Published: August 10, 2026
Winter in the Dirts Kingdom was the longest and harshest season of the year.
The people, who knew all too well the fear of cold waves and heavy snowfall, spent this time solemnly. They avoided traveling far if they could, staying indoors and slowly making their way through preserved food. It was quiet, but I quite liked this season, when one could truly feel the value of food, heating, and family.
On one such quiet winter day in Granado Castle—just a little warmer than usual—my older sister came to visit out of the blue.
"Elder sister Anastasia! What's the matter? To come all the way here alone so suddenly!"
"Hm? Well, just because."
Speaking bluntly, my sister tapped the top of her head and brushed the powdery snow off her golden hair.
From the station for shared carriages to Granado Castle, it was quite a distance. Had she walked all the way here alone in this cold?
Ah, her always plump, round rosy cheeks were chilled red...
I cupped my sister's cheeks in both hands to warm them, and without meaning to, my voice turned a little stern.
"If you had told me in advance, I would have sent someone to meet you in the Artisan District. Don't do anything so dangerous."
"No, I came here today from the knights order's fortress. A station carriage happened to be right in front of me, so I just took it."
"From the knights order? Then did Lord Ruifeng not see you home?"
As I kneaded her cheeks, my sister made a displeased face. Her round blue eyes sharpened, and she irritably brushed my hands away.
"This is a private matter. I'm not about to ask Ruifeng to escort me just to visit my younger sister and my niece."
...Well now. Elder sister Anastasia seemed to be being stubborn about something.
As her younger sister, I had plenty more to say, but I supposed she had her own reasons. For the moment, I placed a chair in front of the fireplace and urged her to sit. While adding more firewood, I asked what had brought her here in the first place. She made an awkward face.
"Well, it's just..."
She trailed off.
What was going on? Had she come to ask Tunic to teach her how to do makeup again? That seemed unnecessary. My sister usually dressed in a rather boyish way and went without makeup, and when she went to the royal palace as the prince's consort, she would surely have her own personal maid with her.
My sister continued to mumble, still avoiding the point. After a while, as if choosing her words, she fell silent and then muttered under her breath, not quite meeting my eyes.
"Actually, today I came to see that braided maid..."
"You mean Mio?"
"Y-Yes."
I tilted my head even more. Mio and Anastasia knew each other, but only in that sense. They were closer to mere acquaintances than friends.
And yet she had come specifically to see Mio... What on earth for?
I must have looked worried, because Anastasia gave a perfunctory, "It's nothing much," but still wouldn't say what she wanted. She remained silent for a while as if searching for the right words... and then suddenly shouted in a loud voice.
"I want to get stronger! I want Mio-san to teach me martial arts!"
"...Huh?"
I blinked and asked back in surprise.
Lisa copied me and let out an, "Eh?"