IBDFSML Chapter 55

55

The fortress night was steeped in silence.

Compared to its size, there were too few people inside. The dark corridors were lit only by torches scattered sparsely along the walls, and the eerie sound of the wind blowing beyond the thick outer walls endlessly reminded us that this was not a grand citadel, but a border stronghold.

"Icevant Fortress is the largest citadel in the Empire. But the number of knights stationed here is actually quite small."

Diene remarked casually as she guided us to our assigned quarters.

"There was a time when this place was filled to the brim with knights. But after centuries of ongoing battles, casualties never ceased… and now, only a handful of elite knights remain here, those skilled enough to survive against the demonic beasts."

Sion, who had been quietly listening, asked.

"How many knights are currently in the First Order?"

"According to last year's records, a little over one hundred. But since there have been several large battles afterward, the number may have dropped even further."

"…I see."

Sion murmured in a low voice.

Before long, we arrived at a quiet corridor where not a trace of life could be felt. Several doors stood open, leading into seemingly vacant rooms.

"Here we are. Please feel free to choose whichever room suits you best."

Peeking my head out from Sion's collar, I scanned the rooms and declared solemnly.

"Sion, Sion. It has to face south. And it needs a fireplace."

"Haha, no need to worry. Every chamber in the fortress is equipped with a fireplace." 

Diene replied cheerfully, giving me a quick glance.

I cast a wary look at Garen and Genevia, who were also checking the rooms, then leaned in close to Sion and whispered.

"Let's hurry and claim the best one before they do!"

"……"

After checking through several rooms, the one at the far end turned out to be the most spacious and well-furnished.

"Diene, we'll take this one!"

"Of course. As you wish."

Garen and Genevia chose one of the remaining rooms for themselves.

I turned to look around the room that Sion and I would be staying in.

Though there was a bit of dust and signs of use, the wide bed and large fireplace were quite to my liking.

'Hmm, not as bad as I expected.'

Just then, Diene walked over to the fireplace. She opened a panel set into the wall beside it and pulled out something unidentifiable.

It was a thick piece of leather.

"Wh-what's that?"

Startled, I clung tightly to Sion's neck and asked.

"Ah, this is Nuzan leather. As you can imagine, it's hard to get firewood out here. So instead, we use materials obtained after subjugating demonic beasts as fuel."

"O-oh… I see."

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

After that, we each unpacked our belongings and took a short time to rest.

I sat by the window, watching Sion as he carefully unpacked his things.

'So… this means we'll be staying here for a whole year.'

Of course, there was no guarantee that Sion wouldn't remain at this border stronghold even after that. But for now, the grand fortress had set the official expedition period at one year.

'If I recall correctly, in the original story, around this time the main male lead, the Grand Duke's heir, was supposed to return to the fortress. If that happens, then the elders and retainers won't have any particular reason to keep calling on Sion… probably.'

But for some reason, a faint sense of unease crept up my spine.

'Still, I can't just sit back and relax. Honestly, the plot and progression of the original story have already changed so much that I can't predict when or how things will shift.'

I even had to keep reminding myself constantly that this world was, after all, a romance fantasy.

Protecting that genre was one thing, but the real danger was that the male lead could make an unexpected appearance at any moment. I couldn't afford to let my guard down.

'Which means…'

I folded my arms and fixed Sion with a grave expression.

'Which means I need to bring Sion and his destined love, Genevia, together as soon as possible. For that to happen, Sion needs to start building some affection toward her…'

Prick.

'…?'

Suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my chest, like the prick of a needle.

"…What was that?"

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

It was Garen.

"Young Lord Sion, they say there are some administrative procedures left to complete your enlistment. Please come with me for a while."

"Understood."

Sion turned back to me and said.

"Lin, wait here for now."

"Ah, I'll come with-"

I started to follow him out of habit, but then stopped short.

As I glanced around the room, a brilliant idea suddenly struck me.

Settling back down into my seat, I looked at Sion with sparkling eyes.

"Okay! Have a safe trip!"

"……"

At my reaction, Sion paused just as he was about to leave the room. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he said in a quiet tone.

"Don't go wandering elsewhere. Stay here and behave. I'll be back soon."

"Y-yeah, okay."

"……"

Suppressing a sigh, Sion finally left with Garen.

Click.

The moment the door shut, I jumped up to my feet.

And immediately activated my fangirl skill.

"<Devotion that Transcends Species>!!!"

Flash—!

A radiant light wrapped around me, and in an instant my form shifted into that of a human.

The bed creaked under my sudden weight.

