Chapter 7

After sending Anne off, Asterope grasped the terrace railing. As the wind blew, her black hair scattered in the breeze. Like a black scarf fluttering beautifully, her hair danced in the wind, but Asterope left it as it was.

Ever since her memories of being burned at the stake, she had preferred the cold. The chilling sensation seemed to anchor her body that had once burned so fiercely. With her eyes closed, Asterope faced the cold snowflakes.

Her eldest brother, Berlo Lunette, had always hated the cold most of all during his time on the battlefield. During his early days as a knight, he had almost frozen to death after being stranded during a war, and it had left him with a lingering trauma. The cold was one of the reasons he disliked Serpiewood.

‘How can I bring Berlo here? If he stays here for a while, it will surely help Kallieon. My brother is involved in central politics that Kallieon doesn’t know about. He must also have a wider range of tactical information.’

Villish had actively used that aspect to his advantage. His thin limbs were so weak that they seemed like they could easily be severed and tossed aside on the battlefield. 

According to her drunken second brother, Jed, Villish seemed to have no talent for anything related to combat—neither swordsmanship nor archery. His movements were sluggish, and he was easily frightened. Yet, because he was the Crown Prince, he had been dragged to various battlefields, struggling all the while.

At one time, she had pitied him. Perhaps because of that, she had hated Kallieon, who was naturally gifted in contrast to Villish. She had thought it would have been better if Kallieon’s talents had gone to Villish instead.

‘Looking back now, it was such a ridiculous feeling.’

However, the love Asterope had learned was like that—pathetic and blind. Perhaps that was why she had been abandoned. 

Because the fun had worn out. The interest, the charm—it had all disappeared. 

‘If you love someone to the very end, is betrayal by death the only thing that remains?’ 

Just as it had been for her. Just as it had been for Kallieon Onyx. Asterope raised her hand, trying to catch the drifting snowflakes. But the moment they touched her palm, they melted away. As futile as love itself. 

“Rope.” 

At the very moment Asterope thought so, a large, thick coat was draped over her shoulders. It was Kallieon’s. 

“How long has it been since you collapsed, and now you’re out here in this weather?” 

“Isn’t that a strange thing to say for someone who tormented me so much in bed?” 

At Asterope’s bold words, Kallieon cleared his throat awkwardly. Wrapping his strong arms around her, he continued speaking. 

“Well, that may be true… but I’ve told you several times that Serpiewood’s weather is still too harsh for someone like you, who came from Sodel.” 

Asterope burrowed into his embrace. Kallieon’s body was solid and, at the same time, warm. Asterope felt as though his mere presence had changed the season surrounding her. With only her face peeking out from his arms, she looked out at the garden and spoke curtly. 

“That’s why you should have come a bit earlier. My hands are already frozen.” 

Kallieon laughed softly and wrapped her small hands in his. His large, thick hands were big enough to envelop both of hers with one. 

“My mistake.” 

“That’s right.” 

Asterope replied shamelessly. At that, Kallieon kissed the nape of her neck. It felt as though his laughter scattered wherever his lips touched. Asterope shivered slightly, finding his touch sweet. 

“Your Grace.” 

“Hmm?” 

“Tell me about Serpiewood.” 

“About Serpiewood?” 

Kallieon repeated, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Asterope turned her head to meet his gaze. His expression seemed puzzled, as though he didn’t understand her intentions behind the question. 

Did I seem as though I was trying to leak military secrets under Villish’s orders? 

Asterope deliberately rubbed her forehead against his cheek and continued speaking. 

“I’m not curious about the difficult things you discuss in meetings, racking your brains.”

“Then, what are you curious about?”  

“What the people of Serpiewood eat, what they like, how they endure this cold.”  

“……”  

“Whether there’s anything they expect of me. Things like that.”  

Even though she deliberately acted playful, Kallieon’s expression grew even more rigid. 

Did he not believe me? 

Just as Asterope was about to open her lips, Kallieon’s cold voice rang out.  

“Who told you to say such things?”  

“What?”  

“Was it Sommer? It wouldn’t be Chester… Was it old man Tama?”  

Kallieon was instantly furious. He seemed to have misunderstood, thinking that someone had forced Asterope to assume the role of the Grand Duchess. Clenching his teeth, he continued.  

“Rope, you don’t have to lift a finger here in Serpiewood. No one can force you to do anything. You are me. You are the master of Serpiewood. If anyone dares to say such things, I will punish them severely…”  

Asterope withdrew her hand from his and placed her small palm on his cheek.  

