Hopes for the Wintergard Heir
Alfredo knew it. "Lately, seeing Your Grace has been such a pleasure."
"Suddenly saying something like that?"
"How could this old man live without such happiness?"
Alfredo could sense that the atmosphere in Winter Castle was exceptionally good these days. Especially the Grand Duke's face, which he'd watched for nearly twenty years, looked far brighter than before. Normally, Alfredo would have been unable to shake off his worries about the Grand Duke from morning onward. Meeting after meeting with his ministers and nobles. Even after the meetings ended, he'd spend the time buried in paperwork until the very end. The Grand Duke's days had consisted solely of work, work, and more work.
"Now, it seems even this Alfredo no longer needs to stand guard in this room, Your Grace."
"What... You've been by my side all this time. Can't you just stay?"
The Grand Duke spoke, then glanced subtly at Daniela across the room. Daniela was intently reading a book. Alfredo already knew what it was. The Grand Duke had told him, but apparently in the South, novels and books common in the North weren't easy to come by. Alfredo sighed inwardly. It was something the Grand Duke would never have allowed in the past.
"Your Grace, may I withdraw now?"
"Sure. It's already late at night."
"Do you still not need a new bed or anything of the sort?"
"Nah, it's fine."
"I can't imagine how you manage to sleep like that. Isn't it harming Your Grace's health?"
"No. I lie down and sleep just fine."
"In that case..."
Alfredo already knew. In truth, the Grand Duke received reports on everything happening in the North and Winter Castle, overseeing it all. But he rarely took care of himself. At best, the only time he truly relaxed was in the bathhouse meant to relieve his fatigue. Especially, there had never been a single instance of him leaning on someone else to rest.
"Your Grace, forgive my impertinence. But if it's harming Your Grace's health..."
"It's not."
"Then, shall I assume you're sleeping lying next to Lady Daniela?"
"...."
The Grand Duke said nothing. Alfredo already knew, but he wanted to hear it from the Grand Duke's own mouth. What nobleman—or what man—could sleep soundly next to a woman? Of course, it might be possible. If he had no thoughts whatsoever. He might toss and turn for a few nights. For an ordinary man, it wouldn't matter. But the Grand Duke was a noble figure to Alfredo, revered by the entire North.
"Your Grace!"
"It could happen. Besides, Daniela falls asleep quickly."
"Your Grace, as someone who prioritizes your health above all..."
"I get it, I get it. It's nothing serious."
Only then did the Grand Duke explain how he shared a bed with Daniela. But the more the Grand Duke explained, the less pleased Alfredo felt. Of course, he didn't show it, but to the Grand Duke, who was vulnerable to women, this seemed like yet another challenge. But wasn't he being too shy? If a man shared a bed with a beautiful woman, there were proper steps he ought to take!
Alfredo wanted to cry inside. Such a noble figure refusing to heed their advice.
"I just wait until Daniela falls asleep, then squeeze in beside her and sleep a bit."
"Your Grace, I'll prepare a cot right away."
"No need."
"Your Grace, it's harming your health. You must sleep properly for your well-being..."
"No. It's fine."
Alfredo knew it all. He could feel why the Grand Duke was so stubbornly refusing. Surely, with a single word from him, not just a cot but an entirely new room could be prepared. But he wasn't doing that. Perhaps it was actually for his health. Not physical health, but mental.
"If that's the case, as long as you don't stay up too late, I can worry a little less."
"Don't worry. Hey! Go do your work! Handle other matters!"
"As expected of Your Grace."
"What now."
"They say wolves only rest beside the woman they love. As the successor to wolf blood, aren't you the true heir?"
Alfredo grinned at the Grand Duke. Lately, praises for the Grand Duke had been flowing nonstop. Alfredo could easily sense the mood among the ministers and nobles. Indeed, the legitimate, great blood of Wintergard! The one who quelled the rebellion at a young age, resolving the North's politics, economy, and issues all!
"Don't say that. Hexon and Bildo have been going on about it lately too."
"As expected of the North's Grand Duke."
"Go on, do your work. I..."
The Grand Duke trailed off, but Alfredo already knew. Once he stepped outside, he'd chat endlessly with Daniela. How he managed those talks while working was a mystery to Alfredo. But one thing was certain: to him, an incredibly sweet air lingered in the room.
"Then I'll go prepare Your Grace's bath."
Alfredo promptly left the room and headed to the bathhouse. He adjusted the water to the perfect temperature and meticulously checked for any dirt. By the time the bath was ready, he ran into Interior Minister Hexon, who had been working overtime in Winter Castle.
Hexon wandered the castle grinning ear to ear, clearly delighted by something.
"Hexon!"
"Oh, Alfredo. You look busy as ever."
"Still not off duty?"
"Of course! There's still so much work left. Haha!"
There wasn't a trace of fatigue on him. Hexon seemed positively joyful.
"Something happen?"
"Hahaha! Not really, but it seems His Grace has changed a lot."
"You're feeling it too, eh? Me as well."
"I wonder if it's because of that lady from the South."
Hexon felt the same. When they first learned Daniela was staying in the Grand Duke's room, the ministers and nobles hadn't welcomed the Southern guest warmly. But as time passed, people noticed the rapid change. The Grand Duke was warming up noticeably.
"Normally, he'd roll up his sleeves and dive right into solving problems."
"True. His Grace isn't one to sit idle."
"Now he seems more relaxed, and above all, gentler in dealing with people."
"I think so too."
Hexon clapped Alfredo on the shoulder. In a way, they were all people who had served the previous Grand Duke, watching the current one for a long time. The Grand Duke had always been armored in the North's characteristic coldness, immersed solely in his duties, making it hard to approach him. But now it was different.
"By the way, Alfredo, just out of curiosity."
"What is it?"
"That lady, I mean Lady Daniela... is she perhaps..."
"Going to become the Grand Duchess?"
"You knew. Everyone's wondering."
Alfredo already knew. The Grand Duke wasn't all that young anymore. Of course, bringing up marriage would be shut down by his iron rule, but even if it meant death, they were prepared to speak up. The Grand Duke's marriage! Marriage!
"The Grand Duchess position has been vacant for nearly thirty years, after all."
"And the heir issue is even more pressing..."
"It's troubling. Honestly. We can't delay any longer."
"Don't worry about it."
Now was truly the time when they no longer needed to worry. Of course, he couldn't predict the future like an astrologer, but Alfredo knew. The Grand Duke had changed, and it was because of Daniela. An emotion he couldn't quite name precisely.
"No need to worry means..."
"My thoughts align with yours."
"Yahoo!"
Hexon let out a cheer inside the castle for the first time. It might have been for a war victory or a great triumph over nomads, but this was purely for the Grand Duke. Alfredo clenched his fist. Finally! Finally! The possibility of a great heir for the North.
"Living long means you get to see sunny days like this. I've come to realize it lately."
"Hahaha! Hasn't the dark age passed? Why say such things."
"An heir for the Grand Duke. If the Little Duke is born, I want to be the one educating him in kingship."
"Plenty will vie for that spot."
"Hey! That's mine! No one can take it! Not even Bildo!"
"Hahaha!"
With happy laughter, Hexon returned to his work. Alfredo stood slowly before the Grand Duke's door. The guards saluted, but their attention was fixed solely on the room inside.
"Your Grace, no matter what, you didn't make up that story, did you?"
"No. In the North, that's common!"
"Even if free love is natural here,"
"They really eloped. You have no idea how flustered I was. Hm. Should I wait a bit now?"