(192) Theodore White (1)
"I am not saying that we should use him, but that we should lend our strength to the East."
“It’s exactly the same. Ariana is clever. There’s no way she wouldn’t notice what I’m thinking. And...”
Ariana cared for the East. She wouldn't want to see bloodshed in the East. She would try to prevent the war by any means necessary.
“I am on Ariana’s side. If Ariana wants to stop the war and keep the Empire intact, I, too, will stake my hopes on that.”
Since his lord's choice was no different from her own, Louis did not object any further.
If he had his way, he would tear the Emperor to pieces for giving Ariana such an absurd order, but that was not Louis's concern.
Cyrus was lost in thought, staring at the table, while Louis quietly stayed by his side as always. Then, suddenly sensing a presence, she spoke.
“Someone has entered the mansion.”
It was too late for someone to come visit.
Cyrus sprang to his feet and headed to the window.
A large man on a black horse was approaching the building, leaping unhesitatingly over the garden flowerbeds. His white hair shone brilliantly even in the darkness.
Cyrus raised the corners of his mouth after confirming his face.
“The former leader has arrived. The tide of the battle is going to change.”
"Yes?"
"I should go."
Louis quietly followed behind Cyrus as he strode out.
Ariana stared blankly at her grandfather, who surely shouldn't be here. Theodore, the former Eastern Lord, the father of the Eastern Lord, and Ariana's grandfather, was breathing heavily, as if he had rushed here in a hurry.
“Ariana, are you okay?”
Theodore approached with long strides and grabbed Ariana's shoulders tightly. It hurt a little, but the surprise and joy outweighed it.
"Grandfather..."
"I kept receiving messages on the way here. I hurried as much as I could, but I'm late. You've been waiting a long time, haven't you? Let me see."
Theodore carefully examined Ariana's face from every angle. The tenderness in his gaze as he checked for any injuries or wounds made Ariana choke up.
“How... to whom...?”
“Who else could it be? I heard from Geor and Averaster. Even though we made preparations in the Eastern Capital and set off straight away, we still let you suffer such a terrible fate. How hard it must have been for the little one.”
Even though Ariana was already 20 years old, she looked like a newborn baby to Theodore.
“My little one, look how skinny you are. Oh dear. If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have let you come to the Empire. What a shame, suffering like this. Geor, you are supposed to be her older brother, yet you aren't protecting her!”
“I know. I, her brother, am so lacking that I couldn't do a single thing properly and only ended up severely damaging my younger sibling's body. At this rate, I wonder if I'll even be able to properly hold my position as Little Lord.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Theodore kept clicking his tongue, but could not take his eyes off Ariana.
“By the way, Grandfather. Where is Father?”
Theodore huffed at Geor's question.
“That fellow wasn’t in the East for other business. Thanks to that, this old man rushed over to protect my little one. How about it, my dear? Isn’t this old man better than your father?”
Ariana could laugh a little at Theodore arguing about who was better, even in the midst of this, but at the same time, she was also worried.
"Grandpa, things aren't good."
“Yeah, yeah. I heard everything.”
“This is really not good. The Emperor has issued an imperial command to me, and if I refuse, the Emperor might regard the East as an enemy. And...”
Just as he had said that, a languid voice rang out from behind Theodore.
"I apologize for interrupting your quality time with your family, but would I be able to join you?"
Theodore, who had been holding Ariana's shoulder, spun around and glared at Cyrus.
“Why is this guy here?”
"That’s because we are practically family, too. We could become family soon."
"Hmm?"
Theodore looked bewildered, perhaps because although he had heard about what had happened in the Empire, he had not heard anything about Cyrus. Toward him, Cyrus spoke with a relaxed smile.
"I am Ariana's man."
A moment, no, quite a long silence passed.
Theodore did not understand what Cyrus had just said.
Who is whose man?
In Theodore's eyes, Ariana was just like a newborn baby. His granddaughter was too young and innocent to talk about whose woman or whose man she was.
He was frozen, trying to figure out the meaning of the words he absolutely could not understand, when Cyrus slowly moved and stood beside Ariana. He took Ariana's hand and smiled brightly.
"We are like this."
At that moment, Theodore's face contorted violently.
“You wicked one! Can’t you let go of that hand!”
“I can’t let go. It feels like it would fly away if I did.”
“How dare you grab my little one’s hand as you please! Do you want your wrist cut off like that wretched fellow whose wrist you severed? Huh? Geor, what are you doing? Your sister has been captured by thugs, and you’re just standing there watching!”
Ariana was worried that her grandfather might collapse at this rate. Geor, who had been standing silently, spoke.
“I’m sorry, Grandfather. I tried several times, but I couldn’t think of a way to defeat the Northern Lord. However, with you by my side, we might be able to win. Shall we attack together?”
