The mansion was bustling with birthday banquets by Viscount Osnat Clementz. Viscount Clementz looked in the mirror with a gloating face, listening to the busy sound of hooves entering the garden.
In the meantime, ClĂĄsico had been a small city. But when the Patriotic Lord opened the port and Port Ducainâs capital came in, it began to grow rapidly. The time has come for his ambition to be exercised.
It was when he was in a sweet dream. Someone knocked on the door in a hurry.
âLord Viscount!â
It was a maid who opened the door and entered. The viscount, interrupted from his happy delusions, frowned.
âWhat is it? Didnât I tell you not to call me until I leave?
âThere is an uninvited guest, but heâŠâ
âSend them away. Itâs not the old Clementz anymore.â
The servant hurriedly said to the viscount who shook his hands like chasing a fly.
âHe introduced himself as Gray Buchanan.â
While fixing his tie, Clementzâs hand stopped.
âItâs Buchanan!â
A shout came out. Count Buchanan, no, the duke is one of the most influential people in the capital these days. Moreover, after five years, this land will also become Buchananâs land.
âGuide him to a separate room!â
Viscount Clementz hastily ordered and moved.
Not long after, a neatly dressed man entered the room with the impression of trust. He had blonde hair and purple eyes. Viscount Clementzâs eyes lit up.
âI definitely remember this face! BuchananâsâŠâ
âItâs Gray. I apologize for coming to visit you without an invitation, Viscount.â
âHahaha! What are you talking about! Rather, I should apologize for not giving you an invitation first!â
âIâm so glad you said that!â
The young man smiled brightly. Viscount Clementz smiled broadly as if he had discovered the dynasty of social advancement.
âI heard that you have been abroad for a long time, are you coming back?â
âYes. Fortunately, we returned before the sea froze.â
âHaha. You mean Duke Buchanan? After all, the Duke is very thoughtful.â
Despite the outright flattery, Gray put on a kind-hearted smile.
âMy father is always six steps ahead.â
âItâs fate that we met, so I hope you rest well. Iâm very curious about the story of the North.â
âCan I do that? ClĂĄsico has nothing to be ashamed of for having such a merciful lord.â
âHahaha! You are gilding an old manâs faceâ
(TL/N: It means that heâs flattering him.)
After a show of modesty and some social courtesy, Gray finally spoke of the business that brought him there.
âDear Viscount, can this Gray Buchanan get your help?â
Viscount Clementz held the handle of the chair and sat down.
âAs much as you want! What do you need?â
In an instant, Grayâs purple eyes gleamed darkly. But Viscount Clementz thought he was mistaken. For a young man with such a likable appearance, it was obvious that even if he opened the dictionary, he would feel ashamed and run away when he knew the word âshamefulâ.
âCan I borrow a cell in the dungeon? A prisoner has been transported from the North Continent, and there is no secure place to monitor them.â
âYou mean the dungeon?â
âYes.â
Viscount Clementz, who felt puzzled for a moment, nodded with the thought, âItâs not my business.â
âI will lend you anything.â
âThank you.â
Gray grinned.
âThen, shall we go to the banquet hall? I canât monopolize the protagonist of this auspicious day! Oh, and I brought in some precious spices from the North Continent, and I heard that the Viscount is a gourmet. Itâs small, but will you accept it?â
Viscount Osnat Clementz was overjoyed and led Gray into the banquet hall.
Gray entered with peopleâs eyes on him, and after greeting those of high aristocratic rank, he leaned his back against the wall alone.
âCould things be this easy?â
He felt like he wanted to burst out laughing. He got a message that Kyrie was well kept in the dungeon. He couldnât take it any longer, so he burst out laughing instead of hiding it. The people who attended the viscountâs birthday banquet saw the handsome young man smiling cheerfully and smiled back, and no one looked at him strangely.
No matter what people think, Gray was busy figuring out whatâs going to happen.
âShe must have done something wrong with the Legendary Lord. My father flattered him so hard that he became a duke. She was the only one with pride, and she couldnât bend, she must have made a mistake. Thatâs why he got angry. She ran away! Itâs obvious! Whoâs bad at this?â
Gray giggled.
âOh the veil, it looks expensive. Did she steal something from the Legendary Lord?â
Gray remembered the veil that Kyrie was wearing. He thought about taking it and showing it to the Legendary Lord first, but it would be difficult if he was hated for taking someone elseâs things.
