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Winter has passed, and spring has arrived.

But that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.

Beyond the mountain range, situations arise, unbound by the seasons.

In truth, the same goes for the northernmost region of Iceland, known as Highland.

And now that it’s spring…

It’s the season when the beasts and monsters, having survived the harsh winter, fill their famished bellies and once again stretch themselves, attacking each other and eventually invading the civilized world.

The Afterglow Fortress, tasked with defending the kingdom from barbarism, must always remain on high alert.

Thus, even after the sudden incursion of the undead and the Grizzly Beaver alliance during winter, the fortress unceasingly maintained its state of readiness and did what it had to do, but this spring was different.

Ironically, it was thanks to the invasion.

As mentioned earlier, the reason monsters and beasts rampage in spring is primarily to fill their empty stomachs after surviving winter.

Conversely, if their bellies are full, there’s no need for them to go wild.

Under normal winter circumstances, the beasts and monsters, usually lured by their growing hunger, would be lazy and sleep; instead, they were feasting on a free buffet inside and outside the Afterglow Fortress and Present.

Even if it’s all rotten corpses, they would swarm to devour it, and some of them were preserved so fresh, frozen solid.

And to make matters worse, there were not one or two, but thousands, tens of thousands, making their bellies stuffed even in spring.

This was good news for the Afterglow Fortress.

Humans can’t live in constant tension.

Richard, the lord of the fortress, threw a lottery to leave only the minimal guards and shift personnel, scattering the rest for a holiday.

Everyone, except for those whose luck didn’t permit it, praised Richard.

However, Baston couldn’t smile.

The strong winds blowing from beyond the mountain range shook Baston’s mustache as he stood in the inner castle courtyard.

“Hey, my lord. You really plan to take a holiday?”

“Of course I do.”

Despite the blatant gaze of a friend and subordinate, Richard confidently answered and had the workers load the cart.

“We’re going to give a gift to our adorable little bear.”

“This crazy old man. If the top authority leaves on holiday, who’ll take responsibility when something goes wrong?”

“Oh, you seem bitter?”

“Of course!”

“Who threatened you with a knife to draw lots?”

Richard flashed a bold smile at Baston.

“Well, then you should have drawn a holiday in the lottery.”

Unlike his usual scruffy appearance that he kept for the sake of convenience, his beard now trimmed short and neat like a finely drawn line.

And it wasn’t just his beard.

His hair, usually let down to his shoulders, had been cut short and stylishly styled. He was even dressed in a fancy outfit that had been hanging in the wardrobe for probably a year.

“This is absurd. It’s absurd. At your age, how can an old man like you be so excited about prancing around like a kid?”

“Oh, are you jealous?”

“What? Who is?”

Baston’s smooth scalp flushed red.

In truth, he envied Richard.

Not everyone has grandchildren. Baston wanted to see a cuddly grandchild to dote upon.

But that was impossible.

The reason was what Baston himself had said.

Ultimately, the person responsible must remain at the fortress.

“I mean, right? I don’t even want that stiff-headed son of mine. He’s so like me back in the day; that little brat already has brows like bushy caterpillars, so sharp!”

“Yeah, yeah. I understand that feeling well.”

Richard nodded sincerely, crossing his arms.

It’s been two years since he last saw Alicia.

If all had gone according to plan, he would have seen her last summer, but after the disaster caused by the wizards Alfred dispatched the previous autumn, time slipped away.

Then came the undead legions of autumn and winter.

“But if you wanted to see your grandchild that badly, you should have drawn a winning ticket. Why complain now?”

“You lousy bastard! I’m right now— ”

“Oh, having a crisis of old age, huh?”

“…..!!!”

Flames erupted in Baston’s eyes.

His smooth head heating up until it looked ready to explode was like a boiling fruit, starting to emit steam. Richard climbed onto the wagon with a startled face.

“Oops! Hey, everyone! Have we loaded everything?”

“Don’t worry, boss. We’ve got it all. But why is the deputy acting like that?”

“Oh, he’s just sulking because he can’t go on holiday like a kid.”

What a nonsense.

And obviously, the Swordmaster, at the peak of magic users, Baston wouldn’t miss such remarks.

Bam—! Crack—

“What the hell did that bastard say-”

Boom—!

Baston dashed toward the wagon and ripped off the door. Richard, fueled by rage, kicked the seething bald head like water flowing from a spout while shouting.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s get going!”

Everyone in the caravan witnessed the scene.

The coachman, servants, and even the guards, who were there for reasons unknown, all exchanged quick glances and shrugged.

Let’s be honest; it wasn’t their place to intervene.

The coachman and the jockey reached an unspoken agreement and pulled the reins simultaneously.

Leaving the enraged Baston behind, Richard’s holiday caravan thundered forward, day and night, without even the slightest break.

The caravan would only stop when they needed to change tired horses and Snowrunners or when swapping the sled blades of the wagon and cart before exiting the Highland.

Thus, after three days and nights of relentless travel, relying solely on combat rations to get by, Richard arrived in Coldon at an exceptionally rapid pace compared to his previous holiday.

