“Madam Callian is coming.”

It was a name that carried a weighty resonance. Mrs. Moson’s expression brightened as her eyes sparkled.

Her face was filled with respect and pride.

This was a name I had never heard before.

“Madam Callian?”

“She is Elder Marien’s sister who leads the Ice Wall Knights, the elite forces of the north, guarding the border. When the great snowfall begins, she comes from the border at Igmal.”

I unconsciously looked out the window.

Every morning, servants cleared the snow piled on the window frames, revealing the blue winter sky.

I could imagine what the scene outside looked like without having to see it now.

“With so much snow piled up?”

“Yes, that’s why she can come. The Ice Wall Knights can only come to the grand duchy across the Forest of Demonic Beasts during the great snowfall.”

The Forest would prevent countries adjacent to the border from invading Ingmier, but they couldn’t just leave it unattended.

At Igmal, which could be considered the very center of the Forest of Demonic Beasts, there was a border knight order called the Ice Wall Knights.

I had heard about the Ice Wall Knights before, but I found it strange that they would come during a time when movement was difficult with snow piled higher than a person.

Reading my expression, Benji explained.

“When snow piles up during the great snowfall, demonic beasts become less active and sounds don’t travel far. They move by creating snow tunnels during that time.”

Benji’s expression was no different from Mrs. Moson’s. She tensed up just hearing Callian’s name.

Mrs. Moson grabbed the hem of her skirt and turned around. She seemed to be in a hurry.

“Ransel must be preparing well, but I’ll go check.”

“Mrs. Moson.”

“Yes.”

“Please pretend you didn’t hear what the young ladies said.”

I didn’t want to rush into action, but I made sure to request this.

Mrs. Moson bent her knee slightly and bowed her head.

“Yes, I understand.”

Madam Callian, whom even Cristina considered a powerful figure.

Judging by the respect she received from Mrs. Moson and Benji, she didn’t seem like a bad person.

I wondered what kind of person she was.

Since Rebecca was the protagonist of the novel, there was hardly any mention of Kaien’s grand duchy.

I tried to recall if there was anything I might have forgotten when Benji laughed softly.

“Madam Callian…… This time I’ll definitely win at least once.”

Benji, who usually maintained her role as a maid by keeping her attire neat and rarely drawing weapons in front of me, lifted her skirt to reveal her thigh where thin throwing stars were embedded.

Her eyes glinted as she caressed them fondly.

“What? Sister, winning at least once…… Is she someone even you can lose to?”

“Love, there are different levels in this world.”

Benji smiled with a hint of madness.

“Be prepared. Madam Callian will request a duel to determine if you’re worthy to be by His Grace’s side.”

“Hmm, if she’s Elder Marien’s sister, is she older or younger?”

“Older. She’s 68 this year.”

“Come on, she’s an elderly woman. How can you duel someone like that? If you were to block her sword, her bones might break.”

“Yes, you would think that if you didn’t know her.”

Determination froze in Benji’s eyes as she checked the sharp edge with her fingertips.

She looked like a knight preparing to risk her life before heading into battle.

Even I felt tense watching Benji.

“Benji, what kind of person is she?”

“Ah, Grand Duchess, you know about the Black Lions?”

The Black Lions is a secret elite knight order separate from the grand ducal Black Knights. Benji was also one of those Black Lions.

“Madam Callian is the commander of the Black Lions.”

I couldn’t help but gulp nervously.

***

I leisurely emerged from the bathroom when Kaien pulled me to him and sat me down in front of him. He sat behind me and began drying the moisture from my hair with a towel.

He spoke casually, as if he had only just remembered after I asked.

“Ah, Madam Callian. Mrs. Moson was speaking urgently with Merin…… It’s already that time of year.”

“What kind of person is she? Mrs. Moson and even Benji tensed up when they heard her name…… Is she frightening?”

His reflection appeared in the mirror as he combed through my hair with his fingers, not yet completely dry.

“Madam Callian is a pillar of the grand duchy.”

It was a definitive and firm statement, without a hint of wavering.

That statement fully explained how Kaien, the master of the grand duchy, viewed Madam Callian.

“Because Madam Callian is here, I can leave the grand duchy and go to the capital.”

I watched his reflection in the mirror, checking his expression.

She was someone Kaien could trust and rely on.

“When the Black Dragon inside me was scratching and spouting nonsense about curses, I could endure it because Madam Callian was there. She left me no energy to think of anything else.”

I was about to smile involuntarily when……

“Because no delirious ramblings were harsher than Madam Callian’s duels.”

Huh?

I just heard something strange.

Kaien continued speaking about Madam Callian.

“Forty years ago, after losing her general husband to a demonic beast, she entered the Forest of Demonic Beasts, soaked her dress in blood, and returned with the beast’s severed head. She avenged her husband herself. From then on, she became a legend of the grand duchy. Many knights began to respect and look up to Madam Callian.”

