(201) Reunion (2)
Russell gazed at the golden butterfly visible in the distance.
'Is it really a butterfly...?'
As Russell had predicted, the incident on the northeastern trade route was the work of the Paganus. He discovered about 100 Paganus disguised as bandits, and they repeatedly pretended to fight for a while and then fled, pretending to fight for a while and then fleeing again.
Not long after, Russell realized that they were trying to keep him far away from the East.
In the meantime, a messenger arrived and announced that a problem had broken out in the Empire and that Theodore was heading there. Then it became clear what the Paganus were planning to do.
"We must hurry back, Brother."
Fellowes was right.
He had to hurry back to the East, but he found a golden butterfly.
A golden butterfly shining brilliantly as if it held a piece of sunlight. The light emitted by the butterfly dazzled Russell's vision.
Russell rode his horse, following the golden butterfly as if entranced.
“Brother, where are you going?”
Fellowes called out to Russell in a puzzled manner. He should have answered his younger brother's call, but he couldn't.
It felt like not letting that butterfly slip away was the most important thing in the world.
Fellowes and the knights followed Russell as if they had no choice, but Russell did not even realize that.
Captivated by the butterfly, he rode his horse fast, but he could not catch it at all. Chasing the butterfly that fluttered away, seemingly within reach yet out of reach, he arrived at the encampment of the Paganus, who were pretending to be bandits.
It was late at night.
Even though the Paganus were prepared for an attack, they were unable to stop Russell and his party when they burst in.
Even as he slashed through the Paganus like a machine, Russell's gaze followed the golden butterfly. Anxious that he might miss it, he shifted his eyes to look for the butterfly several times during the fight.
The butterfly, flying away out of Russell's reach, was scattering light gently nearby as if to say it would wait for him.
Even after the battle, which was akin to a one-sided massacre, Russell did not rest. He immediately mounted his horse and chased after the butterfly.
"Older brother!"
Fellowes was dumbfounded and called out to Russell, but Russell did not even look back. So Fellowes gathered his exhausted knights and hurriedly followed after Russell.
The butterfly moved away again. Russell stared blankly at the receding butterfly, as if urging him to hurry and chase after it.
'Is that really a butterfly?'
Come to think of it, it didn't seem like a butterfly. He might have mistaken a large light, the size of two palms stacked together, for a butterfly.
Nevertheless, he couldn't stop.
Consumed by the thought that he absolutely had to grasp that light, he couldn't think of anything else.
So Russell ran and ran.
To grasp that brilliant light with these hands.
As Isaac entered the imperial capital, he looked around at the scenery that had changed drastically in just a month and clicked his tongue in sorrow.
Not long after Cyrus returned, upon hearing the news regarding the imperial decree given to Ariana, Ten the Eagle flew in again.
[A war might break out, Isaac.]
It was a letter sent by Cyrus, specifically naming Isaac.
It means only Isaac should return.
So Isaac left the rear to Andrei and turned around. After driving for days without rest, he arrived at a place where a horrific scene unfolded.
"Here I am, Mr. Isaac."
Guided by the Eastern Knight, he went to a noble's mansion located far from the battlefield. The original owner seemed to have evacuated, as the wounded were lying in the bedrooms.
"Are there no other members?"
The knight shook his head at Isaac's question.
"Everyone left the capital just before the battle broke out."
“Who is the most serious?”
"Sir Lanster."
Lanster was unconscious and barely clinging to life.
Isaac untied the roughly wrapped bandage, let out a deep sigh at the injury being more serious than he had imagined, and took out his surgical tools. After treating Lanster's injury over the course of several hours, he slathered on some ointment and placed a few health potions on the bedside table.
After instructing the knights who had recovered to look after Lanster, he then treated the seriously wounded. Then, he arrived at a place where Isabelle was.
Even in this situation, Isabelle was wearing an ankle-length dress.
"Miss Isabelle."
"Sir Louis is badly injured."
"Is Miss Isabelle alright?"
“Yes, I’m fine, so please go and treat Louis.”
Isaac quietly observed Isabelle's complexion. He felt relieved seeing her strong eyes and healthy complexion.
As Isaac nodded, Isabelle moved while giving various orders to the knights. Isaac also turned and headed toward the room where Louis was.
