Chapter 6


    2. Laritte and weing winter in the heart of the mountain


    As the end of dawn drew near, small cotton-like balls began to fall from the sky. By morning, a thought


    came to Laritte’s mind when she looked out the window.


    “I won’t be able to nt the seeds I bought.”


    She let the words flow straight out from her mind.


    She bought roots that were tenacious so she could nt them at this time of the year, but it all went to


    waste as soon as the snow began. She thought of bringing the dirt inside as she moved to the kitchen.


    Milk was boiling in the pot she had prepared beforehand and was now emitting steam; she was going


    to make milk tea.


    Foam was floating on top of the milk. Laritte carefully poured the milk into a cup before cing it next to


    the breakfast she’d prepared in advance.


    A gentle aroma filled the warm air. And with that, her milk tea the colour of caramel was easily


    prepared.


    “Hm.”


    She silently watched the foam on the tea float around in a counterclockwise direction. Suddenly, she


    remembered something.


    Ah!


    Laritte opened the drawer. Amongst the various different spices she’d bought, some coloured sugar


    was hidden. She used a small spoon to get some of the sugar and added it to the milk tea.


    Finally, to finish everything off, she took out a teacup. Nobles of the Iasa Empire drank tea as if it were


    water. Commoners who saw them do it proceeded to follow in their footsteps. However, Laritte had


    never made tea before. Wouldn’t she be quite full with this?


    Laritte wasn’t able to afford it. The only reason why she prepared all of this was because of the Duke.


    Laritte opened the door of the first room to the left of the entrance. Therge door to the entrance made


    a loud sound, proving how old it was. Creaaaak.


    Ian let out restless breaths as heid ill on the old and shabby bed, the morning sun shining upon him.


    The bed used to be moldy, although Laritte had managed to restore it quite nicely. That was because


    she found suitable mattresses and piled them up neatly.


    He looked at her with cloudy eyes. She asked him,


    “How’s your fever?”


    “I think… I feel a bit better….”


    Laritte ced the tea that she brought on the table and rested her hand on his forehead. It felt burning


    hot.


    “What do you mean you feel a bit better? Are you just bluffing or is this a special characteristic of the


    Duke?”


    “…… “


    Despite his painful headache, Ian released a small smile. Of course a noble would give such an


    answer. It was in their nature to act gracefully without any worries.


    Let alone the fact that this was the first time they’d met. Laritte hadn’t been aware of it either. Though


    now she just thought of it as a useless lie. Why would someone who was sick and breathing heavily act


    ording to those rules?


    “I brought you some milk tea. I happened to stumble upon some leaves in the marketce. I thought


    it’d be good for you to drink the tea with milk as well. I don’t think you’re in good enough condition to


    just drink tea on its own…….”


    The original use for the milk she bought was to produce a sauce for dipping bread into. But, she had


    used all her milk for the milk tea. If she wished to make her fondue she’d have to walk a few hours to


    get to the vige.


    Ian struggled to get up and to drink the milk tea. Thanks to the sugar, the drink was easily swallowed. It


    made him feel much better. It was onlyter that he realized he had already drank half of it.


    Although, the fact that there was milk here was amazing enough. Milk. No matter how chilly the


    weather was these days, there were still items that would easily spoil. Since the vi was in the middle


    of nowhere on a mountain and far from a farm, milk was precious.


    “…..Thank you.”


    He said as he handed Laritte the empty teacup. She helped him rest and covered him with a nket. In


    other people’s eyes, Laritte’s face remained calm and unreadable.


    Besides, before she started living in the mountains in this vi, Laritte had always had a tendency to


    live the way she wanted, which was widely considered to be odd. Someone with no awareness might


    even say something like ‘Have you seen that person with no passion? They must’ve been hurt in the


    past’, or something of that sort…


    Thinking about it, the way she cared for him was generous. Furthermore, she must have known he was


    a traitor, but she was sensible enough to let that pass. With his whole heart, Ian felt grateful towards


    her.


