Chapter 7
“I’ll unpack for you, Madam. For now, please change your clothes.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me—it’s what I’m supposed to do.”
Yuri joked lightly as she spoke. Elia soon accepted the dress Yuri handed to her.
It was a light, soft negligee—white with a simple touch of frill.
Elia suddenly found it a little odd that Yuri had immediately brought out new clothes instead of the dresses she had brought herself.
When I first came to the North, I didn’t think much of it… but the room feels warm, as if it’s been heated for a while…
The fireplace still held remnants of a heavy fire. When she had climbed the stairs, the chill hadn’t yet left the air, but the room was surprisingly warm by comparison.
“Yuri, you really went to a lot of trouble knowing I was coming. There was no need for all this…”
Elia felt a little guilty—and embarrassed—that she had never appreciated such care in her previous life.
After a brief pause, Yuri spoke.
“Mm… actually, this was all by direct order from His Grace. Here, put this on too. It gets really cold in the North—even inside the castle.”
The moment Elia heard it was Felix’s instruction, her mind went blank for a second.
I had no idea.
In her memory, Felix’s first impression was so cold and merciless that the word “heartless” fit him perfectly.
In her past life, every time their eyes met, she had felt such tension, as if she would be devoured.
But now, seeing the consideration of a man she had thought was only a beast made the corners of her lips curl up unconsciously.
“I’ll have to thank His Grace as well.”
“Of course! Madam, His Grace will be delighted to hear that.”
Yuri smiled and gently draped an outer garment over her shoulders—a cloak made of warm wool.
A wave of heat spread around her. She had lived with these people for sixteen years, and yet now that she had returned, she was discovering so many things for the first time.
Yuri tidied up and left so Elia could rest.
Elia glanced around the room. The windows of the northern castle were smaller than usual to keep out the cold, and thick curtains hung tightly around them.
“Just as I remember.”
The castle was larger than the Marquis’ mansion but bleak, filled with old furnishings. Everything was familiar to her eyes.
I’ve really come back to the past.
Elia clenched her hands tightly, trying to calm her pounding heart.
This time, she would not waste time hesitating.
She would become a pillar Felix could lean on—as soon as possible.
And for Jeremy, she wanted to be a warm, dependable mother.
Knock, knock.
“This is Andrew.”
“Yes, please come in.”
While she was still lost in her emotions, the sound of knocking and the butler’s voice brought her back.
Elia composed herself and stood properly to greet him.
“His Grace wishes to know if you will join him for dinner.”
He placed a hand over his chest and bowed slightly.
Every moment since her return to the North brought back memories of her past actions.
Back then, she had been too exhausted from the arduous journey to attend dinner. After that, Felix had always been so busy that they hardly ever sat at the same table.
“…Please tell him I will join.”
“Shall we go now?”
“Mm, no. I’ll go on my own.”
At that, the butler looked puzzled.
“Pardon? Madam, you do not yet know where the dining hall is, do you?”
“…Ah, that’s true. Then, would you wait a moment, please?”
Elia had lived here for sixteen years, so she knew the layout well. But of course, the butler wouldn’t know that.
She reminded herself to act as though she was unfamiliar and rummaged through her luggage.
The long journey had left her very tired, but the first day was important. She couldn’t afford to miss a single chance to bond with them.
I also need to give Jeremy his gift…
From her bag, she pulled out a glass jar of cookies—ginger cookies. In the North, treats like these were hard to come by.
In this land, often called “the frozen earth,” even wheat was difficult to grow.
The Empire wasn’t as harsh as the North, but its cold climate also made agriculture challenging.
Still, wheat was one of the few crops that could be harvested there, and the Empire used it in countless dishes.
It’s just across the sea, but the difference between the Empire and here is staggering. Sigh…
Elia walked lightly toward the dining hall.
She couldn’t wait to show Jeremy the taste of a sweet dessert.
Dinner was abundant and distinctive—so much so that it didn’t evoke the North’s harshness at all.
On the table were salmon grilled with butter and spices, lobster and white fish, and an assortment of other seafood.
Felix, seated opposite her, glanced her way before speaking in an indifferent tone.
“Does the food suit your taste?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
Elia nodded, bringing a piece of salmon to her lips.
“You seem to like the salmon.”
Felix slid the plate of grilled salmon toward her.
“Oh! …Thank you.”
It was the gesture of a taciturn man. She recalled seeing such moments before, but back then, they had only seemed frightening.
Now, that small consideration made her nose sting with emotion.
Her chest tingled as she finally saw the heart behind his actions.
Feeling slightly shy, she turned to look at Jeremy.
He was pouting slightly as he carefully picked fish bones from his food, completely focused on his meal.
The sight was so adorable that a smile tugged at her lips.
“Jeremy, need some help?”
Elia reached out toward him, intending to take his plate.
Smack!
“I said I’m fine.”
He swatted her hand away. It didn’t hurt, but the sound was louder than expected.
“Jeremy!”
Felix’s low, reprimanding voice called the boy’s name.
At that, Jeremy puffed out his chubby cheeks and glared at Elia.
He must have felt upset, thinking he had gotten scolded because of her.
“I guess I was being silly trying to help when you can do it yourself. Are you angry?”
“…N-No, I’m not!”
When Elia spoke apologetically, the boy flustered and turned his head away.
Hmph. Cute.
Elia remembered Jeremy as a much more mature child in her memories.
Quiet, but always hovering near her.
Back then, she hadn’t noticed—but now, she could see just how endearing he was.
When did he start following me around, anyway?
She recalled the day Jeremy had hidden to avoid his swordsmanship lesson.
“Do you still hate sword lessons?”
“…Huh?”
She had accidentally spoken her thoughts aloud.
“…I mean, most kids dislike them.”
Realizing her slip, she tried to cover it up. Felix, however, was now watching her closely.
“…I don’t hate them.”
Jeremy answered with a slightly sullen expression. Elia sighed in relief and studied his face.
He tried to hide it, but his expression clearly showed he didn’t enjoy sword lessons at all.
Why does he hate them so much?
That question lingered in her mind throughout the meal. Apart from when Elia spoke, Felix and Jeremy ate in silence.
“…I have business tonight. Rest well.”
Felix quietly spoke as he wet his lips with wine.
Ah… the wedding night…
The silence hovering over the table shattered. Elia looked at Felix.
His expression was as rigid as ever.
…!
Looking back, Felix hadn’t even shown his face on their wedding night.
Elia herself had been unwell at the time and felt relieved to avoid the burden of their first night together.
But that’s what caused problems later…
In the Empire, producing an heir was of utmost importance, making the first night a serious matter.
Elia couldn’t conceive, but even so, their wedding night had been critical for how people in the North perceived her.
As she pondered what to do, her eyes caught a bit of white fish clinging to Jeremy’s cheek.
“Jeremy.”
When she called him, the boy widened his eyes and looked at her.
Swipe.
Elia smiled gently as she brushed the food from his cheek.
“All done?”
“…Yes.”
He lowered his head slightly.
The tips of his ears, which peeked out from under his hair, were flushed red.
