Ragnar has been away a lot lately, despondent. The ravages of the fiends in the north had increased exponentially. So he continued to leave the castle.

Christa hadn’t seen him much lately, and that’s why she’d been feeling down all day – she missed him so much she couldn’t stand it.

She even wondered if she should accompany him on his next demon slaying.

“Doesn’t that sound like a good…… idea?”

She could stay with him in the slaughter, or she could help Ragnar. Come to think of it, she was better suited for this.

Christa made a mental note to ask Ragnar to let her join him when he came. She couldn’t wait to see him.

When she opened her jewelry box during her morning routine, she saw the ring Elio had given her. She couldn’t bear to throw it away, so she kept it in her jewelry box.

The crown prince hadn’t been seen since that day, apparently resting quietly in Varus, just as he’d said he would.

The ring he had given her was the only way she could communicate with him.

‘The time will come when you need my help. When that time comes, use this ring to contact me.’

As he let her go that day, he left her with these words.

‘You will surely come back to me.’

How could he be so sure? But Elio was wrong.

There was no great lie in his words; Ragnar had indeed said that he had killed my sister. But Elio overlooked one thing.

‘There is no way I will abandon Ragnar and go to him.’

Christa took the green tin ring in her hand and glanced at it. The glimpse of green light made her feel sick.

Reuniting with the crown prince. No way, she thought, and drifted off to sleep.

“You’re all set.”

Hilda, who had skillfully braided her hair in the meantime, showed her the mirror.

“Oh, thank you.”

I barely stifled a yawn as I rubbed my sleepy eyes, but then Annette spoke up.

“The knights said they’ll probably be back next week.”

The knights will be back soon from their slaughter of the demons, and the thought of seeing Ragnar, whom she’s only seen for a few days, sends a tinge of joy through her.

“I see.”

Her cheeks warm.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been sleeping a bit more lately.”

“She often oversleeps in the mornings, too.”

“Oh……. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no, the doctor said the other day that you should get more sleep.”

“Well, they say beautiful people sleep a lot.”

They laugh at such banter.

***

Lately, Christa had been learning to embroider a little from Hilda and Annette, and their handiwork was truly remarkable, teasing the needle a little, and before you knew it, it becomes flowers and butterflies and lions.

“It’s hard…….”

Actually, what Christa was making was a handkerchief. Since she knew in advance that she was going to receive the couple sword from Ragnar, she wanted to present something to him, so she consulted her handmaidens.

“Then why don’t you make a handkerchief?”

She was suggested what to make.

“A handkerchief?”

She doubted Ragnar would need such a piece of cloth, but the handmaidens were excited about the idea. However, Christa realized after the last time she embroidered that she had no talent for such things.

“Handkerchiefs are all the rage among knights these days.”

“The last time I was in the capital, every knight had a handkerchief in his hat or front pocket.”

It was a fashionable thing to do in the capital, and the maids seem to be well-informed about fashion.

“We’ll make one, too, so we can make one together Madam, right?”

“Do you mean to say that you will also make handkerchiefs for the knights?”

I ask, and their eyes narrow. Annette thought intently.

“Hmmm, let’s see. I don’t have any knight in mind yet.”

“Oh my, Annette, didn’t you say you liked Sven the other day?”

“That drunkard? I got tired of seeing him dancing naked on the ramparts last winter. Wouldn’t you rather have Karl than him?”

“Karl’s all muscle to the brain. Besides, he’s so dull he’s no fun to be around.”

For some reason, talking about men gave her a glimpse into their rigid view of masculinity. The room was filled with cheerful laughter. It seemed that women in the north were quite free to meet the opposite sex. It was interesting to see how different it was from the customs at the center.

“By the way, how’s the lady doing these days?”

“Ah, that…….”

If they ask how she’s been, they’re probably asking about her relationship with Ragnar.

Hilda poked Annette in the side and gave her a small scolding.

“Silly, the Duke is busy these days.”

Christa didn’t know what to say, so she held onto her sutle and remained still.

“My lady, when we finish these handkerchiefs, we’ll make lace.”

“A lace?”

I ask, suddenly wondering why such a thing would be necessary, and Annette giggles cheerfully.

“I thought that if you put it over your underwear like this…… the Duke would like it!”

“Oh my, Annette.”

Hilda laughs loudly and dismissively. Then she whispers in a low voice.

“By the way, they say the underwear does work since my sister says it can ease the boredom in a marriage…….”

Already, Christa’s cheeks are rosy. They were better at talking boldly than they looked.

“That, that’s not…….”

Christa stammered.

“Well, you two are so fond of each other…….”

“I don’t think you’re going to have any boredom coming your way.”

“But just in case, you should make some lace!”

The two women’s eyes narrowed. The maids already knew enough about their situation. Heat rushed to her cheeks in an unnecessary flush of embarrassment, and Christa coughed and fumbled with her hands.

“That, uh……. What’s for lunch today?”

She was trying to change the subject abruptly, but she was also genuinely curious.

She was always hungry these days. She had just eaten a big breakfast and now she was feeling hungry again.

“Your Ladyship seems to have a very good appetite today.”

At lunch, Joachim said.

“Ah, this meat dish is really good today.”

As Christa shows signs of eagerness to eat, Joachim wanders over to retrieve something with a cheerful expression on his face.

“All I can tell you is that this mint sauce on top of this lamb is the right choice.”

Indeed, the minty freshness of the sauce on top of the well-seared lamb makes it even more appetizing. Christa was more greedy than usual, popping bites into her mouth.