The Secret Garden of Ice.

She dressed as warmly as possible to keep the frost and wind from biting into her flesh to bones. Mina was hesitant when Luciana wanted to visit the fortress yards. She was tired of being cooped up inside the gloomy stone-grey walls. Mina had brought her warm lunch of hard-boiled eggs and freshly baked bread. The days ended before she could even have a glimpse of the warm sun. The clouds had generously allowed the sun to shine upon the white world. The food was bland. There was no sign of spices or flavor. Even the bread was only added to the menu after her marriage. However wild barley was the only available cereal other than foxtail millet seldom found among the trading goods with the passing by merchants from the human realm.

She was grateful that the foods bought were of acceptable quality. She'd often go to the kitchen or storage houses to inspect the foods.

There were scores of different meats of hunted species in the territory which she was unfamiliar with. The stench of blood made her feel blue. The lesser portion was the frozen leeks, wild berries, and mushrooms. Grains like wild barley and foxtail millet, goose eggs, and a few vegetables were brought up from the borders adjoining the human realm. Though they were staple goods consisting of potatoes and onions.

Fruits weren't an option as they were considered a luxury. Sugar was out of option. Yak milk was produced at farms that were directly supervised by Stygian Fortress's chef.

She looked out for Nemesis. The young toddler was dressed in furs to keep the cold and frost. She was satisfied with the new clothes that were ordered for him by her.

Mina suggested a few designs that did not stand out. Back in Amanécer men wore a tunic fastened with belts made of gold, silver, or leather studded with jewels of choice. However, such attire was not suitable for wearing in harsh winters that continued to engulf this desolate land.

"He looks good in anything." she smiled.

Mina agreed.

"Just like the master. Master looks good in anything he wears. He's got a good body." she commented.

"G-good body?" she flustered when listening to her.

"Yes, milady. Brother says so. Since the master has a habit of walking around inside the fortress half-naked.Especially during the training since he ends up tearing his clothes. And in the end, it's a hassle for us servants to mend them."

Luciana felt embarrassed. She noticed how Erebus usually walked around with trousers on and never bothered to tie his dressing gown. She recalled how he made a nasty move on her whilst his toned body was exposed. She remembered a scar across his shoulder blade on his bronze skin. His wicked smile shook her to the core.

She waved her hand in the air to rid herself of such thoughts. The guards at the main entrance greeted her as the great iron gates creaked open before her. Mina draped her with a thick fur cloak that was made from the bear's skin. Luciana smiled and gave a gentle nod to them as a response. She was careful to not interact too much with them but not to get on their bad side at the same time. She maintained her distance from those she felt had ulterior motives for being an Amanécerian. Her husband was the only man she could lay her trust in. She was careful around the maids because of her first incident when she was abducted. The guards and other soldiers were forbidden to directly interact with her except for a few.

"I'm truly just a hostage in this place." she grimaced. Their eyes said it out loud. Some of his closest subordinates showed sincere respect only because she was Erebus's wife. But they treated her fairly and kindly. Ahriman was an abandoned illegitimate child of some lord whom he never knew. He was among those who willingly took up the duty of guarding Luciana among the Order.

He was a well-built man with greyish-pale skin, grey hair, and faded icy eyes. Many would mistake him for an extremely cold and evil person by judging his looks. But in fact, he proved them wrong by being the opposite. He was more carefree like Mina and was more readily approachable. He once liked Mina but got rejected and only decided to become her elder brother.

"Lady please look out for the stones." he cautioned her as she held Nemesis in her arms.

"Thank you Ser." she thanked him and followed him when Mina offered to carry the young boy.

Nemesis refused to let go of her. The snow was being thawed to make way for the passersby entering and exiting the fortress. She observed the great stone walls, the walkways, the bridges that connected the towers, and the smoke raised from chimneys.

It was a long walk to the other end of the buildings where Mina had planted her little garden. The yard was all white with snow. She could see many more demons inside the fortress.

The trees were bare. Their trunks were deep brown. Some were grey, some white, and some even silver. But they were rarely seen with every mile ahead.

"Pardon me Ser. But I hope I have not offended you to ask a question." Luciana spoke up.

"At your service my lady. Please don't hesitate to ask. I'm your servant."

"Well... I see many... Servants who prefer working at night. But few prefer working in the daytime."

"You mean the nocturns."

"I'm afraid I'm not so well versed about them."

It was true that Luciana couldn't find any records about demons who could face the sun.

"The nocturns prefer to work at night. And most demons shun the sun. But many of such species work during the day. The entirety of Wahrheit is covered in a night veil. A kind of magic barrier that makes it possible for even the nocturns to walk under the sun. If I were asked to go to the human realm I'd never dream of going out into the sun let alone in Amanécer. That's one of the main reasons why demons shun Amanécer-Oops! I- I apologize for being so nosy. Forgive me, my lady."

Mina glared daggers at him while Luciana stayed silent.

"It must be hard to accept someone from an enemy realm into your land. I understand." she shook her head slightly and gave a wan smile.

Some of the guards and green boys greeted her as they walked by. The other side of the fortress was uninhabited.

"The servants' quarters are close by milady," Mina spoke up.

"And the soldiers' quarters are farther in the opposite direction," Ahriman informed her.

"There is also a building that was spared for that servant who prefers to have their families settled here and work for generations to serve the master."

"Generations?"

"Most lower-class demons prefer to serve one master and train their descendants likewise. It can be said that the demons are sensitive to their habitats."

-"If I were able to escape this place. Would he continue to chase me? He abducted me from the land where God always shines his light."

"Milady! Milady! Please oh please close your eyes." she solicited her when the pair of huge wooden gates appeared.

"Allow me to open the gates, my lady."

Luciana closed her eyes unwillingly. She still held Nemesis in her arms. Mina helped her pass the gates as they creaked open. The rusted frozen hinges looked like a shape of a pair of bat wings screamed aloud as the gates were pushed open.

"Welcome to my secret garden of ice milady."