* * *

Back in the room, lying beside Hernan after another round of passion, I found myself mulling over Yudenet’s words: “I warned you to be careful.”

Hernan held me tightly, radiating a comforting warmth.

It was laughable, really—how adamant I’d been about keeping my distance, only to now cling to him.

From the perspective of an immortal, my sudden shift must’ve been absurd.

What’s a few months of resistance compared to their long lifespans?

I could imagine the exasperation: ‘One hour he’s adamant, the next he’s confessing they’re ‘trying things out.’

Feeling a twinge of annoyance, I pinched Hernan’s cheek.

He flinched slightly, hinting he wasn’t fully asleep.

“Not sleeping?”

His deep, drowsy voice responded, “I’m a light sleeper.”

Guilt tugged at me for waking him. “Sorry. Go back to sleep.”

As I patted his arm, Hernan hugged me closer, nuzzling into me.

His unrestrained affection made me chuckle, and I let him be.

Sharing a room had revealed many quirks about him.

‘Even Alphas aren’t usually like this.’

Hernan couldn’t sleep deeply.

He would nap lightly for a few hours and then, unfailingly, wake before dawn.

While waiting for me to wake, he would either sit quietly or keep busy.

Despite my initial worries, this had been his natural rhythm for years.

When I asked how he’d spent all those early mornings, Hernan simply replied, “Waiting, or doing things I can manage alone.”

It struck me how lonely those mornings must’ve been.

The thought of him enduring countless solitary dawns made my chest tighten.

‘Now, I wait for you to wake, and it feels fulfilling.’

Later, I smacked him on the back for that sappy comment, though I felt a little flattered.

Yudenet’s grouchiness aside, Hernan felt like someone tailor-made for me.

Whatever reckless decisions had led us here, my irritation was waning.

After all, Hernan had proven himself dependable during our time in Velon and through various ordeals.

I found myself wanting to trust him entirely, even as a small voice of doubt lingered.

Hernan might not need sleep, but I did.

As I drifted off, the sound of wind whistling outside reminded me of an old tale: after such gusts, the skies would clear, revealing a rare, cloudless winter day.

Time was fleeting, and even as Velon lingered in perpetual cold, the rest of the world moved on toward winter.

I recalled the castle’s chef declaring I needed to bulk up for winter to avoid fainting spells.

The memory made me smile—like a squirrel hoarding for the cold.

It had been months since my last collapse; surely, I didn’t need fattening up.

Yet, even amid such grievances, time flew.

The new hotel’s framework was already up, its interiors nearly complete.

Once finished, it would stand as a testament to all we’d worked for.

‘Everything’s falling into place.’

The flood control projects were proceeding smoothly, and in some areas, long-standing problems with river overflows had finally been resolved.

As a result, praise for the new Grand Duke echoed across the entire region of Velon.

In fact, Haptis, the first city to benefit from the Grand Duke’s benevolence, had already turned every spot he had graced into a tourist attraction—the place he stood, the chair he sat on, even the bedroom he stayed in.

Though it was absurd, everything felt stable.

Now, the only thing left was for me to make up my mind before the hotel officially opened.

---

Autumn passed quickly, and winter soon arrived in Velon.

Having stayed indoors the entire time, I had no real sense of how cold it was outside.

Curiously, I glanced at the outdoor thermometer and saw that it was the equivalent of -20°C. I shook my head in disbelief.

Anton, who had been watching me from afar, chuckled as he approached.

“Surprised by this little chill? In a month, it’ll get twice as cold,” he said with a teasing smirk.

My eyes widened. “It gets colder than this?”

“Of course, it’s only early winter.”

I gawked at him in horror before shaking my head again.

Then again, Velon was located at the northernmost edge of the continent, practically in the polar region.

From summer to autumn, the days grew shorter, and by winter, daylight barely lasted six hours.

Soon, the endless polar nights would arrive.

“Will we experience the polar night here?” I muttered.

The thought of seeing something I’d only learned about in Earth Science class filled me with a mix of excitement and unease.

The sky darkened before 4 PM, casting an eerie shadow over the land.

“In about a month and a half, we’ll have a week of complete darkness,” Anton said, clearly proud of his polar heritage.

He seemed to take pride in the harsh environment of Velon.

I couldn’t help but smile, but decided to humor him.

“How do people in Velon spend such long nights?”

Before Anton could answer, Hernan chimed in.

“Usually, villagers cut down trees in the deep forest to create clearings. They build saunas and cabins there. They gather around large bonfires, roasting snacks, and watching the stars and northern lights.”

“Wow…”

It was a unique tradition, perfectly suited to such a polar landscape.

It sounded intriguing—something worth experiencing at least once.

Hernan noticed my interest and asked, “Would you like to try it sometime? We could take a day off.”

A short retreat didn’t sound like a bad idea.

However, I quickly remembered the lurking dangers from those who still coveted the Iyudenet family’s power.

“Isn’t it risky? What if intruders follow us?”

Before I could fully voice my concerns, Anton clapped my shoulder with a laugh.

“Come on, you’ll be with the Grand Duke! What’s there to worry about? Just relax and enjoy.”

I was more concerned about the Grand Duke’s safety than my own, but my protests were quickly drowned out by Anton’s booming voice.

Within minutes, the trip was set for the coming weekend.

“So sudden?” I thought, bewildered.

As winter deepened, I found myself growing more sluggish, dozing off more often.

Perhaps it was the cold making me lethargic.

Staying cooped up indoors wasn’t ideal either, so I decided to pack my bags and embrace the adventure.

Velon’s winter was stark, cold, and breathtakingly beautiful.

Its snowy nights were no exception.

---

“It’s warmer than I expected,” I remarked.

The clearing, carefully prepared by cutting away trees, resembled a modern campsite.

The cabin was sturdy and well-equipped, with a stove ready for roasting skewers.

After a hearty meal and warming ourselves by the fire, it was suddenly the early hours of the morning.

“Do we really have to go out at this hour?” I grumbled.

Normally, I’d be deep in sleep by 10 PM, and now they claimed that 1 AM was the perfect time.

Hernan chuckled as he wrapped a thick winter cloak around me.

“You won’t regret it.”

Skeptical but curious, I followed him outside.

The moment we stepped into the clearing, my breath was taken away.

Above us stretched a vast expanse of sky, illuminated by a shimmering blue aurora.

“Wow…”

No other words came to mind.

Under the cascading curtains of light, Hernan stood with a radiant smile.

He looked otherworldly, like a frost spirit from legend.

Before I realized it, I leaned in and kissed him, enchanted by the moment.

All my earlier doubts seemed insignificant now.

* * *