Chapitre 4: CHAPTER 4 [It's too late to run away]
'How did I end up like this?'
Arne lay on her bed, lost in thought. This morning, as soon as she woke up and tried to get out of bed, the maid in waiting shouted in fright.
"You shouldn't get up so suddenly, Lady Arne! Your bare feet will touch the floor!"
"• • • •?"
'My bare feet might touch the ground.'
As if to never let Arne's bare feet touch the floor, the maids armed with a strong will hurriedly brought the indoor slippers and put them on Arne's feet. The situation was so awkward for Arne, who had been barefoot on the battlefield. However, the problem didn't end there.
"Lady Arne! The sun is burning! Your fair skin will be burned!"
"Oh my. No ! Don't walk around!"
"Now, let's get a fluffier carpet for our Lady Arne!"
"No food is hard to chew! Get ready for something softer!"
For some reason, the overprotectiveness of the handmaidens didn't seem to fade away over time. Arne was a person whose body could feel neither cold nor heat. It because her sword skill had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship and even called a sword God. But the maid who didn't know anything that fact treated her like a pottery.
'It's all because of that.'
All of this was a 'brilliant collaboration' between her nanny Eva and Cassian, Arne thought back the time she had just arrived in the Northern Empire. Her nanny, who has been worried that Arne would get back into trouble for wanting to go back, made a tremendous statement.
~"Our princess, Her Highness, is very weak! Please treat her like glass!"~
While Arne was dumbfounded by the sound of something she had never heard in her life, Cassian, who hearing Eva's words, gave a stern order.
~"Serve the precious grand duchess with the utmost respect."~
It was probably from the next day. the maids wouldn't let Arne do anything on her own.
'I'm not a child, and I don't know what this is.....'
I've been chased by my parents' nagging bombs before, but this is the first time she has been chased away by the overprotective maids. Arne let out a long sigh after having barely managed to get some time for herself away from the maids who treated her like a baby all day.
"Your Highness the Grand Duchess~!"
"Your Highness Princess Arne!"
The maids were heard running everywhere, looking for Arne, but they couldn't find her because Arne was above the heads of the maids. Perched on the top of the tallest tree in the garden, Arne let out a sigh of relief as she watched the maids soon move away.
"Now I can live a little."
Arne sighed as she leaned against a branch thick enough to lean on. Arne was greeted by a different landscape from Brillcht Castle, which was built on a high mountain where Arne lived as a child. Terneuzen Castle, built around a large lake, was so beautiful that admiration came out naturally.
''How much peace has it been….''
Before she came to the Northern Empire, she was harassed by her parents, but after she was the maids harassed her, so she was tired. Since the trees were taller, she could see the view of the castle better. At the Terneuzen Castle, everyone from the head butler to the junior maid was busy preparing for her upcoming wedding. It was a strange thing for Arne to be free.
'But you don't ask me to do anything, as if you've made a promise!'
She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, but it didn't matter to Arne because not having to work was always a welcome thing.
'It's still strange.'
They're from the Western Empire. Who is Arne(?) so I wouldn't touch it, but It was a bit strange that the people of the Northern Empire would do that, even if they didn't touch it because they knew it. While observing the people busily wandering around the castle, Arne gaze fell at the person on the castle wall.
'It's him.'
Even when he was wearing a mask, he couldn't hide his overflowing good looks, and he shone even brighter when he wasn't wearing anything at all. arne glared at Cassian displeasedly. The shells looked like creatures of the gods, and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking. Arne was further distressed when she was reminded of her dark history of the past, asking that man who had come to see her to be her lover.
'You must have had fun with me who didn't know anything!'
just thinking about it made me want to crash an accident and go back, but. . . .
"Arne! do you intend to disappoint the Duchess!"
Nanny Eva pleaded earnestly with tears, so I endured it for the time being.
"I guess this is why my mother sent a nanny with me....."
My parents were weak, after all. while I was experiencing the viciousness of adults, Her eyes were dazzled by the handsome beauty of her husband-to-be. i was going to kill it and go back, but....
"it was a wasted to kill that face after all?"
All of a sudden, Arne wondered if he lacked something, and that was why he made him want to marry her. But Arne can't figure it out why.
"Do you have any kind of debt to pay back to Emperor Syclion IV?'
Arne made a hypothesis. First, he must have a debt to pay. But it was weird for him to marry her. and since the Emperor Syclion IV was so fond of Arne, he would not easily allow her to go abroad and get married. Then by any change ...?
"Could it be that I… have been sold?"
Arne sniffed her thinking. What if Syclion IV asked him to be her marriage partner? There is a child in my family who is a troublemaker because I don't think she will get married, so would you marry her?!
"• • • • ."
it was a half-joke, but the possibilities were so overflowing that it made Arne sick.
