(190) Life as a Bonus
Ariana slowly savored the abundant food laid out on the table while recounting what had happened at the imperial palace.
Isabelle and Wiona, who were not present, listened to the story, sometimes shouting in excitement and sometimes muttering curses when Victoria's side countered.
“I wonder if those people are being tortured by now?”
Cyrus answered Isabelle's words.
“The matter is grave, so the Emperor won’t stall for time. However, the Western Lord won’t just sit idly by either. He must have had something prepared when he sent Victoria Bronte to poison the Crown Prince and his wife.”
“The Empire will prepare for war, strengthen its defenses, and request troops from its allies. It wouldn't be surprising if war broke out at any moment...”
Averaster stared intently at Cyrus.
“What will His Excellency the Northern Lord do? Will you stand on the side of the Empire?”
"Seeing that you are asking such a thing, it seems the East has made up its mind."
"The Emperor has issued an imperial decree for Ariana to marry the Fifth Prince. We cannot simply stand by and watch."
“So you’re going to get rid of Ariana’s prospective spouse entirely?”
"Wouldn't that be the cleanest and fastest way?"
"Yeah, it is a simple and good method."
As Cyrus gave off a look as if he were about to draw his sword at any moment, Averaster nodded in satisfaction.
Yeah, we could entrust Ariana to that man.
Then Ariana spoke firmly.
“Averaster, you shouldn’t make decisions on matters like this so easily.”
“You say I made the decision easily? It’s a decision I made after thinking about it a hundred times and agonizing over it a thousand times.”
“Right, Averaster may look like that, but he’s actually quite thoughtful. Right now, all we can do to protect you is war and destruction!”
Isabelle shouted defiantly. At her determined look, Ariana burst into a hollow laugh.
“Why on earth is all you think about fighting? What you are saying right now is that you intend to wage war against the Empire of all nations. War... cannot. I cannot create innocent victims over my marriage. Besides...”
Ariana slowly savored the abundant food laid out on the table while recounting what had happened at the imperial palace.
Isabelle and Wiona, who were not present, listened to the story, sometimes shouting in excitement and sometimes muttering curses when Victoria's side countered.
“I wonder if those people are being tortured by now?”
Cyrus answered Isabelle's words.
“The matter is grave, so the Emperor won’t stall for time. However, the Western Lord won’t just sit idly by either. He must have had something prepared when he sent Victoria Bronte to poison the Crown Prince and his wife.”
“The Empire will prepare for war, strengthen its defenses, and request troops from its allies. It wouldn't be surprising if war broke out at any moment...”
Averaster stared intently at Cyrus.
“What will His Excellency the Northern Lord do? Will you stand on the side of the Empire?”
"Seeing that you are asking such a thing, it seems the East has made up its mind."
"The Emperor has issued an imperial decree for Ariana to marry the Fifth Prince. We cannot simply stand by and watch."
“So you’re going to get rid of Ariana’s prospective spouse entirely?”
"Wouldn't that be the cleanest and fastest way?"
"Yeah, it is a simple and good method."
As Cyrus gave off a look as if he were about to draw his sword at any moment, Averaster nodded in satisfaction.
Yeah, we could entrust Ariana to that man.
Then Ariana spoke firmly.
“Averaster, you shouldn’t make decisions on matters like this so easily.”
“You say I made the decision easily? It’s a decision I made after thinking about it a hundred times and agonizing over it a thousand times.”
“Right, Averaster may look like that, but he’s actually quite thoughtful. Right now, all we can do to protect you is war and destruction!”
Isabelle shouted defiantly. At her determined look, Ariana burst into a hollow laugh.
“Why on earth is all you think about fighting? What you are saying right now is that you intend to wage war against the Empire of all nations. War... cannot. I cannot create innocent victims over my marriage. Besides...”
The Eastern Lord wanted peace in the Eastern Region.
