IF Side Story. Claude (2)

Seraphina was excited like a child.

She bustled around the castle all day, and whenever they ate together, she talked non-stop about the ice festival. Her chattering voice was like pleasant birdsong in a forest.

Claude listened attentively to her words while cutting meat with his knife.

“I’ve set the festival period for two weeks. Of course, the ice sculptures will be here all year round, but during this period, we’ll decorate the streets beautifully with lights and sell street food.”

Seraphina showed tremendous drive.

Hilton was a city with nothing but winter anyway. From their perspective, it didn’t matter when the festival was held, but Seraphina had already made the clever calculation that it would be best to avoid spring, summer, and autumn when the southern social seasons were in full swing.

“Everyone just huddles inside during winter anyway. They’re probably quite bored. We’ll exploit that gap by providing something to see!”

“That’s a good idea.”

For Claude, who had never exercised his mind for anything other than effectively subjugating undead, it was a continuous series of amazement.

Was this woman always this smart?

He thought she was just cute, but she was capable too.

He vaguely recalled Kiel praising Seraphina. How after she took charge, Hilton Castle’s household affairs began to run much more smoothly.

He thought it was just flattery, but it seemed to be true.

“We can also expect tourism revenue. Isn’t that wonderful, Claude?”

“We’re not short on money, but it’s good to earn more if we can.”

“People will come to love Hilton, which has been shrouded in mystery. Because it’s a beautiful place like a fairy tale kingdom of snow.”

Seraphina continued with a grin, clearly aiming for promotional effects.

“Your reputation will soar too! After seeing the majestic Grodes Mountains with their own eyes, people will look up to the guardian of the north who protects continental peace by traversing those mountains. The northern knights will also receive more recognition for their contributions.”

“I don’t care about that sort of thing.”

……he said, but honestly, he felt good.

To think this woman would consider him to this extent.

Claude continued his meal, congratulating himself for agreeing to the ice festival.

These simple moments of sitting face to face, eating delicious food, and conversing were invaluably precious and special.

Every day was a succession of happiness.

* * *

Deep winter approached.

While he had momentarily forgotten due to the ice festival preparations led by Seraphina, another important event was just around the corner.

The undead subjugation.

This annual event involved Claude and the northern knights cleaning up a selected area in the Grodes Mountains.

The subjugation area was determined based on Austin’s search magic. Undead no longer came down to positions threatening Hilton territory as they had in the past. So they either went to places relatively close to the territory or headed to areas where many undead gathered.

The ice festival was scheduled to take place after the subjugation party returned.

“I want to go with you.”

When he got up in the morning, Seraphina grabbed Claude in bed. With just his upper body raised, he turned his waist to look at her.

A face full of worry.

How his heart tickled at such a small thing. Was it this happy to have a wife by his side who worried about his well-being?

“I’ve told you repeatedly that you can’t.”

Hiding his heart that had melted like heated chocolate, Claude drew the line with a rather stern voice.

If she, a Purifier, accompanied them, the subjugation would become much easier. However, Claude no longer wanted to take Seraphina to dangerous places.

It had been that way from before.

Even when Seraphina was actively working in various dispatch areas, Claude didn’t want to include her in the subjugation team. D*mn it, he couldn’t find a good excuse to exclude her from the team since she came to Hilton specifically to purify undead, so he had no choice but to bring her along.

Anyway, the situation was different now.

No matter what anyone said, Seraphina was the lady of Hilton Castle.

“You guard the castle well.”

“But having a Purifier would be better, right?”

“What if you faint? Do you want to see me go crazy?”

“If I use spells……”

“No. It also infuriates me to see you obediently using what that crazy holy knight taught you.”

Just imagining it made his stomach boil like he had swallowed lava. Claude hated seeing even the slightest trace of Mihail in Seraphina.

Knowing his fiery temperament, Seraphina backed down, though her expression showed she wasn’t completely convinced.

“Then promise me.”

“What?”

“That you won’t get hurt. That you’ll return safely.”

A gentle tremor could be felt in her voice.

