(184) I will do
The bloodshot eyes were steeped in madness. Eyes like those of a wild beast that had lost its reason.
Ariana wondered if Victoria was aware of her change. The power of blood was convenient, but it was stealing Victoria's reason little by little.
“You’re going to die here, Ariana.”
“Well, we’ll have to wait and see.”
“Your fingernails and toenails will all be pulled out, and your tongue will be cut off. Your limbs will be severed, and you will be left helpless, struggling until you die!”
"I'm looking forward to it."
Ariana smiled sweetly.
"Which one will turn out that way?"
“Just you wait. You won’t be able to laugh like that anymore!”
Victoria picked up the dropped lamp, turned around abruptly, and left. Although Victoria's footsteps faded into the distance, Ariana did not lose her composure.
She knew that there was one more person remaining in the darkness.
Eventually, the person appeared. It was Harold.
Harold slowly scanned Ariana as if finding the sight of her trapped amusing and fascinating. Ariana sat quietly and stared at him.
Stunning blonde hair, slightly downturned eyes, kind-looking brown eyes, and fair, smooth skin. It was funny that there was a time when she thought this man was the coolest and most amazing person in the world.
As it turns out, he is just a fool who can't even raise his voice in front of the Northern Lord or the Eastern Lord.
“Why are you getting on Victoria's nerves like that?”
She answered calmly to Harold, who was asking slowly.
"Just because you humor them doesn't mean you'll be released from here."
“The Princess does not have that power. But I do, Princess. Since His Majesty the Emperor trusts me, I can get you out of here with just a few words from me.”
“Well, His Majesty the Emperor didn’t seem to trust the Third Prince all that much.”
"The Princess doesn't know much about the affairs of our royal family. Father actually cherishes me the most."
“Even though you invested in the perfume business for personal gain, lost a fortune, and incurred public outrage?”
Ariana enjoyed watching Harold's face contort.
“Even though rumors were circulating that you looked suspicious at the scene where Little Count Goo was trying to do something terrible to me? Does His Majesty the Emperor really trust the Third Prince that much?”
“Ariana White. You’d better watch your words. You don’t seem to realize your current predicament, but you are going to die soon. The Emperor is letting you get away with this to lure the Eastern Lord into his scheme. The moment the Eastern Lord arrives in the Empire, you will be subjected to brutal torture. However, if the Eastern Lord pledges the entire Eastern Territory to the Emperor, you might escape death.”
"Yes."
“But Ariana, do you really think your father would sacrifice the Eastern Realm for you?”
Ariana stared intently at the Third Prince without answering.
“With just a word from me, your family is finished. But if you kneel and beg me, I might spare your life.”
Ariana slowly stood up and walked toward the bars. Harold waited for Ariana to kneel, wearing a bitter smile.
Ariana, standing in front of Harold, looked straight up at him and spoke.
“What can a boy like you, wrapped up in your mother’s skirt and unable to break free, do for my life?”
A voice as cold as frost pierced Harold's heart.
“What can you gain by begging a coward who wouldn’t even dare to kill me right here and now?”
“This bitch...!”
“If you were a slightly better man, kneeling and begging would be nothing. What can I do? In my eyes, you are so pathetic that it seems there is nothing you can do for me.”
Harold reached out to grab Ariana's hair. Ariana stepped back slightly and dodged his hand.
Ariana laughed refreshingly as she watched him flounder, having lost his balance.
“Go back, Harold Blenwitt. You look so ridiculous that I feel like I’m going to forget where I am and burst out laughing.”
When Cyrus returned to the imperial capital, the White House was surrounded by Imperial Knights. The surveillance was so strict that not even an ant could pass through, but Cyrus used stealth to quietly climb over the wall.
Isabelle and Wiona were at the mansion, but Louis, Shini, and Lanster were not there. After assessing the situation, Cyrus quietly went outside and ordered the eagle Ten to look for Louis.
About two hours after sitting on a tree overlooking the imperial palace, a small voice was heard from behind.
"My Lord."
“What is the situation?”
