TYNV 215

(215) Side Story ; Precious and New (9)

Isabelle raised her head and looked up at the sky. The sky beyond the lush garden trees was tinged with orange.

The sun will set soon.

By the way, what did the Northern Lord prepare?

Earlier, when they brought a big cake to celebrate the birthday, everyone gave Ariana a gift. However, Cyrus smiled slyly and said he would give her a gift when the sun went down.

He looked really confident.

Isabelle placed her left foot on her thigh and massaged it.

Should I stay a little longer? I'm curious what the Northern Lord brought. But I have to dance when I get back. Ha, my feet are a mess right now.

I once asked Ariana if her feet didn't hurt when she wore heels. At that time, Ariana answered in her characteristically quiet and calm voice.

"I'm holding on with sheer willpower and grit, Lady White."

Yes, it is a job that requires grit and guts.

Ariana to show her dignity as a princess, Wiona to show off her position as a young duchess, and the other young ladies to stand out from others or look pretty to men.

Everyone endures that pain for a reason.

However, Isabelle could not find any reason to go that far.

I'm sorry, Ariana. I don't have malice or guts.

Being a woman of the White family meant she was in a position where she was bound to win the favor of men. Marrying Isabella, a member of the royal family, would strengthen the family and bring great honor to herself.

Now that the war has ended, the Eastern Territory—once the wing of the Empire—has transformed into the Kingdom of Stella, and the kingdom's territory has expanded significantly compared to before. Consequently, royal authority has been strengthened, and the power of the royal family has also grown.

Unlike Ariana, who was clearly the match for the Emperor of the Arcana Empire, Isabel, who had never been involved in a scandal, was a good target.

Isabelle had never received so many dance requests or been surrounded by men as she did today.

Isabelle, who was massaging her feet while staring blankly at the sky, sensed someone walking close by. She instinctively reached for her hips and realized she was not carrying a weapon today.

Isabelle?

The voice I heard was familiar.

Ryan Roman.

He was the second son of Count Roman, the chief chamberlain of Chase Castle, the vice-captain of the White Knights, and also Isabelle's childhood friend.

Isabelle blinked and stared at Ryan.

Thinking that his scarlet hair looked as if it were on fire as it caught the sunset.

"what are you doing?"

Ryan, who used to follow me around calling me "Noona, Noona" when he was young, started using polite honorifics at some point.

Isabelle tapped her foot and said.

Because my feet hurt.

You're still acting so undignified.

You're still the same at putting people down while using polite language.

It had been a long time since I had seen Ryan's face, as he had been traveling between various battlefields as the vice-commander of the White Knights.

You've grown so much since I last saw you?

It looks like it's still growing.

“Isn’t it time you stopped growing up? How old are you again? Older than me…….”

He was two years younger.

“Oh, right. You’re 22. I can’t believe you’re younger than Ariana.”

Am I that old-looking?

Ariana is just really young-looking.

"Indeed, the Princess does look very young. When I first met you, I thought you were much younger than me."

I know, right.

Ryan stood in front of Isabelle throughout the conversation.

“Why are you doing that? Why aren’t you sitting down?”

I tapped the seat next to me and spoke, and Ryan cautiously asked.

May I sit down?

What's so wrong with that?

“I was taught that you shouldn’t sit next to an unmarried woman without permission. Of course, Lady White would pretend not to know such etiquette, even if she did.”

Isabelle lightly tapped Ryan's calf with her bare foot.

If you know, stop talking nonsense and sit down.

Ryan giggled and sat down next to Isabelle.

Ryan's scent was carried on the breeze that happened to blow. The smell of earth and a hint of wine.

Did you drink?

Yes, a little.

"You little thing even knows how to drink."

Even if she is small, she is probably twice as big as Isabelle.

“Hey, I’m not that small, you know?”

It's small.

Ryan turned to look at Isabelle and smiled.

It's really small.

At that moment, Isabelle felt as though she were standing in front of a stranger, so she involuntarily stopped massaging her feet and stepped back.

You know, the Lanster.

Ryan looked straight ahead and spoke. Only then did Isabelle realize that she had been holding her breath.

I quietly took a deep breath and nodded so as not to be noticed.

“Why, Lanster?”

I have a crush on you.

"Louis?"

Oh, Isabelle knows it too.

“I know. It’s so obvious. Aren’t you going to confess to Louis?”

“It seemed like he had a lot on his mind. After all, Lord Louis is older than him.……”

“What’s wrong with being older? It doesn’t matter, does it? From what I see with Louis, it doesn’t seem like he dislikes it that much, either.”

Does it not matter that he's older?

"No, then."

Then what about you, older sister?

Her heart sank at the title "Noona" being called for the first time in a long while. Isabelle held her breath again, and this time, she was clearly aware that she was the one holding her breath.

Is a younger guy okay?

She just blinked at the unexpected question. Ryan slowly turned his head, and his green eyes stared at Isabelle as if to devour her.

As it was the first time she had received such a look, Isabelle did not know how to respond.

Ryan's face drew closer. His hot breath touched the bridge of Isabelle's nose. It was only when she saw the small freckle on his nose that Isabelle came to her senses.

slap-

Isabelle frowned as she lightly struck his forehead.

