Chapter 7
<Because his heart is empty, he doesn’t even have room to hate you. He can’t love anyone.
To crave affection from someone who cannot love is utterly futile and miserable.
Winter spoke the cruel truth for Tiya’s sake.
She would never, ever be loved by her father.
<So it’s not because you can’t become a spirit master that the Count won’t acknowledge you. Don’t waste your heart on someone like him…>
Suddenly, Winter trailed off.
Poorly, Tiya’s small shoulders trembled, as if she were holding her breath to cry.
Ah… I’m terrible at comforting children.
Hesitating, Winter crouched beside her and asked as gently as possible.
<Hey… are you crying?>
Tiya snapped her head up.
“No! Northerners don’t cry!”
It sounded like bravado—but truly, not a single tear clung to her cheek.
In fact…
“Father doesn’t hate me. I just didn’t know…”
A smile bloomed brighter than Tiya had ever shown before.
It wasn’t because she wasn’t a spirit master.
It wasn’t because she was lacking or imperfect.
That’s why he didn’t fail to love her.
Just as Winter said… he simply can’t love.
Realizing that, her wilted heart sparked with renewed determination.
“Winter. I think I know how to get Father on our side.”
<Finally, you’re making sense.>
The girl and the spirit nodded at each other, opening their mouths in unison.
<We need to find the Count’s weakness.>
“I’ll help him find his emotions again.”
<…?>
“……?”
Both tilted their heads, as if hearing wrong, then spoke together once more.
“No! We’ll make him feel again, so he’ll help us!”
See?
A deep chasm formed between them again. Winter spoke firmly.
<I’ve already planned everything. You just trust me and follow my instructions.>
“No! I have my own plan too! I’ll help Father regain his emotions and reconcile with Grandmother.”
<Your plan will fail 100 percent. I know it.>
“No way! It won’t fail!”
Tiya refused to back down, her little voice stubborn.
<Where did such a tiny thing get so stubborn?>
“I got it from Grandmother! And I’m not tiny! She’s huge! When I grow up, I’ll be just like her!”
Why does such an insignificant remark turn my stomach?
Winter’s fist, which she had raised as if to lightly bonk Tiya, relaxed with a weary sigh.
What am I doing with an eight-year-old brat?
She couldn’t just hit that little head, after all.
But if Tiya was going to be like this, Winter had a way.
<Alright. Then let’s see whose method works better.>
“A bet?”
True to her Northern roots, Tiya’s eyes lit up at the word “bet.”
<Exactly. You try your way to win the Count’s support, and I’ll try mine. When we need his help, we’ll see which method works.>
“Fine! I’ll accept that bet!”
Even as she spoke, Winter knew Tiya had no chance of winning.
She knew Tiya’s future.
The child, starving for a single look, praise, or acknowledgment from her father, would eventually resign herself to everything.
So, from the very beginning, this bet was destined to be Winter’s victory.
