The Daily Lives of the Two
As the saying goes,
Nothing passes faster than the past.
It was the same for Rudell and Leje.
Several seasons had passed since the two became friends…
And before they knew it, a cold winter day arrived when they both turned fourteen.
-Crackle. Crackle.
A small library in the Weinstein Viscounty's mansion.
Along with the sound of burning firewood, the fire in the fireplace spread warmth to its surroundings.
And. Rudell, who was sitting in front of the fireplace, turned the pages of the book with a fluttering sound.
"Rudell. I'm bored."
Leje, who was looking at him, said in a grumbling voice.
"..."
However, Rudell remained silent at her words.
He didn't take his eyes off the book.
It was a sight that would have shocked anyone else, but instead of getting angry, Leje got up from her seat and threw herself onto Rudell's lap as he was reading.
"Leje…"
"I'm bored!! I'm so bored!!"
Only then did Rudell take his eyes off the book and let out a short sigh.
"We promised to be quiet today."
"But!! It's not even snowing today! I want to go play outside!!"
When Leje said that, Rudell turned his head towards the window, and as she said, the clear blue sky was shining brightly along with the sunlight.
It was clear weather that was rare to see in the viscounty's winter, where it snowed for more than eight out of ten days.
"I want to go out!! Let's go play!!"
"No. A promise is a promise."
Leje started to throw a tantrum like a child, but Rudell flatly refused her request.
It was only natural because Leje had made a promise with Rudell while she was staying at the Viscounty.
The promise wasn't anything grand.
Just one day a week.
Spending time at home on Sundays.
That was the promise Rudell and Leje had made.
"Ugh…!!"
At Rudell's words, which presented a valid point, Leje let out a low groan as if she had nothing to say.
No matter how self-willed Leje was, she was still the princess of the Dukedom.
She knew the importance of promises better than anyone else.
"Hmph, fine!! If you're not going out, I'll go out by myself!"
However, as if she thought she couldn't back down like this, Leje said so and got up from her seat.
"Suit yourself."
Nevertheless, Rudell still remained indifferent.
In fact, there was a good reason why Rudell reacted that way.
The reason was that this kind of situation wasn't a one-time occurrence for Rudell.
'I'm not going to be swayed by your pace this time.'
That's what Rudell thought.
Leje stared at Rudell for a moment, then moved her footsteps and headed outside, closing the library door with a bang!
This wasn't the first time this had happened, so Rudell snorted and turned his attention back to the book.
However.
"..."
5 minutes…
"Hmm…"
10 minutes…
"Huuuuuum…"
About 30 minutes had passed since Leje left the library.
Rudell let out a short sigh and had no choice but to close the book.
Usually, in this kind of situation, Leje's patience limit was about 10 minutes.
However, even though 30 minutes had already passed, Leje showed no sign of returning.
"Did she really go out alone…?"
Considering Leje's personality, which was second to none in terms of her ability to take action, that possibility couldn't be ruled out.
And the moment that thought crossed Rudell's mind…
'I'm screwed. I'm really screwed.'
Feeling goosebumps all over his body, Rudell got up from his seat.
After all, what was Leje's status?
The only daughter of the Ragrind Dukedom, one of the most prestigious families in the Kingdom.
Letting such a Leje wander around outside alone?
If the Duke found out about that, the Weinstein Viscounty, which was nothing more than a lowly noble family in the countryside, could be eradicated without a trace.
And that wasn't the only problem.
On such a clear day, monsters would start to move around.
The winter in the viscounty was harsh, but at the same time, it also played a role in suppressing the monsters.
"Is anyone there!?"
As Rudell shouted, putting down the book, the door opened and a maid with an anxious expression entered.
"Did you call for me, Young Master?"
"Did you see where Leje went?"
"She went out a little while ago… but she told me not to follow her…"
The maid answered Rudell's urgent question with a flustered look.
"Thank you!"
If he followed her now, he might be able to catch up with her.
Hopefully, nothing bad happened.
Thinking so with a desperate heart, Rudell started to move his feet faster than ever before in his life.
***
Dunes Lake, located a short distance from the Viscounty's mansion.
