Chapter 154

Upon it, in letters neither large nor small, was written: Rowendel.

“So… I really made it here.”

After receiving information from Marcen regarding the heretical group, she had made preparations to travel to Rowendel. Something within her insisted she needed to see the origin of the heresy with her own eyes.

‘Of course, there are other matters I must look into as well.’

This town, the female lead’s birthplace, might hold clues related to her. Evelyn couldn’t simply ignore it when questions still tugged at her mind.

As the old saying goes, worrying alone won’t solve anything.

“So while I’m here, I should think positively!”

Just as she lightly patted her cheeks and lost herself in contemplation while gazing at the snowy paradise, Gideon, who had gone to call for a private carriage, returned with a clearly troubled expression.  

“My lady, I tried to call for a carriage, but…”

“What is it?”

Unable to bear his hesitant silence, she pressed him for an answer.

Scratching the back of his head, he finally confessed.

“They said there’s too much snow, making it difficult to travel to the village.”  

“What? Then are you telling me we must stay here until the snow stops?”

“To force our way through the blizzard would be far too dangerous.”

Even though she had traveled by express train all the way to the distant north, it seemed Rowendel was still quite far from the station, contrary to what the sign suggested.

‘At this rate, I’ll freeze to death before anything else.’

Evelyn pressed a hand to her brow, lost in thought over what to do, when a familiar baritone voice sounded behind her.

“What troubles you, my lady?”

She turned her head with a puzzled expression, and upon recognizing the man’s face, barely stifled the sigh that rose to her lips.

“…Your Grace?”

The man, lips curved in a gentle line, removed his beret and offered her a courteous greeting.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, my lady.”

Maybe it was simply because she had encountered a familiar face in this faraway land, but Evelyn felt an unexpected warmth of relief.

“Likewise! What brings you here, Your Grace?”

Evelyn asked brightly.

At her bright inquiry, Khalid smiled faintly and gave a brief explanation.

“I stopped here while making an inspection of my territory.”

As the protector of the northern frontier, it seemed he often took time to oversee even its remote reaches. Watching the male lead of the original tale so steadfast in his duty, Evelyn found herself once again struck with admiration.

“And what brings you here, my lady?”

Khalid asked in return.

He seemed puzzled to find her, who should have been in the capital, lingering at a remote snowbound northern train station. With an awkward smile, Evelyn offered the excuse she had prepared before coming.

“I came to make some inquiries about medicinal herbs.”

“Rowendel lies in the northern mountains, so maybe it will be easier to find such herbs there.”

“Yes, though I’ve ended up stranded here.”

At her words, Khalid cast his gaze over the quiet landscape. The snowfall had lessened somewhat, but white flakes still drifted steadily from the sky. As another sharp gust swept through, Evelyn hunched her shoulders against the cold.

Noticing, Khalid asked with a concerned look.

“Are you very cold?”

“Ah, a little… it is chilly.”

She murmured, her voice trailing off as she shivered.

No matter how she looked at it, she loathed the cold.

After a moment’s hesitation, Khalid spoke with quiet courtesy.

“Forgive me for a moment.”

He then stepped closer and unwound the navy scarf from around his own neck.

“Your Grace, I’m fine—!”  

“You shouldn’t underestimate the cold of the north.”  

The faint firmness in his voice left her little choice but to accept his kindness.

Khalid carefully draped the scarf around her slender neck. The warmth of the wool brushed against her chilled skin, and relief spread through her like a tide, easing the sting of winter.

Stepping back, he gazed at her, his voice low and gentle.

“Then… may I be of help to you?”