“Yes, please speak.”

“Snow essence is such a rare byproduct that it’s hard to obtain even after eliminating snow spirits.”

“I know. But I have a feeling that high-quality snow essence will appear this time. Since it’s in the Cardium family’s territory and capable spirit summoners are joining, I thought it was a good opportunity.”

“……I see.”

Kiriel’s shoulders slumped powerlessly. He had already learned from experience that she would push through to the end with firm determination at this point.

Kana comforted him with a peaceful expression.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll return safely.”

“……But you said that last time too and collapsed.”

“That’s why I won’t overdo it this time. I’ll try not to repeat the same mistake.”

Kana countered with a gentle smile. After contemplating for a moment, Kiriel moved to sit beside her and held out his hand.

Suddenly, a pure white sphere appeared on his palm. An intense energy emanated from the sphere that carried a chilling cold. Kiriel looked at her with pitiful eyes.

“Will you still go even if I give you snow essence?”

“……Yes. Put that away. I’ve already received a lot of help, I don’t want to take away precious research materials too.”

“I don’t mind giving it to you, Miss Kana.”

“Don’t do that.”

Struggling to steady her wavering heart, Kana carefully folded his fingers one by one to cover the white sphere. He finally put the snow essence into his subspace and asked.

“What will you do if you can’t get snow essence there?”

“It’ll be bitter, but I’ll have to accept the failure. It was my judgment that was wrong, who else could I blame?”

Kana shrugged her shoulders. Seeing her more nonchalant attitude than expected, Kiriel tried persuading again.

“If you need it, wouldn’t it be better to get it through a sure route rather than relying on probability?”

“That’s true, but it’s fine. Why are you trying so hard to stop me?”

“Because it’s dangerous. The underground waterway was at least in the capital, but this isn’t. In that harsh winter up north, where snow spirits run rampant…… It must be near the mountain too.”

Kiriel’s complexion darkened rapidly. As expected of the capable Tower Master sub male lead, he accurately pinpointed without even seeing the request. Kana patted his shoulder and replied softly.

“That’s right. But it’s something I can handle.”

“……Can’t be helped.”

Kiriel sighed and took out a thick brown cloak with a hood and a small awl from his subspace. He placed the cloak on her lap as she tilted her head curiously and urged.

“It’s a cloak with warming magic engraved. It should help block the cold, so make sure to wear it.”

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

Kana carefully stroked the neatly folded cloak. It felt soft and cozy. Watching her silently, Kiriel spoke while channeling mana into the awl.

“Don’t mention it. Hold out your wrist for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Kana knowingly held out her wrist wearing the protection bracelet. He carefully supported her wrist and tapped each magic stone on the bracelet with the awl. Bright blue light flashed repeatedly before fading.

As Kiriel bent his head low to focus on his work, only his abundant golden hair at the crown was visible to her.

While Kana blinked blankly, he finished his work and raised his head.

“It’s done. I reinforced the energy contained in the magic stones just in case.”

“I thought it was already in excellent condition as is…… You’re really meticulous.”

“I want you to be as safe as possible.”

His alluring purple eyes turned serious. Feeling his sincerity in his low voice, she carefully chose her words but ended up just nodding.

* * *

The day to go north arrived. Kana neatly packed her prepared luggage into her ring’s subspace and dressed warmly.

After putting on the warming cloak Kiriel gave her and thoroughly checking her overall condition, she immediately went to the Four-Colored Leaf Guild in a carriage with her family crest removed.

The plan was to pick up party members and use the capital’s long-distance magic circle to go straight to the north.

When she arrived at the guild building, the Guild Master and Aila were already waiting outside.

Aila waved with a smiling face.

“Miss Kana, you really came thoroughly prepared.”

“Of course. Everyone, please get in quickly.”

At Kana’s gesture, the two quickly got into the carriage. Denia chattered with a more relaxed expression.

“Having a noble in the party makes things so convenient. Thanks to Lady Round, our travel became smoother. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. We’re from the same guild, so we help each other.”

“Please let me know anytime if you feel cold. My spirit’s flames are quite warm.”

“Me too!”

“Yes, I’ll remember that.”

A warm atmosphere filled the carriage. Denia suddenly spoke as if remembering something.

“Come to think of it, I heard there was an execution at the southern square yesterday.”

“Ah, the former prince’s execution was yesterday. I forgot about it since I was busy preparing for the request and packing.”

