Ariana still felt like she was dreaming.
Walking alone on a lonely path in the deep night where one couldn’t see an inch ahead, the moonlight descended. The powerful moonlight illuminated the dark path, enabling Ariana to reach her destination safely.
‘Northern Empress…’
The pain was forgotten at Cyrus’s entrance.
She couldn’t understand why he, who should be in the north, had appeared in today’s trial. She also didn’t understand why he had testified, revealing even the fact that he had visited the west.
‘I owe him a lot.’
Cyrus would not have helped Ariana for no reason, but his help was a ray of light for her.
‘Really.’
She didn’t wish he had appeared before she was stabbed. She was simply grateful for his help.
Now, however she might be used by him, she felt she could be obediently used.
Ariana didn’t even realize that she was walking hand in hand with the former Eastern Empress Carradin. Only after hearing her damp voice did she realize that they had left the courtroom.
“Ariana, you have nothing to worry about now. From now on, we will protect you, and no one will dare touch you.”
Ariana turned her head to look at the former Eastern Emperor and Empress and then at the Eastern Emperor. Eastern Emperor Russel spoke with reddened eyes.
“You’ve been through a lot, Ariana. I’ve lived without even knowing that you were suffering at the hands of such people. I’m really sorry.”
He felt useless.
She didn’t expect such a thought from the Eastern Emperor who sat in that noble seat. The former Eastern Emperor Theodore spoke.
“Now you are the legitimate Princess of the East, Ariana. So do whatever you want to do, and enjoy whatever you want to enjoy. You’re free to live as you please. Understand?”
Carradin caressed Ariana’s cheek.
“We have no expectations from you. We’re simply content with you being with us as our family.”
She couldn’t understand why words that had felt like mere pretense now felt sincere.
Whether it was because her body was numbed from the resuming abdominal pain, or because the trembling voice of the empress was sad, or because moisture gathered around the eyes of the old empress, or because the sky-like Eastern Emperor sniffled—perhaps it was all of it.
Their words that had been sickening became sweet.
“Yes, thank you. But…”
Just as Ariana was about to barely inform them of her condition, a cheerful voice came from behind.
“Congratulations on winning the trial!”
Ariana froze.
The voice she couldn’t forget even in her dreams. The voice that had sweetly and tenderly driven Ariana into a corner.
The voice she did not want to hear yet bound her wrists and ankles like chains.
Ariana bowed her head, gasping for air.
“It was a truly fascinating trial. From the Emperor to the Northern Empress, everyone making an appearance. It felt like watching a highly entertaining play.”
The voice came closer.
“Ah, we’re meeting for the first time, right? I am the Third Prince, Herald Blenwitt.”
Herald stopped beside Ariana. She saw his shoes as she looked down. Immaculately polished as always. Pointed at the tips, she had seen these shoes multiple times before.
They might not be the same shoes, but the sentiment was.
It felt like she had returned to those times when she knelt before him, listening to his ‘requests’ while suppressing her fear and reluctance, replying, “I’ll do it,” like a foolish Ariana.
Then he would smile broadly and lift her chin with his index finger and whisper,
“See, it had to be you. Without you, I wouldn’t have survived. Everything I’ve achieved is all thanks to you.”
She believed him. She felt validated, needed, and it felt good.
How foolish she had been.
“Yet you won’t show me your face. I’d like to exchange greetings with the person who’s won the hearts of the Emperor and the Northern Empress.”
Russell, sensing that something was off with Ariana, discreetly grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“Princess, the Third Prince. Princess of the Eastern Kingdom.”
“Ah.”
Herald grinned.
“My apologies, Eastern Empress. I had momentarily forgotten. The thrill of having a person of interest right before me.”
Even though born to an imperial concubine, the rank of the Third Prince was lower than that of the Eastern Empress.
“The princess is tired from the trial; it would be best to postpone our greetings to another time.”
“Ah, of course.”
Only then did Ariana come to her senses.
‘Right, I’m the princess of the Eastern Kingdom now.’
The Third Prince could not easily mess with her, a princess of an entire nation.
Maybe later, when the Third Prince gained power akin to the Crown Prince, but not now. Currently, he was just one of the numerous princes.
“Let’s get in the carriage, Ariana.”
Ceredin firmly held Ariana’s hand and led her to the carriage. She felt the Third Prince’s piercing gaze on her back, but she no longer trembled.
Ariana walked without faltering, as if she felt no pain, as if she was not afraid, dignifiedly walking to the carriage.
But reaching the carriage was her limit.
Though her burgundy dress had concealed it until now, her dress had gotten damp from the blood that trickled from where the knife had pierced her.
‘At least after getting into the carriage. After getting out of Third Prince Herald’s sight.’
But no matter how much she urged herself on, she couldn’t prevent her vision from darkening.
Her knees gave out.
“Ariana!”
The last thing she heard was the governess’s cry before losing consciousness.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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