“...Was I too rude?”
And only then did Candice, glancing at the butler, ask. Of course, that didn't mean she regretted her words and actions. Even if she were to turn back time and face the same moment, she would act the same way.
“If I may tell you my feelings, I feel relieved.”
Lester smiled kindly and gave a small thumbs-up.
Candice stared at him with wide eyes, then burst out laughing. She hadn't expected the stern butler to say something like that.
And then the next day. The blizzard finally stopped. They were able to rescue Ophelia and Roderick.
"I'll go with you. It'll be faster if we use my magic together than if you just melt it with tools."
Candice rolled up her sleeves and stepped out. Of course, this was just a metaphor; the cold weather meant she couldn't really roll them up.
“Yes, it would be great if Candice could come with us!”
The butler nodded in a pleasant voice. He wasn't overly worried, but he was certainly anxious about his master's absence. Being able to see Roderick after so many days was a great joy for him, too.
The rescue team ascended the mountain slowly but safely. This was largely due to Candice's immense firepower, which melted the snow piled as high as a man, allowing the carriage to ascend.
Although it was overshadowed by Ophelia's genius, Candice was actually a wizard with great talent.
As soon as they reached the ruins near the mountaintop, Candice ran to the cabin, calling Ophelia's name loudly. She hadn't seen her in days, but she missed her friend so much.
But when she flung open the cabin door, she froze.
His friend was asleep in Roderick's arms, wearing only a thin slip. Roderick, perhaps not even cold, had boldly taken off his shirt.
“Oh my god.”
"What a blast!" Candice gasped, covering her eyes with her hand. Of course, she was watching through her fingers.
And while Ophelia and Roderick, awakened by the sound, hurriedly searched for clothes and put them on, the middle-aged butler, Lester, came running and closed the cabin door with a flustered face. This was to hide his master's embarrassed appearance.
“...We didn’t see anything.”
"Yes."
Lester whispered in Candice's ear, and Candice nodded, chuckling.
Fortunately, the other rescue workers were far away and did not see the heated scene between the two.
“I knew it would turn out like this.”
“...I knew it too.”
As Candice playfully whispered, Lester covered his mouth and replied quietly.
In fact, was there anyone who didn't know that the two had feelings for each other? They had been struggling for so long, and they were already feeling frustrated, but they never expected that a blizzard would bring about such rapid progress.
A moment later, Ophelia, her face flushed with embarrassment, got dressed and came out of the cabin.
"Be quiet. Don't say anything. If you tease me, I won't let you stay still."
“Who said what? Why did I get stabbed alone?”
As she muttered to Candice, her mischievous friend snickered and led Ophelia to the carriage.
Roderick, who followed her, also had a flushed face.
“I’m embarrassed, so please pretend you don’t know.”
Roderick covered his flushed face with his fur hat and mask and spoke. "I certainly didn't mean to go this far. I was trying to act like a proper gentleman, no matter what happened...
No matter how mature he was, he was still a hot-blooded young man who had just turned twenty.
As the carriage pulled away, Candice, who had been keeping her mouth shut, asked a question as if she could no longer bear it any longer.
“So, are you getting married?”
“...There hasn’t been any specific talk of marriage yet, but it’s probably going to happen.”
Ophelia looked away from Candice and out the window as she answered, her friend's sparkling gaze too burdensome.
A man as serious and responsible as Roderick couldn't have ended up with a one-night, or even two-night, affair. He even asked her to stay by his side.
“...Then I guess you’ll be living in the Peles Empire.”
Candice's voice became noticeably sullen. She seemed deeply saddened by the thought of being separated from her best friend, whom she had always been close to since elementary school at the Magic Academy.
"Probably so. Of course, I'll have to go back sometime. I need to get permission from my brother and submit my resignation to the Academy... Ah, there's still some time left before I have to go back, so I should let them know by letter first."
