Morning descended slowly over House Rosenfeld.
Cold silver light poured across endless northern mountains while drifting snow reflected pale sunlight like scattered crystals across the frozen world.
The massive estate had already awakened.
Servants moved through long stone corridors carrying trays and documents.
Knights trained beneath the winter sky.
Stable workers prepared noble carriages.
And somewhere far below the mountain cliffs—
The northern capital buzzed with life beneath layers of snowfall.
Inside one of the upper chambers of the estate—
Kel stood in complete silence before an open wardrobe.
Several noble outfits were spread across the bed behind him.
Black military coats.
Silver embroidered noble attire.
Dark formal wear lined with fur.
And yet—
Kel looked completely uninterested in all of them.
He casually held one coat briefly.
Then placed it back.
Picked another.
Rejected it again.
Inside his mind—
Sairen laughed softly.
"You fought divine dragons without hesitation…"
The ancient spirit sounded deeply amused.
"…yet noble clothing defeats you."
Kel answered internally without emotion.
"Clothes are troublesome."
"You just have terrible fashion sense."
Kel ignored her immediately.
He reached for another outfit afterward.
Dark blue.
Too formal.
Rejected.
White and silver.
Too bright.
Rejected.
Black and crimson.
Too aggressive.
Rejected again.
A soft sigh escaped him afterward.
Then—
The chamber door suddenly opened.
Aria stepped inside without waiting for permission.
The moment she entered—
She immediately stopped walking.
Because Kel still stood there.
Undressed except for loose black inner clothing.
Surrounded by scattered noble attire like a warrior losing a battle against fabric.
Aria stared at the scene silently.
Then slowly narrowed her eyes.
"…You're still choosing?"
Kel looked toward her calmly.
"Yes."
Aria blinked once.
"We leave in less than thirty minutes."
Kel glanced toward the wardrobe again.
"I noticed."
The young woman closed her eyes briefly afterward as though calming herself.
Then walked directly toward the wardrobe.
"Move."
Kel obediently stepped aside.
Inside his mind—
Sairen laughed louder.
"She commands you naturally."
Kel ignored her.
Aria began sorting through outfits quickly.
Unlike Kel—
She immediately understood what suited him.
Not overly decorated.
Not excessively luxurious.
But authoritative.
Sharp.
Elegant.
Something befitting the heir of House Rosenfeld without looking desperate for attention.
Finally—
Her fingers stopped on one particular outfit.
A dark obsidian-black noble uniform lined subtly with silver dragon embroidery along the collar and sleeves.
The inner vest carried faint crimson patterns resembling flowing flames beneath moonlight.
Clean.
Refined.
Dangerously beautiful.
Aria grabbed it immediately.
Then turned toward Kel.
"Wear this."
Kel glanced toward the outfit.
Then toward her.
"You sound confident."
Aria folded her arms afterward.
"Because unlike you, I possess functioning eyes."
Kel quietly took the clothes afterward.
"…Rude."
"You deserve it."
Inside his mind—
Sairen nearly collapsed laughing.
Kel changed clothes afterward without much complaint.
The black noble attire fit him perfectly.
Not loosely.
Not tightly.
Precisely.
The silver embroidery along the collar emphasized his sharp jawline while the dark colors contrasted strongly against his pale skin and crimson eyes.
Then—
Kel casually reached for a long dark cloak afterward.
Heavy black fabric lined internally with deep silver fur.
He fastened it across his shoulders calmly.
The cloak draped naturally behind him afterward like flowing darkness.
And suddenly—
The entire atmosphere changed.
Aria froze.
Completely.
Because the person standing before her no longer resembled the casually relaxed Kel wandering through gardens eating pastries yesterday.
No—
Now he looked exactly like what he truly was.
The heir of House Rosenfeld.
Cold northern nobility wrapped beneath silent authority.
His tall figure stood calmly near the window while pale winter sunlight reflected against drifting snow behind him.
The dark cloak fluttered softly from the mountain winds entering through slightly opened curtains.
