it?"
Louis's eyes narrowed.
“The people of the East are too overprotective of their mistress.”
“We are just providing proper protection.”
“Even the Princess Consort does not mention being called Princess Consort, so I don’t think it’s something for you, a mere bodyguard, to do.”
There was no communication.
Langster kept his mouth shut, thinking that he would never be able to get along with this stubborn woman.
***
The Carha family's carriage was black with red trim and a red eagle emblem.
The carriage wasn't very wide, so Ariana was worried that her knees might touch Cyrus's, who was sitting across from her.
Cyrus stared listlessly out the window. The light streaming in cast deep shadows, making him look like a perfectly crafted sculpture.
“What kind of person is the little Lord?”
Suddenly, he asked an unexpected question.
Ariana answered, though she found it strange that the topic of Geor had suddenly started.
“Well, um. A strange person?”
“He’s a strange person.”
"He's a man who doesn't hesitate to pray to God or curse Him. He seems suspicious of me, yet at the same time, he's trying to protect me. He seems cruel, yet at the same time, he seems tender. It's hard to know what's really going on."
Cyrus frowned, displeased at Ariana's answer, even though he had asked it himself. His red eyes, which had been looking out the window, turned to Ariana.
Ariana felt strange whenever he saw her.
Now that those eyes weren't scary, and she knew he wouldn't do anything bad to her, she felt a strange pang in her heart.
She brought up things she didn't need to say because she was afraid Cyrus would find out how she felt.
“He said he wanted to make a bet and that he wanted a handful of my hair as compensation.”
Cyrus' face contorted.
Ariana was surprised because it was the first time she had seen him show such emotion.
He quickly erased his expression and said.
“So that’s why the Princess’s hair is shorter than before.”
“Yes, I lost.”
“What did you bet?”
"I wonder if I'll ever make it to the North. My father doesn't want to send me away. Little Lord bet that I won't be able to go to the North."
“But the Princess arrived safely in the North.”
“If it weren’t for little Lord’s help, my father wouldn’t have given permission.”
“I see.”
Cyrus turned his gaze back out the window, as if he was no longer interested, but Ariana heard him mutter softly.
“You crazy bastard.”
She must have misheard. There's no way a Northern feudal lord would spit out such vulgar insults.
As she thought that, Cyrus looked back at Ariana.
“No matter how much I hear about him, he’s a strange guy. Why does the Princess believe him?”
“That... no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think the little Lord would betray my father.”
“Where on earth did that belief come from in the little Lord?”
“Hmm. Just my feeling?”
"That's funny. Intuition isn't absolute, Princess."
"I know. But... no, Northern Lord. Why should I be the one being harassed by the Northern Lord for this? Just as the Northern Lord can choose who he trusts, so can I."
“Of course.”
“But why...?”
“It’s strange. Giving away hair as a reward... If the Princess won, was she supposed to receive a handful of Little Lord hair?”
“Why would I accept that person’s hair?”
Cyrus' expression softened slightly as Ariana spoke in horror.
“Then what did the Princess bet?”
“I want the sword of the East.”
“Why do you want little Lord’s things?”
"Then you have to bet what the person has against the one who lost the bet—what else would you bet?"
Ariana couldn't understand why they were having this conversation. Cyrus was a mysterious man, but never had his inner thoughts been so difficult to discern as they were in this conversation.
Cyrus glared at Ariana, who was looking at him in disbelief, then turned away.
'Why am I like this?'
His stomach was seething.
He knew her hair, which used to be waist-length, had been shortened to shoulder length. He thought long hair was fine, but short hair also suited her.
But when he found out that it was because of the little Lord, something very unpleasant and annoying burst out inside him.
'What the hell is he going to do with Ariana's hair?'
Usually, a man would ask a woman for her hair, hoping to use it as a talisman. The thought of little Lord carrying Ariana's hair around like a talisman filled him with irritation.
Strictly speaking, Ariana lost the bet, so she just gave him what he deserved. It doesn't matter who owns her hair or uses it as a talisman. Why am I so angry?
Cyrus barely suppressed his emotions, tapping his knee with his index finger.
“The Princess needs to take better care of herself.”
“Cutting my hair a little won’t cause any problems.”
