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“I am Idith, and I believe that we have met before.”

“Of course, I remember you.” Idith bowed low, and the distance between them was almost too far. However, Etra and Idith seemed to think that this was normal here.

Ilyin thought of what Den had said when he’d entered the room, and thought that his words had been incorrect. Milo’s response was more evidence, as the man had been quite sure of himself when she’d first seen him in the Empire. If she hadn’t dreamed of the future, Ilyin would’ve thought her suspicions wrong and left. However, yesterday he’d been shaken as if he was about to be beheaded.

“Is the Empire’s medicine working for you, mistress?”

“I am quite all right now.”

Idith was speaking out of politeness, and Ilyin thought of Den. He had been awkward when saying that he was asking about her health after being ordered by the Duke to do so. Why was she thinking of him? Den bothered Ilyin now after she’d seen him in her dream.

“That’s a relief. I came to ask whether you are aware of Biflten’s succession ceremony.”

Ilyin tilted her head, “It was my knowledge that the Duke had already obtained his title.”

“You are correct. What the succession ceremony means here is that it’s related to the head’s power, not as the Duke, but as the ruler of the wintry lands.”

Power? Was it like magic? Ilyin’s head tilted further. While she had heard that the Imperial family had magicians, they were rare, as one needed to be born with magical powers to become one. Therefore, she’d never seen magic before and only knew that one could do quite a lot with it.

“The ceremony is held every three years, and the next one is coming up soon. While the master has done it alone, it is tradition for the Duchess to also participate after marriage.” Ilyin nodded.

“If you’re uncomfortable, we can delay…”

Ilyin held up a hand to stop him from speaking, “It’s all right.” She was feeling better now and postponing such events meant that the servants would have more chores to do.

Idith looked happy with her answer and gave a short explanation about the ceremony. He told Ilyin that the four families each had a Divine object, and the head needed to receive power from those four items during the ceremony to be able to use his power, which raised the temperature of the lands and protected Biflten’s people from the cold.

“This is the first time that I’ve heard such things.”

Idith nodded and explained, “It’s because this power cannot be used in the sunny lands.”

That was why the Duke of Biflten was nicknamed the Duke of Winter. Ilyin recalled the rumors she’d heard in the Empire. While the scary gossip, of how one shouldn’t meet the Duke of Biflten, had spread in this generation, Ilyin had also heard that the previous Duke of Biflten had shown himself in social circles every once in a while. But she had heard nothing about magic.

“I was unaware of this,” she replied.

“We’re still researching about the origin of this power.” Idith calmly spoke about how the Duke had placed Divine objects at the altar because he was single, and now the Duchess had to bring the bride’s Divine object there as well since he was now married.

“Do I keep it after the ceremony?” She enquired.

“As the objects mean that the power is spread among the four families, normally they are returned to their owners.” Idith looked at the blue cloth of the Blue North as he spoke, “Of course, the family can choose how to store the object.”

He seemed a bit uninterested in something referred to as “divine”, and Ilyin looked at the blue cloth before speaking, “What happens if I lose it?”

“It is said that the objects are made to return to their owners, so don’t worry about that too much.” Idith bowed his head. “That is why we are here.”

Ilyin remembered the Duke’s words about how she should treat her subordinates and smiled as she nodded, “I will do my best not to lose it.”

She didn’t want to place these Delrose people in a position to get into trouble, as they were sincerely taking care of her, unlike the other three families.

“Please call me whenever you need me,” Idith said kindly after he’d finished explaining everything to her, then he promptly left. While he walked fast, he was silent.

The corridors did seem warm, unlike before, as she walked back to the room she’d been staying in. They said that she’d be moved to the seventh floor in two days. That floor was owned by the Delroses and she wondered if maids from the other families would be sent to her.

Etra was assisting her during her walk back to the room and as they turned the corner, they bumped into someone she’d been secretly thinking about all day. It was Den.