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Winterhome was bustling with the commotion of preparing for unexpected guests.

Yet, on the day of their arrival, a serene silence enveloped the castle.

This wasn’t due to some sudden mishap, though.

The reason for the castle’s tranquility was simple.

There were physically fewer people around.

So, where could they all be?

This was also straightforward.

They were all stationed outside Coldon.

The faces were diverse.

Naturally, the Felwinter family, including Alfred and Elizabeth.

Alongside them were Elder Iona, acting as Steward, along with priests, officials, scribes, knights, and workers involved in various tasks around the castle.

Naturally, Karem was also there with Catherine, who led most of the junior wizards, staring blankly at the snow beyond the outer castle since the early, dawn-like hour.

“It’s freezing to death.”

“What about the Cold Resistance Potion?”

Catherine asked with an indifferent voice. Karem, shivering, adjusted his basket and shook his head.

“I forgot and just came out dressed.”

Seriously, what kind of chaos is this at such an early hour? Karem usually wakes up early for cooking, but this was even earlier than usual.

‘What a miserable experience this is.’

Of course, he understood.

It was common for the master to come out with their family to welcome guests. It meant they were genuinely welcoming.

Of course, it wasn’t like they were welcoming another duke or a king.

Welcoming the king’s younger brother felt rather excessive.

That spoke volumes about Alfred’s eagerness to greet his friend’s sibling.

He had received notice of this arrangement the previous day.

But no matter how knowledgeable he was, feeling bothered and sleepy remained just that.

“Do you need it?”

Feeling a light poke on his arm, Karem turned. Mary was holding out a small bottle. It contained a red liquid—the Cold Resistance Potion.

“I thought you might have forgotten it when you left.”

“Thank you.”

Karem gladly accepted it and promptly drank the potion.

As the tangy, slightly spicier liquid reminiscent of thick Tabasco slid down his throat, warmth surged through him.

“Whew, this stuff works wonders!”

“Well, who made it? Of course it does.”

Catherine replied flatly, but it seemed her mood wasn’t entirely affected as she gave Karem’s arm a light slap.

“This could be used for cooking or seasoning.”

“…A potion?”

Though he had only tasted it a few times, Karem nodded, pondering his ongoing thoughts about it each time.

“Just do as you wish. But I’ve been bothered since we left.”

Catherine said without turning her head, her expression still disinterested.

“What’s in that basket you’re carrying? And is that a gourmet’s lid too?”

“Oh, it’s salmon bread. Salmon bread.”

“What?”

Karem cautiously opened the lid.

At that moment.

Everyone stationed outside Coldon caught a whiff of the freshly baked fish-shaped pastry’s delightful aroma, and their eyes went wide.

Of course, Karem wasn’t the only one who had brought treats.

Many had anticipated this kind of situation ahead of time.

Typically, it was easy-to-carry snacks like jerky, nuts, dried fruits, hardtack, cookies, and tarts—little nibbles that could be discreetly eaten.

‘Ah, this is why wizards are like this.’

‘Bread they wouldn’t even glance at normally smells incredible when it’s fresh out of the oven.’

‘Ah… I’m hungry.’

Yet, the hard, dry, and cold foods couldn’t compete with the rich, warm, freshly baked fish-shaped pastries.

And asking for one was out of the question.

Every aspect—the time, the place, the people—seemed to create an unspoken pressure.

“Haha, you’re really well-prepared.”

“Did you prepare this while you were cooking last night thinking it might come to this?”

“But you forgot the Cold Resistance Potion?”

“Ugh— ordinarily, I would have prepared it…!”

But there were some people completely unbothered by such pressures.

“Karem. Alicia wants some too.”

“…!”

Suddenly, Alicia popped out from under the basket. Catherine looked startled, raising an eyebrow at the unexpected appearance.

‘How about I prepare you some?’

‘How much is there?’

‘A full basket.’

‘Then give it here.’

After exchanging a conversation through their eyes, Catherine waved her hand in consent.

“How many should I give you?”

“Eleven.”

“… That seems a bit much. Is that for your family too?”

“Half of it will be eaten by Alicia.”

Indeed, with such a strong appetite, it was commendable that she even thought about sharing with her family. Wait a moment. Each person gets two… the numbers don’t add up.

“Isn’t it twelve then?”

“There’s no share for that bad Robin.”

Seems they had quarreled again. Having no clue where she got it, Alicia diligently stuffed her leather pouch as she scampered away. The salmon bread that was once brimming in the basket had noticeably disappeared.

“But how long do we need to stand here?”

“Until the prince arrives. But why are you just holding it out?”

“It’s custard flavor mixed with roasted Alraune in the dough and filling.”

“Couldn’t you have mentioned that sooner?”

Catherine said emphatically as she quickly snatched the salmon bread and took a bite. It had cooled off slightly, but the soft, sweet, and savory taste spread through her heart.

“So we’re just supposed to stand here waiting for that guest to arrive?”

“It should be early dawn at the earliest. By the latest, they should arrive by the time the first light breaks.”

Hearing that it was still a while away, Karem shivered involuntarily in place.

