‘Everyone went to the land of all seasons, so why only this light?’

There was also one more thing that caught her attention. Unlike the deeply engraved front portion, the side appeared blurred, as if not fully drawn yet—almost as if it weren’t a complete mural.

But she couldn’t learn the full story. Erseria had only guarded the mural, not known its deeper history.

“The blizzard will cease soon, so I can guide you then.”

What mattered most was when they could depart for the Forest of Decisions.

Though the land was covered in winter, the weather was gradually changing.

And given that the blizzard was still raging fiercely, extra caution was absolutely necessary.

“How long will it take?”

“If we’re fast, roughly about a month. Until then, please stay and rest comfortably.”

A month. Yerpi repeated Erseria’s words silently in her mind. Immediate departure was impossible, but regret still lingered, unavoidable.

Understanding Yerpi’s feelings, Erseria recommended some nearby tourist spots around the manor.

“The blizzard near the estate is expected to subside within a day or two, so you might enjoy exploring the vicinity. Not far from here is the Winter Firefly Cave. The flight of insects carrying sparkling lights is quite a spectacle.”

[Insects that sparkle? Sounds fun!]

Dante, who had been perched on Yerpi’s shoulder, floated into the air. Circling near Erseria as if urging her to continue, he made the lord smile faintly.

“There’s also a small village inhabited by a tiny species of summoners. Would you like to visit?”

[Yes! Great!]

Despite her stern expression, Erseria genuinely liked children.

Even Dante, who had initially kept his distance, soon began to feel comfortable around her.

The once timid Dante had gradually become a child who enjoyed adventures and embraced new cultures.

Occasionally, his previously shadowed face would flash across her mind.

Even seeing him so bright now, she still sometimes worried—had the wounds in the child’s heart truly healed?

‘It would’ve been better if his mother were here.’

She knew well she couldn’t change the fact that Dante’s biological mother had hated him. Yet, unconsciously, she found herself wishing this:

‘If only I had truly been Dante’s mother.’

She would never have hurt the child from the beginning. She would have loved him with all her affection and attention, treasuring him like the most precious treasure.

Sometimes, when holding Dante in her arms, she felt it—a fleeting illusion that she really was his true mother.

“Dante, come here.”

[Yeah! Yerpi, there are lots of fun places in this winter land. You’ll come with me, right?]

She loved that look in his eyes—eyes that naturally assumed she would always be by his side. After all, she would never betray the child’s heart.

And Raymond felt the same way.

When Yerpi said she would come along, Dante turned his gaze to Raymond.

Raymond gently patted the child’s head without hesitation. Dante beamed with even greater joy.

Winter days end quickly. Though it was only four in the afternoon, the sun had already vanished, and thick, dark clouds loomed black overhead.

The lord hosted a grand dinner for the guests. In lands where cold raged fiercely, serving high-calorie food was standard practice.

Roasted moose legs—massive deer-like creatures—arrived alongside various rich meat dishes.

Among them, the butter-roasted poultry, plump and juicy, was particularly exquisite.

[This is super delicious!]

“Really?”

Seeing Dante enjoying his meal, Yerpi picked up her fork. After taking a bite, her eyes widened.

“It’s delicious.”

The taste was astonishing. Was this what ‘melting in your mouth’ meant?

She had worried the fatty meat, drenched in butter, might be overly greasy. But a blend of spicy seasonings perfectly balanced the richness.

The tender meat separated from the bone with the slightest touch.

Seeing Yerpi enjoying herself, Raymond turned to Erseria with a request.

“It’d be great if you could share the recipe later.”

“Oh, but that’s a top-secret recipe of our manor.”

The light joke ended with a promise to hand over the recipe when they departed.

Meanwhile, Yerpi kept busily feeding herself. But after eating a fair amount, her throat began to feel dry.

As she fidgeted with the wine glass beside her, a servant arrived with red wine.

Before pouring, Erseria briefly explained the drink.

“This is a 150-year-old red wine. Made exclusively from rare Ruby grapes grown only in the winter lands, crafted by master artisans of the era. We’re opening it today to commemorate the visit of the Grand Duke and his wife.”