Of course, it's not a big deal. The reason he's so anxious and angry right now isn't that something big is going on, but because he's half-crazy.
Fortunately, before another stupid noise could be made, the carriage arrived at its destination.
***
Contrary to its reputation, the Merchant Guild was located in the basement of a very small building. The interior had the feel of a bar, with a counter and a few haphazardly placed wooden tables.
People who seemed to be guild members were gathered around a table in groups of three or five, playing cards or drinking, and the man manning the counter yawned as if bored, then abruptly stood up upon seeing Cyrus.
“Your Excellency, the Northern Lord!”
At his shout, everyone inside stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads before Cyrus.
Cyrus nodded slightly in greeting and spoke to the man at the counter.
“What about Penny?”
“I’ll call her right away. Please wait a moment.”
Cyrus and Ariana were led into a small room inside the bar. Soon after, a woman entered the room.
She was a woman with short, bushy hair and dressed in a shabby outfit.
“Your Excellency, Princess. I, Penny, the leader of the Northern Territory branch of the Merchant Guild, send my greetings.”
Ariana was secretly surprised by Penny's self-introduction.
She knew she wasn't an ordinary person since Cyrus had personally introduced her, but she turned out to be the leader of the Northern Territory guild.
“You know me.”
“In the entire continent, there is no other beautiful lady with sky-blue hair and white jade-like skin than the Princess of the East.”
Penny spoke beautifully.
"I was wondering why His Excellency, the busy Northern Lord, had come to such a humble place. It seems he wanted the honor of introducing me to the Princess. It is an honor to be able to personally greet the beautiful Princess."
“Nice to meet you, too, Penny.”
“Penny is the most capable of all the branches.”
Penny nodded without showing any sign of difficulty at Cyrus' words.
"His Excellency's words are correct, Princess. The Northern Territory has been loyal to the Carha family for generations, and I, too, have personally received great favor from His Excellency. Therefore, I will assist His Excellency's precious person, the Princess, in every way possible."
Not to the extent of Cyrus's precious person.
Ariana watched Cyrus's expression, as if she were being called "Princess Consort," but he didn't seem particularly offended this time.
“I don’t have enough money yet to hire you at will, but I would be grateful if you could help me someday.”
Penny waved her hands in surprise at Ariana's words.
“Oh dear. I cannot accept a gift from someone so cherished by His Excellency the Northern Lord.”
Now, there is even an expression that means 'to love'.
Ariana grew truly anxious and looked at Cyrus again. Cyrus, who had been quiet, asked without even looking at Ariana.
“Why does the Princess always look at me whenever someone says something?”
Of course, I'll look into you. Isn't it problematic that you're still silent even when the word "cherish" comes up? Surely you don't know what "cherish" means?
Ariana was shocked, but found it difficult to say such things out loud.
She thinks it would have been less uncomfortable if she had been kidnapped or had a sword put to her neck than it is now.
Penny, who was watching the two, said with a faint smile.
"If you truly wish to repay my kindness, you are the Princess of the East, so wouldn't you be able to lend me your support at any time? Being of service to such a precious person would be a great reward in itself, so don't hesitate to take it to heart."
"Thank you for saying that. I need to solidify my position, if only to help Penny."
Meeting Penny was very useful.
Penny has been telling her about the trends on the continent.
Although Ariana knew most of it, it was all from her own experiences before she died. So, when people asked her how she knew it, it was hard to find the words to answer, but Penny made it easier.
From now on, she thinks she can proceed with the work as if she had obtained information from the merchant guild.
When she came out after spending a long time at the merchant guild, the sun was already setting.
The sunset in the North was truly beautiful. The orange glow that bathed the white snow-covered mountains was so dazzling that Ariana was momentarily lost in the spectacle.
“That’s really cool.”
"It's one of the prides of the North. My mother loved that sunset."
Whenever Cyrus spoke of his mother, she felt his voice become incredibly warm. She could tell just how much love he received from his parents as a child.
So her heart ached.
It was a pity that someone so precious to him was no longer by his side.
Why does my heart feel so heavy even though it's not my business?
Instead of conveying her feelings, Ariana answered quietly.
"There's a saying that people fall in love with things that resemble them. The former mistress of the Northern must have been as beautiful as that sunset."
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