Using muscles she hadn’t used in a while made her whole body ache. Although the ointment Cyrus had applied alleviated much of the pain from the wound, it hadn’t completely disappeared.
Ariana knew she needed more rest but couldn’t continue to inconvenience Cyrus. As she stood up, Cyrus looked at her questioningly.
The bluish light emanating from the mushroom tinted his silver hair a sky blue. His red eyes appeared even more intense against his almost translucently white skin. His lips under his aquiline nose were just as red as his eyes.
Only now did she notice the small dot under his left eye. Ariana focused on that spot, avoiding his cold eyes, and spoke.
“I have to go now.”
“Where to?”
“Anywhere.”
“It’s dark outside.”
“The cave is long. It will take more than a day to get out with my pace. Won’t it be daylight by the time I escape?”
Sitting on a small rock, Cyrus looked intently at Ariana, his chin slightly propped on the back of his hand, elbows resting on his knees.
“What’s the hurry? You successfully escaped from the Bronthe mansion, didn’t you?”
“By now, the Duchess would have reached the city beyond the mountains. She’ll inform the soldiers that my carriage has disappeared. The Duchess plans to play the role of a grieving mother after hearing of my death, but thanks to you, those who wanted to harm me are all dead.”
“Hmm. It almost sounds like you’re blaming me. Is it my imagination?”
“Did you dispose of their bodies in a way that they can’t be found? What happened to the coachman?”
“He was already dead. I didn’t touch him.”
“So, the only thing the soldiers will find at the scene will be the coachman’s corpse. There are signs of an attack and blood on the ground, but they won’t find my maid and me, so they can’t be certain of my death. There’s no reason to take only my maid’s and my body, leaving the coachman’s.”
“They’ll suspect it’s a kidnapping.”
“Yes, probably. Human trafficking is happening secretly, and noblewomen are especially valuable. They’ll suspect that angle. The soldiers will list me as missing.”
Cyrus uncrossed his arms.
“What does that have to do with your hurry?”
Although she felt that Cyrus was asking despite knowing the answer, Ariana spoke calmly.
“If my death were certain, the Duchess would go to her villa in the Empire and hold my funeral. A grieving noblewoman and her subjects who lost a daughter, sister, and sibling in a scandalous accident. What better way to garner attention?”
“The women of the social circle are brutal. Rachel Bronthe is still your biological mother. Would she use even your death?”
“She wanted me dead even when I was in her womb.”
“…”
“Seeing me alive would have been hell for the Duchess.”
Cyrus looked intently at Ariana’s face.
She spoke of her mother wanting her dead, yet her lips bore a faint smile.
A pathetic and cold smile was not what Cyrus wanted to see. He wanted something brighter, like, yes, like a smile that would illuminate his world, as Ariana did when she laughed at something he said.
Riga, standing next to him, slightly touched Cyrus’s shoulder.
Having been together for a long time, he knew what she was saying just by the look in her eyes.
‘You should comfort the princess, my Lord.’
Comfort?
It had been too long since Cyrus had received comfort, and he didn’t know how to give it.
He searched his memory and thought of his childhood.
When young Cyrus was scolded by his father for playing pranks, his mother would hug him warmly.
Is a hug all it takes?
Just as Cyrus was about to rise, Ariana continued speaking.
“However, as a missing daughter, the Duchess can’t achieve what she planned.”
Cyrus looked at Ariana in an awkward posture, neither standing nor sitting. The melancholic smile that had been lingering on Ariana’s lips was now gone.
“In the midst of my daughter being missing, if we continue imperial affairs, we’ll only be subject to blame. Whether they find my body or find me, we have to find something before we can plan anything else. So before we get caught by them, we have to get out of Seoryeong.”
“……”
“Your Highness, are you hurt somewhere? Why that posture?”
Called out by Ariana, Cyrus stood upright in front of her.
“Do you know what warriors consider most important on the battlefield?”
Ariana found his sudden question perplexing, but she answered quietly.
“Is it a weapon?”
“No. It’s sleep.”
“Sleep…?”
“Yes. If you can’t sleep, then this happens.”
His finger lightly grazed Ariana’s temple. Even with the brief contact, she felt a chill.
“You lose your mind. That’s why you try to fall asleep quickly and deeply even in very short breaks. A warrior who does that survives longer. Right, Louis?”
“Correct.”
“You’re not even in good health, and you’re suffering from severe muscle pain now.”
Ariana’s face flushed at the thought that he had caught onto her physical condition.
“You haven’t been sleeping, and it’s showing under your eyes. How far do you think you can run in this state? Think you can go far with a mind that’s deteriorating from lack of sleep?”
He was right.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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