#080

Deep winter had settled over the entire Ruffellon territory. The frost that spread from the ruined western wall now covered the entire vast territory.

The roads were frozen, making it difficult for carriages to travel, and horses often slipped. Heavy snow fell thickly, covering the roofs. Some roofs, not built to withstand such weight, collapsed.

Over the past six days, more than thirty orphans and vagrants who roamed the streets had frozen to death. It was a natural consequence, as this was a place where even the cold never froze the ground.

The Elves were also not faring well. Relying only on tents without proper homes, the condition of the young and old Elves was worsening.

As a result, Moet and Cullen, who were helping him, became busy. Ulli also joined. Arne, unintentionally, became mixed with the Duke’s servants to prepare for the banquet, but Ulli said he had managed to slip away.

“Haven’t seen that braggart around lately?”

Ulli said suddenly while helping Cullen and Moet distribute relief supplies. The Young Duke was so focused on banquet preparations that he had barely paid attention to Moet’s actions for the past three days. Whether it was fortunate or not, thanks to this, Moet could distribute the castle’s supplies to the Elves and the poor as he wished.

“He will be at the Elf village.”

Cullen replied, and Ulli looked interested.

“What wind blew him there?”

“He seems concerned about the Elves.”

“That’s unexpected. He doesn’t look like it at all.”

Cullen nodded. Since the night six days ago, Lasano had voluntarily sought out and helped the Elves.

For six days, Cullen had made plans with the party. Moet, citing the freezing temperatures, had arranged for the territory’s residents to be evacuated to communal facilities, including the temple.

Indeed, many houses had been damaged by the cold snap, and there were no complaints as Moet had compensated the temple and merchants who lent their spaces. The territorial residents seemed satisfied with the free warm shelter and food provided for a few days.

The knights had also been deployed. While the Duke’s elite knights guarded the mansion under the Young Duke’s command, the rest were on standby for the territorial residents. Now, only the Elves needed to be evacuated for all preparations to be complete.

“I’ll be able to see him before I leave, right? I’ve never seen him before, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“I don’t know if there will be time, but I will try. More importantly, you should prepare properly.”

The figures in black robes had not yet shown themselves. Although they had asked Ulli, Arne, and Moet to keep watch just in case, nothing had been detected. They had not appeared at the Elves’ dwelling where Kwanu was either.

Time flowed both slowly and quickly, and today arrived. Regardless of how the mastermind acted, Cullen had decided how to deal with Kwanu.

He didn’t know how he would act when faced with the moment of eternal slumber, but Cullen had to directly strike Kwanu’s weakness that he had heard about. Cullen would be the one to act, but Ulli would also be on standby in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

The statement that Aksha’s power was needed could not be interpreted precisely, but the conclusion was that Lasano’s divine power, or blessing, seemed necessary. Kiyen’s conjecture was likely correct.

As a name he had consciously suppressed surfaced, Cullen paused while carrying supplies. For nearly a week, Cullen had barely seen Kiyen. Since no particular threat had arisen, he hadn’t felt the need to seek out Cullen.

Cullen had also done the same. He had deliberately not sought him out. A fleeting glimpse of him had been painful.

He didn’t know if he was obtaining the desired information well, but Cullen saw Kiyen standing beside the Young Duke from afar, smiling. Seeing a face that was hard to see even once reflected on someone insignificant was unbearable.

Kiyen wouldn’t need him, so Cullen, to ignore his own troubled and petty heart, had not sought him out since. All necessary conversations had been held. He would only be a nuisance if he saw Cullen. It was the right decision.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

As Cullen remained still, Moet stepped forward. Ulli was also watching him.

“I am fine. More importantly, have all the invited nobles arrived?”

“Yes. The young lady of the Barony of Brich arrived earlier, so everyone is here.”

“That’s amazing. Given the weather and the situation they heard about, to travel for days to come here……”

The nobles gathered today were children of nobles who lived a week’s journey away by carriage.

Viscount Exion, fortunately, did not seem to be involved in this matter. If someone like Kihelene’s fiancé were involved in such a sordid affair, it wouldn’t end as a minor incident. Moreover, Silfir Exion would have much to do, having risen to the rank of Marquess for the territory’s restoration.

“The banquet will begin in two hours. I was unable to ascertain who supplies the Cadmium… I couldn’t find out. I apologize.”

At Moet’s apology, Cullen waved a hand.

“That is sufficient. That is my task. You should now protect the villagers with the knights as planned and wait for the work to be finished.”

“But….”

Moet’s eyes, filled with concern, peered over his glasses, still fearful of Cullen’s plan to throw himself directly into danger.

“Go.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

As Cullen spoke with firm resolve, he boarded the carriage.

The knights bowed to Cullen. Over the past few days, Cullen had mingled with the knights, personally repairing houses and transporting supplies. Though he didn’t know what was being said among them, the knights had become increasingly respectful towards Cullen.

Once Moet departed, only Cullen and Ulli remained. She watched the departing carriages and said,

“If only all nobles were like that, the world would be livable.”

