Chapter 5
Zephyrus’s gaze shot up at the completely unexpected words.
“I must have heard wrong.”
“What did you hear?”
“That you want to work here.”
“You heard correctly.”
“And that’s your request?”
“Yes. Yesterday and today I kept wondering how I should earn money. This worked out perfectly!”
At her cheerful reaction, Zephyrus opened his mouth.
What… am I supposed to say?
He had never been in a situation like this before, and his mind froze.
“You can’t start today. I’ll start working tomorrow. What was the word… ah, right. Work! I’ll tell the knights myself. Just tell me where to go tomorrow.”
As if she had already received permission, Clemen hummed happily and stood up.
Then she suddenly said, “Ah,” and approached Zephyrus.
Seeing him flinch, she slowly extended her hand.
Tap.
One finger touched his shoulder.
“If you ever need warmth, tell me. The North is cold, so my… um…”
She paused, thinking about how to say constitution in the Imperial language.
“My hot body will probably be helpful.”
Even a brief touch could warm someone, but if she focused, she could warm the area around her as well.
Of course, she would need to control it carefully so it didn’t become too hot.
Still, it would likely help people endure the cold of the North.
“Of course, I’d appreciate a reward too.”
Zephyrus couldn’t smile along with Clemen’s bright grin.
Just that one finger touching him—
His breath seemed to stop.
His frozen mind spun as his heart began beating again.
“See you tomorrow, Lord.”
Bang!
Zephyrus suddenly stood up.
“Leave.”
“Huh?”
“I said leave. Now.”
His low voice sounded threatening.
“I was about to do that anyway. Goodbye!”
The woman remained cheerful until the very end.
She winked lightly before leaving, leaving him completely shaken.
“Ha…”
As soon as the door closed, he collapsed into his chair.
His eyes fell to the floor.
There was no ice.
No water from melted ice.
Nothing.
“…And now it’s appearing again.”
He murmured and closed his eyes.
An afterimage flickered in his mind, like he had been standing before a fire.
Since he couldn’t openly ask about her strange ability, the only choice was to keep her nearby and observe.
There was no other way.
“My body is hot, Lord.”
Smack!
Zephyrus slapped his own cheeks hard with both hands.
He was annoyed at himself for reconstructing scenes in his imagination.
Then he nodded.
Now my mind is finally clearing up.
I’ll need to set conditions so that woman doesn’t cross the line again.
Even as he thought that, Zephyrus touched the shoulder where Clemen’s finger had been.
The warmth still seemed to linger there.
That worked.
Clemen smiled softly.
At first she had come because the knights pushed her into it.
But now she felt glad she had come.
The North itself suppressed her heat somewhat.
But when she faced the lord of the territory, it was like entering a whole new world.
Even during that brief moment of contact with him, the heat that had tormented her all her life had slightly weakened.
What troubled Clemen the most was the flames that rose from inside her at unpredictable times.
Those flames seemed to lick around inside her body, waiting for a chance to burn her alive.
But now they had lowered their heads.
Something that always seemed ready to explode had suddenly become quiet.
It felt like she had become a normal person.
It was a stability she had never felt before.
If he allowed it, she would want to stay near him forever.
That was why she asked for a job.
She didn’t think the lord needed to apologize.
But since he sincerely apologized, refusing that apology also seemed wrong.
Money is important too… but if possible, I want to work somewhere near him.
If things went well, maybe they could even become friends.
For now it was only her hope.
But she intended to watch for opportunities.
“Miss, I’m glad you came out safely.”
“Ah, what a mean knight.”
The knight who had called her the Fire Spirit and pushed her into the Grand Duke’s room.
He was easy to remember because of the small scar beside his light brown eye.
“My name is Gwen. Even if you say I’m mean, it couldn’t be helped. Sob.”
Gwen clutched his chest and pretended to cry.
He looked extremely apologetic.
“You’re not very good at acting.”
“Acting? That’s harsh.”
“It’s fine. Thanks to you I found a job. This place is very rich, right?”
“You found a job… here?”
Still smiling, Gwen stared closely at Clemen.
Then he shrugged.
“It’s not a bad place. But this is the Grand Duke’s castle. Anything that happens inside must never be spoken about outside. Do you think you can keep that secret?”
“If I say I can’t, it sounds like you’ll cut me down.”
“What do you take me for! I’m not the kind of brute who points a sword at a defenseless lady!”
