The Northern Grand Duke’s Hamster

The North, where the festival had begun in earnest, was so lively that it made people forget the chill of winter.

‘Why do they hold such a grand festival in a season when there’s no harvest to celebrate?’

With the cold wind blowing day and night, even finding flowers for the festival was difficult, making them incredibly expensive. It wasn’t Thanksgiving, nor was it spring… Did it really have to be in winter?

“Because the days are short.”

Sen answered my question clearly.

“This is the season when there’s the least to do. When the amount of sunlight decreases, people become more prone to depression. Apathy can rot a person’s heart. The poor are the first to starve to death, and it’s common for those who despair to take their own lives.”

Oh… I hadn’t considered that.

I looked up at the crimson sky beyond the castle walls. Even though it was still daytime, the surroundings were already dark.

“That’s why His Highness deliberately makes the coldest and darkest time of the year the most lively. He spares no expense, using the food reserves gathered throughout the year to sustain this one week. He buys the goods of his people at high prices, and the nobles invited from various regions spend money, allowing merchants to breathe easier. The gifts he receives are redistributed to the people, helping them endure until spring.”

So it wasn’t just about picking a few days to party. Being a lord wasn’t for just anyone. I was honestly impressed.

“Prince Kyle will be giving a speech soon for the charity event. Want to go watch?”

I nodded.

I had time to spare anyway. I had been planning to meet Belial, but she had gone outside the castle to look around, so I had nothing in particular to do. Now that my ‘Reload’ duration had doubled, I could afford to indulge in luxuries like this.

“Do they sell food on the streets?”

“You haven’t tried North’s festival food? Oh, no, that won’t do. Today’s on me! Hurry, follow me!”

The place Sen led me to was bustling and dazzlingly bright.

‘Wow, there’s so much food.’

Amber-colored, glistening candies, dried apples, skewered monster meat, and deep-fried pastries drenched in caramel sauce—everywhere I looked, the streets were overflowing with treats that delighted the eyes, nose, and mouth.

‘Surprisingly, this place is pretty nice to live in.’

Good food naturally fosters affection for the land. I accepted everything Sen bought for me without hesitation, savoring the lively atmosphere of the festival.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duke!”

“Thank you, my lord!”

It was a surprisingly refreshing experience. Watching Kyle’s speech from a distance was the same.

Seeing him up close, knowing I could reach him whenever I wanted, was nice. But the ‘Lord of Blake,’ standing far away yet still exuding his overwhelming presence, was just as striking.

With an expressionless face that seemed cold and ruthless, he surveyed his people.

If one didn’t know anything, only judging by appearances, they might mistake him for a tyrant or a villain.

But I knew that wasn’t the case at all. Even though I hadn’t spent much time with him, I understood this much. How much more would the people who had lived and toiled beside him in this land know?

“Coming to the North was the right choice.”

“Of course! If it weren’t for His Highness, we’d all have starved to death years ago.”

That was a reality that couldn’t be captured in a few lines of text—it was the raw, living truth of someone’s life. Even in the biting winter wind, there was an undying energy, passion, and an unyielding will to survive.

“They say he’s a cold and merciless Grand Duke…”

Where? In what way? Compared to what I’d read in books, the real thing was much more to my liking.

“Here, Shu, try this too.”

I had been so lost in thought, staring at Kyle, that I didn’t notice Sen approaching with fruit skewers coated in honey.

I bit into it, and a crisp sound accompanied the burst of juice. Perhaps because it had survived the harsh northern climate, the fruit was firm and delicious. The only issue was that I was already on my fourth skewer.

It had been a satisfying hour—delicious food, lively people, and a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere.

Even though I knew it was time to return, I couldn’t help but glance back. My eyes kept drifting toward Kyle, who was personally handing out supplies to the people.

Yeah. Deciding to save you was definitely the right choice.

“The problem is whether you can even stay alive in that state…”

“What did you say?”

“…Ah, nothing. Just talking to myself. Thanks for the snacks. I’ll be heading back now.”

Sen tilted her head.

“Where do you keep running off to every day? I’ve never seen you stay longer than an hour.”

“Well… I have my reasons.”

I wanted to stay longer too. There were still so many things I hadn’t tried yet.

That beer… those handmade sausages… what was that jerky made from monsters? Just thinking about it made my mouth water.

In the end, I returned to the castle with a bag of snacks in my arms.

‘I should get back home before Kyle returns.’

I couldn’t have our ever-worrying prince flipping his study upside down looking for his missing hamster.

But there was another problem I had overlooked.

“Cashew Nut, as long as you’re healthy, I have nothing more to ask for…”

That day, I was so full that I ended up not eating anything again. Kyle even tried to make me eat by pushing a macadamia nut into my mouth, but I couldn’t be bothered.

The mage still said he couldn’t sense any flow of mana from me. When he suggested injecting mana into me regularly to increase my sensitivity to it, Kyle’s expression darkened.

Kyle carefully wrapped me in a handkerchief and let me sleep in his bedroom. But what could I do? I had slept so much during the day that I wasn’t sleepy at all.

