(133) Third Prince Harold (1)
Geor's eyes widened at the sight of the boy who had suddenly appeared.
“Ariana?”
“What do you think? He seems like a well-bred young man.”
“No... that...”
Geor looked Ariana up and down, who was too small and slender to be a young man.
She wore a white shirt, a black vest, and black leather pants. With a fedora over her short brown wig, Ariana looked like a young boy from a noble family.
“No matter how I look at it, it looks like a boy.”
“Really? The maids said he seemed like a handsome young man.”
When Geor glanced into the room, the maids smiled awkwardly.
“Well, they can’t call you a brat in front of you.”
“My brother is doing it.”
“I won’t do it. Because I’m your brother.”
Geor almost lost his breath at the sight of Ariana's sulking face.
What is this guy that makes her so cute?
Ariana said, placing her hands on her hips.
“It doesn’t matter. As long as I don’t get caught being the Princess of the East.”
“Everyone who knows knows that the Princess of the East visited the empire.”
“But they still don’t know my face.”
“Oh, you’ll make a strong appearance at the party?”
Ariana smiled and adjusted her fedora.
“I’m going out now. Where are you, brother?”
Geor burst out laughing.
"Hey, this is the first time I've been called that, so my heart is pounding. God allowed me to be called 'brother,' so I can't refuse."
When Geor held out his arm, Ariana naturally linked arms with him.
“Shall we go, my little brother?”
“Oh, wait!”
Ariana suddenly burst into the room, grabbed a wide-brimmed hat, and placed it flat on Geor's head. She looked him over, nodded with satisfaction, and then linked arms with him again.
“Let’s go, brother.”
Ariana had been in and out of the palace several times while assisting the Third Prince. Thanks to that, she learned many things.
For example, things that the Empress or Princess secretly likes.
The Empress was fond of mushroom-shaped bread, which she enjoyed during her brief stays at the temple. However, she found it unbecoming of a dessert for an Empress, and so she stopped eating it after returning to the palace.
Despite her cool and elegant appearance, the Princess loved cute things, especially small animals like cats and rabbits.
Ariana had prepared a gift for them in advance, but she came out to the downtown area to see if there was anything different. She also wanted to get a feel for the recent imperial atmosphere.
She was just planning to take a leisurely stroll around the shopping district, but she never expected to run into the unforgettable man she never forgotten.
“Oh, isn’t that Little Lord?”
The moment she saw the man striding towards her, Ariana held her breath.
Blonde hair that shines like the sun, hazel eyes, slightly drooping eyes, and a bright smile like a boy.
'Harold Blenwit.'
The Third Prince stopped in front of Geor and Ariana. Geor bowed his head slightly in front of the Third Prince.
“Third Prince. It’s been a while.”
"Yes, it's the first time since the last party. I heard you've had a hard time during the war. I heard you've done a great job."
“My father suffered more than I did.”
While the two were talking, Ariana quietly lowered her head and hid behind Geor.
In this life, she'd only encountered the Third Prince once, four years ago. Even though he didn't recognize her, Ariana's heart pounded as if she'd traveled back in time.
The touch of a hand brushing her cheek, the greedy eyes, the sweet smile, and the sweet voice came to mind vividly.
-“Ariana, what would I have done without you?”
Foolishly, she believed his words and gave her life for him.
-“I’m glad you’re by my side.”
She was so happy that she was needed by someone that she moved for him without even realizing that it was eating away at her own life.
Ariana, who lived so foolishly and died, still remained in her heart.
“By the way, who is that cute boy? I haven’t heard that the lord has another son.”
Geor was quick-witted. He figured there must be a reason why Ariana, always so active, was hiding behind him.
"My servant. Since it's his first time in the Empire, I brought him out to show him around."
"Oh, really? You have a very rude servant. He doesn't even dare to greet me."
The Third Prince's lips still held a playful smile, but his eyes were anything but. For the Third Prince, who had joined hands with the Lord of the West, the East was an obstacle he had to overcome. If the East had any flaws, it was only natural that he wouldn't want to overlook them.
Ariana swallowed a sigh.
She put on a show, but she never imagined she would ever have to talk to anyone other than Geor. Even if she could change her appearance, it would be difficult to change her voice. No matter how deep she tried to sound, he'd still notice something was off.
Geor said.
“I’m sorry. My servant can’t speak.”
“Really? That would be uncomfortable.”
"There are good points, too. If he can't read or speak, at least he won't have to go out and talk about my personal affairs."
“Oh, that’s true. But can’t he just say hello?”
Ariana bit her lower lip at the Third Prince's persistent attitude.
She still hates that guy.
Ariana pretended to hesitate, lowered her head, stepped forward, and bowed. The Third Prince didn't ask her to raise her head for a very long time.
