When the Biting Wind Blows — Chapter 1
Dialogue Transcript
Dialogue Transcript When the Biting Wind Blows — Chapter 1 96
WHEN A VIOLENT TEMPEST BLOCKS OUR COURSE AT SEA,
DO WE SIMPLY CRUMBLE AND CURSE THE STORM,
OR...
CLING TO THE BELIEF THAT THE BREEZE WILL EVENTUALLY SHIFT?
I HAVE YET TO FIND THE TRUTH,
THOUGH I HAVE FOUGHT ENDLESSLY JUST TO KEEP THE CANVAS STEADY.
ENSURING THE GALE WOULD NEVER CLAIM THE VESSEL
EVEN WHEN...
IT REQUIRED DEFYING THE UNSPOKEN CODES OF THE ARISTOCRACY...
INSTRUCTOR.
WHAT SORT OF LIFE DO YOU ENVISION FOR YOURSELF, INSTRUCTOR?
A LIFE AHEAD?
WELL, THE STANDARD THINGS-
A KIND SPOUSE, ADORABLE LITTLE ONES,
PICTURING JOYFUL MOMENTS SHARED ALONGSIDE THEM.
HMM...
I WOULD LOVE TO RESIDE IN A COTTAGE WITH A SMALL COURTYARD, THOUGH...
A LIBRARY WITH EVERY SINGLE WALL COVERED IN TOWERING SHELVES
WOULD BE ABSOLUTE BLISS.
I WOULD ADORE LOSING MYSELF IN LITERATURE FROM DAWN TILL DUSK.
AND RIGHT BESIDE ME, A POT OF TEA WITH SCONES WOULD MAKE IT IDEAL, DON'T YOU THINK?
A WARM MUG OF DARJEELING OR EARL GREY ALONGSIDE RICH SHORTBREAD.
PLUS...
PERHAPS-
PFFT!
INSTRUCTOR.
THAT IS ALL
UTTER NONSENSE!
EXCUSE ME...?
?!
HOW COULD YOU LOWER YOURSELF TO WORKING AS A COMMON TUTOR WHILE BEARING THE TITLE OF COUNTESS?!
ARISTOCRATS ARE BORN PURELY TO UPHOLD THE REALM;
WE NEVER TOIL FOR SILVER!
I...
SUCH IS THE SACRED LAW THAT BINDS OUR NOBLE CLASS–
I, I...
AND AS THOUGH THAT DISGRACE WERE NOT ENOUGH, YOU HAD THE AUDACITY...
TO DISTRIBUTE TREASONOUS TEXTS DEFYING THE THRONE?!
I-I...
I WOULD NEVER COMMIT SUCH AN ACT...!
TREASONOUS TEXTS?!
SOMEBODY IS DELIBERATELY SETTING ME UP-!
AFTER CONSIDERING THE DEFENDANT'S PLEAS OF PURITY
ALONGSIDE THE ENTIRETY OF THE EVIDENCE, I HEREBY DELIVER THE VERDICT.
THE OFFENDER JEANNE DE TOULOUSE PLOTTED WITH REBELLIOUS FACTIONS
WHILE POISONING THE THOUGHTS OF YOUNG LORD MAEL,
THUS THE CULPRIT JEANNE DE TOULOUSE JUSTLY WARRANTS INSTANT DEATH.
NEVERTHELESS,
OUT OF RESPECT FOR HOUSE TOULOUSE'S ANCIENT DEVOTION TO THE CROWN,
THE PRISONER SHALL BE BANISHED TO THE DUCHY OF SKADI,
AND FOLLOWING A NINETY-DAY STAY OF EXECU- TION, THE ULTIMATE SENTENCE WILL BE PRONOUNCED!
THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE.
BA-BANISHMENT...?
WHY WOULD...?
WHY WOULD...?
AND TO THAT FORSAKEN REALM...
THE DUCHY OF SKADI...
A TERRITORY OF SAVAGES
AND FREEZING GALES...
I...
I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG...
TH-THAT MAN...
I BEG OF YOU...
I BEG OF YOU...
JUST
WHO IS HE...?
AS FOR THIS GIRL...
I WILL BE CLAIMING HER MYSELF.
WHAT IS THIS PLACE...?
FLAMES...?!
WHAT ON EARTH...
HOW CAN THE BUILDING BE BURNING,
WHILE NOBODY IS FLEEING THE PREMISES-
UGH...!
SO YOU HAVE RISEN.
AH...
AH!
TH-THERE IS...
FLAMES ARE SPREADING RIGHT OVER THERE!!
WE MUST EVACUATE THIS BUILDING IMMEDIATELY!
QUICKLY...!!
THOSE ARE NOT FLAMES.
SOMEONE SIMPLY FORGOT TO SHUT THE CASEMENT.
?
I CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE CUSTOMS OF FRANC,
YET THIS TERRI- TORY IS FREQUENTLY BLANKETED IN MIST.
MIST?
NOW THAT I FOCUS...
INSTEAD OF SCORCHING, CHOKING FUMES,
THE AIR IS CHILLY AND MOIST...
MERCIFUL HEAVENS...
SINCE YOUR WITS HAVE FINALLY RETURNED, ALLOW ME TO PROPERLY STATE MY NAME.
REALITY GRASPED
I AM CALLED BALDR DE SKADI.
STARTING FROM THIS VERY MOMENT,
I AM THE ONE YOU SERVE.
Chapter Summary
When the Biting Wind Blows tells the story of Jeanne de Toulouse, who is unjustly tried and exiled to the Duchy of Skadi. Despite holding the title of Countess, Jeanne is accused of working as a teacher and distributing treasonous texts against the throne. She cries out that she is innocent, but she is sentenced to exile with a ninety-day stay of execution. An unknown man takes her into custody, and Jeanne wakes up in a misty, cold land with Baldr de Skadi.