“Hey, the thing I hate most in the world is younger people, you know? If you’re planning to tease me, stop it and take care of your own partners!”

I don't have a girlfriend.

“You’re kidding. I’ve watched you seduce women since you were 14, so do you think I’d believe that?”

It's different from back then. I didn't know anything back then.

In my eyes, you're still a clueless punk. Hey, I'm leaving.

The heads of the ladies-in-waiting who had gone to call the carriage came into view. Isabelle hurriedly stood up and ran toward them.

My heart pounded.

It wasn't because of Ryan.

Why there…

The moment Ryan's face drew closer, one face came to mind.

Isaac pops out!

He was a good friend of Isaac.

At first, there were times when they bickered over Cyrus and Ariana's relationship.

There was a time when Cyrus acted so prickly because he didn't like seeing his subordinates excitedly calling her 'Jehubi', even though Cyrus didn't reveal any feelings for Ariana.

However, seeing how Isaac treated Sini, my thoughts changed.

Even after Sini fell into a deep sleep, the war continued, and Isaac, being from the Northern Realm, could not remain in the Eastern Realm indefinitely. However, whenever he had the chance, he visited the Eastern Realm with newly created medicine.

I came to see Isaac in a different light as he tried his best to wake Sini up and relieve Ariana's sadness.

It was Isabelle's job to comfort him as he agonized over the absurdity of being a councilor and unable to save the Queen Consort's loved one. After all, Isaac never let out a cry in front of Ariana.

It was just that kind of relationship.

But why did Isaac's face come to mind at that moment? Why did I feel like I was committing a sin against him?

“Miss, I have prepared a carriage. I’ve also brought comfortable shoes.”

The maid placed the slippers at Isabelle's feet.

Isabelle put her feet into the slippers and said.

"Tell the carriage to wait for a moment. We have somewhere to stop."

Isabelle headed to the main palace of Chase Castle. The banquet hall where the party was to be held was in a different building, so she had to walk quite a distance to the main palace.

By the time I entered the main palace, the sky, which had been covered in the sunset, had turned dark.

Isabelle headed straight to Sini's room.

In the past, I couldn't understand why Ariana used to whisper only to Sini when she was having a hard time, but recently I found out the reason. Sometimes, there are things you can't tell even your family or close friends. There are emotions that cannot be revealed.

Sini was able to do that.

It wasn't just because Sini was asleep.

Spotless golden eyes, a mouth so heavy it's almost steadfast, and pure thoughts and actions.

Sini had an aura that seemed to transcend the human realm in some way.

Isabelle burst through the door and headed to the bedroom, but stopped abruptly.

The object that had stirred up Isabelle's mind stood idly beside the bed.

Gorgeous blonde hair covering the nape of the neck, a slender figure, long legs, and a brown jacket draped loosely.

He let out a deep, long sigh that moved his shoulder, as if he hadn't even realized Isabelle had entered.

“What could be the problem, Sini?”

Isabelle felt a tightness in her chest at the low voice.

“Why isn’t this medicine working either?”

The grief he felt was conveyed even to Isabelle.

“I truly… have no face to show. To you, and to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Isaac now called Ariana 'Her Majesty the Empress,' but Isabelle did not point that out. She simply bit her lower lip gently and watched his retreating figure, who looked pained.

The cheerful man who always walked around with a big smile disappeared long ago. Sini's deep sleep plunged Isaac, who had been so confident that there was no incurable disease in the world, into deep depression.

"excuse me……."

As Isabelle let out a small sound, Isaac spun around.

I couldn't take my eyes off the swaying blonde hair.

Isaac lowered his eyes slightly. When he finally looked up again, a faint smile formed on the corners of his mouth.

Isabelle. I thought you went to a party.

I didn't know you were here.

I feel ashamed.

"face……."

“I was hiding because I had no face to show Her Majesty the Empress. I came here today thinking everyone would be at the party, but…”

I understood Isaac's feelings for coming to visit secretly.

Ariana didn't show it, but she watched with expectant eyes whenever Isaac tried something new. However, Sini failed to wake up every time, and each time, Ariana spoke as if to comfort her.

"It's okay, Isaac. Sini will wake up."

Isaac rubbed his face with both hands.

“Your Majesty the Empress, if you were to take the blame instead, and if that would ease your heart, I would come to see you even with that kind of face. But since you comfort me when I fail every time, I have no face to show you.”

“It’s not your fault that Sini ended up like this. Ariana probably isn’t just offering comfort with words, either.”

“Yes, I know. I know you sincerely feel that way... but because I know, it’s even worse.”

If Ariana knew you were feeling this down, she would care even more.

“I know, right. I shouldn’t be doing this; it’s scary. I’m afraid I won’t be able to wake Sini up until the day I die.”

Isabelle was afraid of that, too. Ariana was also very afraid of it.

But they didn't say it out loud. Afraid that it might become reality.

As Isabelle sighed, Isaac rubbed his face once more and changed his expression. With a slightly better look than before, Isaac asked.

How are your thighs?

“My thigh... Ah, the scar is barely visible now. There is still a slight tingling sensation on the inside, but even that only happens very occasionally.”

It shouldn't be stinging. Let me take a look.