~Chapter 118~
When they arrived at Haera’s house, the children who had earlier run out of Ancia’s place were there. Having stuffed themselves full of pie, they were lying around lazily and didn’t even run over when they saw her.
Haera was glad to see Ancia but also worried.
“An, the roads are slippery. If you need something, you should send Bianca instead.”
“I get restless staying indoors all the time.
Do you happen to have any yellow yarn?”
“Of course, I’ve got plenty. Oh, since you’re here, why don’t you take this too?”
Haera often offered Ancia unusual ingredients. She lightly set down a large sack. Ancia and Bianca came closer together, curious. When Haera opened the sack, Bianca stepped back in fear while Ancia leaned forward with delight.
“Oh my, this is seaweed!”
“You know what it is? I swear, An, you look so much like a noble, you must have eaten everything there is.”
In the North, dried seaweed wasn’t common food. But in Snow-nun Village, outsiders or traders sometimes left behind odd ingredients instead of paying for lodging. This sack had been left untouched since no villager wanted to eat it.
“I bought everything in bulk, and this ended up shoved in a corner. When you soak it in water, it grows huge and slimy — it creeps me out. Even I can’t bring myself to use it.
Do you want to take it?”
“Thank you. This is exactly what I need.”
“What? Really? Then take it all!”
Most Northerners avoided spicy foods and seafood, but unlike them, Ancia welcomed nearly every kind of ingredient. Haera, delighted to finally pass it on to someone, handed over the large sack.
“Hey! How can you just dump this huge thing on my lady?”
“It’s light.”
When Bianca slung the sack over her shoulder, she was surprised at how light it really was.
Ancia tried to explain the benefits of seaweed, but Haera quickly sent them off, as if worried they might change their minds and leave it behind.
For Ancia, finding seaweed here was truly amazing. It felt like the perfect food had been prepared just for her pregnancy — as though everything in this world moved in her favor.
Normally, she would have corrected herself from such thoughts. But these days, Ancia tried to take everything positively.
As soon as she returned home, she soaked the dried seaweed and prepared oil with a nutty fragrance, along with garlic. Watching the seaweed swell, Bianca shuddered and even dragged Ancia back to a corner.
She’s really scared of it, Ancia thought.
She emptied a pot that had stew in it and placed the oil, soaked seaweed, and some jerky inside, stirring as Bianca watched nervously.
“What on earth are you making…?”
But soon, the fragrance of oil, garlic, and seaweed filled the room.
“Ah, such a savory smell.”
The delicious scent made Ancia crave rice desperately.
When I return to the Duke’s estate, I will definitely eat rice with seaweed soup.
She thanked heaven that she didn’t suffer morning sickness, then poured water into the pot. Bianca, though wary, slowly crept closer as the smell grew richer.
“My lady, it smells good.”
“Yes, the longer it cooks, the softer and tastier it gets.”
As they chatted about food, Ancia waited for her seaweed soup to be ready.
Meanwhile, the frozen paths that had trapped the villagers all winter were being destroyed by the Duke’s knights and soldiers. Richard and part of the knights were already on their way to the village.
To ensure Ancia’s safe return, they smashed the ice paths, creating space wide enough for a carriage to pass. They had considered using explosives but feared avalanches from the snow on the mountains.
Soon, their trained horses and knights cautiously crossed the ice road and reached the village.
The villagers, already uneasy from the sounds all day, grew tense at the sight of the soldiers and Richard’s black warhorse. The overwhelming aura of the elite knights was undeniable.
“Search.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
At Richard’s command, the knights scattered with precision. The village chief hurried over, bowing nervously.
“My lord, why have you come searching this quiet mountain village?”
Richard dismounted. His towering presence alone made the chief tremble in fear.
“I’m searching for a noblewoman. Blonde hair, about this height.”
“Oh, I know. She has been living in our village for about two months.”
The answer came without hesitation. Richard’s chest tightened, his breath caught.
The chief quickly led the way.
“The young couple were polite and got along well with everyone. They didn’t seem like bad people at all…”
But the icy aura behind him made his voice falter. Terrified to even look back, he pointed desperately toward a distant house.
By the time Richard reached the house, two knights were already at the door. He gestured for them to step aside and took a deep breath.
So many questions had haunted him on the journey.
Had she run away with Nathan?
Was she caught in an incident?
Did she go willingly?
His heart wavered when the chief had called them a young couple.
Just then, voices drifted from inside.
“This tastes strange.”
“That means it’s delicious.”
It was Ancia’s voice.
Without hesitation, Richard pushed the door. The latch broke, and it flew open.
At the small table sat Ancia, lifting a spoonful of black seaweed soup.
Richard instinctively rushed forward and knocked the bowl away, as if she were eating something poisonous. The bowl clattered loudly against the wall.
“Richard!”
For the first time, she called his name — not “Duke” — as she threw herself into his arms.
Richard reflexively embraced her soft, warm body. Her slender arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
“Why… why are you only coming now? Do you know how long I waited? How long?”
Tears welled in her voice as she scolded him, but to Richard, she was utterly lovable.
All his doubts, fears, and suspicions vanished. The only thing left was guilt.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s too late. Do you know how much, how much I…”
“Forgive me. No, even if you don’t forgive me, just let me see your face.”
Ancia chuckled softly, her face still buried in his shoulder.
“You’re holding me too tightly. I can’t even lift my head.”
Richard loosened his hold slightly, and Ancia raised her face.
Though her eyes were wet and her nose red, she was more beautiful than anyone. Richard’s heart nearly melted.
“My God… Duke, what happened to your face?”
Her roughened hands touched his cheeks in worry, and his chest ached as though breaking.
“Your hands… they’ve grown rough.”
“Compared to your face, it’s nothing. Look at your dark circles, your cracked lips. Have you even eaten?”
“Not compared to what you’ve eaten.”
“I’ve been eating well, really!”
Just moments ago she had been crying, but now she spoke brightly, smiling.
Richard’s eyes, however, drifted to the pot of black soup on the table. His chest twisted with guilt and regret.
“Look at my cheeks, they’ve gotten chubby.”
She playfully guided his hand to her face. Richard clenched his teeth — even touching her soft skin almost overwhelmed him with emotions.
“Ancia.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“Ancia… An… haah… I finally found you.”
Richard’s long-suppressed emotions overflowed at last. He stared at her without blinking, memorizing every detail of her as she flustered, touching his face.