"The Eastern Little Lord and the Princess Consort have been imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the imperial palace. The Emperor did not even listen to their explanation. Upon investigation, it does not appear that they are being tortured."
Cyrus crossed his arms and tapped his forearm with his index finger.
"The Emperor intends to summon the Eastern Lord to the Empire."
“Yes. On the day the two of you were arrested, the Emperor’s messenger headed to the East.”
“Why is the Emperor doing this crazy thing?”
"It is said that poisonous herbs had been mixed into the tea the Crown Prince and Crown Princess had been drinking. Because of this, the Crown Princess lost her grandson. The poisonous herbs are said to have been found inside a gift box sent from the East."
“This is dumbfounding. I came here because I heard an imperial decree was issued regarding Ariana’s marriage, but to think a problem like this awaited me.”
"I was lacking."
“It wasn’t something you could have stopped. Does Ariana have any sense?”
“Yes. She has made preparations. However, the underground prison is damp, and the air is poor, so I am concerned that the Princess Consort’s health might be compromised.”
"Yeah, I'm worried about that too."
Cyrus let out a sigh.
He knew that the Emperor was weak-willed and easily swayed. He also knew that despite the East's such loyalty, he was still unable to let go of his suspicion toward the Eastern Lord, swayed by the words of the Western Lord.
But he didn't expect to do something this stupid.
"He must think that if he frames Little Lord and Ariana and holds them hostage, the Eastern Lord will act according to his will. He intends to use this to tighten his grip on Eastern Lord's leash."
"I have one more thing to report."
"Say it."
"It appears that Count Gio is involved in the Emperor issuing the imperial decree. I heard that Victoria Bronte visited Count Gio, and that he subsequently entered and left the Imperial Palace."
"Ha."
Cyrus rubbed his face with both hands.
"It was my mistake."
"Yes."
“I should have nipped it off before leaving, but I let my guard down because Count Gio was quiet.”
"Yes."
“Even if news reaches the East and the Eastern Lord moves at top speed, it will take more than ten days to get here.”
"Yes."
Cyrus was lost in thought.
How can I solve these problems?
The imperial decree was issued to Ariana. The false accusation that the entire East must bear.
Louie said that Ariana had made preparations. Cyrus believed that Ariana would clear her name on her own.
The problem was the imperial decree.
The timid Emperor would never retract the imperial decree he had issued. Changing the decree to suit his own convenience would shake his authority.
"The North isn't ready yet."
“My Lord. We have always been ready.”
Louis said firmly.
"If the Lord acts, that is our objective."
With a voice mixed with determination, her red eyes gleamed firmly. Cold air flowed from Cyrus's body. The tree branch he was sitting on froze white.
"Alright, in that case, I will do it."
Count Gio gazed intently at the portrait of his son Fabric hanging on the drawing room wall. In the portrait, his son was smiling confidently, dreaming of a brilliant future without any problems.
He should have been doing that even now. But because of those two bastards.
“Fabric..."
He knew that Fabric sometimes went around doing wrong things with the Third Prince. He also knew that there were a few women who had taken their own lives because of Fabric.
However, he thought it was just youthful folly. He was still young and at the age when he should be in love with women. So, he believed that once this period passed, he would settle down with one woman and build a happy family.
“Why did you have to touch Princess of the East...?”
He heard later that his son hadn't done anything particularly wrong. He had merely touched her lightly, yet to think his wrist and neck were severed because of it.
The Northern lord went too far.
The one he wanted to kill the most was the Northern Lord, but he could not easily touch the Northern Lord, whom the Emperor cherished.
“Still, my son. I brought down at least the East for your sake.”
The East is in a precarious situation due to the crime of attempting to poison the Crown Prince and his wife. If the Eastern Lord voluntarily declares himself a slave state of the Empire and promises to provide the East's troops and annual tribute, Ariana might be released.
However, even after being released, her life would not be smooth. For she would have to marry the Fifth Prince.
"So, sleep peacefully..."
