“I am Idith, and I believe we have met before.”
“Of course, I remember you.” Idith bowed and the distance between them was almost too great.
However, Etra and Idith seemed to think this was normal here.
Ilyin thought about what Den had said when he entered the room and that his words were incorrect.
Milo's response was further evidence, as the man was quite sure of himself when she first saw him in the Empire and if she hadn't dreamed of the future, Ilyin would have thought her suspicions were wrong and would have left.
However, yesterday he was shaken as if he was about to be decapitated.
“Is the Empire’s medicine working for you, ma’am?”
“I'm fine now.”
Idith was speaking out of politeness and Ilyin thought of Den.
He had been strange in saying that he was inquiring about her health after being ordered by the Duke to do so.
‘Why was she thinking about him?’ Den bothered Ilyin now and after she saw him in her dream.
"That's a relief.
I came to ask if you are aware of Biflten's succession ceremony."
Ilyin tilted his head.
“It was my understanding that the Duke had already obtained his title.”
"You're right.
What the succession ceremony means here is that it's related to the chief's power, not as a duke, but as ruler of the winterlands."
'Power?
Was it like magic?’ Ilyin’s head tilted even more.
Although she heard that the imperial family had wizards, they were rare because one had to be born with magical powers to become one.
Therefore, she had never seen magic before and only knew that a lot could be done with it.
Although the master did it himself, it is tradition for the duchess to also participate after the wedding." Ilyin nodded.
“If you are uncomfortable, we can postpone…”
Ilyin raised his hand to stop her from speaking:
“It's okay.” She was feeling better now and postponing such events meant the servants would have more chores to do.
Idith seemed happy with his answer and gave a brief explanation about the ceremony and he told Ilyin that each of the four families had a divine object, and the chief needed to receive energy from these four items during the ceremony in order to use their power, which increased the temperature of the lands and protected the people of Biflten from the cold.
“This is the first time I have heard these things.”
Idith nodded and explained:
“It’s because this power cannot be used in the sunny lands.”
This was why the Duke of Biflten was nicknamed the Duke of Winter and Ilyin remembered the rumors she heard in the Empire.
“I didn’t know that” she replied.
“We are still researching the origin of this power.” Idith spoke calmly about how the Duke had placed divine objects on the altar because he was single, and now the Duchess had to bring the bride's divine object there too, since he was now married.
“Do I keep it after the ceremony?” She asked.
“As the objects signify that power is spread among the four families, they are usually returned to their owners.” Idith looked at Blue North's blue cloth as she spoke:
“Of course, the family can choose how to store the object.”
She seemed a little uninterested in something called “divine”, and Ilyin glanced at the blue cloth before speaking:
“What happens if I lose it?”
“They say objects are meant to be returned to their owners, so don’t worry too much about it.” Idith lowered her head.
“That’s why we’re here.”
Ilyin remembered the Duke's words about how she should treat her subordinates and smiled as she nodded:
“I will do my best not to lose him.”
She didn't want to put these people from Delrose in a position to get into trouble, as they were sincerely looking out for her, unlike the other three families.
“Please call me whenever you need me.” Idith said gently after he finished explaining everything to her, then promptly left.
As she walked quickly, it was silent.
The hallways felt hot, unlike before, as she returned to the room she was staying in, she was told that she would be moved to the seventh floor in two days.
That floor was owned by the Delroses and she wondered if the other families' maids would be sent to it.
Etra was helping her during her walk back to her room and when they turned the corner, they bumped into someone she had been secretly thinking about all day.
It was Den.