CHAPTER 90

Josef loved the snow.

For someone with a frail body, cold weather wasn't a welcome guest, but there was a reason he loved the white snow.

"...It'll take a bit of time to return."

As a child, Josef found solace in the quiet city covered in snow.

At that time, he wasn't alone standing still.

Because of his weak body, the reality of sitting alone while others were moving forward always made it difficult for Josef.

"Lord Josef, it's me, Vordan."

"Come in."

Josef, awakened from contemplation by the knocking sound outside, opened the door and looked at the knight entering.

"I brought a message from Deomar."

A chubby knight who seemed to need to take care of his health as much as himself, came to his study with a message in hand.

The result Josef had been waiting for must have been written in that small note held in his thick hand.

"Give it to me."

"Yes."

Josef accepted the note Vordan handed him with calm eyes.

Although he had prepared his best, it would have been a burdensome task for the boy.

He just hoped to avoid the worst-case scenario.

"...."

Since it was a message sent through magic, he couldn't write many words to send.

Therefore, the message sent by Zayar contained only the results without any explanation.

"...I didn't expect this."

Without any prior explanation, the few lines written in the message were enough to confuse Josef's mind.

Judging solely by skill, it would be difficult for many knights to stand shoulder to shoulder with Stephen, who was in his mid-twenties now.

There weren't many individuals who showed as much potential as Stephen at his age, especially in the West, so it would be difficult to say that Vordan's reaction was exaggerated.

"That's right."

Hearing Vordan's words, Josef tossed the note onto the desk and smiled subtly.

It was the kind of smile that wanted to laugh but didn't know how to.

"Summon the mage. I need to reply to Zayar."

"Ah... understood."

He had prepared for the worst, but he hadn't prepared for the best.

His deeply laid plans, born of melancholy until now, were flowing in a completely different direction than the waves created by Vlad.

"...I've prepared you to endure somehow."

Josef had chosen Stephen from the West as the opponent for Vlad's knight debut.

If the opponent was a strong name like that, even if Vlad lost, it wouldn't be a disgrace, and if by any chance Vlad managed to make him struggle, the evaluation of Vlad would rise significantly.

Moreover, if he even lost his handkerchief, Alicia would have no choice but to hold hands with Bayezid, a situation that had already been calculated.

"I need to rethink everything."

Josef leaned his head against the cold window, exhaling deeply at the complex thoughts swirling in his mind.

The sound of snowflakes falling to the ground from outside could be heard.

Now the snowfall wasn't as welcoming a sight.

※※※※

Knights facing each other in the large reception hall.

Although their weapons were sheathed in scabbards, the gazes they exchanged were as fierce as ever.

However, upon closer inspection, one might notice that the reactions of the knights were slightly different.

The northern knights wearing fur cloaks wore a subtle smile.

The knights from the West, with their collars raised high, gnashed their teeth.

The winner laughs while the loser hangs their heads.

The knights from the North stood in the reception hall, enjoying the rights brought by their youngest.

"We would like the sword back, if you please."

Godin, who always smiled, now looked at the man in front of him with a slightly hardened expression.

Godin always treated his opponents with a flexible attitude, but he had never faced a situation as humiliating as the present.

"Hmm."

Upon hearing Godin's words, Zayar just stroked his chin, wearing a troubled expression.

"There doesn't seem to be a problem with the procedure. But wouldn't it be burdensome?"

Stephen is the eldest son of Count Sigmund.

Although Godin was speaking in a roundabout way, he was asking whether taking away Stephen's sword would not incur a backlash.

"We'll handle it ourselves, won't we?"

Zayar crossed his arms and sneered at Godin.

In his demeanor, there was a glimpse of Bayezid's attitude towards Gaidar.

"Still, taking away a sword during a duel is not common. This clearly has crossed the line."

As Godin said, taking a sword in a one-on-one duel was considered an excessive measure.

However, in the current situation, it would likely be no problem as a spoil of victory.

"In the first place, it was Gaidar who didn't think about the consequences."

Clearly, it was Gaidar who first ignored Hainal and Bayezid, so the current disgrace was simply a result of their own making.

All of this was a consequence they had to endure.

"Moreover, you guys crossed the line first."

He was smiling, but it wasn't a genuine smile.

There was only one eye left of Zayar's, but the gleam emanating from there exuded a firm presence.

"....Tell me what you want."

The situation was already at a deadlock.

Since they had led the situation, Godin had no words to say even if he had ten mouths, but he still made a final offer to somehow retrieve Stephen's sword.

"You shouldn't be asking me that."

Zayar's gaze deepened at Godin's question.

The winner of the duel was Vlad, and the owner of the spoils was also Vlad.

