Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: The Snow Duke's Way of Love? (2)
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To the students of the academy—no, to all mages on the continent—Estelle Sylvestra de Roshiar was practically an idol.
How much so? When I first heard the Snow Duke's name, it was mentioned alongside Terra's.
Of course, if asked who was stronger between Terra and Estelle, I'd pick the former without a second thought.
But setting aside my personal assessment, Estelle's achievements and the prestige of the Roshiar family were enough to stir a small whirlwind in Pharenchia right as the break was winding down.
—I saw the Snow Duke sitting by the lake this morning!!
—Haven't a lot of people from the royal family been coming around lately? Is she maybe taking a professor position?
—Or it could be business with the Luhillen商会. Trade in the North Sea is still limited, after all.
—I heard all the reservations for the villa in Bayou Pass's back mountains filled up in an instant. I should've come earlier...
The academy was buzzing with energy even before classes resumed.
All thanks to students returning from their families just to catch a glimpse of Estelle.
Naturally, the canteen was enjoying a modest boom, and I found my eyes drifting to other business opportunities without realizing it.
'What if I sold Snow Sisters merch?'
Like bottling the ice crystals born from Adella's tears as lucky charms.
Or snipping off a bit of Estelle's hair.
On an afternoon filled with such trivial thoughts, a familiar cry suddenly echoed from somewhere.
—Piy~.
—Grrr...!
I stopped the iron hounds from baring their teeth and welcomed the vivid bird and its owner to the canteen.
It had been a while: Princess Erzebet.
"What brings you here?"
"Haa... Excuse me for a moment, Louis."
She looked utterly exhausted and irritable.
At her gesture, Piy circled the canteen once, grandly.
"How was your break? Did you stay in Thessalon?"
"No? I haven't stepped foot outside the academy."
"Why's that?"
"Sigh... More importantly, Louis. You haven't caused any incidents lately—or plan to in the future, right?"
The question came out of nowhere.
I glanced at the iron hounds, now masterless, and nodded calmly.
"None at all."
"Good. Keep that mindset. I have to go talk to the Chairman now, so..."
With a deeply troubled expression, Erzebet left with Piy.
"What was that about?"
I shrugged it off and got back to diligently cleaning the freezer for its new owner.
A small bench by the lakeside.
Sitting where Louis had kissed her twice, Estelle surveyed her surroundings.
Students murmuring from afar, too timid to approach.
Attention was starting to focus on her.
It was only natural, really.
She had been sitting there motionless, lost in thought, from last night until now.
Her slender fingers pressed firmly against her lips, unmoving.
Like the lake's gentle flow, only thoughts of Louis streamed endlessly through her mind.
Louis's value.
Her assessment of him.
'Bringing Louis into the family would undoubtedly be worthwhile. Political marriages for gain hold no appeal for the iron-blooded Roshiars. His abilities and heir potential are far better suited to strengthening the house.'
'Like Bachran's stone bamboo that endlessly drains ground moisture (???), even after laying me down once, he craves dominance. Pride, lust, flashy looks, and a touch of consideration explain Adella's obsession too.'
Rational thoughts.
'But can I truly entrust Louis to my sister? Adella has no intention of taking the lead in their relationship. She might even hand over the entire Roshiar house at this rate. That must be stopped at all costs.'
Logical conclusion.
'In the end, I have no choice but to step in. For the family. For her wish. No matter how disheveled I appear, I must reclaim control. Yesterday proved effective, so if we just overlap our bodies a bit more...'
It was none of that.
Estelle knew full well.
Crunch!
"What am I even agonizing over?"
Blood welled from her bitten finger.
She froze the wound to staunch the bleeding, then gritted her teeth at the realization that all her thoughts were mere excuses to draw closer to Louis.
No pulse still throbbed under her hand on her chest.
But if not affection, then what had changed her so?
"Hoo..."
After an all-nighter of turmoil, she finally decided.
"I don't know."
It might truly be for Roshiar.
Or mere rivalry toward her sister.
"I have no idea."
