Morning arrived quietly over House Rosenfeld.
Soft silver sunlight reflected across endless northern snowfields while cold winds drifted through the massive fortress-like estate resting atop the mountain cliffs of the North.
The events of last night still lingered heavily throughout the mansion.
Knights whispered about the battle.
Servants discussed the strange floating weapons.
Even the younger heirs continuously argued over Sovereign's Orbit Sword Arts during breakfast.
And at the center of every conversation—
Was Kel.
Meanwhile—
Inside his room—
Warm steam slowly rose from a silver tea set placed beside the window.
Marine quietly stood near the bed adjusting the curtains while pale winter light spilled softly into the chamber.
Kel sat calmly near the edge of the massive blackwood bed wearing loose dark clothing instead of noble attire for once.
White bandages still wrapped around parts of his chest beneath the fabric.
Yet despite the injuries—
His expression remained completely relaxed.
Almost annoyingly so.
Marine placed breakfast carefully onto the table afterward.
Fresh bread.
Soft boiled eggs.
Northern herb soup.
And black tea mixed lightly with chocolate essence.
Kel quietly glanced toward the cup.
Then toward Marine.
"You still remember."
Marine smiled softly.
"How could I forget?"
Her silver-brown hair moved gently as she turned toward him.
"You always hated bitter medicine after drinking it."
Kel picked up the tea afterward.
Warm steam touched his face softly.
And strangely—
The familiar scent pulled old memories from deep inside his mind.
Dark rooms.
Snowstorms outside.
Marine bringing tea beside his bed while he coughed blood endlessly into handkerchiefs.
Back then—
Chocolate was one of the few tastes that could overpower medicine bitterness.
Meanwhile—
Marine quietly observed him drinking.
Then softly asked:
"How are your wounds?"
Kel answered calmly.
"Manageable."
Marine narrowed her eyes slightly.
"That means painful."
Kel looked toward her briefly.
"…Maybe."
The maid sighed softly afterward.
"You really changed, young master."
Kel slowly lowered the teacup afterward.
"People keep saying that."
Marine smiled faintly.
"Because it's true."
Silence followed gently afterward.
Not awkward.
Comfortable.
Like old habits returning naturally.
Then finally—
Kel stood.
"I'm going out."
Marine blinked slightly.
"Already?"
Kel calmly grabbed his black coat from nearby chair.
"I need money."
The maid stared at him for several seconds.
Then finally laughed softly.
"The eldest heir of House Rosenfeld asking for money sounds strange."
Kel casually shrugged.
"Father limits my allowance intentionally."
Marine smiled knowingly.
"Probably because he knows you'll spend it on dangerous things."
Kel did not deny it.
A short while later—
Kel walked through the long northern corridors of the estate.
Sunlight reflected across ancient dragon carvings decorating the walls while armored knights bowed respectfully as he passed.
Some looked nervous.
Some curious.
Some reverent.
The battle from last night already changed how the estate viewed him.
Yet Kel ignored most gazes entirely.
Meanwhile—
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly spoke.
"You enjoy acting poor despite being a duke's son."
Kel answered internally.
"Dependency creates laziness."
The spirit laughed quietly.
"You sound exactly like your father."
Kel ignored her completely.
Inside the Duke's study—
Large windows overlooked endless snowy mountains.
Duke Aktaris sat behind a massive black desk reviewing military reports while silver flames burned inside nearby braziers.
Kel entered calmly afterward.
The Duke glanced upward once.
Then returned to reading.
"What do you need?"
Kel answered immediately.
"Allowance."
Silence filled the room for several seconds.
Then unexpectedly—
Aktaris laughed once.
Short.
Deep.
"After disappearing for two years…"
The Duke finally looked toward his son properly.
"…the first thing you ask me for is money?"
Kel remained calm.
"I need investment capital."
The Duke narrowed his eyes slightly.
"For what?"
Kel answered casually.
"Potion licensing."
That response immediately gained Aktaris attention.
The Duke slowly leaned back afterward.
"You made formulas?"
Kel nodded once.
"Several."
"Combat?"
"Mostly utility and recovery."
The Duke quietly stared toward him for several moments.