âWhatever it is, letâs give her to him. He might not be looking for Kyrie, so Iâll send the first letter first⊠If Iâm mistaken, I can just send her to father.â
At that time, Viscount Clementz, who was celebrated at the heart of the banquet, stood out. A servant approached him in a hurry and was whispering to him.
Gray was quick to react. He noticed that something âvery important and urgentâ had happened when he saw the urgent face of the servant and the reaction of his own son.
âWhat!â
After the viscount made a noise, his whole body began to tremble. Peopleâs eyes turned to him.
âWait, wait, is he coming here now? Is that true? Really?â
âYes, yes! As soon as I got the message, he came right away! Now at the front doorâŠ.â
âYou should have given him directions!â
âWell, I was going to guide him, but he said that he had to get permission from the owner to visitâŠâ
âUnbelievable! Of course, tell him to come in!â
People started to wonder what the hell was going on. Then Gray felt a foreboding tingle all over his body just before his guess came true.
Even the dullest man could feel it.
Something is coming.
Soon, the air began to flow toward the noisy banquet hall. Through a crack in the door, through a window, or through a gap somewhere, a cool breeze blew into the banquet hall like sand in the desert.
And like that, he appeared out of the blue in the middle of the banquet hall.
âOh myâŠ?â
âWhatâs wrong?â
âIâm sure there was no oneâŠâŠ?â
âYes?â
âLook, thatâsâŠâŠ.â
Viscount Clementz, flustered from the innermost corner, realized a beat later that the surrounding area had become strangely quiet.
âHey, you knowâŠâŠ.â
âYes?â
The eyes of Viscount Clementz, who turned his head, popped out like a carp. Someone almost had to tuck Viscount Clementsâ eyes in so they wouldnât stick out further.
âOh, this is, oh, my God, ohâŠâŠ.â
Gray didnât notice he was that surprised, either.
To that extent, the man ate up all the nerves.
He could tell at a glance that he wasnât human. The face couldnât have been human. He may have been made by God, or God himself.
But when the blue gaze touched him for a moment, Gray touched his neck without realizing it. It was eerie; he felt both the chillingness that would hold him back and the cruelty that would cut him off.
The banquet hall quickly became quiet as though three thousand years of snow had been dumped over it. Even the warm light that was lighting up the room seemed to have lost its temperature in an instant.
KurengâŠ
Gray swallowed his saliva as he heard thunder in the distance. Maybe everyone else.
A beautiful conqueror who appeared out of nowhere looked around without saying a word. It was simply a miracle that Gray felt a faint twinge in that laid-back movement. But the miracle was so tenuous that it quickly fell out of Grayâs consciousness.
It wasnât long before he opened his mouth, and people didnât even breathe in case they missed his first word.
[Havenât you ever seen a man before?]
There was dangerous thunder outside the window. A storm was drawing near.
***
Kyrie opened her eyes, squirming like a fish just out of the water. She realized that she was lying on a stone floor. And the fact that she has handcuffs on her wrist.
The first thing she checked was the veil. Fortunately, the veil was properly covered. Once again she checked the veilâs closure and raised her head.
It was a prison no matter how many times she looked at it.
Kyrie grabbed her head and recalled her last memory.
âItâs his command, sir, to move especially quietly.â
This was Grayâs doing. Kyrie clenched her teeth and looked up. The sentence on the wall of the hallway was by Viscount Clementz. It was clear that she had moved to ClĂĄsico.
âBut why? Thereâs no way Gray would turn down the money. I donât think he has heard from the parentsâŠâŠ.â
Anxiety enveloped Kyrie. Then, from the other side of the prison corridor, someone came up with a torch. Kyrie quickly lay back on the ground and closed her eyes.
âIs she awake?â
What appeared was a muscular, tall female servant. One of Buchananâs servants, who followed Gray when he left for the North continent.
âNot yet. â
She turned her head to the soldier she came with.
âTell her to stay still when she wakes up. Itâs his command.â
âAll right.â
A soldier with drooping eyelids yawned and answered.
âBut what did she do wrong to lock her up like this? She looks just like a woman. She didnât look very fit. Is she pretty?â
âJust follow the orders, and no matter what she does, donât open the door.â
âHey, donât worry about surveillance, but youâŠâ
âItâs Neveah. Please find me if something happens.â
âOh, yes. Miss Neveah.â
â-ssi.â
(TL/N: she is ordering him to call her respectfully, since -ssi )
There was a silence between the two. The soldier answered carelessly with envy.
