Not long ago, Jackson had experienced a big change. Thanks to the method Anette gave him, the small wound in his hand disappeared. He experienced the miracle of smooth nails and finer skin. Therefore, he put his life into preparing for the wedding out of gratitude.

The wedding emanated an extravagant yet vintage atmosphere. It was a moment when he could feel the reward of staying up for several nights preparing.

Jackson, with teary eyes, scanned the wedding hall from afar.

“It seems His Majesty put in effort for the preparations.”

“The food is also to my liking.”

He swiped his nose at the occasional compliments he heard.

He wandered around looking for compliments for himself. At the end of his walk, which lasted until he was eartoear grinning, he spotted a familiar man.

“The Prince?”

His eyebrows creased instantly upon recognizing him.

Jackson was also one of Hertian’s people, so his reaction couldn’t be helped.

“Who is that little one?”

Serdis was conversing with a small child.

Contrary to him, the child had come dressed in plain clothes.

The child handed him a package, and Serdis ruffled the child’s hair, smiling.

“I’ve seen this package somewhere…”

The yellow package gave off a strangely familiar vibe.

“The dessert here isn’t good.”

But his memory flew away with one harsh comment from a guest.

“What’s wrong with the dessert?”

“The cookie is hard.”

“Is the cookie supposed to be hard or soft?”

The wedding ended in the blink of an eye.

It was not hastily arranged. To some, it might be a wedding full of suspicion, but to anyone looking, it was a ceremony blessed with love.

There was no disturbance from Serdis, surprisingly.

I exchanged brief greetings with the family and boarded the carriage heading to the Blandiche territory.

A long procession trailed behind us.

Through the small window in the carriage, I saw the capital fading into the distance.

“Am I going back to where I started?”

I didn’t originally have anything.

I blinked once, and when I opened my eyes, nothing had changed. There was no shifting into a new dimension like that day.

“I wonder if the letter was properly delivered?”

I had received a letter at the wedding and had hastily replied to Cassian. Cassian had asked when and where I’d like to meet in response to my question about meeting up. It was a relatively positive response, so I had rushed to send a reply, and that lingered on my mind.

Then, the carriage stopped, and Hertian got in.

He poured a cup of tea into a small cup.

“I brought some tea in advance.”

It was chamomile tea. He had given me the same when we first met.

The tea was cold, but the rich aroma of tea still lingered.

“Thank you.”

“Have a sip and rest. It will be a long journey to the north.”

He spoke with his usual calm voice.

“Please visit the capital often.”

“Really?”

“For your grace, I will do so.”

But he was still there.

“What would have happened if it wasn’t for Hertian?”

It was a marriage out of mutual need, but he was a good partner.

As the cold wind brushed against my skin, I shivered.

“The north is said to be cold all year round, and it truly is.”

Even though I layered and wore clothes, the chilly wind sharply pierced and seeped in through the fabric.
“But isn’t it too harsh to be this cold indoors?”

Even inside the room, white breath burst forth.

It seemed as if the duke’s castle, made of giant stones, was riddled with holes everywhere.

“Here is the dress His Grace has gifted to Miss. Please change into this dress and step outside.”

Even from the butler’s scrunchedup nose, a faint breath emerged. Surely, one would catch a cold if they wandered around in such thin clothing.

“But a dress?”

The butler opened the box he’d brought and took out a dress. It was a chiffon dress embroidered with yellow marigold patterns.

“And I’m supposed to go outside in this?”

The corners of the butler’s mouth twitched.

“Her Grace the Duchess also likes it. Since His Grace took careful consideration, and I’ve checked multiple times, naturally, you will……”

“I can’t wear it.”

I rejected it firmly.

“Excuse me?”

Upon hearing this, her upright posture slanted slightly.

“I’ll just wear this and go. Guide me to where I need to go.”

The design was definitely my taste. It had a similar design to what I usually wore, and the unique marigold pattern was excellent. However, if I went out wearing that, I wouldn’t be able to withstand the cold here, and it was clear I’d only come back sniffling.

So, I had to firmly wrap myself in a cape made of rabbit fur.

I didn’t have any relatives to invite to the wedding, so I expected it, but the mansion was more desolate than I thought.

It was a castle several times larger than the Earl of L’Angbery’s.

‘The previous Duke at least had a family.’

The previous Duke’s traces remained vividly everywhere in the castle. Hertian went to war as soon as he received his title, so he probably didn’t have time to tidy up.

I walked around the Duke’s castle following the longtime butler’s guidance. The inside of the Duke’s castle, devoid of any heaters, was filled with a colder air.

“This is the end of the tour. Look around the castle comfortably today, and if you need anything, please find me.”

I nodded with a smile, and as soon as the butler turned around, I wiped my nose that started to drip.

“It seems like the people here don’t feel cold.”

The butler who was moving away was also wearing a thin shirt and a light vest. It was clothing that wouldn’t stand a few minutes in this cold.

I turned around and headed straight for the room where warmth was flowing.

“Whose room was this?”

I think the butler explained it, but I was too busy rubbing my cold arms to remember. But that was only for a moment. Overwhelmed by the returning cold, I knocked first. There was no response. I briefly pondered before turning the doorknob.

“I’ll just warm up and leave.”

Inside, compared to the corridor, it was like a sauna.

I felt my frozen skin thawing as I was drawn towards the fireplace.

“I think I’m going to live…”

Looking at the red embers wrapping around the firewood, I finally felt like I could breathe.

I didn’t know about anything else, but I thought I could live as long as it wasn’t cold.

A deep regret lingered.

Then, I felt a burning sensation on my back.