The crimson morning sun slowly rose from behind the outline of the mountains. Orange-red and pink dawn clouds intertwined at the horizon, gradually lighting up the entire sky.
The faint morning haze seemed to drift down gently from above, like a light veil lowered by a god from heaven.
Early in the morning, the horseless carriage belonging to the Klevenna family was already quietly parked in front of the mansion gates, bathed in the first sunlight of the day.
Winter air always carried a biting chill, and everything around was quiet.
But the first sound to break the mansion's morning silence came from a sharp metallic click at the front gate.
A maid lazily walked out of the mansion.
She opened her mouth, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and yawned.
The white mist from her breath quickly condensed in the air before vanishing in the blink of an eye.
One look at her sleepy appearance was enough to tell she had just woken up.
She carried a heavy cloth sack in her hand, filled with the Klevenna family's household trash from the previous day.
But the moment she stepped outside, she immediately noticed the horseless carriage.
She recognized it at a glance as Lord Viktor's personal carriage.
She didn't even need to identify the family crest.
As for why?
Because Viktor's carriage was the only one in the entire royal capital without horses.
The maid curiously walked closer to see whether anyone was inside.
Just as she was about to lean forward and peek in, the carriage door suddenly opened on its own.
The sudden movement startled her.
She quickly stepped back and saw a familiar figure emerge from inside.
Viktor was still wearing his signature black coat as he stepped out of the carriage with steady strides.
After an entire night, his body was covered in frost from the cold.
Even his hair and eyebrows had not escaped being coated with frost, making him look like a silver-haired nobleman.
Naturally, Vega had not escaped either.
Ice crystals lined the gaps between its black feathers, turning it into a strange black-and-white crow.
Judging by the way it looked at Viktor, however, it seemed somewhat unhappy.
As if it were saying, 'We stayed in the carriage all night. Couldn't you at least cast a fire spell and warm us up?'
The moment Viktor stepped out of the carriage, a breeze stirred around him.
Dead leaves swept across the street, and heavy dust rose half a meter into the air.
A cold aura seemed to flow out from the carriage as well, making people's cheeks sting.
The maid stared at Viktor without blinking.
Her heartbeat sped up, and her cheeks gradually turned red.
Realizing her loss of composure, she quickly bowed.
"Lord Viktor, I'll go inform Miss Liya that you've returned."
As she spoke, she put down the trash bag and quickly turned around to hurry toward the mansion.
She had only taken one step when a cool voice stopped her.
"No need."
The maid immediately froze in place.
Only when Viktor's figure in the black coat passed by her did she move again.
His reminder sounded beside her ear, "Don't tell her I didn't come home all night."
"O-Okay."
She nodded.
When she turned back, Viktor's figure had already disappeared into the cold wind.
The maid looked at his departing back with confusion in her eyes.
Why did it feel like... the lord was afraid of Miss Liya finding out?
To her, this felt more like the atmosphere between a husband and wife than between brother and sister.
The disrespectful thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately slapped both cheeks.
After getting rid of those random thoughts, she picked up the trash again and headed outside.
Meanwhile, Viktor stood at the mansion entrance.
He hesitated slightly.
If he entered now, Liya might discover him.
The worst possibility was that Liya was already waiting behind the front door.
If she found out he had been gone for two days, she would definitely complain.
After all, something so important had happened at the palace, and he hadn't even gone.
If he met Liya now, he would probably have to spend quite a while explaining.
Besides, digging up Angus's grave at the Derlin family estate was really hard to explain.
He already had a criminal record. If Liya thought he had become a grave robber, that would not be good.
"Forget it. I'll go straight to my room."
He snapped his fingers.
A faint blue magic circle suddenly appeared beneath his feet, and countless complicated star-like points climbed up his body.
In the blink of an eye, he turned into several long, phantom-like patterns and entered the mansion.
When Viktor appeared again, he was already inside his familiar room.
The animal fur carpet beneath his feet felt soft.
The room was clean and tidy, without a speck of dust.
And it was very warm.
The moment Viktor entered, a gentle warmth quickly wrapped around his entire body.
It felt as though someone had stayed here during the past few days.
Even though he had not returned to his room for many days.
His heartbeat sped up slightly as he sensed the faint yet cozy atmosphere in the room.
Suddenly, the fireplace crackled.
Viktor froze slightly and was just about to turn around when a voice sounded from nearby.
"You finally decided to come back?"
The moment he heard the voice, Viktor's heart trembled slightly.
He slowly turned around.
Liya's figure entered his sight.
