Winter Field Chapter 3

Climbing the stairs and passing through the corridor for quite a while, he opened a door made of dark-colored wood. After passing through an inner chamber that also served as a small drawing room, a large bed in the center of the room greeted its guest. Several lamps hung on the walls, illuminating the darkness, and a fireplace blazed brightly.

“This is the Archduchess’s bedchamber.”

He finished speaking and then frowned. He covered his mouth with his hand and fell silent for a moment.

“Since it is before the wedding ceremony, using the title of Archduchess may be a breach of etiquette.”

It could not possibly be a breach of etiquette toward him, who had come to be married. Rather, he would understand if he himself were the breach of etiquette against the title of Archduchess…

As Rensley shook his head and fumbled with gestures, the maid who had guided him in the bathroom astutely approached and held out her palm.

<As you said, since it is before the ceremony, there is no need to give up the Archduchess’s bedchamber. Any room where I can rest my eyes would be sufficient.>

The maid seemed flustered but calmly conveyed Rensley’s intention to the Archduke, and Rensley inwardly marveled several times. To show no sign of being intimidated before that fearsome monster—like lord, like household. The servants of the House of Siebendad had remarkable spirit.

The golden-eyed man, having heard the message, stared at Rensley with a cold expression. He remained silent and impassive for a moment before replying in a blunt tone.

“It seems to be a jest from the southern region.”

He had meant it. But Rensley gave up insisting further.

Around the large bed stood tall posts, and between them hung thick, soft, and heavy-looking wine-red canopy curtains.

The form itself was not much different from those in Cornia, but the posts were much taller and the curtains thicker. In Cornia, they hung curtains so thin they were nearly translucent on the bedposts. That way, a refreshing breeze could pass through while one slept, and it kept the insects from sucking one’s blood. While Rensley was looking at the bed, the Archduke continued his explanation.

“Between the mattress and the bed, heated stones are placed, and under the blanket, a bed warmer filled with charcoal is put in and then removed before you retire. If you fall asleep that way, the warmth lasts until late the next morning.”

Heated stones placed in the bed? To Rensley, these were all methods he was seeing and hearing of for the first time. Soon, the maids brought in red-hot charcoal and placed it into a round bed warmer with a long handle. Rensley, even forgetting his current situation, was filled with curiosity and watched the bedding the Archduke was explaining.

“You have come from the south, so the weather here must be unfamiliar to you… but as you can see, many preparations have been made, so it is not terribly cold while staying inside the castle.”

Having finished speaking, the Archduke stood quietly as if he had nothing more to say. Once the lid of the bed warmer was closed, it took on a shape like two copper pots from the kitchen placed facing each other.

The maids placed it under the blanket and then rubbed it across in broad, smooth strokes, much like smoothing out wrinkles in clothes with a flatiron. It was likely a method to spread the warmth of the charcoal evenly throughout the bed.

“This is Samrit, the head lady’s maid. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask. She will attend to you.”

The person the Archduke indicated was the middle-aged woman who had just conveyed Rensley’s written message. Rensley nodded and again became absorbed in watching the maids prepare the bed.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

“Ah.”

Hup. Rensley flinched and covered his mouth with his hand. It was a voice that had reflexively come out when he heard the Archduke’s parting words while he was entranced by the maids’ work.

A cold sweat began to break out. Rensley could not take his eyes off the Archduke, staring at him intently as he gauged his reaction. Unable to flee in a life-threatening situation, unable even to avert his eyes. He felt he could perfectly understand the feeling of a mouse before a cat today.

However, the one to avert his eyes first was the cat… no, the Archduke. Had he not heard it? Or perhaps the single syllable had been so brief that he did not notice it was a man’s voice. He met Rensley’s gaze as if accepting the stare, then quietly turned his head.

The Archduke turned, showing his back. The silver embroidery of the monstrous bird on his cloak rippled heavily. The maids were preoccupied with their work and not looking at Rensley.

