"Huh?"
"Or would you like to ride alone?"
Ran shook her head.
"My legs... no, give me a ride."
"Even if you don't say that," Eustaf said briefly and gestured to the knight to saddle his horse.
When Eustaf got on the horse first, Blaine hugged Ran lightly and helped her ride behind Eustaf.
"Thank you, Lord Blaine, you're very strong."
Blaine answered sincerely.
"Of course, I do. Winter clothes are heavy."
"Right"
Ran nodded. Eustaf smirked and pulled Ran's hands around his waist.
"Hold tight."
"Yes"
When Ran nodded, Eustaf began to lightly drive the horse forward. Eustaf was the only place to lean on, such as a horse without a stirrup. Ran hugged Eustaf's waist tightly.
'Ah'
"Eustaf."
"Yes"
"Did you grow taller again?"
"I still have to grow up a lot."
"But....aren't you telling me to grow up too fast?"
"My joints are squeaky and painful."
Is it growing pains?
"Eat a lot."
"I am eating lot."
The people in the north are big, so Eustaf must be big, too. Ran nodded. Yes, grow a lot.
Ran slipped one hand and rubbed Eustaf's hair.
"What are you doing?"
There was a rare mixture of embarrassment, so Ran laughed.
"Noonim's affection?"
"I don't need it."
"That's too much."
Speaking, Ran hit her hand, soothing her disappointment. It was a shame that I couldn't feel the texture properly because I was wearing gloves.
Eustaf swept away the messy hair. Haha, I'm the one who's behind, but what are you going to do?
With that thought, Ran rubbed Eustaf's head again. He seemed to be embarrassed in rare cases, but kicked his tongue slightly, avoiding her touch.
"Tsk..."
The horse began to pick up speed when he kicked his tongue. My body suddenly shifted to the back.
"Ahh!..."
Screaming softly, Ran hugged Eustaf tightly, and he laughed lightly. Ran opened her eyes wide.
Did you just laugh out loud? Eustaf?
I thought I wanted to see your face, but it's impossible in this position.
Relieving her disappointment, Ran leaned her head against Eustaf's back. Eustaf asked again as he cleaned up his hair.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Why do you have to rub my hair?"
"Huh? Uh, um. It's an expression of affection."
"This one?"
"Yeah, didn't your mother do it for you?"
I asked without realizing it, Ran added.
"Not my mother."
Eustaf thought about it for a while and said,
"She didn't."
"I see..."
Come to think of it, I don't know much about Eustaf's mother.
"What was Eustaf's mother like? Of course, she was beautiful."
Eustaf breathed out a long breath. His breath was as long as smoke.
"She was a high-pride woman. Good or bad. She wasn't feeling well, so she didn't like the weather in the north."
Especially, I was sick and tired of winter.
"That's the same with my mother."
"That's true."
That's what Eustaf said.
No woman likes the weather in the north. Ran asked hesitantly.
"Then she died of illness?"
"Yes"
"I see. It must have been hard."
In Ran's murmur, Eustaf said without realizing it.
"That wasn't the hardest part."
"Then?"
Eustaf straighten up. Ran's warmth, which is tightly hugged from behind and attached to him, seemed to be felt beyond his clothes.
It can't be felt in real.
It's the Ran side that's hanging on, but somehow I feel like she's supporting myself.
"My mother was dying, and it was the fact that my father was courting another woman."
Ran swallowed her breath.
"And the fact that my dying mother knows it."
His mother, who was half-footed in the afterlife, was blindfolded and cursed. As she was usually proud of herself as an aristocrat, the gap felt even more terrible.
"That Duke, he's such a bad guy, isn't he?"
Ran looked around and said quietly.
"Yes, that's right."
Eustaf answered briefly.
Suddenly, Eustaf seemed to remember someone trimming his hair.
"Come to think of it, I think my nanny patted me on the head when I was young."
"Right? As expected"
It was funny for Eustaf to see Ran talking in a voice full of pride.
When he was five years old, his mother kicked his nanny out. The reason was that he was so spoiled.
'I totally forgot.'
I remembered after Ran said.
A little faster than going up, the group arrived at the mansion. Only after Blaine helped Ran get off quickly did Eustaf follow her down. Ran coughed in vain and said.
"Everyone did a great job, well done. Put the horse in and change your clothes. The New Year's party starts soon.
All the knights saluted and began to move quickly.
The long-awaited New Year's party finally begins.
'You've paid off our debts.'
When the repayment date approached and paid back all the principal and interest, creditors seemed to wonder where the money came from. Those who were quick-witted among the dogs cried out that they wanted to take a step, but Ran just kept her mouth shut and laughed.
This year's New Year's party was prepared simply. Next year, we will have a big New Year's party to give presents to Commoners.
Ran smiled happily thinking so.
*******
The New Year's party was held in a light atmosphere. Specialties such as honey alcohol and riddle fruit were evenly distributed to everyone and food was piled high. The place was decorated with silver thorns and looked bright.
The silver spiny tree looks similar to the tiger spiny tree, with silver on the back of its leaves and red fruit.
It was also dark green in winter, so it was used as a New Year's party decoration.
A cheerful dance song was played, and people who drank moderately laughed and took quick steps.
Thanks to the new magic tool, the heater, the inside of the castle was warm.
Ran crept into a chair near the pillar.
'The alcohol is pretty strong!'
Riddle fruit was red and sweet and sour. Therefore, alcohol also had the same taste with a vivid red color. Ran quickly liked this sweet drink, so she had already emptied three big cups.
'Is it because I drank fast.'
My face was burning and my head was dizzy. It is fortunate that it is in the middle of the New Year's party.