A chilling air enveloped Count Gio's ankles. Before he could even realize the cold sensation, a low, eerie voice came from behind.
“If you want your son to sleep peacefully, why don’t you go and sing him a lullaby yourself?”
“Who, who is it!”
Count Gio turned around in surprise, and brilliant silver hair caught his eye. The red eyes nestled beneath the silver hair gleamed fiercely.
“N-North... Northern Lord... H-How did you get here...? H-Hey! Is anyone there!”
Count Gio raised his voice while trembling, but it was quiet outside.
“It’s no use, Count. Whose blood do you think is on this sword?”
Only then did Count Gio see the sword Cyrus was holding. A red sword dripping with a tap, tap.
Gulp.
Count Gio swallowed hard. He couldn't believe it. He thought he was having a nightmare.
No matter how unruly the Northern Lord may be, he should not do such a thing. To dare mess with the Imperial Count's family. It was preposterous.
“Uh, why... why...?”
“Is it really necessary to know the reason?”
As Cyrus took a step closer, Count Gio hurriedly stepped backward and fell flat on his back. He moved his hips backward while sitting, but his back hit the wall, leaving him nowhere to run.
“Th-th-th-th-do you think you’ll get away unscathed after doing something like this?”
Count Gio was trembling pitifully. However, there was not a shred of warmth in the eyes of Cyrus as he looked down at him.
“Well. But I do know one thing.”
Cyrus raised his sword.
"That you would not be safe."
No one could stop Cyrus as he entered the palace holding the severed head. The chill emanating from him froze the ankles of the knights who had mustered the courage to do so.
Spreading a thick chill that seemed to seep from deep underground, Cyrus walked toward the Emperor's office. With every step he took, drip, drip, blood fell.
The knights guarding the front of the Emperor's office were strong, so they raised their swords without caring that their bodies were freezing. However, before their swords could reach Cyrus, another wave of cold swept over them and froze their wrists solid.
Cyrus stood in front of the closed door and glanced back. Louis nodded.
"I will follow my lord."
Cyrus smiled faintly, then opened the office door.
The bloodshot eyes were steeped in madness. Eyes like those of a wild beast that had lost its reason.
Ariana wondered if Victoria was aware of her change. The power of blood was convenient, but it was stealing Victoria's reason little by little.
“You’re going to die here, Ariana.”
“Well, we’ll have to wait and see.”
“Your fingernails and toenails will all be pulled out, and your tongue will be cut off. Your limbs will be severed, and you will be left helpless, struggling until you die!”
"I'm looking forward to it."
Ariana smiled sweetly.
"Which one will turn out that way?"
“Just you wait. You won’t be able to laugh like that anymore!”
Victoria picked up the dropped lamp, turned around abruptly, and left. Although Victoria's footsteps faded into the distance, Ariana did not lose her composure.
She knew that there was one more person remaining in the darkness.
Eventually, the person appeared. It was Harold.
Harold slowly scanned Ariana as if finding the sight of her trapped amusing and fascinating. Ariana sat quietly and stared at him.
Stunning blonde hair, slightly downturned eyes, kind-looking brown eyes, and fair, smooth skin. It was funny that there was a time when she thought this man was the coolest and most amazing person in the world.
As it turns out, he is just a fool who can't even raise his voice in front of the Northern Lord or the Eastern Lord.
“Why are you getting on Victoria's nerves like that?”
She answered calmly to Harold, who was asking slowly.
"Just because you humor them doesn't mean you'll be released from here."
“The Princess does not have that power. But I do, Princess. Since His Majesty the Emperor trusts me, I can get you out of here with just a few words from me.”
“Well, His Majesty the Emperor didn’t seem to trust the Third Prince all that much.”
"The Princess doesn't know much about the affairs of our royal family. Father actually cherishes me the most."
“Even though you invested in the perfume business for personal gain, lost a fortune, and incurred public outrage?”
Ariana enjoyed watching Harold's face contort.
“Even though rumors were circulating that you looked suspicious at the scene where Little Count Goo was trying to do something terrible to me? Does His Majesty the Emperor really trust the Third Prince that much?”