"Ha, perfect."

Stretching my arms wide in a yawn, I slowly looked around the room.

"Alright, house-fairy mode, activated."

When Sion returned after finishing his tasks, I wanted him to be moved by the sight of a tidy, warm, spotless room… and then smile at me.

…Like this.

'Ta-da! Lin has already taken care of all the housework! Sion, all you need to do is come in and rest. Oh, and massage service is available too!'

'Phew… as expected of Lin, the fangirl fairy. Bringing her along was the best choice I ever made.'

"Fufufu, fuhuhuhu…"

Of course, Sion's actual reaction would be nothing like that. But as I spun the hope-filled circuit wildly in my head, I dashed about the room in a flurry of motion.

A little later.

"Phew, done!"

Dusting off my hands, I looked around at the neatly folded clothes and the organized belongings inside the room.

'Hmph, this level of support could almost pass for top-class wifely devotion.'

I would have loved to light the fireplace and warm up the whole room, but unfortunately, I didn't have the ability for that yet.

More importantly, I had no desire to touch the suspicious pile of demonic beast leather lying there as supposed fuel.

"Hmph, hmph."

I scanned the room one last time to see if I'd missed anything.

Then my eyes landed on the bed, which I had yet to touch.

'Ah! How could I almost forget the most important thing?'

I hurried over, straightened the blankets, and fluffed up the pillows.

Then, right beside Sion's spot, I carefully set aside a little space for myself and placed a small blanket on top.

"Heheh, this will be my spot."

Just like back at the Grand Duke's annex, I intended to spend the night gazing to my heart's content at Sion's angelic face as he slept, before finally dozing off myself."

If things unfolded as I planned, it wouldn't be long before even this indulgent fangirl moment would no longer be mine to enjoy.

"……"

With that thought, I plopped onto the bed.

Then, a strange heaviness came over me.

'…Weird. Why am I suddenly feeling down?'

Shaking my head, I rolled restlessly across the bed.

Maybe it was just the fatigue of the journey catching up with me, because a huge yawn slipped out.

"Huuaaahm… so sleepy…"

Before I realized it, my eyes drifted shut.

And just like that, I dozed off on the bed.

***

After completing the necessary paperwork, Sion returned to the quarters.

But the moment he opened the door, what greeted him was a sight completely different from when he had left.

"…..?"

The messy piles of belongings and clothes had all been neatly arranged, and even the furniture that had been covered in a layer of dust now gleamed with cleanliness.

Then...

"…D-don't take it…"

A faint murmur startled Sion, and he turned his head.

There, on the bed, a woman was curled up fast asleep.

It was Lin.

"…Lin?"

His face froze in surprise as he unconsciously stepped closer to the bed.

It was the same human form he had glimpsed once before, burned vividly into his memory.

"…Why…?"

Why had she changed?

That question crossed his mind, but then Sion quickly realized the answer.

The newly cleaned room around him was proof enough.

"……"

Sion stood quietly at the bedside, gazing down at the small figure curled up in deep slumber.

"…Don't… take it from me…"

From her lips, rosy and soft, like strands of her pink hair, came another muttered protest.

"…It's mine… don't steal it…"

"…?"

Apparently, in her dream, someone had stolen a dessert from her.

Sion let out a soft, involuntary chuckle.

Then, almost unconsciously, his hand brushed against his own lips.

The action unsettled him, and with a faint grimace, he dragged a hand down his face as if to clear his thoughts.

Just then, Lin murmured again.

"…S-so cold…"

"…!"

The fireplace lay dormant, leaving the room chilled.

Sion carefully leaned down and gently lifted Lin into his arms.

'She's so light. Far too light.'

Whether in fairy form or human form, her body remained the same, delicate, weightless, as though she might vanish like a mirage at any moment.

"Mmm… warm…"

Seeking warmth, Lin instinctively curled closer against his chest.

Sion tucked her back into bed, pulling the blanket securely over her small frame.

For a moment, he lingered, gazing down at her.

Her long pink hair spilled across the blanket, her face peaceful in childlike sleep, the room filled with the steady rhythm of her gentle breaths.

And in that stillness, Sion became acutely aware, his heartbeat was racing, faster than usual.

Just like it had when he first saw her transform into a human back on the cliffside days ago.

"……"

Suppressing a sigh, Sion rubbed the back of his neck.

Then, careful not to wake her, he quietly stepped away and left the room.

For some reason, the air of Icevant Fortress, supposed to be cold as the dead of winter, felt uncomfortably warm.

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