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Ryugukyo—a holiday resort in the deep north—was located beyond the glaciers that isolated it from the continent. Its roots lay in the hot springs that were created for recreation by the God of the Sea that presided over the glaciers. If not for that deity, the area would have remained too cold for any organism to inhabit. But by the Sea God’s protection, comfortable conditions are maintained there to this day.
Since it was made to be accessible from anywhere in the world, the resort was a popular destination for those who were lucky enough to secure an invitation. Dignitaries were especially fond of the cottages that dotted its premises. There were cottages of various classes, but all of them were usually booked up. The secret to their popularity lay in their anonymity.
Visitors could not only come to Ryugukyo from across the world, but also rendezvous away from prying eyes. And thanks to the God of the Sea, security was impenetrable. These features of the resort made it an ideal place for clandestine meetings. It was even whispered among those in the know that the history of the world could shift in Ryugukyo.
Tonight, in one such cottage, there was another secret meeting underway. Under the white moon, a figure stole up to the front door and knocked. The visitor was carefully covered from head to toe, bundled up in a thick fur coat with a hood. “It’s me,” she murmured.
Footsteps sounded in the cottage at once, and the door flew open. A young man with auburn hair and a refined face greeted the woman. Though he was slightly out of breath, he was grinning from ear to ear. He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her ardently.
The air around them was so icy that their breath seemed to freeze as it escaped their lips. Even so, they held each other close on the doorstep, basking in the heat of one another. Eventually, the young man pulled away from the woman and lifted her hood, revealing a face as beautiful as a thorned rose, framed in lush, violet hair. They gazed into each other’s eyes in the moonlight and called each other’s name in tender whispers.
“You came, Cordelia. I missed you, my love.”
“I missed you too, Prince Cecil.”
A secret meeting between Cecil, the second prince of Neils Kingdom, and Cordelia, the wife of Duke Evans—it was a scandalous affair that, if exposed to the public, would have shaken the whole kingdom.
Cecil drew Cordelia into the cottage. A fire was already burning in the living room, filling the space with a warm glow. Cecil led her to the fireplace, then looked behind him.
“Keep guard outside,” he commanded the several heavily armed warriors gathered with them in the cabin. “Don’t let anyone in—not even the Ryugukyo staff. Got it?”
“Understood, sir.” Several warriors gave a nod in response. They were evidently the cream of the crop—their bearing showed not the slightest excess movement. The men bowed to Cecil and left the room without a sound.
Cordelia glared at the men as they left. “Private soldiers? Can we trust them?”
“Not to worry, I’ve paid them a considerable sum. Besides, I can’t bring along the kingdom’s soldiers to a secret meeting with you,” Cecil replied with a shrug. He uncorked a bottle and handed Cordelia a glass of wine, but she merely frowned.
“Don’t expect me to drink something so cheap. Isn’t there something more tolerable? It’s been a while since I traveled to Ryugukyo—I’d rather make it worthwhile.”
“Unfortunately, this cottage is one of the lower classes, so its amenities are vulgar. A merchant I often work with secured it for me.”
“Hmph, a third-rate merchant, I’m sure. I suggest you rethink your acquaintances.”
“Of course, that’s what I mean to do.” He casually tossed the cork into the garbage can and took her hand. Kissing her gently on the back of her hand, he grinned. “But I can’t complain—I get to be with you like this, without worrying about being seen. Was everything all right on your end? It might raise eyebrows if a duke’s wife went out for a late-night stroll all by herself.”
“No problem. I’ve made the servants swear to secrecy, like I always do. And I left a dummy behind just in case.” Cordelia scoffed. “The duke is away, as usual—off to who knows where. That insufferable old man... What could he be up to, casting aside his own wife?”
“Hmph, visiting his mistress, I shouldn’t wonder. After all, he has a history of putting his hands on his own maid.”
