(152) She is not the Princess consort
Isaac smiled awkwardly.
"Of course, I've told His Excellency. It's too much for the Princess Consort to eat alone, and it keeps piling up. But His Excellency says the Princess Consort loves sweets, so he keeps ordering them. What can I do?"
“...I do like sweets. But not to this extent. It’s too much. And there’s no reason to accept it.”
“Princess...”
Ariana swallowed a small sigh.
When she decided to distance herself from Cyrus, she also decided to cut ties with his people. But Isaac wouldn't let that happen.
"Princess, I understand you're keeping your distance because His Excellency is such a bad guy. But I'm a good guy. Besides, we're friends, right? Wasn't I the only one who thought the Princess Consort was my friend? Oh, then it makes me sad. Can I cry? You won't even lend me a handkerchief if I cry, right? Because we're not friends?"
Isaac, who was even shedding tears, couldn't be shooed away. Even Shini, watching from the side, muttered, "Poor thing, master. Could you lend me a handkerchief?" Isaac looked so pitiful.
"Isaac. If Isaac and I are friends and you're here, then stop bringing me chocolate and stop calling me Princess Consort. If you keep calling me that, I won't be able to see you again."
“Ah... um. Oh, yes. That’s right. I see. I understand, Princess.”
Ariana hated being called the Consort. The title felt incredibly heavy and burdensome. But when she was actually called “Princess,” she felt strangely empty, which left me at a loss for words.
Why am I really doing this?
“Call me Ariana. We’re friends, you know.”
Isaac grinned.
“That can’t be. Even His Excellency can’t call you by that name, so I can’t be the first to call you by that name.”
She couldn't force him to call her by her name. Isaac watched Ariana nod with a slightly bitter expression, then pulled an envelope of medicine from his pocket.
“Oh, this is this week’s medicine.”
Ariana had asked Isaac for a pill a month ago.
A toxic softener that protects against various toxic substances.
It was usually taken regularly by pharmacists who tested the effects on their own bodies when making medicine, chefs who made experimental foods, and farmers who grew medicinal herbs.
Although it does not protect against deliberately made poisons, it has the effect of neutralizing some poisons to some extent.
Although anti-toxic drugs are available commercially, the most effective ones are imported from the North, and the person who created them was Isaac's father.
“Thank you, Isaac.”
Ariana accepted the packet of medicine and paid Isaac for it. Isaac, who accepted it with a displeased expression, bent forward.
“But, Princess Co... Princess. Are you really okay? Who is after you, Princess?”
If not, there would be no way an ordinary woman would consistently take anti-poison.
But Ariana shook her head calmly.
“No, it’s not like that. It’s just that there’s no harm in being prepared.”
Victoria and the Third Prince often used poison to deal with their enemies. Nothing was more convenient than poison to deal with a close enemy. She could have someone else eliminate someone she didn't like without getting her hands dirty.
Victoria lost Ariana, and the Third Prince lost Chloe, but there were still many people who would act for them.
She will encounter them a lot in the future, so she needs to prepare in advance.
“If I get poisoned, will you come and treat me?”
"Princess! Don't even ask such a pitiful question. Of course, I should come. If not me, who else would dare to treat you?"
Isaac, who had been speaking while patting his chest, bowed again.
"But, Princess. You're not really in danger, are you? If you are, then to His Excellency..."
"Isaac. Don't say anything to the Northern Lord. I'm done with his help. I've already received more than enough."
The voice flowing from her small, plump lips was weary, like someone who had lived a long time. Isaac didn't want to embarrass Ariana any further. But...
‘If we continue like this, we can’t let their relationship become irreparable...’
He was so anxious that he had to add his words.
"His Excellency has been abused by people who were too close to him for too long, from a very young age. That's why he doesn't know. He doesn't know how to receive love, nor how to give it."
"I know."
Ariana's smile seemed to be fading.
"I know exactly what it is. I know exactly what it is."
Because she lived and died like that, too.
Swallowing the words she couldn't say, Ariana said.
"That's why the Northern Lord and me should stay far apart. It'll only cause each other pain, anxiety, and suspicion."
Isaac came out of the living room, looked back at the closed door, and sighed deeply.
Lancer watched silently. Louis's sudden outburst and departure bothered him, so he couldn't bring himself to sneer at Isaac.
Isaac, who couldn't bring himself to move and kept sighing, looked back at Lancer.
“Sir Leon.”
"Yes."
“I can’t take my eyes off the Princess.”
“What’s wrong with the Princess?”
“I don’t know for sure... but I’m anxious. So please... ugh, I guess I’ll go now. Cheer up.”