At that moment, she was sitting elegantly on the large sofa near the fireplace, leaning back slightly.
Her legs were casually crossed, and a book rested on her lap.
One hand lightly held a corner of the book as she casually turned the pages.
Her other hand skillfully added firewood to the fireplace.
The faint firelight danced across her face.
Clearly, the sound from the fireplace earlier had come from here.
Liya sat in the chair, reading her book without saying anything else.
Viktor looked at her and quietly asked, "Why are you..."
"Why am I in your room?"
Before he could finish, Liya picked up the conversation.
Without taking her eyes off the book, she turned another page and softly replied, "Of course I'm waiting for you to come back."
Viktor fell silent for a moment.
Then came a snap as Liya closed the book and removed her glasses.
She neatly placed the book and glasses on the table, making sure the spine aligned perfectly with the table's edge.
Then she stretched lazily, showing off her perfect figure before looking up at Viktor with amusement.
"You were planning to teleport straight into your room and then come out later pretending you'd already returned, weren't you?"
"What a pity."
Liya stood up and walked to Viktor.
One hand rested lightly on his shoulder while the other settled casually on her waist.
She looked him up and down.
"We've lived together for so long. Have you ever considered that I'm the person who understands you best?"
Even during these six months when you've changed somewhat.
Liya quietly added that part in her heart.
At that moment, she carefully examined Viktor's face.
There were still a few crystal-clear droplets on it.
They were obviously traces left behind after the frost on his body melted upon entering the warm room.
His collar was slightly damp, but the clothes themselves remained neat and wrinkle-free.
Liya reached out and touched his coat.
It felt cold, like touching a piece of frozen steel.
It matched the temperature outside.
Only then did she relax slightly.
"You'd rather stay outside all night than come home?"
Viktor was silent for a moment before explaining, "I might have disturbed you..."
"More like you thought I'd nag you and annoy you, so you kept avoiding coming back."
Viktor suddenly had nothing to say.
Because Liya had hit the mark exactly.
There was one thing she was completely right about.
Out of everyone, she was the person who knew Viktor best.
"And besides, you weren't gone for just one day."
Under Viktor's gaze, Liya raised two fingers.
"It was two days and two nights."
"Do you need me to help you remember what you've been doing during those two days?"
Seeing Viktor remain silent, Liya put one hand on her waist and pressed the other against her forehead as she sighed.
"Forget it. Even if you don't tell me, what can I do about it?"
She gave Viktor a teasing glance.
"I don't mind. You'll have to figure out what to tell Cocotte."
"She's been saying she'll kick your butt the moment you come back."
As she spoke, Liya casually picked up the book and glasses from the table.
While bending down, she suddenly seemed to remember something and asked curiously, "Oh, right. Where's Henny?"
"She hasn't come back for two days either."
Viktor answered simply and directly, "She's doing some research recently."
"She'll be staying at the academy for a while."
Liya picked up the book and glasses and smiled.
"I see."
She straightened up and slightly turned her head.
Looking at Viktor from the corner of her eye, she softly said, "I imagine my dear mage hasn't slept all night, so I won't nag you anymore."
"Don't worry about the room temperature. The fireplace has been kept nice and warm."
Liya walked toward the door.
Just as her hand touched the doorknob, she spoke again as though reminding him, "If you've been away for a long time, remember to come home."
"If nothing else, at least send a message."
"After all, you still have family."
Hearing her words, Viktor froze slightly.
By the time he came back to his senses, all he heard was the bang of the door closing.
Liya was already gone.
At that moment, the drowsy Vega shook its feathers and slowly woke up.
"Honestly."
"Your sister treats you pretty well, doesn't she?"
Even though she wasn't his real sister.
Hearing Vega's words, Viktor turned and looked toward the crackling fireplace.
Inside the room, only the fireplace remained, glowing red beneath the flames and continuing to spread warmth.
The flames danced inside like cheerful spirits.
The crimson glow reflected in his eyes, and that warmth flowed into his cold heart. Even his breath seemed warmer.
"...Yeah."
"I think I know what choice I should make."
———
Liya stood outside the door with the book in her arms.
Her cheeks were slightly red, like a warm river flowing after melting ice and snow.
Lowering her head, she stared directly at the floor beneath her feet and felt soreness in her legs.
Sleepiness washed over her.
She raised a hand, patted her cheeks, and yawned.
"Ah..."
"Time to sleep."
In the early morning corridor, only the sound of Liya's calm, slow footsteps echoed as they gradually faded into the distance.