Aching sorrowfully and shedding tears without reason are alike.

She wanted to move toward where the voice was. But unable to sense any form, she could only continue wandering.

Was she inside the Ice Palace? Or perhaps beyond where the gemstone flowers bloomed? If not that either…

Leaning against the railing, Yerpi’s body tilted and finally fell downward.

She drew closer and closer to the ground, yet strangely, she felt no fear. She knew the owners of the “voice” would protect her.

A rich wind blending all four seasons wrapped gently around her fragile body. Just before hitting the floor, she opened her eyes—not in a dream, but in reality.

Dim light illuminated her vision, accustomed to darkness.

The time she awoke was still early dawn. She should have been drowsy upon waking, yet her mind was clear, as if washed with cold water.

She tried to rise, but couldn’t. A firm arm stretched from behind, circling her waist.

Feeling slightly stifled, she wriggled her body, only for the arm holding her to tighten further.

How long had she lain like this? A low, drowsy voice murmured against Yerpi’s ear.

“…It’s still dawn.”

Raymond was half-asleep, still dazed.

The man nuzzling his nose against her nape like a child throwing a tantrum seemed terribly adorable—more so than last night, even.

Yerpi patted his forearm soothingly.

“I know.”

Hearing her gentle, comforting tone, Raymond opened his eyes. His sleepy gaze resembled that of a languid beast.

He pressed his lips to her slender neck and turned her over into his arms. In the faint blue light, his face came into view.

His features were perfect, as always. She had never thought appearance mattered much—yet seeing Raymond, she realized it was different.

“Why are you staring so intently?”

“Because you’re handsome.”

Her blunt honesty left Raymond momentarily speechless. The thought of flustering him strangely pleased her.

But only for a moment. Soon regaining composure, Raymond set his teeth gently against Yerpi’s earlobe.

“It feels good to hear such praise from you.”

Heat instantly rose through her body. She tried to move her arms to pull him closer, but they only twitched, unresponsive.

It wasn’t just her arms. In truth, she couldn’t even twitch a single finger. The reason? She had spent the entire night receiving him.

Realizing her condition, he withdrew his lips from her ear and adjusted his hold on her.

Instead of tormenting her further, Raymond gently stroked her soft hair.

Her body, tense from the dream, gradually relaxed under his touch.

It felt like being a drowsy cat under its master’s hand. Letting out a faint sigh, she received a kiss on the cheek from him.

“You look like you didn’t sleep well. Did you have a bad dream?”

“Hmm, no. It wasn’t a bad dream.”

If anything, it was a longing dream—one she wished to relive.

She hesitated over whether to bring it up. It wasn’t hard to speak to Raymond, but nestled in his arms, drowsiness was creeping over her.

Noticing Yerpi dozing off, Raymond gently patted her head.

“It’s still dawn. Sleep a little more.”

“…Yes.”

Yerpi answered without even opening her eyes fully. Her body, surrendered to sleep, went slack and heavy.

The story of her dream could wait until morning. It wouldn’t be too late then.

Once more, she sank into deep slumber within the arms of her beloved.

***

When she fell asleep again, she didn’t dream. Perhaps because of that, she was able to sleep deeply enough to recover from fatigue.

Due to her exhaustion, when she opened her eyes, it was already nearing noon.

But the Duke and his wife weren’t the only ones who had overslept. The fatigue from their journey wasn’t easily shaken off.

Today’s first formal meal was scheduled to begin at noon.

After getting ready and leaving their room, the two first headed to Dante’s room.

Knock, knock. As soon as they knocked, Dante popped out as if waiting.

Dante leapt into Yerpi’s arms, grinning widely.

Holding Dante close, a smile naturally formed on her face. As always, but today he seemed even more precious.

“Did you sleep well?”

“I slept well too.”

As she answered, the forgotten dream returned to her mind—along with the voice she had heard.

But the longing she had felt was now filled by Dante. That made it even more precious.

Yerpi tightened her arms around Dante. Meanwhile, Raymond, left standing alone, crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

“I suppose I’m invisible now.”

The bright, playful greeting was slightly more casual than the one he’d given Yerpi.

Chuckling, Dante waved at Raymond, who, despite himself, gently ruffled the child’s hair.

Soon, a maid approached and led them to the banquet hall. But there, a guest had arrived earlier than the Duke and Duchess.

“Who… Sir Ubbus?”

Slumped over the table, clearly hungover, was none other than Ubbus. At his groaning moan, Yerpi flinched and asked,

“Are you alright?”

“Ugh…….”

At her question, Ubbus struggled to lift his head. Facing forward, he looked even worse than when he’d been lying down.

Concerned, Yerpi called a maid and ordered water brought. Ubbus barely managed to grasp the glass and took a painful sip.

“What happened, Sir Ubbus?”

“Haha… Well… That is…”

Pale-faced, Ubbus mumbled evasively. Seeing him in such a sickly state, Yerpi recalled last night’s banquet.

The last time she’d seen Ubbus, he was following Erseria.

Had something happened there? As she wondered, Dreon appeared from beyond the doorway.

Tsking his tongue, he patted Ubbus on the back.

“Are you alright?”

“I feel like dying… Ugh, don’t pat me. I might vomit.”

Annoyed, Ubbus pushed Dreon’s hand away. Dreon shrugged, muttering as if amazed by the absurdity.

“Well, well. I never thought I’d live to see the day you lose a drinking contest. Now that’s something to see.”

“You say that at nearly thirty yourself… Ugh!”

Ubbus hastily clamped his mouth shut. Gagging repeatedly, he barely managed to swallow down the rising nausea.

Seeing this, Yerpi suddenly remembered that Ubbus and Erseria had engaged in a drinking contest.

She also recalled that Ubbus was known as an exceptional drinker within his household.

‘If Ubbus looks like this…’

That meant Erseria had defeated a renowned drinker.

Who would’ve thought such immense drinking capacity was hidden beneath that cold exterior? Then again, she should’ve realized when Erseria proudly brought out the wine.

Dreon seemed to share Yerpi’s thoughts. Placing the tray he carried onto the table, he said,

“Your complexion is quite a sight. Stop babbling and drink this.”

He handed over tomato juice. Apparently, he had anticipated Ubbus’s condition and personally requested it from the kitchen.

Tomatoes had long been famed for relieving hangovers.

Surprised that his superior had taken care of him, Ubbus quickly grabbed the glass with the eyes of a man receiving gold.

“Truly… thank you…”

“Either thank me or drink—pick one.”

Ubbus gulped it down in one go, then hastily began pouring juice from the bottle into his glass.

He was on his third glass when, just before the meal began, Erseria arrived.

Seeing Ubbus chugging juice, she smiled faintly.

“I’m the last one here. My apologies.”

Unlike Ubbus, Erseria looked perfectly sober.

No matter how much the two had drunk last night, Erseria must have consumed a tremendous amount too—yet her complexion was unchanged, appearing perfectly fine. It was almost astonishing.

Ubbus seemed to think the same.

Only now realizing Erseria’s presence, Ubbus raised both hands and feet in surrender, openly admitting defeat.

“You are the only lord who has ever beaten me in drinking.”

“Haha. I struggled quite a bit too. But I was glad to drink for so long with someone again. Honestly, I nearly got drunk myself.”

Ubbus’s face instantly paled. Nearly getting drunk, yet looking so unaffected? Even a passing dog wouldn’t believe it.