(160) Old woman with golden eyes (1)
Many eyes were watching. Yet, without even thinking about controlling her expression, Ariana stared at the two men praying earnestly.
After a while, Geor finished praying and said.
"That's a relief."
"Yeah, that's a relief."
“God has given you a good answer. It seems the Northern Lord is loved by God.”
“It’s thanks to Little Lord who prayed with us.”
The conversation that followed was even more dumbfounding. Ariana didn't know what to say, so she just glared at the back of Geor's head.
Where did the words he'd said, telling him to trust only himself, as he tapped the sword next to him, go? Far from drawing his sword, Geor was now joining in on Cyrus's strange antics. Or was Cyrus even joining in on Geor's strange antics?
'Since when have these two become so close?'
Until very recently, Geor had been wary of Cyrus. He would make a displeased face whenever he saw Cyrus and would even block him from coming near Ariana.
But why are they getting along so perfectly now?
"Since I have also received God's permission."
Cyrus approached Ariana.
“I would like to say hello, Princess.”
She wanted to pretend she didn't notice and turn away, but she couldn't because they weren't alone. Ariana smiled gently and raised her hand.
"We would have exchanged greetings even without offering a prayer.'
Cyrus took Ariana's small hand. He looked at her with both eyes and kissed the back of her hand.
Even though she was wearing gloves, the temperature of his lips felt incredibly hot. His lips were cold, but why did they feel so hot?
“That can’t be.”
Cyrus spoke without lifting his lips. The back of his hand tingled.
“If that’s the rule, then it’s right to follow it.”
Ariana slowly pulled her hand away. Fortunately, Cyrus easily let go of Ariana's hand.
“Excuse me, Your Excellency, Lord of the North.”
Isabelle opened her mouth cautiously.
“Head... Are you okay? You... You got hurt somewhere during the war...Or maybe you were sick for a long time and went a little crazy...”
Ariana thought Cyrus was truly remarkable. He even took such great care of Isabelle.
When Cyrus smiled brightly, even Isabelle blushed.
“Thank you for your concern, Lady. Fortunately, I am fine.”
“Oh, really...? I don’t think so...”
Isabelle couldn't take her eyes off Cyrus's head, truly worried about his condition.
Cyrus said.
“I must have God’s permission. I’d like to take a walk with the Princess.”
“Even if God gave permission, Ariana’s heart is more important.”
As Averaster answered harshly, Cyrus turned to Ariana.
“Princess, are you alright?”
Of course, she hated it. She didn't want to be swayed by him anymore. She didn't want to go through another sleepless night, drawn in by his kindness and giving her heart, only to be hurt by his heartlessness.
But she had a feeling Cyrus had a significant reason for going to such lengths to ask for her time. Perhaps he was trying to discuss something that might have a significant impact on her future plans.
So Ariana agreed.
"All right."
People's eyes followed their footsteps. Shini followed Ariana, holding a parasol.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to have a proper conversation because there are so many eyes watching us. Should we move somewhere else?”
“Didn’t the Princess come here because yiu wanted to see the elephant?”
"That's right."
“Then we should look at the elephant.”
“Wasn’t there something you needed to discuss closely?”
“Aren’t you spending a lot of time here right now?”
What is this guy thinking?
As Ariana gave him a questioning look, Cyrus met her eyes and smiled. She thought how pretty it was to see his eyes crinkle into crescent shapes, then turned her gaze to the side.
“You’ve been laughing a lot lately, Northern Lord.”
“I just laugh when I see the Princess.”
“I’m not a very funny person.”
“You don’t have to be funny to laugh.”
"Then is there another reason to laugh?"
“Because I like it.”
The slow answer struck her heart and sent ripples through her mind.
Even though she knew it was probably a lie, her heart pounded, and she felt annoyed. That's why she didn't want to meet Cyrus.
"I told you, Northern Lord. If you need anything, just ask without going through all this hassle."
“So I’m just talking. I like it, I like it so much I want to walk alone with you.”
“Northern Lord, please...”
