“Even the words that the hearts of the women who look at me beat uncontrollably?”

“Yes.”

“Does your heart beat the same?”

“Of course.”

Cyrus bent down and met Ariana’s eyes.

“You can’t turn a lie into truth. When you lie about your heart beating, you should at least make a fitting expression.”

“I’ve grown unfeminine, so I can’t make the appropriate expression. But my heart is beating sufficiently.”

“Because if the heart doesn’t beat, you’ll die?”

Suddenly, Ariana unknowingly smiled. It was astonishing that Cyrus remembered the nonsensical words he had said.

Cyrus silently appreciated the faint smile spreading on Ariana’s face. The silent smile appeared and disappeared without a sound.

“A man may wield a sword and cut his ear to see a woman’s smile.”

“Is that what Your Highness would do as well?”

“I wonder.”

Cyrus straightened his back.

The handsome face beneath the sparkling silver hair changed in an instant into that of an arrogant monarch. His red eyes under thick ashcolored eyebrows stared piercingly at Ariana.

“But I do know that your smile will become your weapon.”

“My weapon?”

“If you can master your smile, you might be able to rule the world.”

“Like Your Highness?”

A smile spread at the corner of Cyrus’s mouth. It was a soft, beautiful smile, like the moon.

“You learn quickly. But I have not yet won the world.”

Cyrus disappeared as he always did, without a word.

Swallowing a sigh, Ariana discovered a small bundle where Cyrus had stood. Reaching through the iron bars, she picked it up.

Inside the bundle were two pieces of bread and a chunk of ham and cheese.

‘He must not have forgotten to eat it himself.’

It must have been brought for Ariana.

Cyrus had spoken as if he didn’t care how many days Ariana was trapped here. But not only did he provide water, but even food to fill her belly.

She was hungry, but she couldn’t easily touch it.

The bread, ham, and cheese made her hungrier as she knew their taste, but his intentions were suspicious.

‘There’s no reason for kindness without cause.’

Those who were kind to Ariana all harbored hidden agendas.

‘They must be treating me well because they want something from me.’

Even though she had never met him before she died, she had heard many rumors about him. Beautiful women, clever women, all were used by him, never gaining a piece of his heart.

‘But there’s nothing for me to gain.’

If he had approached her after she left the Western Palace and sought the Eastern Emperor, she would have thought he was kind to use Ariana, who sat in the place of the Eastern Princess.

But now it’s too early.

Trapped in the Duke’s house, unable to do anything as she pleased, unable to even walk around the garden without permission, a miserable second princess. A cheeky child who got smacked and imprisoned for speaking her mind at a party.
Cyrus had been watching all this time, so he would know Ariana’s situation, but for what purpose was he bestowing such kindness?

‘Could he have noticed that I’m planning to escape as a ghost? But how? Did I inadvertently give myself away?’

No. Ariana had been careful even when alone.

‘Whatever the intention of the kindness, it won’t be good for me.’

Ariana pushed the bundle and water jug he had brought into a corner of the prison.

Upon seeing food, a forgotten hunger surged, and seeing water, thirst intensified, but she resolved not to touch what he had brought.

+++

Cyrus left the underground dungeon only after confirming that Ariana did not touch the bundle and water jug.

Concealing himself and making no sound with his movements, the soldiers guarding the tower were completely unaware of his presence.

Inside the dark tower, the maids’ cries did not cease. The maids’ reactions were normal.

A place filled with the rotting smell of the dead and an air of death. Ariana did not show the slightest sign of disturbance in such a place.

As cramped as confinement may be, being locked in a room is different from being trapped in a tower.

Not receiving a single glass of water since last night meant that she could be left to die in there, yet how she maintained her calm was baffling.

As he entered the forest that continued from the Duke Bronthe’s estate, two people emerged from the tree shadows, blocking Cyrus’s path. A redhaired woman with downturned eyes, giving a virtuous impression, and a playfullooking blackhaired man.

The blackhaired man spoke.

“My lord.”

“Is it confirmed?”

“Yes, the capital’s nobles hurriedly left this morning, and other nobles left at a similar time. Some nobles remain, but there are no signs of them planning to meet with the Duke separately.”

The two were the commander and vicecommander of the Black Knight Order led by Cyrus, with the woman being the commander Louis, and the man being the vicecommander Noah.

Noah continued.

“Seeing that the Duke did not particularly focus on this party, it seems to be a party truly arranged to lay the groundwork for the debutante of the first princess.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and Sir Isaac is locked in his room drinking out of boredom.”

“I don’t need to know what that guy is doing.”

Louis and Noah, who needed to conceal themselves again once the report was over, were looking at Cyrus with suspicious eyes. Cyrus slightly narrowed his eyes and asked.

“Is there still something left to report?”

“When will we return to the northern territory?”

“Not yet.”

Noah glanced slyly at Louis. The next words seemed to be meant for Louis to say, but Louis’s tightly closed lips did not seem to open.

Eventually, Noah asked, seemingly helpless.

“Is it because of the second princess of Bronthe?”