The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 29

Makari Castle was busier than ever preparing for an unprecedented guest. The prince and his investigation team alone were a considerable number, but they also had to accommodate the servants who followed.

Moreover, Yulania had given a cautionary warning that the prince was by no means an easy person to serve. The faces of the servants going in and out of the detached palace where he would stay were filled with tension.

Santia and Yulania were also not exempt from welcoming the guests.

In particular, Yulania, the only one who knew Alban well, put a lot of effort into preparing the space where he would stay. All of Alban’s tastes were taken into account so that he couldn’t find fault with anything. Yulania was busier than anyone else preparing to welcome the guests, conveying Alban’s dietary preferences to the kitchen and delivering precautions regarding his attendants.

Tents were set up near the entrance of the castle in time for the arrival schedule of the royal investigation team. And when the expected date of arrival was announced, the Duke and Duchess of Makari waited in the tents from early in the morning to greet the prince in person.

As autumn passed and full-fledged winter began, it became rare to see the blue sky. A blue sky briefly peeked out about once every ten days, and the rest of the time, white snow poured down incessantly.

On the day her only younger brother, Prince Alban, arrived, heavy snow continued to fall. She couldn’t feel purely happy about the news that Alban was coming in person. Although her younger brother was not much younger than her, in reality, Alban was treated as her superior. The sincere preparations to welcome Alban were largely due to fear and a sense of duty.

Perhaps because of the bad weather, the investigation team was not visible even after noon, contrary to the message that they were expected to arrive in the morning.

“They must have underestimated the northern winter.”

Santia, who was looking through documents on the northern forces inside the tent, sneered. He had never had good feelings for the young and arrogant prince. He didn’t like the fact that the prince, who was sure to be more of a nuisance than a help in the expedition to the Land of Demons, was even visiting.

“It’s his first time coming up to Makari. And in winter of all times…”

Yulania, who was sitting in front of him looking through the list of northern nobles, instinctively took Alban’s side and smiled awkwardly. She hadn’t made any particularly good memories with her younger brother either. Unlike her, Alban was raised enjoying many things as the king’s only successor. There was also an eight-year age gap, and since they had lived different lives from birth, there was no chance to get close.

It went without saying that they used honorifics with each other, even though they were the only two siblings.

Booo— Booo—

As if they were talking about him, the sound of a trumpet was heard. It was a signal announcing the arrival of the royal family. Perhaps because of the fiercely falling snow, it sounded fainter than Yulania remembered. Hearing the signal that Alban was right in front of her, Yulania suddenly felt an urge to avoid the situation. She suppressed her uncomfortable feelings and composed herself as she had been taught all her life.

The couple tidied up and stood up. Standing under the large umbrellas held up by the servants, the two men and women stepped out of the tent.

By the time the two came out, the royal investigation team had come close enough to see their faces with the naked eye. Led by the Duke and Duchess of Makari, the servants of the duchy lined up in the snow all at once.

Soon, one of the group who arrived got off his horse and walked over.

“It’s been a while, Sister.”

Prince Alban, a boy with the same coloring as Yulania, grinned at her.

“Nice to see you. I didn’t expect the prince to come in person.”

She also gave a perfunctory smile and greeted him. Every time she faced that face that resembled hers like a mirror, she felt uncomfortable, as if a small thorn was moving around in her chest.

“Your Highness, how have you been?”

“It’s been a while, Duke.”

“Since the weather is like this, I would like to escort you to the castle right away.”

“Alright.”

Santia, who was standing next to her, continued the greeting and tried to lead the way without saying much. Alban seemed to have had a hard time coming all the way here. He nodded without complaint.

Santia immediately turned around and took the lead. No, the moment he tried to take a step forward, Alban called out to him.

“Duke, stop.”

“Is there a problem?”

“I’m here as a representative of the royal family. Shouldn’t the person with the highest status in this place guide me?”

Alban confidently suggested, pointing to Yulania with his chin. At that, everyone’s expression changed subtly, but only Yulania and Santia accepted it indifferently.

“I see. But since the road is rough for the princess to walk, would you allow an escort?”

“Is that so? Then I’ll escort her.”

