"The weather seemed nice for a while, but lately it’s just been overcast all the time."
Alicia looked up at the cloudy sky and gently rubbed her belly.
On the outside, it wasn’t very noticeable, but when she actually touched it, she could feel the child’s presence, and her hand kept going back.
“It looks like hunting season is about to start again soon.”
"Hunting season?"
“In other words, it’s also called Schwarhan’s winter.”
Madame Morco smiled as she carefully adjusted Alicia’s cloak, which had slipped down slightly.
“Isn’t it always winter in Schwarhan?”
“It’s still relatively warm now. The real cold comes after a few heavy snowfalls.”
"I’ve only just gotten a little used to the cold, but the thought that it’s going to get even colder already has me scared."
“You don’t need to worry so much. You won’t be able to go out much during hunting season anyway.”
"Why? Because it's too cold?"
“That’s part of the reason, but the real reason is the monsters.”
Monsters.
Alicia’s fingertips twitched involuntarily.
Although he didn't provide more details, she clearly remembered what Cabelenus had said.
The man had said that the blood of monsters flowed in his veins.
"I don't know why, but in Schwarhan, monsters appear at a certain time every year. No matter how hard you search during other times, you won’t see a single one — but as soon as hunting season comes around, they show up like ghosts and run rampant. That's why it's called the hunting season."
“…Are the monsters something to be afraid of?”
Alicia cautiously observed Madame Morco’s reaction.
Madame Morco rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a moment before nodding.
"They are as fearsome as Schwarhan’s cold."
“...”
“Paradoxically, though, they are also necessary.”
“Necessary?”
Alicia tilted her head in confusion.
“The people of Schwarhan don’t hunt monsters just for safety.”
“Then what for?”
“Monsters are indispensable in Schwarhan. Their fur becomes the clothing that fights off the cold, and their bones turn into weapons to defend against beasts.”
“Even so, isn’t it dangerous?”
A wrinkle formed on Alicia's nose.
“It’s better than the cold. At least monsters can be slain and driven away.”
“Have you ever killed a monster yourself, Madame Morco?”
“Of course. I may be like this now, but I used to be quite a skilled knight. When I was active, I was always the star of the hunting season.”
"Really?"
"Yes, of course."
Madame Morco gently smoothed out the wrinkle on Alicia’s nose and gave her a soft smile.
“...Then, what about His Highness?”
“His Highness always catches the most monsters. If you saw him in action, you'd be left speechless by his skill.”
Madame Morco smiled, but Alicia couldn't bring herself to do the same.
It was hard to imagine a man who carried the blood of monsters himself, hunting and killing them.
"Is it uncomfortable for you because it's such a gruesome story?"
“No, it’s not that. I was just thinking about something else.”
“Something else?”
“Well...”
There were so many questions Alicia wanted to ask, but Madame Morco didn’t seem to know anything about Cabelenus’s secret.
Alicia stuck out her tongue to moisten her dry lips.
“…I was thinking about a talisman.”
"A talisman?"
“I heard that talismans are given to those who participate in the hunt.”
“Are you planning to give one to His Highness?”
“Yes. I’ve been steadily preparing one.”
‘But I don’t know if I’ll be able to give him.’
Alicia purposely left that part unsaid.
She didn’t want to bring up gloomy topics even during the walk they took to lighten her mood.
"If it’s something my lady has prepared, His Highness will gladly accept anything."
"I hope so."
Alicia smiled as she tidied her hair tousled by the breeze.
It was then.
When she turned her head absentmindedly, their eyes finally met.
‘When did they get here?’
She was pretty sure they weren’t there just a moment ago.
Alicia just blinked her eyes at the woman smiling at her from under the tree in the distance.
"Hello."
The woman’s smile deepened when she noticed Alicia’s surprise.
She was astonishingly beautiful.
The way she smiled, showing a hint of her pearly white teeth, was so beautiful it almost made Alicia feel like she was dreaming.
Alicia swallowed dryly out of reflex.
