Chapter 4 – An Unexpected Encounter
The Iglesias estate had a stately interior. Though old, it was clearly well maintained.
The room Felix showed Bertina—her own chamber—suited the calm atmosphere of the mansion, though the furniture had been chosen in brighter colors.
(Even the bed and chairs were newly prepared…)
When her future husband had failed to appear to welcome her, she had wondered what sort of reception awaited her here.
So this came as a relief.
From the window, she could see one of the tall trees with purple blossoms she had noticed on the way here.
Perhaps because of that tree, the harsh sunlight she disliked was softened, and the room itself felt a little cooler.
The servants here, though clearly uncertain how to treat a bride who had come from enemy territory, were still trying to be considerate.
She had never been treated like this in her uncle’s house.
Aside from the small handful of servants she trusted, everyone there had been cold toward her.
“It’s a lovely room. Thank you for preparing it for me.”
She meant it sincerely.
For a moment, Felix looked slightly surprised.
“…Felix?”
“My apologies. I am simply relieved that it pleases you, my lady.”
At her prompting, Felix bowed once more, wearing the same gentle smile expected of a proper butler.
Just then, a warm breeze drifted in through the open window, carrying several purple petals into the room.
They fluttered through the air in front of Bertina.
Felix hurried toward the window.
“My apologies. I shall close it at once.”
“They’re beautiful flowers. I saw them from the carriage as well.”
“They are called jacarandas.”
Since she had made it clear she was not displeased, Felix began telling her more about the flowers.
They seemed to be deeply cherished in the South, perhaps because they could only grow there.
When Bertina looked outside, she saw blossoms blooming on the branches, blossoms scattering in the wind, and blossoms carpeting the ground below.
All of it was beautiful, and it gently warmed her heart.
“…Red and blue are supposed to be colors that can never coexist. And yet when they blend together, they become such a beautiful color. How strange…”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Startled, Bertina quickly covered her mouth with one hand.
But of course, once spoken, the words could not be taken back.
(Oh no… I said something strange…)
Red symbolized Willpole. Blue symbolized Crosswell.
Felix had surely understood exactly what she meant.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it…”
“I understand, my lady. …If you are not too tired, I would be happy to show you around the estate a little more.”
“Yes, please.”
Bertina had been frantically wondering how to explain herself, but when Felix remained perfectly composed, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The head butler of this house truly was as capable as she had thought.
After he had shown her around most of the house, Felix was called away by another servant, and Bertina ended up wandering the grounds by herself.
(There really are so many colors in the South…)
Bright green grass spread out at her feet, dotted here and there with flowers of every shade like accents across a painting.
Bertina let out a quiet breath of admiration.
Even in the seasons when snow did not fall, one would never see scenery like this in the North.
(Ah, there’s another jacaranda tree over there.)
Drawn to the purple blossoms that caught her eye, Bertina walked in that direction.
“Ah…!”
When she reached the tree, she let out a startled cry at what she found beyond it.
(Is this… a training ground?)
The broad open space had been neatly paved with stone, and at one end stood racks holding swords and bows.
At first glance it was a plain place, but the jacaranda petals scattered across it gave it an unexpected beauty.
(This stone… could it be…?)
As if struck by sudden realization, Bertina crouched down.
The moment her fingers touched the stone, her suspicion was confirmed, and she could not help murmuring aloud.
“I knew it! It’s mana-absorbing stone!”
Mana-absorbing stone was the general term for stones that could absorb magical power.
Depending on their purity, they could be extremely valuable, and they came in many forms—some resembled gemstones, while others looked more like ordinary rock.
(The purity isn’t especially high… but there’s so much of it!)
They trained with magic here.
If so, then even if flames were unleashed, they would not spread beyond the training ground.
It was safe.
And because the knights trained while their magic was constantly being drained by the stone, it placed them under an extra burden—meaning that in real battle, they would be able to exert even greater power.
Having unexpectedly glimpsed one of the secrets behind the Sacred Flame Knights’ strength, Bertina could only stare in admiration.
Then—
Another gust of wind blew.
Perhaps strong winds were simply common in the South.
She narrowed her eyes, enjoying the warmth so different from the cold northern air, when she heard a rustling sound from the direction of the jacaranda tree behind her.
She turned.
And there, standing before her, was a tall man.
(…Oh!)
The sudden appearance of such an overwhelmingly handsome man made Bertina’s eyes widen.
His hair was black, and yet beneath the light, hints of red seemed to mingle through it.
His skin was lightly tanned.
His features were perfectly balanced.
And above all—
(…What an utterly pure shade of red…)
His eyes were crimson, like living flame.
The moment their gazes met, Bertina found she could not look away.
(I’ve never seen eyes that color before…)
She had heard that members of the Willpole family had red eyes—but even so, she was astonished that someone outside that ducal house could possess such a vivid, brilliant shade.
Still, she had also heard that the people of House Willpole were known not only for their red eyes, but also for red hair—or shades close to red, such as brown or orange.
(His hair is black, though… so he probably isn’t a Willpole. Perhaps he’s from some noble family?)