Finding it unbearably lovely, Claude couldn’t resist embracing Seraphina tightly.

“Of course.”

In a deep voice, Claude whispered as if making a vow.

Would he rush alone to the god of death, leaving this lovely woman behind? Such a thing would never happen. He was determined to return safely without fail.

Claude was overcome with the urge to squeeze Seraphina tightly, but realizing she might feel pain, he controlled his strength.

She truly had a talent for making a man’s blood run dry. To think even embracing her fully required such caution.

Leaving the bed was especially difficult today.

Claude relied solely on his sense of responsibility to detach himself from her. His eyes were dripping with regret until the very end.

Washing, putting on armor, gathering weap*ns.

Having quickly prepared to leave, he went to the castle gate. Seraphina followed to see her husband off.

The northern knights were lined up in strict formation.

Claude approached his warhorse. Seraphina’s voice reached him just as he grabbed the reins.

“Claude.”

Haah.

He didn’t want to go.

That voice calling his name was so sweet.

Suppressing the urge to throw aside the subjugation and carry Seraphina back to the bedroom, Claude turned his head with restrained movements. Only his red eyes were burning with intense heat.

“Be careful.”

Those brown eyes filled with worry were lovely.

Unable to resist, Claude strode toward her. Then, cradling Seraphina’s face with both hands, he kissed her passionately.

He heard knights whistling behind him but ignored it. Instead, he planned to work them hard after they departed.

“Sera.”

“Yes, Claude.”

“I’m looking forward to the festival.”

“Yes. I’ll prepare it well.”

Seraphina answered with a small nod.

It was a face he wouldn’t see for over a month.

Faintly trembling eyelashes, brown eyes with a hint of orange that held gentle sunlight. Fine hair swaying in the wind. Skin as white as snow. Claude swallowed dryly as he took in these details, as if imprinting them in his mind.

At this point, he would go quickly and return as soon as possible.

Having made this resolution, he turned away with difficulty.

Mounted on his powerful warhorse, Claude announced their departure with a vigorous voice. The northern knights followed behind him.

Claude increased their marching speed, intending to get the subjugation over with quickly.

* * *

A month passed both slowly and quickly.

Time flew by when she was busy preparing for the ice festival, but when she took a break or Claude suddenly came to mind, it crawled like a turtle.

Seraphina looked up at the night sky where the moon had risen and exhaled a long breath.

“I miss you……”

Somewhere under that moon.

Thinking of her husband fighting undead in some treacherous part of the Grodes Mountains made her heart tighten. How far had the subjugation progressed? Was he fighting even in the middle of the night? Or was he already on his way back after defeating them all?

With all sorts of thoughts, Seraphina gazed at the distant sky.

The black curtain was densely studded with jewel-like stars. While her insides were burning black with worry, the night sky remained simply beautiful.

That indifference was both disappointing and, in a way, comforting in its constancy.

It was late, so she should try to sleep now. Tomorrow had its own tasks waiting.

Seraphina was about to turn away from the window. That’s when she thought she heard faint hoofbeats.

“……?”

Was she hearing things because she missed him so much?

There’s no way he could be back already……

Especially at such a late hour……

Clop clop clop clop.

The sound of hoofbeats shaking the ground gradually grew louder. It wasn’t just one or two horses.

The northern knights had returned.

Confirming that the castle gates were opening, Seraphina turned from the window without a moment to think further.

She opened the door and ran down the corridor. Jumping down the stairs three at a time to reach the central hall, she went straight outside.

White snow was falling.

As if blessing the reunion of the two.

“Sera! It’s cold, you’ll catch a cold!”

Claude jumped down from his horse in surprise. Only then did Seraphina realize she was in her nightclothes.

Was it thanks to the snow as soft as cotton, or thanks to her husband arriving earlier than expected?

She didn’t feel the cold at all.

Instead of answering, Seraphina ran to him. Claude tightly embraced his wife who fell into his arms.

He was glad he had pushed for a forced march.

Claude rubbed his cheek deeply against his lovely wife’s head.

It felt good to be home.