Rensley glanced back and forth between the retreating back of the Archduke and the maids warming the bed, and eventually stepped forward. The tall Archduke’s stride was correspondingly large, but when Rensley lifted the hem of his dress and quickened his pace, he was able to catch up to him.

“…Do you have something more to say?”

The Archduke looked down impassively at his fiancée who had suddenly appeared right beside him—or more accurately, Rensley, who was wearing the shell of his fiancée.

Having seen him speak a few human words, the shocking terror from their first encounter had subsided. Now that the fear had eased somewhat, he could finally face the man properly.

The golden eyes that did not seem human remained the same, and his cold impression, as if blood did not flow through him, was also unchanged. But unexpectedly, his face was exceedingly handsome. A sculptural beauty with dark, straight eyebrows and a nose bridge that would likely give an impression far more dignified and elegant than ordinary people, if only he would close those eerily glowing eyes.

Rensley could vaguely sense that this handsome man was, in his own way, showing kindness to the person he believed to be his fiancée. But what would happen if he knew the person hiding behind this veil was a man? How terrifying would it be if those golden eyes, even now imbued with an unearthly air, flashed with rage?

If he were sentenced to beheading or hanging for making a fool of the Archduke, that would be a merciful decision by comparison. If he were used as a sacrifice for black magic research, ruthlessly tortured, or reduced to a slave, then perhaps it would be better to take his own life.

No matter how harsh a sentence he imposed, Oldenland would have no need to worry about political conflict. No matter what situation Rensley found himself in, Cornia would pretend not to know and would not offer a shred of help.

When Rensley slowly raised his hand, the Archduke showed a hint of faint puzzlement, then, as if recalling the maid’s actions from earlier, silently held out his palm. It was a large hand proportionate to his build, but the elegance befitting a nobleman’s hand rested fully upon it.

If anything, Rensley’s hands, dulled by chores and martial training, were rougher. The maids might have failed to notice, but a person with such hands might recognize that his fingers were not those of a princess.

Rensley hesitated, but the hand had already been offered. Slowly, Rensley traced letters with his fingertip upon it. Words that left no form brushed past only as a sensation.

<Thank you.>

As the future was unknown, tonight’s warm bed could be the last luxury he would enjoy in his life. Even if it proved to be the last, the person to whom he should direct the arrow of his resentment was not the Archduke who had guided him to the Archduchess’s bedchamber, but the people of the Cornian royal family who had used him as a disposable pawn. He had to remember that.

<I will not forget the kindness you have shown today.>

Even after Rensley withdrew his finger, the Archduke waited a moment with his palm open before lowering his hand. The bedchamber, warmed by the fireplace, was growing steadily warmer, and perhaps for that reason, the corners of his eyes, which had seemed only cold, appeared to take on a faint hint of color.

“Rest.”

The Archduke said only that and left the room without any particular courtesy in return. Rensley returned to the bedside as well.

By that time, the preparations seemed complete, and the maids were removing the bed warmer from under the blanket.

“Princess, you may sleep now. Helping you undress will have to wait until after the wedding, yes?”

At one maid’s words, Rensley nodded. He studied their faces one by one and conveyed his thanks in his heart.

Thank you, all of you. Thanks to you, I am spending a night in a luxurious bed the likes of which I have never lain in before in my life.

“The water for washing your face in the morning is in the jar next to the fireplace. When you are ready, pull the cord by the bed, just as in the bathroom, and we will come to escort you.”

The maids gave their greetings and filed out. Once the large, heavy door closed, the bedchamber fell silent. Only the occasional crackle of firewood popping in the hearth and the distant cry of a wild animal broke the stillness from time to time.

The nightclothes were for a woman, but they were long and generously cut, so Rensley had no trouble wearing them. As the smooth texture of muslin touched his bare skin, it felt as though the room itself was welcoming him.