(166) It's mine (2)
Her whole body ached. A heavy weariness weighed on her, but now it was really time to go back.
Ariana barely managed to push away Cyrus, who kept clinging to her, and got out of bed. Supporting the staggering Ariana, Cyrus spoke.
"Did you enjoy it enough?"
Ariana glared at Cyrus silently.
She only intended to say something mean because he was annoying, but she didn't know he would use those words to his advantage this well. Anyway, he is a man you shouldn't let your guard down against.
"It seems like you're having more fun than me."
“Of course. After all, I’ve got my hands on the jewel I wanted.”
"I have never been in your hands."
“Then let’s just say I’m in your hands. Because I have an owner holding my leash.”
He kissed Ariana's wrist as if branding it.
"I'm happy."
"I probably wouldn't be a very good master."
"Make all the work you want. I'll let myself be dragged along however you want."
Every single word flowing from his lips was so sweet that she simply couldn't bring herself to hate him. Ariana bit her lower lip slightly and pulled her wrist free.
"I really have to go now."
“I’ll give you a ride. Make sure no one sees me.”
It was just when Cyrus's abilities were needed. He didn't want anyone to see him in this state.
After roughly running his fingers through his hair and adjusting his clothes, he carried her over the wall. Even after crossing the wall, he did not let Ariana down and continued walking.
"Let me down."
“If I let you down, your concealment will be broken, and you’ll be discovered by Little Lord.”
"Really?"
"Really."
"In that case, it can't be helped."
Ariana held onto his clothes tightly so that her concealment would not be broken.
Two men watched as Cyrus carried Ariana and walked toward the mansion. They were Noah and Andrei, sitting under a tree at the Northern Mansion.
“What do you think, Noah?”
"My Lord, he certainly becomes a fool when he falls in love."
"I know. To think he would even tell such a ridiculous lie."
Stealth is a technique of avoiding an opponent's gaze by disrupting the surrounding air, and Cyrus was particularly skilled at it. There was no way his stealth would be broken just by letting Ariana down.
"Have the Princess really accepted our Lord now?"
“You must not let your guard down. His Excellency might do something foolish again and hurt the feelings of the Princess consort, so always keep an eye on him.”
Noah nodded more seriously than when he had received any other order.
"I will do my best until the day I return to the North with the Princess Consort."
Cyrus lowered Ariana onto the sofa, tucked her disheveled hair behind her ear, and spoke.
“I miss you already.”
Her whole body ached. A heavy weariness weighed on her, but now it was really time to go back.
Ariana barely managed to push away Cyrus, who kept clinging to her, and got out of bed. Supporting the staggering Ariana, Cyrus spoke.
"Did you enjoy it enough?"
Ariana glared at Cyrus silently.
She only intended to say something mean because he was annoying, but she didn't know he would use those words to his advantage this well. Anyway, he is a man you shouldn't let your guard down against.
"It seems like you're having more fun than me."
“Of course. After all, I’ve got my hands on the jewel I wanted.”
"I have never been in your hands."
“Then let’s just say I’m in your hands. Because I have an owner holding my leash.”
He kissed Ariana's wrist as if branding it.
"I'm happy."
"I probably wouldn't be a very good master."
"Make all the work you want. I'll let myself be dragged along however you want."
Every single word flowing from his lips was so sweet that she simply couldn't bring herself to hate him. Ariana bit her lower lip slightly and pulled her wrist free.
"I really have to go now."
“I’ll give you a ride. Make sure no one sees me.”
It was just when Cyrus's abilities were needed. He didn't want anyone to see him in this state.
After roughly running his fingers through his hair and adjusting his clothes, he carried her over the wall. Even after crossing the wall, he did not let Ariana down and continued walking.
"Let me down."
“If I let you down, your concealment will be broken, and you’ll be discovered by Little Lord.”
"Really?"
"Really."
"In that case, it can't be helped."
Ariana held onto his clothes tightly so that her concealment would not be broken.
Two men watched as Cyrus carried Ariana and walked toward the mansion. They were Noah and Andrei, sitting under a tree at the Northern Mansion.
“What do you think, Noah?”
"My Lord, he certainly becomes a fool when he falls in love."
"I know. To think he would even tell such a ridiculous lie."