“Waaah!”
At that moment, a shout erupted from far away.
An elephant was coming in.
"Wow."
Ariana also let out an exclamation of admiration when she saw the giant elephant.
The elephant was much larger than Ariana had imagined. It was as big as a house, had imposing tusks, and a thick, long trunk.
Ariana was lost in thought, her eyes fixated on the creature, adorned with jewels and silk, so large that it was impossible to see the person riding on it.
There wasn't just one elephant. The one at the head of the procession was the largest, and the ones following were slightly smaller, but they were still massive enough to make you raise your head for a long time.
The ground shook as the elephants walked.
Thump, thump, thump.
Musicians moved along the procession, playing their instruments. The crowd's cheers were deafening. Ariana, who was clasping her hands together in front of her, absentmindedly observing the elephants, heard a small scream.
“Ugh..!”
Ariana turned around, concerned by the short scream.
Beyond the knights, where the commoners were gathered, there was a crouching figure, cloaked over his head. It was impossible to tell whether he was male or female, but he was swept around like a fallen leaf by the vast crowd.
People pushed him to get a closer look at the elephant, as if he didn't even know it was there. Each time they did, he stumbled and flailed.
It wasn't anything to worry about. Someone nearby would come to his aid. He wasn't the only one being pushed around in the first place.
Yet, without knowing why, she couldn't take her eyes off him. Ariana unconsciously walked towards him.
“It’s dangerous.”
Ignoring the knights' attempts to stop her, she crossed the boundary between commoners and nobles. Even while engrossed in watching the giant creature, the commoners noticed Ariana's approach and stepped aside.
Ariana reached the cloaked figure with ease.
He was practically collapsed to the floor, his legs seemingly drained of strength. Feeling a strange sense of unease, Ariana placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
Then he raised his head. The face hidden beneath his cloak was revealed.
The moment she met his gaze, Ariana held her breath.
She was a very old woman. Her skin was dark and wrinkled. Her golden eyes shone like the sun.
Suddenly, something flashed through Ariana's mind. Amidst the excruciating pain, almost suffocating, she saw the old woman's faint smile.
“The Princess is very kind.”
Ariana remembers hearing this voice.
When was it again?
Yes, when the custody trial was over, when she lost so much blood that she lost consciousness, she heard this voice in a dream.
No. That wasn't the first time she heard it.
Ariana was sure she had heard it before. She's sure she heard something similar from this voice.
-“Madam is very kind.”
Her knees buckled. Her vision began to blur.
"Master."
Shini was startled and tried to support Ariana, but she didn't even realize it and just stared blankly into the old woman's eyes.
-“You also look sad. What is it that makes you sad, madam?”
-“I’m not sad.”
-“There are those who hate you.”
-“There is no such thing as a hater.”
-“You just don’t realize it, you know. You're just pretending not to know because you're afraid.”
A conversation she had with someone brought back memories she had completely forgotten.
The old woman's eyes shifted, turning to Shini, who was supporting Ariana. Her eyes widened in surprise, then returned to Ariana. Her eyes were filled with awe.
“Did you take the opportunity?”
Ppportunity.
She wanted to ask what she meant, how she knew what she was saying, but her voice wouldn't come out. Her head was spinning.
Ariana was unable to do anything, as if she had come to know something she should not have known, as if she had glimpsed something she should not have seen, as if she had been punished by God.
A pain she had never felt before spread through her blood vessels throughout her body.
-“Since you have shown me grace, I, a humble old woman, will bestow upon you my blessing.”
The voice continued to buzz in her ears.
-“When the blood of those who hate you spills over this land, you will have another chance. A chance to get what you desire.”
The old woman pulled her cloak over her face.
“I hope you get what you want this time...”
The old woman turned around.
I have to catch her. I have to ask.
What the hell is this? What have you done to me? How did I get another chance? Who are you to do all this?
To understand this life, Ariana needed to catch that old woman and ask her, but her feet wouldn't move. Fragments of memories, scattered like sharp shards of glass, returned to their original positions and swirled around in her head. All she could do was endure the pain without screaming.
