Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: One Month Later
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‘She still hasn’t snapped out of it. Was it really that dazzling?’
Near the Moonlight Garden.
My mother, who had a mindset a bit different from ordinary high nobles,
had brought the possessed girl here to introduce her to the glass conservatory named Sky of Pouring Snow,
the place where she used to spend time sipping tea with the maids now and then…
But the girl still couldn’t pull herself together, as if the sparring match from moments ago was replaying endlessly in her head.
I wanted to wait patiently until she came to her senses on her own, until the afterglow completely faded.
But I cleared my throat a bit louder, eager to get original plot info from the princess as soon as possible,
thwart world destruction, end this fake engagement, and be done with it.
“Ahem. Anyway, how’s the tea? To your taste?”
“…Ah.”
Startled by the faint aura laced in my voice, she refocused her dazed eyes and looked at me.
“Ah, yes. It’s truly delicious. What did you say the tea was called?”
“Frost Moon. As the name suggests, it’s tea made from the dried leaves of ice blossoms that bloom under northern moonlight for ages.”
I lifted my teacup to my lips and added the explanation.
“The first sip chills the tip of your tongue to numbness, but the moment it slides down your throat, a wave of warmth surges through your body like magic, clearing your mind. It’s perfect for someone like Your Highness, who can’t quite gather their thoughts.”
“……Your skill at subtle shade is top-tier.”
Roselia shot me a glare, as if my attitude rubbed her the wrong way, then soon lifted her teacup again to savor the aroma.
Truly, luxury lived up to its name.
The vitality was returning to her eyes, which had been utterly unhinged by flashy swordplay just moments before.
And so, in the cozy warmth of the conservatory, gazing at the snowflakes pouring beyond the glass ceiling, we enjoyed our tea in silence for a moment.
At the same time, I felt the atmosphere had ripened just right.
I decided no more delays—time to get to the reason for this tea time, the main point.
“Your Highness.”
“Speak.”
“The rather excessive display of affection we put on today… and Your Highness’s one-sided crush act. Rumors will spread like wildfire across the Empire—not to mention foreign lands—within days.”
I lightly tapped the table with my finger.
“His Majesty the Emperor will no doubt be displeased that we proceeded with an engagement to a northern duke without imperial permission… but he won’t come to Kaltstein directly or resort to force.”
“Because of the pact with your predecessor?”
“That’s certainly part of it… but more precisely, the Emperor isn’t a fool. He knows better than anyone there’s nothing to gain from antagonizing Kaltstein, the greatest shield guarding the northern continent.”
“True enough.”
Roselia nodded in agreement.
Knowing the original story, she’d grasp my meaning right away.
‘…Or maybe not? From what I’ve heard, Kaltstein falls… Hard to say.’
A fleeting doubt crossed my mind, but I already knew there was no point pressing it now, nor could I.
I leaned back against the chair and began the real conversation.
“So, I’ve guaranteed Your Highness’s safety and fulfilled my role as your public shield. I’d say I’ve covered more than half our deal.”
“Right?”
“So now, shouldn’t Your Highness unpack your bundle? I mean the dragon lair.”
“….”
Roselia fiddled with her teacup for a moment, then looked up, resolute.
“Understood. I’ve confirmed your abilities, Duke, so no need to drag this out.”
She glanced around once, lowered her voice, and began in earnest.
“The dragon lair lies dormant beneath the lake called the Mirror of the Sky, at the peak of the Drakenspitze mountains.”
“Beneath a lake… Not a fitting nest for the rulers of the skies.”
“I thought so too.”
“So, head there and we’re in?”
“No. Knowing the location doesn’t grant entry. The entrance is sealed by ancient dragon magic. Opening it requires one very tricky, unique condition.”
“Condition?”
Roselia held up an index finger and continued.
“Not a physical key or incantation. The door demands resonance.”
“Resonance?”
“The lair’s entrance is a massive mana absorption device. To unlock it, you must infuse two completely opposing mana types simultaneously—exactly equal amounts, without a hair’s breadth of error.”
“Opposing auras…”
Before I could ponder, her explanation pressed on.
“For example… mana of absolute freeze, bearing extreme cold, and mana of incinerating flame that burns all. These two must collide and fuse in perfect 1:1 ratio, seeping into the door to release the seal.”
“…….”