“I get that my lord is welcoming the prince, but I can’t say I like this mindless waiting.”

“Is it because of your research time?”

“Of course.”

As Karem openly grumbled, he scanned the surroundings. The murmurs of people chatting softly overlapped, creating a whispering sound, making it seem like his words had been lost.

“No need to be concerned about the surroundings.”

“No, how can you say that?”

“Hah, who am I?”

Who indeed, but the youngest sage-level Grand Wizard Catherine? Only then did Karem grasp the nuance in her words.

“Is it soundproof magic?”

“I cast it right after Princess Alicia left.”

“Please give me a heads-up next time. I almost lost my mind.”

Of course, Karem trusted that Alfred wouldn’t retaliate just for saying something so trivial. After all, Catherine was way too talented in magic.

“By the way, will there be as tiresome an agenda when the prince arrives?”

Karem recalled many memories from his past life.

Sports days, bazaars, school festivals, visits from superior officers, and so on.

Compared to all that, this early morning welcome felt like paradise.

He hadn’t practiced anything in particular.

Just standing out here at dawn, waiting was all.

“Well, aside from the dinner banquet, there won’t be any large tasks like this. Probably just a tour of various parts of the castle.”

“Sounds almost like a sightseeing trip.”

“That’s not entirely incorrect. They’d definitely be curious about this place.”

Catherine closed her eyes and waved her hand dismissively.

“So you just focus on your tasks.”

“That would be great. Ah, the sun’s rising.”

Before they knew it, time had flown by, and the sun began to rise over the horizon of the purplish-blue snowfield, with the remaining darkness fading away, leaving only shadows behind.

“Has the sun already risen?”

“Something’s coming over there.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hmm. It might be the prince’s entourage.”

Karem intensely stared at the snowfield where Mary was pointing, but it was so far away and the morning light was blinding, so he couldn’t see anything at all.

“They said they’d arrive early in the morning.”

“Everyone, zip it.”

But it seemed Mary’s words held truth as the people chatted excitedly until Alfred gestured for silence, and gradually the chatter died down.

Crisp— crisp— crisp—

As the wagon and escort caravan drew nearer, the sound of sizzling fish-shaped pastries resonated softly amidst the wind.

As the pastries in the basket began to dwindle, the caravan came to a stop in front of the main gate of Coldon, directly in front of Alfred.

“They’ve arrived.”

“Indeed.”

Creak—

A man who appeared to be the prince stepped down from the wagon. Clad in a deer skull shoulder plate, a bone helmet with antlers, and a dark full-body armor topped with a fur cloak. Most striking was the long sword that seemed to grow from the back of his head.

‘He isn’t as big as I expected.’

Richard Felwinter, Baston, and Sir Churchill were smaller than the figures Karem had seen so far. No, he should be called average.

As he approached and stopped abruptly, the man surveyed his surroundings before locking eyes with Alfred, who stood right at the front of the Felwinter family.

“Oh my! Is that you, Brother Alfred?”

“…What?”

The man who had taken off his helmet couldn’t hide his astonishment at Alfred’s pitiful state.

“How much weight have you lost!?”

“Ianbert!!!”

Suddenly, Alfred bellowed. A heavy and cold atmosphere dropped like the winter winds of Iceland. The escort soldiers instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons.

The ambiance felt like walking on thin ice.

With only the sound of the wind sweeping over the snow echoing softly, Alfred, frowning, suddenly chuckled.

“Of course, I’ve lost weight by now. Didn’t you receive my letter?”

“No one could tell through writing!”

“How long has it been since then? Naturally, I’ve lost weight.”

“The chubby Fred has lost this much weight?”

Suddenly, the mood flipped like a coin, and Ianbert, who had grabbed Alfred’s hand, tugged him into a tight embrace.

“Sir Atanitas. Did you say the duke used to be chubby?”

“No, I haven’t heard that before.”

“Neither have I.”

Silently, questions and answers exchanged between them.

It wasn’t just the three who were flustered. Everyone young or relatively new to the estate was taken aback.

Conversely, those who had been at Winterhome for a long time, like Iona, nodded their heads knowingly.

So as a child, he really was overweight. It was completely unimaginable.

Regardless of how the people reacted, Alfred suddenly draped his arm over Ianbert’s shoulder and walked with his family toward the main gate of Coldon.

The welcome was naturally, yet abruptly, concluded.

Those who had been standing since early dawn and the abandoned caravan followed naturally behind Alfred and Ianbert.

“But I don’t see Sir Olivier.”

“Someone has to be at the tower, so it’s unavoidable.”

Catherine frowned, clicking her tongue as if discontent.

“Should’ve replied to the letter a bit later.”

“Well, are you leaving the position of head consultant and tower master to Sir Olivier?”

“That way, the old coot will handle all the bothersome stuff, right?”

Indeed, given the timing of when both Grand Wizards had received their scouting offers, if Olivier had arrived first, he would have been appointed as the chief magic consultant.

“Then Sir Olivier would be above the contractor, huh? Are you okay with that?”

“…Oh my God. Just the thought is horrifying.”

Catherine grimaced even more at the thought, shaking her ears in frustration.

 

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