(146) Chloe Spencer (1)
Chloe was the Third Prince's person. She worked for him until the very last moment.
'When the Crown Prince died, and the Third Prince became the Emperor, she became Victoria's exclusive maid. Although Chloe Spencer developed feelings for the Crown Prince, she never betrayed him.'
So at this point, it is clear that Chloe's actions were not impulsive, but rather followed the Third Prince's instructions.
'The Third Prince was thinking. But he was too fast, Third Prince.'
Chloe, who was loved and trusted by the Crown Prince, would later be used even more prominently. However, the Third Prince abandoned the name Chloe.
'That must mean the Third Prince is in a difficult position right now.'
His business ventures failed, Patrick died, and his scepter, Bysen, which had originally belonged to him, fell into Cyrus's hands.
In the midst of all this, the Crown Princess became pregnant, and the faction that supported the Third Prince was likely to waver, deciding whether to turn to him. The Third Prince couldn't have failed to notice this shift in sentiment.
'He had to somehow regain the Emperor's trust, so he threw away a good word too quickly.'
A cold smile spread across Ariana's lips.
“What happened to Chloe? Did the Third Prince kill her on the spot?”
"No, she's probably locked in the palace's dungeons right now. But she won't be alive for long. You foolish woman. Doing something like that won't get you, Crown Princess. Shall we pray together for that pitiful woman?"
"Later. Geor, I'm tired, so I should go inside. What are you going to do now?"
Geor glanced back. Shini was looking at him with sparkling eyes.
"I think I'm supposed to be teaching your precious maid the swordsmanship I couldn't finish yesterday. Right, ma'am?"
Shini nodded vigorously. Ariana smiled slightly.
“Please take care of her, Geor.”
Ariana thought about it. She thought about it and thought about it again.
After mulling it over until late at night, she made a decision and took her cloak from the closet. As she was quietly leaving, Shini, who was crouching in the living room, asked in a quiet voice.
“Where are you going, master?”
“Didn’t you sleep?”
“I slept. But if anyone moves, I wake up.”
“Because I can sleep comfortably in bed.”
Chloe was the Third Prince's person. She worked for him until the very last moment.
'When the Crown Prince died, and the Third Prince became the Emperor, she became Victoria's exclusive maid. Although Chloe Spencer developed feelings for the Crown Prince, she never betrayed him.'
So at this point, it is clear that Chloe's actions were not impulsive, but rather followed the Third Prince's instructions.
'The Third Prince was thinking. But he was too fast, Third Prince.'
Chloe, who was loved and trusted by the Crown Prince, would later be used even more prominently. However, the Third Prince abandoned the name Chloe.
'That must mean the Third Prince is in a difficult position right now.'
His business ventures failed, Patrick died, and his scepter, Bysen, which had originally belonged to him, fell into Cyrus's hands.
In the midst of all this, the Crown Princess became pregnant, and the faction that supported the Third Prince was likely to waver, deciding whether to turn to him. The Third Prince couldn't have failed to notice this shift in sentiment.
'He had to somehow regain the Emperor's trust, so he threw away a good word too quickly.'
A cold smile spread across Ariana's lips.
“What happened to Chloe? Did the Third Prince kill her on the spot?”
"No, she's probably locked in the palace's dungeons right now. But she won't be alive for long. You foolish woman. Doing something like that won't get you, Crown Princess. Shall we pray together for that pitiful woman?"
"Later. Geor, I'm tired, so I should go inside. What are you going to do now?"
Geor glanced back. Shini was looking at him with sparkling eyes.
"I think I'm supposed to be teaching your precious maid the swordsmanship I couldn't finish yesterday. Right, ma'am?"
Shini nodded vigorously. Ariana smiled slightly.
“Please take care of her, Geor.”
***
Ariana thought about it. She thought about it and thought about it again.
After mulling it over until late at night, she made a decision and took her cloak from the closet. As she was quietly leaving, Shini, who was crouching in the living room, asked in a quiet voice.
“Where are you going, master?”
“Didn’t you sleep?”
“I slept. But if anyone moves, I wake up.”
“Because I can sleep comfortably in bed.”