A bitter voice was heard, and Ulli looked at Cullen.

“It would have been good if there had been royalty like you sooner.”

“That seems difficult.”

Cullen replied, recalling that he was the only royal in history to have commoner blood mixed with his own.

“That’s true. What royal would be better at this kind of menial work than a knight?”

Ulli sat down on the ground, looking suspicious. She tapped the grass in the garden as if to invite him to sit beside her. Cullen looked down at her, then slowly sat down beside her.

“Isn’t the ground cold? There’s no need to do this here.”

“Once we go inside, it’s straight to work. Let’s rest for a moment.”

Ulli said casually, then hugged her knees with her arms, tilting her head as she looked at Cullen.

“Shall we share secrets?”

“I don’t particularly wish to.”

Despite the blunt refusal, Ulli simply continued.

“I’ll go first. As you probably know, I’m an orphan. My father died before I was born, and my mother worked herself to death trying to raise me well from nothing.”

Rather than waiting for Cullen’s reply, Ulli was just speaking her mind.

“No one helped us. That’s why I hate men, hate nobles, and hate royalty.”

Their eyes met.

“But you seem alright. There’s no one who volunteers for such troublesome and dangerous work.”

Ulli’s slightly curved eyes caught his attention. Following her advice from last time, Cullen realized anew that she had opened up to him considerably.

His ribs felt a heavy pressure from the inside. A feeling similar to the camaraderie he felt with Cecil or his colleagues made Cullen uncomfortable.

“It’s your turn. You don’t have to if you don’t want to talk.”

Ulli said in a cheerful voice and rested her cheek on her knee.

Watching her short blonde hair scatter, Cullen hesitated. He felt dizzy. The comfort he felt towards those around him, all these emotions. They were mortals. Like Cullen, they would eventually die, and could lose their lives in the very events of the night. Their lives were fleeting.

They were not comrades. They were companions, merely temporary ones. It was better not to share unnecessary conversations. For both sides. And yet…

“Mine is similar.”

Cullen opened his mouth. Ulli had many similarities to him. Once he started speaking, his lips parted again. A tiny fraction of his long-held silence, his story, lingered on his tongue. It was Kiyen’s voice that cut through that moment.

“I was wondering where you were.”

Cullen and Ulli’s gazes turned to Kiyen. His face, silhouetted against the red sky, was expressionless. As expected, there was no smile on his lips. He stood at the boundary between night and day. Silhouetted against the moment the moonlight was about to overturn the world.

“Lord Kiyen.”

Cullen rose from his seat to greet him. Ulli looked at Kiyen with sharp eyes and stood up as well.

“The banquet will begin soon. You should go into the mansion, as they might appear.”

Kiyen said, looking at Ulli. Ulli had also been assigned the duty of surveillance until she left the mansion at night. It was a waste of time to delay, as they could appear at any moment. Kiyen was right.

“I don’t listen to your orders, you know?”

Ulli retorted rebelliously. Yet, as she took a step towards the mansion, she grabbed Cullen’s clothes before leaving.

“Ah, Cullen. You have something on your clothes.”

Ulli blinked and brushed off the dry grass stuck to Cullen’s clothes. The grass, which had been bright green just a few days ago, was now yellow and clinging to his clothes. Cullen flinched but didn’t stop her, letting her be.

“…Thank you.”

“See you inside, then.”

Ulli ignored Kiyen, waved only to Cullen, and went inside. Kiyen watched her retreating back expressionlessly, and as soon as Ulli disappeared, he spoke.

“It seems you’ve found someone you like.”

“…What?”

Kiyen continued without any change in his expression.

“You’ve never let anyone touch you before, have you? You even drew your sword on me.”

Cullen blinked blankly. Kiyen’s words weren’t sinking in.

His heart tightened. Kiyen was cruel to ask if he had come to like someone else, after Cullen had made a sincere confession. The question itself represented Kiyen’s identity, and was beautiful, yet painful because of it. It was hard to breathe.

It was a word he had never spoken aloud in his life. A feeling he never thought he would give to anyone. It was a word spoken with all his emotions and joy, and it remained precious even if rejected. It was too rare to lose.

Kiyen, who thought he might have casually given such feelings to someone else in the meantime, was heartless, and Cullen’s expression hardened. He wasn’t angry. But he was distressed. It hurt so much that it was difficult to act as kindly towards Kiyen as usual.

“What brings you here, Lord Kiyen?”

Cullen therefore did not answer that question. Kiyen’s eyes narrowed.

“The promised time has not yet come. If you don’t mind, I will go in first and check if ‘they’ are coming.”

Cullen dared to speak so rudely to the owner of his heart. It was because he felt he might blurt out his disappointment otherwise. He didn’t want to make Kiyen uncomfortable again by being unable to control his one-sided feelings.

Without waiting for Kiyen’s reply, Cullen started to walk past. It was the moment he passed by his side, the subtle scent wafting from him as he slightly lowered his head. A quiet voice stopped him.

“You did not answer my question.”