IACGD 01

Chapter 01

Whoosh—

“Ah.”

Beside Clémen, the woman with flaming red hair, small flames sprouted like new buds.

Clémen kept her eyes on the book she was reading and crushed the flames with her palm.

Whenever her concentration deepened, more flames appeared around her, and Clémen extinguished them as if it were natural.

Finally, she turned the last page of her book. Stretching, she loosened her stiff shoulders.

‘Nice weather…’

The sky was clear, and the air was warm. It wasn’t as hot and dry as the desert, but even the people of the Terranova Empire frowned whenever she passed by.

It made sense—the warmth she carried had probably turned into heat.

‘I thought the empire’s mages would understand.’

One reason she had decided to come to the empire, having never left the desert, was to ask a mage about her own body.

Why her body was so hot, why it affected everything around her.

‘I spent all my money, but I didn’t get a clear answer.’

Well, it couldn’t be helped.

At least she had read many books she could never get in the desert. Her comprehension improved, and she even got some books by giving a little blood.

Clémen packed her book into her bag and stood up. It was time to move again.

Her destination was the north.

The main reason she had come to the empire.

The north. A place where clear skies were rare and the cold was extreme.

“Hm, going well so far.”

The mountain path narrowed and was poorly maintained. They said if you follow it, you would reach the north eventually. You would know by the cold when it came.

Yet, even after hours of walking, the day was still warm.

How much farther? Should I rest? Maybe rest? Hmm… tricky.

Looking down as she walked, Clémen noticed the ground was wet.

Looking up at the sky, something pure white was falling.

A golden sparkle lit her round eyes with delight.

“Is this… snow?”

She threw up her arms, trying to catch the falling snow, and laughed aloud.

The snow melted before she could touch it, which was frustrating—but a greater joy filled her heart.

“Is this enough for me?”

No fires had started. She didn’t need to be on edge. Normally, she would need to focus at 10/10, but now it felt like 5/10.

Forgetting her hardships, Clémen ran forward. Each step she took melted the thin layer of snow on the path.

“Finally, I’ve arrived!”

If this place was cold, maybe her hot body, her unusual condition, could be accepted here.

It was that hope alone that had carried her through over a year of travel.

Even if the village did not accept her, even if she had to live alone outside, it felt enough.

The lightness she felt now made her journey to the north worth it.

“Maybe you’ll accept me too—”

Crash! Boom!

“Ah!”

Suddenly, a huge rock fell from above, and Clémen leapt aside.

Dust and snow spread like fog, blurring her vision. But heat surged from her body, clearing the view quickly. The dust had burned away, like melting snow.

Calming her racing heart, she let out a wry laugh.

“I’m probably the only one welcomed by falling rocks.”

She eyed the rock blocking the path.

‘I can’t climb over it.’

It was too big, smooth, and even round.

Her gaze shifted to the slope where the rock had rolled down.

“Climbing the mountain should be simple enough.”

All she had to do was follow the path upward. Walking between sand dunes in the desert, Clémen thought mountains would be no different.

She was gravely mistaken.

Young Duke Zephyrus Pruina of the Duchy of Pruina.

He was wrapped in several layers of cloth, checking documents.

The northern region, already harsh, was entering its most unbearable season. Snow piled heavily, storms raged, known as the Nightmare of the Snow Mountains, and preparations were urgent.

‘We’ll need more firewood.’

Monsters were even more active in the mountains this year. Firewood was harder to get than last year, and hunting was difficult, leaving fewer supplies.

Even in just over a week, the northern climate was cruel. One small mistake in preparation could cost lives, as people froze outside.

They stockpiled resources all year for this period.

‘…What should I do?’

At nineteen, barely past his coming-of-age ceremony, he had inherited the dukedom from his mother, who had ruled as regent for him. It had already been six months, yet it remained difficult.

The hardest part was: communicating with the officials working on the frontlines.

“Your Grace! I brought today’s reports! Take it easy!”

Zephyrus sighed. Few could stand before him. Only knights with magic could approach. Even small tasks took several steps, turning a quick job into days of effort.

Even standing near him didn’t guarantee safety. His presence alone could freeze anything around.

Just a little worry, and the cold spreads, forming ice everywhere.

Everyone feared approaching him—except the northern Knights’ Commander, Gwen.

“Your Grace! Did you hear? You must have! I, Gwen! I might cry from being neglected!”

The commander often added needless chatter while delivering reports. But he remembered the brief relief from the curse, which brought comfort.

“Handle it yourself. You take it easy too.”

“Only Your Grace thinks of me! Understood!”

Zephyrus perked up. The footsteps faded. Only then did he bring in the reports.

Normally, the small window under the door could be opened like a flap, letting him pull in documents without opening the door.

A duke crawling on the floor to bring in documents—if anyone knew, it would be a laughingstock.

No, anyone who knew about his curse might see him as a target, not a joke.

“Haah.”

He forced himself to push away such thoughts. Negative thoughts made the curse flare. The entire castle could freeze if he wasn’t careful.

‘Focus.’

While working, he noticed something odd. The cold seemed to fade slightly.

What was this?

He wasn’t sensitive to cold. Even if the surroundings froze, he was fine. For ten years, he lived without a fireplace.

Even if he hadn’t been outside much since being cursed, it should have felt the same.

‘So this is strange.’

Feeling warm despite being cold?

He called out.

“Who’s there?”

“Your Grace, it’s Jin. Awaiting orders.”

“What’s the temperature like to you?”

“Eh?”

Despite Jin’s surprise, the northern knight answered promptly:

“It’s still cold!”

“Same as yesterday?”

“Colder than yesterday!”

“I see.”

Probably just an illusion. Or maybe the curse affected his senses. Zephyrus decided it was just an unknown effect of the curse.

Still, he would have knights check patrols for anything unusual.

“Your Grace, here’s the last report for today.”

Time had passed quickly. After Jin left, Zephyrus read the reports.

[The Duchess skipped meals today. She seems increasingly weak.]
[The cause is still unknown.]

The duchess had always been healthy. Not even a cold. But months after returning from the capital, her health declined. Even the best doctors could not explain it.

‘All of this is my fault.’

After his father, now his mother suffered due to his curse. What could he do? If the curse had harmed only him, it would have been easier!

Crack!

A crumpled paper froze and shattered in his hand.

“…This is different.”

The ice powder melted away instead of freezing again. A small change, but never seen before. Could it be linked to the warmth he felt earlier?

‘Could the curse be weakening? …No, impossible.’

Hope had two sides. With hope comes a greater despair. He didn’t want to feel helpless again.

Days passed, and he had regained his usual control.

Then, suddenly:

“May I come in?”

Warm red light flooded the dark, cold room.

It was his first encounter with the hope he would hold for life, never letting go.