Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Between Love and Friendship -1
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Snowy plains. Vast, pristine snowy plains stretching into the distance.
In this frigid land where your breath turns to tiny clouds that scatter into the sky, people live who resemble snowflakes in both body and soul.
It's unclear whether they've come to resemble snow after living together with it for so long, or if only those who already looked like snow dared to set foot in the North.
It's amusing and strange how living beings that emit warmth are so identical in form to the ice crystals falling from the sky.
Piled-up snowflakes are, in truth, quite coquettish.
One might think them cold due to their temperature and color, but why do they settle on skin and absorb its heat? They were waiting for a warm person to embrace them.
This snowflake clinging desperately to the window frame is no different. Hanging fluffy alongside the frost on the glass, it actually yearned to land on the back of a human hand.
But having fallen here, what can it do? Snow has no legs to move, and the wind won't carry it away with the frost holding it fast.
Its only hope is to pray that the mansion's maid cleans the window frame. If swept down by a broom, it might even pray to be reborn as a snowman.
So for now...
It had no choice but to endure the long wait and loneliness, simply biding its time.
It's better off than the snowflakes piled on the roof, at least. The window frame turned out to be a surprisingly good spot. Peering inside the mansion is astonishingly entertaining.
Unlike snowflakes, humans never rest, always bustling about. Watching their vibrant movements makes time fly by.
And today, something especially stimulating seems to be happening.
"Who do you think you are? God, you're ridiculous. You think His Grace will overlook you just because you sway your hips like that when you walk?"
"If you're new, just do your job properly. Don't start your day with makeup. How much powder did you slather on to look this pathetically pale!"
"...I, I didn't put on any makeup."
"Now you're resorting to that obvious lie? Ugh..."
The mansion's maids had surrounded a beautiful woman, spewing venomous gossip. Their eyes brimmed with jealousy and envy.
It was understandable. The woman with hair like polished ebony was so stunning that even the wind and clouds would envy her. Even winter flowers would pale before her.
And her figure's curves? Perfectly sculpted. Full where they should be, slender where they ought to be.
Had the goddess spent countless hours and effort molding her without a single flaw? There wasn't a blemish to criticize.
So they had to find fault elsewhere.
"The garden beds were a total mess. You think you can botch the work like that and then flirt your way out of it with that vulgar body?"
"......"
"Can't even clean properly—hilarious. I have no idea why the head butler took in a half-wit like you. Did you shake your hips at him or something?"
Poor thing.
Dejected by the onslaught of insults? The beautiful woman bowed her head deeply, hiding her hands behind her back. The maids took it as a sign of surrender, their faces smug with triumph.
But they had no intention of stopping there. Riding high, they planned to hound her relentlessly until this eyesore was driven from the mansion!
Why did they hate her so much...?
As the snowflake wondered, the frost on the windowpane provided the answer. The mansion's servants were divided into two warring factions: those serving the First Madam and those serving the Second Madam.
But the woman sided with neither. If anything, she leaned toward the Northern Grand Duke. That made her an enemy to both sides.
Bat-like wench. Fence-sitter. Clueless idiot!
How to torment her? What excuse to yell at to chase out this irritating pest? Right—claw her face.
If scars marred that smug, flaunting visage, she couldn't charm anyone with her looks and would be tossed out!
Just as that malice colder than winter itself was about to pour forth...
Click-clack. Click-clack.
From down the corridor came the sound of heels striking the floor, and a woman in an elegant dress appeared, her brown hair swaying.
She scolded the servants in an irritated tone.
"What is this? I thought dinner preparations weren't ready yet."
"S-Second Madam..."
"Instead of chattering, get back to work. My husband returns in just a few days—no room for even the slightest negligence!"
"...Yes, Madam."
Rustle-rustle.
The maids scattered, leaving only the poor woman and the Northern Grand Duke's Second Wife in the corridor. The Second Wife carefully checked her for injuries and asked,
"Are you new? I don't recognize your face."
"Ah, yes... The head butler took me in, so I've been working here for a week now. Thank you for saving me... Madam."
"I just warned some lazy servants. The First Madam's maids are arrogant and jealous—if you want peace, skip the makeup."
"I, I really didn't wear any. It's just my skin tone."
"...I'll check, and if it is makeup, you'll get a harsh scolding. Even like this?"
The woman nodded.
The Second Wife, half-doubting, removed her glove and rubbed the woman's cheek with her thumb. Not a speck came off—it was pristine.
"No lie, huh?"
How did she maintain skin like that? No laborer working outdoors could keep such a hue—had she been nobility originally?
Looking at her again with that in mind...
The woman didn't seem overly intimidated by the Second Wife. Normally, a status gap would make one shrink back and mind their manners.
Instead, she gazed at the Second Wife with a sense of intimacy.
It flustered her a bit. Since her political marriage into this grand ducal mansion, no one had looked at her that way before.
Not even her husband, who always glanced at her coolly.
Feeling a ticklish warmth, flustered at herself, the Second Wife politely asked her name in accordance with etiquette.
"I'm the Second Wife of the Grand Ducal House, Neriel Brune. And you?"
"Heart, Madam!"
Heart curtsied gracefully, her manners refined nobility. Neriel was convinced: she had surely been a noblewoman.
Thus, the two quickly grew close.
The world of nobility is chilling. They hide their true selves behind masks, wrap sharp words in euphemisms, and eye each other obsessively for weaknesses to devour.
