(203) What I hoped for (2)
A one-sided massacre continued.
The enraged White brothers moved as if they had black wings on their backs. The anger of the White Knights, who belatedly confirmed the appearance of their Princess, also played a part.
Blood sprayed from the severed neck. The air turned red.
Martina witnessed the scene with unspeakable terror.
'How...?!'
She knew that the people of the East were skilled in martial arts. She had also heard that if there were no magic in the North, the Black Knights would not be able to defeat the White Knights.
However, hearing was different from actually seeing. Even though their numbers were several times greater and they had gained power surpassing that of humans by taking the hearts of beasts, they could not defeat the White Knights, including the brothers of the White family.
She lost the will to fight. In the face of immense power, neither a just cause nor determination was of any use. Martina watched blankly as the flesh of her kin was torn away and screams echoed through the sky.
Russell and Fellowes stood around Ariana, guarding her so no one could approach, and unleashing a fierce display of combat. Behind the powerfully swinging blades, glimpses of sky-blue hair could be seen here and there.
'I've messed with someone I shouldn't have...'
A hollow laugh suddenly escaped her.
'We're going to lose.'
Brussels, the wise king of Paganus, headed toward the Eastern Territory with thousands of troops. Originally, he had planned to support them as soon as Martina joined them.
However, seeing the tragedy unfolding before their eyes, they realized that they had been dreaming in vain.
The White Knight's blade gleamed as he had suddenly drawn close. Martina held the weapon, but she squeezed her eyes shut, unable to even think of swinging it.
That was the end of it.
"Master, has His Excellency the Eastern Lord arrived there?!"
"Yes, Shini. Dad is here."
"I knew it. I'm relieved now."
Ariana heard Shini's voice.
She couldn't see the appearance.
However, she was relieved to hear Shini's bright and cheerful voice.
I'm glad you're safe, Shini.
She felt a rustling sensation in her wrist. It was both ticklish and throbbing. At the sudden surge of pain rising from her fingertips, Ariana opened her eyes wide.
Indigo hair was visible right before her eyes. The dark indigo hair smelled of dust and blood. And very faintly, a nostalgic scent was mixed in.
"Dad..."
Even though the voice was as quiet as a breath, the other person reacted.
There were wide-open eyes on the face lifted high. The blue irises, just like Ariana's, held sadness, worry, and anger.
Seeing the reddened corners of his eyes and his bloodshot eyes, tears welled up again.
"Dad."
She had never called him that.
She had never called him 'Dad' even in her imagination.
She was extremely envious of Helena and Victoria, who could freely call their fathers "Dad," but Ariana could not imagine herself calling the Eastern Lord "Dad."
“Ah, Ari... Ariana...”
Her dad's voice was hoarse. Tears welling up in the corners of his eyes streamed down his cheeks, making a path through the blood and dust on his face.
Ariana laughed a little because the sight was funny.
"Dad."
“Oh my... I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Ariana.”
Sobs mixed in with her dad's voice. Ariana couldn't tell what her dad was apologizing for.
Dad appeared in a dangerous situation.
That was the very sweet wish Ariana desperately wanted, but eventually gave up on because even wishing for it was painful.
“I. A little sooner... Ha, I’m sorry, Ariana. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
There was absolutely nothing to be sorry about, yet her dad kept saying he was sorry. His strong shoulders, which seemed like they would never waver no matter what happened, were trembling pathetically.
“Not knowing you were going through this, like this. Not knowing you had ended up in this state. I... I always, always. Let you go. Let you go.”
Dad seemed to have no idea what he was saying. However, the apology and despair contained in his rambling words were fully conveyed to Ariana.
“Oh my. What a pathetic, pathetic fellow I am. Oh my. What an unqualified fellow I am... And yet. And yet, Ariana.”
Dad looked at Ariana with wet eyes.
“Because you call me Dad. Because you consider me Dad. Because you call even a pathetic guy like this a Dad. Because you look at me that way...”
Watching Russell unable to finish his sentence, Ariana said.
“Dad. I missed you.”
Russell held his breath.
