The Frost Brothers' Despair
The girl sighed softly. "...Haa. Is this the end of it?"
"Mmm... yeah. Venice... thank you again for today."
"There's no need to thank me. If you really feel that way, maybe you could treat me to something delicious later."
"O-Oh! Okay...! I'll definitely... definitely buy you something..!"
Another bitterly cold morning in the North. I began my day by helping the maids struggling to move supplies. The Frost Castle was enormous, and just as its size suggested, turning my head would reveal a new task, and taking a single breath would bring yet another.
"I'll help with that!"
As the newest and youngest arrival in this situation, I simply did my best to work. Of course, Erielle had told me to take it easy... but I couldn't do that.
This time, the job was organizing supplies in the warehouse. There wasn't any particular trick to it, so I simply sorted everything by type and stacked them neatly.
'Let's see... what time is it?'
While walking down the corridor, I glanced at the grandfather clock. It pointed exactly to 11:55. What did that mean? It meant that lunchtime for all the Frost family's maids, servants, and butlers was approaching.
The Frost family provided a full free period from 12:00 to 1:30. During that time, they could eat, and as long as it didn't interfere with later work, they were free to do whatever they wanted.
'...Wow. This must be what it takes to be called an archducal house.'
An archducal house. Honestly, the Frost family and the heart of the North. When I first heard about it, I simply thought it was a somewhat powerful and outstanding family. However, through the gossip of the maids who handled information in this environment and the newspapers I read during my free time, I learned that my thinking had been wrong.
The Empire. The light that oversaw the entire continent. I knew that the Empire influenced the whole continent. After all, it had been well over half a year since I arrived in this world.
And the information I learned this time: the Shield of the North, the Heart of the Northern Lands, Humanity's Final Line of Defense. The Frost family, which carried such titles, was said to possess power nearly equal to that of the Imperial family.
The current head of the Frost family, Breid Frost, grabbing the Emperor by the collar was a fact so widely known that even the maids were aware of it. Honestly, when I first heard that news, I was shocked. To do such a thing to the Emperor of an empire that ruled not just one nation but the entire continent. It was an act that could warrant execution for treason, not just for commoners but even for prominent nobles.
Yet, aside from a slight warning, the Frost family received no punishment for that incident. Of course, publicly it was said they had been severely punished, but apparently that wasn't the case. In any event, it meant the Frost family was an incredibly influential house capable of affecting the entire continent.
Lost in such thoughts while walking, I soon reached the entrance of the Frost Castle. The reason I had walked all the way to the entrance was simple. It was to buy and eat delicious food in the Frost Territory before returning.
Since the castle stood at the very top of the Frost Territory, if I moved at a brisk pace, I could eat during the lunch hour and still make it back before it ended. And today, as always, I decided to head to the stew shop I frequented. It was the cheapest and tastiest stew available in the Frost Territory, where prices were notoriously high.
No matter how good it was, it couldn't compare to Villon's impromptu stew, though.
'...I wonder if they're doing well?'
They must be doing fine. It would be difficult to meet again... but there was still a part of me that wanted to reunite someday and clear the air.
....But with the body of the Ska Mercenary Group's commander already dead, that might be impossible, right?
Pushing aside the random thoughts that had surfaced, I was about to head toward the Frost Territory when voices came from behind me.
"Brother. So that bastard is..."
"...Wait a moment."
Hair as white as fresh snow. And violet eyes that shone brightly even within that snow. Jake Frost and Kyle Frost. I made eye contact with the two Frost brothers as they exited the castle.
"I greet the giants of the North."
""...........""
I immediately offered a polite greeting with proper etiquette. This gesture that had confused me at first had become familiar after doing it several times, so the correct posture came naturally.
"Your name was Venice, right?"
"Yes, it is."
The long-haired, handsome eldest, Jake, asked the question while the slicked-back Kyle stared at me intently. Why was he staring so piercingly? It's not like he had that much free time... Wait, now that I looked closer, it wasn't just staring—it seemed like he was glaring? Why?
Had I done something wrong? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't think of anything...
"Kyle. Stop it. He's Erielle's benefactor."
"Yeah... that's right. Ahem. Sorry. Go on your way."
"....Yes."
Fortunately, at Jake's words, Kyle relaxed his crumpled expression and apologized to me. Hmm... they didn't seem like bad people after all, so that was a relief.
Well then, time to head to the Frost Territory—
"....Erielle!"
"...What? Did he say Erielle?"
At that moment, Jake—who had been maintaining an utterly emotionless expression without a hint of feeling—lit up and looked behind us. Kyle also hurriedly turned around in a fluster at those words.