To avoid getting entangled in power struggles, he kept his distance from the Empire and quietly guarded the Eastern Territory. For the sake of the people's peace, he did not even attempt to clear the stigma he had been branded with, and regardless of what the Western Lord whispered to the Emperor, he cared only about the safety of the Eastern Territory.
Ariana did not want to break the peace her father had protected.
She wanted to protect the East, her father's heart, which she had shattered into pieces in the past.
“I do not want the Eastern Region to be thrown into turmoil over my marriage. If a war breaks out because of my marriage, the people will resent my Father. To bring about bloodshed over a mere daughter’s marriage. A monarch must not do that.”
Just as Isabelle was about to shout something, Cyrus raised his index finger to stop her and asked.
“Then, Princess, do you have a good plan to resolve this situation? Since you are always thinking of various things with that pretty little head of yours, you must be so relaxed because you have something in mind.”
"For some reason, your tone is sharp, Lord of the North."
“Sharp? I’m just anxious. To me, the Princess’s marriage isn’t ‘just’ a trivial matter, but you seem to think it is.”
Cyrus looked really nervous.
Ariana found it refreshing to see him fretting over her problems. So, she felt like teasing him a little.
“I don’t understand why the Northern Lord is so concerned about my marriage. Don’t you have plenty of other problems to worry about besides that?”
"I'm going to marry you, Ariana."
It was just a joke, but the response was intense. Cyrus stared straight at Ariana and said it again.
"I'm going to marry you, Ariana."
"Ah..."
"You are my woman."
His unwavering gaze ensnared Ariana to the point where she couldn't even bring herself to say, "I'm the one holding your leash." His intense desire overwhelmed Ariana.
As the surroundings blurred, only his eyes remained clearly visible. Eyes that held only Ariana. Eyes that desired only Ariana.
"So, Ariana."
Cyrus lifted Ariana's hand and kissed her wrist while keeping his gaze fixed.
"Think it over."
Louis, who had been quietly watching the scene from outside the window, nodded with satisfaction. Just as Shini was asking Louis in a low voice, “Is our master having a baby now?”, Averaster cleared his throat.
“Your Excellency, Lord of the Northern Lord, it does not seem like the right time or place for a romantic affair.”
Only then did Ariana remember that she was with her family; blushing, she tried to pull her hand away from Cyrus's grasp. However, he did not let go and asked Averaster.
"Is that so? Then, would you let me know the appropriate time and place? I would like to unfold my full potential then."
As an excessively handsome man unhesitatingly revealed his desire, it was sexy in its own way. As Isabelle and Wiona could not take their eyes off Cyrus, Averaster covered Wiona's eyes with his hand and spoke.
“Excuse me, madam? Your husband is over here.”
Seizing the opportunity, Ariana quickly pushed Cyrus away and composed her expression. She straightened her posture, trying hard to act as if nothing was wrong, and spoke.
"I've been thinking about it."
Everyone was impressed by Ariana’s efforts to pretend that what had just happened never happened, so they listened to her without mentioning it.
“I’ve prepared hideouts in several countries. I also have enough funds to live comfortably while concealing my identity. So, I plan to watch how things unfold and then escape.”
"To think you ran away."
“Listen to me until the end, Averaster. I will let everyone know where I will be hiding. We might meet occasionally, or I might visit the East in disguise. I am not saying I will sever ties completely. It is just that if I run away, the Emperor will suspect the East again. At that time, I just needed to say that the East knew nothing, and that I actually infiltrated the East and carried out these things on the orders of the Western Lord.”
Ariana planned to take on everything and leave.
She had been keeping in mind that something like this might happen even before she received the imperial order.
It is a life obtained as a bonus.
She gained the status of a Princess, became a member of the White family, and fully enjoyed that happiness. She also meted out the deserved punishment to those she had hated.
So, she must end it here.
She could not bring myself to drag the East, her father, and her family into a perilous situation by seeking anything more than this.
War, in particular, is unacceptable.
With so much of the future already changed, no one knew how to respond if a war broke out. Ariana didn't know much about war.
She was uneasy about the Western Lord's silence so far. She didn't know how he might attack, and she was afraid that the East might collapse because of it, just like in her previous life.
