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Chapter 37
Snow had settled over the dark-blue hair that just covered the back of his neck.
The shopkeeper clicked his tongue at the sight of Kiscel, who had been standing silently outside.
“Why don’t you wait inside? You can’t go all the way in, but you’re welcome to stay in the shop.”
Rather than stepping into a place reeking of unpleasant perfume, alcohol, and cigar smoke, he preferred to stand outside in the snow.
When Kiscel wordlessly turned his head away, the man awkwardly scratched his own and quietly slipped back inside.
Night deepened, and winter had drawn close, scattering fine white powder from the sky.
As Kiscel looked up at the indigo sky, the same color as his own hair, someone approached him at close range.
“Good evening.”
Thinking it might be a customer for the shop, Kiscel gave a polite nod and stepped aside from the entrance.
But the stranger remained where he stood, unmoving.
Kiscel’s crimson eyes turned toward the suspicious man he had so far ignored.
When Kiscel’s gaze met his, the tall man placed a hand over his chest, bowed at the waist, and spoke in a smooth voice.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Young Master Bessen. Might you grant me a moment to speak with you?”
✦ ✦ ✦
I stepped outside, scanning for Kiscel.
“Kiscel!”
Where did he go?
I searched for him among the drunken crowd where he would normally stand out.
It was snowing out here—where had he wandered off to?
Then a familiar hand grasped my shoulder, and I lifted my head.
“I’m right here.”
“Kis—no, you! Why are you covered in snow like this?”
I widened my eyes at the sight of him, looking like a drenched cat.
Touching his face, neck, and hands, I recoiled at how cold they were.
I quickly pulled him toward the carriage.
I wrapped my enchanted, heat-retaining shawl around him and cupped his cheeks with my warm hands.
“How did you expect to know when I’d come out, standing outside this whole time?”
“Well, I couldn’t just leave Your Grace and go back to the carriage, could I?”
“And why not?”
“Because if you got swept away in the crowd, with your height… I might lose you.”
I pinched his cheek hard.
A red mark bloomed on his pale, cold face.
He rubbed his cheek with a smile, but I still scolded him before urging the coachman to set off.
When I glared at him so hard I might burn a hole through him, he averted his gaze.
Well, fine. If I’d known this would happen, I would have come out sooner.
“Did your talk go well?”
“Yes. It ended up taking longer than I expected. I’ll整理my thoughts on the way back and tell you once we reach the duchy.”
If only it were just long…
But the content was far more than I’d imagined.
“Nothing happened while I was inside, right?”
When Kiscel adjusted my collar, saying it was a bit out of place, I was reminded of what had just occurred.
[So, how about… joining hands with us?]
[I’ll answer you at my birthday party.]
“Of course not,” I said.
I’d put off answering those who had proposed an alliance, saying I needed time to think.
“Nothing happened to you either, right?”
He massaged his stiff shoulder.
“No, nothing at all.”
Kiscel leaned against the carriage window, looked at me, and gave a short answer with a smile.
✦ ✦ ✦
It didn’t take long to return to the duchy.
We had planned to travel by carriage, but then we heard snow was on the way.
So we simply paid an enormous sum to open the teleport gate back to the duchy.
“I didn’t know having money could feel this good.”
“Same here.”
I looked up at the pale sky spilling snow.
As if on cue, the snow began the moment we arrived at the castle.
“I’ve sent away all the old staff. Now we just have to fill the place with your people.”
At Kiscel’s words, I burrowed deeper into my shawl and grumbled.
“Ah, but where am I supposed to find people I can trust?”
“I’ve already assigned jobs to the young ones you recruited last time.”
My castle.
It was still hard to believe.
I looked around at the fortress that, until not long ago, hadn’t had a single thing in it that belonged to me.
“Soon it’ll be full of my own people.”
The thought filled me with both excitement and joy.
Even within its walls, I felt free.
In this moment, I felt as though I could set aside my goals, my regression, even death itself.
“Alright! So, Kiscel, I need you to hang in there a little longer.”
“You want me to prepare a list of potential hires?”
“You know me well.”
“This is going to kill me.”
“That’s why I gave you such a generous budget—so I’m counting on you.”
I patted his shoulder with a mischievous grin, and he shook his head with a weary look.
Then, from far away, we heard running footsteps.
“Your Grace, I brought you an enchanted shawl.”
“I’m sorry. We only just received word you’d be returning through the gate, so preparations aren’t perfect.”
“Please change into this.”
“You’ll catch a cold if you stay out in the snow!”
These were the children I had taken in.
I glanced over at the maids, led by Miya, who had followed me here.
I remembered their names.
“Would you like to change into something more comfortable?”
“Thank you, Linda.”
She looked surprised—most masters never bothered to learn the names of their servants.
Just then, Kiscel drew my attention.
With a troubled expression, he waved a letter in his hand.
“A rather interesting letter just arrived. I think you should read it.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Kiscel didn’t hesitate to unfold the letter.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is coming to visit the duchy.”
“…!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Why Ashidwa?
Why all of a sudden?
When we spoke through the communicator two nights ago, he hadn’t said a word about this.
Wait—don’t tell me…
[I’ve been very busy lately.]
[Hm? It’s not even the busy season, is it?]
[Something came up that made it so. Ina, you don’t have to be curious—you’ll find out soon enough.]
The meaning of his words back then suddenly became clear.
It was basically the same as saying he’d reopen the gate the moment it closed.
Ughhh…
I clutched my head and had no choice but to dash into the ducal castle.
The sudden news that the Crown Prince—my official lover—was coming had startled not only me but also the people still in the middle of preparing the newly established ducal estate. The entire duchy was in an uproar.
“When His Highness arrives, just show him straight to the audience chamber. That’s enough—everyone just keep working.”
There was no time to prepare anything.
“Ugh, Ashidwa, why…”
Arriving like this would give anyone a heart attack! He could at least have given me some time to prepare!
“Of course, I’m not against him coming, but… wouldn’t it be better to greet the Crown Prince in style?”
I spent the next half hour turning over ideas in my head.
“I’m here, Ina.”
A man like a flash of pure white light stepped inside, brushing snow from his hair.
I looked at his flushed face in surprise and blurted out without greeting him:
“You came like this?”
“It just happened that way.”
The Crown Prince, who surely had heat spells, mages, and knights with him, had still arrived frozen stiff…
I looked toward Miya, who bowed her head deeply.
“Why are you covered in snow?”
“Ah, that’s…”
Brushing his hair aside revealed the beautiful face that had been half-hidden.
“There were… circumstances.”
Hmm… judging by his tone, he had no intention of telling me.
I told him to sit, and asked for hot tea and my enchanted shawl.
When I handed it to him, he remarked, “It’s a bit small,” so I forcibly draped it over his shoulders.
His body was icy cold where it brushed against mine.
Once the servants were dismissed, I stared at him as he warmed himself with tea.
I waited for a while, then the moment he set down his empty cup, I asked:
“What’s going on?”
Ashidwa leaned back in his chair, propping his chin on his hand.
“What reason could I need to visit my lover?”
“Don’t joke.”
He chuckled softly.
“Truth is, I had something to say.”
He reached into his coat and pulled something out…
When I received it, I almost slapped my forehead.
“To assist the newly appointed duke…”
“….”
“It’s my father’s order.”
A letter stamped with the imperial seal of the Emperor.
When I unfolded it, I found words that made me clutch my head.
Ashidwa straightened from where he had been lounging in the chair.
“How could I defy an order to aid a young duke? And it’s my lover we’re talking about.”
I resisted the urge to scowl.