“That precious?”

Yerpi murmured in quiet awe. The servant began filling the empty glasses.

Indeed, as claimed, the liquid in the glass shimmered like a gemstone.

The aged wine lived up to its reputation, rich and deep in flavor.

Moreover, its full-bodied, dry character paired exceptionally well with the rich poultry dish.

This reaction wasn’t limited to Yerpi alone. Even the picky Raymond was overeating compared to usual, and the prince’s party was no different.

Among them, Ubbus’s reaction was particularly striking. Though, his attention was focused more on the wine than the food.

“Goodness. I’ve never tasted wine with such a fragrance.”

“You’re quite the wine drinker, aren’t you?”

The prince reacted with curiosity at Ubbus’s exclamation.

Ubbus came from a family renowned in the wine trade.

Like his relatives, he was not only a great connoisseur but also a true expert.

“What’s there to say? This is top-tier, even among high-grade wines. In value, it’s on par with a national treasure.”

Ubbus shot Erseria a sidelong glance, as if questioning her sanity for serving such a rare drink.

“Honored guests have arrived. His Grace decided to skip the wedding ceremony, which was quite disappointing. I do love grand parties, you see. But since winter domains rarely receive noble visitors, hosting large gatherings is difficult.”

Erseria smiled and poured more wine.

Watching the bottle empty, Ubbus gulped dryly.

He clearly found it painful to see such a precious wine disappear. Seeing this, Erseria chuckled and called out to him.

“I’ve heard you’re quite knowledgeable about alcohol. Would you care to accompany me to the cellar? I’m quite fond of collecting various wines myself. And we have plenty more of this vintage, so no need to worry too much.”

“You’re saying you have stocks of this precious wine?”

“We have many even more valuable ones. I do know a thing or two about wine. And I love drinking it immensely.”

A competitive spark lit up in Erseria’s smile.

Her hobby wasn’t just collecting wine—it was also defeating others in drinking contests.

Ubbus instantly grasped the meaning behind her smile.

“Very well. Please lead the way.”

Quickly rising from his seat, Ubbus urged her forward. His determined posture made it clear—no one should try to stop him.

The only reason he had obediently followed his family’s order to become a priest was because the temple didn’t prohibit alcohol.

Ubbus followed Erseria out.

Meanwhile, Dante, who had been eavesdropping on the adults’ conversation, floated into the air and eyed the wine greedily.

[I want some too!]

“Ah, no, you can’t!”

The servant holding the wine hastily dodged.

Dante jabbed at the servant’s arm like a mosquito with his snout, insistently demanding wine.

Startled, Yerpi rose to stop the child. But before she could, Erseria turned back and approached the banquet hall.

“I nearly forgot about the young master. I’ll have some winter pomelo juice brought for him. Please bring it.”

“Yes, right away.”

As if prepared in advance, another servant appeared carrying a large glass bottle. Inside, a bright salmon-colored drink sloshed gently.

Though it was the winter land, fruits didn’t grow nowhere. While certain plants only thrived in extreme cold, their fruits were exceptionally rare.

Winter pomelo was no exception. Its ruby-like translucent red fruit was rich in sweet-tart juice.

Juice made from these rare fruits became a special drink with a balanced blend of sweetness and acidity.

Served with ice cubes floating in it, the drink looked fragrant and inviting. Dante grabbed the glass and gulped it down eagerly.

The pomelo’s refreshing sweetness cut through the greasiness of the meat perfectly.

[Delicious! Sweet and tangy!]

“Drink as much as you like. Winter pomelo aids digestion. Now then, I’ll take my leave to guide our guest. Let’s go.”

One could only wonder how extraordinary the drinking contest would be—and who would win. Dreohn clicked his tongue as he watched the attendant eagerly follow.

“Tsk, tsk. Really, once he sees alcohol, he loses all sense. And the lord is a lady, no less.”

At those words, Yerpi turned her head. She had just realized they were leaving for a drinking match.