12. Crossroads

“Oh my, what is it?”

Curious gazes focused on the female protagonist. Letie smiled brightly and clapped her hands.

“It’s about my marriage to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Wow, congratulations! When will the wedding be held?”

The young ladies’ eyes sparkled as they applauded. Letie shyly played with the ends of her hair before slowly answering.

“We’ll probably hold the ceremony when new sprouts emerge and early flowers bloom.”

“Wow, that’s a wonderful time!”

“Isn’t it? I’ll let you know once we set the specific date.”

“Yes!”

The atmosphere was warm and cheerful as everyone in the greenhouse wore bright smiles.

When new sprouts emerge and early flowers bloom. It was dialogue referring to next year’s spring. It matched exactly with what was mentioned in ‘Fake Saint’.

‘The protagonists’ wedding is already being mentioned. The ending really is near.’

Kana felt suddenly emotional. She felt both relieved and choked up, which seemed contradictory. Evie gave her a worried look.

“Miss Kana, you don’t look well…… Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes. I just felt a bit emotional hearing about my friend’s marriage.”

Kana calmly deflected while showing a melancholic air. Everyone sympathized and added their thoughts.

“Well, I also felt happy but strange thinking about Lady Letie marrying His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“It’s because while becoming Crown Princess is celebratory, it feels like we’re sending off a close friend.”

Olivia was already dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief she had pulled out. The bright mood turned somewhat solemn. Feeling warmhearted, Letie chuckled and said.

“……You’re all impossible. Why are you acting like we’ll never see each other again? Are you planning to never see me?”

“No!”

“Then let’s all continue to stay close.”

“Yes!”

The warm atmosphere instantly returned. They naturally bumped fists together and burst into refreshing laughter.

* * *

After the gathering ended, Kana headed to the Four-Colored Leaf Guild building as scheduled. Denia, who was holding a rolled-up scroll, welcomed her.

“Lady Round, welcome. It’s been a while.”

“Yes, Guild Master. I couldn’t visit often since I was busy with various matters.”

“Looking at what happened, I understand.”

Denia nodded, recalling the news she had learned bit by bit while working. Kana laughed awkwardly before looking around and changing the subject.

“By the way, it feels like there aren’t many people today.”

“That’s right. Today it’s just me, Lady Round, and Miss Aila here.”

“Ah, it must be a busy season.”

She nodded. Just then, Aila came out of the training grounds and approached leisurely.

“Oh, Miss Kana is here too.”

“Miss Aila, it’s been a while. Are you separated from Miss Cellie?”

“Yes, Cellie went to fulfill a request. She was planning to rest but apparently went because it was a favor from an acquaintance.”

“I see.”

After hearing Kana’s response, Aila glanced at the scroll in the Guild Master’s hand and asked.

“Guild Master, what’s that?”

“It’s a request from the north.”

“Ah, is it perhaps a request to stop the snow spirits?”

Aila’s eyes shone sharply. Snow spirits were monsters that mainly appeared in the north during harsh winter blizzards.

While they were called spirits for convenience and had strong natural energy, there was a setting that they had to be eliminated by dispatching people since they caused great damage when they appeared uncontrolled.

Denia grinned and suggested.

“That’s right, Miss Aila. Would you like to go with me if you’re available?”

“Where is it located?”

“At the foot of Mount Rosen in the Cardium family’s territory.”

It was a scene related to Ethan, where there was a brief mention of Letie giving him healing water in exchange for help. 

Kana’s eyes gleamed with interest. Aila made a contemplative expression while rubbing her chin.

“Hmm, while it’s at the northern edge, being at the foot of the mountain makes it somewhat better. The compensation should be good too…… Since it’s a request advantageous for spirit summoners, especially those handling fire and wind spirits, I’ll go.”

“Great. Since you have both fire and wind spirits, and I have a fire spirit as my second spirit, we’ll work well together.”

Denia clapped her hands, openly showing her delight. There was a mention that snow spirits were vulnerable to spirit arts, so spirit summoners were always mobilized for subjugation.

Kana smoothly inserted herself between the two.

“Could I perhaps join you?”

“Lady Round?”

Denia’s eyes widened. Kana appealed while gently waving Nubes.

“Yes. Though I don’t have a fire spirit, I do have a reliable wind spirit.”

“Hmm, seeing how you worked last time gives me confidence…… but can you endure it?”

“Of course.”

She calmly nodded. She was confident she could adapt based on her experiences from other novels. Denia’s eyes narrowed.

