Chapter 91

Lirika stood by the door of the classroom, at a loss, and cast her gaze into the darkness before turning it back to her father.

"Um, well. That is."

What should I do if he comes closer? She kept glancing over there, feeling anxious.

This is a garden where only the royal family can enter, so it could have caused unnecessary trouble if he came in.

‘What should I do, what should I do.’

It was time for magic class. She couldn’t easily leave her seat, but ignoring him made her worried.

Why did he suddenly come at this hour of the night? Could something have happened?

After looking at his daughter's face for a while, Altears asked.

"Didn’t you break into the underground prison of Barat?"

"Y-Yes?"

Her voice jumped in surprise. It was a secret that she had taken Fjord out with Athil.

Altears raised his index finger to his lips.

"You didn’t tell your mother, did you?"

Relaxing at his words, Lirika nodded slightly.

"I want to scold you for doing something ridiculous, but the result isn’t too bad. However."

Altears asked.

"What do you plan to do when the contract ends?"

If she is no longer a princess, what does she plan to do with Barat?

Lirika, who hadn’t thought about that question, tilted her head and said.

"Well, can’t we still be friends? I think Fjord will continue to be my friend even if I’m not a princess."

"Will you continue to interact?"

"Yes, well. If our interactions were only because I’m a princess, I wouldn’t continue. But that’s not the case. The time we’ve spent together won’t just disappear, right?"

"That’s true. You believe that connections don’t break, do you?"

"Yes."

It was a solid answer, free of any darkness, and Altears smiled. He was quite pleased with it.

"Go. It’s not right to leave him like that. I hate it when Barat enters my castle, but since he’s behaving himself, I’ll let it slide."

"Thank you!"

Lirika bowed and quickly picked up her coat. She pulled her hat, which covered her ears, down firmly, wrapped a scarf around her neck, and put on her cape.

As soon as she stepped out of the warm spot, the cold hit her, but her body, warmed up, could endure it.

Crunching through the snow, Lirika ran.

‘He said he would behave, so he must be waiting at the entrance, right?’

Lirika ran until she reached the entrance, panting heavily. Fjord was leaning against a tree.

"Fjord!"

Lirika’s eyes widened.

"Why are you dressed like that?"

Surprised, Lirika fumbled to take off her scarf and approached him. In this cold, Fjord was dressed simply in a thin blouse and pants.

His cheeks were flushed as he turned to look at her with a smile.

"Princess Lirika."

"You’ll catch a cold, or worse, freeze to death. Ah! You’re barefoot?!"

He caught her hands as she tried to wrap the scarf around his neck.

"I’m fine."

"You’re not fine!"

Her sharp cry made Fjord chuckle. He spoke softly.

"I’m really fine, Lirika. I even find this cold refreshing."

His voice was sweet and excited. Lirika paused and looked at him. His eyes were red and moist.

She looked at the hands that held hers. Even though she was wearing thick woolen gloves, she could feel the heat from his hands.

Her expression turned anxious.

"Fjord, are you running a fever again? Are you okay? What should we do—"

"I’m fine. I just wanted to see you. I haven’t been able to see you for a while. I couldn’t hold back today. You were with His Majesty, right?"

"Yes, His Majesty said he would let me come."

"I was worried you might chase me away like last time."

"Last time?"

Instead of answering, Fjord pulled the scarf from around his neck and wrapped it back around Lirika’s.

"The red scarf really suits you."

"Because I’m the Princess of the Owls."

Lirika felt frustrated as she answered.

"Fjord, is there anything I can do to help? You keep running a fever. Even though I’m a magic girl, I might be able to help somehow. In this cold. They say it’s bad to be in the cold when you have a fever."

"This isn’t a fever."

Lirika paused. Fjord spoke gently.

"So you don’t need to worry about that."

"How can I not worry! Is there anything I can do to help?"

Fjord’s eyes widened slightly at Lirika’s words.

"Help? Lirika, helping me? What more could there be? I’m already receiving more than I deserve. It’s so much that it’s scary."

At his whispered words, Lirika shrank back.

"Lirika, my princess."

The scent of flowers was strong. She didn’t know what kind of flowers, but they must have been very beautiful.

Even in the darkness, the place where Fjord stood seemed brightly lit. His silver hair shimmered in the moonlight.

"I came to seek your understanding."

"…Understanding?"

Her response was slow, as if she were in a daze. Fjord smiled.

"Yes, I want to seek your understanding."

His voice was sweet, almost sticking to her ears. Her heart pounded.

The scent was strong.

She felt her strength draining, swaying. Her knees went weak, and the world seemed to flip.

Her body sank into the snow.

The winter night sky filled her vision, but it was quickly blocked by Fjord.

His crimson eyes were close.

So close that she could feel the heat from his skin. The sweet scent filled her lungs, and even her breath seemed fragrant.

"I might not be able to see you often. No, I probably won’t be able to see you often. But I want to come and meet you secretly, okay?"

She didn’t understand what he meant. She blinked, trying to focus.

"Can’t see me often?"

"Yes, I have something I need to do. But if I come to find you like this, will you see me?"

Please answer.

Please say yes.

Lirika’s lips parted slightly. Her mind was hazy.

Of course.

If this person wants it, I can answer anything.