"Is it really necessary to go as far as being together?"
Theodore shouted angrily, rushed over in an instant, and snatched Ariana away.
Ariana couldn't even see Theodore's movements. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them the next moment, she was in Theodore's arms.
Theodore held Ariana in his arms like a mother bird protecting her young and glared at Cyrus.
“Cyrus, I never dreamed you would lure this little kid out of my sight! I really didn’t know you would try to entice a kid who knows nothing yet!”
Ariana's face was burning.
If you count the years they have lived, Ariana has lived much longer than Cyrus. Even in terms of their current ages, there was only a four-year difference between them.
However, Theodore was acting as if Cyrus had taught a 20-year-old child to do something terrible.
Feeling embarrassed yet happy, she tightened the corners of her mouth while blushing. She felt like she would burst out laughing if she didn't.
Seeing that, Cyrus smiled happily, as if to smile on Ariana's behalf.
Theodore's expression softened slightly at the sound of his clear laughter.
"Grandfather."
Cyrus stopped laughing and called Theodore "Grandpa." At that, Theodore's expression softened even more.
"I would never do anything bad to Ariana. And whatever Grandfather does, I will be by her side."
Theodore scoffed at the determined words.
“There is nothing these young brats won’t say. Let’s sit down for a bit. I need to have some water and listen to what you have to say.”
The conversation continued until the night passed and the sun rose.
Geor did most of the talking, Averaster joined in midway and helped out, and Cyrus added.
While they told Theodore what had happened, Ariana sat quietly beside him.
Ariana was worried that Theodore might get angry.
With Ariana's arrival, the previously peaceful East was in crisis, so it was a situation where there was nothing to say, even if he were to scold her.
Eventually, when the whole story was over, Theodore looked back at Ariana.
"Baby."
Grandfather's voice is still warm.
“You must have been anxious.”
His eyes were still affectionate.
“I didn’t know you were trying so hard...”
“Ariana. My baby.”
Theodore no longer wanted to see his granddaughter struggling to handle everything on her own. Ariana needed to lean on others a little more.
"That's it."
He wanted to give her a tight hug and pat her back, but he knew that Ariana found such physical contact overwhelming. Simply stroking Ariana's head, Theodore spoke.
"You don't have to try so hard anymore, my dear."
"But Grandpa."
"That’s enough. I’ll take care of it myself."
Ariana's eyes wavered. The clever granddaughter spoke urgently, as if realizing what Theodore was about to do.
“War is unacceptable, Grandfather. We absolutely must not let the East be in danger. The Empire still has many allies. Any hasty provocation will put the East at risk. I...”
"Ariana White."
Theodore called Ariana sternly.
The blue eyes beneath the thick white hair shone coldly.
“It is a matter of the Eastern Territory. When the Eastern Lord is away, it is my job to handle that issue. From now on, it is my problem, Ariana.”
Theodore suddenly stood up.
"So, my child. What happens from now on is not your fault. Whatever the East has to endure, I will bear it. So just leave you to your grandfather. Understand?"
Ariana had lived a life where she had to shoulder all of her own problems as well as those of others. Therefore, she did not know what it was like to pass her own problems onto others.
However, Theodore's voice was so firm that she couldn't bring herself to interrupt.
"I’m going to go meet the Emperor."
Theodore did not hesitate.
Just as Ariana was about to grab the hem of Theodore's clothes as he spun around, Cyrus stood up.
"I will go with you, Grandfather."
Theodore snorted.
“Who do you think you are, meddling in the East’s problems?”
“The East’s problem is my problem, isn’t it? I'm going to become my wife’s family.”
“You insolent fool! Stop talking nonsense and mind your own business!”
Theodore left the drawing room, leaving Cyrus behind. Cyrus tapped his thigh with his index finger and gestured for Louis to come over.
"Go and protect them."
Louis nodded and disappeared.
"I am not saying that we should use him, but that we should lend our strength to the East."
“It’s exactly the same. Ariana is clever. There’s no way she wouldn’t notice what I’m thinking. And...”
Ariana cared for the East. She wouldn't want to see bloodshed in the East. She would try to prevent the war by any means necessary.
“I am on Ariana’s side. If Ariana wants to stop the war and keep the Empire intact, I, too, will stake my hopes on that.”
Since his lord's choice was no different from her own, Louis did not object any further.
If he had his way, he would tear the Emperor to pieces for giving Ariana such an absurd order, but that was not Louis's concern.
Cyrus was lost in thought, staring at the table, while Louis quietly stayed by his side as always. Then, suddenly sensing a presence, she spoke.
“Someone has entered the mansion.”
It was too late for someone to come visit.
Cyrus sprang to his feet and headed to the window.
A large man on a black horse was approaching the building, leaping unhesitatingly over the garden flowerbeds. His white hair shone brilliantly even in the darkness.