Isaac was about to run away without saying a word, so he turned around to see what was going on and saw Isabelle running towards him.
“Isaac!”
Isaac pretended not to hear and hurried on, but Isabelle ran over and grabbed Isaac's sleeve.
“Why are you pretending not to hear?”
“I guess it’s because I’m getting older, but I’m having trouble hearing these days.”
“Oh, really? When you can’t hear, just give it a good slap. Should I hit it for you?”
“I’ll decline. Now that I think about it, I think I can hear it pretty well.”
Isaac answered without stopping. Isabelle followed him and spoke.
“Isaac, I have something to ask you.”
"Yes."
“What’s going on between the Northern Lord and our Ariana?”
“Uh, um. No.”
“Really?”
“No, there isn’t.”
"However."
Isabelle grabbed Isaac's wrist tightly, stopping him. Isaac swallowed a sigh. How could this lady be so strong?
“Why did the Northern Lord kill Count Geo to protect our Ariana?”
“Because if we don’t kill him there, His Excellency the Eastern Lord will be angry and invade the empire.”
Isabelle's eyes narrowed.
“Our Lord, the Lord of the East, would be so ignorant of the consequences that he would invade the Empire... Hmm. Ah, that could be so.”
“Right? That’s why. It was all for His Excellency the Eastern Lord and the Princess.”
"But that's also strange. Why would the Northern Lord care about our uncle and Ariana? Isn't the Northern Lord the type of person who doesn't care about such things?"
"That's true, but... well, a lot of things have come together, shall we say? If His Excellency the Eastern Lord causes a disturbance in the empire, it could be troublesome. In any case, there are many things the Lady doesn't know about."
Isabelle's eyes narrowed so much that her pupils were no longer visible. This scared Isaac.
What on earth is this lady thinking?
“Excuse me, Miss Isabelle. My wrist hurts so much. Would you mind taking a break and talking?”
"Isaac. Whatever the Northern Lord is up to, I hope it doesn't come to Ariana's aid."
Isaac was moved by these words.
"What are you talking about? It's a bit odd to say that. Our Excellency has helped the Eastern Lord and Princess so much. Have you forgotten who brought the Princess, who was imprisoned at Bronte Manor, to the royal palace?"
"I remember. I'm very grateful for that, and I understand Ariana sent a suitable reward when she went to the North. Doesn't that settle the matter?"
“No, it’s not just that...”
Isabelle's eyes sparkled.
"Aha. That's not all. There's something else. What is it?"
Isaac thought, "Oh no."
This was precisely what was uncomfortable. Isabelle would sometimes become sharp without knowing anything.
"There's more. It's just that he's considerate in many ways. He treated the Princess well when she came to the North."
Isabelle pursed her lips and glared at Isaac. Isaac averted his gaze, mulling over what he should say to make Isabelle let go of his wrist.
After a rather long silence, Isabelle spoke.
"Do you know how mature Ariana was when she first arrived? She sat down and ate like royalty. Even if there was something she didn't like, she didn't show it. She ate quietly, calmly, and slowly."
“...That... why?”
"It's strange. What kind of child eats like that? But Ariana is always like that. When she first came to the East, she told the adults she wanted to prove her worth."
“...”
"We told her she didn't have to, that she shouldn't do that anymore, and I thought Ariana had accepted being part of our family. But when the perfume-related chaos broke out, Ariana tamed the situation, raised the East's reputation, and nurtured a successful arms dealer, bolstering the East's military power. What do you think this means?"
Isaac slowly turned his gaze and met Isabelle's. Her eyes were flushed red.
"Ariana is still proving her worth to her family. So every time I see her, I feel like she's saying, 'Am I good enough? Am I good enough to be part of your family?"
“Miss Isabelle...”
"It's not that my family doesn't know and doesn't say anything. We just let her do whatever she wants and give her lots of love, and one day, Ariana will let go of the burden on her shoulders. We're waiting with that kind of attitude. But strangely enough!"
Isabelle's grip tightened. It hurt more than before, but Isaac couldn't say anything. Isabelle looked even more hurt.
"Once she meets the Northern Lord, it's like she's back to square one. When she returned from the Northern Territory, and now here. She has the look in her eyes of someone wandering through the desert."
Isabelle took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress her heightened emotions.
"I. My family. I wish Ariana could just be a child. A child without any self-control, who can whine, nag, get angry, and laugh. I wish she could be like that. And I'd do anything to make that happen."
"I know."
"If you know, go tell the Northern Lord. He's always thinking and worrying about something. Perhaps it's about clearing the wrongs of his ancestors."
Isabelle knew more than Isaac thought.
"If you need help, ask His Excellency the Northern Lord. Don't even think about using Ariana."