Of course, Winterhome was thrown into a frenzy by the sudden visit of the Felwinter family’s foremost elder, with people in shock.

“Oh, Robin!”

“Grandfather! It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, but I don’t see Alicia. Usually, she’d come rushing in. The first and second grandchild too, did you come too suddenly?”

“Alicia isn’t here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone but Mom and me has gone to Kingsland.”

“Alicia isn’t here?”

Yet, Richard was equally shocked.

He could hardly accept this fact.

Why did he leave everything to Baston to come here?

But now the reason—Alicia wasn’t here?

As a grandfather, he couldn’t accept it.

Richard had to see with his own eyes.

In the greenhouse, Corvus.

“It’s been a while. But? The princess has gone to Kingsland with her lord.”

In the kitchen, Zigmeser.

“She’s been gone for days. You should have come a week earlier… but it’s spring, and is it alright for you to come now?”

In the office, Elder Iona.

“Duke, no. Richard. Didn’t I tell you already? She’s gone to participate in King Theophon’s Crystal Jubilee. Now that you’re here, you should—”

“No!”

Richard couldn’t accept it.

He barely got a holiday, and he couldn’t waste it without even seeing his granddaughter’s face. So Richard thought.

“In that case, I’ll chase after the caravan!”

“Eh?”

The larger the caravan, the slower it typically moves.

Starting now, if he were to track it, he could meet them soon enough.

“No, Richard. You can’t just leave like this—”

“Good to see you again. You look even better than before! Well then! Everyone! Let’s depart!”

“Richard, wait! At least see Duchess Elizabeth before you go—hey! Don’t leave now!”

After merely swapping the exhausted horses and refilling the supplies, Richard commanded that they immediately pursue Alfred’s caravan.

This all transpired less than half a day after arriving in Coldon.

*

*

*

Alfred’s escort caravan campsite.

Catherine’s tent.

While Iona sighed deeply at the tribulations of her long-time friend and former lord, gathering all the world’s troubles, Alicia was seriously deep in thought.

The reason she was contemplating so hard was singular.

Cooking, food, something to eat.

The cause of her current dilemma stemmed from that.

Nestled in the arms of Poppins, Alicia turned to Karem.

“…Is it really not okay to spread Nutella on a jam doughnut?”

In fact, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be. However, she currently had no right to decide. With Catherine on his lap, Karem looked at Poppins meaningfully.

“No, you can’t.”

Poppins shook her head firmly.

“Didn’t you promise to eat just one thing at a time?”

“But, but—”

Alicia was serious.

“Karem said this is the last jar of Nutella…!”

The root of all troubles began a few days after leaving Coldon when Gordon and Flora departed from the caravan near Baron Bolton’s Territory.

As soon as the caravan set off from Coldon, the amount of Amadeus abruptly started to dwindle, beginning from the point when those two left.

Now, momentarily paused for a break, the caravan’s supply cart, which once had several jars of Nutella, had now run out after finishing just one.

“…Mrs. Poppins.”

“I must reiterate: you may select only one item at a time.”

“Ugh—”

Alicia knew she was being unreasonable.

Snacks should only be one at a time.

Having recently seen Godwin begin to plump up again, she realized this lesson herself.

“But I want to spread Nutella on my jam doughnut…!”

Alicia’s rational mind clashed with her instincts. Her serious expression, not fitting for her age, caught Catherine’s attention, prompting her to close her book and set it firmly on the table.

“Still so young. Is there not a simple solution?”

“Kitty. A simple solution?”

“That’s Catherine, not Kitty.”

Puh. Though Catherine sighed, Alicia paid no heed. She wanted answers, and fast.

“Why not substitute the jam in the doughnut with Nutella instead?”

“…But jam—”

“Stop making excuses.”

“Ugh.”

The desire for both jam and Amadeus.

The realization that she was being unreasonable.

The resolute gazes of Poppins and Catherine.

Alicia nodded her head sadly in agreement.

“Now that the menu is decided… shouldn’t you come down soon?”

“Huh?”

Catherine turned her head, seemingly displeased, as she locked eyes with Karem.

Of course, Karem had no objections. It was warmly soft and tender.

But there was still one important issue left.

“However, Mary’s punishment isn’t over yet.”

“Ah.”

“If you’re not going to forgive, then I’m the only one who can cook, right? The other cooks are busy with their own duties.”

This wasn’t a false statement; so Catherine, hiding her blushing ears behind her hair, unwillingly stood up from Karem’s lap.

“…Karem, if the two of us enjoy a leisurely sweet time, I would gladly accept it.”

“Oh, so you were trying to smooth things over to prepare snacks for Miss Catherine?”

“Precisely.”

“That’s not happening.”

Karem lightly clicked his tongue and stood up. The spot he vacated was immediately claimed by Catherine.

With a deadpan expression, Mary clenched her fists, trembling slightly, glaring fiercely at Karem’s retreating figure.

“Alicia thinks Mary should pay attention to her surroundings.”

Alicia, nestled in Poppins’ embrace, pointed this out.

Catherine silently agreed with her words.

After all, it was the oblivious house fairy who disrupted the atmosphere.

She definitely needed to face the consequences.

 

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