CHAPTER 22
Céline worried that her new bodyguard maid, Dani, might dislike sudden travel—but it was needless concern. Dani tucked several more daggers into her clothes and grinned confidently.
“The Imperial Capital, you say? What a perfect stage to show off my skills.”
“You’re truly dependable, Dani.”
Céline still couldn’t forget the day she first met Dani two weeks before. The moment Dani saw her, she declared boldly:
“Lady Céline Lute, I’ve been informed of everything. If you die even once under my watch, I will sever my own head!”
Céline, Natasha, and the other maids immediately panicked and explained her condition in more detail, but Dani refused to budge.
And two days later, Céline slipped on an overly waxed hallway floor and died.
Dani actually tried to drive a dagger into her own throat.
If not for the Grand Duchess—whose expression was cold enough to cut through ice.
“You may die.
But you will be remembered as a criminal who defied House Grand Duke.”
Only then did Dani abandon the idea of suicide. From that moment on, she became even more obsessive—saving Céline from multiple life-threatening situations.
…even at the cost of her own life.
Every time, Céline panicked and insisted there was no need, since she would revive anyway. Dani only laughed.
“I’m blessed by the Star of Cats. I have nine lives. I just used one, so six left.”
Eventually, Céline realized the only way to stop Dani from reckless behavior was to make sure she herself never got into danger in the first place.
“Is that everything?”
Dani lifted two large travel trunks by herself, without calling any servants.
Céline didn’t own many things. Most necessities would already be in the Imperial Capital.
Leonhardt also traveled without attendants.
Because they had to depart as quickly as possible, they only had three carriages:
—one for Céline and Leonhardt,
—one for the rest of the attendants,
—and one reserved for the tribute and gifts to the Crown Prince.
“Once we arrive in the Capital, things will be different. I promise.”
Céline looked at the servants loading luxurious items into the carriages with a mildly overwhelmed expression.
“This is already more than enough.”
“I’m relieved to hear that.”
Leonhardt’s gentle tone sent an odd shiver through her.
He was behaving the same as always—so why was her heart pounding today?
Céline decided it must be because of what she planned to ask of him tomorrow, and climbed into the carriage.
Half a day later.
The sun dipped behind the mountains.
All three carriages halted, and servants began setting up a campfire.
Then—it began to snow.
Leonhardt’s expression hardened instantly. The sky had been so clear he assumed snowfall was unlikely. They had hurried their departure because of the weather, yet now…
They could camp for the night, sure.
But if the wheels froze by morning—
“Up! Everyone up! We depart immediately!”
“Leonhardt?”
Céline looked at him, bewildered.
“It’s dark. It’s snowing. We’re leaving now?”
“If we stay still, the wheels will freeze.”
He expected her to understand immediately, but instead, she grabbed his arm.
“Let them rest. The horses, and the people.”
“Céline, this—”
“I’ll melt it.”
Her voice trembled—not with confidence, but with anxiety.
Leonhardt slowly shook his head.
“You still struggle with controlling your power. Keeping the wheels warm all night might damage the carriage.”
“I won’t let them freeze in the first place. I’ll keep them warm continuously.”
Magic required staying awake—that was obvious. Céline realized what Leonhardt was actually worried about: her.
She wet her dry lips with her tongue. Maybe she was being stubborn.
But tomorrow, she planned to ask Leonhardt for a huge favor. Before that, she wanted to do something helpful.
To lessen her guilt.
“I can sleep in the morning. As you know, I don’t die from losing a night of sleep.”
Leonhardt stopped trying to dissuade her.
“Until dawn.”
“What?”
“We leave at dawn. Until then… I’ll leave it to you.”
Céline nodded. Leonhardt revoked the order to depart.
Servants grumbled a little but quickly unpacked, setting up camp.
Céline closed her eyes and concentrated.
Moments later, warmth enveloped the horses and carriages.
When she opened her eyes, Dani stood directly in front of her.
“Lady Céline, dinner is served.”
Dinner was hot potato stew, soft white bread, and bacon.
Compared to the food at the castle, it was simple—but Céline devoured it as if starving.