“Ariana White. You’d better watch your words. You don’t seem to realize your current predicament, but you are going to die soon. The Emperor is letting you get away with this to lure the Eastern Lord into his scheme. The moment the Eastern Lord arrives in the Empire, you will be subjected to brutal torture. However, if the Eastern Lord pledges the entire Eastern Territory to the Emperor, you might escape death.”
"Yes."
“But Ariana, do you really think your father would sacrifice the Eastern Realm for you?”
Ariana stared intently at the Third Prince without answering.
“With just a word from me, your family is finished. But if you kneel and beg me, I might spare your life.”
Ariana slowly stood up and walked toward the bars. Harold waited for Ariana to kneel, wearing a bitter smile.
Ariana, standing in front of Harold, looked straight up at him and spoke.
“What can a boy like you, wrapped up in your mother’s skirt and unable to break free, do for my life?”
A voice as cold as frost pierced Harold's heart.
“What can you gain by begging a coward who wouldn’t even dare to kill me right here and now?”
“This bitch...!”
“If you were a slightly better man, kneeling and begging would be nothing. What can I do? In my eyes, you are so pathetic that it seems there is nothing you can do for me.”
Harold reached out to grab Ariana's hair. Ariana stepped back slightly and dodged his hand.
Ariana laughed refreshingly as she watched him flounder, having lost his balance.
“Go back, Harold Blenwitt. You look so ridiculous that I feel like I’m going to forget where I am and burst out laughing.”
***
When Cyrus returned to the imperial capital, the White House was surrounded by Imperial Knights. The surveillance was so strict that not even an ant could pass through, but Cyrus used stealth to quietly climb over the wall.
Isabelle and Wiona were at the mansion, but Louis, Shini, and Lanster were not there. After assessing the situation, Cyrus quietly went outside and ordered the eagle Ten to look for Louis.
About two hours after sitting on a tree overlooking the imperial palace, a small voice was heard from behind.
"My Lord."
“What is the situation?”
"The Eastern Little Lord and the Princess Consort have been imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the imperial palace. The Emperor did not even listen to their explanation. Upon investigation, it does not appear that they are being tortured."
Cyrus crossed his arms and tapped his forearm with his index finger.
"The Emperor intends to summon the Eastern Lord to the Empire."
“Yes. On the day the two of you were arrested, the Emperor’s messenger headed to the East.”
“Why is the Emperor doing this crazy thing?”
"It is said that poisonous herbs had been mixed into the tea the Crown Prince and Crown Princess had been drinking. Because of this, the Crown Princess lost her grandson. The poisonous herbs are said to have been found inside a gift box sent from the East."
“This is dumbfounding. I came here because I heard an imperial decree was issued regarding Ariana’s marriage, but to think a problem like this awaited me.”
"I was lacking."
“It wasn’t something you could have stopped. Does Ariana have any sense?”
“Yes. She has made preparations. However, the underground prison is damp, and the air is poor, so I am concerned that the Princess Consort’s health might be compromised.”
"Yeah, I'm worried about that too."
Cyrus let out a sigh.
He knew that the Emperor was weak-willed and easily swayed. He also knew that despite the East's such loyalty, he was still unable to let go of his suspicion toward the Eastern Lord, swayed by the words of the Western Lord.
But he didn't expect to do something this stupid.
"He must think that if he frames Little Lord and Ariana and holds them hostage, the Eastern Lord will act according to his will. He intends to use this to tighten his grip on Eastern Lord's leash."
"I have one more thing to report."
"Say it."
"It appears that Count Gio is involved in the Emperor issuing the imperial decree. I heard that Victoria Bronte visited Count Gio, and that he subsequently entered and left the Imperial Palace."
"Ha."
Cyrus rubbed his face with both hands.
"It was my mistake."
"Yes."
“I should have nipped it off before leaving, but I let my guard down because Count Gio was quiet.”
"Yes."
“Even if news reaches the East and the Eastern Lord moves at top speed, it will take more than ten days to get here.”
