“Here, have a warm drink.”
“That’ll be bronons. We also have ginger snacks, but you probably don’t need them.”
The itinerant vendor, after receiving the coin, handed a warmed cheap liquor in a crumpled glass to the customer.
As more people came to watch the rare outdoor event, the area near the training ground became increasingly crowded. Stalls were quickly set up, and people were enjoying warm drinks and snacks, eagerly awaiting the next matches.
Rensley Maelrosen, who came from Cornia, easily achieved victories in both the sword duel and unarmed combat. Much to the delight of the onlookers, the foreigner of unknown origin defeated the elite royal knights one by one. The lively and agile movements of the cheerful blond youth against the formidable knights provided more joy than the usual factional disputes.
After each triumph, the young man gracefully bowed to the crowd, winning over even those harboring seeds of resentment. The discontented faces seen among the revelers were merely gamblers who had placed bets on the outcome of the knight’s victories.
Now, only the jousting match remained. Since winning twice secured admission, Rensley Maelrosen’s admission was already assured. However, the enthusiasm of the crowd did not wane. The jousting match was considered the pinnacle of knightly combat and the highlight of this grand stage.
“He’s here!”
“Go, Ren!”
“Knights, give it your all!”
Mounted on a horse with a distinctive pattern on its forehead, Rensley, holding a lance, confidently stepped forward. Unlike the previous duels, he was now fully armored from head to toe. His opponent was a knight mounted on a black horse.
Rensley swallowed his breath. The atmosphere was different from the previous two matches. It seemed that Anton had sent a rather skilled opponent this time, possibly thinking of avoiding another defeat.
After a brief moment of tension, Rensley relaxed his shoulders. Since his admission was already guaranteed, there was no need to be overly concerned about victory or defeat. It was the last match, and he wanted to show the spectators a more enjoyable contest.
‘To uphold the honor of the Order and perhaps let them win a bit? The people of Aldrant wouldn’t want to see their knights losing continuously…’
While contemplating, the starting flag was raised. Horses at both ends of the training ground charged towards each other, and the crowd’s cheers grew louder.
Thunk! The lances, firmly held in their riders’ hands, collided with each other’s shoulders. Equal hits at the same point. The outcome was still undecided. The two riders continued their charge until they reached the opposite ends, this time turning around.
Rensley concentrated on the tip of his lance, forgetting the earlier contemplation about intentional defeat. The opponent was not to be taken lightly, as he seemed capable of measuring the win or loss. In the second charge, his lance struck Rensley just below the neck.
The connecting link between the neck and chest of the armor shattered into pieces, and the crowd’s shouts urging him to give up became more pronounced.
‘This won’t do.’ Determined, Rensley returned to the entrance and lifted the visor of his helmet to assess his surroundings. After two intense rounds, he was covered in sweat, making it uncomfortable to see what lay ahead.
The speed was comparable, but the opponent’s strength was vastly superior. If he continued like this, he might get entangled in the opponent’s pace.
“What’s he doing?” Starting with the puzzled voice of one of the spectators, people began to murmur. Rensley had removed all his armor except for his chestplate.
Unlike regular duels, jousting matches required participants to wear armor, as they involved the use of a destructive lance. Even if a blunt lance lacking lethal force were employed, being struck with it barehanded could still lead to fatal consequences.
The Duke, seated in the viewing stand, appeared to lean forward ever so slightly. Whether it was a mere perception or not, there was a palpable sense of concern in his demeanor.
‘It’s okay! So, please don’t use some magic or anything to help!’
Rensley silently shouted in his mind. He could only hope his intention was conveyed.
“Marilyn, please.”
This match would decide the outcome. With that said, Marilyn, full of vigor, began to run. The opponent also charged.
The lance struck Rensley forcefully. However, this time, Rensley was faster. Grabbing the front of the saddle and leaning his body to the side of Marilyn, he evaded the lance, then used the recoil from sitting up again to counter-attack.
Rensley’s lance struck the opponent right between the chest and shoulder. His armor was also shattered.
“Wow! Amazing horsemanship!”
The crowd cheered loudly. Rensley and the knight walked slowly, observing each other’s movements.
