“Oh my God, I’m freezing to death!”
When Cheraan returned from outside, white snow had settled on her shoulders and hair. While the maids who had rushed out were shaking off her cloak and the hem of her clothes, Mary Anne, who had been checking the windows to make sure no drafts came in, was startled and came running.
“Miss Cheraan! Oh my God, your nose is so red! Come here quickly. Yes, this too!”
Something hard suddenly clenched into Cheraan’s palm as he crouched down. Upon examining it, he saw that it was a pebble that had been warmed by being buried in the ashes of the brazier. Cheraan hurriedly entered the palace, repeatedly touching the warm, smooth stone to his cheek and the back of his hand.
“That’s why I told you to ride in a palanquin, young lady.”
Mary Anne spoke with a stern tone. Cheraan pouted as she sat down close to the brazier as if embracing it.
“I thought it would be okay since I was just going out for a bit. Oh my, why is it so cold this winter? The ground is all frozen, and even when spring comes, people will suffer.”
As the year ended and the new year began, the real winter began. A terrible cold wave hit Rotair. Although it had been rumored early that winter had come earlier than usual, the snow kept falling every day and the north winds literally blew as if they were cutting through the flesh.
Thanks to this, not only the common people but also the people in the palace tried to keep their doors tightly shut and spend as much time indoors as possible. This was also an order from Franz, who was concerned that the palace staff would often die from overwork outside in the bitter cold. Thanks to this, the people working in the palace praised the Prince’s thoughtfulness for a while.
“Did Her Highness go to Magnus Palace today?”
As the cold eased somewhat, Cheraan looked around the quiet surroundings and asked why. Mary Anne nodded, putting a new pebble into the unlit brazier.
“Yes, she left about an hour ago.”
“Is she dressed warmly?”
“Of course. Cape, mantle, gloves. I wrapped them all up and sent them to her without leaving anything out. Her Highness didn’t like it, saying it wasn’t necessary, but I never backed down.”
Cheraan chuckled as he watched Mary Anne haughtily blowing air.
“Yes, you did a great job. Did you also clear the snow on the way to Magnus Palace?”
“Don’t worry about that either. I go out every hour and sprinkle salt water on the road to prevent snow from accumulating. If you sprinkle warm water, it freezes quickly and turns into ice, but salt doesn’t! How does Duke Vergy know about this?”
“The dukedom borders the sea. No matter how cold it is, the sea doesn’t freeze, and it seems that the fishermen living nearby bring seawater and sprinkle it when it snows heavily.”
The idea of sprinkling seawater on the snow-covered royal promenade was suggested by the Duke of Vergy. Up until now, when the snow piled up too much, there were times when people would sprinkle salt little by little out of concern that they would slip and get hurt, but since salt was expensive, they only pretended to sprinkle it on paths that the King or Queen would walk on, and the servants had no choice but to steadily remove the snow, enduring the freezing hands and feet.
But this year, the problem was a little more serious. First of all, it snowed too often, and no matter how much they cleared it, it would pile up or freeze quickly. And to make matters worse, there was a pregnant woman. Even if she was riding in a palanquin, if the palanquin bearer slipped and fell, it was clear that a bigger accident would occur. However, it was not right to tell her to stay at Nation Palace until the birth.
At that time, the Duke of Vergy suggested that they bring in seawater and sprinkle it on the snow. At first, everyone was skeptical, but after seeing the actual effect, it was a solution that everyone could not help but welcome.
Transporting seawater was a big problem, but the Duke of Vergy added some of his own personal wealth to the royal budget and paid the fishermen of the duchy in return for their work. The people of the duchy, who had difficulty producing salt due to pirates and weather problems, were able to secure their livelihood during the winter by transporting seawater to the capital.
“You said it’s been about an hour since Her Highness went to Magnus’ Palace?”
Mary Anne nodded. Cheraan licked her lips as if calculating something in her head, then nodded and stood up.
“Then she will be back soon. I will check to see if Her Highness snacks are ready.”
“Should I do it?”
“You should be baking stones well. And don’t forget to reheat the water and sheets before the rain comes.”
Judith was in the King's bedroom, in the palace of Magnus.
As winter deepened, King Jedercayer's condition worsened. The fact that he was often unable to get up from his bed was no longer a cause for concern. He was often diagnosed as being in a coma and would not be able to survive for more than a few days. At times, even his son Franz gave up hope that his father had no more hope. The King's life was as fleeting and fleeting as a candle flickering in the harsh north wind.
