Chapter 85
Just like yesterday, dark storm clouds suddenly began to gather.
Lucas, seeing the clouds roll in, instinctively knew that the plan he had set in motion was now unfolding.
He had invited Lucy to the Grand Duke’s castle, but with her always being so busy that even finding a moment to see her face was difficult, she would surely only be able to stay a single night.
So, after much thought, Lucas came up with a solution.
He gathered the mages belonging to his knight order and gave them instructions.
“When I climb Floss Hill tomorrow, you must watch for the right time and make it rain. Before my carriage arrives at the Bustern Bridge, flood it temporarily so we have to turn back. Once our carriage is redirected, immediately restore the bridge so the residents won’t be inconvenienced!”
Although he disliked using his knight order for such a private matter, he wanted any excuse to spend a little more time with her.
The heavy downpour at Floss Hill yesterday had been the result of that plan.
The residence he had introduced as a newly built manor was, in fact, one of his villas, already prepared with servants waiting for Lucy’s arrival.
And today, by the time they finished breakfast at the castle, the entire fortress was supposed to be blanketed in pure white snow.
Lucas had already instructed his steward not to bother clearing away the snow for the day.
He didn’t want to trouble the servants unnecessarily for something he was doing out of personal desire.
“The weather looks unsettled again today. Then again, northern weather is notoriously fickle.”
Right after they arrived at the castle, Lucas stepped down from the carriage, looked up at the sky, and spoke with practiced nonchalance.
‘Northern weather is fickle?’
Impossible. Lucy had already lived in the north for over three years. She knew well how harsh and dry the winters here could be.
Harsh, yes—but not like this. Tilting her head, she looked up at the darkening sky in puzzlement.
“Then, I shall see you at breakfast shortly.”
After Lucy returned to her room, rested briefly, and changed into fresh clothes, a maid knocked on her door to announce that the meal was ready.
Not long after finishing a slightly late breakfast with Lucas, they stepped outside—
“That’s…!”
Lucy trailed off in surprise as she looked out the window.
In just the short time they had been eating, snow had fallen and covered everything in white.
“I thought the clouds looked ominous. So it was a sign of a blizzard. At this rate, carriages won’t be able to move properly.”
Lucy frowned in frustration. With this much snow piled up, the roads would surely be impassable.
‘But to have this much snow fall in such a short time? Even in the north, the weather doesn’t change this abruptly. And Lucas doesn’t look the least bit concerned.’
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, studying his expression.
‘If this much snow fell so suddenly, it would normally be a disaster—but he looks completely relaxed…’
It wasn’t like him.
And now that she thought about it, the sudden weather changes since yesterday felt oddly suspicious.
“In this situation, wouldn’t it be better if you stayed in the castle for one more day, until the snow is cleared?”
As Lucy tilted her head in doubt, Lucas asked with a concerned expression.
She suspected that Lucas might have something to do with this bizarre weather, but since he would never do anything to harm her, she chose to let it go.
“It seems I’ll have to trouble you for another night. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
“Not at all. I’m delighted that I get to spend more time with you, my lady.”
Lucas’s eyes curved into a smile.
“Then, may I show you around the inside of the castle today?”
“That sounds wonderful! The castle is so vast and beautiful—I’ve been curious about the interior.”
Behind them, Shan, who had been silently listening, frowned faintly in disapproval.
Though Lucas wanted to spend the entire day with Lucy, he let her rest in the morning in case she was tired.
After they had lunch together, he showed her around different parts of the castle.
He enjoyed every moment of their conversations, but one thing irked him greatly—Shan, who followed close behind them at every step.
“The last place I want to show you is the Watchtower I mentioned before.”
“The Watchtower? Surely you’re not suggesting we climb to the top, are you?”
Lucy asked nervously, glancing up at the distant tower peak.
Lucas guessed what worried her and chuckled inwardly.
“Just follow me. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Despite his confident words, Lucy followed him out of the main building with clear reluctance on her face.
The castle was completely buried in snow.
The scenery was beautiful, yet Lucy couldn’t shake off a strange feeling.
‘Ah! That’s what felt off—there aren’t any traces of snow being cleared!’
Snow was piled up to their knees, yet on the path from the main building to the tower, she hadn’t seen a single servant clearing it away.
Stranger still, only the road leading to the tower was perfectly cleared, making the contrast even more suspicious.
The tower they finally reached was not only tall but also immense in circumference.
When Lucas arrived at the entrance, the guards stepped aside immediately.
“There are two ways to reach the top of this tower. One is, as you can see, to climb those stairs.”
He pointed at the steep staircase as he explained.
“And the other way is…”
Glancing once at Shan standing behind, Lucas quickly grabbed Lucy’s hand and led her elsewhere.
“By doing this, we can go straight to the top.”
Stepping into a circular pattern drawn on the floor, Lucas stamped his foot. With a resonant hum, they vanished instantly.
“My lady!”
Shan cried out in alarm, running toward them, but by then Lucas and Lucy were gone.
“Don’t worry. It’s a teleportation device that leads directly to the tower’s top. Only the Grand Duke and those he permits can use it.”
One of the nearby guards, seeing Shan’s panic, explained kindly.
But the explanation only made Shan’s expression grow darker.
“How do I reach the top of the tower?”
“The teleportation device won’t activate for just anyone. Unless you climb the stairs, you’ll have to wait here. Otherwise, you may end up missing them on the way.”
At those words, Shan’s frown deepened further.
Lucy gasped at the sudden shift in scenery.
“This is the top of the tower.”
Lucas grinned mischievously as he spoke.
“You startled me! Shan must have been shocked too. You could’ve warned me beforehand.”
Lucy pouted at him, half reproachful. Lucas only laughed cheerfully.
“To be honest, I just wanted to shake off that ever-present shadow, Shan, even if only for a moment. And at last—I’ve succeeded!”
He laughed again, so playfully that Lucy found herself chuckling softly as well.
“Your Grace!”
The soldiers guarding the tower immediately rushed over and bowed smartly.
“You’ve done well as always. Pay us no mind, just remain vigilant in your duties.”
At his words, the soldiers barked their reply with renewed spirit and returned to their posts.
“This tower carries the vital duty of guarding not only this city, but the entire northern region—and by extension, the empire’s borderlands. That’s why soldiers are stationed here at all times, watching the frontier beyond.”
Lucy nodded stiffly. From the moment she had entered, she had been tense.
The scenery from such heights must indeed be beautiful, but she imagined it would also be terrifying.
From where she stood, the outside view wasn’t yet visible, but she already felt dizzy and cold sweat beaded her skin.
“We’ll be going a little higher from here.”
Lucas pointed toward a heavy iron door.
“But before that… there’s something I should tell you first.”