Her vision turned white and then black.
Her heart pounded violently. Her whole body ached, as if poison had been mixed into the blood it pumped out.
She felt like she was going to faint, but she didn't want to show herself weak in front of so many eyes.
But her body wouldn't listen. Cyrus supported Ariana's waist as her legs buckled once more.
"Ariana."
When she heard his voice, she felt a sense of relief for some reason.
You don't have to hold out anymore.
Ariana was plunged into darkness.
Shini stood there dumbfounded, unsure of what to do. There was nothing she could do until Ariana lost consciousness.
The old woman's eyes were the same golden color as Shini's. When she met those eyes, she couldn't move, as if under a spell. All she could do was support Ariana, who was on the verge of collapsing.
Now Ariana lay unconscious in Cyrus's arms. The people, distracted by the elephant, were moving along, oblivious to what was happening, toward the elephant's path.
Cyrus cast a fierce gaze towards where the old woman had disappeared, then spoke to Shini.
"Can you catch her?"
Shini nodded.
“I’ll catch her.”
Cyrus nodded slightly.
Leaving Ariana behind weighed on her mind, but as long as Cyrus was with her, Shini had nothing to worry about. Shini ran toward where the old woman had disappeared.
She quickly spotted the back of an old woman in a worn cloak. She was unhurriedly walking through the crowd, staggering.
If she had just taken a few more steps, she would have been able to catch her. She should have, but somehow, no matter how hard she ran, she couldn't catch the old woman.
For a long time, she ran, watching the old woman's back, without even realizing she had entered a deserted road. Only after the old woman stopped walking did Shini finally reach her.
The old woman turned around. As if she had expected Shini to follow, she showed no sign of agitation in her golden eyes, which were identical to Shini's.
The old woman stared intently at Shini and removed the cloak that had covered her head. Her white hair was revealed, and she was still hunched and small, but for some reason, she felt immensely large.
More so than the elephants marching in the distance.
Many eyes were watching. Yet, without even thinking about controlling her expression, Ariana stared at the two men praying earnestly.
After a while, Geor finished praying and said.
"That's a relief."
"Yeah, that's a relief."
“God has given you a good answer. It seems the Northern Lord is loved by God.”
“It’s thanks to Little Lord who prayed with us.”
The conversation that followed was even more dumbfounding. Ariana didn't know what to say, so she just glared at the back of Geor's head.
Where did the words he'd said, telling him to trust only himself, as he tapped the sword next to him, go? Far from drawing his sword, Geor was now joining in on Cyrus's strange antics. Or was Cyrus even joining in on Geor's strange antics?
'Since when have these two become so close?'
Until very recently, Geor had been wary of Cyrus. He would make a displeased face whenever he saw Cyrus and would even block him from coming near Ariana.
But why are they getting along so perfectly now?
"Since I have also received God's permission."
Cyrus approached Ariana.
“I would like to say hello, Princess.”
She wanted to pretend she didn't notice and turn away, but she couldn't because they weren't alone. Ariana smiled gently and raised her hand.
"We would have exchanged greetings even without offering a prayer.'
Cyrus took Ariana's small hand. He looked at her with both eyes and kissed the back of her hand.
Even though she was wearing gloves, the temperature of his lips felt incredibly hot. His lips were cold, but why did they feel so hot?
“That can’t be.”
Cyrus spoke without lifting his lips. The back of his hand tingled.
“If that’s the rule, then it’s right to follow it.”
Ariana slowly pulled her hand away. Fortunately, Cyrus easily let go of Ariana's hand.
“Excuse me, Your Excellency, Lord of the North.”
Isabelle opened her mouth cautiously.
“Head... Are you okay? You... You got hurt somewhere during the war...Or maybe you were sick for a long time and went a little crazy...”
Ariana thought Cyrus was truly remarkable. He even took such great care of Isabelle.
When Cyrus smiled brightly, even Isabelle blushed.
