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Chapter 30
The collateral branches of the House of Fruina were spread across the Empire.
The branches, which had been dissatisfied with Zephyrus for living in isolation for the past ten years, were mostly concentrated near the capital.
Among them, the one to watch most closely was Nerhi.
He was the younger brother of the previous Grand Duke and Zephyrus’s uncle.
‘Nerhi’s movements are unusual?’
He had always been suspicious.
During the regency of the late Grand Duchess Lacey, he had been kept in check, but once Zephyrus ascended, it had erupted.
A flood of complaints, doubts about whether the Grand Duke was really alive…
At that time, Lacey had somehow silenced the complaints, but the problem was never truly resolved.
This was why Rosia kept collecting information on the collateral branches.
‘A way for Zephyrus to be recognized with authority even without showing himself…’
Was there such a thing?
“Rosia! I’m back!”
Clémen appeared before Rosia, who was closing her eyes in thought.
She waved her hand energetically and spoke with a bright smile.
“Ameti said I’m not needed for now. Even if I am, it’s only at most twice a week?”
Her complexion was bright, free of any darkness, brimming with energy, eyes lively.
Even warm. Seeing Clémen like this made Rosia’s heart feel at ease.
“I’m really glad you’re here, Clémen…”
“Suddenly? What’s wrong?”
“Just… my head’s a mess.”
“If you can, tell me. I may not be able to solve it, but I can listen. Maybe it’ll help untangle some of the mess.”
Clémen didn’t press for what she wasn’t saying. That was a relief.
There were things Rosia wanted to say, but they would have been a burden.
“I’ll do that. Thank you. Oh, and we need to write an additional contract. Let’s do it now!”
Clémen rewrote the incentive contract related to the greenhouse project, grinning as she tucked it under her arm.
“Right. Should I give you more firewood too?”
“No, I don’t need it.”
“It’ll get colder. You’ll need it, won’t you?”
“Waaah!”
Clémen, who had been cheerful, instantly changed expression, lowering her eyebrows.
“Everyone must be having a hard time…”
Rosia burst out laughing at the sudden change in her expression.
“Aren’t you curious why it’s getting colder? You’ll need to know if you’re living in the North now.”
“Oh, I know! The Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains!”
“Oh my, how did you know? Did His Majesty tell you?”
“I’ve been reading a lot of books about the North lately.”
Rosia watched with amusement as Clémen pounded her chest, saying her goal was to read all the books someday since the master’s room was full of them.
“Can you explain it to me? I’ll check if I understood correctly.”
Clémen lifted her chin as if it were the easiest question in the world and answered.
The Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains.
For roughly a week, a cold so severe that it’s hard to endure sweeps over the Grand Duchy. Even monsters resistant to cold often freeze to death.
“Estimated to have started about twenty years ago, but the reason for the sudden cold is still unknown! Right?”
“Yes. Anything else?”
“Hmm. First, the Grand Ducal residence empties. All servants go home. Food and firewood are provided. And…”
Clémen hesitated a little before speaking.
“I think it’s the time when most people leave.”
“That’s right. It’s a harsh period. So…”
Rosia winked playfully.
“You don’t know what’s coming, do you? Clémen can feel the cold too. It doesn’t hurt to prepare in advance, does it?”
Clémen laughed, catching the playful tone.
“Even next to my master, it’s only cool!”
Clémen was sure it wouldn’t be cold at all. Since her master thought so, Rosia had nothing to add.
“Still, stock up well. If it gets cold, we’ll need to go fetch some.”
Rosia touched Clémen’s arm. It was warm.
“Ah… maybe I should just sleep next to Clémen? That seems like it’d be the warmest.”
“That’s…”
Rosia hesitated. Seeing Clémen awkwardly step back, she realized she might have overstepped.
“It’s a kind and touching thought. But no.”
“Oh, come on, just kidding. My room’s still the best, you know.”
