* * *

“I’m sorry, but it’s a relief that Your Grace isn’t hurt,” Ed said, his forehead flushed with embarrassment.

The Grand Duke gazed at Ed’s reddened forehead with a look of pity.

“No need to apologize. I thought bringing a coat would be enough since we were going sledding, but who knew it would lead to an accident. First, let’s have the physician check you, then head down to the dining hall, Ed.”

“I didn’t hit it that hard, so I’m probably fine. It doesn’t even hurt much,” Ed replied, trying to brush it off.

The Grand Duke looked at him with concern.

“You probably haven’t seen a mirror yet.”

“…”

“Your forehead is quite red right now.”

Insisting Ed wait, the Grand Duke seated him in a chair before leaving the room.

Ed watched his retreating figure silently.

---

“Woohoo!”

The sled sped swiftly down the snow-covered slope between two ridges.

Ed, who was pulling his sled uphill, glanced over to see Ronen sliding down like a bullet.

“Young Master, hold on tight! Don’t ever let go of the rope!” Tens shouted.

“Yeah, I got it!” Ronen called back.

Ronen and Tens, sharing a sled, sent their voices echoing across the valley.

Ronen’s cheeks were bright red, whether from the excitement or the cold, as he sped down with a big smile.

Watching them play so energetically, Ed absentmindedly adjusted the hood on his head.

It was attached to the winter coat that the Grand Duke had carefully dressed him in before they left for sledding.

“Keep this on, even if it feels stifling. It’s cold outside,” the Grand Duke had said, pulling the hood over Ed’s head and tightening the strings to adjust the fit.

He had looked directly into Ed’s eyes.

“Are you alright, Ed? Can you hear me clearly?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” Ed had answered softly.

The Grand Duke had given one last check to both Ronen and Ed’s outfits before opening the carriage door for them.

Once they were both inside, Ronen had burst with excitement.

“Ed, the sled we’re using today is made of oak with steel blades! It’s supposed to fly over the snow. I even brought one for you, so let’s have a blast!”

When they reached their destination, Ronen had rushed to grab the sled, racing up the snowy hill faster than anyone.

Ed had watched him fondly before thinking of the Grand Duke, who had stayed behind at the northern castle to work.

‘…It would have been nice if His Grace could be here too.’

Ed let out a small sigh, understanding that the Grand Duke, who governed the entire northern region, had limited time for such things.

But knowing that didn’t stop the emptiness that lingered in his heart at the Grand Duke’s absence.

“Achoo.”

‘…Maybe I’m just feeling lonely because it’s cold and desolate here,’ Ed thought, shrugging his shoulders and starting his slow climb up the hill.

---

“Oh? Ed!”

Ed, who had gone to fetch some water from the kitchen, bumped into Erin as he stepped out.

They had both been so busy lately that they hadn’t had a chance to speak properly, so it was a pleasant surprise to see her.

“Erin, it’s been a while.”

“It has. I think this is the first time we’re having a real conversation since I left the Count’s household.”

“How have you been?” Ed asked.

“I’ve been alright. And you?” Erin replied.

“I’m doing well too.”

There was flour dusted on Erin’s face, likely from the cooking she’d been doing.

“Erin, you have flour on your face,” Ed pointed out.

“Huh? Really?” Erin was about to wipe her face with her flour-covered sleeve, but Ed quickly pulled out a handkerchief to stop her.

“You should use this instead; your sleeve is dusty too.”

“Thanks, Ed.”

“Been busy?” Ed asked.

“Not really. I’m not too busy, but I still feel disoriented, probably because I’m not fully used to the northern castle yet.”

Erin laughed as she rubbed her face with the handkerchief, and Ed smiled back at her, albeit faintly.

“If you ever feel overwhelmed, let me know. We’re colleagues from the Count’s estate, after all.”

“It’s okay. Everyone’s been very kind, so there’s nothing troubling me.”

“That’s good to hear. By the way, where were you headed?”

“Oh, right. I was going to get some eggs.”

Erin tapped her forehead as if scolding herself for forgetting, and Ed glanced down at the basket in her hand.

“Want me to get them for you? How many do you need?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll get them,” Ed insisted.

“Are you sure? You must be busy.”

Ed could tell she was hesitant, thinking about how he constantly ran around the northern castle.

But unlike her assumptions, Ed had plenty of free time.

Besides studying with Ronen, he mostly lounged around in his room, often wondering if he was slacking off too much.

Since they had gone sledding two days ago, all he had done was eat, sleep, and repeat.

He had thought everyone else from the Count’s estate must be as leisurely as he was, but seeing Erin now, he realized that wasn’t the case.

“It’s fine. I’m just wandering around to get familiar with the castle anyway.”

“Alright, then. Thanks, Ed.”

“No problem,” Ed said, taking the basket and heading out of the kitchen.

But not long after, he ran into Jaynon, who appeared out of nowhere and took the basket from him.

“I was just on my way to the chicken coop, so I’ll take it!” Jaynon said, disappearing with the basket before Ed could even respond.

Even after that, Ed kept having his tasks taken away from him.

While helping Sena fold blankets, Tens appeared and took over.

When he tried to assist a servant carrying a heavy load, Irtel swooped in and did it instead.

Confused and annoyed by how his attempts to be helpful kept getting thwarted, Ed returned to his room, deep in thought.

‘Why does it feel like everyone is taking my tasks away? Is this some sort of territorial hazing?’

Even though he technically held the position of Ronen’s personal servant, he had always been more of a general errand boy.

Perhaps the long-standing staff of the northern castle saw him as an outsider.

“…”

Ed sprang up from his chair, determined to get to the bottom of it.

Spotting Jaynon loitering suspiciously in the hallway, Ed rushed up to him.

“Jaynon, isn’t there something I can do?” he asked.

Jaynon, who had been idly wandering, took off like a startled chicken.

“I’m busy! Talk later!”

“I know you’re not busy, so let’s talk now,” Ed insisted, chasing after him.

But catching Jaynon, who knew the castle well, was easier said than done.

Out of breath, Ed lost sight of him at the bottom of a staircase and spotted Tens, who had watched their chase. He approached Tens instead.

“Tens, do you have anything I can help with?” he asked.

Tens vanished even quicker than Jaynon, leaving Ed dumbfounded.

He couldn’t even muster the energy to give chase.

‘How is he so fast?’

Watching Tens disappear like the wind, Ed let out a short sigh before stepping into the northern castle’s back garden.

He was familiar enough with the layout now that he didn’t worry about getting lost anymore.

As Ed admired the blooming flowers in the garden, he noticed Irtel walking nearby and quickly ran over to him.

It looked like Irtel had just come from the nearby training grounds.

“Hello, Sir Irtel.”

“Hello, Ed.”

“By any chance, is there anything you need me to do?”

“Something for you to do?”

Irtel stroked his chin at Ed’s question. His gaze traveled from Ed’s head to his toes, assessing him.

‘Is he really out of breath and panting like this after just running from the garden to the training grounds?’

* * *