Therefore, at this point, it had to be ensured that the East would not fall out with the Empire.
“Ariana, what are you talking about? Are you telling us to pin everything on you and just live happily ever after? Do you think that makes sense?”
“Sister, this is the best option for now. We have to think not just of myself, but of the entire East.”
“The East or whatever, what about your life?”
“I told you. I have plenty of funds. I can live comfortably and lavishly, just like when I lived in the Esst.”
“Hey! Stop talking nonsense. Do you think the peace secured by making you a scapegoat will be glorious? Do you think the people of the East would want peace even if it meant sacrificing the Princess!”
“Sister...”
“There is nothing more to hear. Cut the useless chatter and get ready to return to the East. This damn Imperial air is so filthy I can’t stand it anymore!”
Ariana turned to look at Geor as if asking for help.
She thought that Geor would understand her feelings. After all, she was someone who cherished the Eastern Territory enough to die for the Eastern Lord.
Geor, who had been sitting with his arms crossed without saying a word, smiled sweetly.
“Shall I wait just a few more days for now? God might answer my prayer.”
Screams never ceased in the torture chambers located in the basement of the imperial palace.
The Emperor was furious and threatened those involved, ordering them to find out, by any means necessary, what the Western Lord was trying to do and what ulterior motive he had for committing such an act.
I know nothing. My mother ordered it. My wife did it alone. She fell for the Third Prince's trick. It is Victoria's doing alone. It is the fault of the Western Lord.
However, since no one knew where Western Lord was or what he intended to do after this, they could not provide the answer the Emperor wanted.
The more this happened, the more horrific the torture became, and the prisoners thrown into the prison late at night groaned or let out screams of agony.
Royal Consort Aelra, who had lived a life of pampering, went mad, laughing hysterically or crying, and ordering a maidservant who wasn't even there to bring delicious fruit; Harold sat in a corner, trembling as he watched his mother go mad.
The Bronte family was also in a dire situation. Jacob looked as if he were about to die at any moment, Rachel had collapsed without even the strength to scream, and Victoria was pleading while holding onto the bars.
“Call Ariana. Please bring Ariana here!”
However, no one answered Victoria's plea.
The empire became busy.
They gathered troops and increased the security of the imperial palace in preparation for war, and organized a search party to capture Paganus, who was hiding in the empire.
People sensed the winds of war and prepared to protect themselves or flee, while the Paganus who had entered the Empire gathered in a secret salon.
Even though the matter was urgent, the Paganus showed no signs of worry.
Martina, the owner of the secret salon, said.
"A reply has arrived from Western Lord. Although it is earlier than scheduled, he says preparations are complete and orders us to move."
"You mean earlier than scheduled? Isn't that too late? The Imperial Knights have already set up defenses."
“Well, I doubt the Imperial Knights are all that great. We were always fighting the Eastern or Northern Territories, not the Empire, you know? Do you think soldiers who have never fought a proper battle even know how to hold a sword properly?”
"Still, they wouldn't be treated as a great power without reason, so you have to act as cautiously as possible."
“Of course I will. I’ve already made preparations for that, haven’t I? Oh, and.”
Martina raised her index finger.
"I have to save the Princess and the Third Prince."
The faces of the Paganus contorted violently.
“Why on earth? They are useless. We’ve helped them in every way possible, but they couldn’t do a single thing right and ended up trapped. Especially Victoria—that crazy bitch—things went wrong because she needlessly provoked Princess of the East.”
“Lungo is right. Besides, she’s been eating way too many hearts. She used to be pretty smart, but now she’s just a woman who’s lost her mind.”
“She is a Princess, but is there really a need to save the Third Prince at this point? Being of the royal family means nothing anymore.”
"Did Western Lord cherish his granddaughter enough to tell her to risk such danger?"
Martina waited for her voice filled with dissatisfaction to subside, then spoke.
"She's at least pretty, you know. They say she might be useful somewhere."
