Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 140
“Have you heard the date for the welcome party?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“It will likely be in three days.”
“I see. I’ve been wondering about something, though.”
“What is it?”
“Where do the knights train?”
“They train in the outdoor training grounds.”
In this weather? Irene shivered slightly at the thought.
“You’re thinking about your fitness training, aren’t you? Don’t worry. We also have indoor training grounds.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Since you’ve been working on building your stamina, it’s best not to stop. Shall we start exercising again today?”
“Sounds good!”
Irene replied confidently. Days in the north passed peacefully.
The indoor training ground was a bit cold, but running was manageable. After her exercises, Irene would return to her room to relax, playing with Cerberus while drinking warm cocoa or milk.
Occasionally, Lani would share stories she’d heard about northern legends. The night sky viewed through the open window was so beautiful that it left Irene in awe.
“They say people here even connect the stars to create constellations.”
Irene tried connecting the stars as Lani suggested, but the shape didn’t seem to resemble anything familiar.
It seemed she’d need a bit more imagination to create constellations, but even that attempt brought her joy.
One day, Burt presented Irene with a small dog. Small, though, was relative, as the dog still reached up to her knees, leaving her a bit surprised. It was still less than half a year old.
“But won’t it be hard to take care of a dog? Especially since northern dogs are raised in the cold and don’t do well in heat.”
“Then you can leave it here and visit often. It’ll be waiting for you.”
Come all the way to the north just to visit the dog? It seemed like an absurd idea, but the dog was simply too cute to resist.
The silver fox fur was soon processed and arrived. Irene wrapped it around herself as she played with the dog in the garden.
“Perhaps it’s time to give the dog a name?” Burt suggested.
“A name?”
It was her first time naming something, and she spent all night thinking about it. She filled a sheet of paper with names, trying to pick the perfect one, but it wasn’t easy.
Still, since she had come up with Noah’s name, she figured she could manage naming the dog too.
“How about Cocoa?”
The dog’s brown fur seemed to suit the name perfectly.
“You must really like cocoa.”
“It’s the first time I’ve had such a sweet drink.”
“Then I assume you’ve never had roasted marshmallows.”
“What are those?”
“They’re soft, white treats that you can roast on a skewer over a fire. They’re delicious.”
That evening, they roasted marshmallows over a brazier. Burt had been right; the roasted marshmallows were incredibly tasty.
Three days passed filled with various events, and finally, the day of the welcome party arrived.
The party wasn’t as grand as Irene had imagined, but in some ways, it felt like it would be the most memorable one she had ever attended.
In the center of the hall was a large round table, covered with various meat dishes. It must have been difficult to heat the entire hall, yet strangely, it wasn’t cold at all.
“They say it’s a blessing of the goddess. That’s why only the hall remains warm,” someone explained.
If the hall had been freezing too, it would have been impossible to hold a welcome party or any sort of celebration. Everyone would have been huddled in thick furs, trembling.
With Burt escorting her, Irene entered the hall, and the people welcomed her warmly.
“Welcome, Lady Saintess!”
“Welcome to the Northern Kingdom!”
Despite the cold, the people were lively and cheerful. Their clothing was made from heavy, sturdy fabrics rather than the light and airy materials typical in other places.
Irene wore similar attire, with the silver fox cloak draped over her shoulders.
“How do you find it?” Burt asked.
“I love it.”
While it might lack the elegance of other places, the atmosphere here felt far more enjoyable.
Immersed in the lively energy, she found herself sitting at the table before she even realized it.
Feeling awkward about sitting while everyone else stood, Irene tried to rise, but Burt stopped her.
“You may remain seated, Lady Irene.”
“But everyone else is standing.”
“They’ll understand. You look fragile to them.”
“But I’ve gained quite a bit of stamina lately.”
“That’s only by your standards.”
He said with a slight smile, as he selected the tenderest pieces of meat from the pile and placed them on her plate.
Burt had always come across as composed and serious, so Irene had expected the northern lands to reflect that.
She stabbed a piece of meat with her fork, thinking to herself,
‘But I don’t mind this liveliness at all.’
If possible, she would have liked to stay here a little longer.
‘But that’s impossible.’
She decided to enjoy herself while she could, chewing thoughtfully on the meat.
“Your Majesty.”
A woman approached them, and Irene soon recognized her as the maid who had brought her snacks on the first day. Though her outfit was different now, her striking beauty made her easy to remember.
“Please dance with me!”
Like in the western kingdoms, there was an orchestra here too, but the music had a different feel to it. It was more vibrant and fun, and those dancing seemed to enjoy it more as well.