I spent my time tossing and turning, watching Kyle as he tried to fall asleep.

‘He’s handsome…’

So this is what it means to have a face that’s fun just to look at.

No matter how much I look at him, I never get tired of it.

***

I was seriously troubled.

I had found out where Belial’s room was. However, with the knights standing guard in front of his door, even just passing by felt awkward.

Was it a royal tradition to station guards at their doors? What a rigid way to live.

Sigh, this is why people should just listen. I’m going out of my way to save their lives, and yet not a single one of them takes me seriously? That damned chandelier! Was it so offensive for me to ask them to check the thing? These fools have no sense of danger!

Today marked the third day I had been lingering near Belial’s quarters. But what else could I do? If my words had no weight, I had no choice but to speak directly to someone who did.

With the grand banquet drawing near, if I kept wasting time like this, I’d end up having to throw myself in front of the chandelier to stop it.

If I couldn’t meet him today, I’d have no choice but to climb through his window.

“Ah!”

At that moment, I spotted Belial walking toward me from the opposite end of the corridor. As always, several knights accompanied him, but if I stood on my toes, I could at least see his face.

I rushed toward him in a single sprint. There was no time to think. If not now, I wouldn’t get another chance. Naturally, my voice came out desperate.

“Your Highness!”

Clank.

The moment Belial’s green eyes landed on me, the knights simultaneously drew their swords and pointed them at my neck. The cold steel pressed in from all directions, as if tightening around my throat.

At this rate, I might cut myself just by swallowing. Can we not be so aggressive? I just called out to the prince, that’s all.

“Uh, this is a bit much…”

Wasn’t this overkill for someone who wasn’t even armed? Even if I went completely insane and pulled off a triple spin kick right now, I wouldn’t come anywhere close to touching Belial.

Belial raised his hand.

“It’s fine.”

The problem was that while the prince said it was fine, the knights clearly did not think so. The moment they sheathed their swords, they barked at me.

“Show proper respect to His Highness!”

What? How? Was I supposed to kneel or something?

Judging by their mood, that seemed to be the case. When I just stood there staring at them blankly, the air turned cold again.

‘Alright, alright. I get it.’

This damn filthy caste system.

“It’s not exactly an urgent matter that warrants this much attention…”

I spoke while bowing.

“Your Highness, please do not attend the banquet.”

I wasn’t particularly eloquent. Rather than beating around the bush and making things confusing, it was better to just state my point directly.

Belial took a step closer to me. From my lowered position, I saw his polished shoes enter my field of vision.

Damn, those shoes look expensive. Guess that’s the difference when you’re born into wealth.

“Only two days remain until the banquet, and now, suddenly?”

“Yes.”

“And I just received a personal invitation from the Grand Duke?”

“Yes.”

I answered flatly.

Why are you asking so much? You think that invitation is gonna stop a chandelier from falling? If you get crushed under it, it’s over in one hit, no matter who you are. You only have one life—use it wisely.

I slightly lifted my head.

“I’m telling you this for your sake.”

If you die, the future of the North crumbles.

Even as a mere pet hamster, I’m at least trying to be useful here.

“It almost sounds like you’re suggesting someone is planning to harm me at the banquet.”

Belial whispered as he stepped even closer. His voice was smooth and courteous, but his words were chilling.

“That’s not it.”

I answered without a hint of hesitation.

“If Prince Kyle wanted to kill you, he wouldn’t wait for the banquet. He would have already acted.”

Besides, Kyle doesn’t want to kill you. He may have imagined cutting your throat at least ten times in his head, but in reality, he would never do it.

He is the North. His actions are deeply tied to the future of this land. Kyle Blake understands responsibility. Unlike you, who came marching in just to stir up trouble.

“Interesting.”

Belial let out a low chuckle.

It must be a family thing—he and Kyle even spoke in the same way.

With a flick of his finger, he lifted my chin, forcing our eyes to meet. I didn’t think a person could be both warm and terrifying at the same time, but he managed it. In a way, it was impressive.

Of course, to anyone else, he probably just looked like a prince who had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.

“An unfamiliar face. You look… unique.”

Yeah, well, that’s because I’m Korean. If you walk around Hongdae, Sangsu, or Hapjeong, you’ll find at least five hundred people who look just like me.

“You don’t seem to be from the North. So why are you so desperate to warn me?”

How the hell was I supposed to answer that?

I couldn’t exactly say, Because I read about your future in a book, and I’d rather not see you flip out and destroy the North after getting hit by a chandelier.

If I told him that, one of those swords would slice through my neck immediately.

Somebody help me!

Isn’t there anyone who can conveniently step in and turn this into some fateful coincidence—?

“Perhaps…”

There was.

“Because he doesn’t want the two of you to fall out with each other?”

I turned my head sharply at the familiar voice.

Sen had appeared, casually inserting herself into the conversation while carrying a pile of hamster toys and snacks.

‘Yes! This is exactly what I needed!’

[(*≧▽≦)ﾉｼ))]

‘…Okay, maybe not that excited.’

But still, I was grateful.

Sen smiled as she approached.

Or was it just my imagination, or did she seem to be glowing?