The summer sun dominated the land, yet the royal lakeside was an exception.
Thanks to the cold air sealed beneath the lake—said to be the resting place of vast mana—cool mist continuously rose above the water’s surface. Because of this, nobles could enjoy the “illusion of winter” even in midsummer, skating across the ice-cold, smooth lake while wrapped in thick velvet cloaks and fur trim.
Under white canopy tents, chilled wine with floating ice was served in silver goblets, and the dew formed by the cold mist sparkled like jewels. Normally, Philip would have appeared like the protagonist of this miraculous summer snowscape, drawing all attention—but instead, he was limping in while supporting his insane cousin Cedric.
He had tried to wedge himself between Lavinia and Cedric, but Cedric kept dramatically collapsing his weight, eventually forcing Philip to support him on both sides.
“Please walk properly. How long are you going to keep acting like this?” Philip gritted his teeth.
Cedric simply groaned, clutching his chest.
“Acting, you say… Philip, try to grow a little sympathy for your brother.”
“If you’re that unwell, why not go back home? I really don’t understand why you insisted on coming to this freezing lakeside picnic just to cause chaos.”
“…It’s just that I couldn’t bring myself to leave Lady Lavinia behind.”
Lady Lavinia, my foot. You’re just trying to interfere with me.
Philip suppressed his anger and practically dumped Cedric onto the seat of honor—the coldest spot on the lakeside, where mana flowed strongest.
“There. Sit. The kingdom’s finest physician will arrive shortly.”
“A physician?”
Cedric raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Right. While your carriage was circling the capital like an idiot, I had time to think. You always use being sick as your trademark excuse. So I brought a physician in advance this time.”
Philip tapped Cedric’s shoulder.
“So just sit here, enjoy the cool mana air, and take your medicine like a good patient. I’ll take care of Lady Lavinia.”
With that, Philip accepted a chilled wine glass from a servant and handed it to Lavinia.
“Lady Lavinia, I apologize for the inconvenience. Please have something to drink first—you must be exhausted in this heat. My brother is weak, as you can see.”
His tone was as polite and gentle as ever. Philip bowed slightly, meeting her eyes as if to reassure her.
“My brother will be taken care of by the attendants, so please enjoy the picnic with me now. Look—Viscount Edward’s skills are truly impressive, aren’t they?”
His gaze shifted toward the shooting range, where gunfire echoed through the cold mist.
Viscount Edward cleanly struck the center of the target, and his lover, Lady Isabella, applauded gracefully.
“I will teach you how to shoot as well. Please come with me.”
Philip led Lavinia toward the shooting area, maintaining perfect gentlemanly manners.
Lavinia glanced back at Cedric with uncertainty.
But Cedric only smiled reassuringly and pulled out a pocket watch.
The mana-sleeping lake was calm and radiant—but that peace would not last long.
“…Go ahead and act all gentle, Philip.”
Cedric clicked the pocket watch shut.
“Because you won’t even have time to pull the trigger.”
The moment he spoke, a strange violet flash streaked across the forest beyond the lake.
With every tick of the watch, the stagnant mana of the lake collided with the heated atmosphere above, forming massive storm clouds like a tidal wave.
Then, with a deafening roar, rain began to crash down onto the frozen lake surface like a sheet of steel.
“Agh! What is this? It’s raining!”
“Take cover! Back to the manor!”
The once-frozen lakeside descended into chaos.
Hot rain met cold ice, producing thick mist that completely obscured vision.
Water pooled on the ice, causing nobles to slip and fall helplessly. Heavy coats soaked up water and became unbearable weights. Canopies shattered under the wind, and screams filled the forest.
“Lady! Take my hand! To the carriage—quickly!”
Philip reached for Lavinia, but the panicked crowd blocked him. Lavinia struggled to open her eyes against the pouring rain.
Then—
A strong, warm hand suddenly seized her arm and pulled her into an embrace.
“This way. Hurry!”
It was Cedric.
The same man who had been waiting for a physician moments ago had moved with astonishing speed and decisiveness. He shielded Lavinia as if protecting her entire body and guided her away from the crowd toward a carriage he had prepared in advance.
Philip quickly lost sight of them in the rain and fog.
Cedric’s thin coat was spread above Lavinia like an umbrella. Thanks to it, she remained relatively dry. Cedric, however, was soaked to the bone in seconds, yet he cared more about keeping her dry than himself.
Once they barely boarded the carriage and shut the heavy door, Cedric rang the bell and the carriage began moving through the rain.
Lavinia looked at him quietly and handed him a handkerchief. Cedric startled, flustered, and took it—but only held it tightly, not even thinking to wipe his face.
“You look cold.”
Instead of asking why he had pulled her away, Lavinia spoke first in a concerned voice. His body was trembling slightly beneath the wet shirt, and despite his heated expression, his lips were pale blue.
“…I-I’m fine. More importantly, Lady Lavinia… are you not wet?”
Cedric pressed himself to the corner of the seat, trying not to let water drip onto her dress. His fingertips were completely white.
Lavinia studied him silently.
A man of such high status, so flustered over a single handkerchief and shrinking himself into a corner—it felt strangely absurd.
“I’m fine, thanks to you.”
“Thank goodness.”
“But…”
She glanced around the narrow carriage.
“Isn’t this the opposite of being a shield?”
“A shield…?”
“I’m the one who’s supposed to hold it, but it feels like I’m being pulled into it instead.”
Cedric’s face turned bright red at her pointed remark.
Lavinia watched his reaction with curiosity. She hadn’t expected a man of such power to be so transparent.
Cedric stammered, searching for words, then finally replied in a subdued voice.
“If you had stayed with Philip, it would have been exhausting. You would have been overwhelmed by the crowd.”
“So if I stay with you, I won’t be?”
“…I was planning to take a detour.”
He tapped the window absently.
“Of course, only if you allow it.”
Lavinia looked at him steadily. Cedric, unable to withstand the silence, eventually met her eyes.
Before she could respond—
CRACK.
A sharp breaking sound rang out as the carriage suddenly tilted and came to a halt. The heavy rain had turned the ground into mud, and the wheel had sunk deep into it.
“What’s going on!”
Cedric shouted. The driver got down to inspect the wheel and called back:
“Your Grace! The wheel is broken! The ground is too soft—we’re stuck!”
Cedric clicked his tongue in irritation, finally looking away from Lavinia. Whether he was annoyed by the accident or by her unanswered reply, only he knew.
“I’m sorry. It seems you’ll have to remain with me after all, Lady Lavinia. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
Lavinia looked out at the pouring rain and then smiled faintly.
“It’s not inconvenient at all.”
