It was a nice day for the winter of Lazia, which was not windy.
Snow sculptures and lanterns stood here and there in the garden. Sleds arrived one after another over the clean snow. Everyone used Dasa, a magic carpet, and said it wasn't that cold.
'A portable electric pad.'
It's cool because it's a magical world.
'In fact, even in modern society, battery miniaturization is a big problem.'
However, ice crystals accumulate enormous energy, and they can be extracted in various forms called magic.
'A lot of things will change in the future.' Ran greeted the vassals with such thoughts.
Count Illuminati left his eldest son at the mansion and brought his two sons and a daughter. Lulu greeted Ran deeply as if she were a lady with sparkling eyes, and Ran also smiled and greeted her as if she were dealing with Lady.
The maids would giggle and smile at the count's two sons.
Baron Lance also brought his daughter and son, and Baron Wilde came to the castle comfortably because their sons were already in the castle.
Everyone spokes in unison to praise the beauty of the castle's decoration. Time passed quickly while allocating guest rooms and entertaining guests.
Soon after, the Knights of Blue flame also returned from winter hunting.
There were a few injuries, but it wasn't serious, Eustaf said.
The banquet, which runs from December 31 to January 1, was held throughout the night. She was smiling, but Ran seemed to be losing her back of her neck due to tension.
This place, which counts age by kite, not just in Korea, becomes an adult as soon as the new year comes, and the household position is also on him.
It was an invitation to everyone, so Ran wanted to make it clear.
At 12 o'clock, as the sound of a clock announcing the new year rang out loud in the ballroom, Ran silenced everyone and bowed deeply to Eustaf on the platform.
"May the blue flame bless you."
Everyone looked at it in silence. Officially, everyone watched Ran was as she hand over her post to Eustaf.
Eustaf looked at Ran for a moment and replied.
"Believe the fire to you."
Ran grinned and straightened her back and said, "Have a Happy New Year."
Then the people gathered and shouted.
"Long live the Lord Eustaf!"
Eustaf said, dragging Ran's hand.
"Will you leave the first dance of the year to me?"
"I'm willing."
Ran came out on the floor smiling. As the orchestra began to play, the two slid on the floor.
The marble of the Emerald Hall glittered like a mirror, and a group of gold-colored people filled the hall.
Champagne with a bubbling golden bubble, sweet honey wine, fruit wine with a strong ingredient, lively real flowers, long smooth silky ribbons and shiny decorations.
It's a perfect New Year's party. Ran thought so.
"Eustaf."
"Yes."
"Is it the last time I hear the honorifics from Eustaf?"
His blue eyes looked down at her at her words. Ran grinned.
Ran, wearing a silver-gray dress, a blue diamond necklace given by Dwarf, and wearing a diamond decoration that sparkles like a cold starlight after laying down her hair like a jewel egg, was so beautiful that it could not be missed anywhere.
Because of alcohol and heat, both cheeks were rosy and lips were moist pink.
The ballroom was a little hot if you dance with the fan on.
"Now that Eustaf is there."
"Yes."
"To get official permission, of course, I have to contact the Imperial Palace, but I'm talking about it in front of the vassals-."
"I didn't expect you to talk today."
"You said you'd talk to me at the New Year's party, didn't you?"
"I didn't expect that to be now."
When Eustaf said, "I knew we would talk after having a separate meeting," Ran rubbed her lips.
"It's better to make a public declaration in front of everyone."
"But that's true."
Eustaf gave strength to the hand that held her waist.
"Eus?"
"I'm nervous."
"What?"
Ran opened her eyes wide and asked, frowning.
"Who do you think won't admit it? What's there to admit? Besides, Baron Lance and Wilde are on your side. The Count of Illuminati has never defied Lazia. Besides, who has a better successor than you?"
Tell me if anyone says anything else. I'll scold him.
Ran was huffing and Eustaf told a completely different story.
"I'm afraid that Noonim will be gone."
"Huh?"
"You've handed over your place of residence, and I'm afraid you'll just leave because you don't have any lingering attachments to Lazia."
"What...such...?"
Ran rolled her eyes around in embarrassment. It's not that I haven't thought about it. But...
"You said there was a condition."
Ran spoke quietly.
"I did."
"I won't leave until I hear it."
He smiled faintly. Looking at his faint smile made Ran nervous.
"Why? Have you change your mind?"
"No, it's not...."
Eustaf blinked and said,
"I'll talk to you later."
"Okay."
Ran nodded. After the music was over, the two bowed out of the floor. Then, requests for dance were pouring in on both of them, and Ran danced four or five songs in a row.
Then Ran slipped out of the group with her glass and stood.
"Are your feet alright?"
Looking back at Lumiere, Ran laughed. Wearing the uniform of the Knights of Blue flame, he was so cool that some maids sighed.
"You don't dance?"
Lumiere smiled and tilted his head when asked, and Ran whispered softly, "Ah."
"You can't dance."
"I've never learned."
"I haven't learned it for a long time. I wish I could teach Lumiere to keep stepping on his feet."
While muttering, Ran laughed and said, "I'm going to drink."
"Should I dance if I'm not good at it?"
Lumiere's scarlet eyes sparkled.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, but if we dance here, people will laugh at us..."
Ran said after quickly emptying the glass, saying, "You must be sad to see the two who are so bad at dancing."
"Let's get out."
The two came out on the balcony. The semi-circular balcony was quite wide, so it was about the size of five or six people.
"It's cold-."
Ran shrieked and said, Lumiere quickly took off his cape and rolled her around. She quickly pulled his hand and said, one by her waist and one by hand.
"Come on, let's dance. Look, if you put your hand on it like this, the steps..."
Ran burst into laughter as she looked down at her feet and tried to explain. Lumiere, who was in a serious position to listen, wondered and looked down at his feet.
