Chapter 86

After the harvest festival ended, the weather began to grow colder at a remarkable pace.

The great mountain range in the North blocked most of the icy winds, yet the North was still the North. The temperature dropped much faster than it ever did in the capital or the eastern region.

Before winter fully arrived, Agnes spent her days frantically preparing supplies and managing the household budget.

Other noblewomen were just as busy, so tea parties had become rare.

Once true winter began, she assumed everyone would gather again for quiet tea parties near warm fireplaces.

Back when she lived in the capital or the East, Agnes had never enjoyed such gatherings.

Even before her marriage, she had rarely been able to interact with women her age at social events.

She had always been introduced to men instead, forced to sit still and act like a proper lady, holding her breath under the weight of their hungry gazes. There was no joy in that.

After her marriage, Rickman had tried to control every part of her life, so she could never enjoy social circles freely.

He had looked down on the local society of the East and only acknowledged the capital’s aristocratic gatherings, where rigid manners and pretentious talk filled every room. Agnes had never once found them pleasant.

Life in the North, however, was different. Dylan never interfered with her social life. In fact, he encouraged her to live freely.

And the northern people were not nearly as cold as the rumors claimed. They were said to be heartless and unflinching in the face of the freezing weather, but when Agnes met them, she found them the warmest and most genuine people she had ever known.

She liked them. She even found herself looking forward to the day she could meet them again and talk after the busy season passed.

At first, she had only wanted Noah to make friends in the North. But now, she realized she had made some of her own.

Smiling contently, she was reviewing a ledger when a knock sounded and Gavelin entered.

“Madam, excuse me.”

“Come in, Gavelin. What is it?”

He carried a silver tray. Agnes immediately noticed that it held letters. Judging by the seal, one seemed to be a reply from the Imperial Magic Division. But there was another.

“One must be from the Imperial Magic Division. What about the other?”

Gavelin hesitated for a moment before glancing at the tray again and looking back at her.

“It is from the Peridot family.”

“From the Peridot family?”

Agnes quickly reached out and took both letters from the tray.

The one from the Imperial Magic Division was important, but the letter from Count Peridot’s household demanded her attention first.

“To be precise, it is from Lady Marcella Peridot,” Gavelin explained. “It is addressed directly to you, ‘Lady Agnes Harkvitz,’ not to the Duke of Vasteron.”

Agnes’s eyes widened. She checked the envelope to confirm his words, and indeed, it was as he said.

She swiftly opened it with a paper knife and pulled out a small card.

“Do you know why the Duke of Vasteron fears magic?

If you are worried that his fear might harm your son, please visit the Peridot estate.

I will be waiting.

Your ally, Marcella Peridot.”

Marcella had not minced words. Her intention was clear.

She was prying into the doubts Agnes held about Dylan and was offering to solve them. She even dared to use Noah as leverage.

Perhaps others might have found it tempting or threatening. But Agnes immediately placed the card on the desk and closed her eyes, her expression tightening.

“…How dare she.”

Her voice came out between clenched teeth, trembling with anger. It was unlike her calm and forgiving nature.

Yet this time, the rage was justified.

She did not know exactly what Marcella wanted, but her method was something Agnes could never accept.

She had used the one person Agnes loved most in the world as bait and insulted the man who had saved her life.

“You should read this too, Gavelin.”

Her voice was cold as she handed the card to him.

After reading it, Gavelin frowned and his jaw tightened in outrage.

“Marcella Peridot has crossed the line. Shall we issue a warning?”

A warning. Agnes exhaled slowly, thinking it over.

What could she say that would make Marcella back down?

“Find out if there is anything that could pressure the Peridot family.”

Gavelin nodded, already prepared.

“The North needs a large amount of timber every winter. The Peridot family, due to their location, cannot easily acquire it themselves. They have always depended on Vasteron’s supply.”

“Even after that incident?”

“Yes. His Grace continued to provide aid out of compassion.”

Agnes still did not know what that incident was or why Dylan maintained such a delicate relationship with the Peridot family.

“…I see.”

She did not want to interfere with something Dylan considered sensitive. Still, to ignore an insult toward the Duchess of Vasteron would be equally wrong.

After weighing both sides, she made her decision.

“For now, just give a small reminder. Tell them that their estate still receives certain benefits from Vasteron. Then we’ll see how Marcella responds.”

“Understood, Madam.”

“I’ll leave this matter to you.”

“I’ll prepare a draft immediately.”

After Gavelin left, Agnes opened the letter from the Imperial Magic Division.

Fortunately, its content helped ease her anger somewhat.

“Among highly attuned magicians, it is common for some to hear the thoughts of animals.

Technically, it is more like sensing than hearing, but the magician perceives it as sound.

I believe the young Master Overhen may be experiencing this.

It is nothing to worry about, though it may cause misunderstandings since magicians are rare. Please guide him carefully on that point.”

Relieved, Agnes continued reading.

“As for the prohibitions, it is difficult to discuss them in writing.

However, it is well known that any magic related to death is strictly forbidden.

Please make sure the young magician does not attempt to use magic on the death of animals such as cats or rabbits.

Of course, this was mentioned during my last visit.

The other taboos are things he is unlikely to encounter at his age, so you need not worry.

When the opportunity arises, I will personally teach him in more detail.

Please do not hesitate to contact me.

With sincere encouragement for the young magician,
Louis Sepion.”

Agnes placed the long letter down with relief.

She would have to make sure that any dead animals around the estate were cleared away quickly so that Noah would never see them.

And she would remind him again that death could never be reversed.

After organizing her thoughts, she began to note down tasks when Gavelin returned with the draft of the letter to Marcella.

As expected, it was written flawlessly. Agnes gave her approval for it to be sent at once.

* * *

As the busy days following the harvest festival passed, the long-awaited and dreaded winter finally arrived.

Fortunately, their preparations had been completed in time. The servants were well equipped with warm clothing, and the mansion was filled with the comforting heat of firewood.

When they rested, laughter and soft conversations could be heard around every hearth.

Whenever Noah passed by, the servants would greet him warmly.

“Young Master, where are you going? Studying again today?”

“Yes.”

“My, how admirable. You’re still so little, yet you work so hard every day.”

Noah would grin shyly, scratching his cheek.

After all the cold neglect he had endured in the Overhen estate, being surrounded by such affection filled Agnes’s heart with gratitude.

The kitchen staff had learned his favorite desserts, and his once-thin frame was growing healthier each day.

He had become almost too heavy for Agnes to lift, but since Pavel often accompanied them, he now carried Noah most of the time.

The days were peaceful, perhaps more than she had ever dared to hope.