Ophelia smiled faintly at the thought of her surprised brother. She knew Isidore had high hopes for her future, but she still believed he truly cared for her and would bless her with the happiness she found.
“By the way... what are you going to do with the Prince who is a total loser?”
“...What the hell. What does that have to do with me?”
“That’s true, but I don’t think he’ll stay still.”
Candice sighed, remembering his outburst yesterday. Surely he'd be furious again, screaming, "Roderick stole my woman!"
“Somehow it will work out.”
Ophelia shrugged.
If she and Roderick were engaged, wouldn't Byron, even if he were, be wary of public opinion and become more reserved? It seemed they had to hurry up and get married, if only to avoid him.
But all her expectations turned out to be wrong.
Byron was more stubborn than she thought, and Isidore had also been vehemently opposed to her giving up her career and remaining in the Empire.
[ I have already expressed my opposition to your marriage several times. How much glory awaits you, and why are you talking about love like a fool?
But since you insist on marriage, I, your brother, will no longer recognize you as my younger sister. There's no need to go the long way around. I won't see you again until you abandon that idea.
I submitted my resignation to the Academy on your behalf. There's no need to bother replying. I don't plan on reading it. ]
Ophelia folded her brother's letter, filled with nothing but cold words. Before she knew it, large tears were falling from her eyes.
It was true that Isidore hated her. If he truly cared for her, she thought he should acknowledge the path she had chosen for herself.
But she never imagined he would even mention the word "disloyalty." Isidore was the only family she had left, so how could he so easily sever ties with her?
When she told Roderick that Isidore was against it, he suggested they bide their time and try to persuade him. And she agreed.
But after hearing that they should never see each other again, Ophelia also changed her mind and decided to go ahead with the marriage regardless of her brother's opposition.
She wiped the tears streaming down her chin and smoothed her face. If Roderick saw her crying, he'd be upset, no doubt.
And then, a commotion was heard in the lobby of the mansion.
“Let go of this! Where am I supposed to go!”
"Didn't His Majesty the Emperor say he'd move your exile to the south? The weather there is milder, so you'll be more comfortable there than here."
Byron glared at Roderick, who was saying goodbye to him with a calm expression.
"Do you think I don't know? You're just trying to chase me away because you're messing around with my woman! I don't know what you said to Father, but! You arrogant brat, you don't even know your place...!"
And at his words, Roderick's eyes lit up. No matter how long he had tolerated his friend's foul temper, he couldn't bear to trip up someone he loved.
“...Ophelia has never been your woman for even a moment.”
“What? This kid...!”
"So, Your Highness, I'm telling you to just follow the imperial order. There's nothing good about rumors spreading that the royal family is eyeing their subject's fiancée."
Roderick returned to his stern expression, as if he had never shown his anger before, and straightened Byron's clothes, which had been disheveled from his struggles. It was a gesture of infinite affection.
"Who gets engaged on their own? Engagement! If only it weren't for you, if only you hadn't been so cowardly behind my back!"
It was a line he couldn't bear to hear anymore.
"No, Your Highness. Even if it weren't for Roderick, Your Highness, it wouldn't be. I don't like arrogant, self-centered men like Your Highness the Prince. What woman in the world would like someone like Your Highness?"
Ophelia descended the central staircase one step at a time as she spoke. Perhaps it was venting her frustration after receiving a declaration of estrangement from her last remaining family member, but it was also what she had wanted to say for months.
And only then did Candice, glancing at the butler, ask. Of course, that didn't mean she regretted her words and actions. Even if she were to turn back time and face the same moment, she would act the same way.
“If I may tell you my feelings, I feel relieved.”
Lester smiled kindly and gave a small thumbs-up.
Candice stared at him with wide eyes, then burst out laughing. She hadn't expected the stern butler to say something like that.
***
And then the next day. The blizzard finally stopped. They were able to rescue Ophelia and Roderick.
"I'll go with you. It'll be faster if we use my magic together than if you just melt it with tools."