So, the boy's intention would be important to change the fair price.

"You know very well why he took Stephen's sword."

Zayar pulls his body closer to the table as if there is no hesitation anymore.

The two knights knew well why the boy so desperately wanted victory in yesterday's duel.

"...I guess so."

At Zayar's words, Godin nodded inwardly.

Godin remembered.

Although the sword was pointed sharply towards Stephen, the blue eyes were directed towards himself.

As if saying, 'Look here,' or 'Look at me.'

".....Negotiations seem to have broken down."

The reason why Vlad took Stephen's sword.

It was to declare war against the Knight of Blue Moonlight.

Godin was not the only one who could now receive a fair price for victory.

The relationship that began with Jorge twisted and turned until it reached here.

The relationships formed in Deomar, flowing and intertwining, might be old debts or simply the flow of the times.

"In the end, we'll meet again someday."

Stephen and Vlad.

The first skirmish between the West and the North.

The victor of that war was the North.

"You may leave."

The North spoke.

Now it was time for them to leave Deomar.

"A farewell message will suffice."

"As you wish."

The Western knights who lost in the battle had no choice but to rise from their seats to follow their rights. The Northern knights opened the door to the cold hallway for them.

※※※※

Alicia was carefully embroidering a handkerchief brought by a maid in her office.

"I did my part. I didn't say anything."

Since the handkerchief was almost complete, it didn't seem necessary for her to repair it, but the legitimacy was important wherever and whenever.

"I've done my part with this."

"....Indeed."

There was nothing she couldn't do if she had to, but Alicia found it difficult to handle the duties of the head of the family.

At any rate, it was a fact that Alicia had put in some effort, so the boy receiving the handkerchief would surely understand the current situation well enough.

"Well, there's no need to accept Lord Josef's proposal now, is there?"

"That's correct."

As if it were settled, Alicia neatly folded the handkerchief and placed the letter Josef had given her back into the envelope.

Vlad rejected Stephen's marriage proposal as his knight, so there was no longer any reason for her to accept Oksana as her godmother.

"It's a relief. Despite how warm Bayezid's embrace may be, giving them leverage was undesirable."

"That's correct."

Alicia's goal was always the survival of the Hainal family and the reconstruction of Deomar.

No matter how warm Bayezid's embrace might be, Alicia knew their ultimate goal was to seize control of this place. Therefore, she was striving to stand up on her own to achieve her goals.

"······A knight like Sir Vlad is rare, isn't he?"

"Of course, my lady."

If you get just one girl, you get all the rights to Hainal and Deomar.

Alicia, who lacked the power to protect herself, was vulnerable simply by being alone. 

"How far do you expect him to grow in the future?"

Therefore, the knight named Vlad, whose future potential was more promising than the present, was clearly someone who had all the elements she could covet.

"······If he continues to grow like this, he will probably represent the North in the next generation. That's a lot."

Duncan, although retired as a knight, still had a sharp eye honed by experience.

Having witnessed the two duels in Deomar, Duncan already realized Vlad's potential was remarkable.

"Hmm."

Alicia pondered deeply upon Duncan's words. 

Although she didn't naturally exude an imposing demeanor, she was evolving from a mere lady to a owner of a manor with dignity.

"······After all, it is not easy for a woman to take on the role of head of the household on her own. There is no guarantee that something like this will not happen again."

Beautiful flowers often attract bugs. 

Although there were no suitors like Gaidar directly proposing, Alicia's office was inundated with letters from numerous noble men eyeing her succession rights.

It was risky to continue like this.

"It might be better to bring at least one knight without any background by my side."

"Oh. Lady Alicia."

Duncan was taken aback when he realized what Alicia was aiming for. 

Even if there was potential, the boy had only become a knight a few weeks ago.

"My suggestion might also appeal to Bayezid. It could create a sense of alliance, don't you think? It may be too soon for that. Even if the knight is positioned as a half noble..."

"He'll grow bigger."

Duncan felt a desire to pick up the words he had just uttered.

However, he found himself unable to propose any alternative besides Alicia's plan, so he could only bow his head with a grim expression.

"It's better to seize the opportunity before others can even get their hands on it."

"..."

Duncan silently agreed that Alicia's decision was not entirely unfounded.

"....But still, let's not make hasty decisions."

"It's better than marrying some strange man."

With those words, Alicia turned her head to gaze at the place where the tree of Hainal stood.

"Besides, what he's doing is commendable."

Alicia's aquamarine eyes watched the boy's actions from there.

The hill where her parents' graves were located.

Vlad was pouring out the wine while bowing his head to the former lords of Hainal, as if expressing gratitude for their protection.

While other men were simply trying to possess her, only the blond boy was pouring out wine for her parents.