Ch.184Chapter 184

Though the exact origin is unknown, there’s a saying that warm winds blow when people fall in love.

Passionate love makes people more enthusiastic than usual, and their heads grow warm from thinking about their beloved every day…

“Um, if you don’t mind, would you like to have a meal with us…”

“Oh my, if you said ‘me’ instead of ‘us,’ I might consider it.”

“P-please have a meal with me!”

In that sense, the capital of Manheimr was heating up with a sudden warm breeze.

Restaurants had become battlegrounds where young men competed to win beautiful women, and university students were absorbed not in boring professors’ lectures but in the lessons of those experienced in romance.

When young maidens walked through the market, laborers suspiciously showed off their muscles while diligently performing their work.

“Tsk, tsk, these young people have become complacent now that they’re well-fed…”

“Once they graduate from university, the nobles of Manheimr will be clamoring to marry them to their children, so why such hurry!”

Some professors clicked their tongues in disapproval at the behavior of these young people.

One should study when the mind is still somewhat pliable, but to neglect learning because of mere women—does that make any sense?

However, not all professors felt this way. More broadly speaking, many adults viewed the situation quite favorably.

“Ho ho ho, the professors are absolutely right. But these fellows aren’t children anymore, how can we stop them from wanting to marry?”

“Exactly. Unlike the old days when we worried about starving to death, our children should establish their own families.”

“Hmph, today’s youth lack maturity, they need to be educated while they’re young. In my day…”

“Come now, Professor, there you go again. I have some liquor I bought from those Dwarf fellows recently. Let’s have a drink and cool your temper.”

“Ahem, since the innkeeper insists, I suppose I have no choice.”

The people of Manheimr hadn’t forgotten the past, but they felt in their bones that times had changed.

They no longer needed to fill their hungry stomachs with snow and dirt, nor would their teeth break from chewing on hard tree roots.

Now there was no worry about facing starvation even if more mouths needed feeding, so shouldn’t their children marry and have children of their own?

“Preparing wedding gifts is somewhat concerning though.”

“Still, these are our brave children who survived difficult times. I want to send them off with whatever we can provide.”

Except for minor concerns, people didn’t pay much attention to this sudden wave of romance.

They tilted their glasses in renewed gratitude for the king’s grace.

It was a good era.

* * *

“It seems the young people in the capital have fallen in love recently. Farmers might be expected to do so, but according to recent reports, students, officials… even servants are deeply immersed in romance.”

Glare.

Geron glared at the servants waiting by the wall as he delivered his report.

His gaze conveyed the message, ‘I know exactly what you’ve all been up to lately,’ and the servants blushed and lowered their heads.

If someone were to ask whether it was a sin for servants to fall in love, the answer would obviously be no.

Two people loving each other was something to be celebrated, not condemned or insulted.

“Is there a serious problem?”

“Not to that extent. Love can’t be stopped by mere prohibition, and there’s no reason to prevent young men and women from forming relationships. However…”

“However?”

Geron looked at a particularly blushing servant, then sighed deeply before continuing.

“Sigh… even love has its appropriate time and place.”

“Ah.”

Wendigo nodded, understanding the many implications in Geron’s explanation.

They weren’t dogs in heat—grown adults should at least distinguish appropriate places, even if timing might be flexible.

Order tends to collapse from small things first, so they couldn’t allow moral standards to deteriorate.

“Is this issue occurring only in the capital?”

“Yes, at least according to reports from the surrounding areas. While marriages are happening more frequently than before, it’s not as chaotic as in the capital.”

Wendigo found this puzzling. It was natural for the capital to be more comfortable than other regions, but that shouldn’t have such a significant impact on young people’s romantic endeavors.

Then why were only the capital’s youth causing such a commotion over love?

“Is there a possibility that Elven or Dwarven goods are causing problems for humans?”

“I can’t completely rule it out, but even the beastfolk have recently increased their frequency of romance. In fact, if we’re being honest, they’re the main culprits of moral—”

“Now, now, we mustn’t discriminate based on race.”

“…It’s not discrimination if it’s actually true.”

While they weren’t completely losing their minds like animals in heat, it was true that those with beast blood tended to court more passionately due to their nature.

There were even numerous cases of fistfights over women, so it wasn’t discrimination but rather stating facts.

Fortunately, public order was being well maintained, so innocent people weren’t suffering hardships.

“…Personally, I think there’s a high possibility that the goddess who visited recently might be the problem.”

“……”

When Wendigo mentioned this possibility in an uneasy voice, Geron opened his mouth slightly but remained silent.

He wanted to ask if such a thing would be impossible with Alfodur present, but Alfodur wasn’t exactly a normal god either…

‘Your Majesty has a tendency to attract problems.’

His lord had an unfortunate habit of becoming entangled in troubles. Could he have once again found himself at the center of a problem without realizing it?