ââŠThatâs right, Miss Neveah. If you work at the Buchanans, will soybean powder fall a little?
(TL/N: Idiom for getting a little benefit but it was from someone elseâs work)
âI donât know what youâre talking about.â
âThis time, Buchanan became a duke. What about his subordinates? Heâs risen up, but he doesnât know how to take care of his subordinatesâŠâ
Neveah was still expressionless, but she showed signs of feeling pathetic about the soldier.
âThere is no dog in Buchanan who is dissatisfied with the meal given by its owner.â
ââŠâŠIs that so. Yes, yes.â
âHowever.â
Neveah fumbled in her arms with a cold face.
âHe regrets having you stand guard alone. It was an inevitable choice for that prisoner, she would have a panic attack if there were a lot of people. This is your consolation.â
A silky bag with a strong sound came out of Neveahâs arms. It flowed into the soldierâs purse in a very smooth motion. The soldier looked pleased.
âOh, well, our young master is such a man of manners. Tell him not to worry about this place!â
âPlease.â
âDonât worry and go!â
The soldier murmured only after she was out of prison very much.
âI doubt she would get married with that attitude.â
The soldier shook his head and sat on a small chair in the hallway. He did not doze off or leave, although he spat out intermittently whenever the thunder sounded small in the distance. Kyrie, who couldnât find a way out, lay down and held her breath.
The biggest problem was the handcuffs. The key was likely to be held by the soldier, given the incised Clementz pattern.
Second, the jail door. As expected, the soldier will have the key.
The third one is to escape.
âWhat should I do?â
None of the answers came out. When Kyrie breathed out a big breath without realizing it, the soldier under surveillance got up in a mess.
âHey, did you wake up?â
Then, she heard the sound of footsteps drooping from the outside. Shortly thereafter, another soldier from Clementz appeared.
âIs it worth it?â
âWow, whatâs up?â
The guardâs nerves naturally turned to that side. The new man picked up a torch and stood on one leg.
âCheck the ditch and the back door. Itâs a storm. The back door flew by the door last time.â
âI was confused because I heard thunder, but this winter itâs a storm?â
âYes, damn it. Why is it so cold when itâs not snowing? It would be less cold if it snowed.â
Kyrie felt as if cold hands were squeezing her heart. Snow and winter. Things that she doesnât want to think of came to mind. The soldiers continued to talk.
âI want them to break that disgusting ice. I thought Fort Ducane would break it, but they just quit.â
âOr the Lord has no choice but to use his influence.â
âLord, why are you here? Heâs just eating me up.â
âAh, yes!â
The new soldier hit his knee and made a bright face.
âDidnât hear you because you were down there? Well, do you know whoâs up there now?â
âBut arenât they the same nobles?â
âYouâll be surprised to hear that.â
Kyrie listened for information. She was thinking maybe sheâd get something because they are talking about Gray.
But the next moment the soldier smiled and whispered.
âWell, up there nowâŠâŠ.â
***
The first to move was made by Viscount Clementz. The Viscount staggered at first, then grew faster and almost jumped at the end.
âAre you, by any chance, the L, L, Legendary LordâŠâŠ?â
The manâs blue eyes touched Viscount Clementz. He seemed very upset about the situation in which he had to explain his identity in person, but he anyway confirmed the obvious answer by blinking his eyes.
âOh, oh, oh, my God!â
Joy spread over the viscountâs face.
âItâs an infinite honor to meet the Legendary Lord that Iâve only heard ofâŠâŠ! And, again, the blessing to the familyâŠâŠ!â
[Youâre the lord.]
The Legend cut off his words like a sword. It was a more beautiful gaze because it was indifferent.
[Iâm looking for something. Of course, youâll help me, right?]
Viscount Clementz nodded furiously.
âIf youâre in a hurry, shall we talk now?â
[Separately.]
âAll right, separately! Huh, Iâm sorry for the others.â
The viscount took the lead without hiding his shrugging shoulders.
Gray Buchanan was staring at him like everyone else. The appearance of the viscount and the Legendary Lord was on the verge of disappearing beyond the hallway.
At that moment, Gray shouted out without even realizing what he was doing.
âYour Grace!â
The viscount looked back, and the Legendary Lord paused for a moment. Gray was belatedly embarrassed.
