When the Biting Wind Blows — Chapter 11

1 AM WELL AWARE THE INSTRUCTOR POSSESSES NO FATAL SHORTCOMINGS.

IN FACT, 1 MUST CONFESS SHE IS A REMARKABLY SKILLED WOMAN.

YET THE TRUE REASON I...

...FOUND MYSELF UNABLE TO OFFER A REPLY WAS...

AMONG EVERY ROYAL DAUGHTER IN THE PALACE, WHY WAS I THE ONE CHOSEN...?

WHY DID YOU CAST ME DOWN INTO THIS WRETCHED MIRE?!

I REFUSE TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MY SIRE AND MOTHER.

EVERY SINGLE THING ENTRUSTED TO MY CARE...

...TURNS OUT TO BE UTTERLY WORTHLESS IN THE END.

...DREAD SERVES AS A MIGHTY WEAPON FOR A RULER.

BE IT TOWARD RIVALS OR LOYAL SUBJECTS,

INSPIRING TERROR IS FAR WISER THAN SEEKING AFFECTION.

MEN WILL READILY DRIVE A BLADE INTO THE BACK OF ONE THEY CHERISH,

YET NONE WOULD EVER DARE RAISE A HAND AGAINST...

...A MASTER WHO FILLS THEIR HEARTS WITH TERROR.

ONCE AGAIN...

A POINTLESS RECOLLECTION HAS SURFACED IN MY THOUGHTS.

HM...

I COULD HAVE SWORN I LEFT IT NEAR THIS SPOT.

WHERE IN THE HEAVENS COULD THAT VOLUME HAVE VANISHED TO?

IT IS A RELIEF TO SEE YOU RETURNED UNHARMED, BRÜHL, THOUGH...

HIS GRACE CLEARLY HOLDS HIS LITERARY COLLECTION IN THE HIGHEST REGARD...

THESE WALLS HOUSE AN ARCHIVE OF TOMES THAT COULD EASILY RIVAL THE ROYAL PALACE'S.

GIVEN THAT BOTH THE CURRENT LORD AND HIS LATE FATHER

VALUED THE PURSUIT OF WISDOM AND WORLDLY KNOWLEDGE ABOVE ALL ELSE—

WITHOUT QUESTION, THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY TREASURY OF LITERATURE.

HIS EXPECTATIONS MUST BE EQUALLY DEMANDING,

WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE DEEMED THE FORMER INSTRUCTORS UTTERLY LACKING.

DESPITE SCOURING EVERY CORNER, THE VOLUME REMAINS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN,

LEAVING ME NO OPTION BUT TO CONFESS MY BLUNDER TO MISTRESS PAULINE.

AFTER SPEAKING SO BRAZENLY BEFORE HIS GRACE EARLIER, THIS MISTAKE WILL SURELY RUIN MY STANDING...

WHAT FEAT MUST I ACCOMPLISH TO FINALLY EARN THE TITLE OF PERMANENT INSTRUCTOR?!

LOOKING BACK ON THAT MOMENT, MY TONGUE WAS FAR TOO DARING.

COME TO THINK OF IT, COULD THIS PLACE BE...

...AN APPLE GROVE?

NOW THAT I RECALL, ONE OF THE SERVANTS MENTIONED SUCH A SPOT NOT LONG AGO.

BECAUSE FRUIT TREES FLOURISH WITHIN THE FORTRESS GROUNDS,

RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO GATHER AND ENJOY THE HARVEST AS THEY PLEASE.

WHAT A HEAVENLY AROMA!

COME TO THINK OF IT, DIDN'T THE GROOM MENTION YOU ONCE HAULED A FRUIT WAGON?

NEIGH~

THOUGH THE SKIN BEARS A SLIGHT BLEMISH, THE FRUIT ITSELF APPEARS QUITE MOUTHWATERING...

BAKING A WARM FRUIT TART ALONGSIDE LADY ANA WOULD MAKE FOR A LOVELY AFTERNOON.

SURELY NO ONE WOULD MIND IF I GATHERED THE WINDFALLS RESTING ON THE GRASS, CORRECT?

OH, YET I BROUGHT NO BASKET TO HOLD THEM I-

MY APRON CAN CRADLE FAR MORE FRUIT THAN I INITIALLY GUESSED.

HIGHBORN SOCIETY WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY SCOFF AT A LADY BEHAVING LIKE A COMMON PEASANT,

YET SO LONG AS NO EYES ARE WATCHING,

WHAT HARM COULD IT POS-

GASP!

M-MY...

MY LORD...?!