The winter wind whipped up flurries of snow, rattling against the roof of the wooden cabin.
It sounded like countless tiny claws scratching at the wood.
In the clearing outside the cabin.
Don Quixote, Cole, and Adele sat together, gathered around a crackling campfire.
Eating roasted meat and chatting.
The pile of firewood between them burned with wild abandon.
Tongues of flame curled and danced, leaping high into the air.
Seeing Adele's nose practically touching the flames, Don Quixote couldn't help but laugh:
"Adele, any closer and you're going to catch fire."
Hearing this, Adele's small face instantly flushed bright red.
Whether it was from the reflection of the firelight or a sudden wave of embarrassment, it was hard to tell.
She muttered softly:
"My Lord, it's just so cold out here!"
Don Quixote glanced at the iron kettle boiling water next to the campfire.
Judging that the water was about hot enough.
He pulled out two Blood Apples and handed them to Adele and Cole, saying with a sigh:
"Winter is coming, and the weather is only going to get more brutal.
"Here, I bought these apples at the market. Wash them off and eat up."
Adele quickly took it:
"Thank you, My Lord!"
She looked down at the bizarrely beautiful apple in her hands:
"My Lord, what kind of apple is this? I've never seen anything like it."
Cole hastily swallowed his mouthful of hot meat and respectfully took the Blood Apple from Don Quixote:
"Thank you, Lord Don Quixote!"
Don Quixote tossed a few wrist-thick branches into the fire and said slowly:
"I have no idea. I saw them at the market, thought they looked nice, and bought a few.
"They actually taste pretty good, and they warm you right up."
Adele looked up at Don Quixote and asked softly:
"Aren't you having one, My Lord?"
Don Quixote shook his head:
"I've already had plenty. I'm not hungry for one right now.
"The water is hot enough. Wash those apples and eat them before they get cold."
"Yes, My Lord," the two of them replied immediately.
Adele rested her Blood Apple against the edge of her bowl and gently scrubbed it clean.
Soon, she took a small, tentative bite:
"This apple is so sweet, and..."
She suddenly felt a strange, comforting warmth spreading through her body and couldn't help but say:
"It feels so good. I don't feel nearly as cold anymore!"
Cole was much less delicate about it, just splashing it with some warm water before shoving it into his mouth.
After a few bites, he mumbled his praises:
"You have a great eye, My Lord! This fruit is incredibly sweet, and it really does warm you up!"
For Adele and Cole, with their frail and scrawny frames, the effects of a single Blood Apple were glaringly obvious.
The three of them sat by the fire, eating meat and chatting for a while longer.
Of course, for the most part, it was Don Quixote asking questions while Adele and Cole answered.
Just then, Nathan walked over and said:
"Lord Don Quixote, the tent is all set up."
Don Quixote glanced over at the animal-skin tent not too far away and smiled:
"Thanks for the trouble, Nathan."
Hearing Nathan's words, Cole immediately stood up and bowed respectfully:
"Thank you, Lord Nathan!"
Nathan spoke to Don Quixote first:
"No need to thank me, My Lord. It was nothing."
Then he glanced over at Cole:
"Kid, go check out the tent yourself. If it needs fixing, I'll help you adjust it."
Cole instinctively looked to Don Quixote.
Don Quixote nodded and said:
"Go ahead, Cole. It's getting late. Check the tent and get some rest.
"Make sure you stay warm and out of the wind tonight. Don't go catching a cold on me by morning.
"Heh, I'm certainly not going to play nurse for you."
Hearing the underlying care in Don Quixote's words, Cole answered earnestly:
"My Lord, I won't let myself freeze! I still have to serve you and learn swordsmanship!
"Goodnight, My Lord! Goodnight, Miss Adele!"
Adele smiled:
"Goodnight, Cole."
Don Quixote watched Cole and Nathan walk away, then looked down, catching Adele sneaking little glances at him.
He immediately chuckled:
"What's wrong, Adele? Do I have food on my face?"
"Ah..."
Adele, like a startled deer, quickly ducked her head.
But she soon peeked back up just a bit, hurriedly whispering an explanation:
"No, no, My Lord! You don't have food on your face!"
Don Quixote asked in amusement:
"Oh? Then why do you keep staring at me?"
Hearing this, even Adele's neck flushed red.
After hesitating for a good while, she finally said timidly:
"I just feel like you're different from the other lords. It seems like you actually care about how we servants feel."
"You're overthinking it." Don Quixote reached out and ruffled Adele's hair, smiling:
"I'm just looking out for myself! Think about it—if Cole gets sick or frostbitten...
"Then he won't be able to work for me, and that just means more trouble for me."
"Really?" Adele blinked, clearly not buying it.
"Really!" Don Quixote pulled a goofy, exaggerated face, baring his teeth:
"I'm a bad guy! Why would I ever care about anyone else?"
"Hahaha."
Seeing his face, Adele couldn't hold it in and let out a bright laugh.
As soon as she laughed, she quickly covered her mouth with the back of her hand, giggling as she said:
"I'm sorry, My Lord! I just couldn't help it!"
"Hmph, you're in for it now, Adele!" Don Quixote faux-scowled:
"Your punishment is to wash my feet and warm my bed tonight."
"Yes, My Lord~"
————
The cold nights in the North passed slowly, cloaked in a chilling silence.
In the blink of an eye.
A month had gone by.
During this month, Don Quixote had been training Adele and Cole to build up their physical stamina.
After Adele had eaten four Blood Apples and Cole had eaten three...
Their constitutions had noticeably improved.
They could now handle a decent level of physical training.
At the same time, Don Quixote was taking his own training seriously.
He had reached the point where he could practice the Knight's Basic Breathing Technique even while riding a horse at full gallop.
As a result, he spent nearly all his patrol time diligently practicing the breathing technique.
As for his days off, aside from occasionally treating his five subordinates to a massive feast at the Iron Axe Tavern...
(Under the combined pressure of being alienated by the others and Nathan reporting his bad habits to Liam...
Ethan only lasted five days in the guard squad before Earl Medger fired him.
As for his pay...
He didn't get a single copper penny.
So, Don Quixote was down to just five subordinates.)
Don Quixote was also constantly practicing his swordsmanship, archery, horsemanship, hand-to-hand combat, spearmanship, and other knightly skills.
Because he had subordinates under him, and had gotten quite chummy with Liam...
(Yep, Don Quixote made a point to treat Liam to a wild night at the wayside inns every few days.
Under this relentless financial offensive, the two had grown quite close.
Liam had long since stopped micromanaging Don Quixote's squad.)
Don Quixote added live combat to his training regimen.
Or rather, multi-man brawls.
He would spar against two men at once, sometimes more.
————
Don Quixote said coldly:
"Your task for today is to run back and forth along this path ten times.
"No slacking off! You hear me?"
Cole shouted:
"Yes, Lord Don Quixote!"
Adele, with a miserable look on her face, groaned:
"Yes, My Lord."
When Lord Don Quixote first started teaching her knightly skills, Adele had been thrilled.
But as the training intensity ramped up day by day...
Her excitement had long since vanished.
She was exhausted.
She was completely physically and mentally drained.
Ever since the training started, she didn't even have the energy to serve Lord Don Quixote properly.
Without even realizing it, it had turned into Lord Don Quixote taking care of her.
However, even though she was dead tired and desperately wanted to rest...
The thought of giving up never crossed her mind.
Don Quixote nodded and said calmly:
"Begin."
Only after watching the two of them complete a full lap in earnest did Don Quixote finally turn and head back into the wooden cabin.
...