Casting large-scale magic once was nothing. Maintaining it continuously—that was exhausting.
“You doing alright?”
Leonhardt watched her with concern.
“Hm? Why?”
Céline blinked, puzzled. But Leonhardt had already noticed the signs:
Her nose reddened, her eyes watered from the cold, her body trembled.
“You look cold. Go inside the carriage.”
“I’m fine.”
“You can continue the magic inside.”
“It feels stuffy. I might fall asleep. Oh—and if I do, please wake me up.”
Snowflakes gathered on her long lashes.
Leonhardt hesitated, then suddenly said:
“I’ll show you something interesting.”
“…?”
He gestured toward an empty snowbank.
“When you hunt dark mages in the frozen north, there is no such thing as comfort. You build your own shelter.”
He began walking. Céline followed without question.
The snow here was deep and untouched.
Leonhardt drew his sword—Lashir.
Céline stiffened. Monsters?
Instead of striking a monster, Lashir sliced the snow itself.
With each precise swing, it shaped blocks of packed snow. He began stacking them.
It looked like—
“An igloo.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
Fortunately, Leonhardt didn’t notice her eyes getting misty.
When he finished, there stood a small dome of snow.
“A snow house. Learned it from someone in the Duchy of Tamtebo.
Before that, I just hugged Lashir for warmth and slept in the snow.”
His voice wasn’t nostalgic. Céline’s throat tightened.
“I’m… glad you don’t have to anymore.”
She crawled inside.
It wasn’t cold. It wasn’t warm either. Just… gentle.
Leonhardt ducked in—and bumped his head.
“…I miscalculated.”
Céline realized why and laughed softly.
The igloo was perfect… for one person.
When he sat down beside her, their shoulders touched—no space to move.
Céline’s cheeks warmed. His face was too close. Too beautiful. Unreal.
Neither of them spoke.
Leonhardt cursed his own foolishness.
Why had he built something barely big enough for one?
He could feel Céline’s breath on his skin.
He didn’t want to move.
That was the problem.
“This is too small. We should leave—”
“No.”
“…?”
His heart nearly leapt out of his chest.
“I like it. The ceiling looks interesting from here. And… I’ve never been in a snow house before.”
“…If you’re comfortable, then fine.”
Silence again.
Then—a small weight rested on his shoulder.
“…Céline?”
She had fallen asleep against him.
He hesitated.
Wake her, or…
She looked so peaceful.
But her voice echoed in his memory:
If I fall asleep, you must wake me.
After what felt like an eternity—but was only seconds—he called her name.
“Céline.”
Her eyes flew open.
“Hah—!”
Her eyes filled with panic, and Leonhardt’s stomach dropped.
“I woke you the moment you fell asleep. The wheels aren’t frozen yet.”
“Th-thank you…”
She barely whispered it, then stumbled out of the igloo and ran.
The snow was falling harder.
“Haa… haa…”
Her heart pounded.
What if everything froze already—?!
The horses whinnied, stamping their hooves in pain.
“S-sorry.”
She felt Lugh—the mark on her wrist—stir. Her own magic was gone.
She drew power from Lugh.
Warm magic flooded her body.
She wrapped the horses and carriages in a wave of heat—too strong.
“Agh—!”
Her vision spun. She collapsed into the snow.
No—no—no.
This was the same symptom as last time. An overload.
Back then, she died instantly. Only Dani was with her—no one could help.
I don’t want to die. Please. Please.
If she died—
Leonhardt would suffer all night.
Céline bit her lip until it turned white.
She had done this before. She could endure.
She had to endure.
“…Céline.”
She felt someone else’s magic.
Cold, yet blazing.
Familiar. Safe.
She opened her eyes.
Her body was lifted off the snow, half-cradled in strong arms.
A blue arc of Lashir’s magic calmed her unstable energy.
“Leonhardt.”
She gasped his name.
“Leonhardt… Leonhardt…”
Finally—his reply.
“Céline.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I… I didn’t die, right?”
“Not even close.”
He walked forward, through the darkness and heavy snow—
Carrying her back to the warm carriage.