“Well, if that’s the case...so much the better.” The corners of her lips curled up into a sneer at Cecil’s insult. She took his hand and whispered in a saccharine voice, “Why don’t we do away with him next? It’s about time. After his daughter stirred up such a scandal, it should be easy to concoct some reason or another, no?”
“Oh yes, I’m already on it. The day is nearing when the Evans clan will be stripped of their status,” Cecil said casually, as if they were talking about the weather. His smile broadened as he peered into Cordelia’s face. “They have to take responsibility for their villainous daughter, Charlotte, who unsettled the whole kingdom. And if the duke’s own conduct is suspicious, to top it off...the family’s past glory and reputation will be of no consequence. The Evanses are on the brink of collapse now—they’ll be snuffed out like a candle.”
“Ah...! I’m thrilled, Cecil! Finally, I’ll be free!” Cordelia gushed and threw her arms around Cecil’s neck. With a rapturous smile on her face, she looked like a young, innocent girl. “We can be together at last...” she whispered into his ear. “Ever since I laid eyes on you six years ago, at that ball at the castle, I knew it. I knew that the one I’m meant to be with isn’t Duke Evans, but you.”
“I feel just the same, Cordelia. You’re the only one who suits me—with your perfect pedigree and elegance.” He gave a light nod, but his brows furrowed. “But if that girl is alive by some fluke, it’ll mean trouble. Some of the palace wizards and witches have used detection magic and claimed that she’s still alive, though they couldn’t trace her...”
“And? What’s the trouble with that?” Cordelia’s lips twisted up in a scornful laugh. “Even if she’s still alive, what could that doormat do? I tormented her over many years, but she never had the guts to defy me—not once.”
“Hmph, you’re a cruel woman, aren’t you? How often did you take things out on her?”
“How could I help it? I couldn’t stand that she was your fiancée.”
“Neither could I. Something about her didn’t sit well with me from the start. And when I found out about her lowly birth, I knew why.”
“I’m glad the love of my life has good taste.” The couple snickered.
Eventually, Cecil sighed and looked out the window. “Well, I agree with you for the most part...but you never know what she might do. We still don’t know how she managed to slip out of the prison either.” He gazed at the gusts of snow whirling outside, his eyes as cold as ice. But when he let out a small sigh and smiled, he looked convinced of his own victory. “Starting tomorrow, I’ll hike up her bounty even higher, and send out more search parties. And this time I’ll present her corpse before your very eyes, I promise you.”
“Hee hee, I can hardly wait. She might even come back as a pitiful little ghost to haunt us.” Cordelia cackled in delight.
Cecil wasn’t the only one who heard her laughter. The blazing logs in the fireplace were listening, and—someone else too.
In a snowy field far away from Cecil and Cordelia’s cottage, inside a large igloo, Allen and Co were gathered around a mirror. It was the Mirror of Nostalgia, an enchanted object that could show a scene unfolding from a distance. If the mirror was close enough to the view it was displaying, one could even hear the sounds. They had used it before at the Athena School of Magic, when they sneaked a peek at Natalia and her followers. And now, framed in the mirror were Prince Cecil and Cordelia.
“All right, let’s stay calm and take a vote,” Allen said, flipping up his index finger. His eyes were fixed on the intimate couple. “What do you all think is the best option? Do we bury them under the mountain, sink them in the sea, or tear them into pieces right here?”
“All three, for a start,” Natalia replied.
“Y-You all aren’t staying calm at all,” Charlotte stammered. She was the only one in a fluster among the group; the rest were obviously raring to do something bloodthirsty.
About an hour ago, led by Eluka, they had crept silently over the mountain and arrived near the cottage. They had been recovering from the cold in the igloo and waiting for an explanation from Eluka when the furtive visitor arrived at the door. Recognizing Cordelia’s face, Charlotte and Natalia caught their breath. At the same time, Eluka handed them the Mirror of Nostalgia. Apparently, she had set everything up so that they could watch what went on in the cottage through the mirror.