And for several seconds—
Aria genuinely forgot what she intended to say.
Inside her chest—
Her heartbeat unconsciously quickened slightly.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly adjusted one sleeve.
Then noticed her silence.
"…What?"
Aria immediately looked away afterward.
"Nothing."
Kel narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You stared."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
Aria turned toward the door instantly.
"We're leaving."
Inside his mind—
Sairen sounded mercilessly entertained.
"She thinks you look handsome."
Kel answered internally.
"That's irrelevant."
"Not to her."
Kel ignored the spirit again.
Outside the estate—
A massive noble carriage waited near the front entrance.
Silver dragon emblems decorated the sides while thick reinforced wheels rested against snow-covered stone.
Ten knights accompanied them.
Eight mounted knights rode as escort.
Four positioned ahead.
Four behind.
Each wrapped in heavy northern armor carrying House Rosenfeld banners attached near their saddles.
Two additional knights remained with the carriage itself.
One controlled the reins.
The other sat beside him watching the surroundings carefully.
Cold mountain winds caused cloaks and banners to flutter continuously.
As Kel and Aria approached—
All knights immediately straightened.
Several visibly stared toward Kel for brief moments.
Not out of disrespect.
But surprise.
Because honestly—
Their young heir looked overwhelmingly imposing today.
Aria herself wore elegant northern noble attire.
A silver-blue gown layered beneath white fur-lined fabrics designed for winter travel.
Her long silver-black hair flowed neatly behind her while frost-colored jewelry reflected morning sunlight softly.
Together—
They looked less like young nobles attending a birthday celebration—
And more like representatives of House Rosenfeld authority itself.
The carriage knight immediately opened the door afterward.
Kel stepped forward first.
Then calmly extended one hand toward Aria.
"Careful."
Because of the gown—
Entering gracefully without assistance would be difficult.
Aria looked toward his hand briefly.
Then slowly placed her fingers against his palm.
Warm.
Steady.
Kel helped her into the carriage carefully afterward.
His movements remained smooth and natural.
No awkwardness.
No hesitation.
Almost practiced.
Aria quietly sat inside afterward while adjusting her gown slightly.
Then Kel entered after her.
The carriage interior looked luxurious yet restrained.
Dark wood.
Silver decorations.
Soft fur seating.
Warm enchanted lanterns hanging near the corners.
Kel sat opposite Aria calmly before closing the carriage door himself.
Outside—
One knight shouted:
"Move!"
The horses began pulling forward instantly.
Snow crunched beneath reinforced wheels.
And slowly—
The journey began.
Hours passed gradually.
The carriage rolled through frozen northern roads cutting across endless snow-covered landscapes.
Pine forests stretched endlessly beside mountain cliffs while frozen rivers shimmered beneath pale winter sunlight.
Inside the carriage—
Silence dominated most of the journey.
Not uncomfortable silence.
Just quiet.
Aria occasionally looked outside through the frosted windows.
Kel read documents related to merchant agreements and potion royalties calmly.
At one point—
Aria finally spoke.
"You brought paperwork?"
Kel didn't even look up.
"I dislike wasting travel time."
Aria sighed softly.
"You sound thirty years old."
Kel calmly turned one page.
"Experience changes people."
Inside his mind—
Sairen immediately spoke.
"You really do sound old."
Kel internally replied flatly.
"I've technically lived longer because of you."
The spirit proudly answered:
"Exactly."
Aria quietly watched Kel afterward.
The dark cloak resting across his shoulders.
The calm expression.
The composed posture.
And once again—
She felt that strange contradiction surrounding him.
At times he looked fifteen.
At times—
He felt far older than everyone around him.
Outside—
The northern winds continued howling endlessly across frozen lands while House Rosenfeld's carriage advanced steadily toward the territory of House Velcrest.
Toward nobles.
Politics.
Hidden intentions beneath elegant smiles.
And unknowingly—
Toward yet another complication waiting patiently for Kel beneath the cold northern sky