章 80: Chapter 39. Her bird
The woman who had defeated the monster gradually approached Gardenia. She couldn't say anything as she was incredibly frightened by what had happened just a few seconds ago.
Gardenia tried her best to sit up or even stand up, but her legs were shaking too much from the shock. The Mistress of the North, who had slowly approached her, spoke:
— Lady Daehsin. I take it this is you?
Instead of answering, Gardenia only continued to stare at the woman in front of her, who was also looking down at her. She involuntarily thought that there was no one in this world who looked like this person. White skin like the moon, silver-blonde hair, and eyes... amber, blank eyes that held only darkness.
Although the emperor and other members of the imperial family had similar looks, but it was as if this woman had her own extraordinary charm. However, the coldness in the woman's eyes robbed her beauty of any softness.
It was only then that Gardenia realised it was she who was being addressed, and a hoarse sound escaped her mouth:
— Y-yes, it's me...
The golden eyes from beneath the white eyebrows looked aloof and unkind. Gardenia couldn't understand what emotion actually lurked in those eyes.
— You seem to be in a difficult situation, ' the woman said, 'Do you need help?
After saying that, the eyes looking at the Supreme Astrologer's youngest daughter were so calm and cold that it was disconcerting. It was exactly the same reaction as during their last meeting.
'...'
However, was this a situation where one could answer 'no'? Gardenia pressed her lips together, feeling trepidation in front of this woman.
— Y-yes, please... — she said with some difficulty, - Could you please escort me to safety? I must send a letter to my family as soon as possible and tell them where I am.
The Princess of the North watched the girl in silence and instead of answering she asked:
— You're not even going to ask my name?
— I... — Gardenia hesitated and for some reason became embarrassed while saying those words, - I already know who you are...
— Huh. Really?
After smiling with the raised corners of her lips, the princess' golden eyes were filled with only her. And the girl unconsciously wished that this woman would continue to only look at her.
'This... What is this feeling?'
Gardenia realised that a strange and unfamiliar feeling had arisen within her again. It had been in her heart ever since she first saw this woman in the imperial palace.
— Lord of the North. Asil Nara Asheloth, ' Gardenia added shortly after hesitating.
Asil laughed softly, but it lowered the ambient temperature even more. Other people said that the Mistress of the North looked even scarier when she laughed. However, Gardenia didn't think that way at all. On the contrary. She was rather fascinated by it.
— In that case... If you know who I am, then why did you decide to come to me for help?
— What...? — Gardenia interjected with confusion on her face.
— Northern Devil, ' the silver-haired woman's own nickname fell silently from her lips, 'You must have heard that I am called that outside the north. So why did you decide to come to me for help?
— ...no, I...
Gardenia stammered, as she didn't know what she was supposed to answer to that.
— More specifically, what makes you think I'm any different from the monsters that attacked you just now? — After finishing her thought, Asil glared at her again.
The Supreme Astrologer's youngest daughter was at a loss for words at this moment.
— No, but...! — Gardenia stammered and a desperate expression flashed across her face, -Didn't you just save me?!
It was true. If it wasn't for the Lord of the North and her intervention, the cult leader's youngest daughter would have already been torn to pieces by the monster. However, upon hearing her exclamation, the princess only grinned grimly.
— Lady Daehsin, you are mistaken,'' she retorted, ''I only did it at the request of my consort.
— W-what...?
— She asked me to come here and rescue you, ' the princess said slowly, 'So my job is done, isn't it?
- ...
Gardenia could not find anything to say, so she just kept silent. The girl was deeply shocked at how indifferent these words sounded. Wasn't this moment talking about a person's life? Especially, Gardenia Daehsin was not an ordinary person whose life could be easily neglected.
How could she have such an attitude...?!
— ...What happens to you next doesn't concern me in any way, ' the princess of the north looked like she was really going to abandon the girl to her fate with obvious pleasure in stretching her words.
'Didn't the same thing happen last time...?'
When they met by chance in the corridor of the imperial palace, Lord Severa had just like that, left the girl with an injured ankle in the middle of the corridor and just walked away.
Here and now.
Dropping those indifferent words, Asil turned around as if she was about to head away from here. But just as she was about to leave, Gardenia clutched at her cloak.