The woman said little, but somehow Alicia felt like she knew who she was.
“Isn’t it polite to say something when someone speaks to you?”
Alicia’s body tensed instinctively.
Though the woman’s face smiled, her eyes did not.
And in that instant, Alicia knew.
This woman hated her.
“How did you get here? This is not a place you can enter freely.”
Madame Morco stepped in front of Alicia, her expression hardening.
“That thing wanders as it pleases, so there’s no way I can’t.”
“Watch your words.”
“Watch my words? That’s something you should do. You should know who I am."
“The princess shouldn’t be here.”
“What? You do know me, and yet dare act so arrogantly?”
“Your outfit makes it obvious.”
Madame Morco motioned to the maids behind her while scrutinising Veloa’s appearance.
A woman dressed head to toe in the finest goods was rare, and above all, Madame Morco knew all the nobles of Schwarhan by heart.
Recognising the intruder’s identity was not difficult.
“Honestly, I can’t stand the people of this land. They take after their disrespectful master, and even the dogs under him are incredibly insolent, aren’t they?”
"The one committing disrespect is the princess."
“I’m just paying back what I received.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
"I’m not talking about you, but that thing hiding behind you like a rat."
Veloa fixed a fierce glare on Alicia.
Madame Morco was shielding her, so only a fur cloak was visible — but even that alone was enough to offend Veloa’s sense of propriety.
It was utterly outrageous to see a mere slave acting like a noble lady, clueless about her place while being protected.
“If you insult my master any further, I won’t stand by quietly.”
“You know that thing is a slave, yet you defend it?”
Veloa openly clicked her tongue, frowning.
"There are no slaves in Schwarhan."
“If words alone could make slaves vanish, then there wouldn’t be a single slave left in the world.”
“It seems the princess should undergo etiquette lessons again.”
Madame Morco calmly cast her gaze toward Veloa.
Given that she was holding a staff, the princess must be a mage.
Moreover, she was skilled enough to sneak in here unnoticed.
‘I’ve never heard the princess was a mage, so this complicates things.’
Madame Morco's eyes narrowed.
Though she had never lost a duel since being knighted, then and now were not the same.
Time had taken much from the once formidable knight.
"Who is it that can’t even recognise their superior, yet dares to lecture me about manners?"
"If you expected to be treated like a superior, you should’ve followed proper procedures and formally requested a meeting — instead of sneaking around like a rat."
"Who are you calling a rat?!"
"I'm fully prepared to settle the score as well."
"Seriously, every single one of them is getting on my nerves."
Despite Veloa’s twisted scowl, the corners of Madame Morco’s lips curled up slightly.
Mages were tough opponents, but thankfully, this one was still immature.
Her proud, boastful gaze, fully aware of her own power, was itself a glaring vulnerability.
“If you leave quietly now, I won’t make a problem out of this.”
“Go ahead and make a problem out of it if you want.”
If only there were a place where she could share her story.
With Veloa’s smile, countless sharp ice arrows suddenly materialised out of thin air and flew straight at Alicia.
"Madame Morco!"
“It’s alright. You don’t need to worry.”
Without turning around, Madame Morco let out a short breath.
In her hand, she held a well-sharpened dagger.
“You managed to endure this. Looks like you’ve got enough skill to talk back, huh?”
“I can handle this with my eyes closed.”
Madame Morco smiled calmly, but inside, she was far from at ease.
Just moments ago, her dress had been slightly torn by the attack.
She would have dealt with it easily in the past, but here, she couldn’t help but show the signs of time.
A few strikes she could manage, but the longer the battle dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would become for her.
"Shirin. Shizuna."
"Yes, Madame."
“I’ll handle things here, so please escort the young lady inside.”
Time took away many things, but gave her experience.
Madame Morco quickly organised what she needed to do and infused her dagger with energy.
The dagger, cloaked in sword aura, now resembled a longsword.
“But—”
“I can only fight comfortably if my lady is not here.”
“...”
