Chapter 88

‘Welcoming the New Year while watching the sunset like this is actually quite romantic.’

The winter wind was biting cold, though the calm river and the orange sunset were so beautiful it took her breath away.

“Karen, I want some of that cotton candy they’re selling over there…”

“Let’s go together.”

Stella shook her hand vigorously.

“It’s close, so I’ll just go with Zion. Gemma and Joseph are here, so stay here and rest for a bit with my brother. You promised you’d do what your queen says today!”

Saying so, the child slipped her hand out of her and quickly grabbed Zion’s instead. Zion looked completely baffled and silently grumbled to himself.

Karentina nodded as she saw the cotton candy tent not far away.

“Be careful, okay?”

“Okay! I’ll get one for you too, Karen.”

Watching Stella leave, holding Zion’s hand and hurrying off, Karentina turned her head. Ignis was leaning against a tree, gazing at the Stium River. It seemed he much preferred the quiet and open Stium River to the busy streets of Applewood.

“Achoo!”

A sudden blast of icy wind made her sneeze. Out here, away from the crowds, the magic heating stones didn’t help much. She sniffled, feeling a little embarrassed.

When Ignis’s gaze fell on her, Karentina got flustered and started rambling.

“The wind by the river is really cold. Are you okay, Your Highness?”

Another gust of wind blew, making her body shiver violently. The northern cold really lived up to its reputation as the land of snow and ice.

‘A cup of hot tea would be perfect right now.’

Karentina sniffled again. She gazed at the river, now swallowing up the sun, and let out a long sigh.

Just then, something warm landed on her shoulders.

“Huh?”

It was Ignis’s coat. In an instant, warmth enveloped her body.

“Your Highness?”

She still couldn’t adjust to these ambushing moments of his kindness. Meanwhile, ot knowing what she was thinking, Ignis murmured quietly,

“You looked cold.”

“….”

Even though her mind was a mess, her heart was pounding loudly. Clutching the coat that smelled faintly elegant, she blurted out.

“But you’ll get cold too, Your Highness. What if you catch a cold…”

“I don’t get sick from things like that.”

‘…Ah, that’s right. Ignis is a Transcendent.’

Karentina shot him a worried look. He was wearing such thin clothes, was he really okay? Picking up on her concern, Ignis let out a quiet sigh.

“Well, I guess there’s no other way. Come here.”

He gently took her hand and pulled her closer to him. Immediately, a wave of magic spread around them.

Since she also possessed magic, she could immediately sense his power. As a transparent aura of fire flickered around them, her frozen body became warm in an instant.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Ignis mumbled in a low voice and slowly turned his head. Karentina just watched him quietly for a moment.

‘His ears are red… Is he really okay in this cold?’

Even when she thanked him, he was so sharp. Truly a twisted man, she thought.

‘He still has a long way to go with Seria.’

Karentina clicked her tongue inwardly and shifted her gaze to the river he was staring at. Now that her body was warm, the surrounding scenery came into focus, and she felt more at peace.

Ignis spoke up, a little hesitantly.

“When Damion returns, what are you planning to do, Princess? Are you going to stay here?”

A little surprised that he asked first, she looked at him, thinking it over for a moment.

‘Hmm. How much should I tell him?’

“I need to go to the capital.”

There was seriousness in her voice.

“Is this because of Damion?”

“I told you before that my stolen magic is in my uncle’s hands, didn’t I?”

Ignis nodded slowly.

“There’s barely any magic left in my body right now. That’s why I need to get it back.”

His eyes wavered, and he bit his lip, looking deeply conflicted.

“I want to live. I need to survive. That’s why I have to take back my magic from my uncle and the imperial consort, and take my revenge.”

Karentina tightened her hold on the coat. The only thing between them was the quiet sound of the river.

After a short silence, Ignis spoke softly.

“You remind me a lot of my mother, my lady.”

“Pardon?”

Her eyes went wide at his unexpected comment, and she nearly dropped his coat. She had always heard his mother was famously beautiful. How could he possibly see a resemblance?

‘Of course, Karentina is pretty too, but still…’

Karentina tilted her head, remembering just how otherworldly Ignis and Stella’s looks were.

“I meant your desire to survive.”

“Ah…”

She cleared her throat, suddenly feeling embarrassed for no reason.

“What kind of person was the late Empress? Hmm… Was she as lovely as Princess Stella? Or was she graceful, like Your Highness?”

Her face was full of curiosity as she asked, and Ignis gave a faint smile. Perhaps recalling memories from his childhood, the corners of his mouth, which were always stiff, had relaxed softly.

“She was a lot like Stella. Always curious about everything, but incredibly kind. There was always a smile on my mother’s face.”

It was clear how much he treasured his memories of the Empress.

“After Stella was born, her health declined really quickly… even though she’d always been so healthy before.”