"Yes."
Cyrus was lost in thought.
How can I solve these problems?
The imperial decree was issued to Ariana. The false accusation that the entire East must bear.
Louie said that Ariana had made preparations. Cyrus believed that Ariana would clear her name on her own.
The problem was the imperial decree.
The timid Emperor would never retract the imperial decree he had issued. Changing the decree to suit his own convenience would shake his authority.
"The North isn't ready yet."
“My Lord. We have always been ready.”
Louis said firmly.
"If the Lord acts, that is our objective."
With a voice mixed with determination, her red eyes gleamed firmly. Cold air flowed from Cyrus's body. The tree branch he was sitting on froze white.
"Alright, in that case, I will do it."
***
Count Gio gazed intently at the portrait of his son Fabric hanging on the drawing room wall. In the portrait, his son was smiling confidently, dreaming of a brilliant future without any problems.
He should have been doing that even now. But because of those two bastards.
“Fabric..."
He knew that Fabric sometimes went around doing wrong things with the Third Prince. He also knew that there were a few women who had taken their own lives because of Fabric.
However, he thought it was just youthful folly. He was still young and at the age when he should be in love with women. So, he believed that once this period passed, he would settle down with one woman and build a happy family.
“Why did you have to touch Princess of the East...?”
He heard later that his son hadn't done anything particularly wrong. He had merely touched her lightly, yet to think his wrist and neck were severed because of it.
The Northern lord went too far.
The one he wanted to kill the most was the Northern Lord, but he could not easily touch the Northern Lord, whom the Emperor cherished.
“Still, my son. I brought down at least the East for your sake.”
The East is in a precarious situation due to the crime of attempting to poison the Crown Prince and his wife. If the Eastern Lord voluntarily declares himself a slave state of the Empire and promises to provide the East's troops and annual tribute, Ariana might be released.
However, even after being released, her life would not be smooth. For she would have to marry the Fifth Prince.
"So, sleep peacefully..."
A chilling air enveloped Count Gio's ankles. Before he could even realize the cold sensation, a low, eerie voice came from behind.
“If you want your son to sleep peacefully, why don’t you go and sing him a lullaby yourself?”
“Who, who is it!”
Count Gio turned around in surprise, and brilliant silver hair caught his eye. The red eyes nestled beneath the silver hair gleamed fiercely.
“N-North... Northern Lord... H-How did you get here...? H-Hey! Is anyone there!”
Count Gio raised his voice while trembling, but it was quiet outside.
“It’s no use, Count. Whose blood do you think is on this sword?”
Only then did Count Gio see the sword Cyrus was holding. A red sword dripping with a tap, tap.
Gulp.
Count Gio swallowed hard. He couldn't believe it. He thought he was having a nightmare.
No matter how unruly the Northern Lord may be, he should not do such a thing. To dare mess with the Imperial Count's family. It was preposterous.
“Uh, why... why...?”
“Is it really necessary to know the reason?”
As Cyrus took a step closer, Count Gio hurriedly stepped backward and fell flat on his back. He moved his hips backward while sitting, but his back hit the wall, leaving him nowhere to run.
“Th-th-th-th-do you think you’ll get away unscathed after doing something like this?”
Count Gio was trembling pitifully. However, there was not a shred of warmth in the eyes of Cyrus as he looked down at him.
“Well. But I do know one thing.”
Cyrus raised his sword.
"That you would not be safe."
***
No one could stop Cyrus as he entered the palace holding the severed head. The chill emanating from him froze the ankles of the knights who had mustered the courage to do so.
Spreading a thick chill that seemed to seep from deep underground, Cyrus walked toward the Emperor's office. With every step he took, drip, drip, blood fell.
The knights guarding the front of the Emperor's office were strong, so they raised their swords without caring that their bodies were freezing. However, before their swords could reach Cyrus, another wave of cold swept over them and froze their wrists solid.
Cyrus stood in front of the closed door and glanced back. Louis nodded.
"I will follow my lord."
Cyrus smiled faintly, then opened the office door.
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