Chapter 38
Along the corridor’s edge stood a row of battle uniforms, each distinct in color and design, displayed neatly in a line.
From leather battle uniforms to those made from monster hide, iron armor suits, and even ones imbued with elemental magic — the variety was staggering.
Among them, a golden uniform, strikingly similar to the one Grey had once worn, exuded an overwhelming sense of grandeur just by standing there.
“Are all of these battle uniforms?”
“Yes. Starting from that end — those are the oldest.”
Theo pointed toward the one on the far right — a weathered leather uniform.
It certainly looked the oldest.
From one glance, it was clear how the styles and materials of the uniforms had evolved over time, making the hallway feel almost like a museum.
Liriope walked closer, eyes sparkling, and began examining each one with fascination.
“Do you like them?”
Theo asked, watching her.
“They’re amazing. I didn’t know you had such a hobby.”
“It’s not mine. They’re all works of my predecessors.”
Theo’s calm reply made the word predecessors echo in Liriope’s mind — bringing back flashes of his childhood.
What little she knew of it was grim and filled with despair.
The death of his father, the Grand Duke, and the greedy relatives who coveted the duchy…
They had targeted young Theo’s life, and so, from an early age, he had endured trials harsher than anyone else.
Yet even as a child, he had clenched his teeth and fought to protect his domain and his people. Now, though still young, he was revered by all of the North — the radiant sun of the North.
Truly, he was a man one could not help but respect.
“Then, what is your hobby, Lord Theo?”
Liriope withdrew her hand from the uniform and turned toward him.
Theo naturally took her hand in his as they continued walking.
“Hm. I’m not sure I have one.”
“Oh my, then what joy do you live for?”
“And what about you? What’s your hobby?”
“Me? Well…”
Liriope paused.
Come to think of it, her hobby used to be reading romance-fantasy novels.
But ever since she came to this world, she hadn’t had the time — or the environment — to enjoy it.
Maybe I should find a new hobby.
Now that she was destined to live a comfortable life without worrying about money, she thought it might be nice to have a few pleasant hobbies.
So she simply shrugged and said,
“I’ll make one from now on.”
Theo nodded lightly.
“Then let’s make one together.”
* * *
The grand ducal castle was as vast as the imperial palace, and even after walking half of it, they had seen only a fraction before finally retiring to the guest quarters.
The room next door was for Grey, and the one on the opposite side was for Theo himself.
Why he insisted on sleeping on the guest floor instead of his own room was a mystery, but as the host, it wasn’t her place to object.
Liriope sat on the bed, relaxing as she admired the room’s enormous window that took up nearly an entire wall.
From this height, the entire duchy spread out below her.
As night fell, the Grand Duchy shimmered with countless lights, the glow mingling with the pure white of falling snow — a breathtaking sight.
Approaching the window, Liriope stared out in awe, silently wishing that this beautiful, peaceful land would never again be shrouded in misfortune.
Then suddenly, the cluster of homes to the right — the village — was swallowed by darkness.
Even if the villagers had gone to sleep, there was no way every light would go out all at once.
Especially here, where the cold was so fierce — no one would dare extinguish their hearth fires.
Something was wrong.
Alarmed, Liriope rushed next door.
She knocked urgently.
“Lord Theo! Lord Theo!”
No response.
Perhaps he had already gone to bed?
As she called again, the door to the next room opened — and Grey stepped out.
“What’s wrong, Lady Liriope?”
Dressed not in her usual uniform but in a comfortable nightgown, Grey looked every bit the graceful woman she was.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just need to speak with Lord Theo. Go ahead and rest.”
“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow, my lady.”
Catching on quickly, Grey nodded and returned to her room.
Liriope sighed softly and knocked twice more on Theo’s door.
Still no sound from within.
Just as she was about to give up and turn away, the door clicked open.
“Te—!”
She turned — and froze, eyes widening.
Theo stood there, drying his wet hair with a towel. His upper body was bare.