Then finally—
He opened a drawer.
A heavy pouch filled with gold coins landed atop the desk afterward.
CLINK.
Kel picked it up calmly.
The Duke spoke afterward.
"Don't embarrass House Rosenfeld."
Kel replied casually while turning away.
"That depends how successful this becomes."
Aktaris almost laughed again hearing that.
Almost.
The northern main city beneath the estate buzzed with life despite winter.
Massive stone streets remained crowded with merchants, knights, blacksmiths, and traveling nobles wrapped beneath heavy furs.
Kel walked calmly through the city wearing a simple dark coat without revealing his identity openly.
Still—
Many people unconsciously moved aside while passing him.
Not from recognition.
From presence.
Meanwhile—
Several hours passed afterward.
Kel visited alchemy guilds.
Merchant halls.
Licensing offices.
And by evening—
Ten major merchant groups had already purchased production rights for his new potion formulas.
Enhanced recovery tonics.
Mana stabilization mixtures.
Frost resistance solutions.
Combat fatigue suppressants.
Efficient.
Cheap.
Easy to mass produce.
And terrifyingly profitable.
Kel negotiated calmly throughout every meeting.
No hesitation.
No emotional attachment.
Pure calculation.
In the end—
He secured seventy percent royalty rights from every potion sold.
An absurd agreement.
Yet the merchants accepted immediately after testing samples personally.
Because the quality itself overwhelmed them.
Meanwhile—
Inside his mind—
Sairen sounded amused.
"You exploit people frighteningly well."
Kel exited another merchant building calmly.
"They're still profiting."
"That doesn't make you less terrifying."
Kel ignored her.
As evening approached—
Kel returned toward the estate.
But unlike earlier—
His hands now carried several bags filled with vegetables, chocolate, butter, flour, and fruits.
One passing knight blinked seeing the future heir personally carrying groceries.
Another servant looked deeply confused.
Yet Kel simply ignored everyone.
Because honestly—
He wanted to cook.
Not for politics.
Not for strategy.
Just because he felt like it.
Inside one of the estate kitchens—
The chefs nearly panicked watching Kel enter.
"Young master?!"
Kel calmly rolled up his sleeves.
"I'm borrowing the kitchen."
No one dared refuse afterward.
Several hours passed quietly.
Warm sweetness gradually filled the kitchen air.
Chocolate.
Fresh pastry.
Butter.
Soft baked bread.
And eventually—
Kel produced small soft pastries filled with melted chocolate cream inside.
Simple appearance.
But warm.
Comforting.
The outer layers remained fluffy and soft while rich chocolate filling melted smoothly with every bite.
Kel tasted one afterward.
Then nodded slightly.
"…Good enough."
One nearby chef looked almost emotional.
Night had already fallen when Kel walked through the snowy estate gardens eating pastries calmly from a paper bag.
Warm chocolate steam drifted softly into the freezing air.
The contrast felt strangely pleasant.
Kel quietly observed the snow-covered estate while casually eating one pastry after another.
Then—
A familiar aura approached rapidly.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Wind and frost mixed together.
Kel didn't even turn immediately.
Aria landed lightly atop the garden path after finishing evening training.
Silver-white breath escaped softly from her lips.
Her hair looked slightly messy again from practice.
And the moment she saw Kel casually wandering around while eating pastries—
Her expression became strangely complicated.
Before she could even speak—
Kel simply held one pastry toward her.
"…Here."
Aria blinked once.
"What?"
Kel calmly took another bite from his own pastry.
"You looked hungry."
She stared toward him speechlessly for several seconds.
Then finally—
Slowly—
She accepted it.
The pastry still felt warm against her cold fingers.
Soft chocolate scent drifted upward gently.
Aria carefully bit into it afterward.
And immediately—
Her eyes widened slightly.
Warm melted chocolate spread softly across the fluffy interior.
Sweet.
Rich.
Comforting.
Especially beneath the freezing northern night.
Kel casually continued walking through snowfall afterward while eating another one.
Aria quietly followed beside him.
Holding the pastry silently.
And strangely—
For the first time since the battle—
The atmosphere between them finally felt natural