Stealth is a technique of avoiding an opponent's gaze by disrupting the surrounding air, and Cyrus was particularly skilled at it. There was no way his stealth would be broken just by letting Ariana down.
"Have the Princess really accepted our Lord now?"
“You must not let your guard down. His Excellency might do something foolish again and hurt the feelings of the Princess consort, so always keep an eye on him.”
Noah nodded more seriously than when he had received any other order.
"I will do my best until the day I return to the North with the Princess Consort."
***
Cyrus lowered Ariana onto the sofa, tucked her disheveled hair behind her ear, and spoke.
“I miss you already.”
"Stop talking nonsense and go back right away."
"My master is so heartless. You should hold my leash and pull."
“What if someone comes?”
"No one is coming."
Cyrus bent down and showered Ariana's crown, forehead, the bridge of her nose, and her cheeks with kisses. Then, he brought his face very close to Ariana's and met her eyes.
“But since there are already people here, I guess I should stop here.”
"You mean someone who is already here?'
Ariana turned around in shock and found Shini crouching in the corner. Cyrus chuckled softly as he watched Ariana cover her mouth with both hands.
"Good night, Ariana. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Let's go quickly."
"You should be more heartless."
Cyrus finally left behind a single remark before disappearing.
Ariana covered her mouth with both hands and stared silently at Shini. Shini was also staring intently at Ariana.
After a long silence, Shini opened her mouth.
"Master, are you going to have a baby soon?"
"Shibi!"
Ariana's face flushed bright red.
“What are you talking about? Where did you learn that?”
“Lord Louis told me. She said that when a man and a woman fall in love, they kiss and have a baby. She said the day a baby is born between the Northern Lord and my master is not far off.”
“Louis...”
Ariana was so flustered she couldn't speak.
She thought Louis was a quiet person who wouldn't make things up, but it seems she was mistaken.
“It’s wonderful, Master. Your child and the Northern Lord’s child will be truly beautiful. I hope the baby takes after you.”
“No, Shini. Hey, wait a moment.”
Since returning to the past, Ariana had never been as bewildered as she is now.
“That’s not it, Shini. A baby isn’t made just by a man and a woman kissing. It needs to be a bit more... No, wait, what am I even saying?”
Shini, who had been watching Ariana with clear eyes, smiled brightly.
"You look really beautiful right now, Master. The weather has always been nice, but it is even better today."
"Shini..."
"I am happy because you are beautiful, Master. I will prepare a bath for you."
Although there was a separate maid in charge of bathing, Shini was quick-witted. Perhaps realizing that Ariana did not want anyone to see her in this state, Shini prepared the bathwater herself.
Ariana barely managed to refuse Shini's offer to attend to her bath and entered the bathroom. Undressing in front of the mirror on one side of the spacious bathroom, Ariana let out a small sigh.
She knew this would happen. A pink brand, like a fever rash, was imprinted all over Ariana's body.
She can't show this to Shini.
The water filling the bathtub was warm, so as she immersed herself, her throbbing muscles gently relaxed. As Ariana slowly closed her eyes, Cyrus's face came to mind.
That intense and hot... who was breathing heavily, obsessed with Ariana...
'Stop. Stop. Stop, Ariana.'
I wasn't trying to think like that.
Then what was I trying to think of?
She doesn't even know that. The act she was so engrossed in earlier, his body heat, his breathing, and his scent simply filled her mind, making it impossible to escape.
The words she had heard while drunk came to mind.
“Your sins. Your sorrow. Even your pain. It’s all mine, Ariana. I’m going to take it.”
Those words were sweeter and more alluring than the chocolate he sent every time. So Ariana wanted to believe them. She wanted to forget everything and lean on those comforting words.
'Is it really okay to do that?'
Ariana raised her arm and stared at her wet hand.
The deeper her affection for the White family grew, and the more she accepted their love without reason, the more it felt as if her hands were covered in blood she had never known before.
Russell's face, his father, overlapped with Cyrus's affectionate smile.
Her father, whose expression was stiff when they first met in the East, did not know how to treat his grown-up daughter. And the father who took up his sword for his daughter, despite having taken everything from me.
The single layer of wall remaining between Ariana and her father crumbled. Something deeply touching, painful, tender, and affectionate filled her heart.
That night. For the first time since returning to time, Ariana was able to sleep very soundly. A deep sleep, without even a dream, swept away the grains of sand that had been rustling in her heart.
