Ch 4- Escorting By Ice Wolf
1038 Words
Seraphina's heart was still doing frantic cartwheels as Duke Adrian kept one steadying hand on her elbow. His grip wasn't painful,just firm enough to remind her that escaping a man who commanded ten thousand northern soldiers wasn't happening today.
They walked down the hallway in silence, her slippers whispering against marble while his boots struck with measured authority.
Every few steps she expected the lecture. In the novel, Adrian had always been Liliana's shadowy protector. He'd cornered original Seraphina multiple times with cold warnings: Touch the princess again and I'll ensure your family's ruin. Classic anti-hero stuff.
But he said nothing. Just escorted her like a gentleman who definitely had a dagger hidden somewhere.
This is wrong, Seraphina thought, sneaking a glance at his sharp profile. Where's the threats? The "stay away from my future waifu" speech? Why is he being… helpful?
They reached her bedroom door. Adrian pushed it open with one hand, scanning the room with those silver eyes like he expected assassins behind the curtains.
Only after confirming it was safe did he release her.
Seraphina stepped inside, putting deliberate distance between them. She clasped her hands in front of her like a proper lady, trying to look small and non-threatening. "Thank you again, Your Grace. For the, uh, mid-air rescue. I'll just… rest now. Probably die of embarrassment. Standard Tuesday."
Adrian didn't leave. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, studying her with unnerving intensity. The scar on his cheek caught the light from the window.
"You must have stabbed me by now," he said finally, voice low and edged with something almost like dry humor. "Or at least insulted my northern bloodline. Are you sick, Lady Valtoria?"
Seraphina blinked. "Stabbed---? I mean, that seems excessive. I don't even carry sharp objects. Except maybe hairpins, but those are for emergencies only."
He raised an eyebrow. The original Seraphina would have already sneered something cutting about his "barbarian manners." This version just looked… flustered. Almost cute in her panic.
Before he could reply, hurried footsteps approached. Young maid Lily appeared, curtsying deeply. "My lady, Your Grace,Duke Valtoria requests both of you in his study immediately. The discussions on the northern alliance cannot wait."
Seraphina's stomach twisted. Great. From stair-related death to political death. No in-between.
Adrian offered his arm again. "Shall we?"
She took it reluctantly, her fingers barely touching his sleeve as if he might bite. Low profile. Demure. Silent. You are furniture. Elegant, quiet furniture.
Duke Valtoria's study smelled of old books, ink, and expensive pipe smoke. Heavy oak desk, maps of the empire spread across it, and two guards standing at attention. Her father sat like the powerful duke he was,silver-haired, stern, clearly wondering what chaos his daughter had caused this time.
Adrian guided her to a chair before taking his own seat across the table. Seraphina folded her hands in her lap, eyes down, channeling every "proper noble lady" vibe she could remember from historical dramas. Speak only when spoken to. No slang. No business ideas. Just nod and smile.
Her father cleared his throat. "Duke Valdermoth, thank you for coming on short notice. The border threats from the western tribes require coordinated action. Your troops and our Valtoria resources---"
Seraphina stayed silent. Perfect. Demure. Invisible.
Until her brain, running on pure modern anxiety and zero filter, decided otherwise.
"The real issue isn't just troops," she blurted suddenly. "It's the trade routes. The mountain passes get snowed in half the year, right? You're losing weeks of supply movement. What if we establish a relay system with waystations every twenty miles? Heated shelters, horse rotations, maybe even some basic magical heating crystals if that's a thing here. Cut transit time by forty percent, boost trade revenue, and your army stays fed without bankrupting the northern treasury. It's basically just-in-time logistics."
Dead silence.
Seraphina froze, realizing too late what she'd done. Her cheeks burned. Oh my god, Elena, you absolute nerd. You were supposed to be wallpaper!
Duke Valtoria stared at her like she'd grown horns. "Seraphina…?"
Adrian's silver eyes sharpened with genuine interest. He leaned forward slightly, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his mouth. "Continue, Lady Valtoria. This is… unexpected."
Her father recovered first. "Explain the relay system in more detail."
Seraphina swallowed hard, nervousness making the words tumble out faster. "Well… um. In,uh in theory, you map the high-risk snow zones and build small fortified posts. Merchants and soldiers pay a small fee to use them, which funds maintenance. It creates a self-sustaining network. Reduces ambush risks too because patrols can rotate easier. I read about something similar in… a very old scroll. Yes. Ancient scroll. Definitely not from another world."
Adrian watched her with that same unnerving focus from earlier. No disgust. No suspicion of schemes against Liliana. Just raw, calculating fascination. Like she'd suddenly become a puzzle he wanted to solve.
Duke Valtoria stroked his chin. "It has merit. The cost would be high initially, but the long-term gains…"
"Impressive," Adrian said quietly, his gaze never leaving her face. "You've never shown interest in logistics before, Lady Valtoria. Nor such… practical thinking."
Seraphina wanted to sink through the floor. Great. Now the secret villain is impressed. This is how the engagement flag gets raised. Abort! Retreat!
She tried to go back to demure mode. "It was just a silly idea, Your Grace. Please ignore me."
But the damage was done. The two dukes dove into discussion, incorporating her suggestion, occasionally glancing at her with new respect. Adrian especially,his cold expression had thawed into something dangerously close to intrigue.
As the meeting wrapped, Adrian stood and offered her his arm once more. "It seems I was wrong earlier," he murmured so only she could hear. "You're not sick. You're… different. I find myself curious about what caused the change."
Seraphina's modern brain supplied- Truck accident and genre awareness, my guy.
Out loud she managed a weak laugh. "Just a wake-up call, Your Grace. Nothing dramatic."
His silver eyes lingered. "We'll see."
As he escorted her out, Seraphina realized with dawning horror that her "avoid all capture targets" plan was crumbling faster than her dignity on those stairs.
And worst of all? Liliana was not quiet for long either....
- Writer
