The Spring Summoner and the Winter Duke

The Knight and the Lady

Just as she reached the grand foyer, she once again meets the chamberlain Joachim. His brows furrowed slightly in confusion as he saw her running down the halls like a child who had forgotten her manners.

“Your Grace,” he called out, bowing slightly. “Might I ask where you are headed with such... enthusiasm?”

Adelaide, barely able to contain her laughter, skidded to a stop in front of him. "Oh, just down to see the town!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “The Duke even recommended I get to know the North better.” She paused, biting her lip as her laughter threatened to spill over again.

Well, that wasn’t exactly what he’d said, but close enough.

The chamberlain raised a brow at her, clearly skeptical but unwilling to argue. “I see, Your Grace,” he replied cautiously. “Give me a moment, and I shall have the carriage prepared for your journey.”

Adelaide nodded eagerly. “That sounds perfect!” she said, clasping her hands together. As the chamberlain disappeared to arrange for her departure, she could hardly stand still, bouncing on her toes as the thrill of adventure hummed through her veins.

Moments later, the carriage rolled up to the entrance, its polished wood gleaming against the backdrop of frost-covered stone. Adelaide’s smile, which had been ever-present until now, faltered slightly when she noticed something else rolling up alongside it—a long line of knights, all fully armored, their polished helms reflecting the pale sunlight. The cold air around them seemed even colder for their presence, their heavy boots sinking into the snow as they dismounted from their horses.

Her stomach sank. This was not what she had in mind.

“What’s all this?” she asked, eyes wide as she gestured toward the line of knights.

“The Duke’s orders, Your Grace,” the chamberlain replied calmly. “You are to be protected.”

“Protected? From what?” Adelaide exclaimed, her voice growing slightly higher in pitch. Adelaide sighed in exasperation, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’m only going into town. Town. There’s no need for all this,” she gestured again to the knights, their swords glinting like a mockery of her simple day trip. “It’s Icescar, not the border wall! I’m not being sent to battle demons!”

The chamberlain stood firm, though his expression softened just slightly at her obvious frustration. “It is the Duke’s wish that you are protected, my lady,” he repeated. “It would be improper for you to travel unguarded.”

She groaned, the sound escaping her lips before she could stop it. Huffing in agitation, she crossed her arms over her chest, staring down the chamberlain and the knights, her earlier cheerfulness completely gone. “One knight,” she declared, her eyes sharp with determination. “That’s all I’ll take. Any more than that is ridiculous.”

The chamberlain hesitated, clearly torn between following the Duke’s orders and placating the spirited Duchess. “But Your Grace—”

“I’m going to town, not leading a campaign!” she interrupted, shaking her head, her voice firm. “I’ll take one knight, and that’s final.”

The chamberlain, knowing he was on thin ice, finally bowed. “As you wish, my lady.”

Adelaide’s eyes softened just a fraction. “Thank you. Now, let me choose the knight.”

A ripple of anticipation spread through the hall as Adelaide turned, her gaze sweeping across the gathered guards. She took a step forward, surveying them carefully. The knights of Aurenfell, clad in their heavy winter cloaks and armor, each stood tall and imposing, their breath misting in the cold as they waited for her decision. She could feel the weight of their scrutiny as well—though none dared to meet her gaze directly.

Her eyes lingered on each face, searching for something. Strength? Certainly. Capability? Of course. But beyond that… she wanted someone who wasn’t weighed down by formalities, someone who could roll with the tempest that seemed to follow her wherever she went. She didn’t have time for stuffy knights too steeped in protocol.

Then, her gaze landed on a figure near the back of the group. A tall, broad-shouldered knight, their face mostly hidden beneath the shadow of a fur-lined hood. There was something about their posture—relaxed but ready. The knight wasn’t puffing out their chest, wasn’t angling for attention. They stood quietly, apart from the others, a wolf in waiting.

“You,” Adelaide said, pointing at the knight. “Step forward.”

