/
The bark of the tree was dyed white as if it had been frozen.
“… What is this?”
“I asked the gardener to go round to patrol only once, but well! You know what ?! Tree ice flowers were really blooming! Had it been discovered a day or two later, it would have been a disaster! Now that some woodcutters are running and cutting down trees, I feel relieved.”
He saw the brown eyes of Teberan, that were shining as if they really respected his master.
Redross didn’t understand at all what happened.
“What?”
“Yes?”
“Is the tree ice flower really blooming?”
“That’s right! The tree keeper told me to take the evidence because it’s already on a dead tree and people can’t touch it…Uh, where are you going?”
Redross needs to meet her right now.
The girl with her pink hair fluttering and smiling softly, but impossible to tell what was going on in her head.
So I should ask
What do you want? What do you know? What’s your plan?
‘By the way, who the hell did I marry?’
Winter Banquet
Redross hurriedly returned to the room, but Brelin was nowhere to be seen.
As he went out the door again to find Mrs. Ballon, the skinny maid standing in front of the door approached him.
The maid, unfamiliar to his eyes, was the exclusive maid who had been cleaning Brelin’s room for the second day.
It was not particularly unusual as it was a tradition to bring the hostess’ maidservant from the original family upon marriage.
“What is your name?”
“It’s Eddie.”
“Right. Eddie, where’s Brelin?”
Eddie blinked. This is because the lord of this family was much more generous than she had expected to find his wife.
She can’t forget the moment the Duke of Redross entered the wedding hall just two days ago.
’How coldly did you look at lady Brelin in the ceremonial hall decorated with those beautiful flowers?’
Even in the applause, his face, which seemed to be bothered, was cold. How quickly did the oath kiss last?
Even so, it’s pretty sweet.
“She went to the garden.”
“The Garden?”
“She wanted to go for a walk… .”
“Till this hour?”
Adie looked out the window and covered her mouth.
“Oh, I didn’t know it was this late. She has been out since earlier. She ordered to dispose of so many things that I was busy… I’ll go get her right away.”
“No, I will go.”
“Directly…?”
“Yes: Don’t mind me, and just keep doing what you’ve been doing.”
He walked quickly past the maid, who still had a surprised face.
As he walked to the front door, he suddenly remembered what he had just heard.
‘What are you disposing of?’
He didn’t know the details because he didn’t have a younger or an older sister, but he knew that noble women were rarely to dispose of their belongings.
Because she’d have to sell it at a poor price compared to the original price.
Moreover, if she likes decorations and banquets that much, it was less likely to happen.
‘I must have heard it wrong.’
What’s more, it wasn’t for him to interfere with what Brelin brought when she got married.
He quickly brushed off his thoughts.
Rather, he wondered where the hell Brelin go.
She is a woman who was born and raised in a manor far south of here.
If you ignore the duchy’s winter, you’ll definitely catch a cold.
‘What the hell are you doing in the garden until this hour?’
When I think of the two words Brelin and garden together, it usually leads me straight to the thought of “she must be meeting a man”, but somehow I didn’t want to think like that today.
*****
(back to Brelin pov)
From the moment she first came to ‘this world’, Brelin has been thinking about keeping this duchy, the sky, and everything else in her eyes.
Because my past life just ended after chasing my goal, and I died in vain at a young age.
Because she lived only for herself, and died while pursuing only her studies and to eventually get a promotion.
In this life, I wanted to hear more and see more.
If Redross had no intention of listening to her anyway, there would be no room for her to intervene in this family any more.
It wasn’t that I didn’t feel patient, but it’d be nice to relax when having some free time.
What a heavenly difference. Even though I have no memory of elaborating on the shape and structure of the celestial sphere, the sky here is in a terribly beautiful form full of pouring stars.
It was breathtakingly beautiful.
The shawl that had been draped over her shoulders spread out on the grassy floor, and Brelin laid down on it.
It happened to be gold without the moon, and the sky in the direction of the sunset was dimly bright, but the other side was terribly dark.
It was the best time for the stars to shine in a grand way.
Between countless stars, a vague appearance of the Milky Way was revealed, and even clusters were seen.
What is the name of the red star?
The brightest group of stars over there.
There must be a name for my zodiac sign, right?
There will be people here who give names to things like that.
I didn’t set everything up, but there are ‘real people’ here who will fill the gaps in the sloppy setting.
Even though Brelin knew there was no reason to cry in the current situation, she couldn’t stop the hot tears around her eyes from forming as she looked at the stars in the dark blue night sky.
‘I shouldn’t cry’
Why would  I cry even when seeing something so beautiful?
There is no Orion, no North Star, no Big Dipper.
There was nothing like the night sky of winter that she knew well, and that made me realize the reality again… This reality is not that bad.
Death… It doesn’t bother me right now, so it’s okay.
Wiping the corners of her eyes, Brelin looked at the sky that grew brighter as her eyes grew more accustomed to the darkness.
It was after a little more time after lying there that I came to my senses from the rustling sound.
Human footsteps? Is that right? Or not?  I hope there’s no deer running around here.
Suddenly, I was scared and startled, and I turned my head to see a tall, broad shouldered, blonde-haired man appearing.
It was so dark that I couldn’t even recognize his expression, but I knew that something was going on just by coming out to find me at this time.
It was then that I realized that too much time had passed and my heart sank.
Even if it made you worry, it wouldn’t be the only thing you did.
Of course, I wasn’t worried that Redross liked me or was willing to do anything for me, but it would be a big deal if his wife, who he has married for two days, was found dead in the garden, right?
I’m sure he’ll get angry.
I did this without thinking I shouldn’t have worried you.
She likes his smooth, clear face, but it’s not good to get angry at someone with that face.
I could tell that I was going to be scolded.
Brelin breathed out cold breath, prepared herself, and closed her eyes.
It was just a brief silence until she discovers what made him angry.
But it was an unexpected answer that he came back.
“I didn’t know you were in such a place. It’s cold.”
When she opened her eyes again at the friendly voice, he was leaning closer.