Chapter 10 

Two days had passed since Clemen met the Grand Duchess.

While she was busy dusting, she heard someone coming up the stairs.

It was a knight bringing the meal.

“Hello!”

She greeted him and was about to take the trolley—

But stopped.

The knight, who usually left immediately after placing the trolley, was hesitating and moving his lips as if he wanted to ask something.

“Is something wrong? Do you have something to say?”

“Th-that… it’s nothing!”

Clemen quickly grabbed the knight before he could run away.

“If I get curious, I won’t be able to sleep. Just tell me.”

“W-well…”

Why was he hesitating so much?

Clemen was curious, even tapping her feet, but didn’t rush him.

If she pushed, he might run away.

After what felt like a very long time, he finally spoke.

“Um… have you seen His Grace’s face?”

“…What?”

It was a completely unexpected question.

Clemen burst into laughter.

The knight looked like he was about to cry.

“I told you I should’ve just left!”

“Ahem… I didn’t expect that to be your question.”

“…So, you won’t answer?”

“I have seen it.”

The knight’s eyes lit up with excitement.

He clearly expected more—

But instead, Clemen asked,

“Why are you curious?”

“Well… the commander keeps teasing us, saying His Grace was very cute as a child, and that we missed out on seeing him back then.”

Now that he had started, the young knight spoke rapidly.

“We’ve seen his portrait—he’s definitely very handsome. But it’s been ten years, hasn’t it? I used to be called cute when I was younger too, but not anymore. So I’m really curious how His Grace looks now.”

Clemen couldn’t help but giggle.

“He’s still cute.”

“…Excuse me? As a knight, I would not want to be called cute!”

“Oh, then I won’t say that. Anyway, the master of this castle… hmm. In one word, he’s pretty.”

“…Pretty?”

“He’s very pale… his eyes are pretty, his nose is pretty, and his lips are red too.”

That was the best she could explain.

She didn’t have the vocabulary to describe it more beautifully.

Then she got an idea.

“He looks like Rosia.”

She explained with great effort—

Except that his eyes were rounder and his nose a bit higher, the two looked very similar.

“I see… It seems His Grace has grown up well. Then why am I the only one…”

For some reason, the knight’s shoulders slumped.

He then bowed politely.

“Thank you for answering my strange question so sincerely. I am trainee knight Kael!”

“I’m Clemen.”

“Yes, Fire Spirit—!”

“…Clemen!”

“Then, enjoy the meal!”

Kael ran down the stairs like the wind.

Clemen let out a small laugh, shook her head, and knocked on Zephyrus’s door.

“Come in.”

Inside, Zephyrus was reading documents.

“Clemen has arrived!”

Despite the noise, Zephyrus kept his eyes on the papers and gestured.

It meant: set the meal.

Clemen reheated each dish and sat down.

Only then did Zephyrus slightly lift his head.

The moment their eyes met through the fur mask, Clemen spoke.

“Did you work well today?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“It’s just small talk. Aren’t you curious what I did today?”

“I’m not.”

“Come on, just listen. Today was Clemen’s first day at work!”

Despite her bright, lively energy, her voice was lower than expected and easy to listen to.

Zephyrus thought it was fortunate that his ears were covered by thick fur and cloth.

Otherwise, he might have actually listened and responded.

Though Clemen would have talked anyway.

Why is she talking about my face outside the door?

And emphasizing again and again that he was pretty.

He couldn’t understand it.

She probably thought he couldn’t hear…

Would she be embarrassed if I told her I even heard her humming this morning?

For a moment, Zephyrus imagined her blushing face.

No. I shouldn’t.

He felt like laughing, but suppressed it.

He told himself it was just to remember her weaknesses.

Listening to sounds outside the room was his only connection to the world.

He had sealed the door to prevent cold from leaking out—

But he still wanted to hear.

Magic made that possible.

Magic could do almost anything.

It was expensive—

But when his father, the former Grand Duke, was alive, the North had been prosperous.

The monsters from the mountains provided resources to trade for food.

The Empire had also supported them.

In return, the North protected the Empire from those monsters.

But now—

There wasn’t even enough money for mages or artifacts.

And the one who ruined everything—

Was himself.

Even so, he kept eating.

That made him feel pathetic.

“I was useful to someone today. That’s a really good thing.”

Since she had warmed the food for him, he couldn’t leave it uneaten.

Zephyrus finished his meal.

“My lord, are you listening?”

“No.”

He adjusted the layers of cloth around his face and answered.

Clemen scrunched her nose.

She thought of something that might interest him.

“My lord, when was the last time you saw Rosia?”

“When I was ten… Why are you asking?”

“I heard you and Rosia are cousins.”

“Why are you asking?”

“I thought you might be curious about her face. I wanted to describe it.”

That caught his interest.

He had heard her say earlier that he and Rosia looked alike, but didn’t understand it.

Rosia, who was about four years older, had always been bold.

She preferred pants over dresses and archery over embroidery.

He still remembered her placing a snowball on his head and shooting arrows at it—

And getting scolded afterward.

“The way she blushes is the most similar!”

“…What?”

“And the way her eyes widen when she’s surprised is exactly the same! But Rosia looks like an elegant fox, and you look like a jerbil.”

Zephyrus tapped the table.

“What exactly is a jerbil?”

“Hmm… it lives in the desert. Small and timid, with round eyes and fluffy fur! Just like you. Really.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say “mouse.”

As they talked, Clemen thought of something he might like even more—

His mother.

If he listened this closely to Rosia, he would surely care more about his mother.

So she said casually,

“Oh right. I met your mother.”

“Is your mother also in the North?”

“…What? I don’t have a mother.”

“Cough—!”

He was briefly flustered.

Then he realized.

“Wait. You mean you met my mother?”

“I said that from the beginning.”

“You…!”

Cold air surged.

“You went to see my mother?”

“Yes.”

“How dare you—why?”

Clemen blinked.

She couldn’t see his face clearly, but she could feel the atmosphere.

Sharp ice formed around him.

Is this not just the atmosphere…?

Still, she quietly listened to his anger.

It even made her heart race a little, like arguing with a friend.

But somehow—

It didn’t feel like his anger was truly directed at her.

So she didn’t argue back.

“You seem to think you’re something special. You just need to do what you’re told.”

His voice was colder now, slightly raised.

“Do you think eating with me means you can step into the affairs of Pruina?”

In that cold voice—

She could hear something like tears.

Not ordinary tears—

But the fragile kind, like a small animal trembling.

“Don’t cross the line. You’re an outsider. A suspicious one.”

And that—

Was very familiar to her.

He’s like me.

Like the way she used to be.

When she hated herself and pushed that anger outward.

Though unlike her, who burned everything around her—

This fragile Grand Duke couldn’t even properly express his anger.

“Even if you tell me not to go, I can’t help it. I made a promise with the Grand Duchess.”