"No, that can't be right. even though he was treated like that, as if she was never going to get married..."
But if her mother was involved, anything was possible. Arne was suddenly glad that her parents hadn't been able to come to the wedding. If her were here, it was obvious that she would have learned the etiquette of being a normal lady today. Her mother, who has a weak body, couldn't attend because she could stand her airship sick. Her father could come too because he was afraid to leave her mother alone. Emperor Syclion IV couldn't come because he was the emperor, so the person who could come to the wedding was another younger brother of the emperor and Arne Uncle Duke Sarno.
"Three months...."
It was when I mumbled through the period when my parents said it was okay to get divorced if I could just get through it. Cassian turned his head. Arne, who was caught off guard at the clear gaze from up looking at the tree where she was sitting, she didn't even have time to hide, and their eyes met. At that moment, the blue eyes that looked like the deep sea or the dark night sky softened. It was as if time had stopped for a moment.
'No. . . . .'
Why is that guy so handsome even with that smile?
* * *
Cassian couldn't help but laugh. The way Arne's eyes widened in surprise at being caught was quite cute. Cassian's smile grew wider as he followed Arne's, who ran away as fast as she could. He had heard the maids searching for the Grand duchess, but he hadn't expected that he would find her sitting on the branch of the top of the tree, stretching out in the sun.
'How the hell did you get up up there?'
According to her nanny Eva, she has a fragile body who would break her legs even when walking and will collapse in the sun, but Arne didn't seem to care about that. After all, she was the one who claimed the railed at their first meeting.
'However, isn't it common for a duke's daughter to be more polite and dignified?'
The more i looked, I realized she was more different from others. Are the Duke family styles free? or is it because you're from Rewelgosa? if not that, is it the cultural differences between the Northern and Western Empires? whatever it was, Arne's indefinable behavior made cassian feel an indescribably impressed by Arne's uncontrollable actions.
'I don't really feel like I've gotten a wife, but I feel like I've adopted a cat'
Suddenly, he remembered the time when Cassian had chosen Arne as his marriage partner. Syclion IV risked his own conscience on the line.
"It's not going to be really easy. Are you sane? This kid is really tough. How about finding another young lady?"
A marriage partner that he chose was half on impulse, half as a joke. But the reason Cassian's interest deepened was because of the reaction of Syclion IV, the emperor of the Western Empire. Yes. Syclion IV desperately talked to him to stop it. It wasn't the Emperor's fault.
'Was the reason that Syclion IV stopped the marriage because Arne's body was too weak?'
Even in Cassian's eyes, Arne was too weak. In retrospect, Arne didn't stumble as if she would collapse quickly at their first meeting. Until now, I'd assumed that Syclion IV's opposition was simply because she was related to the Sword Master or because her status was too high.
'If you're that weak, you might against it, right?'
That's how Cassian's misunderstanding deepened.
* * *
After Arne met Cassian's gaze, she slowly came down from the tree.
'Did i get caught?'
Her mother told her to pretend to be a gentle lady, but as far as Arne knew, gentle ladies didn't climb a tree. a frail lady would not climb a tree.
'No. Rather, it's a great opportunity to clear up the useless misunderstandings.'
It happened that she was getting tired of the maids treating her like a baby. If i use this opportunity well, wouldn't we be able to resolve some of these useless misunderstandings? It was then when Arne was thinking deeply by herself. Rustle, the grass in the garden where she was hiding, moved in an instant. Arne frowned at her displeased presence. It was when she was looking at what she would do in the feeling that something bothered her while she was hiding.
"Her Highness the Grand Duchess!"
"Her Highness the Princess!"
Arne flinched at the sound of the maids' voices in the distance. Her own well-being was more important to her than the presence of an unknown identity.
'Well, that's fine.'
Arne, who succeeded in escaping at the speed of light, observed the movement from the balcony of the castle. Fortunately, the maids were nowhere to be seen. I didn't want to be captured again and become the maid's baby. Arne let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew. Did i get rid of it?" [Arne]
"Who did you run over?" [cassian]
Arne reflexively stiffened at the low voice that came from right behind her. She looked back and saw Cassian standing there, not knowing when did he came. When Arne looked at Cassian displeasedly, Cassian shook his head. Arne frowned at his sly look, as if asking why he had such a dissatisfied expression.
"How long have you been standing there?" [arne]
"Just now. i saw my wife coming this way." [cassian]
Cassian stepped closer, naturally respectful. arne looked at Cassian, slightly confused.
'I didn't feel the presence again?'
It was the same when they first met, and even now, it was strange that Arne couldn't feel Cassian's presence. When I was looking at him, I could feel his presence, but strangely, she couldn't feel it when he was a little far away.
'I can feel the presence of other people if like this.'