In such circumstances, King Jedercayer could hardly take care of state affairs. Even when his physical strength allowed, he could only listen to the reports of the Privy Council officials in his bedroom and give his approval verbally. Several nobles, who knew that his health was in a state of no return, were all curious. Why did he not abdicate to Franz in such a state?
As he, who had maintained an indifferent attitude toward power throughout his life, began to show incomprehensible behavior, people continued to make speculations.
There were also some rather rude rumors that his useless stubbornness was aggravated by his illness. King Jedercayer and Franz both remained silent about this. The real reason the King could not hastily abdicate to Franz was because he could not reveal the final moment that awaited him.
The King's eyes, which had been drenched in cold sweat and in a deep sleep, opened little by little. Judith, who was wiping the sweat from his forehead, slightly lowered her head as she stared blankly into the King's clouded eyes.
“Your Majesty, are you awake?”
“...Judith?”
“Yes. Would you like some water?”
“Yes. No, before that... Please let me sit down. Where did the servant go? Call the servant.”
“I’ll do it. There’s a lot of snow piled up, so everyone went out to clear the snow off the road.”
As Judith stood up from her chair, the small blanket she had been covering herself with tumbled down, revealing her protruding belly beneath the loose-fitting dress. It was not yet so much that she could not move, but the change was even more noticeable because Judith was so slender.
She skillfully raised the King’s body and placed a thick pillow behind his back so that he could lean on it. The King took a few sips of the water she gave him with a small spoon and then let out a short sigh as if he was finally coming to his senses.
“Didn’t I say you didn’t have to come here anymore? You’re not alone, so how could you come out so rashly when there’s so much snow?”
Judith smiled quietly at the scolding mixed with affection and concern, looked down at her belly once, and answered.
“It’s not that dangerous because the palace maids diligently clear the snow, even though it takes an hour. And, wouldn’t this baby want to hear his grandfather’s voice?”
The King's tired eyes softened gently. He spoke, not taking his eyes off Judith, who was carefully sitting down on the chair.
“My grandson, are you listening? Your mother is very worried because she doesn’t listen to your grandfather. I hope you, my grandson, take this to heart and grow up strong.”
Judith let out a small laugh at the King's teasing as he spoke to her swollen belly. Then the King turned his gaze to her face and said.
“It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve heard you laugh.”
“Because you slept for a long time.”
“Yes, that’s right. At some point, counting the days and the days ahead became meaningless to me. As I spent my days in a hazy state as if wandering through fog, winter had already deepened. I even vaguely remember hearing the sound of a blizzard shaking the window frame while I was in a dream.”
The King's gaze at the tightly closed window wavered slightly. Judith, who had been staring blankly at his face, smiled brightly.
“Your Majesty, shall I open the window?”
The King slowly looked at Judith. When their eyes met, he smiled broadly. He looked very old and haggard, but his warm eyes were very similar to his son Franz.
“You really understand my heart.”
Judith got up without delay and went to the window. She pulled the heavy curtain aside and opened the shutter, and through the thin glass, she could see the cold gray sky. Dark clouds were gathering in the western sky, and the fluttering snow showed signs of getting heavier.
The King frowned as if his eyes were dazzled, but he could not take his eyes off the scenery outside the window.
“It’s also nice to lie in this comfortable room and watch the snowy scenery. If I hadn’t been sick, I wouldn’t have known such luxury, so I don’t have to complain about my illness.”
His words sounded sparse and broken. Occasionally, his voice was weak and his breathing was mixed in. Judith's heart sank with incomparable heaviness as she listened to him. However, she could not shed tears or show any concern.
The people in the palace were mentally preparing themselves for the King to slowly lose his vitality and close his eyes shortly.
Judith was like that too. She had tried not to give up hope for a long time, but now she was gradually able to accept it. Knowing that there were things that could not be solved with tears, prayers, and sincerity alone, she tried to stay closer to the King. Rain or shine, she visited his bedroom once a day to check on him, and sometimes, when the King was conscious, she stayed for a long time and talked to him, as she did today.
“How is the Prince doing these days?”
Judith, who was checking the temperature of the water jug placed on the King's pillow, glanced up. The water jug was still warm, so there seemed to be no need to refill it.
“It is still the same. As winter has come and it has become difficult to make a living, the number of people seeking shelter has increased, so His Highness has ordered that several more temporary shelters be set up in various places.”
“Even if it seems like a peaceful country, there is no place where not a single person suffers from hunger. Even if you cannot create a dream country, you must not give up. That is the duty of the royal family.”