“Your Grace, you are wrong.”  

“I’m wrong? No, I’m not. Who told you something like that?”  

Kallieon’s discomfort was evident. He seemed utterly confident that there was no obligation for her to fulfill in Serpiewood. Asterope brushed her thumb against his lips as she spoke.  

“Am I truly the Grand Duchess of Serpiewood?”  

“Rope! Don’t say such nonsense. If it’s not you, no one else can be the Lady of Serpiewood!”  

As Kallieon raised his voice, Asterope slowly closed and reopened her eyes, meeting his gaze.  

“Then tell me. From the first to the last, everything.”  

“I’m asking, who put you up to this…”  

“No one told me to.”  

“……”  

“I just want to know this place a little better, even if it’s only bit by bit.”  

At Asterope’s words, Kallieon’s eyes wavered. The more emotionally shaken he became, the more persistently Asterope looked at him, as if swearing that there wasn’t a shred of falsehood in her words.  

Eventually, Kallieon stepped back slightly from Asterope. Though he was trying to accept the changes in her, her words now seemed to have caught him off guard.  

“To be honest, I don’t understand why you’re doing this. Reaching out to hold me, kissing me first, saying sweet words, and now even talking about the duties of the Grand Duchess…”  

“Do you dislike it when I act this way, Your Grace?”  

“No, that’s not the issue. You’re so different from yesterday to today. It’s almost like you’ve become a completely different person.”  

Kallieon ran a hand over his face, looking as though he was utterly confused. Just then, Anne arrived, carrying Asterope’s outerwear. She bowed deeply as she greeted them.  

“Did you bring the Grand Duchess’s coat?”  

“Yes, Your Grace.”  

“From now on, always carry an outer garment. The Grand Duchess is sensitive to Serpiewood’s cold.”  

“Yes, I will keep that in mind!”  

With that, Kallieon seemed ready to leave. But Asterope grabbed his arm. Without saying a word, she simply looked at him, and he, as though admitting defeat, continued to speak.  

“Rope, I need to return to the conference hall. If you want to know anything about Serpiewood, old man Tama will explain it well. Ask him anytime.”  

“When will your meeting end, Your Grace?”  

“I don’t know. Don’t stay outside for too long.”  

Kallieon gently brushed her cheek before turning to leave. Asterope could no longer find the words to stop him. He was trying his best to adapt to her changes, but for some reason, he reacted excessively to her desire to learn about Serpiewood.  

As if it were unthinkable for her to feel that way.  

When he turned away and left her, Asterope lowered her head. The trust that had crumbled over the past year could not be restored so easily. Loving her and trusting her were two entirely different things.  

The maid Anne quickly draped a luxurious white coat over her shoulders. It was made from the fur and hide of a monstrous wolf said to have lived for a thousand years.  

When Asterope caught a cold for the first time after arriving in Serpiewood, Kallieon had personally hunted the beast and made the coat for her. Though Asterope thought it was rustic and clumsy, there was no warmer or more comforting coat than this one.  

She fiddled with the coat for a moment before turning back. The snowstorm in Serpiewood had grown even fiercer.  

“Grand Duchess, if you stay out here any longer, you might catch a cold…”  

“Yes, let’s go inside.”  

“Understood.”  

Asterope turned away from the snowy white landscape. It was hard for sincerity to reach someone. But there was no other way. All she could do was steadily prove herself.  

Asterope tried hard not to feel impatient as she took her steps.  

But the image of Kallieon’s face, which had turned cold in an instant, refused to leave her mind. 

He claimed to see me as the Lady of Serpiewood, yet why was he so afraid of me learning about it?  

‘Deceptive.’  

Asterope headed to her room. The cold seemed to wrap around her even more tightly than it had when she was standing on the terrace.  

“Prepare warm bathwater for me.”  

“Yes, Your Grace. Shall I add the usual flower petals?”  

“Yes. And make sure no one comes in. I want to be alone.”  

“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”  

Perhaps it was because she had seen the Grand Duke’s stiff expression, but Anne was on edge, her posture rigid. Her movements were noticeably quicker. Asterope glanced briefly at Anne before sinking into the plush sofa. She didn’t want to do anything.  

Even with her eyes closed, it felt as though the white snowy plains stretched out before her. Along with the image of Kallieon’s face, which had grown colder than frost as he distanced himself.