Louis sat idly beside the bed.
“Louis.”
"Is Sir Lanster dead?"
Louis asked without even looking back.
Isaac was slightly surprised by Louis's low, subdued voice. He had never seen Louis show such emotional turmoil.
“He's not dead. I’m here.”
"Is that so?"
It was only after Isaac approached Louis that he realized why Louis was in such despair.
A woman lay with her eyes closed on the bed in front of Louis. Her skin was so pale that, even from a distance, she appeared to have stopped breathing.
"Shini is dead."
"The Princess Consort will be sad."
“Yes, but if you die, the Empress will be even more saddened.”
Louis silently entrusted her body to Isaac. Isaac unwrapped the loosely wrapped bandage and quietly began to treat the festering and rotting wound.
Even though it must have been painful, Louis did not let out a single groan.
Louis said when the treatment was nearing its end.
"Did you treat Miss Isabelle as well?"
Isaac's hand twitched.
"What?"
"Miss Isabelle was also seriously injured."
"But..."
It was confusing.
"Miss Isabelle said she was fine. She looked healthy, too."
“A woman can at least conceal her complexion with makeup. Miss Isabelle was bitten on the thigh by a lion. She suffered a wound deep enough to expose the bone.”
Isaac just blinked his eyes, unable to believe it at all.
Isabelle looked really fine. There was no shaking at all, even when she moved.
"I am fine now, so please treat Miss Isabelle, Isaac."
“Uh... yeah. That’s how it should be.”
Isaac was about to turn around when he stopped abruptly.
Louis asked in a puzzled manner.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Shini....”
Isaac's eyes were fixed on Shini's pale face. Louis also glanced back at Shini inadvertently and opened his eyes wide.
"She laughed."
That was really the case.
A smile was spreading across Shini's face, which had been expressionless until now.
A smile so faint that it goes unnoticed at first glance. A satisfied smile, as if having completed something truly worthwhile.
It was so faint that it was barely visible, but Louis, who had been by Shini's side until now, could tell clearly.
Isaac approached Shini's side as if he were about to rush in.
He put his ear to Shini's nose and checked her pulse. He felt something, though faint. Isaac's face softened as he caught a faint pulse that could easily have been missed.
Isaac thought of Ariana, who looked comfortable whenever she was with Shini. And Shini, who smiled brightly only in front of Ariana.
Louis was staring only at Isaac's lips with a nervous expression. Isaac squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them.
"Shini is still alive, Louis."
Smack-! Smack-! Smack-!
As soon as Victoria saw Ariana, she slapped her repeatedly.
Watching Ariana's lips split and blood flow, Victoria smiled brightly. She felt completely relieved.
After being rescued, Victoria continuously ate lizard hearts to restore her damaged body and washed away the filth in clean water. She put on the pretty dress brought by the Paganus and combed her hair neatly.
In contrast, Ariana's appearance was serious.
Her hair was a mess from not being able to wash properly, and her clothes were torn in several places. She also had cuts from tree branches from being carried around like a piece of cargo.
Ariana has finally found her place.
That look suits Ariana.
However.
'Why is her gaze still so piercing?'
Ariana still looked relaxed.
Even though she was in a situation where she could not return the slap from Victoria, she looked relaxed, as if everything was going exactly as she wanted.
Why is that?
Why am I so desperate, yet Ariana always looks so at ease? What on earth is it about her?
Because of the Northern Lord? If so, I have the Third Prince. He died a few days ago, unable to endure the pain of torture, but at least he once existed.
Then, is it because of the White family? If so, I have the Western Lord. The Oblen family is also a prestigious family that has ruled the Western Realm for a long time.
But why do you look like you're the only one who has the world?
Pow!
Ariana didn't say anything, but Victoria couldn't control her anger and kicked Ariana.
"I'm going to kill you, Ariana."
Ariana spoke to Victoria, who was gritting her teeth, as if singing.
"Go ahead."
“You seem to think someone will save you, but nobody here knows. You are going to die. Your Eastern Territory will be ruined, and the Northern Lord will die.”
"So?"