“Thank you for your concern, Lady. Fortunately, I am fine.”
“Oh, really...? I don’t think so...”
Isabelle couldn't take her eyes off Cyrus's head, truly worried about his condition.
Cyrus said.
“I must have God’s permission. I’d like to take a walk with the Princess.”
“Even if God gave permission, Ariana’s heart is more important.”
As Averaster answered harshly, Cyrus turned to Ariana.
“Princess, are you alright?”
Of course, she hated it. She didn't want to be swayed by him anymore. She didn't want to go through another sleepless night, drawn in by his kindness and giving her heart, only to be hurt by his heartlessness.
But she had a feeling Cyrus had a significant reason for going to such lengths to ask for her time. Perhaps he was trying to discuss something that might have a significant impact on her future plans.
So Ariana agreed.
"All right."
People's eyes followed their footsteps. Shini followed Ariana, holding a parasol.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to have a proper conversation because there are so many eyes watching us. Should we move somewhere else?”
“Didn’t the Princess come here because yiu wanted to see the elephant?”
"That's right."
“Then we should look at the elephant.”
“Wasn’t there something you needed to discuss closely?”
“Aren’t you spending a lot of time here right now?”
What is this guy thinking?
As Ariana gave him a questioning look, Cyrus met her eyes and smiled. She thought how pretty it was to see his eyes crinkle into crescent shapes, then turned her gaze to the side.
“You’ve been laughing a lot lately, Northern Lord.”
“I just laugh when I see the Princess.”
“I’m not a very funny person.”
“You don’t have to be funny to laugh.”
"Then is there another reason to laugh?"
“Because I like it.”
The slow answer struck her heart and sent ripples through her mind.
Even though she knew it was probably a lie, her heart pounded, and she felt annoyed. That's why she didn't want to meet Cyrus.
"I told you, Northern Lord. If you need anything, just ask without going through all this hassle."
“So I’m just talking. I like it, I like it so much I want to walk alone with you.”
“Northern Lord, please...”
“Waaah!”
At that moment, a shout erupted from far away.
An elephant was coming in.
"Wow."
Ariana also let out an exclamation of admiration when she saw the giant elephant.
The elephant was much larger than Ariana had imagined. It was as big as a house, had imposing tusks, and a thick, long trunk.
Ariana was lost in thought, her eyes fixated on the creature, adorned with jewels and silk, so large that it was impossible to see the person riding on it.
There wasn't just one elephant. The one at the head of the procession was the largest, and the ones following were slightly smaller, but they were still massive enough to make you raise your head for a long time.
The ground shook as the elephants walked.
Thump, thump, thump.
Musicians moved along the procession, playing their instruments. The crowd's cheers were deafening. Ariana, who was clasping her hands together in front of her, absentmindedly observing the elephants, heard a small scream.
“Ugh..!”
Ariana turned around, concerned by the short scream.
Beyond the knights, where the commoners were gathered, there was a crouching figure, cloaked over his head. It was impossible to tell whether he was male or female, but he was swept around like a fallen leaf by the vast crowd.
People pushed him to get a closer look at the elephant, as if he didn't even know it was there. Each time they did, he stumbled and flailed.
It wasn't anything to worry about. Someone nearby would come to his aid. He wasn't the only one being pushed around in the first place.
Yet, without knowing why, she couldn't take her eyes off him. Ariana unconsciously walked towards him.
“It’s dangerous.”
Ignoring the knights' attempts to stop her, she crossed the boundary between commoners and nobles. Even while engrossed in watching the giant creature, the commoners noticed Ariana's approach and stepped aside.
Ariana reached the cloaked figure with ease.
He was practically collapsed to the floor, his legs seemingly drained of strength. Feeling a strange sense of unease, Ariana placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
Then he raised his head. The face hidden beneath his cloak was revealed.
The moment she met his gaze, Ariana held her breath.
She was a very old woman. Her skin was dark and wrinkled. Her golden eyes shone like the sun.