It was a lake so vast that it was considered one of the five largest in the Kingdom.
And. A wagon loaded with straw was rattling along the road built along the lakeshore.
"Sigh…
Lying on the soft straw, Leje let out a short sigh.
The breath that escaped from her mouth spread out white, and Leje, staring blankly at the sight, got up.
She had run out of the mansion because she couldn't control her temper, but once she got out, there was almost nothing she could do alone.
"What the hell…"
Leje muttered as she looked around for a moment.
Was it that difficult to just go for a walk outside?
It was a shame to stay cooped up inside when the weather was so nice.
"Whatever. Do whatever you want."
If she thought about it, Rudell had done nothing wrong.
However, her pride wouldn't allow her to admit it.
"Phew…"
"Something seems to be bothering you, young lady."
At that moment, as she lay on the straw, staring blankly at the sky.
The old man sitting in the driver's seat spoke to her.
Since she hadn't revealed her identity, the old man didn't know that she was a noble.
And that she was the princess of the famous Ragrind Dukedom.
"It's nothing."
"It's not nothing. You have the same expression as my wife when she used to fight with me when she was young…"
"F, fight…!?"
She was startled and sat up.
"I, it's not like that!?"
"It's not like that, huh? You have the exact same expression as my wife when she used to fight with me when she was young."
"..."
Normally, she would have been offended by the fact that someone she wouldn't even dare to look at was speaking to her so casually, but strangely enough, she didn't feel that way now.
"If this old man may say a word, between a man and a woman, that's just how it is."
"What do you mean?"
"People are all different, so someone might like something while someone else might hate it, and vice versa."
"..."
"Life is all the same in the end. We live by giving and taking."
At those words, Leje silently shifted her gaze.
Giving and taking.
Come to think of it, Leje had never compromised on anything except for her promise with Rudell.
No. To be precise, Rudell had been the one to adjust to her first.
In fact, one could argue that it was only natural for the Young Master of a Viscounty to yield to the princess of a Dukedom, but what Leje felt was a little different.
Consideration for a friend, not a semi-forced courtesy due to social status.
She could feel that from Rudell, which she couldn't feel from anyone else.
"Ugh…"
As her mind became complicated and an unknown strange sensation enveloped her body, she let out a low groan and lay down on the straw.
"It's none of your business."
"Then this old man has nothing more to say."
The old man chuckled at Leje, who spoke in a grumbling tone.
As the wagon moved forward with the sound of the cows' hooves…
'Should I apologize to Rudell when I get back?'
Thinking so, Leje looked up at the blue sky where white clouds were drifting by.
It was then.
[Crackle!!]
"Oh my!?"
-Mooooooooo!!
As the wagon entered a small, snow-covered forest path, the trees on either side of the road fell with a loud noise.
The cows pulling the wagon let out a cry and stopped at the sudden situation.
[Ughhhhh…]
[Weather warm. Ogre… hungry… eat.]
And, from between the fallen trees, something with a huge physique, about the size of three adult men, appeared.
Long, stretched, and smelly skin. Clothes made by crudely weaving together animal bones and leather, and facial features that could only be described as distorted.
A huge club made of wood and bone was held in its muscular arms.
Ogre.
A monster known for its stupidity and dullness, but also for its strong strength, regenerative ability, and large physique.
"O, Ogre!?"
A terrified voice escaped the old man's mouth at the sight of the Ogre emerging from the forest.
It was only natural because it was the middle of winter.
During this time when everything was frozen, most monsters either went into hibernation or stayed in their lairs and didn't come out.
[Weather warm. Woke up from sleep. Hungry. Food walked in by itself.]
[Ogre eat. Eat cow. Eat human.]
"Y, young lady! You should run away first! Hurry!!"
The old man shouted at the sight of the Ogre speaking in a sleepy voice.
However, there was one thing the old man had overlooked…
"Run away? You must be joking."
Leje's eyes sparkled at the sight of the Ogre, and then she jumped out of the wagon with a light movement.
And. As she started to warm up with light stretches, she spoke to the old man.
"Stay back. You might get caught in the crossfire."
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