A Dazzling Welcome
Aren't welcomes supposed to be a bit flashy? On the road heading to the empire's north, even the highest-grade silver fox fur coat couldn't block the northern chill seeping through the cracks in the carriage.
Poor Eleanor. To be shipped off like she was exiled from the imperial family to this frozen wasteland.
Luluen smiled to herself. What kind of house could they build with unprocessed Treant wood? With no money for proper materials and the promised construction deadline looming, they were probably scraping together trash and forcing it to work.
I'll make sure this sweet little sister gets to use some real wood!
A perfect plan: drain her cash cow Günter's inventory and take all the credit besides. In her mind, she was already a saintly angel swooping in to save her pitiful sibling.
The imperial architectural inspector sitting across from her spoke up.
"Haha. Your Highness needn't worry too much. Lady Eleanor von Waldemar's new city development plan is sure to end in dismal failure."
"What do you mean by that?"
The inspector smirked, pointing at the blizzard raging outside the window.
"It's the height of summer heat in the central continent right now—how can it be this cold? No merchant obsessed with money would come do business in this backwater frozen year-round. Even if they finish, it'll just be a bunch of empty shells."
"My, Inspector. Mind your words—no one needs to misunderstand."
Luluen shot him a cold glare in warning.
"I'm heading there to help my darling little sister's venture succeed. We'll tear down any shoddy buildings that don't meet imperial standards and get her proper central timber instead."
"A-ah! My mouth ran away with me! Of course, of course. With how dearly you cherish your sister, Lady Eleanor will surely be moved to tears."
The inspector wiped cold sweat, groveling. Behind her fan, Luluen's lips twitched in satisfaction.
As their warm(ish) chat continued, the carriage reached the walls.
"Hm? Why's the carriage stopped?"
Luluen peered out curiously. In that instant, her arrogant eyes shook like there was an earthquake.
"What in the world…?"
Dozens of carriages and crowds lined up to pass through the Wintervalt walls. It wasn't just poor mercenaries chasing quick riches. Among the crests on the wagons were those of major trading companies from the central and southern continents.
They wouldn't come to do business?!
Luluen glared daggers at the inspector, but he stood frozen, mouth agape.
Once past the walls into the territory proper, even more astonishing sights awaited.
In Luluen's imagination, the northern fief's residents were skeletal beggars wandering the streets. Sure, food might've improved a bit in a few months—but how much?
Yet the people striding the streets brimmed with vitality.
"Hahaha! So today in the forest, I was like~"
"Kids, move! Cart coming through!"
In midwinter chill, beastly men in nothing but shorts hauled wagons. Their arms were thicker than imperial knights', testament to hearty living. One even casually shouldered steelwood logs.
"Inspector… do northerners normally wear such skimpy clothes?"
Luluen asked, baffled.
"N-no, of course not. But… rumor has it those who eat food infused with Lady Eleanor's magic bulk up and withstand the brutal winters… I figured it was just peasant nonsense, of course…"
It sounded like obvious bullshit. A desperate scam to lure more adventurers north. One no one would fall for.
But the scene before her screamed that the rumors were true.
Luluen's heart began to pound. Something felt off.
"Just accept it… Northerners are supposed to be big-boned anyway."
"Are those bodies just 'a bit big'?"
Those builds looked like they could fistfight bears, not just wolves. Swarthy southern adventurers and central merchants mingled with locals, all grinning happily. As if the fief had zero worries or problems.
"Um… Your Highness. You're really going straight to the construction site like this?"
"Yes…"
Luluen recalled Eleanor's letter from days ago, nervously biting her nails.
I'm thrilled that my sister is coming. However, overseeing the north's finances leaves me so swamped I won't be able to greet you at the castle. If you insist on visiting at the time you mentioned, I'll be at the new city construction site—feel free to come there.
I said I'd go anywhere, but calling a princess to a dusty worksite?
For a bastard who holed up alone in library corners without friends.
