The man’s cheeks protruding in the candy’s shape looked funny and unique.

“It tasted okay, right? Can you taste the sweet-and-sourness of it?”

“Not bad.”

At the same time, Cherryl heard the candy crackle in his mouth.

Wasn’t it good?

Or was it because it was too good?

As she searched Cade’s face, whose intentions Cherryl could not read, the wrapper rustled as she peeled it from the candy before shoving it in her parted lips.

Eating it in the morning felt good since the taste had a perfect freshness.

One had to keep it in their mouth for a long time to savor it, but seeing that Cade had finished it quickly, he must be alright with it.

“I don’t like sweet things that much.”

Cherryl had brought some chocolates in her luggage.

Perhaps, she could recommend that to him later.

Time spent in the carriage flew by.

The greeneries in the South’s central region gradually faded as they headed closer to the North.

A huge coniferous forest had now surrounded their carriage.

It was midday but the windows were steaming with cold air brushing against their exposed skin, leaving invisible traces in their pores.

Cherryl intuitively noticed that she was approaching the North.

Thanks to the carriage’s full speed, they were able to arrive earlier than expected.

Carlsvik, the Blkanov estate located just below the Northern Border, was a desolate land that the sunlight rarely reached.

Wild-lings also invaded this territory on a frequent basis.

***

By the time their carriage entered Carlsvik, the sun was hanging at the end of the horizon.

The distance of the ground they had covered was so wide that the moment they arrived at the fortress’ main gate, the sun had already set and darkness had shrouded them completely.

The massive, heavy iron gate, incomparable to the one in Milrose Mansion, greeted their party.

Even after passing through it, it took a long time for Cherryl to adjust to her new surroundings.

‘Wow. I could finally see why they call it a castle, not a mansion.’

It was only natural for the castle’s grandeur to intimidate her as it stood magnificently against the backdrop of a dim ridge.

Cherryl couldn’t find any gold frames or colorful patterns which should have been common in royal palaces or high-ranking aristocrats’ castles.

Cade’s spooky castle was strictly built in black, roughened bricks.

It also served as the exterior of the Blkanov family, who had ruled the stark territories of Carlsvik and the entire North.

‘I think a vampire would come out of this castle anytime.’

Brick mansions with bright colors of milk and ivory were usually rampant in the South’s Central Region.

Since she was used to those sceneries, looking around at Cade’s home, it felt like she was in one of those tourist destinations.

After crossing a moat bridge, she noticed something particular while looking around at the carriage window.

“What is that building?”

Cherryl pointed at a large building right in front of the castle.

The location appeared to be where servants and guards could live.

“Is that where your servants live?”

Cade looked unimpressed when he glanced at her.

“It’s a dog house, My Lady.”

“I see.”

Her hand slipped out of the window.

How could a dog house look as big as a family home?

Outside, the dog house appeared as gloomy as the Blkanov castle.

She couldn’t imagine cute, curly-haired little dogs living in this place.

“The dog house is impressive, Your Grace.”

“I bring a hound with me every time I go to the border, so I raise several of them. It’s not a dog, but a——”

Cherryl peeked at his countenance.

“Are they wolves, Your Grace?”

The Balkans, a heterogeneous tribe that inherited animal blood from its ancestors, could tame wolves.

Cade, the chief of this tribe, treated wolves like pets.

Still, it was a completely different story for an outsider like Cherryl.

“The kennel is fierce and vigilant when it comes to strangers. He wouldn’t hesitate to bite you, so don’t approach him.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

She had to pass by that dog house to enter and exit the Great Wall.

Was she mistaken, or did Cade’s words sound like a warning not to go near the Castle’s entrance and exit?

So far, she had seen the iron gate, the moat bridge, and the dog house earlier.

The security was tighter than she expected.

It wasn’t like she was planning to sneak out of here right now, but it was unfortunate that she couldn’t even dream about it.

It was somewhat regrettable for Cherryl since she sometimes enjoyed rebelling against the Marquis by going out without informing him of her destination.

The carriage soon stopped.

Taking Cade’s hand, Cherryl slowly set one foot on the floor and cringed without realizing it.

“It’s cold.” Cherryl expelled a visible breath into the atmosphere as soon as she said that.

Her teeth chattered as the biting wind pricked the expanse of her skin.

She didn’t expect to experience the northern weather she had only heard of.

Cade’s brows furrowed as he watched her wrap herself in her arms.

“Do you get cold easily, My Lady?”

“Not really.”

The North was just too cold for her.

Before she knew it, Cade moved closer to give her a warm hug.

She could smell a delicious scent wafting from him but she couldn’t afford to jerk away from shock because it was too cold.

As Cherryl continued to shudder like a wet rabbit, Cade put a thick blanket around her shoulders.

Contrary to his calm countenance, he wrapped the blanket tightly around her figure to keep the cold air out.

Then, the man’s long fingers inadvertently brushed against the back of her neck.

The sensation of his fingers staying in that sensitive area felt strange, making her shiver once again.

Cade seemed to take it lightly.

“You’re cold. You’d better go inside first.”

“Aren’t you cold?”

She managed to ask the question with gritted teeth.

It wasn’t only him who was unaffected.

His subordinates, who just got off their carriages, carried on casually.