NOVEL NEXT Chapter 367
If I had to choose the most important place in Coldon, without a doubt, it would be Winterhome. No, it’s not just important for Coldon; Winterhome is the most significant location throughout Iceland.
Long before the kingdom was established on Seophone Island, the Felwinter Family had been the unifying force of Iceland, and they had resided in Winterhome for generations.
The guards of Winterhome don’t even bother with the usual tricks. They remain vigilant and don’t engage in idle chatter.
Servants and aides stand ready at any moment to lay down their lives for Alfred and his family. On top of that, the various magic protections embedded throughout Winterhome are even greater than those found in a royal castle where a king would stay.
In short, it’s extremely difficult for intruders to breach Winterhome or to move around discreetly.
Of course, there were a few exceptions to this.
“I think this is wrong.”
Alicia was one such exception.
“What do you think?”
“What are you talking about?” Richard asked, but Karem was sure of the gloom in his voice. He was aware, and he acted like this.
“It seems Alicia is avoiding me as well.”
Seeing her trying to hide made it hard to spot Alicia at all. The cause was clear.
“Karem! Traitor!”
After witnessing Richard looking for him, with a final wail like that of a cursed little dwarf who lost his precious ring, Alicia completely vanished from sight.
At least, she did, only in front of the two of them.
She attended the banquet in the Great Hall, but as soon as dinner ended, she vanished immediately.
Not only that, but the number of times Alicia had attempted to sneak snacks went down to zero. No matter how late it got, she used to show up at least once every three days.
Karem felt troubled by this unprecedented situation.
So much so that even Robin, who normally had a hostile relationship with him, asked if something had happened between them. Catherine and Mary were equally curious.
“Oh, Alicia…”
Unlike before, Richard’s reaction was muted. Could it be that there was no more soul left to shatter, no more ashes to fly away?
Perhaps that was why his face was filled with regret.
“If only I could hear some words from this old man…”
“Indeed. This is the second time Alicia has gotten angry.”
“Second time? Which fool dared to disturb Alicia’s peace!?”
“Calm down, Your Grace. Please calm down—”
“Why can’t I get an answer already!”
At those words, Karem hesitated, wondering if he should speak up as he saw the whites of Richard’s eyes.
“During this spring, while we were heading to Bendleig, Richard, um… about the Giant Dungeon Hamster and the Princess…”
“Enough! Stop talking!”
Of course, when he thought about fighting with Robin, twice would be an understatement, so Karem decided to leave that last bit out.
“A sibling quarrel is like a sandstorm.”
Unless you cover the entire desert with a forest, a sandstorm doesn’t just disappear.
While it’s not the same thing, Richard’s current anger towards Alicia now felt denser than when he fought with Robin.
This judgment was, of course, based on some reasoning.
While he often had verbal exchanges with Robin, all Richard had seen was the back of Alicia as she fled.
Honestly, Karem found himself in a very awkward position. He’d been caught in the crossfire, too.
In short, this was ultimately an emotional battle. This intense exchange of feelings wasn’t something Karem was accustomed to, neither in his past life nor in this one.
The fact that it took so long to advance his relationship with Catherine was proof of this. Though he did hit the accelerator and go full throttle right away.
“Now that this has happened, there’s only one method.”
Scratching his head, Karem looked up at the darkening sky and waved an arm.
There are two ways to hunt animals. Track the prey or lure them.
“It’s getting colder since autumn is approaching. Anyway, like I said before, I know one dish that Alicia just can’t resist. With that—”
“Are you really going to dare lure my precious Alicia like game!?”
It’s not game; it’s merely treating her like a little ogre. He silently hoped such a slip wouldn’t escape his lips.
“Your Grace, autumn is almost here.”
Karem continued talking despite Richard’s grim face.
“It’s summer, but still.”
“Well… yeah. In any case, we have to return by autumn.”
“I’ve heard that.”
That’s the Felwinter Family for you. No matter the situation, they never abandon their duties, and Karem let out a small sigh.
“You should reconcile before your return, right? The last time you parted, the reconciliation ended rather half-heartedly.”
“Huh… You really don’t make it easy to deny.”
Richard suddenly squeezed his eyes shut.
“To think we’re treating our precious one like prey to lure out.”
“Luring with food is the quickest way, isn’t it?”
Logically speaking, defense is easier than offense. In any case, seeing Karem finally accepting the plan he had suggested before eased a bit of his burden.
“It’s the matter of what to use as bait that’s the challenge.”
“What else could it be? Meat, of course.”
“I was thinking about dessert…?”
Richard vigorously shook his head, dismissing the ridiculous notion.
“I’ll guarantee you this – nothing piques Alicia’s interest better than meat. Meat is the best.”
“…That’s true.”
Alicia had directly said how much she loved meat.
Karem, pondering this while feeling the texture in his hands, looked up. Richard’s face, now brighter, was clasping his hands together.
“Truly, thank you. I mean that from the heart. Despite other lives being in danger, I haven’t felt this awkward since Rosetta died.”
“Excuse me, but who is Rosetta?”
“My wife who left on a long journey long ago.”
