Chapter 33. Welcome Party

Dazzling sunlight streamed in, shattering against the window bars.

Yesterday, I was so exhausted that I got really irritated with Claude, but after washing and sleeping, my whole body felt refreshed when I woke up.

“Ahhh…”

I stretched comfortably and got out of bed. Seemingly drawn, I headed to the window, where an unfamiliar yet beautiful scenery filled my vision.

Things that weren’t visible when we arrived past midnight last night revealed themselves under the bright sun.

There were many beautiful things in the North.

The winter sunlight sparkling like crystal, the vast sky so clear it seemed it might shatter, the pure white snow gently resting on tree branches and rooftops.

The endless snow scenery made one feel dazed.

It was so beautiful that I just wanted to do nothing and stare at it.

But unfortunately, such a luxurious leisure was not afforded to me.

“Miss Seraphina, are you awake?”

Kiel, the butler of Hilton Castle whom I met yesterday, entered with a knock.

“Good morning.”

“Yes. Indeed it is.”

When I greeted him brightly, he responded with a kind smile.

Last night I was too tired and distracted to notice properly, but Kiel was very much like a Northerner. He had an impression of being both kindly wrinkled and sharp as a knife at the same time.

“I’ll be waiting outside. Please get ready and come out. I’ll escort you to the banquet hall.”

“……?”

I was puzzled by Kiel’s words.

A banquet hall first thing in the morning?

My confusion must have been evident on my face, as he kindly added an explanation.

“A welcome party for Miss Seraphina has been prepared.”

“Wasn’t it canceled?”

“It seems His Grace meant to postpone it to today.”

“Ah.”

I suppose.

A party past midnight would have been too tiring.

But then, why didn’t he just say to do it tomorrow, instead of saying to cancel it and confusing people?

Anyway.

Claude was quite an arbitrary person.

Thinking this, I told Kiel I would get ready and come out quickly. After he disappeared behind the door, I hurriedly pulled out and put on thick clothes.

Even though it was a welcome party, I didn’t have anything like a dress. I had no idea a party would be waiting, as I strongly perceived the North as a battlefield.

I wore a comfortable long-sleeved shirt with a fur vest over it, and doubled up on pants.

“I should leave my hair down since it’s cold.”

It served as substitute for a scarf.

“Alright.”

After I finished preparing quickly, I went outside.

Kiel immediately guided the way. Thus, I walked alongside Kiel down the corridor filled with cool air.

On the way to the banquet hall, he also shared various information about the Hilton domain, and he seemed very proud. From the strongest knight order fighting alongside the Guardian of the North and their achievements, to the history of rebuilding Hilton Castle that had fallen about 10 years ago.

If Elmon had Johann, Hilton had Claude.

It felt like they were dividing and ruling the center and the border of the empire.

It would be nice if they could get along better, but why do they growl at each other like they couldn’t devour each other every time they meet?

Recalling the childish verbal sparring between the two heroes, I inwardly stuck out my tongue.

Anyway, we arrived at the banquet hall while chatting.

“Please enter.”

The tall arched doors opened on both sides.

Kiel extended one arm in a refined motion, making way for me.

Wow.

An exclamation of admiration flowed from my mouth involuntarily. I didn’t hide my surprised emotion as I stepped inside.

An enormous amount of light poured in through the arched windows. It felt like being outdoors. Like encountering spring in the midst of winter.

Several long tables were set up, with elegant candles and food laid out on them. The North’s unique whole meat dishes and special sauces stimulated my stomach from the morning.

“Is that the purifier?”

“She looks smaller and more delicate than I thought?”

“What does build have to do with purifying the undead?”

“It’s amazing. She really came.”

I heard murmurs about me from around.

In the hall, there were several ordinary people and burly men who looked like knights, but overall, the atmosphere was one of welcoming me while also being curious.

It feels like I’m a monkey in a zoo.

Some people approached and greeted me friendly, but more chose to stand at a distance and observe me.

Fortunately, the dress code seems to be within an acceptable range.

I was inwardly worried about what if it was like the lavish parties of the capital, but today’s welcome party didn’t seem to be like that.

Well.

There weren’t many nobles in this harsh land anyway.

The few nobles that were here were more interested in fulfilling their responsibilities at the forefront of imperial security than in outward appearances.

It’s freezing, so warm and comfort is the best.

I fiddled with the side of my pants for no reason and looked over the table. I was thinking of putting something in my mouth.

It was then that I heard Claude’s voice from behind.

