The celebration had ended.
The final guests had departed.
The final carriage had disappeared beyond the glowing roads of Frostbound Coast.
The laughter that once filled the mansion gradually faded into silence.
Inside the grand hall.
Only the crackling fireplace remained.
Orange flames danced behind black iron grilles.
Their warm glow reflected against polished marble floors.
The enormous mana crystal at the center of the hall emitted a faint blue radiance.
The mixture of orange and blue light painted the room in a strangely mystical atmosphere.
Kel remained seated upon one of the sofas.
The contracts rested upon the table before him.
Trade agreements.
Investment proposals.
Mage Tower partnerships.
Infrastructure contracts.
Research collaborations.
Each represented progress.
Each represented another step toward the future he envisioned.
For several moments.
He simply sat there.
Relaxing.
Something he rarely allowed himself to do.
The silence felt pleasant.
Then his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the hall entrance.
Lyra had just left.
Kel blinked.
His thoughts paused.
Then another thought appeared.
Wait.
Why did she leave?
The Count slowly frowned.
His exhausted mind finally caught up with reality.
Lyra lived here now.
Or rather...
She was supposed to live here.
He had personally assigned a room for her.
A large room.
Comfortable.
Warm.
With windows overlooking Frostbound Coast.
So why was she walking toward the mansion exit?
Several possibilities appeared.
Then vanished.
Then reappeared.
Eventually.
Kel stood up.
Without thinking much.
The young Count walked toward the entrance.
His footsteps echoed through the quiet corridors.
Servants cleaning nearby immediately stepped aside.
Several bowed.
Kel simply nodded.
Eventually.
He reached the main entrance.
The massive doors stood partially open.
Cold winter air drifted inside.
And there.
He spotted Lyra.
The serpent woman was already walking down the mansion stairs.
Moonlight illuminated her figure.
Silver snowflakes drifted around her.
The elegant dress she wore for the celebration contrasted beautifully against the winter night.
Kel immediately followed.
"Lyra."
The serpent woman stopped.
Then turned around.
Her long dark hair swayed lightly behind her.
Golden eyes reflected moonlight.
"Hm?"
Kel approached.
Then asked.
"Where are you planning to go at this hour?"
Before she could answer—
Kel removed a thick winter cloak from his arm.
And draped it across her shoulders.
The heavy cloak settled around her body.
Warm.
Soft.
Comfortable.
Then he pulled the hood upward.
Carefully covering her ears from the cold wind.
The entire process happened so naturally that Lyra didn't even react immediately.
Several seconds passed.
The serpent woman slowly looked down at herself.
Then touched the cloak.
The fabric was thick.
High quality.
Warm.
Very warm.
She slowly wrapped it around herself.
Then tied the knot beneath her neck.
The winter wind immediately felt weaker.
Lyra looked toward Kel.
"My skin is thick."
A pause.
"You didn't need to bring this for me."
Kel was already adjusting his own cloak.
The young Count shrugged.
"My poor habits."
Another.
"Forgive me."
Lyra stared.
Then laughed softly.
What strange habits.
Most nobles worried about appearances.
Status.
Reputation.
Kel worried about whether someone was cold.
The serpent woman shook her head.
Humans truly were strange.
Particularly this one.
After adjusting his own hood.
Kel looked at her again.
"But seriously."
A pause.
"Where are you going?"
Another.
"You tell me to sleep."
Another.
"Then immediately leave the mansion yourself."
The serpent smiled.
A genuine smile.
One that softened her usually calm expression.
Lyra tilted her head upward.
Looking toward the moonlit sky.
The stars glittered above.
Countless silver lights scattered across the darkness.
Snow drifted lazily through the air.
Then she answered.
"I was exhausted."
A pause.
"The party."
Another.
"The noise."
Another.
"The conversations."
Another.
"The endless attention."
Lyra exhaled softly.
"I just wanted to walk."
A pause.
"Sometimes the night is peaceful."
Another.
"The cold wind."
Another.
"The silence."
Another.
"The stars."
Another.
"Nature."
The serpent woman's gaze softened.
"It calms me."
The words carried sincerity.
Kel listened quietly.
Then unexpectedly.
He reached forward.
And grabbed her hand.
Lyra blinked.
The Count casually turned around.
"Same for me."
Then started walking.
The serpent woman stared.