“I won’t kill you like this. I’m going to pull out all your fingernails and toenails, cut off your limbs, and leave you alive. I’ll let you survive by drinking the sewage water given to you by a servant, and then I’m going to show you the corpses of the Northern and Eastern Lords right before your eyes. I will kill you after I clearly show you those two bastards lying around.”
"Do that."
“Why on earth!”
Victoria grabbed Ariana by the collar.
“Are you that relaxed? What are you plotting? Do you have something backing you’re relying on?”
“I have a family. I have the Northern Lord, and I have Louis, and I have Shini.”
“I have that kind of thing too!”
"Really? Where?"
Victoria's eyes wavered.
“Where are you, Victoria? Your family.”
Victoria remembered her mother, clinging to her clothes and begging to be saved. She also remembered her father, collapsed in a corner, unconscious. And she remembered Helena, who was nowhere to be seen, having gone somewhere.
But it only rose up, and was not by Victoria's side.
“I abandoned them. But Grandfather is still here. Grandfather is going to kill your entire family.”
“Alright then. Do that. I’ve been telling you to do that for a while now, so why are you so anxious that you keep repeating it?”
“It’s not that I’m anxious, Ariana. I’m just making it clear. Out of my last remaining affection.”
“Oh my, how grateful I am. I have no affection left for you, yet you still have some. I am truly thankful for that...”
Smack!
Victoria slapped Ariana's cheek. Ariana spoke with her head turned to the side.
"It brings tears to my eyes."
There were no tears to be found in Ariana's eyes as she spoke. By now, she should have been sobbing and begging to be spared, but Ariana showed no signs of doing so.
Victoria did not like Ariana's fair cheeks, which were free of a single blemish. She dug her fingernails into Ariana's cheek and scratched it hard.
She scratched hard enough to get her fingernails caught in her skin, creating a deep wound.
Even though blood was flowing, Ariana did not frown even once.
"This is just the beginning, Ariana."
Victoria laughed as she showed her bloodstained fingernails.
"I’ll pull them out one by one, starting with your fingernails."
Ariana also smiled back at Victoria. The sight of her laughing while blood streamed down her cheek was so bizarre that it sent a shiver down Victoria's spine.
“Go ahead, Victoria. Do as much as you want. I’m used to it.”
Russell gazed at the golden butterfly visible in the distance.
'Is it really a butterfly...?'
As Russell had predicted, the incident on the northeastern trade route was the work of the Paganus. He discovered about 100 Paganus disguised as bandits, and they repeatedly pretended to fight for a while and then fled, pretending to fight for a while and then fleeing again.
Not long after, Russell realized that they were trying to keep him far away from the East.
In the meantime, a messenger arrived and announced that a problem had broken out in the Empire and that Theodore was heading there. Then it became clear what the Paganus were planning to do.
"We must hurry back, Brother."
Fellowes was right.
He had to hurry back to the East, but he found a golden butterfly.
A golden butterfly shining brilliantly as if it held a piece of sunlight. The light emitted by the butterfly dazzled Russell's vision.
Russell rode his horse, following the golden butterfly as if entranced.
“Brother, where are you going?”
Fellowes called out to Russell in a puzzled manner. He should have answered his younger brother's call, but he couldn't.
It felt like not letting that butterfly slip away was the most important thing in the world.
Fellowes and the knights followed Russell as if they had no choice, but Russell did not even realize that.
Captivated by the butterfly, he rode his horse fast, but he could not catch it at all. Chasing the butterfly that fluttered away, seemingly within reach yet out of reach, he arrived at the encampment of the Paganus, who were pretending to be bandits.
It was late at night.
Even though the Paganus were prepared for an attack, they were unable to stop Russell and his party when they burst in.
Even as he slashed through the Paganus like a machine, Russell's gaze followed the golden butterfly. Anxious that he might miss it, he shifted his eyes to look for the butterfly several times during the fight.
The butterfly, flying away out of Russell's reach, was scattering light gently nearby as if to say it would wait for him.
Even after the battle, which was akin to a one-sided massacre, Russell did not rest. He immediately mounted his horse and chased after the butterfly.
"Older brother!"
Fellowes was dumbfounded and called out to Russell, but Russell did not even look back. So Fellowes gathered his exhausted knights and hurriedly followed after Russell.
The butterfly moved away again. Russell stared blankly at the receding butterfly, as if urging him to hurry and chase after it.
