The winter in Lazia comes fast and lasts long. Ran didn't have much time left to stay as a patriarch, but no one ignored her.
Through the Golden Rose Company, it was steadily carried out to bring a lot of wheat and sell it to Commoners at a low price or to distribute magic tools.
The fact that there was no need to bring firewood in helped prepare for winter.
Magic items were also filled all over the mansion in the sky. Frances made a lot of interesting things, and at his request, he bought a lot of books on magic.
If last winter was the winter when it was tight to pay off its debts, this winter was a leisurely winter.
The first snow began to fall and everything was quickly buried in white snow. No more administrative matters can be communicated.
Winter is a time to rest.
In preparation for the New Year's party, several silver thorns were cut down and glittering decorations were hung everywhere.
The Knights of Blue flame lovingly managed the Dwarf armor every day, and Ran told Blaine that he would change it to Elf.
Every morning, Ran used to mumble and come out of the bed because she didn't want to get out of the bed like toast. The room was warm as a whole, but not as warm as the blanket.
Ran, who was having breakfast, was surprised by Eustaf's words and asked.
"Winter hunting?"
"Yes."
"This winter? What kind of game is there?"
"Because the beasts are coming down from the ice."
"You didn't do that,.... did you?"
"I used to do it."
"Really?"
Ran looked over his head and thought about it, but she couldn't remember it.
"Before Noonim comes."
At Eustaf's words, Ran said briefly, "Ah!" and shut up.
"Winter hunting is a tradition in Lazia. But my father stopped. Since then, there has often been damage to the water under the mountain in winter."
"Oh, right. It happened last winter."
"Yes."
"I see."
Ran asked after thinking about it.
"But isn't it dangerous? Besides, it's before the New Year's. But..."
"I'm going to have a big New Year's party after finishing the winter hunt. Last year, only the Duke, but this year I'm thinking of calling all the vassals."
Ran opened her eyes wide at the words. She thought it over and said.
"Yeah, you can have a presentation with me about being a Patriarch. Since it's been a long time, let's make it look fancy."
We made a lot of money.
When Ran smiled, Eustaf looked at her silently and said, "Then I'll see that you've given me permission."
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Hunting in winter is a verb. If I knew this would happen, I'd ask them to make some camping magic tools. Saying such words, Ran drank hot corn bread, strawberry springs, and soft black tea.
After the meal, Ran and Eustaf called Blaine to talk about winter hunting.
Blaine said he would be ready to leave in three days, and Eustaf nodded.
Ran asked Eustaf when the hunt would be over.
"Well, I'm going to finish it before the New Year's party."
"So, when is that? But you have to come in beforehand. You're not going to leave in three days and stay out for a month, are you?"
When asked by Ran, Eustaf tilted his head without answering, and the answer jumped.
"Are you crazy this winter? It's been a month? I'm freezing to death before I take the lead."
"But I think it's okay.... because there are magical items and the inside of the sleeping bag is warm."
"Still."
Ran frowned. Eustaf said after thinking about it.
"Okay, then I'll make it a couple of weeks."
"Please do that."
At Ran's words, Eustaf grinned and gently swept her cheek.
"Noonim is so worried.''
"Cause you're too calm."
Ran smeared her mouth. Suddenly, she thought she might be really worried.
I was shocked when I saw Lumiere kill a man. But the same is true for Eustaf in front of her.
If you're the only one who thinks like this in this natural world, you might think you're a really worried person.
"Aren't you worried at all?"
Ran murmured and Eustaf blinked his blue eyes.
"I'm fine."
"Really? Every time you worry, you scolded me?"
"I didn't blame you."
Eustaf said so and looked out the window. The snow piled up so much that I felt like I had to give up using the front door on the first floor today.
"Then I'll go get ready."
"Yes."
Ran nodded. When Eustaf left the room, Ran returned to her room and found Lumiere reading a book.
He recently started learning to write, and now he can read enough books to read children's level of reading.
"Are you not going too, Lumiere?"
"Where am I going without my master?"
Lumiere laughed covering the book.