“This is not the East. I am here to protect my master.”
"Yeah. That's better. I have somewhere to go. If I go with you, the knights won't have to chase me."
Shini possessed skills worthy of recognition even from the knights. Shini stood up and smiled brightly.
“I’ll protect you. Let’s go together.”
The two quietly left the room and walked down the hallway. As they left the building, several knights approached them, but they nodded and stepped back when they heard, "I want to walk with Shini. Just pretend you don't see me."
Geor watched as Ariana and Shini quietly left the mansion.
'There's something there, after all.'
From the moment the Crown Princess announced her pregnancy, Ariana's mood was strange. It was barely noticeable, but Geor, who had been observing Ariana and her emotions, could sense it.
There was no connection between Ariana and the Crown Princess, so he was curious about what was bothering her. He wanted to know. He wanted her to tell him.
But Ariana, as always, said nothing.
'Are you going to the Northern Lord?'
There seems to be something going on between Ariana and Cyrus. Whenever they exchanged glances, there seemed to be no room for interference.
'The Northern Lord must have feelings for Ariana.'
Cyrus ruthlessly killed Fabric. Without a thought for the safety of the North, he executed Fabric for touching Ariana's body.
'Could I have done that too?'
No, he knows that can't be done.
If that were possible, he would have resigned from the position of the Little Lord by now. He felt ashamed of his own cowardice, unable to relinquish either the position of little Lord or Ariana, yet desperately hoping for it.
'But I too...'
If Ariana asked him to do anything, he would do it.
Geor stared at the fingertips that had touched her forehead earlier. Unable to give up anything, yet unable to challenge anything, he tried to reach her, pretending it was by chance.
Geor laughed self-deprecatingly.
'There's no such thing as a pervert.'
***
Even though she arrived late at night, Cyrus greeted Ariana with the same relaxed attitude as always, as if he had expected her to come.
He used to find her attitude admirable, but lately, his composure has become a bit annoying. He doesn't know why.
Cyrus glanced at Shini, who was hiding behind Ariana, and said.
“Do you think that technique will work on me?”
When Ariana winked at Shini, Shini broke out of her hiding place and bowed her head to Cyrus.
“I knew that since it was a technique from the Northern Territory, it wouldn’t work on His Excellency the Northern Lord, but I did it to protect my master, so please forgive me.”
Cyrus nodded, seemingly agreeing. It seemed he was ready to leave the parlor. Only after confirming Ariana's nod did Shini quietly leave the room.
Cyrus, who was watching the scene, asked.
“Is that woman of any help to the Princess?”
“Shini tells me I’m in good spirits no matter what. That’s enough.”
"It seems the Princess is here to lean on. Have you still not opened your heart to the Lord or the little Lord?"
“Sometimes there are things you can’t even tell your family.”
“I guess you came to tell me that story you can’t tell.”
Something about Cyrus's smug expression bothered her. Ariana suppressed the urge to just walk away.
She agonized over it all day. She didn't want Cyrus' help, so she thought a hundred, a thousand times about whether she could find another way.
But no matter how she thought about it, no one could do this job as well as Cyrus.
Ariana said with a sigh.
“I heard that the Crown Princess is pregnant.”
"Yes. And the Crown Prince's lover tried to kill the Crown Princess. The Third Prince made a spectacular appearance and saved her. Now, the Third Prince's popularity in the palace is sky-high."
Cyrus seemed to have guessed what Ariana was trying to say from her words. As expected, arguing with Cyrus felt both comfortable and daunting. It was so comfortable that she feared she would slip up again.
Ariana said without letting her guard down.
"I heard Chloe Spencer is locked in the palace dungeons. Is there any way to get her out?"
Cyrus raised an eyebrow, as if he hadn't expected this.
“Save Chloe Spencer? Why?”
“Because Chloe is the 3rd Prince’s person.”
Ariana stared straight at Cyrus.
“Chloe’s attempt to murder the Crown Princess must have been ordered by the Third Prince.”
A long silence passed. Ariana realized Cyrus was suspicious of her. He must have wondered how Ariana knew something Cyrus couldn't see through.