'Is that really a butterfly?'
Come to think of it, it didn't seem like a butterfly. He might have mistaken a large light, the size of two palms stacked together, for a butterfly.
Nevertheless, he couldn't stop.
Consumed by the thought that he absolutely had to grasp that light, he couldn't think of anything else.
So Russell ran and ran.
To grasp that brilliant light with these hands.
***
As Isaac entered the imperial capital, he looked around at the scenery that had changed drastically in just a month and clicked his tongue in sorrow.
Not long after Cyrus returned, upon hearing the news regarding the imperial decree given to Ariana, Ten the Eagle flew in again.
[A war might break out, Isaac.]
It was a letter sent by Cyrus, specifically naming Isaac.
It means only Isaac should return.
So Isaac left the rear to Andrei and turned around. After driving for days without rest, he arrived at a place where a horrific scene unfolded.
"Here I am, Mr. Isaac."
Guided by the Eastern Knight, he went to a noble's mansion located far from the battlefield. The original owner seemed to have evacuated, as the wounded were lying in the bedrooms.
"Are there no other members?"
The knight shook his head at Isaac's question.
"Everyone left the capital just before the battle broke out."
“Who is the most serious?”
"Sir Lanster."
Lanster was unconscious and barely clinging to life.
Isaac untied the roughly wrapped bandage, let out a deep sigh at the injury being more serious than he had imagined, and took out his surgical tools. After treating Lanster's injury over the course of several hours, he slathered on some ointment and placed a few health potions on the bedside table.
After instructing the knights who had recovered to look after Lanster, he then treated the seriously wounded. Then, he arrived at a place where Isabelle was.
Even in this situation, Isabelle was wearing an ankle-length dress.
"Miss Isabelle."
"Sir Louis is badly injured."
"Is Miss Isabelle alright?"
“Yes, I’m fine, so please go and treat Louis.”
Isaac quietly observed Isabelle's complexion. He felt relieved seeing her strong eyes and healthy complexion.
As Isaac nodded, Isabelle moved while giving various orders to the knights. Isaac also turned and headed toward the room where Louis was.
Louis sat idly beside the bed.
“Louis.”
"Is Sir Lanster dead?"
Louis asked without even looking back.
Isaac was slightly surprised by Louis's low, subdued voice. He had never seen Louis show such emotional turmoil.
“He's not dead. I’m here.”
"Is that so?"
It was only after Isaac approached Louis that he realized why Louis was in such despair.
A woman lay with her eyes closed on the bed in front of Louis. Her skin was so pale that, even from a distance, she appeared to have stopped breathing.
"Shini is dead."
"The Princess Consort will be sad."
“Yes, but if you die, the Empress will be even more saddened.”
Louis silently entrusted her body to Isaac. Isaac unwrapped the loosely wrapped bandage and quietly began to treat the festering and rotting wound.
Even though it must have been painful, Louis did not let out a single groan.
Louis said when the treatment was nearing its end.
"Did you treat Miss Isabelle as well?"
Isaac's hand twitched.
"What?"
"Miss Isabelle was also seriously injured."
"But..."
It was confusing.
"Miss Isabelle said she was fine. She looked healthy, too."
“A woman can at least conceal her complexion with makeup. Miss Isabelle was bitten on the thigh by a lion. She suffered a wound deep enough to expose the bone.”
Isaac just blinked his eyes, unable to believe it at all.
Isabelle looked really fine. There was no shaking at all, even when she moved.
"I am fine now, so please treat Miss Isabelle, Isaac."
“Uh... yeah. That’s how it should be.”
Isaac was about to turn around when he stopped abruptly.
Louis asked in a puzzled manner.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Shini....”
Isaac's eyes were fixed on Shini's pale face. Louis also glanced back at Shini inadvertently and opened his eyes wide.
"She laughed."
That was really the case.
A smile was spreading across Shini's face, which had been expressionless until now.
A smile so faint that it goes unnoticed at first glance. A satisfied smile, as if having completed something truly worthwhile.
It was so faint that it was barely visible, but Louis, who had been by Shini's side until now, could tell clearly.
Isaac approached Shini's side as if he were about to rush in.