I could read the signs of people on the same floor as well as people walking around downstairs. I usually don't pay attention this much, but even if I didn't pay attention, there was no way I wouldn't even notice the presence of the person standing close by.
'Are you as talented as me?'
It was possible. Arne stared at Cassian warily, as if trying to figure out the truth.
"Do you like me that much?" [cassian]
"....." [arne]
I wonder what this crazy person is talking about.
"Looking at you staring at me like that, you seem to like my face." [cassian]
"Uh.. oh..." [arne]
Arne couldn't deny it, but Arne couldn't answer easily because he felt like she wanted to deny it. Arne, who frowned, was fun. The expressions and eyes that respond to each one are so lively that you can't help it but tease them.
'It's really fun to tease me.'
"You're making fun of me, right?" [arne]
"No, it's not. how could i make fun of you?" [cassian]
'You already made fun of me!'
Arne glared openly at Cassian. Looking at Arne, who had a lot of goals, Cassian couldn't help it but laughed unconsciously. I would say it that she looked like a shaggy cat. It's funny.
'Even that suits you.'
"Have you adjusted your life in the castle?" [cassian]
"Well, it's okay." [arne]
Arne looked at Cassian with a look that had a lot to say. Cassian nodded as if to say go ahead, and Arne shook her head shyly. It's good to be nice to her, but it was burdensome that everyone rushed at her too much like taking care of a baby.
'But as soon as I tell him this, he'll treat me like a baby.'
When Arne's gaze reached Cassian, Cassian smiled strangely.
"Then, how do you feel about meeting a marriage partner who doesn't look very good?" [cassian]
Arne raised her eyes.
~"And I don't think the person who accepted me as a marriage partner will be all right."
It was clearly reminder Arne of what she said during parting ways in the Western Empire. Are you provoking me now?
"It's not as bad as I thought." [arne]
"Not as bad as I thought?" [cassian]
"Yes." [arne]
Cassian was happy by the overly honest answer in front of that person. Usually, in situations like this, empty words are fine, or at least don't she say that she is fine?
'Anyway, it's fun.'
It was fun, like herding cats. Arne frowned seriously, then looked back at Cassian.
"Actually, I have a question for you."
"Tell me."
"Your hair color changes every time I look at it. what is your real hair color?"
When we first met, he had a black color hair, then turned into platinum blonde color, and now he has silver hair. Arne asked in frustration, but Cassian answered in kindly.
"This is my real hair color."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I was hiding my identity back then."
Cassian clearly expected the next question would be, 'Why did you hide your identity?' However, Arne asked him a completely different question.
"Do you have a first love that you can't forget?"
It's a really random and unexpected question. Cassian was speechless for the first time in a long time, and when he didn't answer, Arne asked another question.
"Or are you married and divorced? Or unmarried, but you have a separate lover low status mistress?"
What the hell are you thinking, suddenly asking such a question? Questions that sound aggressive rather than rude, depending on this situation. However, rather than being upset by the question he'd never heard before, Cassian was more excited.
"What would you do if i said yes?"
".....Yes? if it's there, then there is."
Cassian burst into laughter at the answer that didn't seem to have any idea. Arne tilted her head as she saw Cassian smile. Why are you laughing all of a sudden?
"Wait a minute, but you have to tell me exactly if you really have it!"
"There no such thing."
"Huh?, no?"
"Yes. No unforgettable first love, never married, never divorced, and no lowly mistress."
Despite Cassian's stern reply, Arne couldn't get rid of the roots of her doubts. If there is really nothing wrong with Cassian... then he has been sold himself...!
'What era is it now, and the bride who was sold, are you crazy?'
Arne was distressed again. at the same time, the part of me that wanted to check Cassian and the part of me that doesn't want to know fought fiercely. watching Arne struggle, Cassian became a little less amused.
'What are you thinking?'
Anyone else would know right away what you were thinking. I didn't know as much as this cat. A bit grumpy, Cassian moved closer to Arne.
"Are you having second thoughts right now in front of me?"
".....No, where the hell do you learn to feel that way?"
"I'm always sincere to you, wife."
"We're not married yet, are we?"
"We do it soon."
Speaking firmly, Cassian naturally took Arne's hand and put his mouth on the back of her hand. Cassian, who kissed her deeply as if branding him, stared at Arne with intense eyes that seemed to melt.
"Or do you want to run away now?"
Arne flinched at the sound of his impulsive scratching voice. It wasn't really like that, but since she was facing these eyes, Arne just wanted to run away. Arne felt like those eyes were going to swallow her whole.
"If I run away, will you let me go?"
"No."
softly, but firmly, Cassian answered like a knife.
"It's too late to run away."
Cassian's eyes deepened as if he would never let go.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone