Elena Frozenheart. The protagonist of this world, and the woman I would soon serve.
When I first laid eyes on her, I instantly understood why the men in the novel had fallen for her at first sight.
Her snow-white hair evoked the northern snows, her blue eyes looked as if a deep lake had been transplanted directly into them, and her finely sculpted features were beautiful down to every last detail.
Even among a crowd of many, she possessed an overwhelming and unrivaled presence. To the point where one might believe she was the one from another world, not me.
As they say, those destined for greatness are different from the very seedling. The protagonist of the illustration that had bewitched me had possessed an extraordinary appearance since childhood.
"Deron Nineheart greets Duke Frozenheart, Your Grace."
"Luke Nineheart greets Duke Frozenheart, Your Grace."
I had been lost in Elena's appearance, but upon hearing my father's greeting, I hurriedly followed suit. It had been a life-threatening moment where I nearly got branded a lost cause from our very first meeting.
"It's been a while, Deron. I'd like to meet more often if I could, but those barbarians cause nothing but trouble, so time has been scarce. I hope you won't feel too slighted."
"How could I feel slighted when I know Your Grace is working tirelessly day and night for the empire's peace?"
"Haha, your flattery has grown considerably. With that tongue of yours, you could probably melt all the snow in the North."
Though it sounded as though he were mocking my father, at least in the Duke's case, that was not so. He was a unique individual whose thoughts and words were one, unlike most nobles.
Furthermore, he possessed a hearty and cheerful personality, so while he may have been Elena's father, as a character he had been quite popular.
It was then that the Duke's gaze shifted from my father to me.
"Luke, it's been a while. The last time we met, you hadn't even learned to walk yet, so you probably don't remember."
"I am ashamed to say I do not remember. However, I have often heard from my father that you looked upon me kindly, so I hold a heart of gratitude."
"It gladdens me to see you've grown upright."
Even in this short conversation, his nature was evident. He was surely an honest and upright man.
That was likely why my father served him so sincerely as well.
'So next is Elena...'
I shifted my gaze to Elena, today's true protagonist. Standing beside the Duke, she merely stared blankly into the air, as though she had no interest whatsoever.
Likewise, my father, who had also been looking at her, lightly bowed his head.
"My Lady, I sincerely congratulate you on your ninth birthday."
"...Thank you."
A strong sense of not wanting to talk emanated from Elena's tone. Her expression remained insipid, and though we had made eye contact, it lasted only the briefest of moments.
Immediately after, her gaze fixed on me. It carried a feeling of *hurry up if you have something to say*.
'As expected, her personality hasn't changed at all.'
At the thought of having to serve such a person, I let out a deep inward sigh and bowed my head.
"My Lady, I sincerely congratulate you on your ninth birthday."
"Thank you."
Once again, that was the end of her curt reply.
I hadn't particularly hoped for the conversation to continue, but maintaining such a businesslike attitude made it impossible to feel good about.
Wasn't there such a thing as courtesy one ought to extend to one another? All the more so when the other person had come to celebrate your birthday.
Of course, I couldn't voice such thoughts. Elena was from a Ducal house, and I was from a Baronial house. In this world where rank was everything, the gap between her and me was like that between heaven and earth.
'The army... it's better than the army...'
Long live Lady Elena, long live, long long live.
While I was chanting that magical spell to myself, Elena bowed her head lightly and then suddenly departed for somewhere.
The Duke watched her retreating figure with a bitter smile.
"I must apologize to you both. Ever since Helen died two years ago, she has been like that. I thought bringing in a new wife might help, but she wouldn't open the door to her heart."
Helen had been the name of Elena's birth mother. In other words, she had closed the door to her heart, lost in the sorrow of losing her mother.
The Duke taking a new wife had likely backfired as well. She hadn't even been able to forget her mother yet, and here was a stranger claiming she would become her new mother.
I couldn't fully understand Elena's heart, but I could clearly tell that she had suffered greatly and was still suffering greatly now.
"Would it be alright if I followed her?"
"Yes, I would appreciate it."
The Duke gave his permission.
I immediately set off after Elena.
