When the Biting Wind Blows — Chapter 9

BY THE HONOR OF SKADI, I LAUNCH THIS CAMPAIGN TO WIPE THE OCEAN'S SCAVENGERS FROM OUR WATERS!

THOUGH CRIMSON MAY STAIN THE WAVES, NOT A SINGLE MAN AMONG YOU HAS PERMISSION TO PERISH!

EXCUSE ME...?

MONTHLY WAGES... AMOUNTING TO TEN GOLD DUCATS?

INDEED, THOSE WERE THE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS HIS GRACE LEFT BEHIND.

TWO WEEKS LATER—

SHOULD THAT SUM FALL SHORT OF THE STIPEND YOU EARNED WITHIN THE ROYAL COURT—

HEAVENS, NEVER.

IT IS THE EXACT REVERSE. THE AMOUNT IS EXCESSIVELY GENEROUS.

THE ISSUE IS SIMPLY... CONSIDERING MY POSITION AS A BANISHED PRISONER,

I CANNOT FATHOM ANY WAY TO UTILIZE SUCH A VAST FORTUNE HERE...

MOREOVER, LEAVING THAT MUCH GOLD SITTING INSIDE MY CHAMBERS,

PRACTICALLY INVITES A TERRIBLE MISHAP.

AH, A SENSIBLE CONCERN INDEED.

MIGHT YOU ALREADY HOLD A PERSONAL VAULT...

SAY, UNDER THE BANNER OF THE GOLDEN SHIELD BANK?

WHY, YES. MY FAMILY MAINTAINS A LEDGER WITH THE GOLDEN SHIELD BANK.

HOW CONVENIENT.

AS IT HAPPENS, HIS GRACE ORDERED ME TO SUMMON ONE OF THEIR CLERKS TO THE CASTLE SHORTLY.

DOES THAT IMPLY...

HIS GRACE PLANS TO HAVE YOUR STIPEND TRANSFERRED STRAIGHT INTO YOUR PRIVATE VAULT.

THROUGH THAT ARRANGEMENT, YOU WILL BE SPARED THE ANXIETY OF GUARDING PHYSICAL COIN.

NATURALLY, YOUR IMMEDIATE KIN WOULD BE ABLE TO DRAW FROM THOSE FUNDS, THOUGH

SHOULD YOU PREFER TO RESTRICT THEIR ACCESS–

H-HOLD ON...

CAN SUCH A THING TRULY BE ARRANGED?

OH, D-DO YOU MEAN TO SAY...

MY MOTHER AND SISTER WILL BE ABLE TO SPEND THE GOLD I EARN HERE?!

WITHOUT QUESTION.

HOW WONDERFUL...

ON THE SURFACE SHE MAINTAINS AN AIR OF CALM GRACE,

YET HER FACE BETRAYS HER INNER JOY FAR MORE EASILY THAN SHE REALIZES...

ADDITIONALLY, HIS GRACE LEFT WORD THAT YOU ARE TO PRACTICE YOUR RIDING DAILY

OR TAKE BRISK STROLLS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR CONSTITUTION, SO KINDLY REMEMBER HIS COMMAND.

OF COURSE...!

TRULY...

ONE CAN ONLY PRAY SHE REMAINS WITHIN THESE WALLS FOR YEARS TO COME.

Hold On,

WASN'T JEROME THOROUGHLY HUMBLED DURING THAT INCIDENT?

WASN'T HE JUST?

HOW ON EARTH DID THE TABLES TURN SO COMPLETELY?

PLEASANT MORNING TO YOU~

A PLEASANT MORNING.

HAVE YOU GIVEN UP YOUR MORNING SPRINTS AROUND THE YARD?

DO DROP BY THE BARRACKS WHENEVER YOU PLEASE~

ENJOY A LEISURELY WALK AROUND THE GROUNDS WHILE THE COMMANDER IS AT SEA~!

BEST LOWER YOUR VOICE BEFORE THE HEAD HOUSEKEEPER CATCHES WIND.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, DID YOU HEAR THE TWO OF THEM CLASHED FIERCELY AGAIN?

WORD IS SHE DELIVERED A BLISTERING TIRADE TO THE CHILD'S NURSEMAID.

I HAVE RETURNED~

THEY SAY POOR LADY ANA STOOD FROZEN NEARBY, SHEDDING SILENT TEARS THE ENTIRE TIME.

TRUTHFULLY, THAT WOMAN LIVES TO TORMENT THE STAFF...

THE SHADOWS TROUBLING LITTLE ANA'S HEART...

...APPEAR TO RUN MUCH DEEPER THAN I INITIALLY REALIZED.

I MUST UNCOVER THE TRUTH BEHIND THE TREATMENT SHE ENDURES WITHIN THIS HOUSEHOLD.

DOES THE FRESH AIR BRING YOU JOY TOO, BRÜHL?

NEIGH~

MASTERING THE SADDLE PROVED FAR MORE GRUELING THAN SPRINTING ON FOOT,

REQUIRING NEARLY A WEEK BEFORE MY BODY ADAPTED TO THE JARRING RHYTHM.

EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING THROBBED SO FIERCELY THAT MY LIMBS SHOOK,[]: BRINGING ME TO THE VERGE OF TEARS ON MORE THAN ONE EVENING.

EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE DAYS WHEN I WANTED TO CRY,

YET MY HEART SWIFTLY FORMED A DEEP BOND WITH LITTLE BRÜHL.

THOUGH MY PRIDE STINGS SLIGHTLY TO CONFESS THE LORD OF SKADI SPOKE THE TRUTH...

THE MOMENT BRÜHL AND I RACE ACROSS THE OPEN FIELDS,

IT TRULY FEELS AS IF THE TWO OF US ARE THE SOLE LIVING CREATURES BENEATH THE SKY.

WRAPPED WITHIN THIS TRANQUILITY, SO RICH IT NEARLY ERASED THE MEMORY OF MY CHAINS,

EVERY PASSING SUNRISE BECAME A TREASURE BEYOND MEASURE.

?

ER...

—!!!

M-MY LORD, HOW IS IT THAT YOU ARE STANDING HERE-

WHOA!

~ THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME 'BRÜHL' ~

HER COAT SHARES THE EXACT SHADE OF TOASTED CRÈME BRÛLÉE!

LOOKING AT HER MAKES MY MOUTH WATER!