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“Miss Wendy. Are you cold?”

“Nope! Hehehe… Master’s embrace is so warm…”

“That’s good to hear.”

Blanshe was waiting for Bella in front of the command post. Among the many bodyguard knights waiting for their masters, one person caught her eye.

A maid girl awkwardly trying to blend in among the intimidating knights… It was Wendy.

“Thank you… Even with the cold-resistant magic, I was surprised by how cold it was…”

“You shouldn’t be surprised by this level of cold. I heard the Northern Garden is twice as cold as here.”

“Hiccup?!”

The Galiavin region is one of the coldest areas in the empire. But compared to the freezing temperatures of the Northern Garden, it might as well be warm.

“Miss Wendy, do you feel the cold a lot?”

“Yes… *sniff*… Master Blanshe, aren’t you cold…?”

“I don’t feel the cold.”

“Ugh… I’m kinda jealous…”

If Wendy had listened more carefully, she might have noticed something odd about Blanshe’s words.

It wasn’t that Blanshe didn’t feel the cold much—she didn’t feel it at all. Literally, she was immune to the cold.

The reason was easy to guess.

It was likely due to the frost demon residing in her heart. The demonic magic flowing through her body granted her resistance to the cold.

While those around her were clad in heavy armor and thick coats to prepare for the cold, Blanshe wore only a long autumn coat. And underneath the coat, her legs were bare. She hadn’t worn the coat because of the cold but to cover her legs.

Blanshe tightly hugged Wendy.

Despite the name “Frost Demon,” Blanshe’s body maintained a human-like warmth.

Wendy, who was once a cold-blooded assassin, was now smiling warmly in Blanshe’s embrace.

“Were you waiting for the Count? I thought Helga would be waiting.”

“Ah… Lady Helga is busy with Aslan’s unit formation… So I’m assisting the Count now…”

“Weren’t you scared waiting alone?”

“Nope! Other than being a little cold, I was fine… Besides, I wasn’t alone…”

“Huh? Not alone?”

“Ah!? Oh, no! I meant I felt safe with Master Blanshe here… Hehe…”

“I see…”

Blanshe gently patted Wendy’s head. The yellow cat hairpin looked adorable.

Once again, the girl in her arms seemed remarkable.

It was a cold thought, but Wendy’s participation in the expedition wouldn’t change much.

That’s not to say Wendy’s abilities were lacking. With her self-defense skills, martial arts training, and magic studies at Meikhael University, Wendy was more than capable of pulling her weight.

But she wasn’t an essential force. Wendy herself probably knew that better than anyone.

Yet, Wendy had followed them to this battlefield, driven solely by her desire to stay by the Count’s side.

Some might call it reckless.

But Blanshe couldn’t bring herself to diminish Wendy’s resolve with such words.

Wendy had been honing her swordsmanship almost every day. How such determination came from that small body was a mystery. The way she tirelessly swung her sword was a stark contrast to her usual timid and tearful self.

Wendy had been given very little time.

Less than a month. Others might have given up, knowing it was impossible.

But Wendy didn’t. She didn’t give up or despair. She simply did her best with the time she had.

Wendy was a pure child. Her honest, unguarded personality left no room for masks, making her easily transparent to others.

But in moments like these, that flaw became a strength.

Because she was pure, she was straightforward.

She could throw herself entirely into her goal, leaving no room for gaps. That was Wendy’s talent.

Even Bella, who was strict with swordsmanship, had no choice but to acknowledge Wendy.

The time Blanshe had spent teaching Wendy wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short either. That’s why she understood why Wendy had followed them all the way to the north.

“Was he really that significant to you…?”

“Huh? Master, what did you say…?”

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”

Blanshe smiled bitterly as she patted Wendy’s head.

Bella, Helga, and even Wendy…

Tristan was a man who attracted the attention of many.

Born as the head of the Ruelberta family, known for its countless atrocities, he had grown up surrounded by resentment, fear, and contempt.

Blanshe had once been one of those who resented and hated him, but those feelings had long since faded.

Some might think Tristan had changed. But Blanshe felt that Tristan had always been that way.

His words were arrogant, but the intentions behind his actions were far from evil. No… sometimes they were even noble.

Like when he risked his life to enter Bella’s dreams or when he revived the maids who had been turned into corpse puppets by William.

Tristan was a savior pretending to be a villain.

Blanshe thought the same about the time he had shot her off a cliff.

He hadn’t aimed for her head but her shoulder, leaving her a chance to survive.

It was likely all an act to free her from the darkness of the Ruelberta family.

“You don’t have to forgive me, Blanshe.”

And yet, he had allowed himself to be swallowed by the darkness of the Ruelberta family.

‘And I didn’t even realize it…’

Blanshe had once tried to kill Tristan, labeling him a villain. She had failed, but she had tried to take his life.

Looking back, it was an ungrateful act.

Yet, Tristan had forgiven her. Not only that, but he had also saved Bella on her behalf.

No matter how many times she bowed her head in apology, it wouldn’t be enough. In front of Tristan, she was nothing but a sinner.

What made Blanshe’s heart even more wretched was the fact that a certain feeling for him kept sprouting in her heart.

