Why the Northern Duke Wanders the Snowfields - Chapter 18

Very few people came and went from the office. The small boy entered carrying a bucket and a broom, then, upon spotting Sion, bowed his head.

“He’s a new errand boy who just joined.”

The servant outside the door answered instead.

“He doesn’t wash well, so we’ve put him in charge of cleaning the fireplace and chimney.”

Just as the servant said, the boy’s face was dark with soot and stains. Sion, who had been staring intently at the boy’s face, spoke to the servant.

“Prepare this child. I’ll have him run errands for the search party.”

“Pardon? This brat?”

“Yes. Quickly.”

“Yes. Understood.”

The servant immediately dragged the boy away.

“Where are we going?”

The boy’s dark eyes trembled.

“You brat. Be grateful you caught Sir Sion’s eye. He’s the duke’s aide. If things go well, you might even get into the knights’ order.”

“M-me?”

The boy was led away by the servant, looking flustered.

“By the way, what did you say your name was?”

“Hardin.”

The boy answered quietly.

“My name is Hardin.”

“That’s an unusual name. Are you from the countryside?”

“Yes.”

The boy’s eyes shone brightly.

“I came from quite far away.”

“I see. Now hurry along. Sir Sion will be departing soon.”

The servant quickly disappeared down the end of the corridor, dragging along the lucky boy who had been placed in the search party to find the missing duke.

Sion watched the scene from afar with his arms crossed.

***

‘We have to go this way.’

The snowstorm was so fierce that Aubrianna could barely make out the small hand she was holding.

It was shockingly cold and incredibly strong.

They kept walking endlessly like that. Her whole body froze, and her cheeks lost all sensation.

‘How long do we have to keep going?’

‘….’

‘Where are we even going right now?’

‘….’

‘And… who are you?’

Whoosh.

“Did I startle you?”

Aubrianna blinked and looked down at her hand being held by his large one.

“Did you have a nightmare? You kept twitching.”

The man brought her hand to his lips, pressed it gently, then tucked it back under the blanket.

“Go back to sleep. The sun isn’t up yet.”

Just as he said, it was still dark outside the window, and the warmth from the fireplace, freshly fed with firewood, filled the room.

“Where are you going?”

Her voice came out thin and hoarse from moaning all night. Clearing her throat, Aubrianna looked over the man, who was already fully dressed.

“The sun isn’t even up yet….”

“I’m going to try selling the meat and hides. I saw yesterday that the snow has melted up to a nearby forest. Once we cross that forest, there should be a road leading to a village.”

Aubrianna, who had been reaching for clothes to put on, paused.

“T-today?”

“Yeah.”

The man packed a few pieces of dried meat and the flat bread she had baked, preparing for a journey of unknown length.

Aubrianna watched him, then finished dressing and got up.

“Do you really have to go?”

“The hides will sell well while the cold still lingers. Just wait. I’ll bring back a good price.”

The animals he had caught were all large, so people wanting big pelts would pay a lot of money for them.

But that wasn’t the issue.

Soon, people from the ducal castle would find this place within a few days.

“I….”

But how was she supposed to stop him?

Aubrianna parted her lips, then bit down on them.

Should she tell him now that he’s the duke?

In truth, she had already made up her mind to tell him the truth. It seemed better to face the people of the ducal house while he knew, rather than not.

But when he suddenly said he would go to the village, she was flustered.

“Will you be back today?”

“I’m not sure. I won’t know until I go.”

She didn’t know either. She couldn’t even remember how she had come here. She had only been told to walk with the snowstorm at her back in the snowfield, and she had followed that.

Kay grinned, the corners of his handsome lips lifting. “Why? Are you going to miss me?”

“No. That’s….”

Even as they spoke, Kaeloc diligently filled the water container and fastened it at his waist, then draped a thick fur cloak over his shoulders.

Though he wore many layers and looked bulky, the way he moved with ease was like a wild wolf.

Who would ever see this man as a duke?

As Aubrianna watched from the bed with her legs drawn up, Kay brought in firewood from under the eaves outside and stacked it neatly beside the fireplace.

“This should be enough, right?” Kay asked, turning back. “Do you need more? It’d be scary to go out if the firewood runs out at night.”

“What’s with you? Are you planning not to come back for a week?”

Still unsure what choice to make, Aubrianna spoke bluntly.

“I’ll be back by tomorrow evening at the latest. Just wait. I’ll bring back a pouch full of money.”

I don’t need any money.

She swallowed the words that rose to the tip of her tongue and squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again.

She suddenly wanted to leave for a place no one knew, just as he said.

‘This is how we’ll live. He’ll hunt and sell pelts, and I’ll cook, take care of the house, and raise the child.’

She would have another child for Theo. This time, a girl would be nice. She would ask this man to name the child again. Since he had lost his memory, he wouldn’t give a name from the past anymore.

“Aubrianna?”

When she turned her gaze, the man was kneeling in front of her, looking at her.

“If you’re very anxious, I won’t go.”

Was it a hunter’s instinct? The man noticed her unease at once and spoke gently.

Aubrianna’s eyes shifted to the luggage placed by the door. She didn’t want to make the man’s effort of preparing all that for nothing.

Besides, she still wasn’t ready to tell him the truth.

The snow piled on the trees hadn’t melted yet, so wouldn’t there still be enough time?

She anxiously recalled memories from her previous life.

Because she had been locked in the underground prison, she didn’t know the exact date of Kaeloc’s return, but she felt like she had glimpsed pale green buds on tree branches through the iron bars.

‘There might be more time left than I thought.’

She decided she would prepare herself while he was gone.

“Leave now.”

“What?”

“You don’t know where the village is. If you delay any longer, you’ll come back later too, so leave quickly.”

At her urging, Kay looked slightly bewildered, then glanced out the window.

It hardly snowed anymore, but on cloudy days, if snow started falling, it was easy to lose direction.

Today was a clear day with the dawn stars sparkling, just the right kind of day.

“Then I’ll be back.”

The man stood at the door with a large bundle slung lightly over his shoulder, as if it weighed nothing.

Seeing him like that, she was reminded of the day he went out to catch rabbit meat she said she wanted to eat.

“Be careful.”

His blue eyes moved between her, standing by the bed, and the baby sleeping soundly in the cradle, then settled on her again.

Then he strode over and pressed a deep kiss to her.

“Kay.”

Taking advantage of the brief moment they parted, Aubrianna whispered, “When you come back, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Aubrianna looked up.

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you when you return safely.”

The man’s blue eyes traced over her face as if searching, then he bit down on her lips again in a deep kiss.

“I’ll come back as quickly as I can.”