One draw, one victory. An additional round was given. Riding the horse, Rensley lay down again beside Marilyn just like before.
“Using the same method again.”
The opponent sneered and thrust the lance downward.
However, this time, Rensley didn’t counterattack. Just before the lance struck, he raised his body, avoiding the hit.
Marilyn stopped running and became the stepping stone for his owner. Rensley, who had jumped on, kicked the man who attacked him, and the horse, taken aback, neighed and raised its front hooves.
People forgot to shout and watched the unexpected combat in front of them. After the situation concluded, Rensley was on the stolen horse. The fallen knight, still in armor, looked at Rensley with a bewildered expression, then hurriedly got up and tried to mount Marilyn.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
However, Rensley’s horse refused to let the man on and kicked a few times as Rensley loudly laughed.
“Vbggs, Vlg. Zjglisc vbfrc’a mjggs qfbqif ktb jaajmxfv wf.”
Ktf mtffgr bo atf mgbkv fgeqafv jujlc ja atja wbwfca.
Ktf agewqfa rbecvfv ibevis, jcv atf oiju kjnfg rlucjifv atf fcv bo atf wjamt. Pa kjr atf wbwfca ktfc Ccabc, klat jc fzqgfrrlbc bo lcfnlajylilas, kjr jybea ab pevuf atf beambwf.
“Unworthy lad.”
The defeated knight extracted something from his chest and hurled it toward Rensley. Gasps emanated from the onlookers as Rensley’s eyes widened in surprise.
Zap! What hit Rensley was a magical artifact designed for offensive magic use, usable even by non-mages. Sparks of magical currents burst out from the round magical tool that hit Rensley.
“Sir Maelrosen!”
Shouting with a surprised voice, it was Knight Commander Anton Sorrel. However, the one who halted the knight’s abrupt movement was not him, but someone else.
Sitting in the prestigious seat, Gezell Jivendad stood up and reached out. His usual expressionless face was unusually harsh and cold.
The electric current that enveloped Rensley disappeared, and the artifact that clung to his body fell to the ground without power. Anton hurriedly rushed to save Rensley.
“Sir Maelrosen, are you okay?”
“Oh, yes… surprised, but… I seem to be fine.”
“Should I count myself lucky that I’m not being roasted alive in this metal armor? Curse that lightning. I can’t say I enjoy it.” Rensley shook his still-trembling shoulders. At that moment, Anton swung his fist at the defeated knight’s cheek.
Rensley escaped from the crowd and rushed towards him, hastily fixing his messy hair as he approached. Upon reaching Gezell Jivendad, Rensley bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude sincerely.
“Your Grace, thank you very much! If Your Grace hadn’t helped, I wouldn’t have passed for sure.”
However, after completing the greeting and raising his head, Gezell’s expression subtly changed. Despite Rensley’s anticipation of a celebratory moment, Gezell’s face now lacked any emotion and exuded a subtle sense of ambiguity that he had never seen before.
For some reason, Gezell slightly spread his arms, but when Rensley reached out his hand, he retracted his arms.
“Your Grace?”
“Sir Maelrosen is also called ‘Ren’, right?”
“Oh, yes. My name is Rensley. My friends also call me Ren or Rensi.”
“I didn’t know you had so many friends.”
Oops. Rensley slightly lowered his head. Although he had only gone out for a day or two from the Duke’s point of view… It seemed his lies had been exposed through this incident.
Rensley let out an awkward laugh and tried to break the strange atmosphere with a joke.
“But still, Your Grace, I don’t have as many friends as you do.”
Gezell’s expression changed subtly once again. Rensley tried to guess his thoughts for a moment, but it was impossible.
Rensley’s mood lightened a bit as he laughed awkwardly. At that moment, Anton joined them.
“After the upcoming holiday, we’ll hold the official induction ceremony for Sir Rensley Maelrosen. And make sure to thoroughly handle the discipline for the member who violated the regulations earlier, and report it.”
“Understood. Welcome to the induction, Sir Maelrosen. I look forward to working with you. I apologize for doubting your skills and being impolite before. Please forgive me.”
‘Though he’s still acting formal, it’s good that there’s no resentment left.’ Rensley felt relieved.
“Then is it over?” Rensley asked.
