"Would it be alright if my knights and I stayed here for a short while to tend to our wounds and recover our strength? I will ensure proper compensation," Lianel requested politely.

"You’re welcome to stay in the castle," Penelope replied. "The snow won’t stop anytime soon, so you won’t be able to leave until it clears anyway."

"With skills like yours, you’d be better off putting down that magic rifle," Ahwin interjected in a tone of disdain.

Lianel responded with nothing more than a faint smile, unfazed by the jab.

It was only then that Penelope remembered: the Northern Grand Duke was known to be exceptionally skilled with a magic rifle. Startled, she quickly cast meaningful glances at the maids.

‘What are you waiting for? Hurry up with the food!’

Thankfully, the maids understood her silent command and began bringing out the dishes.

All Penelope wanted was to get through dinner and let this day come to an end.

***

The next morning.

Unfortunately, from the break of dawn, snow began falling heavily, blanketing everything in sight.

Ahwin appeared in Penelope's office with a sour expression, sipping tea as he made himself comfortable on the sofa in the center of the room—a spot that had somehow become his designated seat. He was like a fussy cat, insisting on the same spot every time.

"I don’t like him."

"…"

Penelope didn’t bother responding. She knew exactly who he was referring to: Lianel.

After all, Ahwin wasn’t the type to find anyone in this world particularly agreeable.

When Penelope refused to engage, Ahwin, determined to make his opinion known, spoke again, louder this time.

"That idiot of a man should be kicked out as soon as possible. Who do you think you’re feeding and housing in this already impoverished estate?"

Penelope still refused to acknowledge him. So, Ahwin continued his monologue.

"He’s all looks and no substance. Completely unreliable, too."

Unable to bear any more of Ahwin’s relentless criticism, Penelope cut him off. Listening to someone gossip about a man who might very well be the Northern Grand Duke was unnerving. If Lianel overheard, it could lead to nightmares—not figuratively, but quite literally.

"He’ll leave on his own once the snow clears. Why would a noble of his status want to stay in a place like this?"

Ahwin pressed his lips together for a moment before speaking with a warning tone.

"You need to be careful. You can’t afford to reveal any vulnerabilities to nobles as cunning and unpredictable as him."

"What’s there to exploit in this poor estate? What’s next, claiming Lianel is a spy from another country?"

"…"

Ahwin froze, momentarily speechless. While he distrusted Lianel, he hadn’t considered something quite so far-fetched.

Penelope twirled her fountain pen between her fingers and pressed on.

"By the way, can I ask how you and he know each other? Or will I get the usual non-answer?"

"We don’t know each other well."

"Oh, really?"

Penelope smirked slightly, as she had anticipated his predictable response. Satisfied with shutting down the conversation, she turned her attention back to her documents.

A knock on the door broke the silence.

"My lady, it’s me."

"Come in."

The steward entered, prompting Penelope to look up curiously.

"What is it?"

"It’s about the nobleman who arrived yesterday."

"You mean Lianel?"

The steward hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"It seems he’s come down with a fever."

"A fever…?"

Penelope blinked in surprise. Lianel, who had looked robust enough to never know illness, now sick?

Then again, it made sense. Wandering through a snowy forest for three days and nights could hardly leave anyone unscathed. Now that his body had finally reached safety, it was no wonder it had given in.

Or maybe it’s heartbreak… heartbreak from some reason… or heartbreak from someone… Penelope speculated briefly, though she quickly pushed the thought aside.

"Hah!"

It was Ahwin.

"Pfft—ahahaha! Lianel has a cold?!"

For the first time, Penelope saw Ahwin laughing so heartily, as though a great burden had been lifted from him. It was a rare sight, yet utterly exasperating.

Penelope furrowed her brows slightly and turned back to the steward.

"Bring him to this room. It’s better than letting him sleep in a cold place."

This time, it was Ahwin who scowled, his expression darkening visibly.

***

Lian met her again in his dreams.

Her silver hair glistened like a prism under the sunlight, and her violet eyes sparkled dangerously whenever she glared at her enemies.

