The celebration had ended.
At last.
The grand ballroom that had once echoed with laughter, music, negotiations, and endless conversations now stood silent.
The giant mana crystal at the center continued glowing softly, bathing the hall in pale blue radiance.
Half-empty wine glasses remained upon tables.
Several forgotten napkins rested upon chairs.
The lingering scent of perfume, expensive wine, roasted meat, and winter flowers still floated through the air.
Outside the mansion.
The final carriages were departing.
One by one.
Horse hooves struck the stone roads.
Wheels rolled across the glowing pathways of Frostbound Coast.
Nobles waved farewell.
Merchants discussed future opportunities.
Researchers continued debating theories even while entering their carriages.
The guests left.
But they did not leave empty-handed.
Some carried contracts.
Some carried investment opportunities.
Some carried future ambitions.
And some...
Carried entirely new perspectives.
From the highest balcony of the mansion.
Kel silently watched the last carriage disappear into the snowy night.
The cold wind brushed against his dark hair.
His formal black attire fluttered lightly.
Snowflakes drifted around him.
For several moments.
He simply stood there.
Watching.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Then finally...
He turned around.
The celebration was over.
Work remained.
As always.
The young Count slowly returned toward the mansion's main hall.
His footsteps echoed faintly through quiet corridors.
The servants had already begun cleaning.
The mansion gradually returned to normal.
Eventually.
Kel entered the main hall.
The enormous room felt strangely empty after hosting hundreds of guests.
The fireplace crackled quietly.
Warm orange flames danced behind black iron bars.
Soft light illuminated the room.
Several stacks of documents rested upon a nearby table.
Contract copies.
Investment agreements.
Partnership proposals.
Infrastructure commitments.
Mage Tower contracts.
Trade agreements.
Research exchanges.
The fruits of tonight's gathering.
Kel sat down upon one of the large sofas.
His body relaxed slightly.
Not much.
Just enough.
The young Count picked up one contract.
Then another.
Then another.
A faint smile appeared.
The party had exceeded expectations.
Far exceeded them.
New funding.
New labor.
New partnerships.
New expertise.
The speed of Frostbound Coast's development would increase dramatically.
Exactly as planned.
The fireplace crackled.
Silence filled the room.
Then footsteps appeared.
Light.
Measured.
Graceful.
Kel already knew who it was.
Lyra.
The serpent woman entered quietly.
Her silver-white dress shimmered softly beneath the firelight.
Long black hair flowed over her shoulders.
Golden eyes reflected the dancing flames.
She approached without speaking.
Then sat beside him.
Neither spoke immediately.
The silence felt comfortable.
Rare.
Several moments passed.
Then Lyra finally spoke.
"You really don't know how to talk with women."
Kel blinked.
The sudden statement caught him off guard.
He turned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Lyra sighed.
A long sigh.
The kind of sigh someone made after observing a disaster unfold for hours.
"Earlier."
A pause.
"How many noblewomen approached you?"
Kel thought briefly.
"I didn't count."
Lyra immediately pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Exactly."
The serpent woman looked toward him.
"Dozens approached you."
Another.
"They smiled."
Another.
"They initiated conversations."
Another.
"They tried getting your attention."
Another.
"And you started discussing commerce."
Kel remained silent.
Lyra continued.
"Not a single compliment."
Another.
"Not a single personal question."
Another.
"Not a single conversation about their interests."
Another.
"You discussed trade routes."
Another.
"Logistics."
Another.
"Transportation."
Another.
"Construction."
Another.
"Resource management."
Another.
"Taxation."
Kel slowly blinked.
"...Those are important topics."
Lyra stared.
Then stared harder.
The silence became painful.
Finally she spoke.
"Kel."
A pause.
"They were courting you."
The Count frowned slightly.
"I know."
Lyra immediately looked surprised.
"You knew?"
Kel nodded.
"More or less."
Now Lyra looked genuinely confused.
"If you knew..."
A pause.
"Then why?"
The question lingered.
The fireplace crackled quietly.
Kel looked toward the documents in his hands.
For a brief moment...
He almost answered honestly.
His thoughts moved.
Cold.
Precise.
Unfiltered.
"I know exactly what they wanted."
"Status."
"Influence."
"Position."