“Yes. Please take a break today. As Your Grace mentioned, we’ll hold the induction ceremony after the holiday.”
“Your Grace, then can I go outside and mingle with people now?”
Originally indifferent to many things, Gezell’s response today seemed more profound than usual.
“You can. Sir Maelrosen is free now.”
“Come to think of it, something amazing happened today. They gave me a horse, claiming it had been brought from Cornia. Believe it or not, it was the horse I had been riding in Cornia that I got separated from in the middle of my journey. What a coincidence, right? It seems like it came to find me so that I could pass through today.”
Gezell nodded.
“It seems so.”
“Your Grace, may I go outside for a bit? I want to see outside the Roudken Castle. I’ve never been outside the Duke’s castle since arriving in Aldrant, and I’m curious.”
Upon hearing this, Gezell turned his head, wearing an expression of incomprehension.
“The weather is about to turn cold, and you must be tired from the long practice with the horse. You have the freedom to go out anytime in the future. Wouldn’t it be better to rest inside today? It’s much colder outside the castle walls than it is inside.”
“But…”
“Is your body okay? You might have some after-effects from the magical attack a while ago.”
“No, really, I’m fine. Thanks to Your Grace’s immediate action…”
It was a day liberated from frustrating confinement. Rensley yearned to gallop freely on horseback, inhaling the crisp, fresh air. Today, the cold seemed inconsequential to him.
When Rensley didn’t respond promptly, Gezell turned his head with a slight smile and changed the subject.
“Do as you wish. From now on, Sir Maelrosen can do as he pleases.”
“Your Grace, then won’t you come with me?”
He widened his eyes a bit.
“Outside the castle?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
‘Just… because I want to…’
He couldn’t voice the reason. Realizing the impracticality of his suggestion, Rensley blushed. Despite the deepening bond in their relationship—resembling that of a teacher aiding a student with exams or friends training together—Gezell remained the reigning king. He couldn’t simply mount a horse and roam freely. His every move would necessitate the coordinated effort of knights and other attendants. Moreover, it seemed unnecessary to inconvenience so many people for a mere whim.
“I’m sorry. I said something strange. I’ll go by myself. Or maybe with those guys over there. It must be difficult for Your Grace to leave the castle without any specific reason.”
Rensley bowed slightly, retreated, and took the reins of Marilyn, who was standing at a distance. “Thank you for your hard work today. Everything went well because of you.” Whispering compliments, he walked away, and from behind, a familiar voice was heard.
“I understand.”
“…Huh?”
“Let’s go together. It’s not bad to go outside the castle once in a while.”
In response to the unexpected statement, Rensley stood still in a daze as the stableman Hans brought Gezell Jivendad’s horse.
Gezell’s horse had black fur, and its name was Roan. It wore thick outerwear, including a hat, gloves, and a scarf that had been brought for Rensley.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes, yes!”
Before Gezell could change his mind, Rensley quickly mounted Marilyn. As the Duke began to move, Anton and some knights followed. Despite regretting the unnecessary words he had brought up, Rensley didn’t refuse or decline the request and followed him.
When the outer wall gate of the Ducal Castle opened, a long bridge appeared. Rensley recalled the night he had first crossed this bridge. The cold, empty moon, the eyes and ice reflecting the moonlight bluish, and the dark and ominous coniferous forest resembled a dormant giant.
Today, instead of the moon, the sun was shining. The snow and ice, still unmelted and firmly in place, sparkled with a faint glimmer. The deep blue forest seemed inviting for a stroll on a day when the weather was clearing.
As they crossed the bridge, the residential area of the massive fortress Roudken came into view. Neatly arranged buildings stood in rows, and there were far more people moving around than inside the Duke’s castle.
Despite the cold weather, the square was lively with various workers and merchants actively engaged in their tasks. Though it lacked the vibrancy of Cornia with entertainers, acrobats, musicians, and street poets, there was still a warm atmosphere unique to places where diligent people gathered.
People who were initially surprised by the unexpected visit of the ruler turned their heads and bowed as they saw Gezell pass by. Unlike Rensley, who was busy looking around, Gezell moved forward, looking straight ahead.