In the dream, he watched every subtle expression she made, drowning in his own regret.

Now, she was walking away, leaving him behind. She would leave him forever.

‘Don’t turn away from me. Please.’

He begged, but ironically, it was a plea he couldn’t voice back when it mattered most.

She strode confidently toward a dazzling future, her steps firm and unyielding.

Then, Lian flinched. His feet were on fire.

Flames roared around him, licking at his skin as if to consume him whole.

Suddenly, a loud thud echoed. Buildings around him began to crumble into the inferno.

Lian felt his body burning, his throat parched as he swallowed dryly. His back was on fire, and his mouth felt like it was full of ash.

Even knowing it was a dream, the heat and suffocation felt unbearably real.

“…”

Lian slowly opened his eyes, the sticky sensation of cold sweat covering him from head to toe.

He had expected to wake up on a bed, but instead, he found himself lying on a bare floor. A thick, crimson blanket covered him.

Strangely, the heat was suffocating. It was undeniably the dead of winter, and yet…

‘Why is it so hot? I could have sworn I barely managed to fall asleep in an ice-cold bed with visible frost in my breath.’

As he turned his head in confusion, the same loud thud from his dream echoed again.

Thud. Thud, thud.

The sound was heavy, almost as if the building itself was collapsing.

‘Wait, that wasn’t just in the dream?’

"What is going on…?"

Lian muttered weakly, stretching his hand toward the floor to prop himself up.

"Stay lying down. You’ll feel dizzy if you get up too quickly."

"…Baroness Halo?"

Lian managed to swallow and croak out a reply. Penelope was seated at her desk, flipping through a pile of documents.

The scene made no sense to him.

Without looking up from her work, Penelope spoke.
"It seems you’ve caught a severe cold. Your body must have been overwhelmed after sleeping in such a cold place."

"I see… But why am I here?"

"Ah, your knights brought you here while you were asleep," Penelope explained calmly.

In other words, his knights had carried him to this office while he was unconscious.

"I must have caused you great trouble. Cough, cough."

Still feeling groggy, Lian braced his hand against the floor. Instead of the icy cold he expected, he felt warmth radiating beneath him.

It was then he realized.

‘Wait. The floor… it’s warm?’

The realization puzzled him deeply.

"Where exactly am I?"

"This is my office," Penelope replied. "The guest room you were staying in doesn’t have proper heating yet. It must have been too cold for you to sleep comfortably."

Lian recalled the small brazier in his guest room and the bone-chilling cold that had kept him awake. No wonder he had ended up here.

"Would you like some water? You must be dehydrated after sweating so much in your sleep," Penelope offered, gesturing to a pitcher and cup nearby.

"…Thank you for your kindness," Lian replied, trying to move slowly as he poured himself some water. The cool liquid felt like nectar, soothing his parched throat.

Penelope signed the bottom of a document before speaking again.
"I’ve asked the cook to prepare tea that’s good for colds. Drink that and get some rest."

Thud, thud, thud.

The loud noise reverberated again, and Penelope’s expression turned exasperated.

It was the workers installing the Ondol boiler system. The constant hammering had made it nearly impossible for anyone to nap during the day.

‘Maybe I should suggest he rest in the gardener’s house. That place is quieter and already serves as a combined dormitory and break room for the staff.’

But then she reconsidered. She couldn’t justify inconveniencing her staff to accommodate a guest.

After some thought, Penelope spoke again.
"I’ll vacate my office for you temporarily. It’s warm here, and you can stay until your cold improves. Have your knights sleep here with you—it’ll be more comfortable than the guest room."

"But that would be a great inconvenience to you, Baroness."

Lian replied, visibly flustered. He was still trying to process the situation and only half-understood what Penelope was saying.

‘Warm floors? Since when does this castle have such a thing?’

Since arriving at Halo Castle, Lian had encountered one baffling situation after another. And yet, Penelope offered no detailed explanation.

A knock came at the door.

"My lady, it’s me."

Penelope looked toward the door and replied, "Come in."