Cyrus raised the corners of his mouth after confirming his face.
“The former leader has arrived. The tide of the battle is going to change.”
"Yes?"
"I should go."
Louis quietly followed behind Cyrus as he strode out.
***
Ariana stared blankly at her grandfather, who surely shouldn't be here. Theodore, the former Eastern Lord, the father of the Eastern Lord, and Ariana's grandfather, was breathing heavily, as if he had rushed here in a hurry.
“Ariana, are you okay?”
Theodore approached with long strides and grabbed Ariana's shoulders tightly. It hurt a little, but the surprise and joy outweighed it.
"Grandfather..."
"I kept receiving messages on the way here. I hurried as much as I could, but I'm late. You've been waiting a long time, haven't you? Let me see."
Theodore carefully examined Ariana's face from every angle. The tenderness in his gaze as he checked for any injuries or wounds made Ariana choke up.
“How... to whom...?”
“Who else could it be? I heard from Geor and Averaster. Even though we made preparations in the Eastern Capital and set off straight away, we still let you suffer such a terrible fate. How hard it must have been for the little one.”
Even though Ariana was already 20 years old, she looked like a newborn baby to Theodore.
“My little one, look how skinny you are. Oh dear. If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have let you come to the Empire. What a shame, suffering like this. Geor, you are supposed to be her older brother, yet you aren't protecting her!”
“I know. I, her brother, am so lacking that I couldn't do a single thing properly and only ended up severely damaging my younger sibling's body. At this rate, I wonder if I'll even be able to properly hold my position as Little Lord.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Theodore kept clicking his tongue, but could not take his eyes off Ariana.
“By the way, Grandfather. Where is Father?”
Theodore huffed at Geor's question.
“That fellow wasn’t in the East for other business. Thanks to that, this old man rushed over to protect my little one. How about it, my dear? Isn’t this old man better than your father?”
Ariana could laugh a little at Theodore arguing about who was better, even in the midst of this, but at the same time, she was also worried.
"Grandpa, things aren't good."
“Yeah, yeah. I heard everything.”
“This is really not good. The Emperor has issued an imperial command to me, and if I refuse, the Emperor might regard the East as an enemy. And...”
Just as he had said that, a languid voice rang out from behind Theodore.
"I apologize for interrupting your quality time with your family, but would I be able to join you?"
Theodore, who had been holding Ariana's shoulder, spun around and glared at Cyrus.
“Why is this guy here?”
"That’s because we are practically family, too. We could become family soon."
"Hmm?"
Theodore looked bewildered, perhaps because although he had heard about what had happened in the Empire, he had not heard anything about Cyrus. Toward him, Cyrus spoke with a relaxed smile.
"I am Ariana's man."
A moment, no, quite a long silence passed.
Theodore did not understand what Cyrus had just said.
Who is whose man?
In Theodore's eyes, Ariana was just like a newborn baby. His granddaughter was too young and innocent to talk about whose woman or whose man she was.
He was frozen, trying to figure out the meaning of the words he absolutely could not understand, when Cyrus slowly moved and stood beside Ariana. He took Ariana's hand and smiled brightly.
"We are like this."
At that moment, Theodore's face contorted violently.
“You wicked one! Can’t you let go of that hand!”
“I can’t let go. It feels like it would fly away if I did.”
“How dare you grab my little one’s hand as you please! Do you want your wrist cut off like that wretched fellow whose wrist you severed? Huh? Geor, what are you doing? Your sister has been captured by thugs, and you’re just standing there watching!”
Ariana was worried that her grandfather might collapse at this rate. Geor, who had been standing silently, spoke.
“I’m sorry, Grandfather. I tried several times, but I couldn’t think of a way to defeat the Northern Lord. However, with you by my side, we might be able to win. Shall we attack together?”
"Is it really necessary to go as far as being together?"
Theodore shouted angrily, rushed over in an instant, and snatched Ariana away.
Ariana couldn't even see Theodore's movements. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them the next moment, she was in Theodore's arms.
Theodore held Ariana in his arms like a mother bird protecting her young and glared at Cyrus.
“Cyrus, I never dreamed you would lure this little kid out of my sight! I really didn’t know you would try to entice a kid who knows nothing yet!”
Ariana's face was burning.
If you count the years they have lived, Ariana has lived much longer than Cyrus. Even in terms of their current ages, there was only a four-year difference between them.
However, Theodore was acting as if Cyrus had taught a 20-year-old child to do something terrible.
Feeling embarrassed yet happy, she tightened the corners of her mouth while blushing. She felt like she would burst out laughing if she didn't.
Seeing that, Cyrus smiled happily, as if to smile on Ariana's behalf.
Theodore's expression softened slightly at the sound of his clear laughter.
"Grandfather."