At that time, someone held out a glass of water and picked it up, and it was Eustaf.
"Thank you."
"You drink too fast."
"I didn't know it was strong."
Eustaf sighed lightly. Ran took a sip of cold water and asked.
"Why the Academy uniform?"
"Because I don't have a formal dress."
"Let's get one!"
"That's not the case."
"I can buy my brother a suit."
When Ran said, giving strength to her eyes, Eustaf glanced at her dress and said, "Your dress is short."
Ah.
said Ran, twisting her exposed ankle once.
"My mother is shorter than me."
It was an attractive path for her mother, but an ankle path for her.
"Why didn't you get one right?"
Ran grinned.
"I've got tons of dresses."
At each New Year's party, my mother matched the dress. Three of them. Of course, changing from head to toe with accessories tailored to it was the way my mother enjoyed the New Year's party.
She did not participate in the New Year's party at the Imperial Palace, but participated in the Lazia banquet.
'That's right. Lazia is a countryside.'
Her mother, who was a gorgeous and sophisticated beauty, grumbled that she felt like she was getting old for 10 years compared to the capital city when she stayed in Lazia.
Compared to the wives of other disciple, the mother was simply at the cutting edge of fashion.
'That's why our finances are going to be ruined.'
Our duke is the poorest of all the dukes. The ground is barren.
'If we sell the Mana Stone, we'll turn it around.'
Huhu.
Ran had a cheesy laugh, and Eustaf reached out his hand.
"...?"
Ran returned the glass of water to his hand, wondering.
"..."
Eustaf returned the glass of water to a servant passing by and return back to Ran.
"Let's dance, please."
"Huh?"
Surprised Ran looked at his hand and reached out her hand. But she stopped before her hands overlapped and frowned.
"I'm not good at dancing."
"I knew you that."
Eustaf said so and grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the chair.
"But I'm good at dancing, so it's okay for both of us."
Eustaf took her to the floor, and Ran stood on the floor, somehow being dragged away.
"If you do something like Quattrom (Quattrom: A complicated dance in pairs), I'll just stand there?"
Ran threatened, but Eustaf looked back at the performers regardless. The mood of the song quickly changed.
It's a slow dance song.
'Oh, it's a doublit. (Doublit: The two of us dancing.)'
I heard that the waltz-like dance is very popular in the capital city. Ran took a deep breath and held Eustaf's hand tightly.
"Take it easy. I'll lead you."
Eustaf stared at her when he said, and he began to move by dragging her waist.
'Uwa...'
Taken by a stronger force than expected, Ran began to step awkwardly. When Ran looked down at her feet, "Uwa... uwa," Eustaf kicked his tongue. "tsk.."
"You really can't dance."
"I told you, didn't I?"
"What are you gonna do when you're in the capital?"
"If I don't dance...?"
"The Patriarch of Lazia can't dance at all?"
Saying so, Eustaf ordered briefly, "Put your head up," and Ran stares at him in the eye. The blue eyes were now clearly above.
You've really grown up in this short period of time.
'Ah'
It's definitely comfortable to follow Eustaf lead. I know the step was a mess, but it seemed to be just dancing.
Then I could afford it. Ran said.
"Why? Are you worried?"
"I don't like the scratches on Lazia."
Ran blinked at the words and spoke slowly.
"I've been thinking about it for a while, but I think Eustaf loves Lazia a lot. Isn't that, right? Is that natural?"
"Doesn't Noonim like it?"
Ran bit her lips lightly and looked him in the eye and said,
"I know that Lazia is an old family, a tradition, a family of honor. But if you ask me if it's incredibly important to me... it's a no."
"It's cold, it's barren, it's rustic."
Ran smiled cheerfully at the words.
"And so it is."
Eustaf looked at Ran and said, raising his eyes.
"What's left of me except for Lazia?"
"Handsomeness?"
When Ran frowned at what she said, Eustaf laughed without realizing it. And spoke slowly.
"That's a grateful."
"Lazia is yours."
At that words, Eustaf looked at Ran. She spoke with a serious face.
"No one will take Lazia away from you."
"I won't take it away."
Eustaf whispered low. Everything that belongs to Lazia belongs to himself.
If it wasn't for Lazia's Eustaf, what would it be for him?
Ever since I was young, my mother has said endlessly. Grabbing his shoulder, still young, "Lazia belongs to you. All of this belongs to you, Eustaf," several times, several times.
Like it's the only revenge for her cold husband.
His rake-in fingers hurt, and his mother's expression was terrifying, but Eustaf was used to it all.
Don't laugh out loud.
You can't cry.
Don't run.
Show your dignity as the next Duke of Lazia. Don't show your feelings.
Don't act like a child.
Thinking about what he had heard several times, Eustaf stares at Ran.
Ran broke into a cold sweat. He was already stepping on Eustaf's foot for the third time. No matter how you dance, you can't help stepping on their feet because the steps are twisted.
"Eus, are your feet okay?"
"It's all right."
Her face shows everything he doesn't know.
You laugh out loud, you run, you show your emotions.
When the dance was barely over, his face was filled with relief. Somehow, the Bureau of Grumpy was in a mood, and
Eustaf said.
"You'd better practice dancing before you go."
"Uh..."
Ran couldn't say it was okay not to groan. It was thanks to Eustaf that I managed to dance now.
When Eustaf took her off the floor, people appeared to request the dance as if they were waiting.
"Do you also want to be step on?"
Ran opened her eyes wide and asked Blaine, and he smiled lightly.
"I'd be honored if we could dance."
"Ummm..."
I've heard that, but I can't say no. Ran took Blaine's hand.