***
Lunch was served in the dining room of the White family mansion.
The main dish was a large duck stuffed with various spices and vegetables, brushed with sauce several times, and baked. This was a dish Isabelle particularly liked, but Isabelle, who would normally have eaten it with excitement, was just rolling her eyes while holding a fork.
"Eat a lot. This part was tender and delicious."
“I get it, so please leave my plate alone, Lord of the North.”
“This meat tastes great with these grilled mushrooms. Shall I cut them into smaller pieces?”
"I can cut it, so why don't you mind the Northern Lord's plates instead?"
Isabelle, who had pursed her lips, finally could not hold back and opened her mouth.
“Why on earth is the Northern Lord here during our lunch? I have no recollection of inviting him. And that right now... what on earth is he doing?”
“Oh, Lady White. I heard you like this roast duck.”
The roast duck that Isabelle liked was brought by Cyrus.
“I like it. I do like it, but... how did you know I like that?”
“Isaac told me. He said that when Count White’s daughter is served roast duck, she goes crazy and starts moving her fork.”
“Isaac... this guy, seriously...”
Isabelle clenched the hand holding the fork tightly. It looked as if she would have stabbed Isaac in the thigh if he had been standing nearby.
“We brought in famous chefs from the North and have been pouring our hearts and souls into making this since last night, so I really hope it suits Lady White’s taste.”
“What do you mean, ‘Lady’? Just call me by my name. Look, Your Excellency, the Lord of the North. That...”
Even Isabelle, who was clueless about relationships between men and women, couldn't help but notice this situation right before her eyes. Isabelle pointed alternately at Cyrus and Ariana with her fork and spoke.
“Is that... how it is between the two of you? Is that it, Ariana?”
“I don’t know what that is, though.”
Cyrus smiled and gently lifted Ariana's wrist.
"There's no doubt that this small, pretty hand is holding my leash."
Ariana looked back at Cyrus with wide eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Isn't that right? I'm pretty sure you said that yesterday."
“I never said that. You’re the one who just babbled on as you pleased.”
Cyrus said to Isabelle as if to show off.
"That is what she says."
"Ah..."
Isabelle was speechless at the sight of Ariana blushing.
It was the first time she had seen Ariana, who never shows her emotions, blush. With Cyrus, Ariana looked just like an ordinary twenty-year-old woman.
"Wow..."
Isabelle thought it looked good.
She had been worried about Ariana, who always kept her emotions bottled up, but seeing her get flustered and blush at Cyrus's words made her feel relieved enough to bring tears to her eyes.
Yeah, the Northern Lord isn't a bad opponent for our Ariana.
“It’s a relief Averaster isn’t here. If he were, he would have made a huge fuss.”
Averaster was on a date with Wiona in the bustling downtown area.
Geor, who had been silently moving the fork until now, said.
“As Isabelle said, this is such a relief that we should offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God, Northern Lord.”
"I see. Would you pray with me?"
“I don’t really feel like doing that today. It’s not a pleasant feeling to hand my pretty little sister over to the hands of a beastly man.”
“Oh, dear. But as I said earlier, the one holding my leash is your younger sister.”
Ariana couldn't lift her head.
In her past life, she lived as a man's wife, but she had never been in love. Naturally, she had no opportunity to date either.
So, she never imagined sitting side by side with the person she loves and being teased by jer family about it.
It was something she had never even dreamed of, and it was so warm and gentle that it made her eyes sting, so Ariana almost burst into tears.
'Why am I acting like this?'
It has been hard to control her emotions since yesterday.
She can't think of anything she wants to do, and she keeps thinking only of Cyrus. On top of that, her heart is pounding violently, and she feels like she might cry or laugh; she can't manage these various mixed emotions.
This isn't the time for this. The Imperial Palace party is tomorrow. She needs to watch Victoria's face contort miserably under the Empress's protection.
She felt that such things didn't matter.
Ariana turned her head and gazed at the profile of Cyrus, who was still having a foolish conversation with Geor. She took in his moonlit hair.
Neither Victoria, nor the Bronte family, nor the Lord of the West, nor the Third Prince could now control the darkness of Ariana.
Because Cyrus, the brilliant moonlight, and her family, the dazzling sunshine, have cleared away the darkness.
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