    “I’ll have to open the window for a bit; it may feel cold.”


    The body is inclined to be weak after ack of air for a long time. Ian felt fresh air on his cheeks


    when Laritte opened the window and ventted the area. He bit his dry lips.


    “Is it raining?”


    “No, it’s snowing. Though it’s stillte fall, the weather has been getting colder these days.”


    “Snow…….”


    “Do you not like snow?”


    “No, I like it.”


    Especially because the snow seen here by the vi was special to him. Ever since he was young, he’d


    visited this ce often. Even if it wasn’t close to the capital, he came to y here every spring. The


    wild flowers grown here were breathtaking and it had also been his mother’s favourite spot.


    By the time his height had reached half of an adult man’s, Ian stayed at the vi for a long time. The


    reason was because this was where Selena, his mother and the former Duchess, stayed before she


    passed away. Selena Reinhardt had a rare disease.


    A few weeks before her death, Selena needed toy down for at least the majority of the day. Even so,


    she and Ian watched the sky from the front entrance of the home. It was an unforgettable memory.


    For Ian, it was when hey in Selena’s arms as she rested on the rocking chair, watching the snow.


    Ever since her death, Ian had stopped visiting the vi. It was because every time he went, he was


    reminded of her empty seat.


    The vi stopped being cleaned regrly; they hoped that time would eventually take care of it and left


    it to rot. It was just a coincidence that he came here.


    “You shouldn’t have be an enemy of the Imperial family.”


    His subordinate, Bartolt, had said when he stabbed him in the vicinity of the Western sea. Ian removed


    the sword from his wound, feeling both the pain of betrayal and the wound.


    “However, what can you even do with a wound like that?”


    “Bar…tolt…!”


    He was a swordmaster strong enough to take down elite troops, but he wasn’t able to fight back


    against his subordinate whilst bearing a painful stab wound that would eventually kill him.


    Contrary to what the public seems to believe, he wasn’t murdered by a prisoner of war. Instead, he’d


    found a chance to escape and had run away. He hopped onto a wagon and escaped to the next town


    over. Finally, he arrived at a vige nearby after a long while of hiding and running.


    Many of his wounds had healed over time, but he couldn’t afford to stop now. ording to what Bartolt


    had said, the people pulling the strings behind his assassination were the Imperial family. They were


    most definitely searching for him, so he had to find a ce to hide. Remembering the existence of the


    vi, Ian had climbed all the way up here.


    ‘The peasants said that the house was vacant and that the Duke wouldn’te here.’


    Even with the light of amp, the area was dark. The nearest vige was at least half a day’s walk, so


    not even the small children woulde here out of curiosity… was what they thought.


    Even if he had to bear the pain of the stab wound whilst climbing up the mountain, it was worth the risk.


    In the end, there was someone in the vi. And that very person imed to be his wife.


    Ian’s eyesnded on Laritte. Thergest room in the vi was his bedroom. The second was the room


    containing the firece. Laritte was cleaning up the ashes in the firece and loading more wood to


    prevent them from getting cold.


    “……”


    Originally, that was the maid’s job. Ian wondered. The Brumayer family mustn’t have been sad to send


    their only daughter out here since they’d left her here alone.


    She must have gone down to the vige to get the things they needed. But they’d been together for a


    large part of the day. Maybe she secretly reported him– it wasn’t like he was going to be able to doubt


    that fact anyways.


    “…..Look.”


    His throat felt parched and his voice was scratchy.


    He thought he could tell her the fact that he was being framed. He wanted to tell her the truth too.


    “Yes?”


    The moment Laritte turned her head–


    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Ian lifted his upper body but his vision started bing blurry and foggy. He pressed his hand against


    his forehead, trying to stay conscious. But his body refused toply with his orders and tilted to the


    side…


    He closed his eyes, and thest thing he saw was Laritte running towards him.