TOPWL 145

“Oh, you’re not saying that without even reading the book, are you?”

Selena flared up, and Yvonne let out a snort.

“I doubt there’s anyone who’s read more of that author’s works than I have.”

“Have you read <Strawberry Field Romance>?”

“A piece of trash. The author just transplanted their fantasies from their own life into it.”

“Then what about <The Dusky Deep>?”

“How do you even know that one? It’s more of a diary than a novel. They just poured out their depressing feelings.”

Selena and Yvonne went back and forth, arguing over the author’s works. It seemed Yvonne truly had read them all.

“You… you really have read them all. Then maybe… you actually like Bonin?”

“Those books just happened to be in the tower where I was imprisoned. Besides, hasn’t that author been silent for seven years? She might’ve written all those books, but maybe now she’s married, churning out babies, waiting on her husband, and living miserably.”

“H-how could you say something like that…?”

Selena’s eyes wavered in shock. Her clenched fists trembled. Even Yasin stopped knitting and looked nervously between them. Selena clearly wasn’t used to verbal sparring. Yvonne had no intention of letting her off the hook.

“Why say something so harsh? Why are you assuming they are unhappy?”

“Because a woman’s life is predictable.”

“Sh-she might be a man!”

“Then he probably has a nagging wife, a bunch of kids, ignores his children, and goes around having affairs.”

“M-Miss Yvonne, you’re an incredibly negative person!”

“I’m just pointing out a possibility.”

Yvonne replied flatly. Selena’s face flushed red, then turned pale, and back again for a long while before she finally spoke.

“I… I don’t believe Bonin is living a life like that.”

“Ah, sure…”

“But even if they are , I wouldn’t be disappointed. I wouldn’t dislike them.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because thanks to them, I learned there’s happiness outside of marriage. Even if it only exists in the world of a book… that book gave me the courage to be where I am now.”

“…”

“And I… I don’t believe someone who can write like that would willingly choose misery. And even if they did, it must’ve been because they had no choice. I believe people can break free from misery—or at least find their own happiness within it.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“I’m not sure. It’s just… a wish. My parents may have raised me, but it was Bonin’s novels that awakened me. I truly love the person who showed me a new world, and that’s why I want them to be happy. That’s not wrong, is it?”

It sounded like a love confession. Even Yvonne, who’d been playing with Selena like a toy, was momentarily speechless. Yudit, who’d been looking for the right moment to step in, ended up watching the debate with interest instead.

“You sure say some embarrassing things… so casually.”

“Is… is that a bad thing?”

“It’s not… wrong…”

Yvonne averted her eyes. Her cheeks had turned bright red. It felt like they had just witnessed a moment where love triumphed. Yasin started clapping without thinking. Yudit let out a chuckle and joined in. Thinking they were mocking her, Yvonne shot a glare their way, and Yasin’s clapping stopped instantly.

“This whole argument’s become silly. I’ll just read my book.”

Yvonne flopped down in the carriage. It was far too relaxed a posture for someone in the presence of a prince and nobles, but no one seemed to mind. Yudit glanced at Selena, who wore a triumphant look. He found her adorable and smiled quietly to himself.

The rain showed no sign of stopping. And with it, the temperature continued to fall. The weather, which had felt like early summer, had suddenly turned wintry again. Being closer to the north no doubt played a role.

Some of the knights, having been soaked by the cold rain for too long, began to fall ill. After some deliberation, the group chose to stay in a village until the rain stopped rather than pushing forward.

Yudit gazed out the window at the snowy peaks. After crossing the plains and entering the mountainous region, it became possible to see high peaks with pockets of year-round snow here and there.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

Khalid laid a blanket over Yudit’s shoulders as he spoke.

“Khalid, you’re up early.”

“My beloved always wakes at dawn. I ought to be up too.”

“Are you losing sleep because of me?”

Yudit looked worried, but Khalid chuckled and tousled his hair.

“Not at all. I just thought I should live a little more diligently.”

