Chapter 41

“What did you just say?!”

Everyone turned sharply toward Tulla, the owner of the general store in the noble district.

“Did you just say she’s the one from those rumors?”

Tulla nodded frantically.

“Y-yes. That fluffy orange hair, I’d recognize it anywhere!”

“Now that you mention it, she’s with Lady Natalianne, so it must be true.”

The crowd nodded in sudden understanding, murmuring excitedly among themselves.

“So that’s what this is. She was building connections with her sister-in-law, Lady Natalianne. As expected of the Grand Duke’s daughter-in-law from the Eisenhart family, the northern wall of the Empire!”

“What an incredible way to bond. Truly fitting for the daughter-in-law of Eisenhart, the strongest sword that guards the Empire!”

“The strongest daughter-in-law!”

The roar of the crowd rolled across the plaza, shaking the ground and echoing through the air.

Startled by the sudden outcry, Orléans and the members of the Ethics Committee glanced around nervously.

Natalianne, meanwhile, quickly stepped toward Melissa and reached out her hand.

“Are you alright?”

Melissa lifted her head slowly. Her soft orange hair was tangled with tiny shards of ice and bits of straw.

In those few seconds, a dozen thoughts tangled in Natalianne’s mind.

What should I say? Is she angry with me?

She must be… right?

She wanted to see her face and yet not see it at all.

Then Melissa’s face lifted fully.

Ah.

Natalianne’s breath caught.

On that face was a smile so bright and warm that it could have rivaled the sun.

“That was so much fun!”

“…I see.”

Natalianne muttered weakly as she took Melissa’s hand and helped her up.

Her hand was so small in hers.

Damn it.

Without realizing, Natalianne tightened her grip.

Melissa’s eyes widened a little, but Natalianne ignored it and glanced at the knights nearby.

At her signal, the knights pounded their spears against the ground.

“People of the territory, hear this!”

Thud!

As the sound echoed, the crowd quieted, their cheers dying down.

When silence fell over the plaza, Natalianne spoke clearly.

“The ice here belongs to the people. Anyone who needs it may take as much as they wish.”

“…!”

Gasps spread through the crowd. Even the members of the Ethics Committee, including Orléans, turned toward her in shock.

Ice.

In the middle of summer, ice was a luxury even the wealthy struggled to obtain, unless they ventured deep into the northern mountains where monsters dwelled.

For a long moment, no one spoke. Then, a man in the front raised his fist high and shouted.

“Long live Lady Natalianne!”

That broke the spell.

Others quickly followed, cheering at the top of their lungs.

“Glory to the House of Eisenhart!”

“Honor to the Grand Duke’s family!”

Their cheers were even louder and more passionate than before.

As Natalianne looked around at the bright, happy faces of the townspeople, a strange warmth rose in her chest.

The truth was, the idea of sharing the ice hadn’t been hers.

It had been Melissa’s.

‘It’s really hard for commoners to get ice, especially in summer. If we share it with them, they’ll all be so happy!’

‘Do as you like.’

She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now, seeing the people’s flushed faces full of joy, something deep inside her stirred.

Thud!

The knights struck their spears again, signaling the waiting soldiers.

“Form an ice line here!”

“Exit line on this side!”

“Move slowly and stay safe!”

Workers began breaking chunks of ice while others hurried to fetch buckets and basins from home. The plaza, shimmering with cold light beneath the blazing sun, looked strangely beautiful.

Each breeze carried a cool breath of air across the heated square.

The laughter and chatter made the scene feel more like a festival than anything else.

“Ahem.”

A pointed cough sounded behind her.

Natalianne turned to see several mages from the Ethics Committee standing nearby.

The oldest of them, a strict-looking man, spoke first.

“Professor Natalianne.”

She flinched instinctively.

The old mage cleared his throat again and continued.

“I have witnessed your good deed.”

“A… good deed?”

Orléans turned to him, voice trembling.

The old man nodded slowly.

“You created a wave of ice to entertain the townspeople and shared the ice to cool them in this summer heat. How could that not be called a good deed?”

“That’s absurd!”

Orléans shouted furiously.

“Did you not see what happened just now? That witch, Professor Natalianne, attacked an innocent civilian with terrifying magic! Using such power against a non-mage is a serious violation of Tower law! How could you call that benevolent?!”

“It may have appeared excessive to an outsider,” the old mage admitted calmly.

Orléans’s eyes brightened with hope, until the man continued.

“But you also saw the supposed ‘victim’s’ expression, did you not?”

“She faked it!”

Orléans pointed a trembling finger at Natalianne. His bloodshot eyes burned with rage.

“Look at her! She’s the daughter of the Eisenhart family! Do you think any commoner would dare oppose her, no matter what she did?”

“Are you calling me?”

Melissa peeked out from behind Natalianne.

One of the committee members, startled, glanced at her and asked politely,

“I hear you are the Grand Duke’s daughter-in-law, correct?”

“Yes, hello!”

Melissa smiled brightly, bowing her head.

The mage studied her for a moment, then let out a gentle laugh.

“I see. Congratulations to the Grand Duke’s house for gaining such good fortune.”

“W-what are you saying!”

Orléans’s face turned red as he protested.

“What are you talking about?!”

“Coercion through rank is a serious offense that could cost one’s position,” the mage replied evenly. “However, actions speak louder than words.”

He turned to look at Natalianne and Melissa.

Orléans followed his gaze despite himself.

Natalianne stood protectively in front of Melissa, shielding her as if from instinct.

The mage smiled faintly.

“I believe that explains everything.”

“T-that’s impossible!”

Orléans screamed, his face crimson.

He jabbed a finger toward Melissa.

“Impossible! What kind of noblewoman dresses like that? Look at her rags! She’s nothing but a filthy commoner pretending to be one of us!”

“You.”

The word sliced through the air like ice.

Orléans froze.

“Shut your mouth.”

The chill in Natalianne’s voice made his blood run cold. He fell silent without meaning to.

But his fury wouldn’t die. Grinding his teeth, he shouted again, this time pointing at the towering ice structure.

“Look properly! How is that amusement? How is that beneficial to anyone? That monstrous tower of ice—”

“Enough.”

The elder mage sighed deeply and shook his head.

“It seems it’s time to move on to our second matter of business.”

“…What?”

Orléans frowned, confused.

Another committee member stepped forward and spoke clearly.

“Professor Vismonte de Orléans, you stand accused of falsifying research papers, exerting undue influence, and issuing threats of coercion.”

“…What?!”

Orléans’s eyes went wide.

The mage regarded him calmly as he continued.

“These are grave charges that could result in the loss of your position. You will come with us for investigation.”

“This is insane!”

Orléans screamed, his voice cracking.

His eyes were wild with fury as he glared at the committee, then at Natalianne.

“You’ll regret this. Every last one of you will regret it!”

“That will be for the Committee to decide.”

Clink. Clink.

Armored knights stepped forward, their armor etched with anti-magic sigils.

Orléans’s eyes burned with hatred as he stared at Natalianne and Melissa.

“I won’t forget this! I’ll never forget this day!”

“Whatever.”

Natalianne muttered under her breath.

Everyone heard it but pretended not to.

Orléans turned his rage on Melissa, shouting with venom.

“You! You trapped me, didn’t you? Don’t think I’ll let you go! Pretending to be a noble while acting like a peasant, you disgusting—”

“Gah!”

Suddenly his body jerked forward, as though grabbed by an invisible hand.

Clutching his throat and gasping, Orléans struggled as Natalianne’s cold voice cut through the air.

“You really don’t know when to shut up, do you.”