Liriope’s gaze instinctively followed the lines of his torso.
She’d known he was in good shape — but not this good.
His body wasn’t the coarse bulk of a trained soldier but the precise, refined strength of a warrior — muscle shaped through survival rather than vanity.
His damp hair fell over his forehead, making him look younger, yet no less striking.
“What is it?”
That voice — deep, calm, resonant — matched his appearance all too perfectly.
There was simply nothing lacking about him.
“Liriope?”
His gentle tone calling her name snapped her back to reality.
“The village,” she blurted. “The small village on the right — all its lights just went out.”
She quickly explained what she had seen, and while she spoke, Theo’s aide, Adil, came running down the corridor.
“Your Grace! The flames in Sendali Village have all gone out!”
Theo’s eyes widened.
“Sendali?”
“Yes, suddenly — every light at once.”
After answering, Adil turned to Liriope and bowed politely.
“Good evening, my lady.”
Then he quickly continued to Theo,
“It’s the same as the last time the outer fires went out. I suspect the unquenchable flames have—”
“Go on ahead. I’ll be down soon.”
Theo cut him off with a wave of his hand.
Adil nodded once, glancing back at Liriope with pleading eyes — as if silently begging her to help — but he couldn’t say anything aloud under Theo’s gaze.
The fires of the North had been going out because of the black mage’s interference.
The Empress had been using dark magic to torment the North, extinguishing its flames and bringing suffering to its people.
Liriope recalled how Theo had taken Linix with him last time to rekindle the outer fires.
Now that she was here, she thought, it would be solved far faster.
After all, she’d practiced her fire magic and could now control it much better than before.
“I’ll be right back, so go to bed,” Theo said calmly.
Liriope’s eyes widened.
“I’m coming with you.”
Theo immediately frowned.
“No.”
As he turned to dress, Liriope followed him inside.
“Why not? I’m the one who can make the unquenchable flame — if I come, it’ll be solved right away!”
“I’ll handle it. You don’t need to.”
“Oh, come on! I could fix it in no time!”
Her exasperation made Theo pause mid-button, his expression turning cold.
“That’s not why I asked you to stay the night in the castle,” he said quietly.
“I know that! But the situation’s changed. Wouldn’t it be faster if—”
“This is my duchy. I’ll take care of it.”
He slipped on his jacket firmly.
For some reason, he was stubbornly refusing her help.
You had no problem borrowing Linix, but not me?
Liriope, now irritated, snapped back,
“You’re the one who said I’m yours, aren’t you? You said I could do what I wanted. What kind of man takes back his words that fast?”
“The village fires are completely out. You can’t imagine how cold it is.”
“Then imagine your people, freezing to death in that cold! I can give them warmth — right now! You hardheaded idiot!”
The words burst out before she could stop them, mixing formal and informal speech.
Theo blinked, startled, as she realized what she’d just said.
But there was no time for embarrassment. The people came first.
She spun on her heel and shouted,
“Wait here! I’ll change and be right back!”
* * *
Only after arriving in Sendali Village did Liriope finally understand why Theo hadn’t wanted her to come.
This wasn’t the kind of cold she had ever known.
The air itself froze her lungs — each breath burned like ice.
Even wrapped in a thick fur cloak and boots lined with fleece, the ground beneath her feet felt as though it could freeze her bones solid.
Each step she took made her body sway. Seeing this, Theo cast a ring of his own fire magic around her.
But his flames weren’t unquenchable — each gust of wind threatened to snuff them out.
Eventually, Liriope raised her own hand and summoned her eternal flames, encircling herself, Theo, Adil, and the guards in their glow.
At last, relief spread through the group.
“Thank you, my lady.”
“The unquenchable flame truly is remarkable.”
“We’re fortunate you’re here.”
But Theo, displeased, turned to her.
“Don’t overdo it, Liriope.”
“Don’t worry. Just leave everything to me.”
Liriope flashed him a confident smile and stepped into the first house of Sendali Village.
