The cold had grown harsher by the day. In my childhood, I had wandered through the dead of winter without proper clothing, which perhaps made me somewhat resilient to the cold, though not completely immune.

“Ma’am, should I pack these shoes as well?” Emily asked, helping me with a few light items. They were winter boots that reached above the ankle. I had already chosen the shoes I planned to wear, but since we were about to embark on a long journey, it seemed wise to bring an extra pair.

“Yes, pack those along with an extra pair of gloves, a scarf, and a hat.”

“Understood.”

With practiced hands, she neatly folded the items into the suitcase.

“They say the Ice Land is unimaginably cold. I’m worried.”

“To be honest, I’m a bit concerned too,” I admitted, sighing softly as I handed her a winter cloak.

There were many unverified rumors about the Ice Land circulating in the Lawrence estate. The most common ones, of course, were about the cold. Stories ranged from the place earning its name due to its extreme cold to the outlandish tale that any non-native human who set foot there would turn into an ice sculpture.

“I noticed the captives aren’t wearing very thick clothing. Is their skin somehow different?”

“I’m not sure. When I went to examine them, they looked just like us.”

After regaining some strength, I had visited the underground prison to check on the natives’ condition. They were full of energy, chatting loudly and singing, unable to contain their vitality. There wasn’t a single person who appeared sick or physically strained, despite the dark and damp prison environment.

Leopold had suggested that perhaps they didn’t fully realize their situation because he had been too kind to them, but Roscoe had a different explanation.

“It’s because of an age-old teaching: seek joy and enjoy it, no matter where you are or what situation you’re in.”

Though it sounded rather simplistic for tribal wisdom, Roscoe was serious. When I relayed this to Leopold, he merely scoffed.

“In any case, ma’am, you must always be careful. Stay close to the Duke and never leave his side. Understood?” Emily advised as she closed the suitcase tightly. She seemed to think that, patient or not, Leopold was the only one truly trustworthy. I agreed with her, of course.

“Yes, I understand,” I replied, smiling slightly to ease her worries.

The next day, the mansion was bustling even before dawn. It was Leopold’s decision to depart while the moon was still bright to avoid camping in the White Forest. I heard it would take at least a day to travel from the estate to the Ice Land.

As I stepped outside, bundled up in warm clothing, I found more people waiting than I had expected. It seemed like more than half of the Lawrence knights were present, making me wonder if it was a bit excessive.

Behind the knights were four carriages, stripped down to iron bars, carrying the natives, five or six per carriage. They leaned against each other, nodding off, wrapped in so many blankets that their bodies appeared twice their normal size.

“Hazel.”

Just as I was about to descend the steps past the porch, Leopold appeared and extended his hand. Though I was still not used to his escorting, I placed my hand on his as if it were nothing. Even through the thick fur gloves, the sensation of his gentle grip was clear.

“The road will be rough and tiring. If you get exhausted, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“You too. If you feel unwell, you must tell me.”

He paused briefly as he walked ahead, then turned to me with a small smile. It wasn’t something to brush off lightly. I narrowed my eyes deliberately.

“This isn’t a laughing matter. I’m speaking seriously as your physician.”

“Sorry, sorry. I’ll definitely tell you.”

Leopold replied, still unable to completely suppress his smile. Perhaps I had spoken to him like a child. But it was a truly important issue.

“It’s a promise.”

I reiterated to ensure his commitment, and only then did Leopold nod with a sincere expression.

As I followed him to the front, returning greetings from the knights, I was captivated by one particular horse. It was strikingly white, contrasting with Leopold’s horse, Cal.

“Its name is Winter. It’s your horse. From now on, always.”

“Wow… It’s amazing.”

I couldn’t help but gasp. Even in the darkness, the horse’s sleek fur and shimmering mane were clearly visible.

“It’s a gentle creature. Fast enough, too. The color suits you well.”

Listening to the explanation, I cautiously petted the horse. Winter shook its head and snorted as if welcoming my touch. As soon as we exchanged this brief greeting, Leopold asked,

“Shall we set off now?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

I replied immediately, my heart filled with excitement. At the end of this journey, I hoped to finally save him.

