Chapter 46

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 46

Chapter Title: The Mysterious Being

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That being, whose gender was impossible to discern, had long platinum hair.

No one in the Winter Lands except Aden could dress like that.

The clothes were so thin they looked like they couldn't withstand even the mildest winter sun.

"A... human?"

Aden tilted his head slightly.

Among those he knew, no one could endure April's Biplten blizzards in such light attire.

It wasn't a matter of being born in the Winter Lands or the sunny lands.

For a human, freezing in such conditions was only natural.

Unless they possessed divine power.

"It looked just like a person."

At first, she'd only thought it was human.

Both the Yester Tribe and Molri Tribe were covered head to toe in scales, instantly recognizable as monsters.

But the moment their eyes met, her certainty that it was human vanished.

"Those eyes."

Ilrin pulled her hand out from under the fluffy blanket again.

Her fingers gently traced the area beneath Aden's eyes.

Her hand slowly brushed under those deep blue irises.

"The entire eye was purple. A very deep purple."

For a split second, she wondered if their eyes had even met.

The moment she locked gazes with those alien eyes—whose direction or thoughts she couldn't fathom—goosebumps erupted across her skin.

It felt like waking from a dream as if fleeing pursuit.

"So, it looked human, but the eyes weren't human at all."

He tilted his head slightly.

Ilrin spoke softly.

"Yes... I know it's hard to believe."

She paused, choosing her words.

"Maybe I just saw wrong when I woke from the dream—"

"No, I believe you."

How could I ever doubt your words?

Aden caressed Ilrin's cheek.

"Still, believing without evidence..."

"You only need evidence when someone's trying to deceive you."

What's the reason for you to deceive me?

Aden tapped Ilrin's forehead lightly.

Ilrin smiled.

"Of course there's no reason, but... I'm always anxious that I might be wrong."

"It's fine. Even if your precognition falters, nothing bad will happen to me."

Aden's kiss, laced with deep reluctance, landed on her pert nose.

"I no longer have the confidence to survive this endless winter without you. What about you, Ilrin?"

Before departing, Aden whispered the question.

His tickling breath carried sweet words.

Ilrin smiled.

"Of course, me too."

House head Aden de Biplten led the Crimson Delroz knights toward Luminous Ello's territory.

He had returned only to depart almost immediately.

The mansion staff marveled at the house head's miraculous stamina.

"And I heard the Crimson Delroz Knight Commander isn't going this time either?"

"Yeah."

Maids from other houses gossiped.

"He came back injured with Madam this time."

"How?"

"He escorted Madam through this April blizzard."

One of the Verdant Mille maids widened her eyes amid the murmurs.

"From the sunny lands all the way here?"

"You didn't see Madam when she returned?"

"That was my shift change..."

Ilrin sensed the mansion growing a bit chaotic.

"Anywhere in Crimson Delroz territory."

They were on the fifth floor, Crimson Delroz territory.

Etra stepped forward with an annoyed expression.

Ilrin raised a hand to stop her.

As Etra halted, Ilrin quietly placed a finger to her lips.

It meant to listen more.

"What about the knights who went with him?"

"The house head?"

They'd heard the Crimson Delroz Knight Commander stayed to guard the mansion while the house head led Crimson Delroz forces with Madam to the sunny lands.

The maids pooled their rumors, trying to piece together the truth.

"That commander went to fetch Madam nearby."

"In this cold?"

The maids' voices dropped sharply.

"...That's why he came back with a fever. I heard the house head reprimanded him."

"Is that why he's confined to the knight barracks?"

"Dunno."

How would we know Crimson Delroz affairs? The Verdant Mille maids drifted away, done gossiping.

Having heard enough, Ilrin beckoned Etra.

It meant head to the seventh floor now.

"Fortunately, the rumors haven't twisted too badly."

Ilrin didn't speak until they reached the seventh floor, pure Crimson Delroz territory.

Etra nodded curtly.

"Sir Ijis always keeps an eye on mansion rumors."

Ah.

Indeed, rumors could spiral uncontrollably if they caught the wrong wind early on.

They needed nipping in the bud.

"Still, the atmosphere feels a bit unsettled."

"Probably because Luminous Ello's situation is complicated."

Etra responded cautiously.

Ilrin nodded slowly.

"Definitely... there are hardly any Luminous Ello people in the mansion."

One could tell a person's faction by their clothing or accessories.

Luminous Ello knights, usually as common as Verdant Mille or Azure Noz ones, were nowhere to be seen.

Only Luminous Ello maids appeared occasionally.

And even they wandered with uneasy faces.

"Yes. I heard they've all returned to Luminous Ello's base."

Etra continued.

She prepared warm tea for Madam, who had just returned and felt a bit chilled.

As she fetched the tea leaves, Crimson Delroz maids set down pitchers of hot water.

