When the Biting Wind Blows — Chapter 12

YOU HAVE WANDERED INTO QUITE AN ISOLATED CORNER FOR A WALK.

HAVE YOU EVER FELT THE PIERCE OF A WILD BUCK'S HORNS?

EXCUSE ME?

FOREST CREATURES ARE DRAWN BY THE SWEET AROMA OF RIPE FRUIT

AND FREQUENTLY ROAM THROUGH THIS GROVE,

THEREFORE GOING FORWARD, KINDLY RESTRICT YOUR WALKS TO THE TRAILS BORDERING THE CASTLE.

SHOULD YOU DESIRE FRESH FRUIT, YOU NEED ONLY REQUEST IT FROM THE KITCHENS.

TRUTHFULLY, GATHERING FRUIT WAS NEVER THE PURPOSE OF MY VISIT...

UNDERSTOOD...

OUGHT I SIMPLY COME CLEAN THIS VERY INSTANT?

HAD I FORESEEN THIS ENCOUNTER, I WOULD HAVE REPORTED THE LOSS TO MISTRESS PAULINE LAST NIGHT...!

I Fled From A Mere Hound Only To Walk Straight Into A Wolf's Den..

...PARDON ME, MY LORD.

THE TRUTH IS...

I MISPLACED THE VOLUME...!

BEYOND THE SIN OF BORROWING A TEXT INTENDED FOR THE CHILD'S STUDIES

TO INDULGE MY OWN CURIOSITY OUTDOORS,

İ AM.

I CARELESSLY ALLOWED IT TO SLIP FROM MY GRASP! PLEASE FORGIVE MY NEGLIGENCE!

I SHALL GLADLY COVER THE COST FROM MY WAGES, AND I AM PREPARED TO ENDURE ANY PENALTY YOU SEE FIT, THEREFORE—

IT IS IN MY KEEPING.

EXCUSE ME...?

ASSUMING YOU SPEAK OF THE TOME DROPPED AMONG THE TREES, I RETRIEVED IT EARLIER.

TELL ME,

WERE THE CONTENTS TO YOUR LIKING?

NOTHING ELSE IS OF CONSE- QUENCE, THEN.

NEVER ONCE SINCE ARRIVING HERE HAVE I WITNESSED HIS FEATURES SOFTEN INTO A SMILE...

THE EXPRESSION TRANSFORMS HIS ENTIRE PRESENCE.

GOING FORWARD, I GRANT YOU FULL ACCESS TO THE ARCHIVES,

SO FEEL FREE TO DEEPEN YOUR SCHOLARSHIP AS YOU WISH.

Ask Pauline To Hand Over The Brass Key.

ONCE THE HEAVY SNOWS TRAP US INDOORS, READING WILL BE ONE OF THE FEW PASTIMES REMAINING.

I-I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL...!

WHILE WE ARE SPEAKING,

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO CHRISTEN THAT CREATURE BRÜHL?

OH...!

THAT IS...

THE TITLE STEMS FROM THE WORD BRÛLÉE.

WITHIN THE CAPITAL'S HIGH SOCIETY, A SWEET DISH KNOWN AS CRÈME BRÛLÉE IS WIDELY CHERISHED...

BAKERS PREPARE A RICH EGG CUSTARD AND CROWN IT WITH A CRISP SHEET OF SCORCHED SUGAR...

QUITE MOUTHWATERING, IT SEEMS.

ARE YOU PARTICULARLY PARTIAL TO SUGARY CONFECTIONS?

EXCUSE ME...?

THE HARVEST FROM THIS GROVE BOASTS A RICH, HONEYED FLAVOR OF ITS OWN.

BEARING A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO THE COURTLY CONFECTION YOU JUST SPOKE OF.

TASTE IT.

AN ORDER DELIVERED WITH SUCH QUIET, UNSHAKABLE AUTHORITY.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT,

BENEATH HIS CALM EXTERIOR,

THIS ACT SERVES AS MY PENALTY FOR MISPLACING HIS PROPERTY?

WHAT...?

M-MY LORD...?!

WHATEVER IS THE MEANING OF...