—Really?

Someone whispered.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. A clump of snow fell from the tree. Most of it landed on Fjord, but some splashed onto her.

"Ah, it’s cold!"

She snapped back to reality.

"Huh?"

‘I’m lying on the ground.’

Fjord was looking down at her. She didn’t remember falling. Her memory was blurry.

Lirika tensed her stomach.

"Fjord!"

She shouted and pushed him away, grabbing his shoulders as she got up.

"Ah," Fjord looked surprised. Lirika slapped his cheeks. But with her thick gloves, it only made a soft thud.

"Snap out of it!"

But her voice was sharp. Fjord, looking startled, sat properly. Lirika also sat down.

"Fjord Barat."

"Yes, yes."

Snow was piled on his head. Lirika said.

"Fjord and I can’t meet often, but it’s okay. It’s fine if you come to see me."

"Understood."

Fjord answered, and Lirika helped brush the snow off his head.

"Now it’s fine."

Fjord bowed. It was as elegant as ever.

"Thank you."

Playfully, Lirika also bowed. When she lifted her head, no one was there.

"Ha."

A sigh escaped her, and a white breath appeared and disappeared. The cold seeped into her body.

‘Let’s go back.’

She shook the snow off her clothes and returned to her father. Altears looked extremely fierce.

Lirika stopped as if glued to the spot. She stood outside the warm spot, unable to step into it.

"Come in."

She took a small step, the heel of her boot making a solid sound on the stone floor. Even that made this place feel warm.

Altears, who had created this warm space with his own power, reached out his hand. This time, she didn’t flinch.

He immediately pulled off her hat and scarf, and untied the ribbon of her cape, throwing it onto the stone chair. As the thick fabric fell, a sweet scent filled the air.

‘Ah.’

It felt like the scent was in her hair too.

Altears held Lirika’s cheeks with both hands. He wasn’t pinching, but he held them firmly.

"Why are you standing there like a statue? Barat, the inexperienced bird, can’t control his own power, and you’re just accepting it?"

Lirika looked at him, puzzled. Altears looked into her blue eyes.

She looks like her mother, but at times like this, she seems incredibly naive.

She’s a child, so it’s natural, but sometimes her childishness frustrates him.

"Can’t you feel Barat’s power?"

"Y-Yes…"

"Then what about mine?"

She wanted to shake her head but couldn’t because her cheeks were held. She could only answer with her tongue.

"I don’t know."

Her voice shrank. Altears narrowed his eyes.

A magician with some power should be sensitive to other powers, but Lirika is very dull.

Being dull might be a trait of the strong. She might have so much power that she can’t feel others.

Well, my daughter is a genius.

Altears, like any parent of a first child, thought the same thing.

"You’ll learn if I teach you."

Before Inro could interfere, he wanted to teach Lirika as much as possible. This only fueled his enthusiasm.

Altears spread his palm and covered his daughter’s face.

Her cold cheeks now felt warm and soft.

"Then let’s sit down and start again."

"Yes…"

Lirika answered softly.

From that day on, the difficulty of Altears’ lessons skyrocketed.

* * *

Altears confirmed that the seat next to him was empty and got up. The sheet he touched was still slightly warm.

The scent of jasmine lingered in the air. He slowly got up and put on his robe.

In the past few days, his wife had been leaving the bed like this. At first, he thought she had some business, but that wasn’t the case.

When she returned, her body was completely cold, and she shivered. At those times, she always smelled like an animal.

This annoyed Altears. It reminded him of Tan Wolf.

In the end, he couldn’t bear it and decided to follow her. Tracing her steps wasn’t difficult. To his surprise, she headed to the library.

Altears entered through the slightly open door of the library. The library was dark. It was designed to prevent light from entering directly to protect the books.

Thus, Altears easily found Rudia. Without a lamp, nothing could be seen, so he followed the light.

Rudia was sitting at the top of a tall ladder. Her golden hair shone brilliantly even in the dim light of the lamp, flowing down.

The light traced the contours of the polished wooden ladder.

Between the ladder rungs, her white feet were visible. She was wearing a nightgown. She briefly lifted her head and exhaled a white mist.

Altears frowned, then sighed when he saw she was wearing a fur.

‘So, if she smells like an animal in winter, it must be the fur.’

He wondered if she had lost her reason when she was no longer a dragon, but at the same time, he felt a bit annoyed.

Altears walked, making a sound. Rudia turned around, surprised. Their eyes met.

"Altears?"

"That is my name."

Altears answered and picked up the slippers that had fallen from the ladder, putting them on her feet. Her toes were red.

"Why are you wandering around in this cold?"

"Well, various reasons…"

Rudia snapped the book shut.

"I have something to investigate."

"Then do it during the day. If you freeze to death here at night, no one will know. Even a maid—"

Altears paused, then laughed savagely.

"You’re not just reading books, are you?"

Altears extended his hand to Rudia. As she grabbed it and tried to get up from the ladder, he pulled her.

"Aah!" she let out a short cry and fell into Altears’ arms. Her slippers rolled on the floor.

Holding Rudia, Altears turned and said. Hayah Inro stood at the door with a stern expression.

"So, what are my beloved wife and Inro doing here in the middle of the night?"