Geor, who couldn't stand to watch, said.
“Why don’t you stop joking around? I think I’m starting to feel a bit bad.”
"Oh, right. I'm sorry. I didn't think about how you felt. You can raise your head."
Ariana raised her head just enough so the Third Prince couldn't see her face, then walked back behind Geor. Geor gently patted Ariana's back and said.
“I think this conversation will be long. Would you like to watch it alone?”
It was what she was hoping for.
Ariana nodded, turned around, and ran. The Third Prince's eyes followed Ariana's retreating figure with tenacity.
Ariana ran for a long time before finally stopping. She didn't even know how far she had come.
When she left the mansion, Geor had suggested they pick a meeting place if they ever got separated, but it was only a joke. It actually happened. It was fortunate that they'd chosen a meeting place as a joke.
Since nothing good had ever happened in the Empire, she felt uneasy about wandering around alone without an escort.
Ariana, searching her memory, walked toward the bookstore where she had agreed to meet Geor. After walking for a while, someone grabbed her arm.
Before Ariana could even turn around, the bastard's hand ripped off Ariana's hat and grabbed her hair. The wig concealing her lush, sky-blue hair was ripped off in an instant.
Ariana put her hand on her head and looked back.
“As expected, you were the Princess.”
Third Prince Harold smiled brightly at Ariana. Ariana glared at him with wide eyes.
"I thought it was strange. There's no way the Little Lord would take along a servant who couldn't speak out about his personal life. Besides."
Harold gently lifted Ariana's chin with his index finger and thumb.
“There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize this face. Really...”
Harold's eyes lit up strangely.
Ariana, who was frozen in shock at the unexpected situation, came to her senses only after seeing his gaze.
Slap-!
She slapped his wrist hard.
“How rude, Third Prince.”
“Wouldn’t it be the Princess who was the first to commit the rudeness?”
Harold tossed the wig up playfully and caught it.
"A mute servant. Even though I'm the Third Prince born to the Empress, I don't think I deserve to be deceived and teased like that. Don't you agree, Princess?"
As Harold's speech dragged on, Ariana regained her composure. A smile formed on Ariana's lips as she observed Harold.
'You've changed, Third Prince.'
Harold, whom Ariana knew wasn't the type to openly mock women in this way. He was someone who filtered and filtered, revealing only the purest and most innocent parts.
Harold, who was like that, not only shows his displeasure at being slightly teased by the woman, but also follows her and points out that part.
'Yeah, since the situation has changed, his personality has to change too.'
It was a different life from the past, when everything had gone according to plan, and he had established a solid foundation. More than half of Harold's supporters had fled due to his investment in the perfume business.
It takes a long time to win someone's heart, but less than half a day to lose it. The Third Prince may still not have regained his lost power.
Anxiety and anxiety would have changed his easygoing personality in everything.
“How could I tease the Third Prince?”
Ariana said with a sweet smile. Harold's eyes fluttered and shook.
“I’m just a little scared...”
“Are you scared?”
“Coming to the Empire, I can’t help but think of something that happened four years ago.”
“4 years ago... ah, the custody trial.”
"I only hid my identity because I was afraid that those who remembered the bad things would criticize me, Third Prince. Come to think of it, I ran into the Third Prince back then, too."
“Oh, I remember.”
Harold smiled brightly.
"I didn't know the Princess would remember me, but I'm so happy. By the way, Princess, you've really become... beautiful since I last saw you. I'm going blind."
“Oh, no. If you go blind because of me, there’s no way I can take responsibility.”
“It’s not that there isn’t one. The Princess...”
It was when Harold reached out his hand towards Ariana's ball.
“Ariana!”
When Ariana didn't show up at the meeting place, Geor, who had been searching around, spotted the two and hurried over. Geor, as if it were a given, blocked the way between Ariana and Harold.
Geor's amethyst eyes shone eerily.
“I need to ask my sister something.”
“I never dreamed that your squire was your younger sister.”
“I’m sorry I lied to you.”
“That’s what you should do. It was so unpleasant.”
A subtle glance passed between them. It was Harold who turned his gaze first. He looked at Ariana behind Geor and spoke.
"While you're in the Empire, Princess, I'll make sure you have everything you need. If you need anything, just let me know."
“Thank you, Third Prince.”
Harold nodded at Geor and left. When he disappeared from view, Geor asked, looking concerned.
“What did that kid do?”
What has he done? He done so much.
After using me as he wished, he abandoned me. He locked me up. He killed me.
You know what, Geor? I'm going to completely destroy that guy. I'm going to put him through such agony that he'd rather die than be killed, and I'm going to laugh at him as he does.
Ariana shook her head, hiding her burning emotions.
“No, he didn’t do anything.”