But Ariana remained unshaken. She knew she couldn't earn Cyrus's trust anyway. Ever since her slip of the tongue in the North three years ago, Cyrus had been suspicious of Ariana and had distanced himself from her.
Now is the time to be newly hurt by his distrust.
“How do you know that Chloe is the Third Prince’s person?”
“Does that matter?”
"It doesn't matter, Princess. Even for a Lord of a nation like mine, it's not easy to take a criminal out of the palace. Besides, the person you're dealing with is guilty of attempting to kill the pregnant Crown Princess. Isn't the risk I'm taking on so unknowingly too great?"
“Yes, it’s a big risk. I understand.”
Ariana stood up. Cyrus looked up, puzzled.
“Then I’ll take back my request. Let’s pretend this never happened.”
She guesses she'll have to find another way to get Chloe out.
As Ariana was about to leave without a second thought, Cyrus hurriedly approached and grabbed her wrist. Ariana narrowed her brows in displeasure and looked down at the grip, but Cyrus didn't relax his grip.
“You can’t undo something, Princess.”
"Yes. Then just accept it as it happened and keep wondering how I found out and why I was trying to steal Chloe away."
“Princess. Why are you so angry?”
"Me? I'm not angry, Northern Lord. If I seem that way, it's because the Northern Lord grabbed my wrist without permission, and I was flustered."
Even though Ariana pointed it out, Cyrus didn't let go of her hand.
“No, the Princess is angry now. Is it because you think I’m suspicious of you?”
"Not at all, Northern Lord. It's only natural for the Northern Lord to be suspicious of me. I don't particularly expect your trust. So, could you please let go of my hand?"
The words, "I don't even expect trust," stabbed Cyrus's heart. His red eyes fluttered and wavered.
Instead of letting go of Ariana's wrist, Cyrus blocked the space between her and the living room door. This time, Ariana was taken aback by his childish behavior.
Why is this guy like this?
Cyrus looked a little nervous.
'No, that can't be. The Northern Lord wouldn't be anxious. There's no reason for him to be.'
It was Ariana who needed help, not Cyrus. So why should he be anxious?
“I will do it.”
“What?”
“Getting Chloe Spencer out.”
"Ah."
Cyrus's unexpected attitude made her forget what they were talking about. Ariana shook her head.
"No, that's fine. As the Northern Lord said, the Northern Lord will have to bear the risk without gaining anything. I'll take care of it."
“I will do it, Princess.”
“No. I’ll take care of it...”
“The Princess will risk death again.”
Ariana's head snapped up. Her own startled face was reflected in his clear eyes. She thought it was a foolish expression, but it was hard to control it.
His eyes looked so desperate and anxious.
"The Princess doesn't spare your life when something must be done. But I know my life is precious. So I do it."
"That's no excuse, Northern Lord. There's no need for the Northern Lord to sacrifice your life. Besides, I don't value life as lightly as the Northern Lord thinks."
“Is that really so? Do you really value that life?”
The red eyes shone as if they were going to tear through Ariana's mind.
She could have just said, "I value it," but the words wouldn't come out. The weight of their gaze was so heavy that she couldn't lie fluently.
“In my eyes.”
Cyrus grabbed Ariana's chin between his thumb and index finger, forcing her to look away and fixate on him.
His hand was cold, but where it touched her, it felt burning hot. It felt like an invisible hand was clutching her heart.
Cyrus's face drew closer. She held her breath, worried that their breath might touch. Up close, his eyes were like rubies. Those beautiful, jewel-like eyes pierced Ariana's heart.
“It doesn’t look like that. Not at all.”
But no matter how she thought about it, no one could do this job as well as Cyrus.
Ariana said with a sigh.
“I heard that the Crown Princess is pregnant.”
"Yes. And the Crown Prince's lover tried to kill the Crown Princess. The Third Prince made a spectacular appearance and saved her. Now, the Third Prince's popularity in the palace is sky-high."
Cyrus seemed to have guessed what Ariana was trying to say from her words. As expected, arguing with Cyrus felt both comfortable and daunting. It was so comfortable that she feared she would slip up again.
Ariana said without letting her guard down.
