CH 19

Hearing Albert say that, I coughed and looked away, shifting my gaze towards Blanc. He was sleeping soundly in my arms.

He was so lovely just looking at him like this.

“Blanc, we’re outside. Don’t just sleep—look at the sky. It’s so pretty.”

“The skyyy is always prettyyy…”

He blinked slowly, muttering as though he was talking in his sleep. He didn’t seem to be very impressed by the sky.

Well, it hadn’t been long since Blanc entered the tower, and he could technically still go in and out as he pleased.

Now that I think about it, Albert’s attitude was similar to Blanc’s right now.

I was the only one who’s excited here, and it seemed like Albert wasn’t agitated at all. I thought he’d be antsy to get out of the tower as soon as possible, but it didn’t seem like it.

Compared to him in the novel, when we first met, it was me who had to work hard for the contract between us so that we could go outside.

Was it because I changed?

I thought he’d think that the tower was too stuffy. Even more so because he grew up in wide spaces like large mansions and palaces.

In the end, I had to ask him.

“Prince, aren’t you happy to be outside? Though it’ll only be for a little while…”

“Sorry to say, but I don’t feel any differently.”

As he replied, he raised the wand.

Albert drew a large mana circle on the ground with the wand. Then, geometric patterns and shapes could be seen being etched in the mana circle—it was almost like a work of art. Within the circle were the sun and moon that were close together.

“The key to magic is a mana circle, Rosé.”

“Oohh…”

“The most important factor in wielding magic is to draw the mana circle properly and to say the incantation well.”

I think he was recalling when I asked him about incantations before.

Eyeing the wand, I decided to give up on magic. Once I get out of the tower, I’d have a guaranteed retired life anyway, so I thought I’d be able to do whatever I set my mind to. But here, I gave up on magic.

It looked too difficult.

In the first place, I was a far cry from a mage.

“Come here, Rosé.”

In the middle of the mana circle, Albert reached out to me. Naturally, I held his hand and stood in there with him. The circle was wide enough for us to stand close together.

Oh, I have a question.

He reached out a hand to me and I took it unconsciously, but…

Is there a reason that we’d have to touch like this when we’re not even in the sky like before?

Come to think of it, I was confessed to not long ago.

…Did he plan this?

With a composed expression, I stared at Albert, who was imbuing golden light into each line of the magic circle.

“Prince, do we have to hold ha…nds?”

At the end, my voice went up because I suddenly felt self-conscious.

And it’s because of Albert’s face.

Whenever I looked at his face, it was difficult to tell whether he had a wicked heart or something. He conducted himself so elegantly that it was natural to think that he was blessed by god’s divine will.

After he finished drawing the mana circle, he tightened his hold over my hand. Looking down towards me, he spoke with a smile on his lips.

“I didn’t think you’d notice. But I’m satisfied with this as well.”

“……”

I had nothing to say in return as he openly admitted it. Smiling brightly, Albert said the incantation.

“Teleport.”

“The spell feels niiiiice…”

As Blanc said this, the scenery before me changed.

* * *

Even though it was spring, it was snowing heavily around us.

The snow that fluttered down from the sky created a mysterious ambiance. And under that snowy sky was a castle. It made me wonder—did the Snow Queen live in a place like this?

The wide old castle was so vast that it seemed to swallow me up right then. My mouth was agape.

“I guess it’s your first time in the north.”

Then in the distance, soldiers could be seen running towards us.

“You’re here.”

With about twenty soldiers behind him, the man in front of us bowed his head towards Albert. He was younger than I expected, so I was surprised.

He seemed to be in his early twenties, but because he looked young for his age, it seemed more like he was in his late teens.

With disheveled brown hair and soft reddish-brown eyes, he was a man bursting with youthful energy.

His eyes were directed only at Albert, as though he was completely lovestruck. And I understood him at once—ah, I feel you.

That’s just how Albert was.

He was a man of enigmatic charm, and he mesmerized anyone regardless of gender or age.

With an emotional voice, the young man spoke.

“I greet Your Highness the Prince. I am Baron Schubert Bergen.”

“Long time no see.”

“…I would just like to thank you for coming all the way here. I’m sure His Grace the Duke would be very pleased as well.”

It was amazing. It’s the first time I’m seeing Albert interact with other people like this.

Baron Bergen’s eyes were truly only on Albert. It seemed like he had yet to realize I was here, too.

With a serious expression, Albert asked him.

“Is his condition still the same?”

“His Grace is still in a terrible condition. We don’t know what kind of magic plagues him. There was no one else we could call.”

They quickly delved into that conversation, and Baron Bergen seemed really to have no interest in me.

Well, it’s not like I want attention, but it was a little embarrassing that even my very existence was being ignored.

Eventually, I stood straight and looked up at the sky for no reason.

It felt like I was suddenly hit with reality.

I thought that I had already braced myself for how I’d be treated outside the tower. But since I’d only been interacting with Albert and the guard soldiers, it turned out that reality wasn’t that forgiving.

