Chapter 156
It took a month and a half to finally reach the Northern Empire. Because of that, I had to grit my teeth and resist the urge to just ride on Winter’s back and fly there.
When we finally arrived at the border of the Northern Empire, I opened the carriage door and was greeted by a snowstorm so fierce it felt like my ears were about to freeze off.
“Unlucky weather today,” Winter squinted.
“It only snows for about four months in a year, and yet it just had to snow today.”
We traveled by reindeer sleigh. Luckily, the emperor had prepared top-class clothes enchanted with warmth spells, so we didn’t have to shiver the whole way.
When we passed through the Northern Empire’s capital, I almost felt overwhelmed looking at the massive castles made entirely of ice.
In the Northern Empire, ice was the perfect building material. It never melted, became strong when stacked thick, and cost nothing, since snow and ice were everywhere.
No wonder they’re so rich.
They didn’t need to buy water, construction cost almost nothing, and since this was also a holy nation, donations poured in from all over the continent. On top of that, tourists came just to see the snow…
Thinking of the Western Empire, which had been drowning in debt not too long ago, I almost felt like crying.
While I was lost in thought, the reindeer carried us all the way to the palace gates. But just then, two knights standing guard suddenly crossed their swords in front of us, blocking our way.
One of them spoke with a trembling voice.
“…Your Grace, His Majesty has ordered you to be confined.”
“He said you must not leave until he gives permission. Please allow me to guide you.”
The knights looked extremely tense. They were sweating despite the freezing cold, every word they spoke sounding like their lives depended on it.
In this harsh winter, cold sweat? That was proof they were terrified of Winter.
“…His Majesty said he only wants to meet the young lady. Miss, please follow me. His Majesty is expecting you.”
The two knights bowed politely to me.
“Where did he say I should go?” Winter asked.
“To the western lair, sir. His Majesty commanded you to remain there,” one knight answered.
Winter turned to me with a strange smile.
“Don’t be too disappointed.”
Disappointed about what…?
Before I could even ask, Winter walked away from me.
Considering Emperor Glass I’s personality, I knew he wouldn’t overlook Winter’s reckless behavior.
If I had to describe Glass I in one word, it would be responsibility.
Unlike my stepfather, who rebuilt the Western Empire out of rebellion against the former emperor, Glass I was sincere.
He believed it was his duty to restrain Winter. While everyone else feared Winter, Glass I—both as emperor and as older brother—refused to turn away from him.
Even when Winter acted brutally, Glass I never gave up trying to keep him in check.
There wasn’t a special reason. He simply believed, this is what it means to be emperor. His genuine effort was Winter’s last chain.
“This way,” the knight said, leading me down a long hallway. The ice palace was silent as death, like it carried the gloom of winter itself.
“His Majesty is waiting beyond here.”
We stopped before a huge entrance covered with purple curtains.
From below the curtain, I could see the legs of someone sitting on a throne up the stairs.
Curly-haired Winter!
I didn’t want to delay any longer.
“The young lady, Izana Monica Rohia, from the Western Empire has arrived.”
Holding back a twitching smile, I stepped forward. But the moment I did, my smile vanished.
“You must have had a hard journey.”
Yes, I had suffered.
To finally meet you.
But why are you…
Why is your face completely covered?
So, he covers his face with a black cloth to prevent trouble caused by his handsome looks?
What is this, some kind of mythological hero? You’ve got to be kidding me.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. Clearly, some butterfly effect had caused this little twist in the timeline.
Grumbling, I buried myself under the blankets.
[Serves you right!]
Raglia snickered.
[Humans are foolish, caring only for appearances and not the inside!]
“The ‘inside’ you love is gold coins and gemstones, right? That’s your idea of inner beauty.”
[Foolish human! We love the harmony of nature…]
“Shut up, Raglia.”
As expected, Glass I was a good man. He told me just to rest and recover from the journey and sent me back.
I couldn’t bring myself to ask him right away to take off the cloth, but I promised myself I would befriend him quickly and someday burn that sinful cloth to ashes. With that thought, I drifted to sleep.
…
…
“Huh? Where is this…?”
When I opened my eyes again, I realized I was dreaming—even though I hadn’t lit the Seraphim candle.
Noe Rustin had entered my dream.
Since he’d been caught spying on me a month and a half ago, he hadn’t contacted me first. Even when I purposely lit the Seraphim candle to summon him, he acted calm and normal afterward.
Back then, he had clearly said he’d come straight to the Northern Empire.