"I heard Chloe Spencer is locked in the palace dungeons. Is there any way to get her out?"
Cyrus raised an eyebrow, as if he hadn't expected this.
“Save Chloe Spencer? Why?”
“Because Chloe is the 3rd Prince’s person.”
Ariana stared straight at Cyrus.
“Chloe’s attempt to murder the Crown Princess must have been ordered by the Third Prince.”
A long silence passed. Ariana realized Cyrus was suspicious of her. He must have wondered how Ariana knew something Cyrus couldn't see through.
But Ariana remained unshaken. She knew she couldn't earn Cyrus's trust anyway. Ever since her slip of the tongue in the North three years ago, Cyrus had been suspicious of Ariana and had distanced himself from her.
Now is the time to be newly hurt by his distrust.
“How do you know that Chloe is the Third Prince’s person?”
“Does that matter?”
"It doesn't matter, Princess. Even for a Lord of a nation like mine, it's not easy to take a criminal out of the palace. Besides, the person you're dealing with is guilty of attempting to kill the pregnant Crown Princess. Isn't the risk I'm taking on so unknowingly too great?"
“Yes, it’s a big risk. I understand.”
Ariana stood up. Cyrus looked up, puzzled.
“Then I’ll take back my request. Let’s pretend this never happened.”
She guesses she'll have to find another way to get Chloe out.
As Ariana was about to leave without a second thought, Cyrus hurriedly approached and grabbed her wrist. Ariana narrowed her brows in displeasure and looked down at the grip, but Cyrus didn't relax his grip.
“You can’t undo something, Princess.”
"Yes. Then just accept it as it happened and keep wondering how I found out and why I was trying to steal Chloe away."
“Princess. Why are you so angry?”
"Me? I'm not angry, Northern Lord. If I seem that way, it's because the Northern Lord grabbed my wrist without permission, and I was flustered."
Even though Ariana pointed it out, Cyrus didn't let go of her hand.
“No, the Princess is angry now. Is it because you think I’m suspicious of you?”
"Not at all, Northern Lord. It's only natural for the Northern Lord to be suspicious of me. I don't particularly expect your trust. So, could you please let go of my hand?"
The words, "I don't even expect trust," stabbed Cyrus's heart. His red eyes fluttered and wavered.
Instead of letting go of Ariana's wrist, Cyrus blocked the space between her and the living room door. This time, Ariana was taken aback by his childish behavior.
Why is this guy like this?
Cyrus looked a little nervous.
'No, that can't be. The Northern Lord wouldn't be anxious. There's no reason for him to be.'
It was Ariana who needed help, not Cyrus. So why should he be anxious?
“I will do it.”
“What?”
“Getting Chloe Spencer out.”
"Ah."
Cyrus's unexpected attitude made her forget what they were talking about. Ariana shook her head.
"No, that's fine. As the Northern Lord said, the Northern Lord will have to bear the risk without gaining anything. I'll take care of it."
“I will do it, Princess.”
“No. I’ll take care of it...”
“The Princess will risk death again.”
Ariana's head snapped up. Her own startled face was reflected in his clear eyes. She thought it was a foolish expression, but it was hard to control it.
His eyes looked so desperate and anxious.
"The Princess doesn't spare your life when something must be done. But I know my life is precious. So I do it."
"That's no excuse, Northern Lord. There's no need for the Northern Lord to sacrifice your life. Besides, I don't value life as lightly as the Northern Lord thinks."
“Is that really so? Do you really value that life?”
The red eyes shone as if they were going to tear through Ariana's mind.
She could have just said, "I value it," but the words wouldn't come out. The weight of their gaze was so heavy that she couldn't lie fluently.
“In my eyes.”
Cyrus grabbed Ariana's chin between his thumb and index finger, forcing her to look away and fixate on him.
His hand was cold, but where it touched her, it felt burning hot. It felt like an invisible hand was clutching her heart.
Cyrus's face drew closer. She held her breath, worried that their breath might touch. Up close, his eyes were like rubies. Those beautiful, jewel-like eyes pierced Ariana's heart.
“It doesn’t look like that. Not at all.”
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