The Spring Summoner and the Winter Duke

On Northern Winds

"My lady, I have one further task for you. Can you divine what it might be?" the Duke inquired, his expression carefully neutral.

Adelaide inclined her head, a playful gleam in her eye. "You wish me to make myself scarce at once?" she replied cheekily.

Duke Belfort’s lips twitched slightly. That was part of it, but admitting that would be too rude, even for him. He cleared his throat and said in his usual calm voice, "My lady, that is not wholly correct," he conceded, though the corner of his mouth quirked up briefly. "In truth, I ask quite the contrary."

Adelaide caught the faintest flicker of amusement on his face. For someone so cold and composed, he wasn’t immune to humour after all. The war between irritation and amusement playing out across his features intrigued her. This duke is funnier than I thought, she mused, resisting the urge to tease him further.

"You are the Duchess of Aurenfell now," the Duke continued, his voice regaining its usual seriousness, though his eyes remained slightly softer. "This grants you a position of no small significance."

She arched a brow, feigning curiosity. "And what would you have of me, Your Grace?" she inquired with a steady gaze.

"As Duchess, you hold great influence. It shall be expected of you to guide and safeguard this duchy," he replied, his eyes narrowing with purpose. "I can equip you with the knowledge you require to fulfil your duties, but I must first ask something of you."

Adelaide raised an eyebrow, her curiosity genuine now. "And what might that be?"

The Duke’s tone lowered, as if what he was about to say carried weight. "I need you to promise me that you won't run away from your duties as Duchess. You must help me protect this territory and its people."

Adelaide let out a light chuckle, waving a hand dismissively. "Well, that was a given!" she said with a smirk. "Were you worried I’d shirk my responsibilities just because this is a marriage of convenience?"

The Duke’s jaw clenched slightly, but he remained silent.

Sensing his unspoken doubts, Adelaide puffed her chest slightly. "I am one of the Four Great Elementalists of this generation, Your Grace. My duty to the Empire comes before any personal attachments. I’d protect the people of Aurenfell as the Spring Summoner even before doing so as its Duchess."

The Duke regarded her in silence for a moment, clearly weighing her words. The earnestness in her tone seemed to ease some of the tension he carried.

"Well... that does put my mind at ease," he admitted begrudgingly. "The people of the North aren’t accustomed to having a Duchess, but I hope they will see the effort you’re willing to give and come to accept you."

Adelaide’s smile softened, the teasing edge replaced with sincerity. "They’ll see it," she assured him. "I’ll make sure of it."

The Duke gave a curt nod, appreciating her resolve, even if his own doubts still lingered. "Then I'll leave you to rest," he said, trying to regain his usual formality. "Your journey here must have been taxing."

Adelaide waved her hand dismissively, flashing him a playful grin. "Don’t worry about me. I’m a flower, but I’m not delicate!" To emphasise her point, she flexed her arm, though she was so bundled in layers that there was no muscle to be seen.

The Duke snorted—genuinely this time. Adelaide caught his reaction and beamed, clearly proud to have made him laugh. But her grin faded as she paused, her expression shifting to something more thoughtful.

"Hm... Duke, I have a question."

He tilted his head. "Yes?"

"Is it true you don’t like physical touch?"

The Duke sighed a deep, tired sound. Who had flapped their lips about that? Still, he answered honestly, "It is an unfortunate truth."

Adelaide hummed in response, neither judgmental nor prying. "Well, thank you for entertaining me, then," she said with surprising gentleness.

The Duke blinked, caught off guard. He had expected more questions, maybe some teasing, but instead, she simply accepted it. Relief washed over him—he had no desire to dwell on that topic any longer.

"Yes, well... take this time to recuperate," he said, regaining his composure.

"Recuperate? No way!" Adelaide threw her hands up in mock protest. "I’m going into town! I don’t know how many hours of sunlight the North gets, so I need to make haste while it’s still day!"

And with that, she slipped out of the room, leaving the Duke standing there, both amused and bewildered. He shook his head slightly. A gale, he thought. That’s what she was—like a sudden, forceful wind, sweeping in and out of his life before he could catch his breath.