His lips touched the back of my neck. A faint shiver ran through me.

His fingertips lightly brushing my exposed back told me what he wanted.

My breath quickened at the dizzying sensation.

“The Ice Wall Knights are recruited through volunteers, not conscription.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Though the living conditions are adequate, it’s a harsh place. Demonic beasts appear frequently, and death is always near. What kind of knights could be sent to such a place? Yet many knights volunteer to become Ice Wall Knights because they trust and respect Madam Callian.”

Our eyes met in the mirror’s reflection.

“Without the Madam, there would be no grand duchy.”

His hands enveloped my body like vines climbing a tree, pulling me deeper into his embrace.

The words he whispered in my ear spoke of how important Madam Callian was to the grand duchy, but his body was desiring me.

“Because she guards the border and the Forest of Demonic Beasts, the people of the domain can live at ease, and I can leave for the capital with confidence.”

His lips on my neck gradually moved lower.

Since my pregnancy, Kaien had been careful and held back a lot.

He didn’t keep me away from the bed, but we couldn’t properly enjoy our honeymoon.

He was already desperate to have me, and now he was restraining himself after the doctor told him to be careful until the stable period. The intensity of his touch gradually deepened.

Kaien wasn’t the only one feeling the longing.

“She sounds like someone to be grateful for.”

“Ah, yes, she’s an important person.”

“Is there anything I need to prepare?”

I tried to divert my attention elsewhere while exhaling hot breaths.

“Others will take care of it. You just need to take care of yourself.”

“Then what does Madam Callian like? Food or preferences?”

“She’s not really someone who is picky or enjoys hobbies. When she comes to the grand duchy, she’s too busy to enjoy leisure time.”

“I suppose so. If she can only come to the grand duchy in winter, she must be busy just spending time with her family.”

“Ah.”

It was closer to a regretful sigh than an affirmation.

“Madam Callian has a daughter, but.”

“What?”

His words were cut off.

As I waited for him to continue, his hand traveled up my leg. His heart pressed against my back, transmitting its pounding beats.

His breath touched my ear.

“Don’t worry. Madam Callian will like you too, Ivy. Come here. Let me show how much our baby has grown.”

“The, the doctor said it’s only the size of a fingernail. My belly isn’t even showing yet.”

“Still, I wonder if the baby can feel how much I love you.”

“Kaien.”

While I was trying so hard to hold back, this man showed his passion without even acknowledging my efforts.

I didn’t dislike it either, but I had to make excuses to Mrs. Moson, so I refused once.

Just once.

***

The next day, a soldier from the spire announced that the Ice Wall Knights were coming.

They too were part of the grand ducal Black Knights, but people specially called them “Ice Wall Knights” with respect and reverence.

I looked down from the window but couldn’t see where they were coming from. Nevertheless, the grand duchy became busy.

With both Mrs. Moson and Benji occupied, I headed to the Marker brothers’ laboratory with only Love.

“Why are you going to those brothers?”

“To try to enhance the effectiveness of the panacea. Those who face demonic beasts at the border frontlines must get injured often.”

“Ah, no matter how skilled they are, medicine is necessary. Even the premium product available now is quite effective.”

I smiled slightly, knowing the effect of the “red potion” concentrate that Ibril had made for Wallit.

Even the premium panacea sold in the market was just a diluted version of the “red potion” concentrate that remained on the bottle.

That was the least I could offer as a gift to these people who risked their lives fighting.

We arrived at the Marker brothers’ laboratory.

“Ibril, Wallit. Are you doing well?”

“Move quickly!”

Inside was chaos.

Ibril was running around, stuffing books and papers into a bag while shouting at Aaron.

“Aaron, quickly pack the reagents from that shelf too! If you break even one, I’ll deduct it from your wages!”

“If you touch my wages, I’ll mix up all your reagents so you won’t know what’s what, so stop yelling!”

“You! Anyway, move quickly! We need to escape now!”

Just then, Wallit, who had been standing in a corner—or rather, whom I hadn’t even noticed was there—sat down and coughed painfully.

“Cough, Ibril. It’s too much for me. You should escape alone.”

“No, brother. I can’t leave you behind. We must go together.”

“Ibril…… Cough, cough.”

“Brother!”

As Wallit’s coughing worsened, Ibril called out to his brother anxiously. He looked as solemn as a younger brother embracing his older brother facing imminent death on the battlefield, but this wasn’t a battlefield.

“You’re kicking up dust by flailing around. Ventilate the room and cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief.”

“Ah, Ivy.”

“Grand Duchess…… Cough.”

Ibril, Wallit, and Aaron turned to look at me.

They had just noticed my presence.

“Miss, dust isn’t good for you either. Please use this handkerchief.”

“Thank you, Love.”

I covered my mouth and nose with the handkerchief Love gave me and looked down at the Marker brothers.

“What on earth is going on? You look like you’re running away from something.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a chilling silence descended upon the laboratory.