When Cheraan returned from outside, white snow had settled on her shoulders and hair. While the maids who had rushed out were shaking off her cloak and the hem of her clothes, Mary Anne, who had been checking the windows to make sure no drafts came in, was startled and came running.
“Miss Cheraan! Oh my God, your nose is so red! Come here quickly. Yes, this too!”
Something hard suddenly clenched into Cheraan’s palm as he crouched down. Upon examining it, he saw that it was a pebble that had been warmed by being buried in the ashes of the brazier. Cheraan hurriedly entered the palace, repeatedly touching the warm, smooth stone to his cheek and the back of his hand.
“That’s why I told you to ride in a palanquin, young lady.”
Mary Anne spoke with a stern tone. Cheraan pouted as she sat down close to the brazier as if embracing it.
“I thought it would be okay since I was just going out for a bit. Oh my, why is it so cold this winter? The ground is all frozen, and even when spring comes, people will suffer.”
As the year ended and the new year began, the real winter began. A terrible cold wave hit Rotair. Although it had been rumored early that winter had come earlier than usual, the snow kept falling every day and the north winds literally blew as if they were cutting through the flesh.
Thanks to this, not only the common people but also the people in the palace tried to keep their doors tightly shut and spend as much time indoors as possible. This was also an order from Franz, who was concerned that the palace staff would often die from overwork outside in the bitter cold. Thanks to this, the people working in the palace praised the Prince’s thoughtfulness for a while.
“Did Her Highness go to Magnus Palace today?”
As the cold eased somewhat, Cheraan looked around the quiet surroundings and asked why. Mary Anne nodded, putting a new pebble into the unlit brazier.
“Yes, she left about an hour ago.”
“Is she dressed warmly?”
“Of course. Cape, mantle, gloves. I wrapped them all up and sent them to her without leaving anything out. Her Highness didn’t like it, saying it wasn’t necessary, but I never backed down.”
Cheraan chuckled as he watched Mary Anne haughtily blowing air.
“Yes, you did a great job. Did you also clear the snow on the way to Magnus Palace?”
“Don’t worry about that either. I go out every hour and sprinkle salt water on the road to prevent snow from accumulating. If you sprinkle warm water, it freezes quickly and turns into ice, but salt doesn’t! How does Duke Vergy know about this?”
“The dukedom borders the sea. No matter how cold it is, the sea doesn’t freeze, and it seems that the fishermen living nearby bring seawater and sprinkle it when it snows heavily.”
The idea of sprinkling seawater on the snow-covered royal promenade was suggested by the Duke of Vergy. Up until now, when the snow piled up too much, there were times when people would sprinkle salt little by little out of concern that they would slip and get hurt, but since salt was expensive, they only pretended to sprinkle it on paths that the King or Queen would walk on, and the servants had no choice but to steadily remove the snow, enduring the freezing hands and feet.
But this year, the problem was a little more serious. First of all, it snowed too often, and no matter how much they cleared it, it would pile up or freeze quickly. And to make matters worse, there was a pregnant woman. Even if she was riding in a palanquin, if the palanquin bearer slipped and fell, it was clear that a bigger accident would occur. However, it was not right to tell her to stay at Nation Palace until the birth.
At that time, the Duke of Vergy suggested that they bring in seawater and sprinkle it on the snow. At first, everyone was skeptical, but after seeing the actual effect, it was a solution that everyone could not help but welcome.
Transporting seawater was a big problem, but the Duke of Vergy added some of his own personal wealth to the royal budget and paid the fishermen of the duchy in return for their work. The people of the duchy, who had difficulty producing salt due to pirates and weather problems, were able to secure their livelihood during the winter by transporting seawater to the capital.
“You said it’s been about an hour since Her Highness went to Magnus’ Palace?”
Mary Anne nodded. Cheraan licked her lips as if calculating something in her head, then nodded and stood up.
“Then she will be back soon. I will check to see if Her Highness snacks are ready.”
“Should I do it?”
“You should be baking stones well. And don’t forget to reheat the water and sheets before the rain comes.”
***
Judith was in the King's bedroom, in the palace of Magnus.
As winter deepened, King Jedercayer's condition worsened. The fact that he was often unable to get up from his bed was no longer a cause for concern. He was often diagnosed as being in a coma and would not be able to survive for more than a few days. At times, even his son Franz gave up hope that his father had no more hope. The King's life was as fleeting and fleeting as a candle flickering in the harsh north wind.