Only then did Ariana realize that she had really wanted to see this person.
Ariana had Shini. She also had Geor, Isabelle, and Wiona. Not long ago, she met Theodore as well. Moreover, she loved and trusted Cyrus.
Even so, this person, this person, her dad, was the one she wanted to see the most.
That was the truth.
Even though she thought that Cyrus or Shini would be the one to come save her, she actually desperately hoped that her father would come. However, knowing how empty she would feel the moment that wish did not come true, she tried hard not to think about it.
The desire that even she was unaware of was crouching silently deep within her heart.
And now, the wish she has cherished from her past life up to the present has come true.
"Me too..."
Russell spoke in a hoarse voice and carefully embraced Ariana with both arms. His touch was as delicate as caressing a thin glass bottle on the verge of breaking.
“I missed you, too, Ariana. I missed you. Really... I really missed you, Ariana.”
A scent emanated from Russell's chest that he had smelled when she was at Chase Castle in the Eastern Territory.
Ariana finally felt like she was home.
Even though the fight was not over yet, that was the case.
Among the White Knights, there was one who knew a little medicine.
While a knight named Zenda provided emergency treatment to Ariana's wounds, the other knights cleared the enemy corpses scattered on the ground to one side and inspected the tents one by one.
Russell and Fellowes stayed by Ariana's side, fidgeting nervously. Ariana, who was actually receiving treatment, didn't even frown once, but Russell and Fellowes were making a bigger fuss.
“Ugh, ugh. Th-that looks like it’s going to hurt so much. Be careful, a little more careful. Ah, ahhh, ah. It hurts, it hurts. It hurts there.”
As Zenda was about to apply medicine to Ariana's fingertip, Fellowes frowned and muttered. Russell also gritted his teeth and pulled his head back.
“Look, my lord. Captain. If you act like this, I won’t be able to treat the Princess.”
Eventually, Zenda grumbled. Fellowes was flustered.
“Ah, no, no. I’ll stay still. Of course, I should stay still. Right, Brother?!”
"Fine. Be quiet."
Zenda let out a deep sigh and picked up the medicine bottle again. Fellowes and Russell did not make a sound, but they frowned and flinched.
“They’re really being a nuisance. Aren’t they, Princess?!”
"I know, right?"
“By the way, Princess, you are amazing. To think you haven’t made a sound despite sustaining such injuries.”
"It's okay. It's no big deal.'
The truth was, it was always a big deal. It was always painful and felt like hell, so she wanted to run away. She didn't want to suffer anymore. She didn't want to be in pain.
But now it really felt like nothing special.
Because Dad is here.
Because he came to save me.
When Ariana was imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the imperial palace, she once told Geor, "The Eastern Realm collapsed because of me." At that time, Geor responded, "My little sister is amazing."
She thinks she finally understands the reason.
The East was not a country that Ariana could bring down by her own strength alone.
In Ariana's past, Western Lord was only able to shake up the East after spending years painstakingly letting the inside of the East rot little by little, planting spies, and plotting schemes.
Even that wasn't completely destroyed.
Afterwards, the East had enough power left to join hands with the North and annihilate the Third Prince and Paganus, who had seized the Empire.
So, the Western Lord had been wary of the Eastern Lord to the extent that he married his daughter off to the Eastern Lord, swallowed his pride to whisper to the Emperor, and joined hands with the Third Prince to devise a double and triple scheme to set up several traps.
Because it is this strong. In the face of such overwhelming power, a couple of ordinary schemes are bound to be trampled upon.
“Father, Uncle. Something has happened in the Empire.”
She wanted to surrender herself to this peaceful atmosphere a little longer, but it wasn't the right time yet.
Ariana calmly explained what had happened in the Empire and the schemes of the Western Lord that she had discovered.
“The Western Lord is likely attacking the border of the East by now. These men were planning to join them. We must hurry on our way as well.”
Fellowes's heart ached at the sight of his niece calmly explaining what had to be done, even in the midst of this. So, he covered his eyes with one hand, took a deep breath, and spoke with the softest smile he could muster.