Suddenly, something flashed through Ariana's mind. Amidst the excruciating pain, almost suffocating, she saw the old woman's faint smile.
“The Princess is very kind.”
Ariana remembers hearing this voice.
When was it again?
Yes, when the custody trial was over, when she lost so much blood that she lost consciousness, she heard this voice in a dream.
No. That wasn't the first time she heard it.
Ariana was sure she had heard it before. She's sure she heard something similar from this voice.
-“Madam is very kind.”
Her knees buckled. Her vision began to blur.
"Master."
Shini was startled and tried to support Ariana, but she didn't even realize it and just stared blankly into the old woman's eyes.
-“You also look sad. What is it that makes you sad, madam?”
-“I’m not sad.”
-“There are those who hate you.”
-“There is no such thing as a hater.”
-“You just don’t realize it, you know. You're just pretending not to know because you're afraid.”
A conversation she had with someone brought back memories she had completely forgotten.
The old woman's eyes shifted, turning to Shini, who was supporting Ariana. Her eyes widened in surprise, then returned to Ariana. Her eyes were filled with awe.
“Did you take the opportunity?”
Ppportunity.
She wanted to ask what she meant, how she knew what she was saying, but her voice wouldn't come out. Her head was spinning.
Ariana was unable to do anything, as if she had come to know something she should not have known, as if she had glimpsed something she should not have seen, as if she had been punished by God.
A pain she had never felt before spread through her blood vessels throughout her body.
-“Since you have shown me grace, I, a humble old woman, will bestow upon you my blessing.”
The voice continued to buzz in her ears.
-“When the blood of those who hate you spills over this land, you will have another chance. A chance to get what you desire.”
The old woman pulled her cloak over her face.
“I hope you get what you want this time...”
The old woman turned around.
I have to catch her. I have to ask.
What the hell is this? What have you done to me? How did I get another chance? Who are you to do all this?
To understand this life, Ariana needed to catch that old woman and ask her, but her feet wouldn't move. Fragments of memories, scattered like sharp shards of glass, returned to their original positions and swirled around in her head. All she could do was endure the pain without screaming.
Her vision turned white and then black.
Her heart pounded violently. Her whole body ached, as if poison had been mixed into the blood it pumped out.
She felt like she was going to faint, but she didn't want to show herself weak in front of so many eyes.
But her body wouldn't listen. Cyrus supported Ariana's waist as her legs buckled once more.
"Ariana."
When she heard his voice, she felt a sense of relief for some reason.
You don't have to hold out anymore.
Ariana was plunged into darkness.
***
Shini stood there dumbfounded, unsure of what to do. There was nothing she could do until Ariana lost consciousness.
The old woman's eyes were the same golden color as Shini's. When she met those eyes, she couldn't move, as if under a spell. All she could do was support Ariana, who was on the verge of collapsing.
Now Ariana lay unconscious in Cyrus's arms. The people, distracted by the elephant, were moving along, oblivious to what was happening, toward the elephant's path.
Cyrus cast a fierce gaze towards where the old woman had disappeared, then spoke to Shini.
"Can you catch her?"
Shini nodded.
“I’ll catch her.”
Cyrus nodded slightly.
Leaving Ariana behind weighed on her mind, but as long as Cyrus was with her, Shini had nothing to worry about. Shini ran toward where the old woman had disappeared.
She quickly spotted the back of an old woman in a worn cloak. She was unhurriedly walking through the crowd, staggering.
If she had just taken a few more steps, she would have been able to catch her. She should have, but somehow, no matter how hard she ran, she couldn't catch the old woman.
For a long time, she ran, watching the old woman's back, without even realizing she had entered a deserted road. Only after the old woman stopped walking did Shini finally reach her.
The old woman turned around. As if she had expected Shini to follow, she showed no sign of agitation in her golden eyes, which were identical to Shini's.
The old woman stared intently at Shini and removed the cloak that had covered her head. Her white hair was revealed, and she was still hunched and small, but for some reason, she felt immensely large.
More so than the elephants marching in the distance.
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