“Ophelia, why are you so stubborn!”
Amidst the storm of ice and snow, Grand Duke Valka and Ophelia confronted each other from afar, separated by thickets of ice.
“The stubborn one here is you, Father!”
Nearby, the fight between Anna and Yegor was nearing its end. If this dragged on any longer, it would only be a burden on Anna…
It was time for a conclusion.
Ophelia shouted in fury, refusing to back down in the slightest.
“I’m doing all of this for your own good! Why can’t you just listen and be obedient?”
“For my own good?”
Ophelia’s heart instantly plunged into a pit of ice.
Rage and grievance spread unchecked within her.
For her own good?
Using that excuse, he forcibly separated her from Anna, tried to marry her off to someone she didn’t love, and demanded she abandon her own wishes? Was this truly “for her own good”?
What a joke!
Her surging anger turned into a raging blizzard, making even the unbreakable fortress seem to waver within the storm.
She gazed at the man before her—her father—and in that moment, countless emotions swirled into a storm within her chest.
Anger, grievance, helplessness, and the bonds of family, all surged like two storms, threatening to utterly destroy her already desolate heart.
What should she do? Treat him like a demon and tear him apart with magic? But he was her father!
The father she once relied on so deeply, whom she cherished beyond all else.
The father who would bring her many little gifts when he returned from the Capital; the father who would let her ride on his shoulders, taking her to the market; the father who would watch her tumble in the snow, her nose turning red, then laugh heartily.
Those warm and beautiful memories were still overflowing.
But after her mother passed away, her father seemed to become someone else. He started drinking heavily, neglected his duties, and gradually grew distant from Ophelia.
Father… what am I supposed to do with you?
Tears froze at the corner of Ophelia’s eyes, pricking and stinging little by little.
If she didn’t make a move, her father would never let her pass.
But, but…
In the end, Ophelia simply couldn’t make such a decision.
“Step aside, Ophelia!”
A figure moved through the snow and ice, coming to stand in front of Ophelia.
It was Anna.
Her maid uniform was tattered and torn from the battle with Yegor, her body covered in wounds of varying depths.
She had defeated Yegor, driving her sword into his chest—yet skillfully avoided his heart.
Within the fortress, the Medical Officer and a mage skilled in healing magic were tending to Yegor. He seemed to be out of mortal danger.
Anna’s long hair whipped wildly in the storm, like countless silver rays bursting forth.
“Enough is enough, General.”
She was like a swift darting through the storm, touching lightly on the icy ground, her holy sword glowing with a pale blue light.
Countless sword shadows appeared behind her, lunging towards Grand Duke Valka.
“Outsiders have no place meddling in other people’s family affairs!”
A thick wall of ice condensed before the Grand Duke, colliding with the sword shadows in a flurry.
Splinters of ice flew at Anna’s face, slicing tiny cuts into her skin.
The ice shards were sharp as knives, but “outsider” was the word that cut deepest of all.
“Outsider? I’m no outsider. I am Ophelia’s—lover!”
Anna dodged the ice spikes shooting up from the ground, leaping into the air and thrusting towards the Grand Duke.
Her holy sword struck the very center of the ice shield, melting through like a hot knife through butter.
The Grand Duke was within reach. He drew his sword, ready for a fight to the death with Anna.
But as he saw the dazzling blue glow blooming on that holy sword, he hesitated.
She looked just like her.
Anna’s blade came to rest on the Grand Duke’s shoulder—just an inch higher and she could have easily slit his throat.
“General, you’ve grown old.”
Anna twirled her sword and sheathed it.
“I think if you love Ophelia, you shouldn’t use ‘for her own good’ as an excuse to force her into things she hates.”
Anna walked into the wind toward Ophelia, took her hand, and gently lifted it before her, pressing a knightly kiss to the back of her hand.
They walked side by side past the despondent Grand Duke. Ophelia looked back, but Anna spoke first.
“General, people must move forward. Try trusting your daughter a bit more.”
With that, Anna scooped Ophelia up in her arms.
“We’ll be going ahead—”
The Grand Duke’s clouded blue eyes followed the sound of their light footsteps as it faded into the distance. The chief officer moved to help him up, but he silently refused.
“Maybe… I really have grown old.”
The Grand Duke quietly straightened his wrinkled dress uniform, gazing at the wide open gates of the fortress. Snow drifted outside like fluff, and a trail of footprints was slowly being covered.
“Uncle, should we—”
Otto stepped in beside him.
“Let her go.” The Grand Duke gently waved off Otto’s eager hand and called the chief officer over. “Old Henry… see our guests out.”
“Thank you, Anna.”
The little town below Neuschwanstein Castle was especially lively.
Ophelia sat on an old bench, gently sweeping the snow from the seat beside her. She patted the spot, signaling Anna to sit down.
Anna was kneeling to help her put on her shoes—a pair of plain, deerskin boots, perfect for walking in the snow.
Anna had spent a long time at the Night Market before choosing these shoes. Before that, they’d spent even longer picking out clothes.
After all, they couldn’t have one of them running around in a wedding dress while the other wore a tattered maid outfit.
“Frozen pears, three copper coins each!”
“Try our fried pork—fresh, crisp, and delicious—”
The street was alive with the cries of vendors.
“Dummy, wear your hat properly.”
Anna pressed down on Ophelia’s hood, then scooted over to sit beside her.
Their bodies pressed tightly together.
“Hey, what’s with that attitude?”
Ophelia pouted in protest.
“I don’t think it’s bad at all.”
Anna nudged Ophelia with her hip.
“You’re my slave, Anna.”
“Yeah, yeah. But didn’t you say ‘I do’ yourself, Ophelia?”
Ophelia shoved Anna’s face away as she drew closer.
“So what if I did… It’s not like I’m taking it back.”
Ophelia’s cheeks were as red as the lanterns gleaming on the street.
She pouted, her lips blurring into the glow, like the silhouette of an apple with a tiny bite taken out of it. Anna was almost unable to resist kissing her.
But there was something even more urgent than a kiss.
“Want some roasted chestnuts?”
Anna pulled a still-warm, cracked honeyed chestnut from her pocket.
“The uncle selling mountain goods gave it to me—said it’s a specialty of your northern homeland.”
“I’ll eat it if you peel it for me, Anna.”
The warm, golden flesh was offered to Ophelia’s lips. She opened her mouth, took a bite, and slowly chewed the honey-soaked fruit.
Sweet and warm.
“By the way, Ophelia, can you speak the Northern Dialect?”
“Huh? I can understand it, but I can’t really speak it.”
Anna took Ophelia’s hand.
“Then… can you listen to me say something?”
Anna’s face suddenly drew very close. Her lashes fluttered like cicada wings in the lantern light. Ophelia softly said “Mm,” her hand stroking Anna’s chin.
“Um, how does it go again? It’s something like—”
“An xi han ni.”
Anna pronounced it very seriously, and even added, “Zei la xi han,” just as earnestly.
Ophelia felt as if her whole face had frozen solid.
She had never thought the Northern Dialect could kill the mood so thoroughly… She’d completely lost all desire to kiss Anna.
“Anna.”
“Mm?”
Anna tilted her head, waiting for Ophelia’s reply.
“Speak in the Standard Speech of the Capital!”
Pa-ji. Ophelia pinched Anna’s lips, just like pinching a kitten’s little mouth.
“If you speak in northern dialect again… I really won’t kiss you.”
Threatened, Anna relented. But she still believed her northern accent was quite good.