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Chapter 270

“Long time no see, junior. How’s the Northern Sea? Do you like it?”

Do you know what a cat living in a cold region looks like? The Lucrecia that appeared before me resembled a cat from the polar regions.

She was dressed in an incredibly thick fur coat with a white marten scarf. Truly, Lucrecia looked like a nouveau riche as she approached Yeon-woo.

“Anyone would mistake you for a local! So how was the Northern Sea for you, senior? Was it alright?”

“Don’t even get me started! I felt like my bones were freezing. I thought being half-undead would make me immune to cold, but no, not here!”

“We felt it was chilly on the way too… but not that much, right? You’re exaggerating a bit, aren’t you?”

“That’s because you don’t understand! The work environment and the journey here are totally different! I’m speaking from personal experience.”

Seeing Yeon-woo’s puzzled expression, Lucrecia clicked her tongue and shook her head. Just how cold could it be for her to react like that?

“Do you doubt what I say?”

Doubting was understandable, but to save Lucrecia’s face, Yeon-woo nodded along.

Still, Lucrecia’s displeased expression didn’t ease. What did she want, anyway?

“…You two seem close.”

“We’re pretty close! There are only two Dragon Knights in this world, after all.”

Lucrecia puffed out her chest as if to show off her connections, intending to befriend Baek In-hwa. However, all Baek In-hwa did was frown at the remark.

“I’m jealous…”

Baek In-hwa muttered quietly. Yeon-woo chose to pretend he didn’t hear it.

If Nea were here, it might be different, but it wasn’t a good idea to get too entangled with Baek In-hwa while Nea wasn’t around.

“How have Tae-oh and Dawn been?”

“Um, they’re doing well! How about you, noona?!”

“It’s been a while since we last met.”

“Of course I’ve been doing well. You two should go buy something tasty with this.”

“Thank you!!”

With the children’s cheerful greetings, Lucrecia broke into a radiant smile and pulled out some money from her pocket to hand to them.

Yeon-woo watched the scene with fascination.

“Looks like you’ve made some money?”

“Yeah, the job you introduced me to pays pretty well.”

The Northern Sea indeed had lucrative opportunities. Elixirs and monster materials can be surprisingly profitable.

“Typically, when kids get allowance, they should share a bit back… but that’s quite…”

“I can’t possibly have kids, can I? Just accept it gratefully.”

“The gratitude’s already been expressed by the kids. I have to think about giving it back.”

“Stop chatting just between yourselves. We can finally see the Ice Palace.”

At those words, Yeon-woo turned his head to look in the same direction as Baek In-hwa.

Countless houses and the towering ice-blue palace in the middle of them. A city with a transparent appearance, adorned with a white hat, gradually emerged through the snowstorm.

“…It’s magnificent.”

Without a hint of hesitation, Yeon-woo murmured those words. It was a breathtaking scene that looked like it was taken straight out of a fairy tale.

*

Stepping into the city, Yeon-woo had no time to admire its beauty as he had to head straight to the massive palace at its center—the Ice Palace.

It was only natural; Yeon-woo was the friend of the young lady who governed the Northern Sea and the one who saved his life.

If such a person visits the Northern Sea without being treated as a guest, it would surely be a scandal that would disgrace the Ice Palace’s honor.

Thus, it was already decided he’d be requested to visit the Ice Palace.

Giving a nod to the landowner’s wishes could be seen as part of being a guest, so Yeon-woo had to mustered heavy feet.

To be honest, he didn’t want to go, but hearing that there wouldn’t be any better lodging than the Ice Palace in the whole city, he had no choice.

‘I can’t leave the kids to sleep in a shabby place…’

Saying this made it sound like he was being blackmailed with the kids as hostages, but it wasn’t quite like that.

In fact, even though he said it, he would have to visit the palace someday regardless.

“Phew… I’m so nervous…”

“…Really? There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

Yeon-woo shot a glare towards Baek In-hwa, who casually said those words, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart.

What was behind this door was one of the strongest among those who stepped into the master’s domain, often referred to as a king.

‘And that king’s daughter says she likes me…!!’

It was enough to make even Yeon-woo’s grandfather feel nervous.

Thinking rationally, his grandfather would probably be even more anxious. A thief of such rank wouldn’t do him any favors.

If there were people who viewed their offspring merely as tools to expand their influence, then Yeon-woo probably wouldn’t be this nervous.

After all, he had to be one of the top candidates for a son-in-law in this world.

However, before his regression, Yeon-woo had seen a documentary about Baek In-hwa’s death and the events surrounding it.

Naturally, Baek Joo-han, the lord of the Ice Palace, had also appeared in that documentary.

With his silver hair in disarray, a bushy beard, Baek Joo-han had made it his livelihood to turn undead into powder while blazing through snowstorms.