After a while, the gates of the fortress appeared. The gatekeeper, whether informed or not, opened the gate without much surprise. It was the very gate that Rensley passed through, wrapped in thick clothes and a veil, trembling from hunger and cold, enduring the ordeal.
“Ha.”
Rensley let out a short sigh. It was just as Gezell had warned. Stepping outside the gate, a cold wind awaited him, hitting his face as if it were waiting. The sound of the air splitting, “whoosh,” resonated painfully in his ears. Having difficulty breathing, Rensley covered his nose and mouth with gloved hands.
The dreadful cold, which he had forgotten while staying in the warm fortress, was now impossible to ignore. The biting wind served as a harsh reminder of what it meant to be so cold that tears could freeze. Gezell, clad in thicker clothes than usual, warned him in a tone that seemed to say, ‘I told you so.’
“There’s no protective wall against the outside wind, unlike inside the fortress.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
However, the scenery that met Rensley’s eyes had completely changed. It was not the same as the night he arrived; now it was daytime.
On that night, Rensley, seated on a baggage cart drawn by a horse, appeared as nothing more than a forsaken baggage handler. Among the onlookers referred to as ‘attendants,’ there was not a soul willing to utter a word, even if he were to sit huddled, tears streaming down his face from the biting cold.
The slow, rhythmic hoofbeats reached their ears. Rensley, lost in memories of his first night in Aldrant, turned his head. The Duke, who had silently approached without his notice, gazed at him with an expression of concern.
“Aren’t you cold? I brought a fur cloak, so cover yourself more. Falling ill would pose a significant concern.”
“I’m fine, perhaps because I’m in a good mood, but the cold feels refreshing today.”
Rensley answered with a smile. Many things have changed since that day.
He gazed into the distance, where the evening sun cast a warm glow across the rapidly moving northern sky. As the sky transformed into a canvas of red hues, the expansive field, once concealed from view, gradually unveiled itself beneath a reddish tint of snow.
On the horizon, the remaining trees, adorned with snow-laden branches, transitioned from a coral-like brilliance to a profound shadow. Weeds, resilient in the frigid ground, stood tall with long, slender leaves, sporadically reaching skyward.
The road, initially appearing cold and desolate, revealed itself as a place of subtle intricacies when observed closely, beckoning for more than just a passing glance.
Inhaling deeply, Rensley immersed himself in the moment.
The winter field before him remained cold and vast, yet its beauty resonated with the same grandeur as its chill.
<End of Volume 1>
TL/N This volume delved more into character and world building but we’re gonna have many more beautiful moments between Rensley and Gezell~ Thank you for reading this far and see you tomorrow for volume two~
PS Grab Winter Field’s role in the discord channel to stay updated <3
Gezell and Rensley Official Art (which I found at the end of Volume 2’s epub but let’s just put it here~)
Last few paragraphs were poetic to read. Its like situation changes your perception.
Even the bone chilling winter becomes inviting when you feel at home.
And Ofcourse not to forget you have someone by your side now who makes you feel at Home. ( ◜‿◝ )♡
As you mentioned World Building. Its remarkably well done.
This Novel’s a Hidden Gem .
Thank you so much for Uploading. This Slow , Soft Love is worth the wait 💚💖🧡
thanks for ur support <333
Oh lord ! Just saw this Art 🤤🤤🤤
Warm Cuddles ❤️ Size difference 💘
Gezell was bit shocked in this chapter. Ren Ren ~ has too many friends 😹
I- I- thought Gezell was black… 💀
I dont remember why i thought that way but it doesn’t matter they’re so cute 🥺
Thanky for the choapta
🫂
Ur welcomeee😂💛💛
Eh ? Its People from snow land who are usually pale , its southerners who carry more melanin 😄😅
Exactly!! That’s why I was confused at first as to why they made Gezell black but it didn’t matter much now it turns out he wasn’t. 😂
The last paragraph was so well written ! I literally felt like I was in there with them . Thank you so much for the update !
ur welcomeee💛💛😊
The story captivates you magically… !!
Even Gezell was charmed by Ren.. and wanted to call him by that name. They both are falling for each other slowly and gradually.
Thankyou so much 💕
I’m soooo glad you’re enjoying this~😁💛