In such circumstances, King Jedercayer could hardly take care of state affairs. Even when his physical strength allowed, he could only listen to the reports of the Privy Council officials in his bedroom and give his approval verbally. Several nobles, who knew that his health was in a state of no return, were all curious. Why did he not abdicate to Franz in such a state?
As he, who had maintained an indifferent attitude toward power throughout his life, began to show incomprehensible behavior, people continued to make speculations.
There were also some rather rude rumors that his useless stubbornness was aggravated by his illness. King Jedercayer and Franz both remained silent about this. The real reason the King could not hastily abdicate to Franz was because he could not reveal the final moment that awaited him.
The King's eyes, which had been drenched in cold sweat and in a deep sleep, opened little by little. Judith, who was wiping the sweat from his forehead, slightly lowered her head as she stared blankly into the King's clouded eyes.
“Your Majesty, are you awake?”
“...Judith?”
“Yes. Would you like some water?”
“Yes. No, before that... Please let me sit down. Where did the servant go? Call the servant.”
“I’ll do it. There’s a lot of snow piled up, so everyone went out to clear the snow off the road.”
As Judith stood up from her chair, the small blanket she had been covering herself with tumbled down, revealing her protruding belly beneath the loose-fitting dress. It was not yet so much that she could not move, but the change was even more noticeable because Judith was so slender.
She skillfully raised the King’s body and placed a thick pillow behind his back so that he could lean on it. The King took a few sips of the water she gave him with a small spoon and then let out a short sigh as if he was finally coming to his senses.
“Didn’t I say you didn’t have to come here anymore? You’re not alone, so how could you come out so rashly when there’s so much snow?”
Judith smiled quietly at the scolding mixed with affection and concern, looked down at her belly once, and answered.
“It’s not that dangerous because the palace maids diligently clear the snow, even though it takes an hour. And, wouldn’t this baby want to hear his grandfather’s voice?”
The King's tired eyes softened gently. He spoke, not taking his eyes off Judith, who was carefully sitting down on the chair.
“My grandson, are you listening? Your mother is very worried because she doesn’t listen to your grandfather. I hope you, my grandson, take this to heart and grow up strong.”
Judith let out a small laugh at the King's teasing as he spoke to her swollen belly. Then the King turned his gaze to her face and said.
“It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve heard you laugh.”
“Because you slept for a long time.”
“Yes, that’s right. At some point, counting the days and the days ahead became meaningless to me. As I spent my days in a hazy state as if wandering through fog, winter had already deepened. I even vaguely remember hearing the sound of a blizzard shaking the window frame while I was in a dream.”
The King's gaze at the tightly closed window wavered slightly. Judith, who had been staring blankly at his face, smiled brightly.
“Your Majesty, shall I open the window?”
The King slowly looked at Judith. When their eyes met, he smiled broadly. He looked very old and haggard, but his warm eyes were very similar to his son Franz.
“You really understand my heart.”
Judith got up without delay and went to the window. She pulled the heavy curtain aside and opened the shutter, and through the thin glass, she could see the cold gray sky. Dark clouds were gathering in the western sky, and the fluttering snow showed signs of getting heavier.
The King frowned as if his eyes were dazzled, but he could not take his eyes off the scenery outside the window.
“It’s also nice to lie in this comfortable room and watch the snowy scenery. If I hadn’t been sick, I wouldn’t have known such luxury, so I don’t have to complain about my illness.”
His words sounded sparse and broken. Occasionally, his voice was weak and his breathing was mixed in. Judith's heart sank with incomparable heaviness as she listened to him. However, she could not shed tears or show any concern.
The people in the palace were mentally preparing themselves for the King to slowly lose his vitality and close his eyes shortly.
Judith was like that too. She had tried not to give up hope for a long time, but now she was gradually able to accept it. Knowing that there were things that could not be solved with tears, prayers, and sincerity alone, she tried to stay closer to the King. Rain or shine, she visited his bedroom once a day to check on him, and sometimes, when the King was conscious, she stayed for a long time and talked to him, as she did today.
“How is the Prince doing these days?”
Judith, who was checking the temperature of the water jug placed on the King's pillow, glanced up. The water jug was still warm, so there seemed to be no need to refill it.
“It is still the same. As winter has come and it has become difficult to make a living, the number of people seeking shelter has increased, so His Highness has ordered that several more temporary shelters be set up in various places.”
“Even if it seems like a peaceful country, there is no place where not a single person suffers from hunger. Even if you cannot create a dream country, you must not give up. That is the duty of the royal family.”
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