Alicia couldn’t say another word and simply bowed her head deeply.
She felt uneasy about leaving Madame Morco behind, but there was no denying the truth in her words.
“...Alright. I’ll be waiting.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this and come back quickly.”
“Trying to run away? That won’t work.”
As Veloa swung her staff, the ground split open and blocked Alicia’s path.
Alicia bit her lower lip.
Shizuna and Shirin immediately drew their swords to protect Alicia, but escape was impossible.
It didn’t end with the ground cracking open.
Skeletons were emerging from the cracked fissures.
“I thought necromancy was forbidden magic, but the princess seems to have many talents.”
"I’m special."
Veloa nodded arrogantly.
“I’m curious to see how people will react once they learn of the princess’s power.”
“There’s no need to be curious. Either way, you won’t be able to tell anyone. Very few who have seen my power have survived.”
“Then I’ll be one of those rare people.”
“Why don’t you say that after you’ve defeated my creations?”
Veloa leaned on her staff and smiled even more mischievously.
Madame Morco slashed at the attacking skeletons while checking on Alicia.
Thankfully, the two maids were holding their ground.
‘No, that’s not something to be thankful for.’
Madame Morco let out a heavy breath.
The skeletons Veloa conjured could be cut down, but only briefly.
Even when its body was shattered, the skeletons, which were nothing but bare bones, quickly got back up and lunged again. At this rate, only one side would end up exhausted.
If that was the case...
Madame Morco quickly surveyed her surroundings.
The skeletons weren’t particularly strong.
If she pushed through with brute force, she could break through swiftly.
'She’s watching but not stepping in, even though she could use magic, so why isn’t she?'
‘Or rather, it's not that she won’t, but that she can’t?’
Madame Morco’s eyes narrowed.
The tip of Veloa’s staff was glowing just like when casting magic.
That alone was enough to show the possibility.
Madame Morco adjusted her grip on the sword and charged forward immediately.
“Wh-what are you doing now… Kyaaa!”
“Oh dear. The princess sure has too many openings.”
Caught off guard, Veloa was pushed by Madame Morco and went tumbling into the snow.
Madame Morco sat on top of Veloa, subduing her, and aimed a sword at her neck.
The skeletons had already vanished.
“Has the princess never faced real combat before?”
“Stop your nonsense and get away from me right now!”
“What’s the point of having great power? If you can’t use it right, it’s worthless.”
“Are you really trying to lecture me? You, of all people? How dare you.”
Veloa snarled, narrowing her eyes, but her staff had already been thrown far away.
A mage without their staff was no different from an ordinary person.
There was no way to escape the grasp of a seasoned warrior.
Ultimately, the only thing Veloa could do was raise her voice.
Madame Morco let out a deep sigh of relief as she looked at the princess, who was no different from a reckless child.
If Veloa had possessed proper skill, it certainly would have been dangerous.
It was a huge relief that things could pass safely like this.
“Are you alright, madame?”
“Ah, yes. Shirin. I’m fine, so could you hold onto the princess for me? I must inform His Highness immediately—”
Swish—!
Madame Morco, who had turned her head without much thought, couldn’t finish her sentence and froze on the spot.
It felt as if something cold had pierced through her stomach, but she couldn’t tell what it was.
More than pain, a strange sense of dissonance came first.
Like a rusty machine, Madame Morco’s movements stiffened as she lowered her head.
Her abdomen was already stained bright red.
The staff that had been thrust from behind had pierced straight through her stomach.
“I’m sorry, Madame.”
The voice that came from above her head was indifferent.
Madame Morco struggled to lift her head to see who had stabbed her, but she couldn’t bring herself to raise her sword.
Standing at the end of the staff was none other than the disciple she had raised with her own hands for over ten years.
“Why would you…”
Madame Morco’s voice trembled, but Shirin pulled out the staff with an expressionless face.
Despite blood splattering everywhere from the recoil, the young maid showed no sign of hesitation.
“Don’t move. If you do, I will cut you down right where you are.”
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