I didn't harbor any particularly good feelings toward her, but I couldn't just leave her be.
If it was now, while she was still young—I felt I might be able to fix the personality that would turn wicked in the future.
And above all, I couldn't stand by and watch a child who had just turned nine suffer. Moreover, since she was someone I would one day serve, all the more so.
As I was heading to the balcony—
'Why are they here...'
Future Tower Master, Youngest Imperial Prince, Future Sword Saint.
The faces seemed familiar, and upon looking closer, they were indeed Elena's potential husbands.
Of course, that story didn't begin until after Elena had grown a bit older, but...
No matter how you looked at it, was it right that all three were distracted by food?
The girl you supposedly liked and followed around everywhere is drowning in sorrow right now, you idiots.
I wanted to kick their backsides, but I couldn't commit such an atrocity. Compared to them, I was born into a Baronial family of incomparable insignificance.
So what could I do? I simply lowered my eyes and hastened my steps toward the balcony.
Before long, upon arriving at the balcony, I was able to spot Elena. She was gazing at the sun disappearing beyond the snow-covered mountains.
Perhaps having sensed someone's presence, she suddenly turned her head, and our eyes met.
"...Is there something you need to say?"
"I merely followed because Your expression did not look well."
"I am fine."
"Are you truly fine?"
"Yes, I am truly fine."
There was no way she was fine. Her expression, coldly subdued even though it was her birthday, proved as much.
I gave up on asking further and stood beside her. When I shifted my gaze to where she had been looking just moments ago, the setting sun was burning its last flames of the day.
A silence ill-suited to the banquet persisted briefly before her soft voice reached me.
"Luke Nineheart..."
"Yes, My Lady."
I had assumed she wouldn't know since she seemed so uninterested, but she had remembered my name...!
But was this really something to be happy about...?
"Are you the one who will become my personal servant?"
"Yes, that is the plan starting next year."
It was somewhat surprising that she already knew, but there was no reason to hide it. She would learn of it before long even if she didn't want to.
"If you have any worries, please speak them comfortably. After all, I am already Your Ladyship's person."
"Don't people share their worries with friends...?"
"Then couldn't we simply call each other friends?"
It was consideration so Elena could speak comfortably, as well as a kind of insurance. No matter how she was, she wouldn't treat a friend poorly.
However, that grand plan of mine crumbled before it could even begin.
"One cannot be friends with a servant. Father would surely scold me."
Those words, spoken by a nine-year-old as if they were only natural, pierced my heart like a dagger.
Of course she was right...! Not a single letter was wrong...!
But I couldn't give up. This moment, where Elena showed interest, was the perfect opportunity.
"Then what about secret friends?"
"Secret friends...?"
"Yes. Becoming friends that no one knows about—just the two of us."
"Even without Father knowing...?"
"Yes, exactly. No matter what happens, we do not tell anyone."
Elena's eyes sparkled. It seemed she had taken an interest in the idea of a secret friend.
Yes, this was how a nine-year-old should be. Children loved doing things in secret.
The time I played with fire as a child and drew a map on the blanket is a secret.
"How are secret friends different from regular friends...?"
"They are slightly closer friends. There is absolutely nothing hidden between them."
"Nothing hidden..."
Elena's gaze had already turned toward the darkening sky.
One step forward—if Elena opened up her worries to me, the secret friend contract would be complete.
I waited, tense, for what she would say.
"Actually... I miss my mother. My stepmother scolds me a lot, and she never praises me...."
Elena slowly let out the words she had kept buried inside.
Soon tears welled at the corners of her eyes, rolling down her flushed red cheeks.
The sight of her crying her heart out was no different from any other nine-year-old child.
When those emotions eventually subsided, Elena sniffled and extended her pinky finger.
"Don't tell anyone...! Promise me...!"
"I promise."
I hooked my pinky with hers and kindly sealed it with my thumb.
Without having the slightest idea what repercussions this seal would bring.
"My Lady, your nose is running."
"Y-you can hide that kind of thing...!"
Could it be she has a talent for martial arts?
The kick from Elena that struck my side was quite painful.