“Do you think you can call her?”
“Th-that...! But...!”
“If you don’t want to tell the truth, that’s fine. If that’s the case, there is no hope in your revealing your accomplice. Tag.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not coming here anymore. Take responsibility and find out who’s behind it.”
“Alright.”
Lina went out of her way and acted desperately at Noel’s words, but after looking at her with frosty eyes, Noel left the basement. Then Tag, who followed him, asked anxiously.
“...are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t like it, that sort of thing.”
Noel’s brown pupils turned dark at Tag’s words.
“Certainly...I do not find it pleasant.”
“...”
“But it’s the nature of this place. I have no choice but to see bloodshed, to become cold-hearted and cruel. That’s why I didn’t tell you about my family’s complex situation. I never wanted to get involved in this dirty fight in the first place, I was rather pushed in reluctantly.”
“…Your Grace…”
“However, I keep thinking about her. She must have been very shocked because this would be new and unfamiliar to her.”
“Your Grace is not at fault. I’m sure she had also predicted it.”
“Yes, she was already expecting to get caught up in this whole mess. But still…”
Noel’s eyes were glued to the ground as he muttered in a melancholic voice.
“I wish it would always be quiet and peaceful around her, let that person be indulged in happiness and tranquillity.”
“...”
“It’s a contradiction and a deception itself, the fact that I want her to stay by my side and be at peace.”
Tag had a strange look on his face as he gazed at Noel.
I’ve never seen His Grace like that before.
He was a fierce and ruthless man, who never failed to survive on any battlefield. He mercilessly slashed the throats of those who blocked his way to glory. All of the mercenaries, including himself, joined the mercenary corps this time with admiration and respect for him. Tag admired him the most among their unit. However, it was the first time the respectable man appeared so weak. It was not that his recognition for him had disappeared or anything. But...
Maybe, though just a little bit, you have become human.
Maybe it was because he had never seen the duke worry or care for someone. There was a slightly different atmosphere.
Tom, so this is why you told me not to hate her.
Tag was jealous of Irene. He joined the mercenary group aiming for the position next to Noel and planned to follow in his footsteps. But before he knew it, the person standing next to Noel was not him, but a woman he had never seen before. He was ashamed, he was green with envy, which led to him hating her for no specific reason.
Tom, who had noticed it, told him before he departed from the duchy.
‘Don’t hate her too much. You will come to appreciate her presence next to the Lord.’
At that time, he wondered what nonsense it was, but now he knew what it meant. He never thought the devil himself would ever know anything about emotions. But now that he was able to show such humane feelings, it was truly an extraordinary change.
“The Duchess must be waiting for you. Please return.”
At Tag’s words, Noel looked at him quietly for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well, I look forward to your cooperation here.”
“Yes.”
When Noel went upstairs, Tag sunk into silence as he stared at the tall figure from behind, a moment passed, and he went back into the basement. Then screams from inside the hellish room rang out once again.
♔♔♔
“...it’s quiet.”
Irene muttered as she ate the food prepared by the butler.
It’s normally not this quiet.
It had been two days since she first opened her eyes. There were still absences in the castle’s labour force. The only presence was the head butler, the minimum number of workers, mercenaries, and soldiers from the dukedom.
“We shall return to the Grand Duke’s residence early in the morning tomorrow. I have also subjugated the monster.”
“However, the cause of the appearance of the monster in the area of the snow tree has yet to be found.”
“...That’s fine.”
Noel answered hesitantly after silence at Irene’s incisive words. Still, Irene knew better than anyone that it was not as fine as it sounded. This was because the conditions for succession to the Grand Duchy included not only subjugating the monsters but also revealing the cause of the monsters’ appearance.
There’s something on my mind.
She had not told Noel yet, but Irene had a strange experience in the snow forest that day.
Just like at the 700th-anniversary banquet.
Just like how the blue energy from Ascardo returned to his sapphire necklace, the moment Irene touched it, the mist of the forest was sucked into the snow tree. And at the same time, it felt as if strength was drained from every single cell of her body, along with a mysterious voice echoing in her head.
‘We have made a contract, Irene Kristen, remember my name, it’s Snow.’