He was different from the other knights as he had a special ability, so how could the knights fight with a person whose eyes they could not meet? The knight had looked for the Duke in the middle of the battlefield at the risk of seeing his eyes. Maybe the rumors were exaggerated. The Duke may possess the ability to freeze a person, but it seemed that this could be prevented or avoided.

“Mistress, about the Delrose knight’s expedition…” Etra spoke softly, realizing that Ilyin was deep in thought.

Ilyin nodded, “Yes. What is their plan?”

Etra glanced at the map in front of Ilyin as she spoke, “While the exact date is a secret, they will be heading out soon.”

Ilyin had known that would happen, but it didn’t mean that she couldn’t gain some clues about her dream before they left.

She looked at the Biflten’s map, and while knights would’ve known where the place was in a second, it took a while for her to find the spot that matched what she’d seen in her dream, and Etra waited calmly to avoid putting pressure on her mistress.

“Are they going to the west?” The place Ilyin found on the map was the mollies’ territory in the west.

“Yes.” Etra looked surprised at her guess.

Ilyin agonized about what she should do. If she tried to warn them, she doubted that they’d believe her. And, how could the knights avoid an unexpected avalanche, even if they were used to the snow?

“I heard that His Highness will be on that expedition,” Etra whispered. Ilyin froze in shock at this news.

***

Ilyin moved up to the seventh floor that night, and the resident doctor smiled in satisfaction at seeing that she’d become quite well.

“A medicine to strengthen the body?” The old doctor suggested, with a pleasant smile on his face. “However, since it may cause problems like the nened, let’s rather go with the medicine from the Empire first. We need to make you stronger before you can take medicine that’s made here.” His words were warm, and Ilyin couldn’t believe that this was the same person who had scolded the Blue North maids. “Also, I will let His Highness know that you are well. And please let me know if His Highness is too forceful.” Those had been the doctor’s parting words, and Ilyin blushed at his wink.

Etra had told Ilyin that the doctor was one of the few people who could nag the Duke among the Delroses.

The seventh floor was quite different, Ilyin observed as she sat in the large bedroom. The maids had prepared several kinds of liqueurs for Ilyin as it was known that the Biflten liqueurs agreed with her, unlike the herbs.

“This tastes like peaches. It can be drunk easily despite being quite heavy,” the maid explained.

Ilyin knew that it would come in handy when she was sitting alone at night, as the lights could go out at any moment. She lifted the small glass filled with the light pink liquid and tasted it. It was hot as it ran down her throat but felt sweet on her tongue. It was delicious, and Ilyin took a few more sips, unlike her usual self. Suddenly, the lights went off and a moment later, Ilyin went still as a warm hand touched hers.

“Do you enjoy a drink?” He gently took the bottle as if he could see in the dark, and placed it on the table, and Ilyin quickly looked down at the floor. She didn’t want to confirm whether or not she would freeze if she looked into his eyes, and even if that didn’t happen, it might cause other problems. Allowing such rumors to continue meant that the Duke had some use for them, and saying anything about it wasn’t a good idea.

“Not really.”

“Then, do you like this one?”

She heard him tip the bottle and pour some into a glass. Ilyin felt him tap the glass she was holding, and he took it from her. Did one hear better in the dark? she wondered. Ilyin heard him drink and then it sounded as if he stood up, most likely thinking that sitting still was impolite. She heard him put the glass on the table.

“It tastes like peaches,” she said softly. The scent was near her, and she froze.

The Duke bent his head towards her to kiss her on the cheek, and whispered, “Your cheeks are flushed.”

“Can you see me?” she asked, feeling self-conscious.

Ilyin had asked that question because she couldn’t see anything in the darkness, so how could he see her? She heard a small laugh.

“Are you curious?” he replied.

Come to think of it, he must be able to see in the dark, how else could she explain the first night that they’d spent together. Ilyin’s face flushed again as she was swept off her feet.

“What are you doing?” Her surprised voice was drowned out by his laughter, which was near enough for a kiss. Ilyin closed her eyes as she sucked in a deep breath. He placed her on the table, and she opened her eyes slightly as she tried to balance herself. Her feet were hanging in the air, and the Duke leaned against her as she tried to find a place for her hands to rest.

“The table’s here.” His warm hands guided hers as he kissed her upper lip and whispered, “I can smell your scent.”

Ilyin thought he was talking about the liqueur, and his hand gently stroked her cheek. His kiss was short but it devoured her. He then bit her tongue tenderly as if it were a soft fruit. Ilyin’s hands trembled slightly on the table, as her body felt weak. His hands were on hers with more force, and their fingers linked together. The Duke kissed her cheek again and then leaned in closer to kiss her nose and lips.

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