"Eustaf says he's going on a winter hunt with the knights."
"Winter hunting?"
The tone was not good, so Lumiere frowned and Ran explained lightly.
"They say they're taking care of it in advance so that the hungry beast doesn't come down in winter."
"That's what it is."
His stiff face was slightly loosened. And then he said,
"If I go, who will protect my master? I'm not going."
"No, you can't. First of all, Lumiere, you're a member of the Knights of Blue flame, and you should listen to the leader."
"You're my master."
With a cute smile, Ran smiled face to face without realizing it. said firmly.
"No."
And added.
"Without me, Lumiere's staying here."
"Why should I do that?"
"Huh?"
There was a strange smile on his face.
"I came here and I heard the story. You are the one who caused the failing Duchy of Lazia. Lazia's blood is not mixed, but you're definitely Lazia in terms of family register. But why would you give all this to Master Eustaf and let master step down?"
Ran opened her mouth without realizing it and looked around.
Fortunately, the other maids were not seen. No, you didn't say that because you didn't.
"Lumiere."
What should I explain it? She approached and sat next to him. She whispered.
"It's okay. I've got the other pockets."
It was unexpected, so when Lumiere opened his orange eyes wide, Ran smiled small.
"And that's what I decided to do from the beginning. I don't have any regrets about being Duchess of Lazia. It's best for someone who wants to do this."
"But you keep working. You don't even have time to play with me."
The grumbling words embarrassed Ran again.
"Do you want to play with me?"
"Didn't I say that every day, Master?"
"No, I thought you were joking."
Mumbled and Ran said.
"Then shall we go out and ride a sled..?"
"I don't mean to interrupt your work."
When Lumiere turned his back, Ran held back from laughing somehow. Why is he so cute?
He's much bigger than Ran, but somehow, he was cute.
A big dog turns around inside and then glances back to see how it comes out-
When their eyes met, Lumiere quickly looked down again, and Ran laughed out loud.
"It's okay, it's okay. Let's hang out with Lumiere today. I can play during the day and work at night. It's a long night anyway."
Ran got up from her seat saying so.
Ran and Lumiere were bundled up in layers of clothing. Then she started climbing up the snowfield with one board for sledding.
Everyone opens their eyes wide and says, "Sledding? Two of you?" said Ran, but she answered confidently, "Yes."
Because the snow was piled up everywhere, Ran chose a place where there were few people and the slope was gentle. Lumiere breathed out a long breath and said.
"It's really cold."
"It's still a nice day today."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, when it gets really cold, your breath becomes frost."
I felt bad when my breath on the muffler froze and stuck to my face.
"Where are you from, Lumiere?"
"I'm from more west than here."
"Oh yeah. Then it must be cold."
"You're not from here either."
Ran laughed at the words. Her breath rose like a white cloud.
"That's true. Then, let's get on."
Ran said so and sat down with the boards straight. And when she pulled her foot and pushed the board forward, the sled began to run like flying.
It was 10 seconds, long if long, and short if short. Lan jumped up from a stopped sled.
I could see her emerald eyes shining. Lumiere, who followed down, burst into laughter.
"This is more interesting than it looks."
"Right?"
"It's more fun riding with Master."
Lumiere said with a smile, taking the board from her hand.
"Then let's ride more."
Ran smiled and started walking behind him. After a few sleds like that, my whole body is hot now. When he fell in the middle and rolled in the snow, she became a complete snowman.
"Wait a minute."
Lumiere wiped snow from her eyes as carefully as she handled the child. In the meantime, Ran couldn't stop laughing. The two went up in search of a higher place.
Riding the sled to the point of getting sick of it, Ran returned to the castle with a staggering smile.
"You're completely covered in snow."
In a strangely polite tone, Eustaf stood on the porch and greeted Ran. Ran laughed again at the words.
"I bumped into a tree."
Eustaf's face has hardened.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, but the snow fell from the tree..."
She laughed wildly. I was buried deep in the snow on the branches. She was embarrassed by the situation, but when she thought of Lumiere, who was more embarrassed than her and took himself out of his eyes, she laughed again.