"Brothers."
From the castle, walking slowly. As elegantly as a flower blooming, Erielle emerged. She still wore that expressionless face without a single smile, yet for some reason, she seemed slightly excited.
"Haha. Erielle, where are you going? Are you heading to the Frost Territory?"
"Yes. I have some business there."
"R-Really?! Then should we go together with your big brothers?!"
...What was this difference? The emotionless mask they had shown me moments ago had vanished completely. Now they wore warm smiles directed only at Erielle. I shouldn't say this, but they looked like hunting dogs baring their teeth at others while only wagging their tails for their master.
"Our Erielle has come out after so long, so where should we—"
"No. I'm not going with you two."
""............Huh?""
At Erielle's firm and decisive answer, the brothers could only stare at her blankly, as if the sky had collapsed. Their expressions were filled with such despair and emptiness that they resembled a father hearing his beloved daughter say she hated him. They froze on the spot with faces so devastated that even I couldn't help but feel sorry for them.
"Venice. You're going to the Frost Territory, right?"
"Yes...? Yes... that's correct. But why..."
"Let's go together."
Erielle pushed my back with her hand and began walking toward the Frost Territory. She didn't spare even a single glance at the brothers staring at her with devastated eyes from behind.
"Y-Yes?!"
"Stop talking and hurry up."
When I tried to resist even a little and slow down, Erielle used her magic to forcefully drag me toward the Frost Territory. Wait, why are you suddenly doing this to me...?
Thud.
The sound of someone collapsing came from behind. But overwhelmed by her sheer physical force, I couldn't even turn my head to look.
'....I'm sorry!!'
I offered them an apology in my heart that would never reach them, holding back tears as I was helplessly dragged along by Erielle's hand.
"Hmm. So you come here every single day."
"Yes...."
Sitting at a shabby table, Erielle looked around the shop's interior with a curious expression. At her insistence, I had no choice but to head straight to the stew shop. That part was fine.
—Isn't that the young lady?
—Who the hell is that guy?
—How dare he...!
The moment we entered the shop, the residents who had been staring at Erielle—shining even in the darkness—soon turned their gazes to me, who was crouching beside her like a rodent, and twisted their faces into vicious expressions.
"...My lady. What brings you to such a humble place?"
"Just because."
"I hope it suits your taste."
Clack.
The owner lady—who had always been as friendly as a foul-mouthed grandmother—placed the stew in front of Erielle with impeccable etiquette. It looked different in color from the stew I usually ate, and seeing the large, high-quality chunks of meat, it was clear the ingredients were completely different.
"....You."
"Y-Yes?"
Bang—!
"....Hic."
"Please do not cause any trouble for the young lady."
"Y-Yes..."
The owner lady slammed my stew down so hard the table nearly broke and glared at me with narrowed eyes. I could only lower my head.
"....It's pretty good. Why aren't you eating?"
"Yes...."
Would you be able to eat in a situation like this?! With murderous glares pouring in from all directions. The dizzying heat and stares made my head spin.
"What's wrong with it? Give it here."
"...Ah, that's my—"
Slurp—
Ignoring my words completely, Erielle scooped up some of my stew with my unused spoon and ate it.
"This one tastes a bit weaker. It's edible. Eat it."
"............"
Crunch. Grind. Crack!
I'm going to die. The moment that spoon goes into my mouth, I'll be killed without anyone noticing! The instant Erielle's eccentric behavior was displayed, even more intense stares poured in. Some people were even gripping forks and knives so tightly their hands shook, as if ready to stab someone!
Shiver shiver shiver.
I hadn't been this scared even when facing dark mages, but my body trembled with fear. This... this killing intent was on a completely different level from that of dark mages...!
'I have no choice...!'
Slurrrp—!
With no other option, I set down the spoon Erielle had used and began gulping down the hot stew directly from the bowl. It was incredibly hot and burned the roof of my mouth, but fortunately it wasn't painful enough to be unbearable.
...Thank goodness I was a clone.
"....Isn't it hot?"
"E... It's f-fine..."
Even if I couldn't feel pain, my entire mouth felt scorched... but it was still better than getting stabbed without anyone noticing.
I had vaguely known that the residents of the Frost Territory cherished Erielle... but I hadn't realized it was to this extent. At this level... weren't they basically like fathers looking at their precious daughter?
Slurp—
"Cough... cough!"
"Eat slowly."
...How touching. I might actually cry.
Crunch grind crack!
Erielle calmly spooned her stew, while murderous intent poured toward me in stark contrast. Caught between them, I could only drink the stew without even knowing whether it was going down my throat or up my nose.