Chapter 11

“Until when are you going to stay like this?”

“…Ah.”

If she stayed still any longer, something truly serious might happen. Demian took a step back at the question thrown to break the tension. He bit his well-shaped lips hard, and a faint disturbance could be read in his gray eyes.

“Your Grace, you are truly beautiful, even with a mask.”

“What are you suddenly trying to say?”

“So much that I lose my mind and get captivated.”

Demian, who had regained his composure before she knew it, joked playfully. Afraid her trembling heart might be noticed, she purposely glanced at him as if nothing was wrong. He didn’t care at all about her sharp gaze and smiled refreshingly.

“Shall we head out now?”

Demian extended his hand like a knight escorting a lady at a ball. She gently placed her hand on his large palm. Her warmth seemed to seep into his skin, making both her cheeks flush. She felt grateful for the mask that hid at least half her face.

* * *

“It’s more crowded than I thought.”

Despite the cold that made her nose sting, the village square was packed with people. Thanks to everyone wearing masks, she blended in naturally as one of them, even though she was wrapped up from head to toe. Demian, having tied up the horses and returned, adjusted her cloak once more.

Demian wore a mask with no decoration at all. It was as black as his deep dark hair. Like her, his eyes and nose were hidden, but that only made his cool lips and masculine jawline stand out even more.

No matter how much he tried to cover up, anyone could instantly see that he was an extremely handsome man.

“Your Grace, ah…….”

Demian, who was about to call her absentmindedly, paused. When she tilted her head, Demian smiled, a bit embarrassed.

“I think I should change how I address you. There’s only several person in the North who can be called ‘Your Grace.’”

“Ah, then what should you call me?”

“Well… How about ‘Master’?”

“Demian, are you seriously going to keep doing this?”

He had a knack for saying things that could make anyone gasp, without a hint of embarrassment. She glanced at him, but his handsome face only shone innocently.

“Why, is there a problem?”

Demian asked back in a light, laughing voice, leading her to a relatively quiet alley. He let her lean against the wall and whispered low.

“Master, you promised to run away with me from that indifferent husband.”

“When did I……!”

“Why are you pretending not to know again? Are you going to ignore me again?”

Maybe because of his knightly build, Demian filled her whole view. His gaze was rather rebellious. His breath brushing her ear made her heart beat irregularly.

“…Demian. If you’re really going to treat me as your master for today, act politely.”

“Are you serious? That sounds fun, Master.”

“Don’t be cheeky.”

She lightly pushed his chest. Demian obediently stepped back, looking straight into her eyes. That calm gaze alone made her mouth go dry.

“Then, let me escort you this way.”

Demian smiled slightly, erasing all traces of rebellion, and escorted her with perfect courtesy.

They headed back toward the square. It was so crowded there wasn’t even space to step. Through the mask, she could see people’s eyes shining with excitement. Even the cold air couldn’t dampen the lively atmosphere.

“So, shall we talk about your husband now, Master?”

“Why are you suddenly bringing up that person?”

It was a topic that poured cold water on her rising spirits.

“I was just curious about why you hesitated but eventually came to the festival with me. I thought there must be some special reason.”

He was always sharp. She swallowed a sigh and searched for words.

After all, Demian was the Grand Duke’s knight. All the things Demian had done for her must have weighed heavily on him, more than one knight could bear. She had enough reason to answer Demian’s question honestly. She couldn’t just ignore his feelings.

“He showed me sincerity.”

“Ah……. You mean the merchant procession?”

“So you heard about it. That’s right. Then did you also hear that I sent all those people back?”

“The whole North was abuzz, saying they had to match your high standards, Master.”

“…That wasn’t my intention.”

Suddenly, she remembered the bewildered looks of the butler and merchants, and her heart sank. What if even Demian asked her what the problem was?

“I know, I do. You must’ve felt hurt and disappointed because he tried to gloss it over.”

“…….”

“Thanks to that, I got the luck of spending a day with you, Master.”

Demian understood her perfectly. Living surrounded by those extreme Northerners, she felt so grateful for even that obvious reaction that she nearly cried.

“It might be presumptuous, but I don’t think that’s the only reason you came out today.”

“…He showed me the display room as an apology.”

“The display room?”

He stroked his chin as if it was a bit unexpected. She sighed softly.

“He seemed to have tried in his own way, but for a lady, it was a bit intense.”

“I thought he was a person with whom communication was shockingly impossible. Even the butler’s explanation that it was a Northern tradition made me angry…….”