***

I hadn’t expected the journey to be similar to the one I took in the south, but the road to the Ice Land was much more challenging than I had anticipated. Not long after we set off, the cold seeped into my entire body, and my face froze so much that I couldn’t move my lips. Hearing others complain about the cold made it clear that I wasn’t the only one suffering.

Leopold rode beside me, constantly checking on me, but all I could do to reassure him was to say I was fine.

Fortunately, the temperature rose slightly once the sun came up. Although my breath was still visible and my hands and feet were frozen, the absence of the biting wind made things much better.

“If we go a little further, we’ll come across a clearing. We’ll rest there for a bit, so hang in there.”

Leopold seemed completely unfazed by the cold, looking as composed as he did when we set out, which was almost unbelievable.

Following his encouragement, we soon arrived at a fairly wide field. It was surprising to find such a space in the middle of a dense forest, but upon closer inspection, I noticed signs of trees having been cut down here and there. The knights, having dismounted, skillfully began to unpack and lay out food on the remaining stumps.

“It’s a place where the knights train and rest. It was established before I was born, and it seems to have been used frequently as a campsite.”

Leopold briefly explained as he helped me dismount. My feet, numbed by the cold, were painful as they touched the ground. Though I tried not to show it, Leopold must have caught my grimace, as he suddenly picked me up.

“What, what are you doing!”

“You can’t walk properly right now.”

“I can walk! Put me down!”

I tried to scold him quietly, but everyone was already watching us. Leopold, holding me firmly in his arms, headed towards the group gathered around a fire in the clearing. The fact that my face was already red from the cold was perhaps a small mercy.

“We’re a married couple, yet you’re too embarrassed?”

Whether he truly didn’t understand my feelings or was just pretending not to, Leopold asked nonchalantly. Frustrated, I spoke to him in a reprimanding tone.

“You should be more discreet with people watching!”

“What does being discreet mean?”

“Just letting me walk on my own.”

I tried to push against his chest with both hands to get down, but he didn’t budge. Only when we reached the campfire did I stop my futile struggle. Leopold, having stopped walking, continued his questioning.

“But why should I do that?”

I was momentarily speechless. Wasn’t it obvious that we should maintain decorum and etiquette?

“Well… as a Duke, you need to maintain dignity… and set an example…”

I stammered, trying to come up with an answer. But unable to think of a suitable reason, my words trailed off.

Leopold looked at me intently and then leaned in slightly. He whispered softly in my ear,

“If showing affection to my wife requires dignity, I’d rather give up my title.”

Suddenly, I felt my heart race, and a warmth spread through my hands and feet. Surely, he didn’t say this just to provoke me.

When our eyes met again, he was smiling with eyes crinkled in amusement. Somehow, I felt caught up in his pace, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

Afterwards, Leopold continued to care for me diligently. Despite my protests, he insisted on removing my shoes and massaging my feet with his hands. The warmth from his hands gradually thawed my frozen feet. Once I could move comfortably, the knights began handing me the food they had warmed up.

“You need to eat a lot now. We won’t be stopping again.”

Feeling like a fledgling, I eagerly accepted the food. Although I was supposed to be taking care of him as he was the patient, I couldn’t bring myself to stop Leopold. Perhaps it was because of the tender and heartwarming confession I had heard.

After diligently filling my stomach as instructed, it was time to pack up. Leopold spoke in a slightly subdued voice.

“Hazel, beyond this clearing is an area I’m not familiar with. It’s not the Ice Land yet, but the natives could appear anywhere. They don’t know we’re taking hostages, so they might attack recklessly. I’ll do my best to prevent that, but whatever happens… you must remain composed. Understood?”

His final words struck me as odd, as if he was entrusting everything to me. Was it because he was anxious?

“Even if someone gets hurt, it’ll be okay because I’m here. You know well that a unit with a healer is always invincible, right?”

I tried to reassure him with a smile as I dusted off my clothes and stood up, but Leopold’s expression remained tense.