Of course, Clemen didn’t really look defenseless.
She didn’t look like someone who used a sword, but her body was clearly well-trained.
Behind his smile, Gwen observed her carefully.
“I don’t want to talk with you anymore, Gwen. But at least guide me on the way.”
“You just said you didn’t want to talk to me.”
“In books, knights were very polite and took responsibility for their actions.”
“So you’re saying I should take responsibility since I brought you here.”
Gwen chuckled softly.
Soon another knight arrived.
Gwen handed Zephyrus’s protection over to him and extended his hand toward Clemen.
“Fire Spirit, shall we go?”
“I’m not a Fire Spirit.”
Smack.
Clemen slapped his palm away and started walking ahead first.
“Hah.”
Even in that brief moment, warmth lingered in Gwen’s hand.
So this is the special trait that resists His Grace’s curse.
“Miss, that’s not the right direction! Come this way!”
As Clemen walked quickly, she looked around the castle.
The wallpaper and decorations were elegant, but they seemed worn.
It also looked somewhat messy.
Most of all, there were very few maids.
In some books she had read, maids worked all day long.
But here there were barely any people at all.
…Is it because of the lord’s condition?
She assumed that Zephyrus kept people away because he couldn’t control his power.
It wasn’t entirely wrong.
But what she hadn’t realized was that the northern Grand Duchy was far harsher and poorer than she imagined.
“Miss, what are you looking at so closely?”
“The place where I’ll work. And my name is Clemen. I don’t like being called ‘Miss.’”
“Haha! Alright, Clemen. But before we go to the village, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
“Who?”
“The person you absolutely need to meet if you want to work here.”
Clemen stopped walking.
Her clear eyes stared at Gwen as if measuring his intentions.
“Alright! It’s good to finish everything today.”
Gwen changed direction.
They headed to meet Rosia, the woman currently managing the Grand Duke’s affairs in place of the secluded Grand Duke and the ill Grand Duchess.
Gwen planned to have Clemen meet Rosia, sign a confidentiality oath, and then send her to the village.
But there was something Gwen hadn’t expected.
“Gwen!”
Rosia was already walking toward them.
“What kind of nonsense have you done now?!”
She looked extremely angry.
Thud!
Rosia kicked Gwen in the shin.
“Luckily nothing happened, but someone could have frozen to death!”
“Well… she didn’t freeze.”
Gwen rubbed his leg dramatically.
Rosia glared at him.
“A good result doesn’t justify the process! You of all people should know that!”
“Sometimes shortening the process works too.”
“Shortening? Shortening?! Honestly!”
Rosia fanned herself with her hand.
It was so hot she was sweating.
In the North, even fireplaces burning all day rarely made people sweat.
“It was an extremely dangerous gamble! If something had gone wrong, His Grace might not have endured it either! Do you know how angry I must be to feel this hot?!”
“Well, that’s—”
“I think it’s because of me.”
Clemen suddenly peeked out from behind Gwen.
“Huh? Wh—what?”
Rosia hadn’t noticed Clemen behind him.
Her eyes shook slightly after she realized a stranger had heard her outburst.
“Well, um… ahem!”
After a brief moment of embarrassment, Rosia quickly regained her composure.
“I permit you to greet me.”
“Hello. I’m Clemen. But I have a question. Do people need permission to greet others here?”
“…What?”
“Pfft!”
Rosia stared blankly.
Gwen covered his mouth to hide his laughter.
Clemen’s expression showed nothing but genuine curiosity.
“Where… did you come from?”
“Ah, the south. The desert!”
“Are you from the Kingdom of Hayat?”
“No. The desert is my home.”
Clemen seemed to genuinely believe that.
I’ve heard there are wandering nomads in the desert. Maybe she’s one of them.
Rosia decided not to dig further.
If she ever learned the full story, it would probably be after they became closer.
Though she wasn’t sure that would happen.
“My name is Rosia. I work for the Grand Duke’s household.”
“Rosia is the person you needed to meet, Clemen,” Gwen said.
Clemen quickly thought it through.
She had already met the lord of the territory.
If she needed to meet someone else to work here, there was only one possibility.
Clemen smiled brightly as she realized.
“Ah. I know what you are.”
Rosia blinked.
“You’re the one in charge. The real power, right?”
Rosia’s face instantly turned pale.
“Pwahahaha!”
Gwen burst into loud laughter, clutching his stomach.