Do you think there's a hole in the boot?
But the boots were clean, and they shined hard for today.
"Master?"
"No, I'm so sorry, Lumiere. I don't know the male step."
Wow, I guess I'm drunk.
That's what Ran pulled him around and started spinning. She looked up at him with a recalled look and said, "Let's just dance whatever we want. I'll add the teacher after dancing."
Lumiere smiled after making a difficult face. He twirled and said.
"I don't know, but I don't think this is it."
"Right?"
As she turned around, she eventually stumbled away. Lumiere held her firmly.
"You're dizzy because you're out there."
"Is Lumiere alright?"
"This is alright."
Ran stumbles with a long breath and stumbles and leans as if she was hugged by him.
Lumiere took his hand to her back, but he couldn't reach it, so he put it down and asked.
"When are you leaving?"
"Huh?"
"Now Master Eustaf has become the Patriarch."
"Ah-"
Lumiere said with a slight frown.
"You're not leaving me behind, are you?"
"That's what I'm saying. Maybe I'll stay."
Lumiere's jaw slightly stiffened at Ran's words. He looked at Ran for a long time without saying a word and said, "Anything will be as you wish."
Ran grinned. And she trembled.
"I can't stay out any longer. It's cold-"
"Let's go in."
As I entered the room, I felt a hot heat. It's hard to go out in this winter wearing thin clothes that are used to the heat of the hot air.
Ran thought so and touched the choker around her neck.
In the meantime, I could feel the cold metal. To soothe her cold stomach, Ran beckoned her servant to bring her another drink.
Lumiere said.
"If you keep drinking, you'll be upset. I'll bring you something to eat."
"Oh? Yeah, thank you."
Smiling and saying, Lumiere went to a corner lined with food. Then, like a lie, Eustaf filled the place.
"Why did you go out? Aren't you feeling cold?"
Ran grinned at the words.
"I was going to teach Lumiere to dance, but I didn't know any male steps."
"Ah"
Eustaf only said so briefly. Ran looked up at him and said,
"Eus? Did you dance a lot?"
"I've dance enough."
"I think there's still a lot of people who wants to dance with you..."
Speaking as Ran teased, Eustaf glanced at her and said,
"There's someone else I want to dance with."
"Oh? Who is it?"
Eustaf reached out her hand, and Ran widen her eyes and smiled.
"Again?"
"Are you saying No?"
"I don't hate it, but. I haven't emptied my glass yet."
Ran said with the honey in her hand, and Eustaf pulled the glass and he drank it all. He handed the empty glass to the servant next to him, and Eustaf reached out her hand again and Ran took it.
Ran whispered as she stepped on the floor with a giggle.
"It's most comfortable when I'm dancing with Eustaf. I think you're good at dancing doublets. Mm-hmm."
"You're drunk."
"Yes, I'm drunk."
With a big smile, Eustaf looked embarrassed when Ran spoke.
"I had something to talk about....with you"
"What are you talking about?"
"But I don't think I wanna talk to a drunk person."
"I'm fine even if I'm drunk."
"How are you fine when you're drunk?"
"Because I'm fine."
As Ran spoke with a serious face, Eustaf sighed. After the dance, Ran dragged Eustaf down the hall.
The banquet hall was noisy, but the hallway behind it, which led to the corridor outside the garden, was quiet, not the main gate. There was no one coming and going here.
Beyond the dark and quiet hallway, the sound of the banquet hall was heard quietly.
"Tell me."
Ran said arm in arm. She caught Eustaf turning around, "Later."
"No, now. You're talking about the terms, right? Tell me."
Seriously, I'm fine.
"And if I don't hear that, I don't think I'll be able to sleep later."
Eustaf turned to her and said,
"Noonim is the one who insisted on hearing this."
"Yes, yes."
Ran pounded her chest. Eustaf took a deep breath and said, "I will remove you from the Lazian family register."
The shock swept through Ran. Her slightly open her trembling lips. Not a word, but a short breath flowed out through her teeth.
Ran looked down in daze at the floor.
'Now I'm sober.'
I'm definitely sober now.
She took a deep breath and took a rest and said quietly, "That's what I expected."
I tried to speak in high spirits, but Ran was embarrassed because her voice was shaking again.
'Oh, it's more shocking than I thought.'
It might be.
That's possible.
I did, but I was so shocked and embarrassed when it came to reality in front of me.
Ran blinked quickly as tears began to come out. She spoke, "Okay, then."
I'll get out of here as soon as possible.
The word didn't come out, so Ran swerved. She didn't want Eustaf to see her crying.
"Noonim."
"I'm going to room, I'm going in."
Ran began to walk slowly and Eustaf called her from behind.
"Are you not going to listen to my conditions?"
Ran stopped at his words. She spoke with her back turned.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
"Yes."
"Tell me."
"If you want to leave Lazia, you can take whatever you want."
"What!?"
Ran turned around in surprise. Eustaf said quietly in the dark.
"Ice crystal mining rights, contracts with the Golden Rose tops, contracts with Elf or Dwarf, everything. You can take everything that Noonim made."
Ran open her mouth.
Looking at him blankly, Ran clenched her teeth and shouted in a rage.
"I don't need that!"
At that surprise cry, Eustaf inhaled as if he had lost his breath. I'm sure the only person who can say it's something like that would be you.
"I don't want that!!! I don't even want to take it from you!!!"
Ran felt so angry and insulted. What should I say?
She worked so hard for him, but in exchange to what?
'Who asked you to do that? I don't need it.'
How could you!?
More tears welled up at the same time.
"Noonim."
He reached out and wrapped his hand around her cheeks in a soothing tone.
The warmth now accustomed to it made Ran cry even more.