“Ariana, I understand your concerns, but my mother is in the East, so she’ll be fine. You aren’t feeling well, so let’s rest here today and leave tomorrow.”
"But..."
“Ariana. Let’s do that. Yes?!”
As Fellowes spoke in a soothing tone, the corners of his eyes were red, so Ariana had no choice but to nod. Otherwise, she felt that her uncle, with his fierce appearance, would burst into tears in front of the knights.
While receiving treatment, Ariana listened to the report the knights were conveying to Russell. They said that most of the Paganus were dead, a few had escaped but were being pursued by the White Knights, and that Victoria was alive.
To the reporter who asked, “What should I do?” Ariana said.
"Let's tie her up, blindfold her, and take her to the East. Please give her water and food. Treat her well."
Russell and Fellowes could not understand Ariana being kind to Victoria. Fellowes frowned and asked
“Is there any need to be nice to that woman? We could just cut her all down.”
“Yes, that is true, but...”
Ariana tilted her head to the side and raised her right hand. She continued speaking while staring blankly at the tips of her fingers, which were rotted and stripped of their fingernails.
"My part is finished now."
Victoria escaped from the dungeon after enduring horrific torture. She must have been filled with hope, believing that she would finally get what she wanted.
The greater the hope, the greater the despair when it is shattered.
Victoria, who was filled with the thought of capturing Ariana, torturing her, and killing her, plummeted from the top of the sky at the appearance of Russell.
Victoria must have seen it clearly.
The father, uncle, and knights of the Eastern Realm who appeared to save Ariana in a moment of crisis and wielded their swords to protect her.
'But she has no one.'
Now, Victoria cannot eat the beast's heart. As her reason gradually returns, she will come to reconsider her situation.
She will have time to agonize and regret how precious what she has lost is and how foolish her actions have been.
She wanted Victoria to regret it terribly. Just as Ariana had done when she was imprisoned in her past life. She wanted her to retrace everything she had lost, one by one, and regret it desperately.
So, Ariana decided to spare Victoria's life.
At least for now.
A one-sided massacre continued.
The enraged White brothers moved as if they had black wings on their backs. The anger of the White Knights, who belatedly confirmed the appearance of their Princess, also played a part.
Blood sprayed from the severed neck. The air turned red.
Martina witnessed the scene with unspeakable terror.
'How...?!'
She knew that the people of the East were skilled in martial arts. She had also heard that if there were no magic in the North, the Black Knights would not be able to defeat the White Knights.
However, hearing was different from actually seeing. Even though their numbers were several times greater and they had gained power surpassing that of humans by taking the hearts of beasts, they could not defeat the White Knights, including the brothers of the White family.
She lost the will to fight. In the face of immense power, neither a just cause nor determination was of any use. Martina watched blankly as the flesh of her kin was torn away and screams echoed through the sky.
Russell and Fellowes stood around Ariana, guarding her so no one could approach, and unleashing a fierce display of combat. Behind the powerfully swinging blades, glimpses of sky-blue hair could be seen here and there.
'I've messed with someone I shouldn't have...'
A hollow laugh suddenly escaped her.
'We're going to lose.'
Brussels, the wise king of Paganus, headed toward the Eastern Territory with thousands of troops. Originally, he had planned to support them as soon as Martina joined them.
However, seeing the tragedy unfolding before their eyes, they realized that they had been dreaming in vain.
The White Knight's blade gleamed as he had suddenly drawn close. Martina held the weapon, but she squeezed her eyes shut, unable to even think of swinging it.
That was the end of it.
***
"Master, has His Excellency the Eastern Lord arrived there?!"
"Yes, Shini. Dad is here."
"I knew it. I'm relieved now."
Ariana heard Shini's voice.
She couldn't see the appearance.
However, she was relieved to hear Shini's bright and cheerful voice.
I'm glad you're safe, Shini.
She felt a rustling sensation in her wrist. It was both ticklish and throbbing. At the sudden surge of pain rising from her fingertips, Ariana opened her eyes wide.
