episode_0037

“….Whew. Is this the end?”

“Ugh…Ugh. Venice… Thank you again today.”

“Thank you. If you really want to, please buy me something delicious later.”

“Uh…uhh! okay..! I will definitely buy it for you..!”

It was a bitterly cold northern morning again today. I start my day by helping a maid who is having a hard time moving supplies.

Befitting the enormous size of the Frost Fortress, something happens when you look away, and when you take a breath, something else happens.

“I’ll help you!”

In this situation, I, the youngest person in the business, just do my best. Of course, Ariel told me to do it roughly… but I can’t do that.

This time, it was about organizing supplies in the warehouse. Since there were no particular tips, all I had to do was organize the materials by item and stack them well.

‘Let’s see… when the time comes.’

While I was walking down the hallway, I looked at the grandfather clock. The clock showed exactly 11:55.

What does that mean? That meant that lunch time for all the maids, servants, and butlers of the Frost family was approaching.

Frost Street offers completely free time from 12:00 to 1:30.

In the meantime, you can have a meal and do as much as you want as long as there are no problems with work later.

‘…Kya. Does this have to be the case for the Grand Duke to be heard?’

Archduchy. Honestly Frost Street and the heart of the North. When I first heard about it, I just thought it was a somewhat powerful and prominent family.

However, based on the chatter of the maids in charge of information in this environment and the information in the newspapers I read in my free time, I learned that my thoughts were wrong.

Empire. A light that encompasses the entire continent. I knew that the empire influenced the entire continent.

Still, it’s been more than half a year since I came to this world.

And this information I only found out this time. Shield of the North, Heart of the North. Humanity’s last line of defense.

The Frost family, where such names exist, is said to have almost equal power to the imperial family of the empire.

It is a widely known fact that even maids know that the current head of the Frost family, Brid Frost, has grabbed the emperor by the collar.

To be honest, I was shocked when I first heard the news.

They commit such a thing to the emperor of a country, or rather, an empire that oversees an entire continent.

This is an act that could result in the death penalty for treason, not only among ordinary people but also among nobles.

However, the Frost family received no punishment for the incident, except for a small warning.

Of course, it was reported externally that he was severely punished, but in reality, it seems that was not the case.

Anyway, this means that the Frost family is an enormous family that can influence the entire continent.

As I walked along with that thought in mind, I eventually reached the entrance to Frost Fortress.

The reason I walked all the way to the entrance is simple. The intention was to buy delicious food at Frost Manor and then return.

Since it was a fortress located at the top of Frost territory, if you moved quickly, you could eat and return before lunch time ended.

And I decided to head to the stew place I always went to today. This is because it was a cheap and delicious stew in the Frost estate, where prices are high.

No matter how delicious it is, it’s still not as delicious as Birong’s instant stew.

‘…I guess you’re doing well, right?’

I’m sure you’ll be fine. It may be difficult to meet again, but I also want to meet again someday and clear up my sorrow.

….Would that be difficult since the Scar mercenary leader’s body is already dead?

Just as I was about to leave the distracting thoughts behind me and head towards Frost’s territory, I started hearing voices from behind.

“Hyung. So that kid…”

“…Wait.”

Hair like pure white snow. And purple eyes that shine brightly even in the snow.

Jake Frost and Kyle Frost. I made eye contact with the two brothers of the Frost family leaving the castle.

“Meet the giants of the North.”

“”……..””

I immediately greeted my brothers with courtesy. It was confusing at first, but after doing this a few times, I got used to it and the correct posture came out right away.

“Did you say Venice?”

“Yes. Yes.”

Jake, the long-haired, handsome eldest son, asked a question, and I saw Kyle, with all-white hair, staring at me.

Why on earth are you staring at me like that? I don’t have that much time left…

No, looking at it now, it looks like he’s glaring at me instead of just staring at me? why?

Did I do something wrong? No matter how much I think about it…

“Kyle. Let’s stop. You’re Ariel’s benefactor.”

“Okay. That’s right… hmm. Sorry. Let’s go on our way.”

“….Yes.”

Fortunately, after hearing Jake’s words, Kyle relaxed his frown and apologized to me.

Hmm… I guess it’s fortunate that they don’t seem to be bad people though.

Okay… Now let’s go to Frost Territory…

“….Eriel!”

“…What? Ariel?”

At that time, Jake, who had maintained a completely expressionless expression and could not feel the slightest emotion, looked back with a flash of anger, and Kyle was also confused by those words and quickly turned around.

“Brothers.”