Every time she tried to uproot it, it grew back like a weed.

She, who had once tried to take the life of her benefactor, didn’t deserve such feelings. No, she shouldn’t even hope for them.

Swallowing those bitter thoughts, Blanshe hugged Wendy tightly.

“Ugh… My hands and feet are freezing…”

“The meeting should be over soon.”

As she tried to warm Wendy’s hands, Blanshe noticed something.

“A ring…?”

“Ah… That, um…”

It was a beautiful, rainbow-colored ring. Wendy seemed at a loss for words.

Just then, the heads of the families began to emerge from the command post.

The meeting had finally ended.

“Alright, Count. Let’s meet at the next rest stop! I’ll take the lead, so come at your own pace.”

“Sure.”

As Leon strode off to his unit, the other family heads returned to their respective groups.

Blanshe spotted the silver-haired woman who came out last.

“You’ve worked hard, Miss.”

“Ah, Blanshe…”

As Bella was about to say something, a man stepped between them.

“Huh?! Count?!”

“Blanshe.”

Tristan, with a strangely tired expression, was staring straight at Blanshe.

Suppressing the urge for her heart to race, Blanshe spoke.

“Suddenly… why are you calling me…?”

“Your master has handed you over to me.”

“Huh?”

Handed over? What does that mean…?

She couldn’t follow the conversation.

“Really… Can you not say things that could be misunderstood, Count?”

Bella tapped Tristan’s shoulder, looking exasperated.

It seemed the Count had made a joke.

But Bella’s next words made Blanshe, who had been relieved, blurt out a confused response.

“Whether I’ll hand you over or not is still undecided.”

“Huh…?”

—

“Thank you for the meal, Count.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

Across from me, Bella elegantly wiped her mouth, and Blanshe neatly set down her fork.

“Th-thank you for the meal…”

Beside me, Wendy sat fidgeting nervously.

We had our meal in none other than a carriage.

The Ruelberta family’s carriage was quite spacious, and with a simple table set up, it could easily be used as a dining room.

However, it was still a carriage, so it wasn’t exactly roomy.

With me, Bella, Blanshe, and Wendy sitting together, we had to sit close to each other to eat.

Through the carriage window, a snowy landscape passed by.

The reason we were eating in a moving carriage was to hear Bella’s story.

At first, Bella had readily agreed to help, but then she suddenly changed her mind, saying she wouldn’t hand Blanshe over.

She said she’d decide after seeing what I would do, but I didn’t have the energy to argue.

Bella said she would tell me the conditions for lending Blanshe, but her first demand was to have a meal together.

Truth be told, I had missed mealtime.

The soldiers had already eaten, but I had skipped mine because I was running late.

So, I had planned to have a quick meal in the carriage on the way to the next rest stop, but Bella had joined in.

It seemed Bella and Blanshe hadn’t eaten either, so I invited them to my carriage for a feast.

I had expected something simple, like a packed lunch, but the quality of the food was surprisingly high.

It was hard to believe this was expedition rations. I guess with enough money, anything is possible.

“Ugh…”

Wendy, sitting beside me, was fidgeting and glancing around. As an exclusive maid, being sandwiched among nobles must have been quite uncomfortable for her.

Of course, the food was delicious, and she occasionally smiled happily while eating.

That was part of Wendy’s charm.

There was even a bread crumb stuck to the corner of her mouth.

When I wiped it off with a napkin, Wendy flinched.

“Co-Count?”

“There was food on your face.”

“I-I can wipe it myself…!”

“I’m faster.”

“Hic… It’s fine…”

“I’m not fine.”

As I did this, Bella’s gaze felt sharp.

Honestly, it was a bit awkward. I usually took care of Wendy, but others might misunderstand. A normal noble wouldn’t personally wipe a maid’s mouth.

But thankfully, Bella didn’t misunderstand.

“Ugh… I wanted to wipe Wendy’s mouth too…”

Why are you jealous of that?

“By the way, Count. What is this…?”

Blanshe was tilting her head, looking at the paper box placed in front of each of us.

Fortunately, I knew what it was.

“It’s dessert.”

“Huh?”

The maids had apparently prepared dessert as well.

When I opened the paper box, there was a high-quality paper cup with a piece of cake inside.

I had once seen something similar to a cupcake at a café, but I never expected to see it here. It might be some kind of Easter egg.

“Wow… It’s so pretty…”

Once again, Wendy’s eyes sparkled.

Seeing her marvel at the cute cupcake made me want to smile.

Of course, I could never do that in front of others.

The real ambush was elsewhere.

“……”

As the carriage jolted, I felt a foot poke out from under the table and nudge my knee.

After all that kicking, surely not again?

I glanced at Bella, but she seemed determined to pretend nothing had happened.

Right. This happened before at the school cafeteria.

Back then, she had been embarrassed after doing it, but now she’s at the level of kicking under the table.

But seeing her innocent face made me want to get back at her.

‘You should taste your own medicine.’

With that thought, I took off my shoe and stretched my foot under the table toward her leg. And then I made a ridiculous mistake.

If I had been more careful, I might have noticed that the person whose face stiffened when my foot touched them wasn’t Bella, but Blanshe.

 

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