That very point weakened Ariana’s heart.

Even though Jeore constantly doubted and guarded Ariana, his sincerity toward Donghoja Russell was genuine.

“So, he probably won’t kill me. After all, Father values me so much.”

Killing Ariana would have been the easiest way for Jeore. Getting rid of one princess with little influence who had recently arrived in Dongryeong could maintain peace in Dongryeong and Chase Castle.

Despite having several opportunities, Jeore never killed Ariana.

“Donghoja won’t make Dongryeong dangerous.”

“He might make it dangerous for the princess.”

“That may be true, but…”

“You trust him.”

“I do.”

A faint wrinkle appeared between Cyrus’s eyebrows.

“It’s strange. I thought the princess didn’t trust anyone.”

“I tried not to trust anyone, but since I’m human, I found someone to trust. Isn’t it the same for the Northern Crown?”

“…”

“Donghoja’s sincerity towards Father is not fake. Donghoja may not protect me, but Father will definitely protect me. So, if the Ovelier Duke draws his sword against Father, Donghoja will actively move to prevent the Ovelier Duke.”

“Is there a way to make him draw his sword?”

“I’ve thought of a few things.”

“I want to know too.”

“If you know, will you help?”

Watching Ariana provocatively ask, Cyrus thought she was dazzling. Despite the sunlight in the Northern Crown not being very strong, she shone brilliantly, as if she had gathered all the sunlight.

The discomfort that arose in her chest when Ariana said she trusted Donghoja disappeared.

“Help sincerely, as always.”

As always.

Ariana thought those words were truly pleasant to hear.

In the end, Cyrus always helped Ariana. He said he would use her, but he had never used her.

Suddenly, she became curious.

Does this man really intend to use me? Does he really treat me so well with such intentions? Does the current me have enough value for everyone in Maho Castle to welcome me with open arms?

But she didn’t ask.

She was afraid of receiving a cold response.

“If the Northern Crown helps, it will be a great help. I’ll find a suitable way and ask for help soon. Let’s think in a direction that will also benefit the Northern Crown.”

“That’s reassuring.”

Due to the long walk in the chilly wind, she coughed. When Ariana coughed softly, Cyrus spoke.

“Is your body still weak? You seem a bit tall.”

“The wind in the Northern Crown is quite chilly.”

“Then let’s go inside.”

“I want to walk a little more.”

Ariana couldn’t tell if she wanted to continue the conversation with Cyrus or if she wanted to admire the beautifully groomed garden even in the cold.

“It would be better to go inside.”
“Wasn’t it the Northern Crown who requested a walk?”

“I didn’t expect the princess to be so frail. Are you sleeping properly?”

Ariana felt a stab in her heart.

She couldn’t sleep well because of nightmares.

Every night, the days of receiving harsh treatment were repeated. Gasping for breath in the throbbing pain, when she opened her eyes, a clean ceiling greeted her. Every time, she doubted.

Was what she thought was a nightmare actually reality, and is this place a dream? Is the moment of slowly dying from drowsy pain stretched out into an eternal wandering in a dream?

She couldn’t say such things to Cyrus.

She didn’t want to show any weakness to anyone.

“I sleep well. The tasks of being a patient have decreased too.”

“The habit of lying every time you open your mouth is still there.”

“Well, they say people see what they want to see.”

“Does that mean you doubt everything the honest princess says just because I’m a liar?”

Ariana remembered the pointless conversations she had with Cyrus and smiled faintly.

“The habit of questioning even when you know is still there.”

They looked at each other and smiled slightly.

The strong wind that had just blown messed up Cyrus’s silver hair. Cyrus, seemingly annoyed by the hair that pricked his eyes, roughly swept it aside with one hand.

The sight was so exquisite that it was breathtaking.

“Is there a place in the Northern Crown that you especially want to visit?”

Ariana realized that she had lost herself and was staring at his face only when Cyrus asked. Her face was hot.

She was grateful that the weather was cold. If her cheeks were not tinted red from the cold on this cold day, he would have noticed her flushed face.

“I don’t have a particular place in mind. Do you have any recommendations?”

When Cyrus asked, Ariana looked into the distance and pointed at the towering Graten Mountain.

“If you climb to the top of Graten Mountain, there’s a place called Lum Pond. It’s a pond that glows pink, and even in the middle of winter, warm water springs out.”

“A pink pond, sounds beautiful.”

“It’s spectacular if you go there on a night with a full moon. But the path is treacherous, and many people have challenged it to see Lum Pond, only to freeze to death. Because we couldn’t collect all the corpses, it’s quite eerie. We call that place ‘Morien’s Resting Place.'”

Morien was the god of water and ice.