“Ah.”

“So maybe I just needed a change of mood.”

“So, you made the decision out of anger. I should thank him then.”

Just then, a group of children laughed and brushed past, lightly bumping her shoulder. It wasn’t a hard hit at all. But she fluttered away like a paper doll, sliding far off. Even the average Northern child was sturdier than her.

She heard laughter trying to be suppressed above her head, and Demian grabbed both her arms tightly from behind.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Are you alright?”

Even such a minor contact made her heart race madly. She felt like a teenage boy in his first love, losing sleep just from making eye contact.

“You laughed just now, didn’t you?”

“Ah, maybe you should drink something. How about over there?”

She thought he had laughed seeing her pushed around by the kids… She tried to protest, but Demian had already skillfully changed the subject.

Demian didn’t bother waiting for her answer and moved to a new spot, and since she was thirsty, she didn’t object. Most drinks sold at the stalls were alcoholic.

Donna’s words about Northerners drinking alcohol like water, thanks to the biting cold and endless winter nights, weren’t an exaggeration.

“What would you like, Madame?”

He had just called her ‘Master’ and acted playful, but now Demian was suddenly playing the husband.

His acting was so natural that the merchant mistook them for a young couple. Their simple clothes didn’t look noble, so he didn’t seem to notice their real status.

“The lady doesn’t seem like she’s from here?”

“I was born and raised here.”

She answered the merchant’s words with a bit of sass before she knew it. The middle-aged man laughed heartily, but didn’t seem to really believe her. Even all bundled up, she didn’t look like a true Northerner?

“With your build, you’d be in trouble if you just drank alcohol. How about some warm mulled wine?”

“I’ll have it unheated.”

In their playful argument, Demian laughed lightly and ordered two glasses of wine. He paid and led her to a seat where the whole square could be seen at a glance, even while sitting. There must have been some kind of warming magic on the candle burning on the table, as it was quite cozy.

She confidently took the glass Demian handed her and wet her throat. Come to think of it, how long had it been… Ever since waking up in this unfamiliar body, she’d been so tense she hadn’t even thought of drinking.

“Does it suit your taste? It doesn’t seem bad.”

“It’s fine.”

He nodded as if relieved, then turned his gaze to the center of the square. Thanks to that, she could admire his profile as much as she liked. Indeed, his handsomeness couldn’t be hidden by a mask.

He was said to be a knight of unclear origin, but as Demian savored his wine, there was an air of elegance about him.

“…….”

Maybe because it had been so long, the wine tasted especially sweet. How much time had passed? Suddenly, her glass felt lighter, and she came to her senses. She had already drunk more than half.

“Madame? You’re drinking rather quickly.”

“It’s fine, this much.”

“Hmm…….”

She pretended to be tough, but she was starting to feel a little tipsy. Her cold fingertips warmed up, and her face flushed slightly. And before she knew it, her tension had eased, and laughter began to slip out. Demian, for some reason, started to avoid her gaze with a slightly troubled look.

Normally, she wouldn’t have been fazed by this much, but her body was so frail that her drinking capacity was pitiful.

“Really… I’m fine. Anyway, tell me what you were going to say earlier.”

“What were we talking about?”

“About his display room. You seemed a bit surprised…”

“Ah…….”

Demian hesitated, pausing for a moment. After thinking, he soon smiled as if it was nothing.

“I just thought you might have been startled. For a lady, it must have been a rather dreadful sight. At least, generally speaking.”

“I won’t deny it. I was even angry at the time.”

“Only at that time?”

“I don’t know. Just coming out to the village like this, it’s so different from where I lived…”

“Ah.”

“The butler said that display room was a Northern tradition. I started to think maybe it wasn’t just an excuse.”

“Seems I’ve done someone else a good turn again.”

Demian let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh. Ah, maybe that wasn’t something to say in front of the man who risked danger to bring her out here.

“Looks like the performance is about to start.”

As she was searching for words to reply, Demian pointed to the center of the square. It had been a bit noisy earlier, but it must’ve been the sound of the band preparing. People who had been chatting among themselves stopped, looking at the stage with expectant eyes.

“In this cold, they’re performing? Don’t tell me there’s dancing too?”

“Why not? They’re masked, and it is a festival after all.”

Demian slowly stood up from his seat and extended his hand to her. Standing against the backlight and with his tall stature, she couldn’t see his expression clearly.

“…May I have this dance?”

But in his slightly hesitant voice, she could tell that Demian, unlike usual, was quite nervous.