“Are you enjoying the welcome party?”

“Your Grace.”

When I turned around, Claude’s expressionless face came into view.

“It seems you haven’t properly looked around yet.”

“I was just about to talk with people and eat something.”

“I see.”

After nodding slightly, Claude slowly moved. Naturally walking beside him, I opened my mouth.

“What wind blew to suddenly have the welcome party today? You originally said we were going to exterminate the undead.”

“Well. Since your purification ability is excellent.”

Claude abruptly stopped walking in front of the window. His head turned towards the outside.

“I just judged that it would be fine to enjoy for a day or so.”

I turned my head to where he was looking.

“Wow…”

And I let out an entranced exclamation.

Outside the window, the snow-covered garden was filled with intricate and beautiful statues.

If someone asks if I haven’t seen enough statues at the Imperial Palace, they’re right. I was so sick of statues that I wanted to tear down all the statues in that damn garden visible from Johann’s office.

But the statues of the North were different.

“Are they ice?”

“Yes.”

“It would be such a shame if they melt.”

I said, sticking close to the window.

I sincerely felt it would be a waste.

Conifers growing in the North, houses with pointed roofs, children playing, brave knights on horseback with swords raised high, deer boasting large antlers…

The list was endless.

How did they make so many sculptures?

I found myself wishing that spring would never come to Hilton. So those ice sculptures wouldn’t melt.

“They won’t melt.”

Claude said abruptly at that moment.

“It’s winter all year round here, so they don’t melt.”

“That’s a relief. It would have been a shame.”

As I sighed in relief, Claude smirked as if he had heard something silly.

Then, as if he had more to show, he briefly pointed somewhere with one arm and then lowered it.

“Huh?”

Even from a distance, I recognized it immediately.

Something red was placed on a round table in the corner. Now that I looked, it was decorated with the phrase ‘Welcome Miss Seraphina’ along with flowers, stylish branches, and various other ornaments around it.

Oh my goodness.

Look at these warm-hearted people.

They were people with hearts as warm as their domain was cold.

I found myself touched somehow.

I’ll kill all those undead bastards for you.

I’m going to purify every single one of them.

As I slowly approached, I could feel warm gazes on me one by one from around.

I stood in front of the table and carefully reached out my hand.

I first traced the welcoming message, and then touched the delicate flower that was rare to see in this harsh land.

Though I was seeing it for the first time, I knew what this flower was.

A red flower that blooms in winter.

“It’s a camellia. A strong flower that blooms through the snow.”

Claude’s voice came from behind me.

I know.

I knew the name of this flower even before he told me. And even the story behind this flower.

The flower Claude gave to Aveline.

No, the flower he will give in the future.

Seeing in reality what I had read in text, a strange elation gently vibrated my heart.

“It’s so red. Just like Your Grace’s eyes.”

I raised my head to look at him. Claude was already looking at me.

Up close, I could see even the fine lines that made up Claude’s irises in detail.

When I first met him in Elmon, I thought his eyes were just blood-red, but now, strangely, it felt like I was looking at the red and intensely blooming camellia.

It feels odd to say this myself, but…

“It’s beautiful.”

* * *

F*ck.

I take back what I said about it being beautiful.

“Huff… huff…”

The day right after the warm welcome party.

I was climbing a treacherous mountain, cutting through the snow.

“Purifier Seraphina. We need to reach where the undead are, don’t we?”

“I’m… huff huff… doing… hack… my best!”

I shouted, squeezing out every last bit of strength I had.

But Claude was glaring at me with eyes devoid of even a shred of mercy. His eyes, shooting daggers as if asking if I couldn’t do it properly, seemed to be filled with a blood-red storm.

Scary and cruel bastard. Waaah.

My whole body was a mess.

My legs hurt, my arms ached, and my lungs felt like they were about to burst.

It would have been best if we could ride Sylphid all the way, but that was only possible up to a point. Unfortunately, we reached a section where we had to climb a cliff, and I ended up doing rock climbing out of nowhere.

“Originally it wasn’t a cliff, but the path collapsed, so it ended up like this.”

A knight next to me, who was looking at me pitifully, explained in a small whisper. I appreciate his kind attitude, but somehow it annoyed me.

“Fjord Gorge is right ahead. Pull yourself together.”

At his sharp warning, I glared at Claude with disloyal eyes.

Hey, you bastard.

You’re the one who needs to pull yourself together and speak straight!

You said it was right ahead three hours ago too!