“Ugh!”

“Ah!”

Even as the assassins screamed, Zeor’s smile did not waver. As if their screams were music to his ears, he continued to kick them.

It was when the assassins could hardly muster the energy to scream.

Crash!

The door of the guard post burst open.

“Ariana!”

Russel and Pelos rushed in.

Just before Russel could embrace Ariana, she spoke.

“Your Imperial Highness.”

Chilled by her icy tone, Russel froze. His outstretched arm hung uselessly in the air.

“I am safe. Thanks to the Emperor, I have suffered no harm.”

“No harm? Look at your wrists, they’re all scraped!”

Pelos shouted, grabbing and shaking Ariana’s wrist. It hurt more than the rope burn.

“Uncle, would you like to tear off the princess’s arm?”

At Zeor’s comment, Pelos hastily let go of Ariana’s wrist.

“Oh, did it hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

“But, Zeor, why did you bring her to such a place and show her such dreadful things?”

“Uncle, are you discriminating already? Well, I suppose it’s natural. She’s beautiful and I’m not, so of course you’d treat us differently. But if you’re too blatant about it, I’ll cry. Wail, really.”

“Come here, Ariana. You don’t need to see any of this.”

Ignoring Zeor’s words, Pelos carefully wrapped his arm around Ariana’s shoulder and led her out. Russel, who had been standing still, walked over and stood beside Zeor.

Zeor glanced at Russel and spoke.

“She’s pretty. More than what I’ve heard.”

“Yeah, she’s pretty.”

“She’s cold. Colder than what I imagined.”

“I made her that way.”

“Yes, well, let’s first get these men to talk. It might help in the custody battle, don’t you think?”

+++

Pelos escorted Ariana to a carriage and took her to Chase Castle. Throughout the journey, he was restless.

“Are you really alright? Your wrist is so scraped… we should call a doctor as soon as we arrive.”

“I’m fine. These things heal quickly on their own.”

“Why do you keep saying it’s fine? It’s all red and swollen!”

When Ariana pursed her lips, Pelos faltered.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. My voice is naturally loud.”

That wasn’t the reason.

Ariana narrowed her eyes and glared at the scrape on her wrist. It felt like the tears gathering at her eyes would seep in.
The wound left on her pale wrist was insignificant. Although the skin was scraped enough to form a scab, and the tightly bound area had turned red and swollen, it was really nothing.

Ariana had suffered greater injuries in her life. There had been times when she’d nearly died, or when she hadn’t received timely medical treatment and they’d had to cut away the affected tissue.

Had anyone ever cared so much for her injured body then?

No.

Because Ariana was a person who could endure. A person born to endure. If not, she would be useless.

She had never known there could be someone who would worry so much over an injury as minor as this.

She felt bewildered. She didn’t know what expression to wear or what response to give, nor how to react appropriately at a time like this.

So she kept her mouth tightly shut and simply glared at her wound.

Felros, thinking Ariana had fallen silent out of fear, muttered apologies until they arrived at the castle.

“I really had no idea something like this would happen on the way from the capital. We should’ve been more careful… Were you scared? I’m really sorry, Ariana. From now on, I’ll assign you more robust knights. I’m sorry, truly sorry.”

The warmth in his deep voice was so intense that Ariana finally couldn’t contain herself and tightly shut her eyes.

The carriage arrived at Chase Castle. When she stepped down, Ariana was once again at a loss for words. Everyone at Chase Castle had run out and was waiting for her.

From the previous Emperor and Empress to the Duke and Duchess of White, all the palace servants and maids. They watched with eyes full of anxiety and concern as Ariana descended from the carriage.

“It’s really not a big deal.”

She hadn’t expected the Western Emperor to simply let her go.

He was a man full of suspicions. Even if Ariana was young, once she had entered his household, he was bound to assume she knew at least one secret of the Ovlen or Bronthe families.

Besides, Ariana had been abused.

If word about this incident got around, even the Emperor would frown and keep his distance from both the Ovlen and Bronthe families.

Before speaking out, kidnap her and bring her here; if that’s not possible, kill her.

It would be a plausible thought for the Western Emperor.

She’d always assumed something like this could happen—that she might be kidnapped or even killed. That’s why she always hid a short knife in her pillow and another on her body.

So it was not a big deal. It was something that could happen at any time.

But why did these people act as if it were such a significant event?

She hadn’t died, nor been severely injured, nor been released from torture, so why all this fuss?

Why was the previous Empress hugging and crying over her? Why were the previous Emperor’s eyes so red? Why was the Duke of White furiously gritting his teeth?

And why did she keep feeling like crying?

“I really don’t understand.”

Ariana closed her eyes, cradled in the warmth of the Dowager’s embrace.

“I really don’t.”