IHTTOFR CH 11

Chapter 11

“No, well, there’s no need to go that far… but you really do feel like a protective older brother with a big age gap.”

Since it was an act of concern, Yuliana felt awkward stopping him. She wasn’t that weak. She had learned to handle a sword from Syarvi’s uncle, and she had strong wrists that could swing a cast-iron pan with one hand without flinching.

“I think I can go by myself, though. Probably…”

“People who say things like that always end up getting hurt. Just go with me.”

Even though Yuliana was much tougher than she appeared, her opponent was none other than Leon, the leader of the First Knights, one of the strongest humans in the world. Saying she could fight and use a sword in front of him was too embarrassing.

“I might need your help. Most of the ingredients from the north are quite rough.”

Yuliana hesitated, but Leon continued with a bit more encouragement.

“I’ll help. If you’re with me, you’ll be fine, and then Count Edith will be happy with the food you prepare.”

Yuliana was also weak to people acting kindly toward her. She could easily scorn a rogue who grabbed her wrist and kick them away, but when someone expressed genuine concern, she didn’t know how to respond. Yuliana slowly nodded in agreement.

“Well, if you’re going with me, thank you.”

“No problem. Do you have any warm clothes?”

“Oh, I have a Salamander cloak.”

It was a cloak made from the feathers of a firebird, soaked in the sticky saliva of a fire salamander for three days. Yuliana didn’t like wearing thick winter clothes and waddling around, so one day Ihwa brought the materials, and they made it together.

By putting the huge pile of firebird feathers into a magical spinning wheel, they became thick threads. After knitting them with enchanted needles for a week, they ended up with two cloaks, which came in very handy.

“Good. Then let’s go to the warp gate with that.”

“And what about you, Leon?”

Yuliana reached out and grabbed Leon‘s blue cloak. It was a rough, unenchanted fabric, and if he wore it in the northern cold, Leon might freeze to death. With worry in her eyes, Yuliana looked up at him, but Leon just laughed and gave his usual hearty smile.

“I told you, Yus. That’s my mother’s homeland.”

“Oh!”

“It’s our maternal family.”

So that’s why. Yuliana felt a deep sense of gratitude for Leon suddenly offering to go with her.

“Wait, your maternal family is…”

“Yes. My mother rules Syarvi, Quitule, and Mobik.”

“Duke of the North!”

Yuliana‘s mouth fell open in shock. In Ihwa’s stories, the Duke of the North was an extremely symbolic figure—like the lonely winter wolf with black fur, the ice sword that protected the empire from the northern beasts. He seemed cold and distant, but in truth, he was as warm as a campfire.

The daughters of the Duke of the North were also like that. Cold, composed, and noble—like a red flower blooming in a white snowfield. They were as noble as the crystal clouds seen on an ice cliff at dawn. They even said they were good at archery.

Yuliana’s eyes sparkled as she thought of the idealized image of the Duke‘s family.

“Yes. My mother grew up as the youngest daughter in the Duke of the North‘s household.”

“That’s amazing.”

“Who?”

“Your mother.”

Leon bit his lip. Yuliana wasn’t the type to express admiration openly, even for someone like his mother. She didn’t blush or tremble in his presence, and she didn’t drop her fan. It was the first time he had met a lady like her. But seeing her eyes sparkle as she spoke fondly about his mother made him feel strangely touched.

Meanwhile, Yuliana, overwhelmed by the romanticized image of the Duke of the North‘s family, quickly covered her mouth. Central was truly a place full of opportunities. She was very grateful to Ihwa for entrusting her with the shop at Gran Blanco.

She smiled at Leon, and he, noticing her somewhat greedy gaze, began to wonder what had made Yuliana so fervently excited.

“Somehow, I don’t think you’re really going just for Count Edith.”

“Did I get caught?”

Yuliana laughed playfully. It was rare to have a chance to visit the Duke of the North‘s family. Yuliana‘s cheeks turned red with excitement.

“But I didn’t know it was that impressive.”

“What?”

“I didn’t think Leon would have connections to the Duke of the North’s family… I think I’ll have to start speaking more respectfully now.”

When he was the Commander of the Knights, he was indifferent, but now, at the mention of the Duke of the North, Leon was acting excited. He was even speaking more formally, without any respect for social hierarchy.

It was hard to guess what had changed. Leon shook his head, trying to shake off his thoughts.

“Anyway, if it gets too cold, let me know. I can use fire magic.”

“You’re going to cook with magic?”

“Yeah, I’ve learned it well. I can chop, fry, stew, and boil.”

Magic made the food taste much better. Ingredients grown with magic had even more flavor. Ihwa had always insisted that fire should be used whenever possible, and she had taught Yuliana rigorously for three years. The day Yuliana started a fire for the first time, Ihwa praised her for being faster than expected.

“So, are we ready?”

“Yep.”

Leon’s status was somewhat close to that of a rogue. When he presented his insignia and urgently mentioned needing to return to his maternal family, it was the fastest way to use the portal.

The two stood on a massive magical circle embedded with a magical stone the size of a human head. Soon, mages infused their mana into it, and beyond the torn space, snow was falling. That was clear evidence that they had arrived in Syarvi.

“Syarvi has snow all year round.”

“The red Sijunhwa blooms like blood stains in the snow all year too.”

Leon reached out his hand. Yuliana took it, and in just ten steps, the two of them arrived at the northernmost tip of the empire. When Yuliana looked back, the portal in the capital was already closing.

“The portal is outdoors.”

“It’s designed to be easy to break if necessary. That’s how portals in the borderlands are.”

Leon casually said, then called for a public carriage outside and helped Yuliana into it.

Dylan, hiding in Yuliana’s cloak, was fast asleep. While feathered snakes weren’t particularly sensitive to cold, Syarvi’s chill was unlike any other.

“It’s really cold.”

“Right. Get inside.”

The tall knight hadn’t neglected his training. Leon squeezed his long body into the narrow public carriage, and Yuliana was uncomfortably pressed into the corner. She had the odd feeling that her knee might touch Leon‘s.

“I couldn’t send a message ahead… so we had to take the public carriage to the castle.”

“What would have happened if you had sent a message ahead?”

“The butler would have sent a carriage.”

“Ah. It must be a grand carriage.”

Leon didn’t answer and just laughed. Yuliana remembered the numerous carriages she had seen in Gran Blanco on her first day in the capital. They were certainly much more extravagant than a public carriage. There were colorful carriages with various family crests racing around. The Duke of the North‘s carriage would surely be magnificent.

“If Uncle or Grandfather found out, it would be a huge deal.”

“Leon rode a public carriage?”

“More like, they’ll be surprised that we used a public carriage when we had guests.”