Kana’s response was indifferent. She didn’t particularly care since the villain’s downfall in the latter part of the novel was too obvious a development.

Aila muttered with a strange expression.

“I didn’t think they’d actually behead a member of the imperial family.”

“He was already expelled from the imperial family. Well, he wasn’t the only crown prince candidate and he caused huge trouble too.”

“Well, just looking at the underground waterway incident……”

Denia held back her words with a complicated expression. While they made small talk about other topics instead of the executed former prince Riden, they arrived at the capital’s long-distance magic circle.

Usually there would be a mage in charge, but for some reason Kiriel was there too. When Kana opened the carriage door, he grinned and waved.

“Miss Kana!”

“Lord Kiriel? Why……”

“The Tower’s mages manage the long-distance magic circles originally.”

“I know that, but I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

She wore a puzzled expression. Kiriel, who had barely made time despite being busy, answered smoothly.

“I wanted to see your face since you’re going north today.”

“I see.”

Kana nodded in understanding. Kiriel gently smoothed down the stray hairs that had escaped from her hair tied tightly in a single strand.

“Return safely.”

“Yes.”

Kiriel confirmed her answer and closed the carriage door. The carriage was enveloped in pure white light. In an instant, the background changed from the capital to the northern long-distance magic circle.

Denia muttered while looking out the window where snowflakes were fluttering.

“Now from here to Cardium castle……”

“We’ll meet up with Duke Cardium and his knights and move to Mount Rosen.”

Kana picked up the Guild Master’s words. Denia nodded in affirmation. Aila sighed deeply while looking at the weather outside.

“The northern winter is really brutal as expected. I’ve been here several times for mercenary work but can’t get used to it.”

“Well, everyone must have brought warming cloaks of course…… Let’s try using fire spirit arts diligently.”

Denia replied nonchalantly while conjuring flames. Aila did the same. The two spirit summoners each created two flames, attaching one to themselves and the other next to Kana.

Though she was wearing the warming cloak Kiriel gave her, she unexpectedly got two small flames attached too, adding warmth. Kana’s eyes curved prettily.

“Thank you everyone.”

“Don’t mention it.”

They traveled by carriage to the Cardium castle. When they all got out of the carriage after arriving, they saw figures gathered together.

Knights standing with proper posture, a few spirit summoners wearing thick cloaks, and Ethan overlooking them.

While Kana looked around, a knight with a solid build approached them.

Denia, who led the party, showed the request form and badge to the knight. The knight asked to confirm.

“Are you Guild Master Denia, Miss Aila, and Miss Kana from the Four-Colored Leaf Guild?”

“Yes.”

Denia affirmed as the group’s representative. Suddenly the knight’s eyes shone sharply.

“Guild Master Denia’s skills are proven, and Miss Aila has experience as a mercenary, but…… This is my first time seeing Miss Kana. Can she be trusted?”

“Of course. Though she’s a new guild member, she’s very skilled.”

“She even handled unexpected situations calmly and skillfully. I who have worked with her can vouch for her.”

When Denia and Aila actively defended her, the doubt in the knight’s eyes somewhat faded. Kana didn’t feel offended as she fully understood why he was being so thorough.

Just then, Ethan strode over to them. After acknowledging the knight’s respectful greeting, he bluntly spoke while looking at Kana.

“So it is Lady Round. The Tower Master told me but I didn’t think you’d really come.”

“Of course I would since I put my name on the list. It’s been a while, Duke Cardium.”

Kana removed her hood and greeted politely. The knight watching the situation’s eyes shook violently. Ethan continued speaking heavily.

“I saw you at the winter banquet too. Weren’t you matching well side by side with the Tower Master?”

“Yes. But we didn’t talk directly like this then.”

“True.”

Ethan nodded and returned to where the knights were standing. The knight who had frozen in shock finally came to his senses and apologized formally.

“I failed to recognize you and was rude, my lady. I apologize.”

“It’s fine. I came here now as a guild spirit summoner who received a request, so please keep that in mind.”

“Yes, understood.”

The knight maintained proper etiquette but switched from treating her as a noble lady to treating her as a spirit summoner they would work with.

Kana joined the Cardium family’s knights together with her companions.

Ethan’s distinctly red eyes swept over the gathering.

“Now that the spirit summoners are here, let’s head to Mount Rosen.”

“Yes!”

The knights’ response was loud even in the falling snow. They moved to the village near Mount Rosen by the Cardium family’s carriages.