The Beriela Mountain Range with its eternal snow was the symbol of the North. In the empire’s mythology, the Beriela Mountain Range was a terrain born from the First Goddess’s tears. Southerners regarded Beriela as a mysterious place inhabited by fearsome snow people and various spirits. Being geographically close to the Wall, those rumors were taken as established facts.
“You need to get off now.”
Having left the thriving streets of the city, the group traveled down a winter forest path with bare branches. The northern forests showed no trace of green. Fortunately, the road was well-paved, as it was the path to Tildyen Rock.
When a knight opened the carriage door, cold wind rushed in like an ambush. Anya tightened his winter robe made of animal fur for warmth and carefully stepped down from the carriage. The soft snow crunched beneath his shoes. Since Maneregia was a region where snow rarely fell, this was quite fascinating to him. Though curiosity stirred within him, everyone was watching him. Anya tried to appear dignified.
“There are too many stairs for the carriage. Do you know how to ride a horse?”
As the knight said, the group had stopped in front of hundreds of gray steps. Anya stared up at the endless staircase in a daze. Above them, the outer wall of Tildyen Rock was visible. The castle, resembling a massive rock, truly was located halfway up the snow-covered mountain.
“Your Highness?”
I-I’m sorry. Anya bowed his head at Lorea’s inquiry. Lorea furrowed his brow in bewilderment. Though he had consistently maintained a protective attitude toward the prince, it was only due to his nature that valued knightly dignity and human compassion. Now that they had arrived in the North, he worried whether this boy could properly fulfill the role of the lord’s consort.
“I-I c-can’t ride a h-horse.”
With a face that looked like it was burning up, Anya awkwardly gave his answer.
“Isn’t it obvious just by looking at him?”
The magician was originally excellent at delivering barbs with a smile. He meant, why even ask such a question? He seemed oddly prickly, perhaps already tired from the long journey. But Anya, feeling guilty about losing the precious ring the magician had given him, was willing to accept whatever words the man threw at him. Besides, it was true, so there was no reason to feel bad. He only felt embarrassed about becoming a burden.
“I… I’ll w-walk up.”
At those words, the knights’ gazes instantly bore down on Anya. Wh-what did I say wrong? Having been confined to the carriage, Anya hadn’t realized how sharp their gazes were, like well-honed swords. They were certainly a group that worshipped martial prowess.
“Little one… I mean, Your Highness. These stairs are much higher than you think. And the northern winter weather is unpredictable. If a snowstorm suddenly hits…”
Riario spoke with a smile, but his smile was somewhat stiff, with one corner of his mouth raised crookedly. He desperately hoped someone would cut off the prince’s foolish words, not wanting to be left out in this insufferable cold any longer.
“Anya.”
At the sudden mention of his name, Anya flinched. Evernight was looking down at him with a cold face from atop his warhorse, which was almost as large as himself.
“From now on in Tildyen, you’ll have to choose one of two options: either stay quietly tucked away, or volunteer for a dog’s death.”
At that terrifying threat, Anya’s face turned pale. Somehow, the knights also seemed to be looking at him with expressions of dismay. Anya quickly realized he had been under a great misunderstanding all this time.
“Come here.”
The reason they had appeared so kind… was only because he had become too accustomed to the people at the imperial palace who completely ignored him.
He felt ashamed for expecting that life in the North would be different just because they had spoken to him and given him medicine.
“…”
Anya carefully approached Evernight. The man leaned down, slipped his hand under Anya’s armpit, and lifted him up. Through his stiff back, Anya felt the cold metal.
‘I’m such a fool. I got carried away without realizing it.’
In truth, they hadn’t been kind to this half-wit prince; they had merely been calculating their interests. A disposable pawn for the North’s development and a contract marriage partner. Just that.
This cold boundary, suddenly realized, made the boy’s heart even more chilled amid the falling snow.
After quickly ascending the high stairs, crossing the drawbridge, and passing through the massive iron gate, they arrived at the castle’s inner courtyard. Swift servants, already informed of their master’s arrival, stood in line.
“Master, welcome back.”
As the man standing at the front bowed his head, the other servants all bowed their waists in unison. Evernight smoothly dismounted from his horse and grasped Anya’s waist. His hand was extremely large. Helped to the ground by Evernight, Anya stared at his own feet, unable to properly look at the servants’ faces.
