Holding her few belongings carefully in her arms, Ihis arrived at her new room through the enclosed passage connecting the main building and the annex.

Am I really allowed to stay in a place like this?

A bed covered with soft blankets, one that did not creak.

Small pieces of furniture, not large, but each standing neatly in its own place.

And even a wide window that clearly showed the snowy scenery outside.

It could not compare to the rooms used by her older sister and brother, but even this was something she was deeply grateful for.

Ever since she moved rooms, Aila had not left Ihis’s side except when she slept.

That effort was not particularly useful.

Cahilid had not come to visit for several days, and Ihis had not gone against Mahie’s order not to wander outside.

Today was the same.

Only the place had changed. Ihis was spending the day as quietly as a mouse, just as usual.

“……”

Standing close enough to cling to the window, Ihis had been absorbed in the snow-covered scenery for some time.

Her blue eyes sparkled like those of a child who had received a new toy, and she simply stared outside endlessly.

Now that I think about it……

It must have been snowing on the day she met Cahilid right before she died.

After all, snowflakes had rested on his shoulders.

The scent of winter that had come from Cahilid, cold enough to freeze her lungs.

A scent that had completely erased even the stench of blood reeking from her body.

Remembering the cloak that had settled over her charred body, Ihis unconsciously fidgeted with her fingers.

Is his rampaging magic all right?

She had suppressed it as much as she could with her healing power, but it was her first time doing such a thing, so she did not know whether it had worked properly.

It was at that very moment, just as Ihis let out a short sigh.

A knock suddenly sounded.

Ihis instinctively turned her head sharply toward the door, and Aila approached it with a tense face.

“It is Cahilid.”

“I am the maid Aila. What business do you have?”

“May I come in, my lady?”

Cahilid did not answer Aila’s words at all.

As if he had decided to ignore her completely.

“It’s all right!”

Ihis quickly called out, and no sooner had she finished speaking than the door swung open.

“Lord Cahilid, if this is for treatment……!”

“Excuse me.”

Without even glancing at Aila, Cahilid strode forward.

Toward Ihis, who stood before the window.

“I would like you to go out with me.”

Startled, Ihis’s eyes widened without her realizing it, and Aila hurriedly stepped in front of him and spoke.

“Without the Master’s permission, she cannot go out!”

“I know.”

Only then did Cahilid shift his gaze to Aila and reply.

“I tried to receive the Duke’s permission, but unfortunately, he has been away from the mansion since this morning.”

It was intentional.

He deliberately stayed still until Father left the mansion.

At Cahilid’s utterly brazen words, Ihis felt as though she might burst into laughter, so she forced her mouth shut.

“I apologize, but Lady Ihis going out has nothing to do with treating Lord Cahilid’s illness, does it?”

“Ah, my guard knight is supposed to arrive today.”

“Your guard…… pardon?”

“I heard he was attacked on the way here and is nearly dead. That is why I wish to ask the lady for help.”

“B-but what the Master permitted was limited to treating Lord Cahilid’s illness……!”

“And that is why I am asking for help, am I not?”

Cahilid glared at Aila with an utterly cold expression as he spoke.

“Since earlier, you have been speaking as if the lady’s healing power belongs to you……”

Aila flinched.

“I made a request to the lady. I did not make a request to a mere maid like you. I would appreciate it if you understood your place clearly.”

Cahilid turned his gaze back to Ihis.

“My lady.”

His face was exceedingly gentle and affectionate.

“Then will you help me?”

“Of course.”

Ihis answered quickly.

“As Father said, we are now one family, aren’t we?”

“Princess……!”

“If he is Lord Cahilid’s guard knight, then he is someone like family to me as well.”

They matched better than expected.

Cahilid chuckled and held out his hand to Ihis.

“Come with me, my lady.”

There was no hesitation.

Ihis slowly reached out and took the man’s large, warm hand.

Then she left the room with him.

Aila, pale-faced, could do nothing but stare after them in horror, unable to stop them or let them go.

None of that mattered to the two of them.

✦ ✦ ✦

Cahilid’s influence seemed far greater than expected.

Even though they clearly saw him taking Ihis outside, no one dared to stand in their way.

Of course, Cahilid had deliberately chosen routes where Mahie’s private soldiers were absent.

To think he had already grasped the layout of this grand mansion in just a few days.

Cahilid was far more calculating and meticulous than she had expected.

“We can ride my horse.”

Before she knew it, Cahilid had reached the mansion doors with Ihis and pointed ahead.

“But why are you speaking informally……?”

Ihis nodded as if she understood, then asked him in a somewhat puzzled voice.

“We already hold each other’s weaknesses. Is there any reason to waste time being polite?”

“……”

“You hold my magic as a weakness, and I hold the fact that you knew everything yet did not tell Mahie as yours. In front of others, it can’t be helped, but when both of us are black-hearted inside, nothing is more ridiculous than acting courteous with each other.”

That was true.

“Let’s go.”

No sooner had he spoken than Cahilid stepped without hesitation into the pure white snowfield with his long legs.

Ihis stared at his back for a moment, then began walking very carefully.

Wow.

Crunch, crunch.

It was fascinating how her feet sank every time she stepped on the thickly piled snow.

The way her footprints remained perfectly behind her like stamps was fascinating too.

The snow she was experiencing for the first time……

was incredibly fun.

It’s cold.

Ihis was so absorbed in the snow swallowing her feet with every step that she did not even notice Cahilid had stopped and was looking at her.

“Ah!”

Walking with her eyes fixed on the ground, Ihis eventually bumped her face into Cahilid’s chest and let out a short groan, covering her forehead with her hand.

Finding it both absurd and amusing, Cahilid muttered with a baffled expression,

“You look as if you’re seeing snow for the first time.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“What?”

“I’ve never been outside before…… So this is my first time coming out like this, and my first time seeing snow.”

“……”

“I really wanted to see it…… Snow.”

At Ihis’s unexpected words, Cahilid frowned slightly.

The witch of Erbereje?

……Not the prisoner of Erbereje?

“Lord Cahilid?”

Did I say something wrong?

When no response came, Ihis looked up at Cahilid with wide eyes.

And Cahilid……

“Kyaa!”

Without a word, he lifted Ihis’s frail body and slung her over his shoulder.

“No, wait!”

“You’re an idiot. Your feet are completely wet. Are you trying to get frostbite?”

That was not what she had been trying to do.

Ihis pouted slightly, but Cahilid could not see it.

In any case, it suddenly felt as if she were hanging from the ceiling, so Ihis desperately grabbed Cahilid’s shoulder and asked,

“Where are we going? What about your guard knight? You said he was badly hurt.”

“You’ll know when we get there. And for the record, Cedric is coming here perfectly unharmed, so you won’t be getting any new scars.”

Then why did he drag me all the way out here?

Ihis looked puzzled, but Cahilid did not open his mouth again.

He merely ignored her reaction and quickly walked toward the horse.