The chosen knight strode forward with an easy, confident gait, the sound of their boots echoing faintly in the wide marble hall. As they approached, they pushed back the hood, revealing a woman in her early thirties with sharp, chiseled features and piercing grey eyes that seemed to shimmer like ice in the winter sun. Her short, silver-streaked hair was cropped close to her head, and a scar traced a thin, almost imperceptible line down her cheek, adding to her air of quiet menace.

She stopped a few feet away from Adelaide, bowing her head respectfully. “My lady.”

“What is your name?” Adelaide asked, intrigued.

“Dame Lorrain, of the Northern Watch,” the knight responded, her voice deep and steady.

Adelaide raised an eyebrow, recognizing the name immediately. The Northern Watch was a prestigious order, known for their ruthless efficiency and unwavering loyalty to Aurenfell. It made sense that a knight of the Watch would be stationed at the duchy, but Adelaide hadn’t expected one to be so... unassuming.

“Are you any good with a sword, Dame Lorrain?” Adelaide asked, though there was a teasing lilt to her voice.

A ghost of a smile flickered across the knight’s lips. “I would hope so, my lady. It’s been my profession for over a decade.”

Adelaide grinned, liking the knight’s calm demeanor. “Well then, Dame Lorrain, I think you’ll do just fine.” She turned to the chamberlain. “This is the knight I’ll be taking with me.”

The chamberlain bowed, clearly relieved that the matter was settled. “As you wish, my lady.”

With that, the party was set: Dame Lorrain, Elaine, Amelie, and Adelaide herself. Adelaide turned on her heel, her boots clicking against the stone floor as she made her way to the waiting carriage. Dame Lorrain opened the carriage door and offered her hand and Adelaide took it, but something caught her attention.

There, in the shadows of a large window, stood the Duke. He was watching her, his cold, grey eyes peering out from his study like a hawk surveying the land below. Papers were clutched in one of his hands, but they seemed forgotten as his attention rested solely on her.

A playful smile tugged at Adelaide’s lips as their eyes met. She raised her hand in an exaggerated wave, her voice light and full of mischief.

"Going to town! I’ll be back!" she called up, her words carrying easily in the crisp Northern air.

For a brief moment, the Duke's composed expression faltered. His eyes widened in mild surprise. But, as quickly as the surprise appeared, it was masked, replaced by that familiar cool.

Yet, curiously, he didn’t move from his spot.

Adelaide giggled softly. With light steps, she accepted Dame Lorrain's help and climbed into the carriage. The carriage ride to Icescar was quick and pleasant. Amelie, seated across from Adelaide, kept herself occupied by recounting bits of local history, her voice carrying softly over the sound of the carriage wheels crunching through the snow.

"According to Aurenfell folklore," Amelie began, her breath fogging in the cold, "a mythical Frost Wolf roams the northern mountains, guarding the duchy from invaders. Some believe the wolf is the spirit of the First Winter Duke, watching over his descendants."

Adelaide smiled, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "A Frost Wolf? How appropriate for a land like this. It must make for quite the story around the hearth."

Amelie nodded, her cheeks tinged pink from the cold seeping into the carriage. "It is said that knights who encounter the Frost Wolf in their dreams are destined for greatness."

Adelaide leaned back, gazing out the frosted window as the towering buildings of Icescar came into view. The bustling market town was alive with the sights and sounds of commerce. The Ice Market was the beating heart of it all, a vast sprawl of tents and stalls, brightly colored against the snow-covered streets. The air was filled with the scent of roasted meats and burning wood, and the distant clang of metal on metal as blacksmiths hammered away at enchanted gear.

When the carriage finally rolled to a stop, Adelaide practically bounded out, her fur-lined boots sinking into the soft snow. She inhaled deeply, her breath a visible puff in the icy air as she took in the scene. The market was alive with activity—traders haggling over furs, winter crops, and even demon parts harvested from the Aedra incursions.

"This is wonderful!" Adelaide exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "Just look at it all—so much life here!"

Elaine and Amelie exchanged glances, smiling at their mistress’s enthusiasm. Dame Lorrain, standing stoically nearby, observed the bustling market with a quiet intensity, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, always prepared.

Adelaide turned to them, her cheeks flushed from the cold and the excitement. "Come on then! We’ve daylight to burn, and I want to see everything this market has to offer."