“Why are you looking at me with such pitying eyes?”

“I was just thinking that Your Majesty seems quite popular with troublesome characters.”

“…I shouldn’t have asked. I’ll take that as agreement with my theory.”

Unable to deny this pointed remark, Wendigo grumbled and tapped the throne with his claws.

He had sensed something off about her from their first meeting, and it seemed clear that the goddess Alfodur had brought must have done something.

‘Well, that trickster brought her, so she couldn’t possibly be ordinary.’

Had Alfodur heard this, he would have sworn his innocence even at the cost of his one remaining eye. But would he face such suspicion if his conduct had been proper?

Calming himself by mentally criticizing Alfodur, Wendigo considered what could be done immediately.

If Frigg was behind this situation…

“I should meet with Skadi and ask about this situation.”

“Lady Skadi, you mean?”

“Is there a problem with that?”

When Geron responded with a sour expression, Wendigo looked at him quizzically.

Skadi was the most suitable expert for resolving issues closely related to the mystical, so what could possibly be the problem?

“No, not exactly a problem, but…”

“Then let’s go see her now.”

Having made his decision, Wendigo rose from his seat and began walking. Geron watched his back with a complicated expression.

Certainly, if it was a god-related issue, Lady Skadi would be the best advisor. She was the most proficient in sorcery and mysticism in all of Manheimr.

However…

“I hope he hasn’t forgotten that Lady Skadi is still a young maiden…”

Despite being Manheimr’s respected Grand Witch, Grand Summoner, and the first chancellor of the university.

She was still a young maiden in her prime.

* * *

“Sigh…”

Seated at her desk in the chancellor’s office, Skadi sank into her plush chair and let out a deep sigh.

While Wendigo and Geron had observed the love fever sweeping the capital with their eyes and ears, Skadi was feeling it with her entire body.

She shuddered as she looked at the pile of letters covering her desk.

‘I’ve been receiving an unusually large number of letters lately.’

She never received few letters even in normal times. Besides love letters, sorcerers, nobles, and scholars sent correspondence for various matters.

However, this time the proportion of love letters was overwhelmingly high.

Not only vigorous warriors but also students who had come to the capital from various regions sent adaptations of love poems from their hometowns.

Even anonymous women and witches sent letters containing confessions…

“…Thankfully they sent them anonymously.”

Had she known their names, she would have been unable to view her students as mere students.

After glaring at the pile of letters for quite some time, Skadi sat up with a short sigh.

“Let’s see…”

Holding a quill pen, Skadi carefully opened the letters one by one to check their contents.

She had no intention of accepting any, but out of respect for the effort and feelings of the senders, she couldn’t simply discard them without reading.

Sometimes they were filled with expressions so childish they made her cringe.

Other times they contained beautiful phrases that spontaneously evoked admiration.

But Skadi didn’t care about the quality of the writing. Each letter was a unique item containing the sender’s sincere feelings.

Scratch, scratch…

As she read the letters, Skadi began writing responses expressing her thoughts.

Though she couldn’t accept their feelings, she wrote her rejections with care, hoping they wouldn’t hurt the recipients.

‘…I wonder if I could express myself honestly like these people.’

Writing her responses, Skadi smiled bitterly and lamented inwardly. Despite receiving countless love letters, she herself lacked the courage to write one…

Skadi envied those who could express their feelings so honestly.

Tap.

Having completed her final response, Skadi reached for the teapot, hoping to settle her mixed emotions. She thought the subtle floral scent might calm her heart a little.

“Oh?”

Skadi was surprised as she lifted the empty teapot. Juggling recent work, research, and writing responses to letters had caused her to forget to refill it.

Staring at the empty teapot, Skadi sighed again and rose from her seat.

“Really, I’ve been so distracted lately.”

It would have been simple to call someone to refill the teapot, but Skadi didn’t do that.

If she broke her self-imposed rule for something so trivial, she would continue breaking it.

With the teapot in one hand, Skadi reached for the door. But before she could open it, the door opened on its own.

A familiar and welcome chill flowed into the room…

“Oh?”

“My, if I’d known you were standing by the door, I would have opened it more gently…”

Surprised by Wendigo’s unexpected visit, Skadi stepped back. Unlike usual, she found it difficult to maintain her composure today.

Just looking at Wendigo made her face flush, and in her embarrassment, Skadi squeezed her eyes shut and frantically waved her hand.

“It’s, it’s fine! I was just surprised because I didn’t expect Your Majesty to visit suddenly—”

“Are you really alright? Let me see…”

Flinch.

Wendigo carefully brushed aside Skadi’s hair and brought his claw to her forehead.

He thought to call a skilled healer immediately to check her condition if she had a fever.

It was an ordinary, typical kindness between Wendigo and Skadi, but…

Thump!

“Ah…?”

Strangely, Skadi’s heart began to beat faster than usual.