Right now, I was being treated just as I should. A maid was like air.

It was a little depressing, but being ignored like this was tolerable enough.

Although apart from being ignored, there was another problem.

It’s cold.

I was wearing spring clothes, but the place we teleported to was an instant transition to winter, in the middle of a blizzard. I literally felt like I was going to freeze to death.

However, in a situation where the other people beside her were discussing another person’s life at stake, I couldn’t just say, ‘I’m cold~’ so I just held it in.

“Please put this on, Your Highness.”

While talking, Baron Bergen gave Albert a thick fur coat that a soldier had been holding onto.

I hugged Blanc even tighter. Blanc at least gave me a little warmth.

With a miserable expression, I looked longingly at Albert’s fur coat, then I turned away. But as I did, I was surprised when our eyes met.

“Baron Bergen, I know we’d need to talk further, but there’s someone waiting next to me. I’ll introduce you.”

Albert went in front of me and placed the fur coat on me.

“Rosé, you must be cold.”

As he opened the coat himself, there was a languid look in his eyes even as he looked like a sculpted statue.

“I’m actually surprised that you’re being unusually quiet.”

His voice was as warm as spring. At Albert’s consideration, I remained silent, though I was inwardly happy.

“So I wondered if you were alright in the cold like me… You stayed still like this even though your lips have turned blue.”

This should be considered cheating. Seeing him worry about me like this made my heart skip a beat.

Albert had his back towards Baron Bergen and his soldiers, so I was completely obscured from their view because of Albert’s wide frame.

Then, he whispered so quietly that only the two of us could hear.

“If you need anything, tell me right away. Don’t endure by yourself.”

Dazedly, I nodded.

Albert turned away and looked back at Baron Bergen once more.

“Say hello. This is Rosé Artius. She lives with me in the tower…”

Albert trailed off for a moment. He seemed to be thinking of how to introduce me.

“And she’s a loyal vassal.”

He didn’t necessarily call me a maid.

At that, Baron Bergen looked at me with a confused face.

“The person who lives in the same tower…”

Baron Bergen seemed to know who I was.

In fact, Baron Bergen didn’t say anything even though it was evident that this was strange to him.

Albert and the baron’s eyes met. Something unsaid between them came and went. Soon, Baron Bergen bowed his head and greeted me.

Though as he bowed his head, his eyebrows were twitching.

“I apologize. I couldn’t even greet you properly because I was preoccupied with the Duke’s condition.”

“No, it’s okay, I’m…”

He’s saying sorry! I didn’t think this was something that a baron should be obliged to say to a maid.

What if this is another death flag?!

This was a misunderstanding that happened because Albert didn’t properly say my status. As if contemplating how to resolve this, Albert opened his lips to speak.

“Baron. Let’s head inside.”

But he naturally postponed the conversation.

“I understand. Let me guide you there.”

And so the conversation between me and the baron was cut off, and the chance to explain myself disappeared. I went into the castle with Albert, Blanc still in my arms.

Albert was walking next to me, keeping pace with my steps. Just as when we were walking through the starry sky earlier.

* * *

As we went further inside, I constantly got surprised by the complex structure that was like a maze. I was guided to a guest room while Albert was led straight to Duke Masen.

Albert asked if I’d like to go with him, but I refused right away. I was tired of having to feel those countless gazes following me.

Perhaps he read my mind. Albert just said that he’d visit me later instead of urging me to come with him.

“We’ll go back tomorrow, so prepare for that.”

It hadn’t been long since we came out, but he was already talking about going back.

After arriving at the guest room, I realized it yet again.

“Wow…”

Indeed. The tower was much too narrow for me and Albert.

This was just a guest room in a Duke’s estate, so it would be a whole different league when it came to the palace. It’s obvious that Albert used to live in a place much bigger than this.

As someone who lived in a place that big yet suddenly thrown into a place like a studio apartment, Albert’s anger in the novel was valid. He must have felt how unfair it was to be trapped in such a small space.

I should respect Albert’s private life more in the future. I recalled and reflected on the time I watched him exercise or work. Prince, I’ve sinned gravely.

Knock, knock. Someone was outside the door. With a gulp, I answered the door.

“…Baron Bergen?”

Before me was Baron Schubert Bergen, who had left earlier with Albert.

He was much taller than me. But rather than imposing, he felt more like a younger brother who grew up well. His soft appearance was completely different from Albert’s countenance.

Albert had a smoldering, languid allure, while the baron had the appearance of a warm-hearted guy. Although he’d yet to grow into his features, I just knew that this guy would make countless women cry in the future.

And right now, his expression was like a one eighty degree turn compared to how he was looking at Albert earlier. He had a scowl on his face—it was obvious that he didn’t like me. He was on guard against me.

Of course, his actions were understandable. If I were in his shoes, I’d have reacted the same way.

Maybe he came here to threaten me, but I looked up to meet his gaze anyway.

“…I don’t know what the hell kind of enchantment you used on His Highness, but it won’t work on me. Give me the antidote.”

Yup. I’m right.