Russell’s face contorted.
Thinking it was an angry expression again, Russell spoke.
“Yeah, it must hurt. It’s going to hurt a lot.”
“No, I…”
“Ariana.”
Unlike the angry expression, the voice was gentle.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“Suffering is something you…”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I…”
“Really sorry, Ariana. I’m sorry for being a father who can’t give you trust.”
“…”
“That knife, you stabbed it yourself, right? It seemed like you were trying to find a chance to escape from Seo Jehu.”
Russell’s eyes twinkled.
“You were in such a desperate situation, and I didn’t even know… I’m sorry, Ariana. I’m so… sorry for not doing anything right.”
“No, Your Highness. It’s not like that… I’m really okay.”
Russell covered his eyes with his hand. Tears streamed down from under the hand covering his eyes.
Duke is crying.
Ariana had never had the opportunity to see an adult man cry, especially someone crying in such an important position like the Duke.
Not knowing how to react, with wide-open eyes, Russell spoke while covering his eyes.
“Don’t say it’s okay. Don’t say it’s okay in front of me again.”
“…I’m sorry. I…”
“Don’t even say sorry. Don’t ask for forgiveness. Because I’m the one who needs to ask for forgiveness. Please… Ariana, don’t make me more ashamed.”
“What could be embarrassing for Your Highness? There’s nothing like that.”
“No.”
When Russell lowered his hand, his eyes were soaked with tears.
“Could there be a more embarrassing existence, like a father who lived comfortably in a safe place without knowing that his daughter was burning in the fires of hell?”
“…”
“Every time I see you, I can’t stand how pathetic I am.”
Ariana tensed her eyes. Otherwise, the tears she had barely held back might flow. It might be considered a hopeful nightmare.
“I want to be alone…”
In fact, she wanted to say something else.
It hurts too much. I feel like I’m going to die from the pain. It’s agonizing. I can’t breathe. Please save me. No matter how many times I try, the memories won’t go away. Over and over again, it feels like my throat is closing.
As long as they exist in this world, I’ll feel like I’m walking through a field of poisonous fog. Please kill them all. Clear them away in front of me, so I can breathe.
“Uh… Uh, yeah. Okay. Yeah, you need to rest, and I interrupted. I’m sorry. Rest now.”
Staring at Russell’s hurried exit, Ariana pulled up the blanket.
The darkness inside the blanket was rather cozy. Emotions that were difficult to endure when Russell was around overflowed, making her feel like she might vomit.
“Seo Jehu didn’t even know that I hid here.”
The voice from outside the blanket wasn’t surprisingly shocking.
“Duke Seo Jehu is a person who can easily see through my hiding, but I don’t know if I’ve become stronger or if Duke Seo Jehu simply didn’t have the mindset for it.”
“Didn’t you hear me saying that I want to be alone?”
“I guess my hearing has gotten worse.”
“I want to be alone. Please leave.”
“No, I don’t feel that way now. I need to let out my anger.”
Ariana slightly lowered the blanket and peeked out. Cyrus was standing by the bed, looking down at Ariana.
Seeing his brilliantly shining silver hair and red eyes, it felt welcoming, but at the moment, they weren’t in a situation to share such feelings.
“Why are you upset?”
“Because you don’t value your own body.”
“Whether I use my body in any way is none of Your Highness’s concern.”
“It does concern me. I’ve helped you so much, and what if you die before repaying that favor?”
“If that’s the case, you should ask Duke Seo Jehu for that payment. And by the way, Duke of the North. I am now a princess of this country. Please don’t speak to me in such a condescending manner.”
“Ah.”
Cyrus chuckled.
“I see. I’ve been rude, Princess, despite what I said. I apologize.”
Despite telling himself to do so, the sudden deference gave her goosebumps.
“No, it’s better if you treat me as usual.”
“How can I treat a princess of this country as usual? I’ll prepare appropriate etiquette in the future, so please forgive my past rudeness, Princess.”
“…Your Highness.”
“It’s not Your Highness but Duke of the North or Cyrus. That’s enough.”
During the time they spent apart, the existence of Cyrus seemed to be slightly romanticized. She momentarily forgot that this man sometimes acted like a less refined man.
“Duke of the North, if you’re done playing around and want to vent your anger, please do it quickly and leave.”
“Princess. This time, if Isaac weren’t here, you would have been in real danger.”
“Did Isaac treat me?”
“Yes. He applied a ointment to alleviate the pain, but he said you’ll continue to suffer. Does it hurt?”
“Yes, it hurts. A lot.”
“You said it’s okay in front of Duke Seo Jehu.”
“Duke of the North is understanding enough to understand me in any state.”
“Do I not need to maintain a good image for you since it doesn’t matter how I look in your eyes?”
Thinking of the conversation they had when they first met at the border, Ariana laughed briefly.
“Yes, Duke of the North. That’s what I meant.”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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