As Karem remained silent after hearing Richard’s deeply loving description of his granddaughter, Richard gazed at the dimming twilight sky.
“When will this be possible?”
“It’ll take some time.”
“Time is short.”
“I’ll do my best.”
*
*
*
“So, the bait to lure the princess is…”
“Barbecue. Barbecue. She goes wild for it.”
“…Honestly, that’s just ridiculous.”
Catherine, in her pajamas, succinctly summarized Karem’s day’s events in just one line inside the office’s bedroom.
“And I’ve grown so accustomed to hearing that already.”
Yet, that didn’t mean he was any less unhappy about it.
According to Elizabeth’s advice, he had planned to try various things, yet Karem was dragged around by Richard and fell asleep as soon as he returned and washed up.
It seemed he had encountered less dragging around today, leaving him with a bit of energy left.
‘I don’t not understand it.’
Karem’s body, even dragged around by the Swordmaster, still had strength left.
The real issue wasn’t the body; it was the mind.
Of course, even Catherine knew well that elderly people of that age absolutely adored their grandchildren, but what Richard exhibited was a tad excessive even for her.
“You had a hard time being dragged around by that fool again today.”
“Yeah, it really was tough.”
“You must’ve been fine physically.”
“You know full well what you’re saying, right?”
Catherine chuckled, covering her mouth with a quill.
“Could I not know? That you are being put through difficulty by Richard has already spread like wildfire.”
“Not quite spreading it.”
“That merely means it was entertaining to watch.”
“I wasn’t hiding them away!”
After some moments of regret, Karem brushed aside that feeling. He no longer cared. Following the plan, everything would be over by tomorrow. The preparations for him had already been completed.
Thanks to that, mentally he was twice as exhausted. It didn’t matter since he’d sleep soon. Karem burrowed under the blanket.
“Still, it seems I’ve ended up following your plan.”
Catherine, already changed into her pajamas, suppressed a small laugh.
“Even a cow will charge when angered. This is merely a counteraction to Richard overindulging Alicia.”
“More than that, it seems he was wary of the sudden appearance of a lover for his granddaughter.”
“That’s basically the same thing.”
With her hands on her waist, Catherine declared stubbornly.
“Do you think Princess Alicia is mature enough to understand love between the opposite sexes?”
At that remark, Karem instinctively reflected on Alicia’s actions. The answer was clear. There was no way Alicia was like that.
“If it’s a love for food, maybe, but a lover is a bit much.”
“It’s still far from that.”
Karem nodded in agreement with that sentiment.
“Still, isn’t it a high probability?”
“Talking about the future, huh?”
Catherine, having extinguished the magical lanterns, walked into the moonlight.
“It likely is.”
For nobles, marriage is a union between families.
Naturally, genuine romantic love would take precedence over arranged marriages, yet often families take into consideration their interests, maneuvering for power through political marriages instead.
When Catherine shook her head, the golden hair illuminated by the moonlight swayed like a curtain.
“Clearly, it seems you’re more mentally drained than usual.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yeah. You’re saying things you normally wouldn’t.”
“Am I?”
Honestly, Karem couldn’t even remember what he had said. Caught in a daze, Catherine sighed.
“Looks like I’m doomed today as well.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Nothing at all.”
Joined by Catherine, who lay beside him under the blankets, Karem wanted to make the moment last a bit longer.
Rustle—rustle—
“Okay.”
Suddenly, Catherine wriggled into Karem’s arms, leaning on him and nestling her head against his chest.
“Does this give you a bit of energy today?”
Caught off guard by the sudden action, Karem adjusted his posture to make it more comfortable for Catherine.
“…Very much so.”
The coolness of her soft skin felt through the thin pajamas, mingling with the warmth that still lingered from her bath.
It was a satisfaction reminiscent of lying under a heavy winter blanket while cranking the air conditioning on full blast during midsummer.
“But.”
“What is it?”
“By doing this, isn’t there no point to widening the bed?”
“Is that a complaint?”
“Of course not.”
This new and improved bed, existing in harmony with the pleasant coolness and lingering warmth, would melt away any complaints he had.
In contrast, Catherine had a small grievance.
“…”
“…Hmm, hmmm.”
“…Ugh.”
As she felt a bit regretful, she slowly began to tease the chest in front of her with her fingers.
“I have to get up early, you see.”
Catherine, who shivered, glared at Karem with sharp eyes as if to goad him, then burrowed deeper into his embrace.
“Well, fine. I’ll let this one slide today.”
“Thank you.”
“…Then a bit stronger.”
The feedback came almost immediately.
Creeeak—
A pressure felt throughout his entire body.
The coolness of her touch began to heat up.
The aroma of spices wafted with every breath he took.
The strength that could bend iron tools and crush stones without any magic enhancing his body was indescribable.
Bizarrely, the sense of security only intensified, causing Catherine to unknowingly let out a moan.
“Hugh…”
“Like this?”
“Yeah.”
The sensations flooding from head to toe made his eyelids heavy.
Her temperature was always cool.
Thus, the warmth became all the more distinct.
Since accepting Elizabeth’s advice, he felt this sensation night after night, yet he never grew tired of it.