Cyrus stopped laughing and called Theodore "Grandpa." At that, Theodore's expression softened even more.
"I would never do anything bad to Ariana. And whatever Grandfather does, I will be by her side."
Theodore scoffed at the determined words.
“There is nothing these young brats won’t say. Let’s sit down for a bit. I need to have some water and listen to what you have to say.”
***
The conversation continued until the night passed and the sun rose.
Geor did most of the talking, Averaster joined in midway and helped out, and Cyrus added.
While they told Theodore what had happened, Ariana sat quietly beside him.
Ariana was worried that Theodore might get angry.
With Ariana's arrival, the previously peaceful East was in crisis, so it was a situation where there was nothing to say, even if he were to scold her.
Eventually, when the whole story was over, Theodore looked back at Ariana.
"Baby."
Grandfather's voice is still warm.
“You must have been anxious.”
His eyes were still affectionate.
“I didn’t know you were trying so hard...”
She could have endured it if he had scolded her harshly, but the tender voice almost made jer burst into tears. Ariana tightened her eyes, held back her tears, and spoke.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa."
“Why does my little one have so many things to apologize for?”
“I’m really sorry. Because of me...”
"My little one didn't do a single thing wrong, so why do you think it's all your fault? Huh?"
At the comforting words, the tears eventually could not bear the weight and flowed down.
Theodore quietly stared at Ariana, who was crying silently.
His heart ached at the sight of his granddaughter, who doesn't make a sound even when she cries. The reason she blames herself when she hasn't done anything wrong is probably that she has lived her entire childhood hearing such things.
The reason she has tried to handle things on her own that she couldn't do alone is probably that she's not used to asking adults for help.
And it was they who made Ariana like that. The adults who didn't even know she was in such a predicament assumed she was doing well and never even bothered to check on her.
Even so, he was just grateful that Ariana called him Grandpa.
“I... am trying to run away...”
Ariana wiped away her tears and said
“Grandfather, if I run away...”
"I'm sorry, Grandpa."
“Why does my little one have so many things to apologize for?”
“I’m really sorry. Because of me...”
"My little one didn't do a single thing wrong, so why do you think it's all your fault? Huh?"
At the comforting words, the tears eventually could not bear the weight and flowed down.
Theodore quietly stared at Ariana, who was crying silently.
His heart ached at the sight of his granddaughter, who doesn't make a sound even when she cries. The reason she blames herself when she hasn't done anything wrong is probably that she has lived her entire childhood hearing such things.
The reason she has tried to handle things on her own that she couldn't do alone is probably that she's not used to asking adults for help.
And it was they who made Ariana like that. The adults who didn't even know she was in such a predicament assumed she was doing well and never even bothered to check on her.
Even so, he was just grateful that Ariana called him Grandpa.
“I... am trying to run away...”
Ariana wiped away her tears and said
“Grandfather, if I run away...”
“Ariana. My baby.”
Theodore no longer wanted to see his granddaughter struggling to handle everything on her own. Ariana needed to lean on others a little more.
"That's it."
He wanted to give her a tight hug and pat her back, but he knew that Ariana found such physical contact overwhelming. Simply stroking Ariana's head, Theodore spoke.
"You don't have to try so hard anymore, my dear."
"But Grandpa."
"That’s enough. I’ll take care of it myself."
Ariana's eyes wavered. The clever granddaughter spoke urgently, as if realizing what Theodore was about to do.
“War is unacceptable, Grandfather. We absolutely must not let the East be in danger. The Empire still has many allies. Any hasty provocation will put the East at risk. I...”
"Ariana White."
Theodore called Ariana sternly.
The blue eyes beneath the thick white hair shone coldly.
“It is a matter of the Eastern Territory. When the Eastern Lord is away, it is my job to handle that issue. From now on, it is my problem, Ariana.”
Theodore suddenly stood up.
"So, my child. What happens from now on is not your fault. Whatever the East has to endure, I will bear it. So just leave you to your grandfather. Understand?"
Ariana had lived a life where she had to shoulder all of her own problems as well as those of others. Therefore, she did not know what it was like to pass her own problems onto others.
However, Theodore's voice was so firm that she couldn't bring herself to interrupt.
"I’m going to go meet the Emperor."
Theodore did not hesitate.
Just as Ariana was about to grab the hem of Theodore's clothes as he spun around, Cyrus stood up.
"I will go with you, Grandfather."
Theodore snorted.
“Who do you think you are, meddling in the East’s problems?”
“The East’s problem is my problem, isn’t it? I'm going to become my wife’s family.”
“You insolent fool! Stop talking nonsense and mind your own business!”
Theodore left the drawing room, leaving Cyrus behind. Cyrus tapped his thigh with his index finger and gestured for Louis to come over.
"Go and protect them."
Louis nodded and disappeared.
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