Candice rolled up her sleeves and stepped out. Of course, this was just a metaphor; the cold weather meant she couldn't really roll them up.
“Yes, it would be great if Candice could come with us!”
The butler nodded in a pleasant voice. He wasn't overly worried, but he was certainly anxious about his master's absence. Being able to see Roderick after so many days was a great joy for him, too.
The rescue team ascended the mountain slowly but safely. This was largely due to Candice's immense firepower, which melted the snow piled as high as a man, allowing the carriage to ascend.
Although it was overshadowed by Ophelia's genius, Candice was actually a wizard with great talent.
As soon as they reached the ruins near the mountaintop, Candice ran to the cabin, calling Ophelia's name loudly. She hadn't seen her in days, but she missed her friend so much.
But when she flung open the cabin door, she froze.
His friend was asleep in Roderick's arms, wearing only a thin slip. Roderick, perhaps not even cold, had boldly taken off his shirt.
“Oh my god.”
"What a blast!" Candice gasped, covering her eyes with her hand. Of course, she was watching through her fingers.
And while Ophelia and Roderick, awakened by the sound, hurriedly searched for clothes and put them on, the middle-aged butler, Lester, came running and closed the cabin door with a flustered face. This was to hide his master's embarrassed appearance.
“...We didn’t see anything.”
"Yes."
Lester whispered in Candice's ear, and Candice nodded, chuckling.
Fortunately, the other rescue workers were far away and did not see the heated scene between the two.
“I knew it would turn out like this.”
“...I knew it too.”
As Candice playfully whispered, Lester covered his mouth and replied quietly.
In fact, was there anyone who didn't know that the two had feelings for each other? They had been struggling for so long, and they were already feeling frustrated, but they never expected that a blizzard would bring about such rapid progress.
A moment later, Ophelia, her face flushed with embarrassment, got dressed and came out of the cabin.
"Be quiet. Don't say anything. If you tease me, I won't let you stay still."
“Who said what? Why did I get stabbed alone?”
As she muttered to Candice, her mischievous friend snickered and led Ophelia to the carriage.
Roderick, who followed her, also had a flushed face.
“I apologize.”
Roderick covered his flushed face with his fur hat and mask and spoke. "I certainly didn't mean to go this far. I was trying to act like a proper gentleman, no matter what happened...
No matter how mature he was, he was still a hot-blooded young man who had just turned twenty.
As the carriage pulled away, Candice, who had been keeping her mouth shut, asked a question as if she could no longer bear it any longer.
“So, are you getting married?”
“...There hasn’t been any specific talk of marriage yet, but it’s probably going to happen.”
Ophelia looked away from Candice and out the window as she answered, her friend's sparkling gaze too burdensome.
A man as serious and responsible as Roderick couldn't have ended up with a one-night, or even two-night, affair. He even asked her to stay by his side.
“...Then I guess you’ll be living in the Peles Empire.”
Candice's voice became noticeably sullen. She seemed deeply saddened by the thought of being separated from her best friend, whom she had always been close to since elementary school at the Magic Academy.
"Probably so. Of course, I'll have to go back sometime. I need to get permission from my brother and submit my resignation to the Academy... Ah, there's still some time left before I have to go back, so I should let them know by letter first."
Ophelia smiled faintly at the thought of her surprised brother. She knew Isidore had high hopes for her future, but she still believed he truly cared for her and would bless her with the happiness she found.
“By the way... what are you going to do with the Prince who is a total loser?”
“...What the hell. What does that have to do with me?”
“That’s true, but I don’t think he’ll stay still.”
Candice sighed, remembering his outburst yesterday. Surely he'd be furious again, screaming, "Roderick stole my woman!"
“Somehow it will work out.”
Ophelia shrugged.
If she and Roderick were engaged, wouldn't Byron, even if he were, be wary of public opinion and become more reserved? It seemed they had to hurry up and get married, if only to avoid him.