Normally she'd rush out barefoot to greet a visiting sister, but no—she haughtily directed her to the site.
Fine. I didn't want to play sweet sister for long anyway.
Better to cut to the chase. Steel in her eyes, Luluen steeled herself.
By the time their predawn carriage journey ended, the sun was setting outside.
The biting wind battering the windows sounded eerie.
"They make people work nights in the north, do they? Can't see a thing, poor Wintervalt folk."
Luluen clicked her tongue, mocking the grand duke. The inspector jumped in eagerly.
"Who could argue? Building with monster corpses means complicated processes and double the time. Who on the continent builds houses from Treant monsters and slime goo? We'll shove the imperial building codes in her face and open her eyes!"
"Hmph."
Luluen elegantly gathered her skirts and stepped out.
Then—
Fwaaah!
A brilliant light swallowed the night sky whole.
"Wh-what…?!"
"Your Highness! Get back in the carriage! Mage terrorist attack! Or maybe a northern monster raid!"
The guard knight who'd gone ahead to help her down bellowed. Startled, Luluen spun and smacked her forehead on the carriage door.
Thwack!
"Ow…!"
Far from hiding in the carriage, she fell spectacularly backward. Blood trickled from Princess Luluen's forehead.
A first for one who'd only ever walked silk palace paths.
The groveling inspector cowered inside, terrified. Only the princess's maid, who'd stayed silent, rushed out warily scanning the area.
"Sniff! Ceria! H-help me up…!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Standing shakily, the princess looked around. Despite the knight's panic, the site was oddly serene. Workers carried on as usual.
"Hey! Hurry and pour the slime!"
"Yes sir!!"
Rubbing her forehead, Luluen slowly looked up. Her jaw dropped.
A sun floated in the night sky. The northern chill invading the carriage was gone. It felt like a southern resort.
A dazed voice leaked from her trembling lips.
"In… in the north… does the sun rise at night too?"
The knight stood dumbstruck, so the inspector—who'd slithered out fast—answered.
"I've heard Lady Eleanor illuminates the night with solar magic…"
Of course, she'd heard her poor sister dashed to sites to cast it. Lords often used torches or light magic stones for urgent wall repairs.
But darkness still caused accidents aplenty. Luluen assumed Eleanor's efforts were no different.
What kind of magic could a bastard like her wield anyway?
But that in the sky was unmistakably a real sun.
Impossible… If His Majesty knew this was possible…!
She wouldn't have been married off north—she'd have been raised as a strategic weapon.
If word got out they'd persecuted and discarded such power as a bastard, the emperor would weep blood in regret.
Damn it…
She'd planned to play benevolent angel overlooking Eleanor. Now blood dripped from her brow, her dress filthy with dirt.
More wretched than that time she'd shoved Eleanor down.
Then—
Step. Step.
Basking in the night sun's glow, a platinum blonde woman approached lightly. Plain attire without ornate decorations couldn't hide her innate nobility.
Wintervalt's grand duchess. Eleanor von Waldemar.
Beside her walked a black-haired giant matching her stride affectionately.
The north's ruler, a living war god. Kailan Wintervalt.
His icy blue eyes looked down at the dazed Luluen.
"Welcome, Princess Luluen. Did you enjoy Wintervalt's scenery on the way?"
Thorns laced his greeting.
Luluen hastily brushed off dirt and bowed.
"It's an honor to meet the north's great shield. And Eleanor… oh, it's been so long—I'm thrilled to see you. Have you been well?"
She forced a smile. But her trembling voice betrayed her.
Eleanor gazed at Luluen with a radiant smile she'd never shown at court.
"Yes, sister. Bathed in Your Highness's love, I'm truly happy."
Normally, she'd itch to slap that innocent grin off a bastard's face.
"That's… wonderful…"
But Luluen couldn't meet her eyes, crushed by the brilliant sun overhead and the Swordmaster's dignified arm around Eleanor's shoulders.