Adelaide happily retreated to her room where a meal waited for her. After finishing her meal—a savoury assortment of salad, soup, and grilled venison that left her satisfied—Adelaide glanced over at Clara and Amelie, noticing their subtle sighs of relief.

"What's wrong?" she asked curiously, wiping her lips with a napkin.

Clara hesitated for a moment before replying, "We were just worried you might be offended if we served you meat, madam."

Adelaide blinked, surprised at the thought. Then, with a soft laugh, she understood. Being the Spring Summoner must have given them the wrong impression—perhaps they thought her connection to nature meant she wouldn’t eat meat.

"Oh, don't be!" she reassured them with a wide smile. "I love meat! There’s nothing better than a roasted fish or a stuffed chicken breast. Meat is a good thing to eat!" She beamed, her eyes glazing over slightly as she daydreamed of her favourite dishes. The maids giggled at her enthusiasm, the tension in the room dissipating. After her meal, Adelaide leaned back, feeling energized. "You know," she said, her voice brimming with excitement, "I’ve been wanting to try dressing like a true Northerner!"

Clara and Amelie exchanged awkward glances, and Clara spoke up hesitantly. "We... we haven’t prepared any Northern-style clothes for a noble lady, Your Grace. While we do have coats available, we apologize for that oversight."

Adelaide waved her hand dismissively, completely understanding. "Oh, no need to apologize!" she said brightly. "It’s something new for me too. But, when we go shopping later, you’ll have to help me pick out the finest Northern outfits. Can I count on you?"

The maids smiled and nodded, happy to oblige. Adelaide, now bursting with more ideas, turned to her personal maids. "For now, I’d like you to stand back and let the Northern maids dress me. Take this opportunity to learn their style since I’ll be living here."

Her maids stepped aside, watching intently as Clara and Amelie, the two Northern maids, approached Adelaide with a mix of anticipation and pride. Together, they worked to prepare Adelaide for her first day in the Duchy.

The Northern look was simple but elegant. Clara left her hair loose, braiding two delicate strands at the front, which framed Adelaide’s face while the rest of her hair cascaded down her back. The dress they chose was a deep forest green, long-sleeved, and layered with a fur-lined coat that hugged her figure warmly. The coat, dyed in shades of grey and silver, bore intricate embroidery that symbolized the Frost Duchy, matching perfectly with the cold Northern winds outside.

When they were done, Adelaide stood before a large mirror, admiring the transformation. The style suited her more than she expected. She smiled at Clara and Amelie, clearly pleased.

"How do I look?" she asked, twirling slightly.

"Like a true Northerner, Your Grace," Clara said with a proud smile.

"Perfect," Adelaide grinned. "Now, I’m ready to face the North."

Adelaide took a few steps with the maids, the buds in her hair unfurling. Elaine could barely hold back her smile. Suddenly Adelaide dashed forward.

"My lady be careful!" Clara called.

"I'll be fine!" She called back giddy with excitement

Her feet barely touched the ground as she rushed down the hall. The corridor, lined with the cold stone walls of Aurenfell, suddenly came alive with delicate flowers blooming in her wake—small bursts of daisies, lavender, and peonies danced along the floor, their petals brushing against her heels in response to her joy. Her giggles, like the tinkling of bells, echoed throughout the otherwise quiet hall, a sound so foreign to the Frost Duchy that it stopped the Northern maids in their tracks. They watched her with wide eyes, awestruck as if witnessing magic for the first time.

Adelaide’s maids from the capital— Elaine, Cecily and Maris —couldn’t help but smile at the sight. They were used to their lady’s whimsical nature, her playful energy, but here, amidst the cold and seriousness of the North, she seemed even more radiant. It was as if the stiff walls of the fortress couldn't contain her exuberance.

As she ran, the fur-lined coat she wore swirled around her, catching the light from the sconces lining the corridor. The soft fabric brushed against her skin, a constant reminder of the warmth she carried within, even in the midst of the frozen north. Her breath came in small, excited puffs, and the slight chill in the air made her cheeks flush pink.

"Hurry, let's go!"