Chapter 4.1

The maid, who had been crying a while ago, pulled out the hem of a dress that was longer than her height and her eyes widened.

The mermaid-style clothing was white enough to be called a wedding dress and looked similar to white jade. Unlike in the capital city, where dresses covered with lots of shiny beads were in fashion, the simple yet luxurious design drew attention.

Is this to your taste?

A soft light drifted over the thin silk, as though it had been sprinkled with ground jewels. It didn’t have the fancy taste of expensive-looking decorations, but it looked like the craftsman put a lot of effort into it. The box contained not only the dress, but also a woman’s underwear and matching accessories, all of which were neatly designed.

Anne, who had stared at them with indifferent eyes, took a deep breath and changed her clothing with the help of the maid. The necklace inside came out on her collar that covered her neck when she pulled out her hair. Anne’s hand, which was heading towards the necklace, stopped for a moment, as was a habit.

“Should I take it all off?”

The maid, noticing the meaning of her hesitation, asked cautiously.

Conflict broke out in Anne’s face in her mirror. She was someone who always adhered to rules and kept her promises, but she couldn’t concede enough of this. The ring, studded with blue melee diamonds, identical to the color of her eyes, shone from a thin necklace string.

The worries were brief. Anne meticulously tucked the necklace deep inside her neck so that no one else could see it, and checked the mirror again.

As the neckline of the dress grazed her chin, the necklace wasn’t visible from the outside. She was convinced that this was enough and she wouldn’t be caught.

* * *

When Anne, wearing the northern outfit and accessories that was prepared for her, left the inn, the Grand Duchy’s Knights and Libelois Knights, who were waiting in silence, looked at her at the same time. They took a deep breath in admiration regardless of any knight.

The snow-white dress crept and dragged on the floor. The half-up hair, colored like a golden iris, was woven like a thread, covering one half of her neckline. The morning sun shone down on the exposed nape of the other side. Her already pretty face matched the white dress, creating a neat impression like the morning dew.

With that graceful figure, the faces of the Cromund Knights had weak expectations, and on the other hand, the faces of the people of Libelois had bitterness.

“Miss . . . be happy.”

“Miss, please let me know when you arrive safely.”

Leaving the sad knights and the maid behind, Anne bid them an only brief farewell.

As if to prove that he was the owner of enormous wealth, the carriage with the pattern of the Grand Duchy embroidered on it boasted a luxurious majesty at a glance. The color painted with golden paint also showed the extent of the Grand Duchy’s prestige.

As Anne walked past the knights who opened the way, Ashton, who was just checking the preparation for the departure, also found her and bowed his head politely. The gaze that meticulously inspected Anne’s well-groomed outfit was deeply disrespectful, but she had no excuse for reproaching him.

“Be careful.”

Still, he seemed to be quite sensible, and he held out his arm to escort her. When Anne in the carriage was seated properly, the carriage set off as if it had been waiting.

Curious about the contents of the book she hadn’t even read the end of, Anne looked out of the window. As Ashton said, she left everything she brought, including the books, so she couldn’t take it. However, this left her with nothing connected to the Libelois family, so she became more at ease.

It was several hours later that the carriage, which had no vibrations, suddenly stopped as though sliding on ice.

It was still too early to wonder whether she had already arrived, and as she tilted her head, Ashton’s voice was heard from outside the carriage, giving her a firm warning.

“Would you like to come out and see the estate? The weather is very cold, so be sure to wear the robes we prepared for you.”

At the remark, Anne took out the robe she didn’t wear as she set off. If the bride who was to be married caught a cold, there would be rumors. A winter robe woven from the rare northern white fox fur, with soft fur all around it, had excellent warmth and was quite light.

She meekly put on the thick robe, meticulously fastened the knot, and answered Ashton, who was waiting beyond the door, and the door opened from the outside.

“Huhh.”

As soon as the door opened, it took her breath away. The cold air that was forced into her nostrils filled her lungs at once. It was a cold that was far beyond refreshing.

It was so cold that she even lost her sense of smell. Chills ran all over her body, and each time she opened her mouth, a white breath escaped. It was a strange feeling, as if even her body temperature was taken away from her.

There was winter in the capital too, but not to this extent. Moreover, although it was still autumn due to the season, it was already as cold as midwinter here.

In less than a day, the seasons had changed as though time had skipped.

“It is already winter here.”

“It is always this cold in the north. You have to be careful not to lose your body temperature.”

Ashton answered as she took his hand and went down the steps, looking at Anne’s pale face.

Anne reached her feet, clasping the front of her robe with her hands to keep any wind from entering. For a moment, Anne’s eyes slowly widened as she glanced over Ashton’s shoulder.

“Oh my God . . .”

An exclamation came out at the superb view of winter that dyed her eyes. There was a world that was completely white and transparent.

They stopped in the middle of a snow-capped mountain. It was a place with valleys on all sides, and the land was quite high, but it was cloudy like ice crystals, and even in the middle of the day, light did not pass through it completely. For that reason, all the landscapes in her eyes were dreamy.

“If you look here, you will be able to see the estate at a glance.”

As she stepped out on the soft snow a few steps, she could see the estate, which was formed wide under the distant cliff, at a glance. Behind the snow-covered city, several towering roofs could be seen with its back to the mountain range, and the castle surrounded by enormous walls just below stood out.

It was the Cromund castle.

“That is Cromund territory.”

It was the first time in her life that she had seen so much snow, so Anne could not take her eyes off it as though she were possessed.

Behind the Grand Duchy’s castle, a steep mountain could be seen. Not the lush green mountains she was familiar with, but a snowy mountain as though white dust had descended on it. She had read in a book about such mountains.

“I wanted to show where the Lady will be staying in the future.”

Ashton, who she thought was blunt, explained, reaching out and pointing at the bottom of the cliff one by one.

Although the entire estate was not fully visible, it seemed secretive and peaceful, as if surrounded by a soft curtain.

Since then, the carriage had been running non-stop despite being a dangerous place with snow.

* * *