The girl couldn't get up, for when she tried to do so, she felt a sharp flash of pain piercing her sprained ankle. Gardenia could barely contain her scream. So all she had to do now was lie at this woman's feet and plead with her.
— Please don't leave me here!
This was an area where monsters lived. Gardenia realised that this was a dangerous place where she would not know when, where and how she would die if Lord North was not around. In other words, the girl had no choice but to keep clinging to her.
— Hm. And why should I do that? — Asil asked lazily, as if deciding whether or not to save this young lady's life was nothing more than a game to her.
Gardenia Daehsin was thinking fast.
— I... If you save me, then I will definitely be of use to you!
— ...
— I'll do whatever you tell me to do!
Green eyes that sparkled brightly and brown hair.
While saying those words, Gardenia slightly shifted her eyebrows and looked at the young woman. When the innocent and beautiful youngest daughter of the Daehsin family made such a facial expression under people's gazes, no one could not help but grant her request. Gardenia was subconsciously used to it and had been using this 'trick' since she was a child. She expected it to work this time as well.
However.
Lord Severa hesitated, and then opened her mouth.
— Are you really going to do anything to stop me from asking? — Asil said quietly.
Although the words left a great deal of room for interpretation, Gardenia, who swallowed all the countless words that came to her mind, uttered one word:
— Why not?
Asil glanced at her, then grinned crookedly.
'This woman... Really is still the same.'
As if pondering her words for a while, the princess of the north soon smiled faintly.
— In that case, do one favour for me, ' the one suddenly said.
Gardenia Daehsin was involuntarily stunned. For the first time, instead of a cold smile, she noticed this woman's interested gaze.
— Yes? What can I do for you? — Recovering her wits, Gardenia hurried to ask again.
Asil answered nonchalantly.
— There are no birds at all in these woods, and sometimes I miss the birdsong I used to hear when I lived in the south. So. Let me hear a bird sing.
The silver-haired woman who said this had an extraordinary expression on her face.
'... А? That's it?'
The cult leader's youngest daughter was indeed stunned by what she heard.
Gardenia would never have thought that the Lord of the North could be interested in things like vocal arts. However, even though it was a rather strange request, it was a good thing for Gardenia. The girl had been famous for her beautiful voice since childhood, which those around her said was like a nightingale singing. So this was the best opportunity for her to survive.
— Yes... I can do it! — Gardenia hurriedly replied, - But, please give me some time...
Ta hesitated for a moment before hesitantly continuing:
— ...I've sprained my ankle and I'm very cold. I'll be sure to sing more than one song for you once we're in a safe place...
Asil smiled wider after her words.
— Show me your skill.
— Ah... h-here?
— Why not? You can't?
To paraphrase, it sounded like, 'Or do you want to die? '
— No. I can.
Gardenia had no choice but to do as the woman commanded. But before she could open her mouth to start singing the song, her entire body was suddenly pierced by a terrible pain.
— Ahhhh...!!!
The princess made just one barely perceptible movement with her sword. However, there was now blood oozing into Gardenia's already injured ankle. Asil had severed the tendons in both of her legs. The youngest daughter of the head of the order screamed in pain.
— Why... Why did you do that?! — The girl cried out in tears.
— Lady Daehsin, do you know that monsters react best to human blood? — So why don't you call them to help you put on a big show?
Gardenia couldn't believe that the Mistress of the North had actually done that. It was a completely insane act, devoid of any humanity. Nevertheless, Asil smiled broadly, as if there was absolutely nothing reprehensible in her action.
As if to confirm what she had said earlier, ugly monsters soon began to emerge from the forest one after another. They gaped their mouths as they approached Gardenia, as if they were ready to jump on her. The girl was like a doe being slaughtered.
— You do your best to put on a good show for me, Lady Dahsin.
The woman finished speaking laconically.
The eyes that sparkled like the sun shining through them darkened like a solar eclipse the moment the princess turned around to look at the youngest daughter of the Order Head one last time.
Already turning round and leaving the place, Asil could only hear behind her the heartbreaking screams of Gardenia. And it was like music to her ears.
As she walked casually along the snow-covered ground, the woman hummed a lovely song carelessly to herself.
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