Yet in contrast to that striking appearance, his clothes were far removed from anything aristocratic.
He was dressed like a commoner from a village or town.
And the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt exposed lean, well-trained arms, making the contrast feel even more unnatural.
(Maybe the knights Felix mentioned have returned from their inspection.)
Remembering what she had been told, Bertina decided that explanation made the most sense.
If so, then perhaps her future husband, Theodore Iglesias, had already returned as well.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Bertina of House Crosswell. Has the commander returned yet?”
Since she still did not know the man’s rank or status, Bertina greeted him with formal courtesy.
It never hurt to make a good impression.
“Why did you come here?”
But the answer she received made her blink.
“…Pardon?”
The rude man had not even returned her greeting.
Unsure what exactly he meant, she asked again, and the man replied in the same low, flat voice.
“I asked why you came here in the first place.”
(Here… meaning the South?)
Had he taken offense at the sight of someone so obviously from the North, with her blue hair and blue eyes?
But even if he were only an ordinary soldier, surely he had been informed that Bertina would be arriving from the North today.
She had, after all, just introduced herself.
(Then… does he mean the training ground?)
Though confused by his vague wording, Bertina forced her tired mind to keep working and answered carefully.
“I’ve heard that the Sacred Flame Knights are among the strongest in the Empire. Training is the foundation upon which a knight’s strength is built, so I wanted to see it for myself.”
“You won’t gain anything useful for House Crosswell by looking around a place like this.”
So her guess had been right.
By here, he meant the training ground.
And from the look in his eyes, the man clearly suspected her motives.
He did not seem pleased that she had come from House Crosswell.
“That is not my intention. As of today, I am a member of this household as well. I simply wished to learn not only about the estate, but also about the people of the knight order.”
Unlike the man’s rude attitude, Bertina continued to explain herself with perfect courtesy.
But he did not look convinced.
His cold gaze remained fixed on her.
His red eyes evoked flames, and yet the expression in them was so icy that it felt as though he could freeze a person solid.
(He may belong to the Flame Knights, but at this rate, I’d believe he can use ice too.)
No matter what she said, he did not seem likely to change his attitude.
And Bertina could feel her own anger beginning to rise.
(This is getting bad…)
It simmered inside her.
By now, in her mind, Bertina was no longer breathing ice, but fire—like a dragon spitting flames straight at him.
“…You’re right. I should not have come to the training ground before properly greeting my husband.”
She rattled off the words quickly, then bowed her head.
“Please excuse me.”
(Good. Now all I have to do is leave!)
Refusing to engage directly with someone who was openly hostile was a valid strategy.
Especially when dealing with rude men like this.
It was one of the survival rules Bertina had learned in the Crosswell household.
And so she turned to leave—
Only for the man to suddenly seize her wrist.
“Wait—!”
“For what reason?”
Though his voice had sharpened, Bertina answered with icy calm.
But perhaps he had grabbed her without thinking things through, because his next reaction was a flicker of visible confusion.
“Let go of me.”
When he still said nothing, irritation began to seep into her voice.
“…………”
Something inside her snapped.
Even now, the man neither released her nor offered an explanation.
At last, Bertina’s patience reached its limit.
She drew in a sharp breath.
“You insolent man…! It does not matter that I came from a hostile house. I am still, at the very least, the wife of your superior!”
From the outside, it must have looked absurd:
A small woman with her arm caught in the grip of a tall man.
Ordinarily, there would have been no hope of winning by force.
Even if she tried to wrench herself free, it would probably do no good.
But Bertina was not merely a small woman.
Cold air suddenly spread around them, and the temperature plummeted.
A frigid wind, utterly out of place in the warm South, howled around the two of them alone.
Then, amid the rush of air, came a sharp cracking sound—
And in front of Bertina, a blade of ice formed.
She sent it flying toward the man.
…But—
(He dodged it?!)
Of course, she had not meant to injure him.
She had only thought that if she used ice, he would be startled enough to let go.
But the way he avoided it so calmly made her panic.
Worse still, he was still holding her arm.
(Even if he’s rude, he’s still a knight…)
Normally, Bertina would have stopped there and searched for another way to resolve the situation.
But after the long journey, she was exhausted, and the calm judgment she usually relied on had worn thin.
(If the husband can’t even be bothered to greet me, no wonder his subordinates act like this!)
Now she found herself growing angry at a husband she had not even met yet.
“Lady Bertina—!”
Perhaps only now realizing things had gone too far, the man finally spoke in alarm.
But it was already too late.
(This time, I’ll hit him.)
Her second attack was merciless, aimed straight at a vital point.
The ice blade shot forward even faster than before.
At last sensing real danger, the man released her arm.
“Ah…”
(This… may be bad…)
The instant she launched the attack, Bertina’s head finally cleared.
Crosswell ice was sharper and harder than any sword.
At this range, and aimed at a vital spot—
If it struck—
The image of the result flashed through her mind, and all at once the blood drained from her face.
Without thinking, she squeezed her eyes shut.
