As the sun gradually started to tilt, if they continued to ride, they could step on Dongryeong’s land before it was too late. For some reason, the carriage stopped in front of a luxurious inn in the city.

“There are many interesting things here, so it would be nice to stay and look around for a day.”

Caradin got off the carriage first and extended her hand to Ariana. Ariana grabbed the wrinkled hand she had held several times during her journey and got off the carriage.

Dongryeong rented an entire floor of the luxury inn. Ariana’s room was between Dongryeong’s room and the room of the late Dongryeong’s predecessor.

Although the carriage was spacious and comfortable, sitting in the shaking seat for a long time was challenging. As soon as Ariana entered the room, she flopped onto the large bed.

“It’s clean.”
Lying on the bed, the ceiling view remained unfamiliar despite the cleanliness, even after a long time had passed. The warm and soft bedding, as well as the high-quality dresses, still didn’t become familiar.

Upon hearing a knock and an invitation to enter, Caradin’s maid came in holding several clean dresses.

“Princess, I brought clothes for you to change into.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“I’ll help you.”

“No, leave them there; I’ll change by myself.”

“But…”

“I don’t want others to see my body.”

“Ah.”

The maid, aware of Ariana’s situation, slightly lowered her head in confusion and left the room. Ariana examined the clothes Caradin sent her as she got up from the bed.

“They’re beautiful and all high-quality.”

Bright dresses and gowns that would be liked by girls of Ariana’s age. There was neither outdated fashion nor poor quality.

They were clothes prepared solely for Ariana.

Among them, Ariana chose the most modest dress. It was a knee-length dress in a dark pink tone that flowed gracefully below the knee. The waist was slender, but the skirt’s end flared widely, giving a lively feeling.

Ariana changed into the dress, tied her hair into a tight ponytail, and then went to Dongjehu Russell’s room.

Russell, as always, greeted Ariana with a slightly awkward smile.

“Ariana, the dress suits you well.”

“Yes, thank you.”

By now, Ariana was used to the conversation breaking off at this point.

After hesitating for a moment, Ariana asked, “Father, what time does dinner start?”

Instead of answering, Russell, with wide-open eyes, stopped breathing and looked down at his daughter. After a long silence, Ariana realized that she had just called him ‘Father’ for the first time.

Instead of apologizing as she did to Caradin, Ariana just stared at Russell’s face intently. Eventually, when Russell turned his head, he covered his mouth with one hand.

He had been in that position for quite a long time.

Ariana saw that the skin around his eyes on his large hand was moist. Suddenly, the image of the Russell from her dream overlapped with the Russell in front of her.

“[Dash] I will always wait for you.”

The voice that had not reached Ariana.

For some reason, Ariana also felt like crying. She wanted to cling to him, say how hard it had been, why he hadn’t come to her even once, and whine like a little child.

If she did that, what expression would Russell make?

At least he wouldn’t coldly reject Ariana.

The fact that such trust had developed was surprising.

When did she start trusting this person?

Perhaps it was influenced by the conversation with the Northern Emperor during their last encounter. Instead of freezing her heart towards him, their conversation melted her feelings towards family.

“He said that there should be a distinction in the direction of hatred and wariness.”
As Cyrus warned, being guarded against everyone only made Ariana’s life more difficult. When you are cautious of those you trust, you end up unable to distinguish trustworthy individuals.

While Ariana resented the Northern Emperor, who had abandoned her all this time, that resentment didn’t produce anything.

So Ariana changed her question.

“Father, have you ever sent a letter to Rachel, the Duchess of Bronte, expressing your desire to meet me?”

Russell seemed momentarily startled by the sudden change in question but answered.

“Yes.”

A suppressed voice flowed between the fingers covering his mouth.

“Several times.”

“Did the Duchess of Bronte mention that I fear you?”

“…Yes. She said you didn’t want to meet me because you were afraid of incurring hatred from the Duke of Bronte.”

“So, is that why you didn’t come to see me?”

Russell tightly closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

Ariana just wanted to know the truth about that dream, whether it was a nightmare or reality. There was little reason for her emotions to intensify.

A calm and mature, good child who didn’t harbor resentment and expressed her suppressed emotions; she had to become a dignified princess of the Eastern Empire.

“Why… did you do that?”

But she couldn’t stop the words that popped out.

“Why did you abandon me like that?”

“…”

“Even once, just once, you could have come. You could have seen what kind of life I was living. Then maybe I…”

Even if she suffered in that way, she wouldn’t have died.

“I… like this…”

She wouldn’t have lived, thinking only about using and being used.

Hot tears streamed down Ariana’s cheeks. Ariana, without realizing it herself, said,

“I hate you, Father.”

“I know.”

“I know it’s not your fault. I really know…”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t Russell’s fault.

It was her fault. Not submitting to the Bronte family, not escaping from the Alfred family, being used by the Third Prince Harold, all of it was her choice.

Still, finding someone to blame was necessary; otherwise, it felt like she would suffocate to death due to the constant fear of imminent death. It was because every moment was filled with the terror of death that choked her.

In truth, she didn’t want to die.

She wanted to live.

She wanted to live without using anyone, without being used by anyone, just living an ordinary life.