Eustaf reached out and wrapped her cheeks.
"It's cold."
"Yes, my cheeks must be frozen. I can't feel it."
I couldn't even feel whether Eustaf's hands were warm or not. He kicked his tongue.
"Are you laughing?"
"No, it's not a statue. It's okay. It's a little ticklish now."
Eustaf groaned low when he saw Ran's eyes sparkle.
"I've prepared hot water, so go get some rest."
"Yes! And next time, I'm going to start making sleds."
And put a lot of drops on it.
Ran waddled up to her room, and Eustaf caught Lumiere trying to follow suit.
"Wait a minute."
Lumiere stopped faithfully and asked.
"Can I take off my clothes?"
Snowy clothes melted as he entered the warm room, creating a puddle under his feet.
"Go in and take it off."
Eustaf took the lead in saying so, and Lumiere saw Ran climbing up and followed him.
Entering a small drawing room nearby, Lumiere took off his muffler and coat and brushed it off. He took off his coat again and stood upright in Lumiere.
"Tell me."
"Winter hunting after three days, Blaine dug up the list. Blaine was worried that you weren't aware of your position."
At the words, Lumiere asked with neat eyelashes down.
"What do you think, young master?"
"At first, I thought I had picked up a crazy dog that couldn't even control the flesh."
Eustaf said, leaning slowly against a closet made of black wood.
"You seem to have gotten used to the leash."
"There's no more powerful leash than affection. The master told me that she likes me."
When Lumiere smiled sweetly and spoke shyly, the temperature in the parlor dropped in a heartbeat.
No, I felt that way. Eustaf was silent for a long time and smirked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Ran-"
While trying to talk about something, Eustaf shut up. And he thought for a while and said, "I don't hate faithful dogs. If you don't forget you're the dog."
"You know that. How the master sees people."
Eustaf's blue eyes narrowed.
Lumiere also did not lower his eyes anymore. His fiery eyes faced him straight. Eustaf slowly opened his mouth.
"May I give you a piece of advice?"
Lumiere did not answer, and Eustaf did not want an answer, so he continued.
"I know how Ran sees people and treats them. So, I'm advising you not to be mistaken."
After speaking, Eustaf felt a little tired. He knew best how she treated people.
Unselfish green eyes.
Affection and kindness that do not want a price.
Cruel affection and kindness because she doesn't want a price.
Eustaf said with such corrections.
"I don't care if I'm into winter hunting. Suit yourself."
Then he turned around as if he had to go, and Lumiere greeting and left the room.
********
As the knights escaped by winter hunting, Ran began to prepare for the New Year's party with a shout.
It was Ran herself who purposely pushed Lumiere, who didn't want to go, into the hunt. But shouldn't we stay together?
If you live in a group, you will naturally become friends. Ran didn't want Lumiere to be excluded from that, so she encouraged him to go on purpose.
To Eustaf, she lent a lantern that she received as a gift from the Dwarf.
"It's expensive. Do I have to return it when I get back?"
As she stood in front of him as he departed and spoke, he laughed and leaned over the horse and kissed her on the cheek.
"I'll be back."
Ran blushed and jumped, and Eustaf smiled and started the horse.
After seeing off the knights on horseback one after another, the castle was strangely lifeless.
Instead of letting it go, Ran called in a prayer hall to talk about the New Year's ballroom.
About how big it'll open.
News of the New Year's Day and the ball spread quickly to the castle, making everyone excited.
Ran also sent invitations to Count Illuminati, Baron Wilde and Baron Lance.
The mansion was decorated with large golden and crimson ribbons, and the curtains were changed to green with gold embroidery.
The walls were hung in place of the tapestry, not the usual tapestry, but the flag bearing the Duchess of Lazia's sentence.
After organizing the New Year's dinner menu and table, Ran used to knit leisurely.
It worked well for her to embroider or knit.
And in the middle of the night, she would open a box that Levery had prepared for the maids.
I looked into the box for a long time and thought about this and that, but I put the box deep again and Ran fell asleep.