Perhaps the keen insight of a master strategist.
Or the fevered sigh of a woman addicted to dizzying pleasure.
"But I won't run."
That's what Roshiar meant.
That's the woman Estelle Sylvestra was.
"Winter is always cold, after all."
The Snow Duke froze the lake once more today.
By the time I arrived at the usual rendezvous amid the villas, people had already gathered like clouds.
Everyone stared fixedly, as if watching a spaceship launch.
Pushing through the crowd, even I couldn't hide my shock at the serene lake surface—formerly a lake.
A massive ice castle stood atop it.
Crack!
As I approached the gate, the ice split open, revealing the entrance.
Bone-chilling cold enveloped me.
Thud! The door sealed behind me as I stepped inside.
Soon, Estelle descended from the transparent spiral staircase atop a hall reminiscent of a ballroom.
Her heels clicked crisply on the ice, clear as her eyes.
Not cold at all, apparently—she wore a thin dress again today.
Ice crystals dotted it here and there, lending an even more dress-like elegance.
"Where's Adella?"
She'd left this morning, surely.
"Sleeping in her room. She'll wake soon."
"Mm, but yesterday..."
"Enough. I'm not that oblivious."
"Right... Huh? Your hand's hurt? What happened?"
"..."
She balled her bruised finger and muttered as I stared.
"You know tricks like that won't work on me..."
"Tricks?"
"Nothing. Follow."
Estelle turned quietly, half a pace ahead.
Traversing the vast castle behind her, I spotted familiar structures.
"Roshiar Castle. The one in Edenbury."
"You remember. It's a perfect replica. The part you smashed is already fixed, by the way."
"Where are we headed?"
"Quietly follow. I have something important to say."
We arrived at a space I'd seen once before.
Not during my North Sea visit, but in Adella's past memories.
The grand dining room lined with portraits of past house heads.
The cold table where Adella had sat dazed was now truly ice.
Estelle trailed a finger over the spotless surface and spoke.
"Now comes the most crucial step: awakening the unique magic circuit. Normally, one circuit holds countless spells, but we wield unique magic forged from our personal wishes within it."
She pointed to the largest portrait on the central wall.
"Anna Borte de Roshiar. The first Snow Duke froze time."
Come to think of it, Lehel had mentioned it.
A Snow Duke who used a time-freezing unique circuit.
"What magic do you use?"
"None you've endured, so don't bother guessing. My prized spell is reserved for demons."
"...Adella needs to learn that too, right?"
"Not learn—realize. All preparations are complete."
"Preparations?"
Click.
Passing the dining room and a short corridor, we entered a small room.
The door locked automatically behind us.
Before us loomed an intensely frigid ice bed.
Simultaneously, a massive boom echoed from the main gate.
"She saw the note."
"What'd it say?"
"If she can't breach my fortress, I'll claim all of you here—body and soul."
"Body and soul... what?"
Squeeze.
Soft sensation awakening every nerve, Estelle's stunning beauty inches from my face.
Despite the chill, blood rushed southward.
Her voice remained flat, tinged with irritation.
"This is all your doing."
"Mine?"
"You embraced my sister last night, didn't you? Even after I warned that her superiority complex would delay the unique circuit's awakening."
"That's..."
There were circumstances.
Adella's unique circuit required zero karma in her body—pure mana only.
Without regularly extracting it via Dispel, no training mattered.
"You should've clung to me there instead of brushing me off, Louis."
"..."
But why demonstrate it so physically?
Was she sulking that I didn't take her side?
"Don't stand so stiff. Put your hand here."
"Where?"
"...Where you want. Idiot."
Or tempting me unconsciously?
"I'll say it again: this is your fault."
As I wrapped her waist, she huffed softly—like about time—and lowered her gaze.
"To stoke my sister's jealousy beyond what I endured yesterday, only one method remains."
"Kiss?"
"Touch me. As you please."
Her cold hand caressed my cheek.
"I'm not your lover, but until that gate falls, I permit it."
Touch her body freely as desired.