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Chapter 06
Rosia glared at Gwen with narrowed eyes.
“Don’t laugh, Gwen! And Clémen, don’t say things like that. It could cause serious trouble.”
Clémen frowned.
“Oh… is it not okay? Then what is it?”
“Gwen, what exactly did you say?”
“Heh… I didn’t say anything, Rosia.”
Clémen thought seriously for a moment, deciding she would have to open a dictionary when she got to the village. Rosia and Gwen continued their bickering, acting like playful siblings.
“Gwen, Rosia. I want to go to the village now. You said I need to write something, right, Gwen?”
After a quick whisper between them, the two nodded slightly at Clémen.
“Follow me. You can’t do this here.”
What Gwen had instructed her to do was clear.
A secret pledge.
Gwen’s judgment was correct. Now that she knew Zephyrus’s secret, writing the pledge was the safe course. It was a notarized document, ensured by a wizard, so safety was paramount.
If I had just gone without it and made a slip, it could be disastrous.
Rumors spread faster than anything else. That would unsettle the vassals, and His Grace’s engagement would be even more jeopardized.
Though even without rumors, the engagement seems doomed eventually…
After ten years without the betrothed meeting each other, it was inevitable.
The thought brought up other worst-case scenarios.
Nerhi Fruina, a member of the collateral branch stationed in the capital to monitor developments, had been showing suspicious behavior lately.
If only I could do something…
She could only observe. Why couldn’t she intervene? One reason: she was part of the collateral branch.
The collateral branch wasn’t supposed to interfere in the affairs of the Duke’s family. That Rosia even held authority here violated the rules.
The one who couldn’t move a finger when my aunt had full power…
Nerhi had begun acting openly after Zephyrus reached adulthood and the regency of the dowager ended. With the dowager powerless after her regency, it was possible.
At the very least, I should inform my aunt…
But her aunt was already in poor health, and she didn’t want to add more burden.
She hadn’t told Zephyrus because she feared his reaction. If he thought someone was trying to handle Fruina, he might just leave everything behind and go off alone.
Really, I should just tell both of them…
Yet the words wouldn’t come out. Even if they knew, they could do little.
Ultimately, everything depended on Zephyrus’s curse being lifted—or at least him being able to safely go outside. Holding onto that hope kept her going, but she could feel herself tiring.
For ten years, she had been acting for the sake of a cousin she couldn’t even properly talk to… hmm?
“…What are you doing?”
Rosia looked at Clémen coldly.
Clémen tapped and then grabbed Rosia’s hand. The rude act made Rosia even more annoyed, her mood already low.
“Sorry. But you looked so cold.”
“The North is supposed to be cold.”
“Yes. That’s why I can hold your hand like this.”
What kind of conversation was this? Rosia frowned, trying to pull her hand away—but this girl was surprisingly strong. Rosia herself was no stranger to physical training.
“Hmm. It’s hard to explain in words, but…”
Clémen stared straight at Rosia. In the calm gold of her eyes, Rosia could see her own tired, dark face reflected—the confident mask she wore to hide exhaustion.
“There’s a way to deal with the cold. I’m sure of it. Just like me.”
“…”
Rosia looked quietly at the hand she held. She didn’t fully understand Clémen’s words. It seemed Clémen carefully chose her words, leaving out many things.
But one thing was clear: Clémen’s hand was so warm.
Even now, in the Duke’s estate where no fireplace could block the chilling Northern wind completely, it felt cozy. As if the cold of the North didn’t exist.
If it’s not just my imagination… is this person trying to comfort me? Why?
Rosia’s doubt was justified.
From Gwen, she knew it was Clémen who dragged her here without warning—and then insisted on the secret pledge to prove trust.
“Do you know why you’re here? To sign the secret pledge.”
“Yes. It’s to promise not to reveal secrets. I understand that much.”
“Do you know what happens if you break the pledge?”
“No, but I just won’t tell anyone.”
Clémen lifted her chin proudly. Rosia opened her mouth to respond but then shook her head.
“You think so lightly—no, never mind. Let go of my hand.”
“Is it warm enough now?”
A casual question that made Rosia flush with suppressed emotion.
“Warm from just holding hands? The blizzard surrounding me is still raging!”
“I thought even if it’s just the body, you could rest for a little while.”
“I don’t understand what you mean. Here, sign. Everything’s written, so read it if you want—or not.”
Clémen, sensing Rosia wasn’t interested in further discussion, looked down and began reading the text.
It stated that attempting to reveal the Duke’s curse would result in Clémen’s tongue stiffening and a signal being sent to Rosia.
“All read. But the curse…? The lord is cursed?”
Clémen tilted her head, puzzled as she signed. Rosia gave a short, bitter laugh.
“You experienced it firsthand inside.”
“The ice-making thing?”
She made a face that clearly said: Why is that a curse?
Even Rosia’s faint laugh disappeared in an instant.
Clémen shared a similar unusual constitution. She had always thought of Zephyrus freezing everything nearby as just a quirk. Fire and ice could coexist. She could live fine without trying to manage her power.
But the curse… doesn’t it just not work on me?
Moreover, Clémen’s presence seemed to ease Zephyrus’s curse, enough for her to feel comfortable.
“Hmm.”
Clémen crossed her arms and tilted her head. Rosia, holding the signed secret pledge, pouted.
“Why?”
“Nothing… just curiosity. Exploration!”
“Exploring what?”
“Everything!”
She needed to observe, study, and adjust everything about him, just like young Clémen had done.
“So… you intend to face His Grace again?”
“I can’t do it without seeing him.”
Some interaction always occurred when they met.
“Don’t you think you were lucky to come back alive?”
“Gwen didn’t tell me why he put me in that room.”
“He said something about a Fire Spirit… I wouldn’t trust that either.”
Gwen hadn’t skipped reporting entirely. He practiced preemptive action with post-reporting. Rosia read his messy report after Clémen had finished talking with Zephyrus.
Important matters should be reported immediately!
No one yet knew that Gwen deliberately delayed the report.
Even after reading it, Rosia believed only half of what was written.
Eyes melting ice, monsters being burned by touch, and now a Fire Spirit… how was she supposed to believe that?
Rosia’s skepticism was reasonable. She couldn’t imagine more absurd things. Even if “Fire Spirit” was metaphorical, someone that hot would struggle with everyday life.
And yet, Clémen in front of her was simply a warm person. Thankfully.
Clémen was pleased that Rosia considered her ordinary. Her long efforts to maintain that ordinary warmth were finally rewarded.
The Northern environment also helped Clémen appear ordinary, but without her careful effort to regulate her heat, she wouldn’t have survived the journey.
It was the combination of her effort and the Northern environment that made this possible.
But that cannot interfere with what I intend to do.
She had to show Rosia that Zephyrus’s curse posed no threat to her.
Why she had to live isolated in the desert, why she had always been a target of hatred—she had to reveal that.
“I’ll just give you a taste.”
Clémen began releasing her suppressed warmth. The heat, previously subdued by the North’s incomprehensible cold, began swelling in response to her will.
