The White Marriage of the Seamstress and the Ice Count

“Welcome back, Master Alexis!”

As soon as I heard of his return, I hurried to the hall. I found him there, having just returned.

The front of his coat was open, revealing a black sash wrapped around his waist. 

My heart almost jumped out of my chest.

He really was wearing it. 

In the hall, the travelling bags he brought back from the battlefield piled up. 

Seeing the stained swords and armor haphazardly strewn about, I realized once again that, ah, he really had been in a dangerous battle.

Master Alexis, who was instructing the servants to unpack, relaxed his mouth as soon as he saw me.

“I’m home, Sara.”

I hadn’t seen Master Alexis in a while. He seemed more sunburned, but aside from that, he looked very healthy.

I felt my face heat up when I walked up to his side and spoke a few words.

“I’m glad you returned safely.”

“Thank you. Even though I fought against the pack of silver wolves and five ogres, I was hardly attacked by any magical beast at all this time. Your sash must have protected me.”

“Ah, you are giving me too much credit. But I am really glad you were not injured…”

“…Yes, right…”

For some reason Master Alexis grit his teeth.

Maybe he was injured in a place I couldn’t see. I looked him up and down with worry.

“No, I’m not hurt,” he quickly said. “But… Viscount Dexter’s son was attacked by an ogre and injured, withdrawing from the front.”

“…Master Conrad was…?”

Master Alexis nodded, frowning.

“Luckily, it wasn’t a fatal wound, but… I was in a position that allowed me to see him then, but I was in the middle of leading my squad and fighting another ogre and couldn’t head over to help. I shouldn’t have been so careless after I told you not to worry… I am sorry.”

I shook my head in silence.

It was so unexpected to hear that Master Conrad has been injured.

When I was his fiancée, he was called the “Miracle Knight” with no history of sustaining any injuries.

To hear that he was hurt enough to be forced to leave the front…

I remember his bright smile and kindness that he used to show to me, and it made my chest ache.

But.

“…If you wish, you could go to the Royal Capital to visit him. He’s still your brother-in-law,” Master Alexis said with a blank face. 

I shook my head once again.

I am sure that neither Conrad nor Miriam would want me to visit.

“No, there’s no need. Master Conrad has Miriam. She is a stout-hearted girl, I’m sure they will be fine… I will write them a letter later.” 

“…I see.”

He sounded somehow relieved, and that was the end of that.

A bit of an unpleasant silence settled between us.

Timidly, I opened my mouth.

“By the way, do you have any plans for tomorrow, Master Alexis? If you don’t mind, I was wondering if I could have a few moments of your time in the afternoon.”

“Of course I don’t mind,” Master Alexis agreed immediately. “Were there any problems while I was absent?”

“No, it’s not about that…”

“So you are asking me on a date?”

When he said that with a straight face, I flushed red. 

“That’s not-!”

“Not that?”

The way in which he titled his head slightly with disappointment was a bit cute… No, ugh, I hated myself for not being able to come up with a tactful comeback.

As I turned redder and fumed, Master Alexis chuckled.

“I was joking.”

“!”

“Sorry, I suddenly wanted to tease you. We haven’t seen each other in a while, so I apologize if I overstepped.”

“No, it’s not… I did not hate it…”

“…Is that so?”

Master Alexis looked away.  

Maybe it was my imagination, but I thought his cheeks were a little red.

Before I knew it all the travel bags, weapons, and armor that had been placed in the hall had been cleaned out, and it was just the two of us.

Master Alexis reached into the pocket of his surcoat and pulled out a small package wrapped in paper. 

He held it out to me.

“Some big-shot merchant who lived near the battlefield told me I could take whatever goods I wanted from his store as a thank you for killing the demons. So this… I thought maybe you would like it.”

“For me…?”

I took the package and unwrapped it.

Inside were multicolored embroidery threads.

One, a thread of beautiful gradient of bluish hue, the other of red. 

Multicolored threads like those ones were sold only in a few places, so they were rare and in great demand. 

In a second, I have ascended to heaven.

“Ah! I never dreamed that I would be able to get my hands on those threads!”

I looked at the threads of colors like a dream, spellbound and sighing. 

I gripped the thread and leaned close to Master Alexis.

“I-I-I am so happy, Master Alexis! I will treasure it and put it to good use!”

 “…Are you really that happy?”

I was taken aback when he said that. I immediately came to my senses.

“W-well… I’m sorry, I got carried away… Of course, Master Alexis’s safe return makes me the most happy… But I’m also really happy about this embroidery thread…”

As I blushed and made excuses, Master Alexis’s big hand landed on my head. 

“I see. I’m glad you are pleased.”

He gave me a warm smile and once again, I was happy that he was back.

　✧✧✧

The next afternoon, I was preparing myself for a tea party in the courtyard with Master Alexis. 

I asked him to sit in his garden chair and close his eyes.

“Don’t open your eyes until I say so, okay?”

“Oh, alright.”

Master Alexis looked very vulnerable with his eyes obediently closed. 

Under the light of the afternoon sun filtered through the trees his black hair occasionally swayed in the wind and his long eyelashes cast shadows on his manly cheeks.

Just as I was about to take in the sight, I heard footsteps coming from the small path leading to the main gate of the castle.

I glanced over to see Rosie walking toward us with a maid in tow.

I put my index finger to my lips.

Rosie nodded and tip-toed towards us. 

Both the deep blue dress with embroidered moon and stars and the cute crystal necklace suited Rosie beautifully. Great aunt Margaret really had a good eye. It even seemed as if Rosie’s surroundings were somehow filled with fresh magical energy.

She was walking with confidence, her cheeks rosy, an image of health. There was no doubt she was recovering. 

Rosie stood in front of Master Alexis, his eyes still closed, and she smiled mischievously at me.

I smiled, nodded and spoke up. “Master Alexis, please open your eyes.”

Master Alexis slowly opened his eyes.

And there stood a smiling Rosie.

“Big brother, welcome back!” she said and jumped on him. 

Master Alexis’s eyes widened with disbelief. 

Even dumbfounded, he still hugged her tight. 

“…Rosie! You, your body is…”

“That’s right, I’m okay now! I took the carriage to the castle just in case, but I can walk outside now!”

Master Alexis looked at me with a question in his eyes and I obliged.

“Rosie is feeling better nowadays, is able to eat well and can stroll outside for a bit… That’s why Rosie and I planned this tea party to surprise Master Alexis with that sight!”

“Sara… Thank you.”

Alexis stared at me, as if overcame with emotion.

He then looked at Rosie and touched her cheek and arm as if to confirm something.

“It’s true. You have more meat on your bones than before.”

“Ah, big brother! What a shameful thing to do to a lady! Have you forgotten your manners on the battlefield?!

“I’m glad. To speak like this, you really must be alright already.”

“Don’t try to change the subject!”

As I watched the brother and sister playfully joking around, the castle maids made a pot of tea for us.

The three of us chatted over the hot tea and time passed pleasantly. 

But that was suddenly interrupted.

From the castle Johnson rushed forward. 

When he saw me, he bowed reverently and started speaking.

“I apologize for the intrusion. Mistress has a guest.”

“A visitor…? I don’t think I have an appointment with anyone today, who is it?”

Johnson’s face grew tense as he said the name.

“It’s Miriam Dexter.”