“Lady Round, if I may ask, what’s your reason for wanting to join?”

“Yes. I want to obtain snow essence.”

While the scene was secondary, she coveted the snow essence. It was a byproduct that helped with spirit energy.

While she always pursued safety, she wasn’t someone who passed up opportunities to increase her abilities.

‘Since there’s a scene where Ethan gives it as a gift to Letie, there must be high-quality snow essence. Of course the best will go to the female lead, but I can take a little too.’

That much wouldn’t lower her star rating. Seeing her honest attitude, Denia laughed heartily and readily accepted.

“Haha, I see. Then Lady Round can come along too.”

“Yes.”

They sat around the table and discussed the request together.

After carefully noting down the organized situation, Kana returned to her mansion. While resting in her room sipping tea, her communication crystal lit up.

It was Alderaan’s code, who should be busy. She answered the contact with curiosity.

“Alderaan, what’s wrong? Isn’t this the time when you’re usually working?”

— I took a day off today. Humanly speaking, one needs rest time when people are being divided up.

Alderaan’s voice was quite gloomy. His role already had increasing workload near year-end, but the incident at the winter banquet piled on even more work.

Recently, he had been working day and night. Knowing this well, Kana sincerely comforted her industry friend.

“You’ve been working so hard. To dump so much paperwork on someone who hates it.”

— It’s really the worst. Round, have you been alright?

“Yes. Ah, come to think of it, Letie mentioned the wedding at today’s gathering.”

— ……To think ending topics are already coming up, time really flies. How’s Kiriel?

“His attitude hasn’t changed at all.”

Kana swept back her hair with a troubled expression. Surprisingly, Kiriel consistently showed affection only to her. Alderaan whistled in admiration.

— That’s surprising in many ways. If he stays fixated only on you until the end, it would be the biggest variable. Something worth asking the librarian about after exiting.

“Sigh, I’m already feeling complicated.”

Kana massaged her temples and heaved a deep sigh. Considering his industry friend’s complex feelings, Alderaan changed the subject.

— Hang in there. Anything else going on?

“Well, nothing much, but I’m planning to go north soon.”

— To farm snow essence?

“You know well.”

— I’m envious. I just want to escape this paperwork hell quickly. Damn, I really got assigned the wrong role.

Being surrounded by documents was quite painful, so Alderaan made uncharacteristic complaints. Kana laughed dryly.

“Still, isn’t it better to be in a noble role? Better than suffering like a dog struggling at the bottom.”

— Ah, that’s true.

“Anyway, let’s hang in there for the remaining time.”

— Yeah.

Kana heard his response and turned off the communication crystal. She didn’t want to take up more of her industry friend’s rest time.

Not long after, the crystal lit up again.

This time it was Kiriel’s code. Kana naturally answered his contact.

“Lord Kiriel, what’s the matter?”

— Ah, Miss Kana. What are you doing now?

“I went to a gathering and the guild, and now I’m resting in my room.”

— I see. Are you free next week by any chance?

“Ah, I’ll be in the north then, so it’ll be difficult.”

Kana honestly informed him. His surprised voice flowed through the crystal.

— ……Why suddenly the north? The weather will be quite harsh since it’s winter.

“There’s a request. I agreed to form a party with the Guild Master and Miss Aila.”

— What are you trying to do again…… Don’t tell me it’s a request to eliminate snow spirits?

“That’s right. You figured it out quickly.”

Kana clapped in admiration. Unlike her composure, Kiriel urgently called out with an anxious heart.

— Miss Kana, let’s meet briefly in front of the Round mansion.

“……What?”

The crystal connection cut off immediately, scattering her question into the air.

When Kana slowly came out to the front of the mansion, Kiriel was waiting with a serious expression. She awkwardly greeted him.

“Oh, um. You came right away.”

“Of course. It’s a matter worth doing so.”

“Let’s talk inside first.”

Kana led him to the reception room. They sat facing each other and moistened their throats with warm tea brought by Lena. The one who broke the heavy silence was Kiriel, whose complexion had darkened.

“Miss Kana, are you really planning to go north to eliminate snow spirits?”

“Yes.”

Kana’s attitude was firm. Kiriel asked while giving her a worried look.

“Is it because of the snow essence?”

“Well, that is the main purpose.”

Kana half-confirmed. Kiriel closed his eyes tightly before opening them and said quietly.

“……Miss Kana, don’t be surprised and listen to what I have to say.”