Slowly from the fortress. Ariel walks out gracefully as if a flower is blooming.

Ariel still had an expressionless expression without a smile, but she seemed a little excited without knowing why.

“Haha. Ariel, where are you going? Are you going to Frost Territory?”

“Yes. I have something to see.”

“That…really?! Then shall we go together with the oppas?!”

…what. This difference is. The brothers turned to Ariel with warm smiles, without any of the expressionless expressions they had been showing me just now.

I shouldn’t say this, but it was like watching hunting dogs that would only show their teeth to others and wag their tails only to their master.

“Our Ariel came out for the first time in a while, where are we going-”

“No. I’m not going with my brothers.”

“”…………Huh?””

At Ariel’s firm confirmation, the brothers just looked at her blankly, as if the sky had collapsed.

An expression that conveys despair and futility, like the expression of a father who hears that his daughter, whom he raised with great care, hates.

They froze on the spot, with expressions so vain that I felt pitiful without realizing it.

“Venice. Are you going to Frost Territory?”

“Yes..? Yes… that’s right. But why…”

“Let’s go together.”

Ariel pushed my back with her hand and began to advance towards the Frost territory.

The brothers who were looking at him in vain from behind didn’t even give him a glance, as if they didn’t even care.

“Yes…yes?!”

“Stop talking nonsense and go quickly.”

As I held on a little and slowed down, Ariel even used her magic power to lead me to the Frost Territory.

No, why are you suddenly doing this to me…

dump.

The sound of someone falling was heard from behind. But I couldn’t even look back in the face of overwhelming physical power.

‘….sorry!!’

I had no choice but to be led by Ariel’s hand with tears in my eyes, making an apology in my heart that would never reach them.

***

“Hmm. I come here every day.”

“Yes….”

Ariel sits at a shabby table and looks around the inside of the store with curiosity.

At Ariel’s insistence, I had no choice but to head straight to the stew shop. It was okay up to that point.

-Aren’t you a princess?

-What is that guy?

-How dare you…!

As soon as I entered the store, the surprised residents looked at Ariel, who seemed to glow even in the dark, and then their expressions distorted even more viciously as they looked at me curled up like a squid next to them.

“…Princess. What brought you to this squalid place?”

“Just.”

“I hope you like it.”

widely.

The owner, who was always friendly like a cursive grandmother, placed the stew in front of Ariel’s table with all manners.

The color was different from the stew I usually eat, and looking at that large, high-quality meat, it seemed like the ingredients were probably different.

“….you.”

“Yes…yes?”

bang-!

“….hiccup.”

“Please do not cause harm to the princess.”

“Yes…Yes…”

I had no choice but to lower my head as the owner glared at me, setting down the stew with such force that it almost broke the table.

“….It’s worth eating. Why don’t you eat?”

“Yes….”

If it were you, would you skip the meal in this situation? Life-filled gazes pour in from all directions.

Because of the dizzying heat and gaze, I felt dizzy.

“What’s strange? Give it to me.”

“…Uh, that’s my…”

Slurp-

Ariel pays no heed to my words and eats my stew with my unused spoon.

“This tastes a little less delicious. You can eat it. Eat.”

“…………”

Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack!

Die. The moment you shove this spoon into my mouth, both mice and birds will be killed without even realizing it!

As soon as Ariel’s eccentricities are shown, more intense gazes are felt. Among them, you could even see people shaking their forks or knives, holding them tightly as if they were going to stab someone!

Rattling…

I’ve never been this scared when dealing with a warlock, but I was so scared that my body trembled.

This… is a murderous intent that is different from that of a warlock…!

‘This can’t be helped…!’

Slurp slurp!

I had no choice but to put down the spoon Ariel had used, pick up the hot stew, and start drinking it.

It was so hot that it felt like the roof of my mouth was burning, but fortunately it wasn’t painful.

…I’m really glad it’s an alter ego.

“…Isn’t it hot?”

“Eh…it’s cool and humid…”

Regardless of whether or not I felt any pain, it felt like the entire inside of my mouth had been burned… but it was probably better than being stabbed by neither a rat nor a bird.

I vaguely knew that the residents of Frost Territory cared for Ariel… but I didn’t know it would be this much.

At this level… isn’t it similar to fathers just looking at their precious daughters?

Whoop-

“Cough…cough!”

“Eat slowly.”

…I’m so grateful for that.

Clap-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk-duk

Ariel was eating stew calmly, and in contrast, murderous intent was pouring down on me.

In the meantime, I had no choice but to drink the stew, not even knowing whether it went to my nose or my mouth.