For several moments.
Then followed.
Snow crunched softly beneath their boots.
The two figures walked down the illuminated road leading away from the mansion.
The night air felt refreshing.
Cold.
But not uncomfortable.
The heating plants Kel had introduced throughout the city radiated gentle warmth.
The temperature remained pleasant despite winter's presence.
Lyra observed everything.
The glowing roads.
The enchanted streetlights.
The illuminated buildings.
The distant movement of people.
Then she noticed something.
The city wasn't sleeping.
Not completely.
Many buildings remained lit.
Shops remained open.
Caravans moved through checkpoints.
Workers unloaded goods.
Travelers continued walking.
Life continued.
Even at this hour.
The serpent woman's eyes widened slightly.
"Wait."
Kel glanced toward her.
"What?"
Lyra pointed toward a bakery.
The building remained open.
Several customers were entering.
Others were leaving carrying bags.
Beyond that.
Another store remained active.
Then another.
Then another.
The serpent woman looked genuinely surprised.
"Those shops are open?"
Kel nodded.
"Some are."
Lyra blinked.
"At this hour?"
"Yes."
Another.
"Some operate twenty-four hours."
The serpent stopped walking.
"What?"
Kel looked amused.
"You sound surprised."
"I am surprised."
Lyra pointed around them.
"It's the middle of the night."
The Count nodded.
"Exactly."
The answer somehow made things worse.
Lyra stared.
Kel continued.
"After we installed magical streetlights."
Another.
"After we introduced heating plants."
Another.
"After roads became safe at night."
Another.
"Commerce continued after sunset."
Another.
"Then some merchants realized something."
A faint smile appeared.
"If customers exist..."
Another.
"Why close?"
The serpent woman opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Then opened it again.
"...That's reasonable."
"Exactly."
Kel nodded.
"The city gradually adapted."
Another.
"Caravans travel at all hours."
Another.
"Travelers arrive at all hours."
Another.
"Workers finish shifts at different times."
Another.
"Demand exists."
Another.
"So supply follows."
The serpent slowly looked around.
For centuries she had observed human settlements.
Night usually meant darkness.
Danger.
Silence.
Yet Frostbound Coast felt different.
Alive.
Not noisy.
Just alive.
The city breathed.
Even while sleeping.
Eventually.
They reached the central square.
The enormous plaza glowed beneath magical lights.
Snow-covered statues stood proudly.
The fountain at the center shimmered beneath moonlight.
Several food stalls remained open.
Warm steam rose from cooking pots.
The smell of roasted meat drifted through the air.
Fresh bread.
Sweet pastries.
Hot drinks.
Lyra stared.
Then looked toward Kel.
The Count smiled slightly.
"I told you."
A pause.
"We'll buy snacks."
For some reason.
The ancient serpent suddenly laughed.
A genuine laugh.
The kind she hadn't experienced in years.
Perhaps centuries.
Because this entire situation felt absurd.
Hours ago.
She was standing before hundreds of nobles.
Now.
She was walking through a city at midnight buying snacks.
With the same person who negotiated ownership of a mana crystal mine from her.
Life truly was strange.
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren's voice appeared inside Kel's mind.
"You know."
Kel sighed internally.
"What now?"
The Guardian sounded amused.
"This looks suspiciously like a date."
Kel nearly stumbled.
"It's not."
"Sure."
"It's not."
"Of course."
The voice dripped with disbelief.
Kel chose to ignore her.
Meanwhile.
Lyra stood before a food stall.
Looking completely fascinated by pastries.
The serpent woman pointed.
"What's that?"
Kel looked.
"Apple pie."
Another point.
"That?"
"Sweet bread."
Another.
"And that?"
"Honey pastry."
Another.
"And—"
Kel sighed.
The questions continued.
The food vendor watched with amusement.
Eventually.
The old merchant smiled.
"First time in the city at night, Lady?"
Lyra looked slightly embarrassed.
Then nodded.
The old man laughed.
A warm laugh.
"Then try everything."
And for the first time that night.
Neither the Guardian of Frostbound Coast.
Nor the Count of Frostbound Coast.
Thought about contracts.
Projects.
Development.
Responsibilities.
Instead.
They simply walked through the glowing streets of a city that refused to sleep.
Enjoying the peaceful winter night beneath countless stars.