Rosia raised her voice to lighten the mood. Clémen laughed along, but the subtle awkwardness between them didn’t completely vanish.
“Well then, I’ll—”
Just as the awkward Clémen tried to say goodbye…
“Rosia!”
A frantic voice came. The knocking sounded as if the door might break. Rosia opened it herself. Even in the cold, a sweat-soaked messenger stopped in surprise.
“The upper echelon sent word.”
“Yeah? What did they say?”
The message was structured so she could handle most answers herself. The urgency meant something had gone wrong.
“They say there’s an issue with preparations, so they’ll likely arrive after the Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains!”
“…What?”
It was like a bolt from the blue for Rosia.
They could manage food by rationing, but firewood was the problem.
“Where are they now? Go get it! They haven’t even departed yet!”
They had to grab the extra supplies no matter what.
“Also, this is something I think you absolutely need to see, Rosia.”
Rosia roughly tore open the letter from the messenger, her eyes widening, then her teeth grinding in disbelief.
“Master Noven of the upper echelon… right now…”
The letter meant they would sell nothing unless they met with the Grand Duke. Softly worded, but the intent was clear.
It was a proposal absolutely unacceptable to the House of the Grand Duke. Rosia shook her head. Step by step, it wasn’t Zephyrus himself that was the main obstacle—the Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains was the greatest challenge.
“Derin, stop what the local workers are doing and have them chop all the trees.”
“The trees—no, understood.”
The messenger, Derin, moved quickly. Rosia closed her eyes and swayed.
“Rosia!”
“Thank you, truly… ha.”
Clémen watched Rosia suppress her anger and asked,
“Can I ask what’s going on?”
“You know the upper echelon periodically comes to the territories?”
“I heard from my master.”
“They can’t come this time. Without the firewood they bring, we won’t survive a week.”
“And the letter?”
Rosia exhaled softly and looked at Clémen.
“They want to meet His Majesty… maybe… no. Never mind.”
Frowning, Rosia shook her head and hurriedly began writing a report.
Clémen, who understood the atmosphere, could guess what Rosia wanted to say.
While Rosia wrote the letter, Clémen thought briefly:
‘Will this work?’
Zephyrus had been in peaceful repose for a long time. With her nearby, any danger could be managed. Above all, she didn’t think Zephyrus would lose control of his emotions to that extent.
Her master, friend, and student was quite clever. Seeing Rosia fold the report like a letter, Clémen said,
“Rosia, give it a try. I think it’ll work.”
“…Do you think it’s possible?”
“You’re good at this, Master!”
“I trust you, Clémen.”
“Yes. But help me practice a bit, Rosia.”
“Me…?”
Clémen just smiled at her without saying a word.
‘So warm. Definitely warm. But why a chill…’
**
Clang!
A teacup slipped from Zephyrus’s hand onto the desk.
“Ahhh! Master! Did your hand slip?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Clémen cleaned the spilled tea from the desk, suddenly noticing Zephyrus’s strangely cold demeanor.
“Why?”
“Who said you could decide on your own?”
“Oh, were you surprised I didn’t tell you in advance?”
“Not surprised, you were surprised… never mind. Go tell them we can’t do it.”
“Why can’t you?”
“I’m still lacking.”
Clémen tilted her head.
“I think you’re enough.”
“Even now, in this situation? It’s still not enough.”
Ice shards began forming near Zephyrus from the brief tremor. Clémen’s warmth melted them quickly.
“No, look. The desk’s fine. The floor’s not frozen. The walls are intact. This is very possible.”
“Show this to outsiders?”
Clémen understood Zephyrus’s worry. His curse, carefully hidden until now, could bring unforeseen damage to the territory if revealed.
“So? Then the master just has to try harder to keep it hidden.”
“Do you think it’s that easy?”
“It’ll be hard, sure. But really? The upper echelon won’t sell anything if they don’t see you. Any other way?”
Zephyrus pursed his lips and glared at Clémen.