To avoid getting entangled in power struggles, he kept his distance from the Empire and quietly guarded the Eastern Territory. For the sake of the people's peace, he did not even attempt to clear the stigma he had been branded with, and regardless of what the Western Lord whispered to the Emperor, he cared only about the safety of the Eastern Territory.
Ariana did not want to break the peace her father had protected.
She wanted to protect the East, her father's heart, which she had shattered into pieces in the past.
“I do not want the Eastern Region to be thrown into turmoil over my marriage. If a war breaks out because of my marriage, the people will resent my Father. To bring about bloodshed over a mere daughter’s marriage. A monarch must not do that.”
Just as Isabelle was about to shout something, Cyrus raised his index finger to stop her and asked.
“Then, Princess, do you have a good plan to resolve this situation? Since you are always thinking of various things with that pretty little head of yours, you must be so relaxed because you have something in mind.”
"For some reason, your tone is sharp, Lord of the North."
“Sharp? I’m just anxious. To me, the Princess’s marriage isn’t ‘just’ a trivial matter, but you seem to think it is.”
Cyrus looked really nervous.
Ariana found it refreshing to see him fretting over her problems. So, she felt like teasing him a little.
“I don’t understand why the Northern Lord is so concerned about my marriage. Don’t you have plenty of other problems to worry about besides that?”
"I'm going to marry you, Ariana."
It was just a joke, but the response was intense. Cyrus stared straight at Ariana and said it again.
"I'm going to marry you, Ariana."
"Ah..."
"You are my woman."
His unwavering gaze ensnared Ariana to the point where she couldn't even bring herself to say, "I'm the one holding your leash." His intense desire overwhelmed Ariana.
As the surroundings blurred, only his eyes remained clearly visible. Eyes that held only Ariana. Eyes that desired only Ariana.
"So, Ariana."
Cyrus lifted Ariana's hand and kissed her wrist while keeping his gaze fixed.
"Think it over."
Louis, who had been quietly watching the scene from outside the window, nodded with satisfaction. Just as Shini was asking Louis in a low voice, “Is our master having a baby now?”, Averaster cleared his throat.
“Your Excellency, Lord of the Northern Lord, it does not seem like the right time or place for a romantic affair.”
Only then did Ariana remember that she was with her family; blushing, she tried to pull her hand away from Cyrus's grasp. However, he did not let go and asked Averaster.
"Is that so? Then, would you let me know the appropriate time and place? I would like to unfold my full potential then."
As an excessively handsome man unhesitatingly revealed his desire, it was sexy in its own way. As Isabelle and Wiona could not take their eyes off Cyrus, Averaster covered Wiona's eyes with his hand and spoke.
“Excuse me, madam? Your husband is over here.”
Seizing the opportunity, Ariana quickly pushed Cyrus away and composed her expression. She straightened her posture, trying hard to act as if nothing was wrong, and spoke.
"I've been thinking about it."
Everyone was impressed by Ariana’s efforts to pretend that what had just happened never happened, so they listened to her without mentioning it.
“I’ve prepared hideouts in several countries. I also have enough funds to live comfortably while concealing my identity. So, I plan to watch how things unfold and then escape.”
"To think you ran away."
“Listen to me until the end, Averaster. I will let everyone know where I will be hiding. We might meet occasionally, or I might visit the East in disguise. I am not saying I will sever ties completely. It is just that if I run away, the Emperor will suspect the East again. At that time, I just needed to say that the East knew nothing, and that I actually infiltrated the East and carried out these things on the orders of the Western Lord.”
Ariana planned to take on everything and leave.
She had been keeping in mind that something like this might happen even before she received the imperial order.
It is a life obtained as a bonus.
She gained the status of a Princess, became a member of the White family, and fully enjoyed that happiness. She also meted out the deserved punishment to those she had hated.
So, she must end it here.
She could not bring myself to drag the East, her father, and her family into a perilous situation by seeking anything more than this.
War, in particular, is unacceptable.
With so much of the future already changed, no one knew how to respond if a war broke out. Ariana didn't know much about war.