The world of women is the same. They gather in cliques for sordid gossip, and treat outsiders with ruthless severity.
Perhaps colder than snowflakes.
Second Wife Neriel Brune was a northern provincial noble detached from the Grand Ducal House.
Born when Northern Grand Duke Elbillion's father divided his power among vassals, she was, to the Grand Ducal House, the bloodline of a traitor.
Married for peace between them, but the Northern Grand Duke showed her little interest. It was political, after all. His coldness undermined her authority.
Thus, the First Wife's maids subtly scorned Neriel Brune. Even the Grand Duke's own retainers kept their distance from the Second Wife, knowing she lacked his favor.
How lonely that must be? Her only allies were the servants she'd brought.
To such a woman...
"Good morning, Neriel!"
"Don't call me by name. It's improper. I'm the Grand Duchess, you're a servant!"
"But such a pretty name... Wouldn't it be a shame not to use it? When it's just us, what if I say it with utmost respect, syllable by syllable? Would you forgive me then, Ne-ri-el?"
"Ugh... Do as you like. But never in front of others!"
Heart approached with such warmth.
Like a spoonful of hot stew to someone shivering in the cold, spreading comfort from within to every limb.
They couldn't help but grow close. She wanted to. In winter, everyone craves fire—nothing strange about it.
Neriel began keeping Heart by her side. To ensure even the First Wife's maids dared not touch her.
And Heart would warm Neriel's heart with her lovely, beautiful voice.
One day...
Neriel confided her deepest worry to Heart.
"...My husband's so cold to me."
"Oh no..."
"I understand it's a political marriage. I know my father betrayed the Grand Ducal House. That's why they married us to reconcile. Still... since we're married, wouldn't it be nice to get along?"
Yes, it's marriage, after all.
A man and woman standing before a priest, swearing by the goddess to become family. Yet Northern Grand Duke Elbillion was ruthlessly indifferent.
Neriel tried to get along. She initiated conversations, cooked for him herself, even wore provocative clothes to his bed.
All rejected. Truly.
On their wedding night rejection, Neriel buried herself in bedcovers and sobbed.
"...I have no confidence we can ever get along. The thought of growing old in this icy mansion surrounded by cold lumps forever is suffocating!"
"That must have been so hard. But you're amazing, Neriel. Not everyone can keep trying like that."
"Trying changes nothing. Nothing at all... That's why people cheat, I suppose. Maybe I should just bring in some random man!"
Thud thud.
Neriel pounded the bedsheet with her fists. She didn't mean it, of course. It was just her frustration boiling over.
She'd tried so hard. So very hard.
Was her beautiful youth to wither unused like this?
As anger faded, sorrow took hold. Neriel's face grew sodden like seaweed in water, and seeing it, Heart resolved herself.
She couldn't leave it like this.
A kind soul who helped a bullied servant deserved a happy ending. She suited a warm spring.
Time to act, she decided.
Heart knew the Northern Grand Duke well, which strengthened her resolve. Duke Daisy wasn't that heartless.
There must be a reason for his coldness toward a girl trying for his sake. Perhaps giving her an excuse to leave anytime. That was Heart's guess.
If mutual goodwill existed, bridging the gap was simple... So, with conviction, Heart told Neriel,
"Someday, he'll surely recognize it. Definitely!"
"...You really think so?"
"Yes, of course...!"
Because I'll make it happen.
As the two women's hearts intertwined in that small room, a commotion erupted outside. People rushed about clamorously.
Neriel peeked through the curtains: a large carriage entering the mansion grounds. The Northern Grand Duke, the master of the house, had returned!
"H-Heart! Do I look okay anywhere?"
"Hold still—I'll quickly fix your hair!"
Heart soothed the flustered Neriel, neatly arranging her hair and smoothing every wrinkle in her dress in an instant. Then she accompanied her downstairs and out the door.
As she reached the ground floor and opened the mansion doors...
A handsome man with sky-blue hair slicked back neatly, sharp as an ice sculpture. Northern Grand Duke Elbillion Julius was just stepping down from the carriage.
"The righteous and lawful ruler of the North, His Highness Grand Duke Elbillion Julius, has returned!"
How strikingly handsome.
Even someone so aloof makes you gasp at that face. Neriel ignored her faintly pounding heart, standing proudly at the entrance.
"......"
The Northern Grand Duke turned. His eyes widened.
And not just surprise—joy, delight, warm emotion flickered there? Neriel's heart raced wildly. Heart was right.
Had he finally recognized her feelings?
Step. Step.
The Northern Grand Duke approached. Neriel ran through dozens of ideal responses in her head, discarding them one by one.
Finally settling on one, she mustered more courage!
Awkward, but still. Enduring the embarrassment.
"Dear, welcome ho──"
"Heart... Am I seeing things? You, here of all places."
"......"
The Northern Grand Duke brushed right past Neriel.
Neriel creaked her head around. That ruthless Northern Grand Duke, who never once smiled at her, was beaming radiantly... at Heart.
"I can only be grateful for this reunion... May I ask what happened?"
"No, Daisy... This isn't the time to focus on me. Didn't I tell you to remember me like an orange?"
"The sweetness of that orange just wouldn't fade."
"......"
Crack. The sound of her heart shattering.
The Northern Grand Duke smiling before her eyes, Heart's pupils trembling awkwardly. Laughably, beautifully like a masterpiece painting. So perfectly matched.
And so...
Neriel felt the world crumble around her.