Isaac smiled awkwardly.
"Of course, I've told His Excellency. It's too much for the Princess Consort to eat alone, and it keeps piling up. But His Excellency says the Princess Consort loves sweets, so he keeps ordering them. What can I do?"
“...I do like sweets. But not to this extent. It’s too much. And there’s no reason to accept it.”
“Princess...”
Ariana swallowed a small sigh.
When she decided to distance herself from Cyrus, she also decided to cut ties with his people. But Isaac wouldn't let that happen.
"Princess, I understand you're keeping your distance because His Excellency is such a bad guy. But I'm a good guy. Besides, we're friends, right? Wasn't I the only one who thought the Princess Consort was my friend? Oh, then it makes me sad. Can I cry? You won't even lend me a handkerchief if I cry, right? Because we're not friends?"
Isaac, who was even shedding tears, couldn't be shooed away. Even Shini, watching from the side, muttered, "Poor thing, master. Could you lend me a handkerchief?" Isaac looked so pitiful.
"Isaac. If Isaac and I are friends and you're here, then stop bringing me chocolate and stop calling me Princess Consort. If you keep calling me that, I won't be able to see you again."
“Ah... um. Oh, yes. That’s right. I see. I understand, Princess.”
Ariana hated being called the Consort. The title felt incredibly heavy and burdensome. But when she was actually called “Princess,” she felt strangely empty, which left me at a loss for words.
Why am I really doing this?
“Call me Ariana. We’re friends, you know.”
Isaac grinned.
“That can’t be. Even His Excellency can’t call you by that name, so I can’t be the first to call you by that name.”
She couldn't force him to call her by her name. Isaac watched Ariana nod with a slightly bitter expression, then pulled an envelope of medicine from his pocket.
“Oh, this is this week’s medicine.”
Ariana had asked Isaac for a pill a month ago.
A toxic softener that protects against various toxic substances.
It was usually taken regularly by pharmacists who tested the effects on their own bodies when making medicine, chefs who made experimental foods, and farmers who grew medicinal herbs.
Although it does not protect against deliberately made poisons, it has the effect of neutralizing some poisons to some extent.
Although anti-toxic drugs are available commercially, the most effective ones are imported from the North, and the person who created them was Isaac's father.
“Thank you, Isaac.”
Ariana accepted the packet of medicine and paid Isaac for it. Isaac, who accepted it with a displeased expression, bent forward.
“But, Princess Co... Princess. Are you really okay? Who is after you, Princess?”
If not, there would be no way an ordinary woman would consistently take anti-poison.
But Ariana shook her head calmly.
“No, it’s not like that. It’s just that there’s no harm in being prepared.”
Victoria and the Third Prince often used poison to deal with their enemies. Nothing was more convenient than poison to deal with a close enemy. She could have someone else eliminate someone she didn't like without getting her hands dirty.
Victoria lost Ariana, and the Third Prince lost Chloe, but there were still many people who would act for them.
She will encounter them a lot in the future, so she needs to prepare in advance.
“If I get poisoned, will you come and treat me?”
"Princess! Don't even ask such a pitiful question. Of course, I should come. If not me, who else would dare to treat you?"
Isaac, who had been speaking while patting his chest, bowed again.
"But, Princess. You're not really in danger, are you? If you are, then to His Excellency..."
"Isaac. Don't say anything to the Northern Lord. I'm done with his help. I've already received more than enough."
The voice flowing from her small, plump lips was weary, like someone who had lived a long time. Isaac didn't want to embarrass Ariana any further. But...
‘If we continue like this, we can’t let their relationship become irreparable...’
He was so anxious that he had to add his words.
"His Excellency has been abused by people who were too close to him for too long, from a very young age. That's why he doesn't know. He doesn't know how to receive love, nor how to give it."
"I know."
Ariana's smile seemed to be fading.
"I know exactly what it is. I know exactly what it is."
Because she lived and died like that, too.
Swallowing the words she couldn't say, Ariana said.
"That's why the Northern Lord and me should stay far apart. It'll only cause each other pain, anxiety, and suspicion."
***
Isaac came out of the living room, looked back at the closed door, and sighed deeply.
Lancer watched silently. Louis's sudden outburst and departure bothered him, so he couldn't bring himself to sneer at Isaac.
Isaac, who couldn't bring himself to move and kept sighing, looked back at Lancer.
“Sir Leon.”
"Yes."
“I can’t take my eyes off the Princess.”
“What’s wrong with the Princess?”
“I don’t know for sure... but I’m anxious. So please... ugh, I guess I’ll go now. Cheer up.”
Isaac was about to run away without saying a word, so he turned around to see what was going on and saw Isabelle running towards him.