Indigo hair was visible right before her eyes. The dark indigo hair smelled of dust and blood. And very faintly, a nostalgic scent was mixed in.
"Dad..."
Even though the voice was as quiet as a breath, the other person reacted.
There were wide-open eyes on the face lifted high. The blue irises, just like Ariana's, held sadness, worry, and anger.
Seeing the reddened corners of his eyes and his bloodshot eyes, tears welled up again.
"Dad."
She had never called him that.
She had never called him 'Dad' even in her imagination.
She was extremely envious of Helena and Victoria, who could freely call their fathers "Dad," but Ariana could not imagine herself calling the Eastern Lord "Dad."
“Ah, Ari... Ariana...”
Her dad's voice was hoarse. Tears welling up in the corners of his eyes streamed down his cheeks, making a path through the blood and dust on his face.
Ariana laughed a little because the sight was funny.
"Dad."
“Oh my... I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Ariana.”
Sobs mixed in with her dad's voice. Ariana couldn't tell what her dad was apologizing for.
Dad appeared in a dangerous situation.
That was the very sweet wish Ariana desperately wanted, but eventually gave up on because even wishing for it was painful.
“I. A little sooner... Ha, I’m sorry, Ariana. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
There was absolutely nothing to be sorry about, yet her dad kept saying he was sorry. His strong shoulders, which seemed like they would never waver no matter what happened, were trembling pathetically.
“Not knowing you were going through this, like this. Not knowing you had ended up in this state. I... I always, always. Let you go. Let you go.”
Dad seemed to have no idea what he was saying. However, the apology and despair contained in his rambling words were fully conveyed to Ariana.
“Oh my. What a pathetic, pathetic fellow I am. Oh my. What an unqualified fellow I am... And yet. And yet, Ariana.”
Dad looked at Ariana with wet eyes.
“Because you call me Dad. Because you consider me Dad. Because you call even a pathetic guy like this a Dad. Because you look at me that way...”
Watching Russell unable to finish his sentence, Ariana said.
“Dad. I missed you.”
Russell held his breath.
Only then did Ariana realize that she had really wanted to see this person.
Ariana had Shini. She also had Geor, Isabelle, and Wiona. Not long ago, she met Theodore as well. Moreover, she loved and trusted Cyrus.
Even so, this person, this person, her dad, was the one she wanted to see the most.
That was the truth.
Even though she thought that Cyrus or Shini would be the one to come save her, she actually desperately hoped that her father would come. However, knowing how empty she would feel the moment that wish did not come true, she tried hard not to think about it.
The desire that even she was unaware of was crouching silently deep within her heart.
And now, the wish she has cherished from her past life up to the present has come true.
"Me too..."
Russell spoke in a hoarse voice and carefully embraced Ariana with both arms. His touch was as delicate as caressing a thin glass bottle on the verge of breaking.
“I missed you, too, Ariana. I missed you. Really... I really missed you, Ariana.”
A scent emanated from Russell's chest that he had smelled when she was at Chase Castle in the Eastern Territory.
Ariana finally felt like she was home.
Even though the fight was not over yet, that was the case.
***
Among the White Knights, there was one who knew a little medicine.
While a knight named Zenda provided emergency treatment to Ariana's wounds, the other knights cleared the enemy corpses scattered on the ground to one side and inspected the tents one by one.
Russell and Fellowes stayed by Ariana's side, fidgeting nervously. Ariana, who was actually receiving treatment, didn't even frown once, but Russell and Fellowes were making a bigger fuss.
“Ugh, ugh. Th-that looks like it’s going to hurt so much. Be careful, a little more careful. Ah, ahhh, ah. It hurts, it hurts. It hurts there.”
As Zenda was about to apply medicine to Ariana's fingertip, Fellowes frowned and muttered. Russell also gritted his teeth and pulled his head back.
“Look, my lord. Captain. If you act like this, I won’t be able to treat the Princess.”
Eventually, Zenda grumbled. Fellowes was flustered.
“Ah, no, no. I’ll stay still. Of course, I should stay still. Right, Brother?!”
"Fine. Be quiet."