Geor's eyes widened at the sight of the boy who had suddenly appeared.
“Ariana?”
“What do you think? He seems like a well-bred young man.”
“No... that...”
Geor looked Ariana up and down, who was too small and slender to be a young man.
She wore a white shirt, a black vest, and black leather pants. With a fedora over her short brown wig, Ariana looked like a young boy from a noble family.
“No matter how I look at it, it looks like a boy.”
“Really? The maids said he seemed like a handsome young man.”
When Geor glanced into the room, the maids smiled awkwardly.
“Well, they can’t call you a brat in front of you.”
“My brother is doing it.”
“I won’t do it. Because I’m your brother.”
Geor almost lost his breath at the sight of Ariana's sulking face.
What is this guy that makes her so cute?
Ariana said, placing her hands on her hips.
“It doesn’t matter. As long as I don’t get caught being the Princess of the East.”
“Everyone who knows knows that the Princess of the East visited the empire.”
“But they still don’t know my face.”
“Oh, you’ll make a strong appearance at the party?”
Ariana smiled and adjusted her fedora.
“I’m going out now. Where are you, brother?”
Geor burst out laughing.
"Hey, this is the first time I've been called that, so my heart is pounding. God allowed me to be called 'brother,' so I can't refuse."
When Geor held out his arm, Ariana naturally linked arms with him.
“Shall we go, my little brother?”
“Oh, wait!”
Ariana suddenly burst into the room, grabbed a wide-brimmed hat, and placed it flat on Geor's head. She looked him over, nodded with satisfaction, and then linked arms with him again.
“Let’s go, brother.”
***
Ariana had been in and out of the palace several times while assisting the Third Prince. Thanks to that, she learned many things.
For example, things that the Empress or Princess secretly likes.
The Empress was fond of mushroom-shaped bread, which she enjoyed during her brief stays at the temple. However, she found it unbecoming of a dessert for an Empress, and so she stopped eating it after returning to the palace.
Despite her cool and elegant appearance, the Princess loved cute things, especially small animals like cats and rabbits.
Ariana had prepared a gift for them in advance, but she came out to the downtown area to see if there was anything different. She also wanted to get a feel for the recent imperial atmosphere.
She was just planning to take a leisurely stroll around the shopping district, but she never expected to run into the unforgettable man she never forgotten.
“Oh, isn’t that Little Lord?”
The moment she saw the man striding towards her, Ariana held her breath.
Blonde hair that shines like the sun, hazel eyes, slightly drooping eyes, and a bright smile like a boy.
'Harold Blenwit.'
The Third Prince stopped in front of Geor and Ariana. Geor bowed his head slightly in front of the Third Prince.
“Third Prince. It’s been a while.”
"Yes, it's the first time since the last party. I heard you've had a hard time during the war. I heard you've done a great job."
“My father suffered more than I did.”
While the two were talking, Ariana quietly lowered her head and hid behind Geor.
In this life, she'd only encountered the Third Prince once, four years ago. Even though he didn't recognize her, Ariana's heart pounded as if she'd traveled back in time.
The touch of a hand brushing her cheek, the greedy eyes, the sweet smile, and the sweet voice came to mind vividly.
-“Ariana, what would I have done without you?”
Foolishly, she believed his words and gave her life for him.
-“I’m glad you’re by my side.”
She was so happy that she was needed by someone that she moved for him without even realizing that it was eating away at her own life.
Ariana, who lived so foolishly and died, still remained in her heart.
“By the way, who is that cute boy? I haven’t heard that the lord has another son.”
Geor was quick-witted. He figured there must be a reason why Ariana, always so active, was hiding behind him.
"My servant. Since it's his first time in the Empire, I brought him out to show him around."
"Oh, really? You have a very rude servant. He doesn't even dare to greet me."
The Third Prince's lips still held a playful smile, but his eyes were anything but. For the Third Prince, who had joined hands with the Lord of the West, the East was an obstacle he had to overcome. If the East had any flaws, it was only natural that he wouldn't want to overlook them.
Ariana swallowed a sigh.
She put on a show, but she never imagined she would ever have to talk to anyone other than Geor. Even if she could change her appearance, it would be difficult to change her voice. No matter how deep she tried to sound, he'd still notice something was off.
Geor said.
“I’m sorry. My servant can’t speak.”
“Really? That would be uncomfortable.”
"There are good points, too. If he can't read or speak, at least he won't have to go out and talk about my personal affairs."
“Oh, that’s true. But can’t he just say hello?”
Ariana bit her lower lip at the Third Prince's persistent attitude.
She still hates that guy.
Ariana pretended to hesitate, lowered her head, stepped forward, and bowed. The Third Prince didn't ask her to raise her head for a very long time.
