Winter Field Chapter 25

Even though he had cried and begged for forgiveness, the Crown Prince who had punished him didn’t even show his face, and the night from his childhood—shivering in terror, drenched in torrential rain, fearing that lightning would strike the tree he was tied to—was still vivid in his memory, yet it had been dispelled in just a brief moment by a mere made-up old story. This was probably why everyone teased him for being shallow.

‘…Well, still, isn’t it a good thing if I’ve become able to not be afraid from now on?’

A feeling of gladness pushed its way into the place where embarrassment had seeped, growing larger. Rensley turned over to lie facing Gisel.

“Is Your Highness also able to freely control lightning?”

“If I could, I would have already stopped the lightning for you, My Lord.”

Gisel’s tone was consistently so serious that it was impossible to tell whether it was a joke or sincere. Without bothering to hide the laughter that emerged, Rensley offered his thanks.

“I am grateful, even if just in words, Your Highness.”

“It is a relief that the story was of help. Now I will close the window again.”

Gisel made a gesture. The open wooden window closed and the curtains swept shut. He, who had been lying on his side propping his head up with his hand and leaning his upper body toward Rensley, returned to his place. He lay straight, resting his head on the large pillow.

“Well then, shall we sleep now?”

“Yes.”

The two of them, side by side in the same bed, genuinely prepared to sleep. Gisel soon closed his eyes, and after that, no more conversation passed between them.

Rensley blinked in the darkness where only the candlelight flickered. He was accustomed to sharing a bed with others, but when that other person was the Grand Duke of Oldenland, it was hard to fall asleep as usual. Because the countless fellows who had passed out at the same table after dancing and drinking together, the friends who had played cards or chatted all night long and then sprawled out on the host’s bed saying it was too much trouble to go home—Gisel Siebendad could not be the same as them.

Not daring to disturb His Highness the Grand Duke’s sleep, he lay stiffly, holding his breath, not even turning over once. The only action Rensley took was to gently rub his shoulder area, which felt strangely ticklish where the firm chest and warmth had touched.

Even after they had gone to sleep, the thunder did not stop resounding. Each time, he flinched and was startled, but that was merely a reaction to the sudden loud noise; the old fear that had made Rensley cower every stormy night was fading, dim and faint.

∞ ∞ ∞

Quietly, firmly closed eyelids opened, revealing amber eyes. One who was born and raised in a land where the sun rose late knew morning had come even without light.

Perhaps because the rain had stopped, the surroundings were tranquil compared to the night before. As was always the case on rainy days, his consciousness had been roused intermittently by the thunder, but he had slept without tossing and turning too greatly.

As Gisel tried to rise, he became aware of a light weight pressing on his chest. When he turned his head while still lying down, the man who had been sleeping stiffly straight at a distance beside him had, at some point, drawn close and pressed up against him. Rensley, his head resting on the remaining part of Gisel’s pillow and his arm draped over Gisel’s chest, was slightly curled up, like an animal seeking warmth.

Gisel slowly felt around and examined inside the blanket. The bed had not yet gone cold, but that was only by northern standards; someone from the south would feel the cold more than the people here.

He pulled the blanket up a little more and covered Rensley’s shoulders securely. As he carefully set down the arm that had been placed on his body and tried to get up, the guest from the south, fussing in his sleep, pressed his body even closer.

‘Troublesome.’

Unable to do this or that, Gisel waited, still lying down. His tossing and turning seemed considerable, so perhaps he would change positions again if he waited a bit.

The only things visible were the bed canopy if he faced straight up, and the face of his bedmate if he tilted his head. Because they had slept without properly closing the bed curtains, the diminished candlelight was still softly seeping into the bed even now, long after the night had passed.

Gisel silently observed the face of the man lying next to him. Even in the dimly lit bedroom, his smooth skin and bright blond hair gave off a strange sense of vitality. His straight forehead was faintly visible beneath the fine strands of hair, and the deep vermilion of the candlelight seeping in from outside the bed lingered on his prominent nose and the tip of his chin.

