Chapter 19

Wa...'

I'm sure adult men are different.

With a little admiration, Ran began her second dance. As soon as it started, Blaine held back his laughter.

"You really can't dance."

"Sorry..."

"It's fine."

He looked around for a moment and spoke low.

"Isn't Ross being cheeky?"

"Huh? Well...a little?"

"As expected."

Blaine's eyes narrowed. Ran shook her head.

"No, don't say I told him that."

"No, he has to. The Lord is the Lord. It's not the attitude of a knight to act according to his feelings, not to his liking."

Speaking, Blaine breathed briefly.

"Ross served the young master since he was a child. He probably thinks he's his big brother."

Blaine had a significant age gap with Ross. Ross was the youngest son of a baronet, and Blaine was embarrassed because he seemed to have let himself grow.

"As long as Eustaf likes him."

Blaine smiled strangely at Ran's words. His soft brown eyes looked down at Ran.

"Do you think so?"

"Huh?"

"He likes Ross?"

"Ummm"

She groaned briefly and Ran replied.

"He doesn't seem to hate him."

Even if you think about it yourself, you are not sure. Blaine grinned as if he knew it.

Ran spoke as if he were making excuses.

"But maybe his attitude is worse. It's bad to see your boss clearly showing his likes and dislikes to his men."

"That's right."

Blaine nodded. Ran nodded and frowned in relief.

"Blaine."

"Yes"

"Your boots are strong, right?"

Blaine held back his laughter and spoke seriously again.

"It's strong."

"That's a relief."

Ran finished dancing with confidence. I couldn't even count how many times I stepped on it. Blaine's patience with not even a single eyebrow made her want to curse.

Ran got out of the floor quickly moved to the food section to avoid a series of guest asking for dance.

'Well, the meat is dropping fast.'

The thin sandwiches had ham, cheese, and salmon, which were also popular. I couldn't upload the cucumber sandwich because it was expensive.

'Next time, I'll fill it up a bit fancier.'

Planning for the New Year's party next year, Ran picked up the least popular salmon sandwich.

In autumn, salmon, which are caught extensively in valleys and rivers, are smoked and become the main food of winter. It was so common that it was not popular.

Ran looked around, put the wine full of berries in a big cup, and then opened the door of the light terrace.

I felt good when the hot air and the cheeks heated by alcohol touched the cold air. Today was mild for winter, with no strong north wind.

"I feel good."

Is it because of the spirit of alcohol that makes her talk out loud?

Somehow, I laughed and ran around and laughed again to lightly rhythmize the music coming from inside.

"Ah, nice."

Ran gulped down the cold air and gulped down a strong drink.

"Uwa..."

It's spinning.

There was a surge of heat in my throat and stomach. With the salmon sandwich in one bite, Ran breathed out.

A white breath came out like a dragon. Ran walked out to the railing.

"It's hot."

The banquet hall was on the second floor. Under the high railing, the white field sparkled brilliantly.

Snow, snow, snow. Snow is everywhere.

Ran smiled lightly. My mother said she was sick and tired of this snow.

However, the reflection of the moonlight at night was no better than the queen's dress.

The road was diligently cleaned up by the servants, but the snow piled up in the garden cannot be helped.

And the gardener says that the roots are protected only when the snow piles up.

'It's frustrating.'

Ran put her hand on her head thinking so. Ran began to pull out her hairpin because she felt uncomfortable with her carefully grounded hair.

When I pulled out a long comb-shaped pin, the hair that came up fell down.

Ran jumped up and sat on the railing. I'm not drunk. It was an action that would not have been said to be dangerous.

Sitting on the railing, she began to untie her hair.

"Okay!"

When I managed to untie all my hair, my head couldn't be so light. The winter wind sweeping through the inside of my head felt good.

"Noonim?"

The inside door opened slightly and a voice came in, and Ran smiled and waved.

"Eus!"

His blue eyes were round as if surprised. Ran laughed somehow because it was cute.

"Here! here! Here!"

She now waved her hands as hard as she could. Eustaf did not run. Instead, he walked fast.

Then a strong breeze blew and she felt her hair and dress flying and her body shaking body.

'Wow, it's flying.'

Thinking so, Eustaf was tightly wrapped around her waist when she came to smile with open arms.

"Eus?"

Keeling from laughter, Ran swept up her hair. The sparkling wheat hair shook gently in the wind.

"I almost flew away."

"Is that what you say?"

"Huh? Why?"

"Why?"

Eustaf asked back as if he was dumbfounded, and said, flexing his arms around her waist, slightly loosening them slightly.

"We'll put it in a treaty. You won't die until I become the patriarch."

"I don't mean to die."

I'll live a long life.

As Ran grinned and said, Eustaf sighed. The breath that came out became a white cloud and scattered.

"Please do. I told you. I don't like people who die easily."

"Yes, yes, yes, I won't die."