“Noe?”
I was standing on a narrow spiral staircase, like one in a tower. The steps were so steep and tight that even two people couldn’t stand side by side.
There were no doors or windows.
Come down.
It felt like the stairs themselves were telling me. A wave of unease swept over me, and I hurried downward.
I was barefoot, wearing only a thin white dress. The steps were icy, steep, endless—like I would tumble at any moment.
Finally, after jumping down two or three steps at a time, I reached a single door and rushed inside.
“…Welcome.”
Noe was there.
Outside had been cold and blue, but inside was warm—lit candles, soft velvet sofa, books everywhere.
Noe stood before a bookshelf.
“What’s going on? Why did you call me?” I asked, out of breath.
His face was hard to read, a strange look I’d only ever seen from Joseph or Winter.
He snapped his book shut with a sharp sound.
“I was reading.”
And when he held up the book, my heart nearly stopped.
“The Livia Chronicles: Wings of the White Dragon.”
That title…
It was a book I knew all too well.
“What the… Have you been peeking into my mind this whole time…?”
“Yes.”
Noe nodded calmly.
My fists shook.
“W-we promised you wouldn’t do that!”
“We did. But you’re hiding too much.”
I rushed forward, trying to snatch the book from him, even though I knew it was useless in a dream.
“You knew what I was planning for the Eastern and Southern Emperors, didn’t you? And there were other things I couldn’t ignore. You… you never explain anything!”
Noe was taller than me. He easily held the book out of my reach.
“I’m not Winter Orsheus. I’m not some damn regressor or dragon.”
“No…”
“You’ve gotten so used to him that you underestimated me. Reading this made me realize—Winter doesn’t dig into your mind because to him, this bizarre mystery is just a game. He’s been playing with you, Izana. He’s tamed you from the very start. You only thought you were avoiding him.”
His violet eyes flickered with blue. I felt like someone had struck me on the back of the head.
Noe gave me a bitter smile.
“You and I have just been dancing in the palm of his hand. Think about it. All you know of him is what’s in a few books. But his real life isn’t a handful of volumes—it’s thousands. He’s always known more than you.”
Because I got too used to Winter… I failed to predict this?
“But I don’t have that luxury. To me, every moment is new. This whole confusing situation isn’t fun at all.”
“I…”
I tried to speak, but Noe silenced me with a finger to my lips.
“I told you before—I like things fast and simple. Straight to the point. So let me ask just one question. I’ve got a theory about you and your situation, but let’s forget that for now. Just one thing.”
His voice trembled.
“This book. After its ending… What do you think happens to us? To this world?”
I couldn’t answer.
Seeing my silence, Noe pressed on impatiently.
“Fine, then let me rephrase. What’s the chance that the ending of this book is an ‘unrecordable crisis’?”
“…!”
I stared blankly at him.
He slowly lowered the book, looking defeated.
“You already knew. You knew, but you ignored it—out of pity for us. You thought that if you found a solution, if you could believe this world isn’t just a story, that we really are alive… then you’d tell us. My God, Izana, did you even think of us as comrades?”
The ground shook violently beneath my feet. Dizzy, I collapsed like a drunk. His accusing voice echoed in my ears.
“From the start, the only ‘real’ person to you was yourself.”
…
…
I woke up.
Sweat soaked my body. I slowly sat up.
But strangely, I wasn’t panicking. I was calmer than I expected, even surprising myself.
Lifting my head, I looked for him—the one who would surely be standing there in the dawn light.
“…Looks like an uninvited guest dropped by,” Winter said.
He was supposed to be locked up by Glass I.
And yet I knew, of course, that he’d be here this morning too. He always was.
***
“He’s tamed you.”
Noe was right.
I was relieved that he was clever and sharp. Since we had so much to face together, of course it was good to have someone smart as an ally.
“Comrades? Did you ever even think of us as comrades?”
That voice flashed through my head, and I pressed my hand against my chest, swallowing hard.
Then softly, I called him.
“…Winter.”
Without a word, he handed me a cup of water. I looked up at him.
His eyes were steady, unwavering.
At some point, my world had started revolving around those eyes.
I reached toward the gaze that had swallowed me whole long ago, and quietly asked:
“Have you ever thought… that this world might just be a story inside a six-volume book?”
I felt sorry toward him.
And because, deep down, I actually wasn’t sorry at all… I felt even more guilty.
Wow. I don’t feel like I have much of a grasp of who Noe is at all yet, but I gotta respect the guts.