Zenda let out a deep sigh and picked up the medicine bottle again. Fellowes and Russell did not make a sound, but they frowned and flinched.
“They’re really being a nuisance. Aren’t they, Princess?!”
"I know, right?"
“By the way, Princess, you are amazing. To think you haven’t made a sound despite sustaining such injuries.”
"It's okay. It's no big deal.'
The truth was, it was always a big deal. It was always painful and felt like hell, so she wanted to run away. She didn't want to suffer anymore. She didn't want to be in pain.
But now it really felt like nothing special.
Because Dad is here.
Because he came to save me.
When Ariana was imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the imperial palace, she once told Geor, "The Eastern Realm collapsed because of me." At that time, Geor responded, "My little sister is amazing."
She thinks she finally understands the reason.
The East was not a country that Ariana could bring down by her own strength alone.
In Ariana's past, Western Lord was only able to shake up the East after spending years painstakingly letting the inside of the East rot little by little, planting spies, and plotting schemes.
Even that wasn't completely destroyed.
Afterwards, the East had enough power left to join hands with the North and annihilate the Third Prince and Paganus, who had seized the Empire.
So, the Western Lord had been wary of the Eastern Lord to the extent that he married his daughter off to the Eastern Lord, swallowed his pride to whisper to the Emperor, and joined hands with the Third Prince to devise a double and triple scheme to set up several traps.
Because it is this strong. In the face of such overwhelming power, a couple of ordinary schemes are bound to be trampled upon.
“Father, Uncle. Something has happened in the Empire.”
She wanted to surrender herself to this peaceful atmosphere a little longer, but it wasn't the right time yet.
Ariana calmly explained what had happened in the Empire and the schemes of the Western Lord that she had discovered.
“The Western Lord is likely attacking the border of the East by now. These men were planning to join them. We must hurry on our way as well.”
Fellowes's heart ached at the sight of his niece calmly explaining what had to be done, even in the midst of this. So, he covered his eyes with one hand, took a deep breath, and spoke with the softest smile he could muster.
“Ariana, I understand your concerns, but my mother is in the East, so she’ll be fine. You aren’t feeling well, so let’s rest here today and leave tomorrow.”
"But..."
“Ariana. Let’s do that. Yes?!”
As Fellowes spoke in a soothing tone, the corners of his eyes were red, so Ariana had no choice but to nod. Otherwise, she felt that her uncle, with his fierce appearance, would burst into tears in front of the knights.
While receiving treatment, Ariana listened to the report the knights were conveying to Russell. They said that most of the Paganus were dead, a few had escaped but were being pursued by the White Knights, and that Victoria was alive.
To the reporter who asked, “What should I do?” Ariana said.
"Let's tie her up, blindfold her, and take her to the East. Please give her water and food. Treat her well."
Russell and Fellowes could not understand Ariana being kind to Victoria. Fellowes frowned and asked
“Is there any need to be nice to that woman? We could just cut her all down.”
“Yes, that is true, but...”
Ariana tilted her head to the side and raised her right hand. She continued speaking while staring blankly at the tips of her fingers, which were rotted and stripped of their fingernails.
"My part is finished now."
Victoria escaped from the dungeon after enduring horrific torture. She must have been filled with hope, believing that she would finally get what she wanted.
The greater the hope, the greater the despair when it is shattered.
Victoria, who was filled with the thought of capturing Ariana, torturing her, and killing her, plummeted from the top of the sky at the appearance of Russell.
Victoria must have seen it clearly.
The father, uncle, and knights of the Eastern Realm who appeared to save Ariana in a moment of crisis and wielded their swords to protect her.
'But she has no one.'
Now, Victoria cannot eat the beast's heart. As her reason gradually returns, she will come to reconsider her situation.
She will have time to agonize and regret how precious what she has lost is and how foolish her actions have been.
She wanted Victoria to regret it terribly. Just as Ariana had done when she was imprisoned in her past life. She wanted her to retrace everything she had lost, one by one, and regret it desperately.
So, Ariana decided to spare Victoria's life.
At least for now.
Previous Next
Comments
Post a Comment