What if they notice how stupid I am? The vague excitement he had felt had already cooled before the harsh reality.
“This person is…”
“My companion.”
The word “companion” carried a weighty meaning. The servants stirred slightly. Isn’t that a man? Could it be a woman? When the butler cleared his throat, everyone immediately closed their mouths.
“Show him to his room.”
Evernight somewhat insensitively pushed Anya’s back. Anya tried hard not to stumble due to nervousness.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Gregos, the butler who manages the castle.”
The elderly butler gave Anya a respectful greeting. I-I am A-Anya. Unable to decide what surname to use, he only stated his name. When he stammered, the butler’s expression changed momentarily, but it was such a brief moment that Anya didn’t notice.
“I have already prepared a banquet for the great knights of Tildyen.”
Soon, the butler skillfully gestured to a servant standing behind him. Several servants received the horses from the knights and headed toward the stables.
“Whew, though I couldn’t show it, I thought I was going to die of hunger. Karen’s stew is amazing, but… you need to oil your insides to gain strength. Gregos-nim is always one step ahead!”
He’s truly a master butler, a master butler. Sisou beamed a bright smile and showed a thumbs-up to Gregos before quickly running into the castle. That idiot. Karen and Lorea followed with contemptuous looks on their faces.
“Ugh, these endless snowflakes. I’m going to sleep until tomorrow afternoon in a warm, soft bed. Don’t wake me up.”
Riario shivered and entered with somewhat leisurely steps. Last of all, Evernight entered, cracking his neck side to side.
“Your Highness. I will guide you to your room. Ah, would you like to have dinner first?”
If he sat at the same table with them, he would surely get indigestion. An invisible boundary mercilessly pushed Anya away. The boy silently shook his head with a gloomy expression.
Tildyen Rock was the North itself. The main hall somehow felt empty, and the windows rattled in the biting wind. As the cold air seeped through, Anya trembled involuntarily. The interior of the hall lacked any notable decoration. In the gray hall filled with a desolate atmosphere, the regular footsteps of the two people echoed.
“This is the main hall. Inside, there is a great hall for social gatherings. At the far left are the kitchen and dining room where you can enjoy feasts, and at the far right is the reception room.”
Gregos calmly explained the interior structure of the castle to Anya. Anya nodded, making sure to show that he was listening attentively.
“The guest rooms and the master’s bedroom are on the second floor. The knights prefer to stay in the annex near the training ground rather than in the guest rooms.”
Listening to the butler’s gentle explanation, Anya climbed the stairs leading from the main hall. The second floor was equally bleak. The sun was setting, and servants were oiling the corridor wall lamps and lighting them.
“The master’s bedroom is this way. And… Your Highness’s room is directly opposite.”
The thought of being so close to Evernight somehow made his entire body stiffen with tension. Fortunately, in the bedroom, a fireplace was crackling and emitting a warm glow as it burned logs.
In this unfamiliar environment, with awkward people and evaluating gazes directed at him, Anya wanted to get into the warm bed as soon as possible.
“I heard the wedding will be held at the castle. The schedule seems quite tight, but if you give instructions, we will prepare wholeheartedly.”
Anya, who had just entered the room, looked at Gregos with wide eyes.
“You didn’t know?”
Though his tone was extremely polite, it somehow sounded reproachful. Anya gave a fumbling answer.
“N-no. I-I knew.”
He was incredibly ashamed of his stuttering.
“If you write down what you need on parchment, I will arrange it immediately.”
As Gregos said, there was yellowish parchment, a pen, and an inkwell on the bedside table. Anya awkwardly ran his finger over the tabletop. The rough wooden surface touched his fingertips.
“Then I wish you a peaceful night.”
Gregos bowed and withdrew. Now alone in the room, Anya clutched his chest. While the always-empty separate palace had been lonely and isolating, this place was suffocating in a different way.
“If I d-don’t want to d-die, I h-have to do w-well. Anya… Evernight.”
Anya muttered like a prayer, holding his trembling hands together. As his surname changing from Claicer to Evernight suggested, a completely different life would unfold for him from now on.
‘Either stay quietly tucked away, or volunteer for a dog’s death.’
Evernight’s words piled up in a corner of Anya’s heart, like the falling snow.