"The future Lady of Frostbound Coast."
"The wife of a rising Count."
"A prize worth pursuing."
The thoughts continued.
"I don't enjoy meaningless conversations."
"I don't enjoy pretending interest."
"I don't invest emotionally where I see no foundation."
"And I especially dislike being viewed as a reward to be won."
The thoughts lingered.
Cruel.
Even by his own standards.
Because deep down...
Kel knew not every woman who approached him was shallow.
Not every woman was seeking status.
Not every woman was the same.
Yet old experiences had left scars.
Scars rarely disappeared completely.
The Count remained silent.
Several seconds passed.
Then he exhaled quietly.
And chose a different answer.
A kinder answer.
Perhaps a truer one.
"I see."
Lyra waited.
Kel lowered the contract in his hand.
Then spoke calmly.
"I might have hurt them."
The serpent woman blinked.
Kel continued.
"If they approached me hoping for meaningful conversations..."
A pause.
"Then I probably disappointed them."
Another.
"My attention has been occupied by Frostbound Coast."
Another.
"I've spent months focusing on development."
Another.
"Roads."
Another.
"Mines."
Another.
"Departments."
Another.
"Infrastructure."
Another.
"Security."
Another.
"Trade."
Another.
"So when people approach me..."
A faint smile appeared.
"My mind automatically searches for solutions."
Lyra listened quietly.
Kel continued.
"Perhaps I failed to pay attention to the people themselves."
Another.
"Their interests."
Another.
"Their thoughts."
Another.
"The conversations they actually wanted."
The room grew silent.
The Count leaned back against the sofa.
Then sighed.
"I probably seemed rude."
The admission sounded genuine.
Because it was.
Not entirely for the reasons Lyra imagined.
But genuine nonetheless.
The serpent woman studied him.
Carefully.
The firelight danced across his face.
His expression remained calm.
Yet strangely tired.
Not physically.
Mentally.
Like someone carrying too many responsibilities.
Eventually.
Lyra smiled faintly.
"I don't think they were hurt."
Kel looked toward her.
"No?"
The serpent laughed softly.
"No."
Another.
"They left with contracts."
Another.
"Business opportunities."
Another.
"Investment plans."
Another.
"And new ambitions."
Lyra shook her head.
"If anything..."
A small smile appeared.
"You accidentally changed their lives."
Kel looked unconvinced.
"That sounds exaggerated."
"It isn't."
The answer came immediately.
Lyra looked toward the fireplace.
Her golden eyes reflected dancing flames.
"I watched them."
A pause.
"Their conversations."
Another.
"Their excitement."
Another.
"The way they talked about their futures."
The serpent smiled slightly.
"Many entered this mansion hoping to impress you."
Another.
"They left wanting to improve themselves."
The room became quiet.
The words settled slowly.
Kel didn't answer.
Because he wasn't sure how to.
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren's voice suddenly appeared.
"She's right."
Kel internally sighed.
"You were listening?"
"I always listen."
"That's concerning."
"That's friendship."
Kel decided not to argue.
Meanwhile.
Lyra stood up.
The long celebration had finally ended.
The night was growing late.
The mansion was becoming quiet.
The serpent woman stretched slightly.
Then looked toward Kel.
"You should rest."
Kel glanced toward the mountain of documents.
Lyra immediately followed his gaze.
Then sighed.
"Tomorrow."
Kel remained silent.
"Tomorrow."
She repeated.
The Count reluctantly nodded.
A small victory.
Lyra smiled.
Then slowly walked toward the exit.
Before leaving.
She paused.
And glanced back.
"By the way."
Kel looked up.
The serpent woman's smile became mischievous.
Dangerously mischievous.
"You really are terrible at courting."
Then she immediately left.
Kel stared.
Several seconds passed.
Then the door closed.
The mansion became silent once more.
Only the fireplace remained.
Only the contracts remained.
Only the winter night remained.
And somewhere in the distance...
For the first time in many months...
Kel Rosenfeld simply sat quietly.
Not as a Count.
Not as a strategist.
Not as a builder.
Just a young man staring into a fire.
Thinking.
While outside...
The glowing roads of Frostbound Coast stretched endlessly into the darkness.
Like veins of light carrying his dreams toward the future.