Ran looked down at him, answering several times. His calm blue eyes made her feel calmer somehow.

"Eus"

"Yes?"

"Smile."

Eustaf sighed again.

"I didn't think you drank that much."

Ran frowned at his murmur.

"I am not drunk."

"Those who really didn't drink don't say that."

"Grumpy."

"Me?"

"Yes, you have a bad mouth!"

Ran tried to kiss his side, but her shaky body made her kiss his forehead instead of his lips.

Ran chuckled again, feeling his movement.

"Eus is Grumpy. Stupid. Bad. I'm working really hard."

"I know."

After talking, Eustaf looked at Ran.

"Then why are you so grumpy?"

"I wasn't that Grumpy."

"But yes you are."

Ran frowned.

"Then how do you want me to treat you?"

"Be nicer to me."

"Nice, and?"

"Be gentle."

"Am I being nice and gentle enough?"

"No"

Ran frowned. Eustaf looked at her and asked.

"Do you like Lazia?"

The same question as before.

Ran snorted and said honestly.

"Umm, not much?"

She doesn't work like this because she likes Lazia. It is for Eustaf, and in fact for herself. But this is the only place to mix it.

Even if you build up your foundation, you need to keep it when you make money so that you can leave here later. If I leave here now, I'm broke.

"Then who's cold-hearted now?"

Ran rattled when Eustaf replied so.

"I'm not cold. Come on, be nice."

A laugh mixed with absurdity leaked out of his mouth.

"How can I be so nice?"

"Speak sweetly."

"Sweet. That's very abstract. And?"

"Don't kill me."

At that word, Eustaf let go of his hand holding her waist. When Ran looked at him with a curious look, Eustaf pushed her.

"...?!"

As the upper body went back and shook the air, Eustaf grabbed the hand.

"Eus?"

I was sober with surprise.

She tried to pull up her upper body by pulling her held hand, but as he took a step closer, he swung back and slipped back.

"Are you going to drop me?"

"What do you think?"

She stared at the blue eyes, and Ran laughed. Eustaf was caught off guard by the laughter.

"You promised."

Eustaf stood for a moment with a sensibility that could not be described in words and pulled her in his arms. Her upper body was pulled forward and lightly bumped into Eustaf.

"Why do you say that when you know it? I'm going to kill you?"

"After the alliance."

Eustaf sighed long again.

"What a heartless girl."

He took off his cloak with one hand and wrapped it around her head and held Ran on the railing.

"Eus?"

He moved as she shouted in surprise.

"It's cold. Your lips are blue."

"It's not that cold..."

"That's even more scarier."

Eustaf said so and opened the terrace door and went inside. My skin became itchy when I came into the warm place.

'I'm sleepy.'

Ran yawned because she suddenly felt sleepy. Bringing her to the entrance of the hall, Eustaf called the maid.

Kara quickly approached his beckoning. Only then did Eustaf put Ran down.

"Take a bath and rest."

He then bowed politely and went back to the banquet hall. Kara made a fuss when she saw Ran's face.

"Oh, my Lord. You're too pale. Oh, my God. Your face is frozen. I'll tell thee maid to prepare a bath. Hurry up and go up."

"Sorry, Kara would love to enjoy the banquet."

"What are you talking about?"

Kara shook her head. She returned to Ran's room, grew the fireplace bigger, and turned on the heater.

Sitting in a warm place, I felt sleepy. I was dozing off and woke up by Kara's touch and finished my bath, and my head was almost like turning my mind.

Ran lay down on the bed as if she were falling asleep.

*******

Eustaf exhaled deeply and stretched the tip of the sword. Steam was rising from his body. Sweat ran down his chin.

I had just finished my dawn sword training.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Blaine held out a towel and Eustaf accepted and asked.

"Ross?"

"Winter training."

When he said with a smile, Eustaf simply said, "Oh no." Most of the midwinter training is done by banging.

"As you said, the Lord's escort consisted of skilled men."

He handed over the list and held the paper while wiping the sweat off Eustaf. Only well-known articles were gathered within the Knights' Order.

"Let's move on. Good job."

He returned the paper. It would be nice if he followed, but not yet.

If you've cut out the biggest rotten part, it's time to cut out the rest of the place.

Eustaf leaned against the sword and looked up at the ice wall. An old mountain range with white ice caps stands proudly behind the mansion.

- Eustaf must like Lazia.

I suddenly remembered the word.

'I like it, Ran.'

Eustaf laughed. It's funny to ask such ridiculous question, and to make yourself laugh.

Lazia was everything to him.

Except for Lazia, he is just an empty shell.

What I learned is everything to be a lord of Lazia.

-You promised.

She believes in promises even though her life depends on the alert, but she has no faith in Eustaf himself.

'You want me to be nice and sweet?'

Eustaf breathed out a long white breath, closed his eyes, and woke up.

"Blaine."

"Yes"

"Watch over Ran."

"Respect."

Blaine bent down deeply.