“Khalid, it’s okay to be lazy now and then.”

“Mm, maybe later. But you’ll have to join me when I do. Shall we go eat?”

“Alright.”

After quickly getting ready, Yudit followed Khalid downstairs. Unlike their rooms, which only got warm after stoking the fire and burying oneself under a wool blanket, the kitchen was steamy with heat. The stone oven burning at high temperature and the crowd of people made it feel almost hot.

As Yudit and Khalid took their seats, a young girl with red hair braided into two pigtails came scurrying over and served them bread, cheese, and goat’s milk.

“Thank you.”

At Yudit’s words, the young girl’s face immediately turned bright red. She quickly scurried toward the kitchen and, like a flurry, handed them each a bowl of soup. Unlike Khalid’s, which was moderately cool, Yudit’s soup was dangerously full, almost about to spill over.

“Oh, corn soup. I really want some. Can we swap?”

“Yes, here you go.”

Yudit, without thinking too much, swapped the soups. Khalid, now with Yudit’s soup, flashed a villainous grin as he looked toward the kitchen. When Yudit turned back in confusion, the girl with her pigtails was glaring at him, her fists clenched. When Yudit looked even more confused, the girl bit her lip and disappeared back into the kitchen. It was only then that Yudit finally understood what had happened and gave Khalid a side-eye.

“Khalid, why are you teasing a little kid like that?”

“If she likes you, then anyone, no matter if they’re a child or an eighty-year-old man, is my rival.”

Yudit’s head spun with the endless jealousy. He quickly swapped the soups again.

“Why give it and then take it back?”

“It’s a punishment. You didn’t really want the soup, did you?”

Khalid mumbled quietly. The soup was savory, and the bread was warm and chewy.

“This place is really good.”

“Yeah, it is.”

They talked about the food while finishing their breakfast. After the meal, Yudit saw Yvonne coming down the stairs. When he greeted her, Yvonne flinched, then nodded in response, clearly reluctant. She had ordered hot tea instead of a meal. After asking Khalid for permission, Yudit stood up first.

“Yvonne.”

At the call of her name, Yvonne hunched her shoulders. With an annoyed look, she turned her head and shot him a sharp glare, making Yudit flinch. He took a deep breath before speaking again.

“I’d appreciate it if you couldn’t call me in front of others.”

“Hm, sorry about that.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I was just happy to see you.”

Yvonne looked at Yudit as if he was talking nonsense. Even Selena, who had become quite comfortable with Yudit, never let her guard down this much. Yudit’s expression was honestly sincere.

“How’s it been for you? Not too cold, I hope?”

“I have firewood and a cotton blanket, so what’s there to be cold about?”

Yvonne asked with a puzzled look.

“You must really be from the north then. Pavron’s been complaining about the cold, like he’s dying from it.”

“That man used to complain about the cold even when he was wrapped in blankets made from dead people’s clothes. Don’t listen to everything he says, Your Highness. Even though he hated me, he would always ask to strip off his clothes and have someone warm him up by rubbing bodies together.”

Yvonne grimaced as she spoke.

“Mm, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Anything else you want to say?”

“By the way, what was your hometown known for?”

“Well… it snowed a lot, so I got tired of it.”

Yvonne furrowed her brow, thinking for a moment.

“I think salmon and birch trees were also quite famous.”

“Ah, I see. So, most people must have worked in fishing then. Didn’t they farm?”

“They did, but why are you asking about that?”

“Just curious. I wondered if they grew strawberries. I love strawberries.”

At Yudit’s words, Yvonne’s expression turned ice-cold. Just then, the girl came over with tea, milked and mixed in.

“Well, I don’t know about that. Anyway, I’ll be going now.”

“Ah…!”

Yvonne grabbed the milk tea from the girl’s hands as though stealing it, then stomped up the stairs. Yudit, not to be outdone, followed her closely. Realizing he was behind her, Yvonne sucked in a sharp breath, her heart skipping a beat.