Consequently, the Northern Sea had gradually fallen into despair, leading to the complete downfall of the former Ice Palace. All of this was because of that hateful Saturday.

No matter how indifferent he acted towards his daughter, and how strictly he may treat her as a palace lord, it meant that Baek Joo-han loved his daughter immensely.

To the extent that he would lose his sanity over the death of his beloved daughter.

When he lost Baek In-gyeol, he must have felt a pain as if his guts were being wrenched. When he lost his daughter to the same person, what emotions would he have been overwhelmed by—rage? Or sorrow?

Could he endure the wrath of a father who evolved into an insane daughter-lover after losing his son…?

‘Not a chance.’

That’s why he wanted to keep a certain distance from Baek In-hwa.

Imagine being caught in the act of receiving Baek In-hwa’s affections in front of a person who could send this world’s strongest ice knight to become a powerful eunuch.

“Baek In-hwa, I want to live a long life.”

“A proposal?”

“Damn it, we’re not on the same wavelength.”

Yeon-woo waved at Baek In-hwa, trying to signal that it was time to enter. Nodding, Baek In-hwa slowly approached the door.

“Your Highness, we shall enter now.”

“Proceed.”

A cold man’s voice came from the other side of the door.

The massive door swung open, revealing a lavish ice throne room.

Numerous knights bowing on either side. And at the far end, the Frost Throne caught Yeon-woo’s eye.

A handsome man with silver hair slicked back was seated on the throne, glaring coldly at Yeon-woo.

‘…Who is that?’

No, could anyone else be sitting there besides Baek Joo-han? Nevertheless, Yeon-woo felt puzzled. Before his regression, he had looked like a complete ragamuffin…?

*

Nea loves children. She loves Yeon-woo and has a form of respect and affection for Yeon-woo’s friends.

This also applied to Baek In-hwa, who boldly declared her feelings for Yeon-woo.

As Yeon-woo’s friend and her own, Nea respects Baek In-hwa.

But that didn’t mean she would be okay with losing Yeon-woo to her.

Yet, she didn’t care whether Baek In-hwa approached Yeon-woo.

What could be the reason for that? Is it because dragons are a free-spirited race? Is she confident that she won’t lose Yeon-woo?

No. Dragons aren’t necessarily polygamous, and even if Yeon-woo’s love were as solid as a rock, she knew that he would eventually face attacks repeatedly, leading to cracks in that sturdy barrier.

Of course, with that background, Nea tolerated Baek In-hwa’s existence.

There’s no reason to accept something unpleasant other than that.

To put it bluntly, Baek In-hwa was a substitute. Filling the gap until her original self returns. A doll to somewhat fill that void.

Someone might say it’s too harsh a treatment, but Nea didn’t really care.

She was a dragon. Not human, allowing herself to view her friendships as tools at certain moments.

If in that process Yeon-woo’s heart leaned elsewhere, taking him back would be mere fun.

‘Well, that’s something future me will handle.’

If she’s annoyed, she needs to come out quickly, right? After all, she wasn’t sweating and straining herself just for nothing.

*

After a brief greeting and pleasantries in the audience room, Yeon-woo, Baek In-hwa, and Baek Joo-han dismissed the attendants and moved to a different place.

They should probably call it a tea room. Though they had the appearance of Westerners, their essence was reflective of martial arts traditions as the three of them sat on mats.

‘We didn’t say a word on the way here….’

That was probably due to Baek Joo-han’s strict upbringing. Having lost a son, it was understandable to be severe with the only remaining daughter.

Even if they took a stern position as lord and lady in a public setting, Yeon-woo’s hope that they would maintain a friendly father-daughter bond in private was shattered in an instant.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, and you, father?”

“I have been well.”

Far from a friendly father-daughter relationship, the atmosphere was totally tense. What on earth could Yeon-woo do about this frozen mood? While pondering, he heard a knock at the door. Forgetting he was the guest, he jumped up and opened the door, placing the tray he was handed on the table.

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. By the way, what is this?”

On the tray were three glasses—a simple yet functional tea kettle and three glasses that resembled ordinary drinking glasses, which didn’t quite fit the occasion.

Though he wasn’t fond of alcohol, the glasses were about the size of soju cups.

Yeon-woo thought, “What a mismatch for glasses?” as Baek Joo-han nodded and replied.

“It’s warmed vodka.”

“…Huh?”

“Vodka, you don’t know it? It’s something we drink in the North Sea like tea.”

“Well, I know that….”

It wasn’t inaccurate to say it’s drunk like tea… But with the cognitive dissonance rushing in, Yeon-woo rubbed his temples.

“I’ll just drink water, since I’m a minor…”

“It’s delicious, though.”

“Hm, is it?”

The father and daughter looked at Yeon-woo with disappointed eyes. This place is quite something…

(Continue in the next installment)

 

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