Geor, who couldn't stand to watch, said.
“Why don’t you stop joking around? I think I’m starting to feel a bit bad.”
"Oh, right. I'm sorry. I didn't think about how you felt. You can raise your head."
Ariana raised her head just enough so the Third Prince couldn't see her face, then walked back behind Geor. Geor gently patted Ariana's back and said.
“I think this conversation will be long. Would you like to watch it alone?”
It was what she was hoping for.
Ariana nodded, turned around, and ran. The Third Prince's eyes followed Ariana's retreating figure with tenacity.
***
Ariana ran for a long time before finally stopping. She didn't even know how far she had come.
When she left the mansion, Geor had suggested they pick a meeting place if they ever got separated, but it was only a joke. It actually happened. It was fortunate that they'd chosen a meeting place as a joke.
Since nothing good had ever happened in the Empire, she felt uneasy about wandering around alone without an escort.
Ariana, searching her memory, walked toward the bookstore where she had agreed to meet Geor. After walking for a while, someone grabbed her arm.
Before Ariana could even turn around, the bastard's hand ripped off Ariana's hat and grabbed her hair. The wig concealing her lush, sky-blue hair was ripped off in an instant.
Ariana put her hand on her head and looked back.
“As expected, you were the Princess.”
Third Prince Harold smiled brightly at Ariana. Ariana glared at him with wide eyes.
"I thought it was strange. There's no way the Little Lord would take along a servant who couldn't speak out about his personal life. Besides."
Harold gently lifted Ariana's chin with his index finger and thumb.
“There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize this face. Really...”
Harold's eyes lit up strangely.
Ariana, who was frozen in shock at the unexpected situation, came to her senses only after seeing his gaze.
Slap-!
She slapped his wrist hard.
“How rude, Third Prince.”
“Wouldn’t it be the Princess who was the first to commit the rudeness?”
Harold tossed the wig up playfully and caught it.
"A mute servant. Even though I'm the Third Prince born to the Empress, I don't think I deserve to be deceived and teased like that. Don't you agree, Princess?"
As Harold's speech dragged on, Ariana regained her composure. A smile formed on Ariana's lips as she observed Harold.
'You've changed, Third Prince.'
Harold, whom Ariana knew wasn't the type to openly mock women in this way. He was someone who filtered and filtered, revealing only the purest and most innocent parts.
Harold, who was like that, not only shows his displeasure at being slightly teased by the woman, but also follows her and points out that part.
'Yeah, since the situation has changed, his personality has to change too.'
It was a different life from the past, when everything had gone according to plan, and he had established a solid foundation. More than half of Harold's supporters had fled due to his investment in the perfume business.
It takes a long time to win someone's heart, but less than half a day to lose it. The Third Prince may still not have regained his lost power.
Anxiety and anxiety would have changed his easygoing personality in everything.
“How could I tease the Third Prince?”
Ariana said with a sweet smile. Harold's eyes fluttered and shook.
“I’m just a little scared...”
“Are you scared?”
“Coming to the Empire, I can’t help but think of something that happened four years ago.”
“4 years ago... ah, the custody trial.”
"I only hid my identity because I was afraid that those who remembered the bad things would criticize me, Third Prince. Come to think of it, I ran into the Third Prince back then, too."
“Oh, I remember.”
Harold smiled brightly.
"I didn't know the Princess would remember me, but I'm so happy. By the way, Princess, you've really become... beautiful since I last saw you. I'm going blind."
“Oh, no. If you go blind because of me, there’s no way I can take responsibility.”
“It’s not that there isn’t one. The Princess...”
It was when Harold reached out his hand towards Ariana's ball.
“Ariana!”
When Ariana didn't show up at the meeting place, Geor, who had been searching around, spotted the two and hurried over. Geor, as if it were a given, blocked the way between Ariana and Harold.
Geor's amethyst eyes shone eerily.
“I need to ask my sister something.”
“I never dreamed that your squire was your younger sister.”
“I’m sorry I lied to you.”
“That’s what you should do. It was so unpleasant.”
A subtle glance passed between them. It was Harold who turned his gaze first. He looked at Ariana behind Geor and spoke.
"While you're in the Empire, Princess, I'll make sure you have everything you need. If you need anything, just let me know."
“Thank you, Third Prince.”
Harold nodded at Geor and left. When he disappeared from view, Geor asked, looking concerned.
“What did that kid do?”
What has he done? He done so much.
After using me as he wished, he abandoned me. He locked me up. He killed me.
You know what, Geor? I'm going to completely destroy that guy. I'm going to put him through such agony that he'd rather die than be killed, and I'm going to laugh at him as he does.
Ariana shook her head, hiding her burning emotions.
“No, he didn’t do anything.”
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