He put his ear to Shini's nose and checked her pulse. He felt something, though faint. Isaac's face softened as he caught a faint pulse that could easily have been missed.
Isaac thought of Ariana, who looked comfortable whenever she was with Shini. And Shini, who smiled brightly only in front of Ariana.
Louis was staring only at Isaac's lips with a nervous expression. Isaac squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them.
"Shini is still alive, Louis."
***
Smack-! Smack-! Smack-!
As soon as Victoria saw Ariana, she slapped her repeatedly.
Watching Ariana's lips split and blood flow, Victoria smiled brightly. She felt completely relieved.
After being rescued, Victoria continuously ate lizard hearts to restore her damaged body and washed away the filth in clean water. She put on the pretty dress brought by the Paganus and combed her hair neatly.
In contrast, Ariana's appearance was serious.
Her hair was a mess from not being able to wash properly, and her clothes were torn in several places. She also had cuts from tree branches from being carried around like a piece of cargo.
Ariana has finally found her place.
That look suits Ariana.
However.
'Why is her gaze still so piercing?'
Ariana still looked relaxed.
Even though she was in a situation where she could not return the slap from Victoria, she looked relaxed, as if everything was going exactly as she wanted.
Why is that?
Why am I so desperate, yet Ariana always looks so at ease? What on earth is it about her?
Because of the Northern Lord? If so, I have the Third Prince. He died a few days ago, unable to endure the pain of torture, but at least he once existed.
Then, is it because of the White family? If so, I have the Western Lord. The Oblen family is also a prestigious family that has ruled the Western Realm for a long time.
But why do you look like you're the only one who has the world?
Pow!
Ariana didn't say anything, but Victoria couldn't control her anger and kicked Ariana.
"I'm going to kill you, Ariana."
Ariana spoke to Victoria, who was gritting her teeth, as if singing.
"Go ahead."
“You seem to think someone will save you, but nobody here knows. You are going to die. Your Eastern Territory will be ruined, and the Northern Lord will die.”
"So?"
“I won’t kill you like this. I’m going to pull out all your fingernails and toenails, cut off your limbs, and leave you alive. I’ll let you survive by drinking the sewage water given to you by a servant, and then I’m going to show you the corpses of the Northern and Eastern Lords right before your eyes. I will kill you after I clearly show you those two bastards lying around.”
"Do that."
“Why on earth!”
Victoria grabbed Ariana by the collar.
“Are you that relaxed? What are you plotting? Do you have something backing you’re relying on?”
“I have a family. I have the Northern Lord, and I have Louis, and I have Shini.”
“I have that kind of thing too!”
"Really? Where?"
Victoria's eyes wavered.
“Where are you, Victoria? Your family.”
Victoria remembered her mother, clinging to her clothes and begging to be saved. She also remembered her father, collapsed in a corner, unconscious. And she remembered Helena, who was nowhere to be seen, having gone somewhere.
But it only rose up, and was not by Victoria's side.
“I abandoned them. But Grandfather is still here. Grandfather is going to kill your entire family.”
“Alright then. Do that. I’ve been telling you to do that for a while now, so why are you so anxious that you keep repeating it?”
“It’s not that I’m anxious, Ariana. I’m just making it clear. Out of my last remaining affection.”
“Oh my, how grateful I am. I have no affection left for you, yet you still have some. I am truly thankful for that...”
Smack!
Victoria slapped Ariana's cheek. Ariana spoke with her head turned to the side.
"It brings tears to my eyes."
There were no tears to be found in Ariana's eyes as she spoke. By now, she should have been sobbing and begging to be spared, but Ariana showed no signs of doing so.
Victoria did not like Ariana's fair cheeks, which were free of a single blemish. She dug her fingernails into Ariana's cheek and scratched it hard.
She scratched hard enough to get her fingernails caught in her skin, creating a deep wound.
Even though blood was flowing, Ariana did not frown even once.
"This is just the beginning, Ariana."
Victoria laughed as she showed her bloodstained fingernails.
"I’ll pull them out one by one, starting with your fingernails."
Ariana also smiled back at Victoria. The sight of her laughing while blood streamed down her cheek was so bizarre that it sent a shiver down Victoria's spine.
“Go ahead, Victoria. Do as much as you want. I’m used to it.”
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