“Hah, they’re finally gone. They were such a nuisance.”

“I truly hope we never see them again.”

“Right, if I get involved with them one more time, I’ll leave the North altogether.”

Everyone gathered around me like baby birds following their mother, criticizing the Grand Duke’s household.

I had developed a tiny bit of affection for Ante and the two knights, but they were truly the most troublesome of nuisances. Everything they did was just…

“But didn’t you let them go too easily?”

“Indeed. Those walls and gardens are truly…”

“Still, Lord Ante and the knights were nice people.”

“Haha. I’m selective about time, place, and people. They may seem foolish, but they’re from the Grand Duke’s household, so I can’t treat them carelessly. But I will make sure to get proper compensation for the damages.”

Soho nodded vigorously beside me.

“Hmm?”

Looking closely, he wasn’t nodding but rather bowing repeatedly while dozing off standing up.

Seeing this made my own fatigue wash over me.

“Soho, you should go in and get some sleep.”

“Huh?”

Soho was startled awake.

“We barely slept today, so go get some rest.”

“Yesss.”

He must have been truly exhausted, as Soho obediently nodded and staggered up the stairs. I anxiously watched his small figure disappear, feeling like I was watching a lamb’s first wobbly steps.

After making sure Soho made it up safely, I let out a sigh of relief.

Then, our circle of people just stared blankly at each other’s faces for a moment.

Slowly, smiles began to spread.

“Woohoo! Freedom at last!”

“This is wonderful! Miss!”

“Let’s clean up later and get some sleep first.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

“I’ll head up first.”

“Yes, Lady Lora.”

Ah. I almost forgot.

I turned around to face the household members as I was heading toward the stairs.

“Don’t wake me until 10 o’clock tomorrow.”

“Yes. Then I’ll wake you for lunch.”

What do they take me for?

“No, I meant don’t wake me until 10 PM.”

“What? Yes!”

Leaving behind the surprised but agreeing people, I climbed the stairs.

Entering my room and flopping down spread-eagle on the bed, I stared at the ceiling as a sense of relief welled up deep inside me.

“Finally free. Truly free.”

Blinking quietly, I thought about the mess the mansion had become and made another resolution.

Once I thoroughly receive compensation for this incident, I will never get involved with them again.

My eyelids gradually closed in the warm sunlight.

***

When I woke up, the moonlight was already illuminating the room. My mind was excessively clear.

No sleep for me again tonight.

“Maybe I’ll go watch the firewood burn.”

Draping the shawl that had recently become my essential item over my shoulders, I went down to the living room for my latest most interesting hobby—staring at the fire.

The living room had been completely tidied up.

And I saw a large figure in front of the fireplace, adding logs to the fire.

That bear-like bulk surely had to be Sion.

For a moment, yesterday’s confession flashed through my mind. If I faced him now, it would certainly create an awkward situation.

I should go back up.

As I turned with a creaking sound, a low voice resonated in my ears.

“I’ll leave.”

Hmm, I’ve been caught.

I paused in my awkward posture and turned my head to look at Sion.

I could only see his profile dimly illuminated by the flickering firelight, unable to make out his gaze or expression.

“Lady Lora, you don’t need to avoid me. I didn’t tell you expecting anything in return.”

“Sion.”

“I know well that I’m not worthy of such.”

Ah. I was just trying to escape, but now I couldn’t.

His tone was tinged with bitterness, and I straightened my posture and carefully approached him.

He must have sensed my presence, but he simply continued speaking.

“Just allow me to admire you and protect you, just that much. And please acknowledge it.”

When he finished speaking, I was standing in front of him.

I had to lift my head quite high to barely see his face. His expression seemed both dejected and hopeful. Yet he didn’t avoid my gaze.

“Sion.”

“Yes, Lady Lora.”

“Thank you.”

His eyes widened.

I lowered my gaze and smiled brightly. It was a smile to hide my awkwardness.

“I’ve never heard such a direct confession before, nor experienced such a loving gaze without a hint of deception.”

“Lady Lora…”

“So I feel a bit uncomfortable. Not an unpleasant discomfort, but rather…”

It was a discomfort that made my chest tingle, my heart soar and then settle.

Sion, who had been quietly watching me choose my words, opened his mouth.

“That’s enough.”

And he smiled brightly. Perhaps even more brightly than when I had fixed his leg.

I was the one who averted my gaze first from that smile.

Sion continued to look at me for a while before speaking again.

“Lady Lora.”

“Yes?”

I nervously swallowed, tense about what he might say next. Sion curved his lips in response.

“We’re out of groceries.”

“Pardon?”

“I think we need to go shopping today.”

“What? Oh. Right.”

“Would it be alright if you can’t sleep in until 10 o’clock?”

“What do you take me for…”

As if I would let people starve—and myself starve—just to sleep.

Deflated, I answered without hiding my bewildered expression. At my reaction, he smiled so beautifully that the aegyo-sal under his eyes creased.

“Would you like to know how I see you, Lady Lora?”

“No.”

Avoiding his directness, I awkwardly turned around and went up the stairs. Behind me, I heard Sion let out a deflating sound.

***

I spent the night wide awake, and inevitably, day broke.

We headed to the market, deliberately ignoring the devastated garden.

“Fortunately, the fig tree is intact.”

“Indeed. But it’s inconvenient to call for a carriage every time like this.”

“How about buying a cart and horse this time?”

“We will build the stable ourselves.”

“And we’ll restore the garden too.”

Somehow, everyone was overflowing with enthusiasm.

Upon arriving in the city center and getting out of the carriage, we were greeted by a scene quite different from the mansion.

The streets were still piled high with unmelted snow.

Although the bitter cold had ended, the streets remained disorganized and unsettled as they hadn’t been cleared yet.

I could see guards and citizens busily clearing away the accumulated snow.

Then, an unbelievable scene caught my eye.

“What is that?”

My question, asked without expecting an answer, was met with silence from my companions. People were moving bodies along with the snow.

They were corpses of those who had frozen to death. Yes, this could happen.

In a country with a class system, it was common for people in poor districts to not survive the cold winter. So common that it was strange I hadn’t thought about it until now.

But what disturbed me was their attitude.

“Ugh, another one.”

“What? This one’s still alive.”

“Just move it! Useless things.”

As the men clearing snow removed the body of a frozen woman, a child who had been wrapped in her arms rolled onto the snow.

They casually placed the still-breathing child on top of the pile of corpses, as if this were routine.

Widening my view, I saw people passing by this scene without any reaction.

Some even kicked the bodies, saying it was bad luck.

The woman’s hands, which had held onto her child until she herself had frozen stiff, trying to protect the child’s breath of life.

The casual way they broke that bond and piled them up like objects couldn’t have been a practice developed in just a year or two.

“Miss, shouldn’t we go?”

“No.”

Without responding to Irena, who was carefully suggesting we leave while tugging at my sleeve, I approached the pile of bodies.

“Miss!”