They were maids who had gone to the sunny lands and back.

Normally, they would have set the water and left promptly, but they hesitated before chiming in.

"Luminous Ello has two bases."

"Right. One with the barrier and one hidden."

Etra shot a reprimanding glance at the two maids for butting in uninvited.

The pair shrank under her gaze.

"Etra."

Etra had once confided worry that if Madam was too lenient, the Crimson Delroz maids might take her lightly.

But Ilrin, from her viscount days, could read it in their eyes.

There was only curiosity and goodwill—no malice.

"But Madam—"

"It's fine. Bored?"

The two maids exchanged glances and nodded eagerly.

Ilrin pulled out chairs herself.

"Sit and talk."

She pulled one out for Etra too.

Etra panicked at Madam moving herself.

"I'll do it, Madam."

Her glare at the two maids sharpened further.

It scolded them for not acting first.

The pair felt wronged.

No one could predict our Madam—kind as she is—would command us to sit ourselves!

"Tell me more about Luminous Ello?"

"Ah, yes!"

This time, the two maids straightened confidently.

Madam had ordered them to speak, so no need to fear Etra.

"Right. You're Mary, and you're Jin, correct?"

The two Crimson Delroz maids, Mary and Jin, looked at each other.

Being recognized by name before introductions was the highest honor.

"Yes, Madam!"

They bowed happily to Ilrin.

Etra sat, watching to ensure no impropriety, then they followed suit.

"I heard Luminous Ello's territory is near monster lands. Is that true?"

Ilrin started.

Mary nodded.

"Yes. Verdant Mille or Azure Noz couldn't endure it."

"They survive thanks to Luminous Ello's 'Light Barrier,' right?"

Ilrin pieced together what Aden had told her and hit the mark.

This time, Etra spoke.

"Yes. The Light Barrier surrounds their main base. It won't let anyone hostile to Luminous Ello pass."

"I'm so jealous."

Jin clasped her hands.

Ilrin tilted her head.

"Is the 'Light Barrier' a sacred artifact's power?"

Like how Azure Noz's fabric wards off winter chill? Jin nodded.

"That's what I heard."

"Then Crimson Delroz's sacred artifact...?"

Etra glanced at the Crimson Delroz artifact around Ilrin's neck.

"It can light an unquenchable fire."

One that never goes out until its owner wills it.

Ilrin's eyes widened.

"Wow."

A power truly befitting Crimson Delroz.

Luminous Ello's barrier was incredibly appealing here in the monster-infested Winter Lands.

But to Ilrin, Crimson Delroz's unquenchable fire seemed more attractive.

Above all, banishing the cold opened endless possibilities in this winter.

Monsters were said to be resilient to cold too.

A fire would warm things up, helpful against monsters even if not as absolute as the barrier.

"This mansion's hearths were first lit by a bride who held Crimson Delroz's sacred artifact."

Wow, the hearth fires were unquenchable.

Ilrin's gaze returned to the hearth anew.

Come to think of it, without Aden's power, if those fires went out, the mansion would freeze instantly—yet no one guarded them desperately.

Such vital flames should have a dedicated keeper.

"No need to manage them since they never go out."

Ilrin touched the artifact around her neck thoughtfully.

"Do you know how to use it, by chance?"

"Its power?"

Mary and Jin shook their heads.

"I heard only the brides know."

The elders teach them? Many Biplten brides hailed from the Winter Lands, so plausible.

What about brides from the sunny lands?

Ilrin recalled the previous duchess struggling to adapt to winter.

Perhaps sunny-landers couldn't use it?

If true, that would be a great pity.

Ilrin's shoulders slumped slightly.

"Shall I tell you about Luminous Ello's other base?"

Jin asked brightly then.

Her intent to cheer the disappointed Madam was clear.

Ilrin smiled gladly.

"The second base is deeply hidden. No Light Barrier, but so secretive no one knows."

"No one outside some Luminous Ello folk knows its location or forces."

Etra added.

Ilrin had guesses, but only guesses.

She tilted her head slightly.

She'd never seen battle, but common sense said encircling an enemy base was efficient for total destruction.

Even without encirclement, sending word intact from a distant attacked site to warn the mansion was near-impossible without spies.

"That's how they alerted us to Luminous Ello's attack."

Because Luminous Ello people exist beyond the 'Light Barrier' too.

One nagging worry eased for Ilrin.

"Exactly."

Madam grasped tenfold from one hint.

Joy and respect shone on Mary and Jin's faces.

"So all the Luminous Ello knights left the mansion..."

Unsettling other factions too.

Having grasped the truth, Ilrin lifted her cooled teacup.

Etra handed her a fresh warm one from beside.

"Then when Den returns, we should help so he's not too exhausted."

Start by tidying the mansion.

Ilrin smiled.