While Gisel’s gaze was fixed, Rensley’s closed lips parted slightly. Mumbling sleep talk in slurred pronunciation, he now began to nuzzle his cheek against Gisel’s chest. As if satisfied with something, the man’s lips curved into a grin, and his voice became a little clearer.

“Mmm, Marilyn…”

Though he had no intention of waking him, his hand and mouth moved before his mind. Gisel finally raised his body, slipping Rensley’s arm off.

“Lord Malosen.”

“Unggh, who is it…”

“Lord Malosen, it is time to get up now.”

When he lowered his head a little more and spoke close to his ear, Rensley’s eyes drowsily opened halfway. He blinked slowly with his head buried in the blanket, then, as if suddenly coming to his senses, sprang upright.

Having been lying almost overlapping Gisel’s spot, he gasped and scrambled backward in a fluster. At the swift movement, like a weasel hiding from a hound, Gisel unconsciously reached out his arm and cautioned him.

“Stop, My Lord. If you go any further, you will fall.”

“Y-Your Highness. Have you risen? My sleeping habits are so unruly that I dared to encroach upon Your Highness’s space…”

“It is fine, so do not prostrate yourself.”

Rensley nodded restlessly and then stood up from the bed. The thought that there had been no need to wake him came belatedly, but it was already too late. Left with no choice, Gisel exited the bed just as he had.

Donning the cloak and regalia he had taken off, he approached the window and opened it. It seemed he had slept longer than expected, as the dawn sky was brightening to blue.

“The rain has stopped. Now we must begin another day, I suppose.”

“Your Highness, truly, thank you for last night.”

“I merely did what is only natural as the lord of this castle. It seems spending the whole day confined in here is a trying ordeal for you, My Lord, so I will consider a countermeasure as well.”

“No. I was in the wrong. I am in no such position, yet I grew excited as if I were on a journey… I will never again commit such a rash act as yesterday’s, so please do not worry.”

Though his dejected expression was sincere, Gisel did not answer that he understood. He straightened his regalia and prepared to leave the room. Then, to Rensley, who was lingering about trying to gauge when to say his farewell, he remarked.

“The fire has weakened considerably. I will call the maids and have them replace the candles with new ones.”

“Ah, as for candles, many have been brought here. I can do it myself.”

Rensley moved briskly and opened a wooden drawer on one side of the room. While he rummaged through the drawer and took out new candles, Gisel detached a small indigo gemstone adorning the neckline of his cloak.

After reciting a simple incantation and flicking it upward, the gemstone, instead of falling to the ground, vanished into thin air.

Toward Rensley, who had taken out new candles and was busily replacing them in the candlesticks, Gisel offered a brief farewell.

“Then I shall take my leave now.”

“Ah, Your Highness! H-Have a good day.”

Gisel answered with a nod of his head and opened the door. Rensley, having failed to find anything else to say besides that awkward farewell, could only watch blankly as the hem of the black cloak disappeared behind the closing door.

“‘Have a good day’… Is His Highness your friend?”

Chiding himself for the greeting that had popped out foolishly, Rensley shook his head. While he had leaned against his chest, watched the lightning, and listened to the old story, it had felt as if they had drawn a big step closer, but already, last night felt so distant that he wondered if it had been a dream.

∞ ∞ ∞

The sky, after the rain had poured and passed, was clearer than usual. Instead of going straight down to the basement, Gisel went up to the Grand Duke’s chambers, washed up, changed his clothes, and then headed to the library located in the east tower of the castle. Today was the day newly planned for several volumes of books to arrive at the library early in the morning. If he waited, the officer in charge would bring them to his laboratory, but Gisel wished to open the new books sooner.

Not taking a separate breakfast, he ordered the attendants to bring him a cup of tea and sat down before the large desk. Opening a volume of the latest theoretical treatise written on transformation magic, he gave a word of caution to the attendants passing by.

“Do not allow anyone into the library before the morning assembly.”