She was uneasy about the Western Lord's silence so far. She didn't know how he might attack, and she was afraid that the East might collapse because of it, just like in her previous life.
Therefore, at this point, it had to be ensured that the East would not fall out with the Empire.
“Ariana, what are you talking about? Are you telling us to pin everything on you and just live happily ever after? Do you think that makes sense?”
“Sister, this is the best option for now. We have to think not just of myself, but of the entire East.”
“The East or whatever, what about your life?”
“I told you. I have plenty of funds. I can live comfortably and lavishly, just like when I lived in the Esst.”
“Hey! Stop talking nonsense. Do you think the peace secured by making you a scapegoat will be glorious? Do you think the people of the East would want peace even if it meant sacrificing the Princess!”
“Sister...”
“There is nothing more to hear. Cut the useless chatter and get ready to return to the East. This damn Imperial air is so filthy I can’t stand it anymore!”
Ariana turned to look at Geor as if asking for help.
She thought that Geor would understand her feelings. After all, she was someone who cherished the Eastern Territory enough to die for the Eastern Lord.
Geor, who had been sitting with his arms crossed without saying a word, smiled sweetly.
“Shall I wait just a few more days for now? God might answer my prayer.”
***
Screams never ceased in the torture chambers located in the basement of the imperial palace.
The Emperor was furious and threatened those involved, ordering them to find out, by any means necessary, what the Western Lord was trying to do and what ulterior motive he had for committing such an act.
Those being tortured were too busy blaming one another.
However, since no one knew where Western Lord was or what he intended to do after this, they could not provide the answer the Emperor wanted.
The more this happened, the more horrific the torture became, and the prisoners thrown into the prison late at night groaned or let out screams of agony.
Royal Consort Aelra, who had lived a life of pampering, went mad, laughing hysterically or crying, and ordering a maidservant who wasn't even there to bring delicious fruit; Harold sat in a corner, trembling as he watched his mother go mad.
The Bronte family was also in a dire situation. Jacob looked as if he were about to die at any moment, Rachel had collapsed without even the strength to scream, and Victoria was pleading while holding onto the bars.
“Call Ariana. Please bring Ariana here!”
However, no one answered Victoria's plea.
The empire became busy.
They gathered troops and increased the security of the imperial palace in preparation for war, and organized a search party to capture Paganus, who was hiding in the empire.
People sensed the winds of war and prepared to protect themselves or flee, while the Paganus who had entered the Empire gathered in a secret salon.
Even though the matter was urgent, the Paganus showed no signs of worry.
Martina, the owner of the secret salon, said.
"A reply has arrived from Western Lord. Although it is earlier than scheduled, he says preparations are complete and orders us to move."
"You mean earlier than scheduled? Isn't that too late? The Imperial Knights have already set up defenses."
“Well, I doubt the Imperial Knights are all that great. We were always fighting the Eastern or Northern Territories, not the Empire, you know? Do you think soldiers who have never fought a proper battle even know how to hold a sword properly?”
"Still, they wouldn't be treated as a great power without reason, so you have to act as cautiously as possible."
“Of course I will. I’ve already made preparations for that, haven’t I? Oh, and.”
Martina raised her index finger.
"I have to save the Princess and the Third Prince."
The faces of the Paganus contorted violently.
“Why on earth? They are useless. We’ve helped them in every way possible, but they couldn’t do a single thing right and ended up trapped. Especially Victoria—that crazy bitch—things went wrong because she needlessly provoked Princess of the East.”
“Lungo is right. Besides, she’s been eating way too many hearts. She used to be pretty smart, but now she’s just a woman who’s lost her mind.”
“She is a Princess, but is there really a need to save the Third Prince at this point? Being of the royal family means nothing anymore.”
"Did Western Lord cherish his granddaughter enough to tell her to risk such danger?"
Martina waited for her voice filled with dissatisfaction to subside, then spoke.
"She's at least pretty, you know. They say she might be useful somewhere."
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