Alban offered his arm to his sister as if to mock Santia. It was an unreliable sight to Santia, but there was nothing he could do. Yulania took a step forward, escorted by the boy who barely surpassed her height. Accepting Alban’s willful attitude was a matter of course for her.

Walking side by side with his sister, Alban poured out all sorts of complaints. It seemed that it had been quite difficult to move through the snow, and most of them were about the weather.

“Hey you, hold the umbrella properly? My pants are going to get all wet.”

It was difficult to avoid the falling snow because of the wind. When he felt the chill as the snow blew under his knees, Alban snapped at the servant who was following him.

“Yes…! I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

The servant who was assisting him was covered in snow on his head and shoulders, as he was worried about Alban’s safety. Of course, Alban had no concern for anyone but himself.

“Tsk, Sister. Is it always like this here? This is no place to live.”

“It is in winter. That’s why we don’t go out of the territory often.”

“As expected, the capital is a good place to be. I thought I was going to die coming all the way here. I had no choice but to come this time to help, but I’m never coming again.”

“……Alright.”

Yulania accepted her brother’s words with a familiar expression. Perhaps it was because her emotions had changed. She felt more resentment than when she had seen Alban before. That thought only manifested as a slight hesitation, but it was not greatly revealed on the outside.

However, the snow did not show any signs of stopping as they got closer to the castle, and therefore, Alban’s complaints only increased. When the dark castle appeared under the fiercely falling snow, his complaints reached their peak.

“It’s bleak. It’s too bleak. The Duke is amazing for accepting this as his territory.”

“I’m glad the royal palace is in the south.”

“You can say that again. Duke! Tell me if it’s too hard. I’ll talk to my royal father for you.”

Eventually, he insulted the territory itself and even made a generous offer. Yulania’s eyes narrowed slightly and her lips twitched. Before she could say anything in response, Santia gave a restrained answer.

“……This is land that I must protect. Thank you for your words. It’s a rough day, so please go in quickly.”

“Alright, let’s do that.”

Santia didn’t like the sight of Yulania being dragged along by Alban. Alban, who was not used to the snowy road, kept stumbling, and each time, his weight shifted to Yulania, causing her to stagger. He regretted bringing up the escort, which had created this situation.

Santia’s worries were not in vain. Yulania was barely enduring the increasing burden on her waist and legs due to Alban’s weight.

‘Just a little bit more, just a little bit more.’

The castle was not far away. She gritted her teeth and tried not to fall. If she fell or complained here, Alban’s dissatisfaction would double.

Because Alban was constantly pointing things out, the servant holding the umbrella was prioritizing blocking the snow for him. Santia followed right behind and held the umbrella directly behind Yulania, but he couldn’t avoid the snow falling little by little on her shoulders every time Alban slipped.

He quietly supported Yulania’s waist as she slipped, suppressing his desire to punch Alban. Every time she felt the firm touch on her waist, she made eye contact with Santia with gratitude.

Fortunately, they were able to reach the castle before Santia’s patience ran out completely. He saw Yulania’s wet coat and frowned fiercely for a moment when no one was looking.

Soon, led by the head maid Merrilyn, who ran out, the prince’s party headed to the detached palace.

As soon as they entered the castle, Santia took the coat from Yulania and wrapped his cloak around her instead. There was no trace of snow on the inner cloak she was wearing under her coat. Only after confirming that the cold moisture had disappeared from her did he climb up to the detached palace with a satisfied face.

They accompanied them to the room assigned to Alban and finished the welcoming.

“A banquet to welcome the prince has been prepared, so please call us when you are comfortable after relieving your fatigue.”

Instead of Yulania, who was tired from waiting outside from early in the morning, Santia gave the final greeting.

Yulania shared the warmth from the cloak, which smelled of her husband’s unique heavy scent, and gave him a grateful look. She hadn’t felt very tired when she was waiting in the tent, but she had run out of energy from being dragged to the castle by Alban.

She gave Santia a brief glance and looked at her brother with a faint smile.

Then Alban raised his index finger and asked playfully, chuckling.

“Huh? The way you two are making eye contact is suspicious. Come to think of it, you two are so in love with each other, right? Do you sleep together every night?”

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