But all her expectations turned out to be wrong.
Byron was more stubborn than she thought, and Isidore had also been vehemently opposed to her giving up her career and remaining in the Empire.
***
[ I have already expressed my opposition to your marriage several times. How much glory awaits you, and why are you talking about love like a fool?
But since you insist on marriage, I, your brother, will no longer recognize you as my younger sister. There's no need to go the long way around. I won't see you again until you abandon that idea.
I submitted my resignation to the Academy on your behalf. There's no need to bother replying. I don't plan on reading it. ]
Ophelia folded her brother's letter, filled with nothing but cold words. Before she knew it, large tears were falling from her eyes.
It was true that Isidore hated her. If he truly cared for her, she thought he should acknowledge the path she had chosen for herself.
But she never imagined he would even mention the word "disloyalty." Isidore was the only family she had left, so how could he so easily sever ties with her?
When she told Roderick that Isidore was against it, he suggested they bide their time and try to persuade him. And she agreed.
But after hearing that they should never see each other again, Ophelia also changed her mind and decided to go ahead with the marriage regardless of her brother's opposition.
She wiped the tears streaming down her chin and smoothed her face. If Roderick saw her crying, he'd be upset, no doubt.
And then, a commotion was heard in the lobby of the mansion.
“Let go of this! Where am I supposed to go!”
"Didn't His Majesty the Emperor say he'd move your exile to the south? The weather there is milder, so you'll be more comfortable there than here."
Byron glared at Roderick, who was saying goodbye to him with a calm expression.
"Do you think I don't know? You're just trying to chase me away because you're messing around with my woman! I don't know what you said to Father, but! You arrogant brat, you don't even know your place...!"
And at his words, Roderick's eyes lit up. No matter how long he had tolerated his friend's foul temper, he couldn't bear to trip up someone he loved.
“...Ophelia has never been your woman for even a moment.”
“What? This kid...!”
"So, Your Highness, I'm telling you to just follow the imperial order. There's nothing good about rumors spreading that the royal family is eyeing their subject's fiancée."
Roderick returned to his stern expression, as if he had never shown his anger before, and straightened Byron's clothes, which had been disheveled from his struggles. It was a gesture of infinite affection.
"Who gets engaged on their own? Engagement! If only it weren't for you, if only you hadn't been so cowardly behind my back!"
It was a line he couldn't bear to hear anymore.
"No, Your Highness. Even if it weren't for Roderick, Your Highness, it wouldn't be. I don't like arrogant, self-centered men like Your Highness the Prince. What woman in the world would like someone like Your Highness?"
Ophelia descended the central staircase one step at a time as she spoke. Perhaps it was venting her frustration after receiving a declaration of estrangement from her last remaining family member, but it was also what she had wanted to say for months.
“Ophelia...”
Roderick looked back at her with a slightly surprised expression. Ophelia smiled even more captivatingly and linked her arms with his.
While Byron was stunned by her words, the knights of the royal guard began to drag him away.
Byron, who had only just come to his senses, struggled to the end and cried out Ophelia's name.
"Ophelia, it's not too late. Come back to me...! I can wait for you forever, my Ophelia!!"
It was really ugly.
“Weren’t you reading a letter from your home?”
Roderick asked, gently ruffling her hair. Ophelia smiled, hiding the traces of tears.
“Why does it take so long to read a letter?”
“What does your brother say?”
“...What does it matter? No matter what my brother says. I’m going to marry Roderick.”
She pouted and grumbled. She was just trying to get Isidore's letter out of her mind, and Roderick kept nagging her, irritated.
Finding her appearance cute, Roderick impulsively brought his lips gently to her pouting lips. The light kiss soon turned into a passionate one.
“I love you, Ophelia.”
“...I love you, Roderick.”
It was a little, no, a very distant future for them, who whispered such sweet words of love into each other's ears, to become parents of two children.
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