Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Princess and the Grand Duke (3)
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The next morning, Erin woke up earlier than usual. It was because her head felt a bit heavy from tossing and turning all night.
Looking out the window, the garden had transformed into a completely different scene. The new gardener had turned the desolate annex garden into this in just one day.
Knock knock.
At that moment, a knock she'd never heard before came from outside the door.
Normally, the door would have burst open with a bang, but today the knock replaced that noisy sound.
And the owner of that knock was easy to guess.
Only one person could enter this place.
Erin froze, unsure what to do and unable to respond. Soon, the door opened cautiously.
A man entered the room with a cold metallic clink—Kasian.
His eyes were a little more open than usual, and a faint earthy scent wafted from beneath his armor.
He set the tray down in front of Erin, just as always.
"Sorry the meal is late. It isn't cold, so it should be fine."
Normally, Erin would have shoved the tray away, snarling, "What you bring is like slop—I can't eat it."
But today, Erin said nothing, just stared intently at Kasian's face.
"......?"
Kasian's eyes shook visibly. Unable to bear her gaze, he forced a fierce scowl and lifted his chin.
"Why are you staring like that? Scared it's poisoned?"
Erin slowly lowered her eyes to the food on the table. Steaming soup and freshly baked warm bread.
What she had once seen as mockery now looked entirely different. These ingredients were rare in the northern Empire, prepared in the style common back in the Luna Duchy.
'Silly man.'
She recalled the conversation she'd overheard the night before.
This man didn't hate her.
On the contrary, he had been protecting her and her people.
"The soup is delicious. It tastes just like what I had back home."
Erin murmured softly.
Kasian's body stiffened as if jolted. He worked his lips but couldn't find any words.
A single short compliment, in place of the usual torrent of abuse, left the man called the Empire's strongest standing there like a broken doll.
"...Must be a new kitchen staff."
Kasian fled the room. The door closed a little softer than usual.
Erin stared at the door long after he left, then spooned some of the soup he'd brought into her mouth.
Salty tears mixed in, but it felt warmer than ever before.
All morning, the sound of pruning echoed from the annex garden. Hearing it, Erin stepped out onto the terrace.
In the garden, Luhan hummed a tune while tending to the branches.
"Ah, you're up. How about it? The garden looks great now, doesn't it?"
Luhan gazed proudly at the garden he'd crafted himself, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Yes, it's really pretty."
Erin returned his gaze with a warm, lovely smile.
'Yep, letting her eavesdrop on that conversation yesterday definitely made a difference.'
Noticing Erin's change, Luhan cheered inwardly.
"These flowers—how could they bloom in the frigid north? Surviving in this cold, isn't it amazing?"
Luhan pointed to the base of the rose bush.
His words sparked the exact same question in Erin's mind.
'Luna Roses are delicate flowers that rot from the roots at the slightest drop in temperature...'
"Oh, it's because of this!"
Luhan brushed away the soil, revealing the thick root. But its appearance was bizarre.
Not its original white hue—instead, red and blue streaks intertwined like veins, as if scorched by burns.
"What... is this?"
Erin's eyes trembled. Luhan stroked the root casually and explained.
"This is called mana burn. In the Empire's brutal cold, to keep the root from freezing, someone has to inject their own vital mana directly into it."
"Mana burn...?"
"Yeah. Too much strength and the root burns to death; too little and it freezes. It takes intense focus and a massive amount of mana. And someone's been doing it every single day."
Luhan covered the soil again and added,
"Who would go to such lengths? Pouring their mana into the roses day after day so they wouldn't die."
A certain face flashed in Erin's mind.
"...Why didn't that person tell me?"
"You know who it is?"
"I didn't at first... but now I think I do."
Erin replied, her trembling fingers brushing the rose leaves.
Injecting mana into these flowers every day—for her sake.
She couldn't help imagining the ever-icy man kneeling, pressing his hand to the roses.
"Pfft."
The image made Erin burst into a soft chuckle.
Kasian couldn't turn so much as a single page of documents in his office that day.
Her morning words—"The soup is delicious"—looped in his ears like a haunting echo.
Finally, as the sun dipped low, he dredged up a ridiculous excuse.
'It's getting cold lately. I should check if the annex windows are sealed properly.'
He thought it sounded reasonable, but it was a petty pretext that hardly needed his personal attention.
Reaching the annex, he spotted Erin on the terrace, gazing at the sunset against the garden backdrop.
"What are you doing out there?"
Kasian put on a stern tone. He expected her usual venomous glare before storming inside.
But Erin slowly turned, gazing at him calmly.
Eyes that should brim with hatred were strangely clear.
Something was different. Today's her felt nothing like the usual one, Kasian thought.
"Why come to the annex at this hour?"
Erin called out to him. Without thinking, Kasian tensed his shoulders.
"Here to check something quick. You already saw me, so no need to knock."
He dipped his head slightly and opened the annex door.
Erin's lips curved faintly at the sight. She promptly left the terrace and headed to the entrance.
"What are you checking?"
Kasian's heart plummeted.
It was utterly unlike her usual expressions.
No hatred, no disgust.
He hadn't seen this look from her lately, but it was one he'd always longed for.
"It's cold out. Checking the windows. Can't have you freezing to death."
He grumbled curtly, brushing past her to inspect a few windows.
Each time, Erin trailed close behind, sneaking glances at his hands.
"Why stare at my palm so hard? Sorry, no ulterior motives."
"...Grand Duke, do you know about mana burn?"
At her words, he instinctively hid his left hand behind his back.
Last night, forcing mana into the rose root had left his entire palm inflamed red, fingertips cracked.
"Not really."
"Luhan told me. To endure this cold, you have to inflict mana burn on the flowers."
"Close enough to learn his name, huh."
"What I'm wondering is..."
Erin stepped closer.
Kasian knew he should retreat, but his feet felt glued to the floor.
Her pale, delicate hand suddenly seized his rough one.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"I'm looking for someone. The one doing that kind thing every day so the garden roses don't freeze."
"No clue what you're talking about."
He said it, but didn't pull his hand free.
Erin's hand was incredibly soft... and warm.
"Hmm~ But now I think I know who the culprit is."
Erin's lips quirked up ever so slightly.
Not her usual sneer or cynicism—a simple, pretty smile any woman might wear.
"Why did you do it?"
Kasian sensed it instinctively.
Her changed demeanor and words today.
She had learned something.
'Was that voice last night Erin...?'
Kasian's brows furrowed.
What had all his efforts been for? To protect Erin, he'd even feigned hatred for the woman he loved.
But if she knew the truth, what then?
He panicked, facing a scenario he'd never considered.
"...Why won't you answer?"
She'd never spoken to him with such an expression or tone before.
It was overwhelmingly stimulating, but he forced himself to think rationally.
'Buy some time first. Figure out how to proceed.'
Kasian whirled around at once.
"You're acting strange today, Princess. Windows are fine—I'm heading out."
His words were cold, but with her gentle smile filling his mind, he couldn't hide the flush creeping to his ears.
"Bye. And tomorrow, you have to answer. Why you did it..."
Erin's soft voice stabbed into his back.
Kasian lengthened his strides and fled the garden without a word.
Watching his retreating figure, Erin toyed with the rose petal in her hand and murmured to herself.
"Fool. If you're hiding it, hide it right. What am I supposed to do when you make it this obvious?"