“Isaac!”
Isaac pretended not to hear and hurried on, but Isabelle ran over and grabbed Isaac's sleeve.
“Why are you pretending not to hear?”
“I guess it’s because I’m getting older, but I’m having trouble hearing these days.”
“Oh, really? When you can’t hear, just give it a good slap. Should I hit it for you?”
“I’ll decline. Now that I think about it, I think I can hear it pretty well.”
Isaac answered without stopping. Isabelle followed him and spoke.
“Isaac, I have something to ask you.”
"Yes."
“What’s going on between the Northern Lord and our Ariana?”
“Uh, um. No.”
“Really?”
“No, there isn’t.”
"However."
Isabelle grabbed Isaac's wrist tightly, stopping him. Isaac swallowed a sigh. How could this lady be so strong?
“Why did the Northern Lord kill Count Geo to protect our Ariana?”
“Because if we don’t kill him there, His Excellency the Eastern Lord will be angry and invade the empire.”
Isabelle's eyes narrowed.
“Our Lord, the Lord of the East, would be so ignorant of the consequences that he would invade the Empire... Hmm. Ah, that could be so.”
“Right? That’s why. It was all for His Excellency the Eastern Lord and the Princess.”
"But that's also strange. Why would the Northern Lord care about our uncle and Ariana? Isn't the Northern Lord the type of person who doesn't care about such things?"
"That's true, but... well, a lot of things have come together, shall we say? If His Excellency the Eastern Lord causes a disturbance in the empire, it could be troublesome. In any case, there are many things the Lady doesn't know about."
Isabelle's eyes narrowed so much that her pupils were no longer visible. This scared Isaac.
What on earth is this lady thinking?
“Excuse me, Miss Isabelle. My wrist hurts so much. Would you mind taking a break and talking?”
"Isaac. Whatever the Northern Lord is up to, I hope it doesn't come to Ariana's aid."
Isaac was moved by these words.
"What are you talking about? It's a bit odd to say that. Our Excellency has helped the Eastern Lord and Princess so much. Have you forgotten who brought the Princess, who was imprisoned at Bronte Manor, to the royal palace?"
"I remember. I'm very grateful for that, and I understand Ariana sent a suitable reward when she went to the North. Doesn't that settle the matter?"
“No, it’s not just that...”
Isabelle's eyes sparkled.
"Aha. That's not all. There's something else. What is it?"
Isaac thought, "Oh no."
This was precisely what was uncomfortable. Isabelle would sometimes become sharp without knowing anything.
"There's more. It's just that he's considerate in many ways. He treated the Princess well when she came to the North."
Isabelle pursed her lips and glared at Isaac. Isaac averted his gaze, mulling over what he should say to make Isabelle let go of his wrist.
After a rather long silence, Isabelle spoke.
"Do you know how mature Ariana was when she first arrived? She sat down and ate like royalty. Even if there was something she didn't like, she didn't show it. She ate quietly, calmly, and slowly."
“...That... why?”
"It's strange. What kind of child eats like that? But Ariana is always like that. When she first came to the East, she told the adults she wanted to prove her worth."
“...”
"We told her she didn't have to, that she shouldn't do that anymore, and I thought Ariana had accepted being part of our family. But when the perfume-related chaos broke out, Ariana tamed the situation, raised the East's reputation, and nurtured a successful arms dealer, bolstering the East's military power. What do you think this means?"
Isaac slowly turned his gaze and met Isabelle's. Her eyes were flushed red.
"Ariana is still proving her worth to her family. So every time I see her, I feel like she's saying, 'Am I good enough? Am I good enough to be part of your family?"
“Miss Isabelle...”
"It's not that my family doesn't know and doesn't say anything. We just let her do whatever she wants and give her lots of love, and one day, Ariana will let go of the burden on her shoulders. We're waiting with that kind of attitude. But strangely enough!"
Isabelle's grip tightened. It hurt more than before, but Isaac couldn't say anything. Isabelle looked even more hurt.
"Once she meets the Northern Lord, it's like she's back to square one. When she returned from the Northern Territory, and now here. She has the look in her eyes of someone wandering through the desert."
Isabelle took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress her heightened emotions.
"I. My family. I wish Ariana could just be a child. A child without any self-control, who can whine, nag, get angry, and laugh. I wish she could be like that. And I'd do anything to make that happen."
"I know."
"If you know, go tell the Northern Lord. He's always thinking and worrying about something. Perhaps it's about clearing the wrongs of his ancestors."
Isabelle knew more than Isaac thought.
"If you need help, ask His Excellency the Northern Lord. Don't even think about using Ariana."
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