“Impossible alone. Even grand archmages can’t wield two opposing attributes simultaneously in perfect balance—that’s dragons’ domain alone. That arrogant race designed it that way.”
Hearing the princess out, I immediately furrowed my brow.
In other words, I needed another partner to sync with me.
No matter how I racked my brain, no one came to mind.
‘I can wield freeze mana thanks to Kaltstein blood. But…’
The issue: my freeze mana differed from ordinary mages’ ice attribute.
Call it a difference in quality?
If typical cold mana can’t freeze flame spells,
my basic ice magic could effortlessly freeze even 4th-circle max flame spells.
Meaning: impossible to fuse with any flame mage stationed north in exact ratio.
And that meant: to enter the dragon lair, find a mage with the exact same unique attribute mana for 1:1 resonance.
‘…This’ll take forever. Flame magic means trekking to the desert kingdom, clear across the continent.’
But as if reading my thoughts, Roselia smirked and patted her chest.
“That’s why you need me.”
“…Pardon? What do you mean?”
“You’re Kaltstein blood, so you wield potent freeze mana, right? And I…”
She opened her palm, and a small but fiercely blazing red flame orb ignited above it.
“…possess the unique solar mana only imperial blood can hold—a flame attribute beyond ordinary fire. Well? A match made in business heaven, no?”
“…Your Highness, you’re a mage?”
I already knew Loen imperial blood all bore innate solar mana.
They knew our secrets; we knew theirs.
Yet I hadn’t considered this princess because her actions so far screamed untrustworthy—thanks to this possessor.
No, all day spewing curses, hogging my “darling” act like it was hers alone.
Who could expect anything from a woman whose antics made my head shake just watching?
I’d hoped only that she remembered this world’s lore properly…
Never dreamed she could use magic.
And judging by the orb’s precision and mana density, she’d even practiced.
“What’s the intent behind that question?”
“…Huh? Ah.”
‘Damn, big blunder.’
Her question made me realize too late: swept by her unexpected charm, I’d voiced a thought meant for my head alone.
“You’re a mage? What’s that supposed to mean, exactly?”
“W-Well, you see.”
A glance at her face screamed, What does this guy take me for?
She kept the flame orb roaring on her palm, eyebrow twitching.
“Cat got your tongue? Why no answer?”
“Uh… well, I meant… the wording got cut. Not just mage—archmage? Yeah, that’s it.”
“…Is that so?”
Mage? Archmage.
I’d botched a more plausible excuse in panic.
But luckily, this possessor was simpler than expected—or innocently guileless.
She bought my lie, covered her mouth lightly, and let out a bizarre giggle.
“I may not have graduated top of the academy, but professors raved about my mana affinity—best in history, they said.”
“……Hmm, I see.”
“Mana control like this is basic for me. I’m versatile, you know.”
She morphed the flame freely into a butterfly, then a flower, showing off.
Unlike her simplistic facade so far, this wasn’t empty boast.
Such precise mana manipulation demanded more than talent.
Proof the original Roselia strove fiercely despite her status.
Proof this possessor had equal gifts.
‘Might actually be a useful partner.’
Her personality remained unpredictable, but for opening the dragon lair, she was irreplaceable.
‘With control like that, when the hell did she possess this body? Feels like sinking deeper into mystery.’
Doubts aside, I drained the last sip from my cup and mentally outlined the plan.
When Drakenspitze’s eternal snows melt, filling the lake with water, not ice.
Any other time, even approaching the entrance would be impossible.
“Then the timing’s set.”
I stood and declared.
“Early March, when the lake begins to thaw. Exactly one month from now, we ascend Drakenspitze. By then, the snow clouds veiling the peak’s sunlight will start to part.”
“One month… Plenty of prep time.”
Roselia nodded, rising too.
Tea time over.
Time to return to our posts and prepare for the promised day.
Before leaving the conservatory, I paused with hand on the doorknob.
Without turning, I spoke in a slightly lower tone.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“That flame you showed today, and the dragon lair details… I pray they’re true.”
“…….”
“If that day, atop the peak, the door doesn’t open… I can’t guarantee anything. Not the northern winter’s ferocity.”
Not a threat.
Just a reminder to a partner about trust.
Grasping my intent, a soft chuckle came from behind.
“Don’t worry. I hate the cold. For survival alone, I’ll open that door.”
“……Good.”
I replied curtly and opened the door.
Cold northern wind rushed in, but somehow, it didn’t feel so chilling.