âWhy did I call the Legendary Lord?â
He didnât even have time to think about why. He shouted all over to get even a little bit more of the eyes of the Legend that had already begun to fall away from him.
âMy name is Gray Buchanan! Could you give me time too?â
Then, surprisingly, the foot of the Legend stopped.
[Buchanan?]
His beautiful blue eyes grew slightly larger, at least slightly. Gray felt his heart flutter for nothing.
âYes! I have been abroad for a long time, but this time I am here.â
[Ah.]
A strange expression appeared on the Legendâs face. It seemed to be underestimated, or it seemed to be remembering something.
[You are that brother.]
âYes! I am that brother. I donât know what âthatâ means, haha.â
Gray exclaimed in delight.
âAfter all, the Legendary Lord is related to Kyrie!â
Although it was a bit disappointing to keep a cool distance despite his friendly behavior, which usually makes him laugh out loud, Gray was confident. He was a man who knew very well that his strength lies in his good looks and friendliness.
âBut I think you know my sister. Is Kyrie indebted to you?â
At Gray who said that, the Legendary Lord looked at him with eyes that couldnât understand what was inside. Then he mumbled in a low tone.
[You look like your father.]
âDo I?â
[Yes.]
âThank you for the compliment.â
[If not a compliment?]
âThen Iâll have to make an effort to hear âYou donât look like your father.â Would you give me a chance?â
A small smile appeared on the lips of the Legendary Lord. People blushed at that, but Gray noticed that the Legendary Lordâs smile was directed at someone other than himself.
[Wait for me.]
Grayâs face lit up.
âYes! Iâll be looking forward to it!â
After Viscount Clements and the Legendary Lord headed to the other room, Gray couldnât resist the joy and burst into laughter once. People looked at him with envy, and he was more elated.
âAll right, I can just get in touch with him and hand Kyrie over to him!â
The long-term benefit is the favor of the Legend rather than the money promised by Kyrie. Grayâs heart swelled in his dream.
***
âReally? Legendary Lord?â
âYes! I wondered where the Legendary Lord would come to in such a fishy countryside, but heâs here!â
Kyrieâs expression darkened. She couldnât figure out what she was hearing.
âWeâre going to go see him together later.â
âSo youâre here to take over from me, arenât you? Right? Right?â
âIâm sorry.â
âOi!â
The soldiersâ conversation echoed but Kyrieâs mind had also grown distant.
Itâs here who binds herself, locks herself up, and conceives an animal named fear in her stomach. No matter how hard she tried, in the end, he was waiting for her further ahead. Just like he said.
It was here in this cell bound and locked up, she conceived an animal named Fear.
Close your eyes and Nathaniel reaches out his hand. A face that never disappeared, as though carved in her cornea, smiling lightly at her.
âEven if you die, you belong to me forever.â
The whispers of elegant pronunciation that sounded like auditory hallucinations encouraged anxiety. In the impatience of the fugitive, Nathaniel was becoming more brutal and beautiful than reality. Kyrie crouched on the floor and hacked up a painful breath. Her esophagus seemed to be twisted. Fear revived when she thought of hundreds of people monitoring her every move. The soldiersâ voices were distant in her consciousness.
âOh, my gosh. Was there someone there? Hey, whatâs wrong with them?â
âOh, my God! Is it impossible for even two people to keep watch? Get out of here!â
âWhat?â
âGet out of here! Iâm going to die if that thing breaks!â
âOh, well, I get it.â
The other soldier left the dungeon with the torch. The remaining soldier urgently began to rummage through his waist.
âHey, hey, donât go through it! Donât bite your tongue! Iâm going crazy, I even got paidâŠâŠ!â
The sound of keys and the grating of the steel frame against the stone floor rattled her hearing. Soon after, his thick, rugged hands jerked Kyrieâs head.
âOh, my God. Should I show the Viscount? Hey! Sit there for a second!â
The soldier lightly slapped Kyrie on the face and sat her up. It definitely helped. Colour returned to her cheeks up and her spirits flashed.
âI have to run away.â
Kyrie stumbled and pulled herself up. Her hands naturally entered and out of her arms. She quickly flicked her finger and threw it back.
Krak!
âHuh? What was that?â
The soldierâs attention was directed there. The soldier bent over to pick up what had fallen reflexively.
The torch roared, shining a small stone between the fingers.
âHearthstoneâŠ?â
The moment the soldier muttered, Kyrie rushed behind him.