Otherworld TRPG Game Master

249 – Between Love and Friendship -1

The snowy field. A vast and pure white expanse.

In this cold land, where breath turns into small clouds and scatters into the sky, people who resemble snowflakes live their lives.

It is unclear whether people have come to resemble snow after living together for a long time, or if only those who originally resembled snow have set foot in the North.

It is amusing and strange that the warmth of life and the ice crystals falling from the sky look so alike.

The piled-up snowflakes are, in fact, a bit spoiled.

Though one might think they are cold because of their temperature and color, what is the reason they settle on the skin and absorb warmth? They were waiting for a warm person to embrace them.

This snowflake, clinging to the window frame with difficulty, is no different. The snow hanging fluffy along with the frost on the glass actually wanted to settle on a person’s hand.

But now that it has fallen here, what can it do? The snow has no feet to move, and the frost won’t let go in the breeze.

If there is any hope, it is only to pray that the maid of the mansion will clean the window frame. If it gets swept down to the floor, perhaps it can pray to be reborn as a snowman.

So for now.

—

In the long, endless wait, I could only soothe my loneliness and continue to wait.

It’s a relief that my situation is better than the snowflakes piled on the roof. The window frame turned out to be a surprisingly good vantage point. Peering into the mansion is an astonishingly entertaining endeavor.

Unlike the snowflakes, humans move busily without a moment’s rest. Watching their vibrant movements makes time slip away swiftly.

And today, it seems, something particularly stimulating has occurred.

“Do you think you’re something special? Honestly, it’s absurd. Do you think the Duke would even notice you wiggling your backside like that?”

“If you’re new here, just do your job properly. Don’t bother with makeup first thing in the morning. How much paint have you slathered on to look this pale and unkempt?”

“…I, um, didn’t wear any makeup.”

“Now you’re resorting to such obvious lies? Ha…”

The maids of the grand mansion surrounded the beautiful woman, hurling insults. Their eyes were filled with jealousy and spite.

I could understand. The woman with hair like ebony was so beautiful that even the wind and clouds would envy her. Even flowers that bloom in winter would fade in her presence.

And how perfect were the curves of her body. Where it should swell, it swelled, and where it should be slim, it was slim.

When the goddess shaped her, did she pour countless hours and effort to ensure not a single flaw remained? There was no way to find a fault.

So they had to find flaws elsewhere.

“The garden beds are a complete mess. Is this how you handle your duties, thinking you can charm your way out of it with that disgraceful body?”

“……”

“You can’t even clean properly; it’s laughable. I don’t understand why the head maid took in such a fool. Did you even try shaking your backside in front of her?”

Poor thing.

Was she disheartened by the pouring insults? The beautiful woman lowered her head and hid her hands behind her back. The maids, interpreting this as a sign of surrender, displayed their triumph on their faces.

But they had no intention of stopping here. Fueled by their momentum, they planned to gnaw at her more persistently, intending to drive this bothersome woman out of the mansion!

Why did they hate her so much…?

As the snowflakes wondered, the glass castle revealed the truth. The servants of this mansion were divided into two factions: one serving the first lady and the other serving the second lady.

From noble mtl dot come

But the woman had chosen neither side. If she had to choose, she leaned towards the Duke of the North. Thus, she became despised by both.

Batty woman. Neither this nor that. Clueless woman!

How could they torment her? What triviality could they pick at to berate her and drive that eyesore away? Yes, let’s scratch her.

If that proud face gets marred, she won’t be able to enchant anyone with her looks, and she’ll surely be cast out!

Just as that cold malice was about to pour forth,

Click. Click.

From the other end of the hallway, the sound of high heels echoed, and a woman in a beautiful dress appeared, her chestnut hair flowing behind her.

With an irritated voice, she scolded the maids.

“What are you all doing? I thought the meal preparations weren’t ready yet.”

—

“Two, the second lady…”

“Go do your work instead of making a fuss. It won’t be long until my husband returns, so there mustn’t be even a hint of negligence!”

“…Yes, my lady.”

Rumble.

The maids dispersed, leaving only the poor woman and the second wife of the Duke of the North in the hallway. The second wife asked carefully, checking if the woman had any injuries.

“Is she a new arrival? I don’t recognize her face.”

“Ah, yes… The steward took me in, and I’ve been working in the mansion since a week ago. Thank you for rescuing me, my lady.”

“I only warned the lazy servants. The first wife’s attendants are arrogant and very jealous, so if you wish to live in peace, it’s better to refrain from makeup.”

“I’m really not wearing any makeup. It’s just the color of my skin.”

“…If I check and find that you are wearing makeup, you’ll be in big trouble. Is this really the case?”

The woman nodded.

With a skeptical expression, the second wife took off her gloves and held the woman’s cheek, rubbing it gently with her thumb. But it was entirely clean, without a trace of makeup.

“It wasn’t a lie, then?”

How could she maintain such skin? If she were part of the working class toiling under the sun, she wouldn’t be able to keep such a color. Was she originally of noble birth?

After thinking this, when she looked at the woman again.

The woman didn’t seem to be intimidated by the second wife at all. Normally, when there’s a disparity in status, one tends to shrink back and be cautious in behavior.

Rather, the woman looked at the second wife with a certain intimacy.

This made her feel a bit flustered. Since marrying into this duke’s household through a political marriage, it was the first time she had received such a gaze.

Even her husband always looked at her with a cold gaze.

The second wife, feeling a ticklish sensation in her heart and flustered with herself, asked for the woman’s name according to etiquette.

“I am the second wife of the duke’s household, Neriel Bruneau. What is your name?”

“It’s Hart! My lady!”

Hart also held the hem of her dress and bowed her head in greeting. Since it was the etiquette of refined nobles, the second wife Neriel was convinced. She must surely be of noble birth.

Thus, the two who met quickly became close.

——–

The world of nobility is chilling. Behind their masks, they hide their true selves, wrapping sharp words in layers, obsessively watching for anything they can devour from one another.

The world of women is the same. When they gather in groups, ugly gossip blooms like anemones, and they can be fiercely harsh to those who aren’t on their side.

Perhaps it could be even colder than snowflakes.

The second wife Neriel Bruneau is a local noble from the North, detached from the duke’s household.

She is a newly emerged noble created when the father of Duke Elbillion of the North divided his power and distributed it to his vassals. Thus, from the perspective of the duke’s household, she was of the bloodline of traitors.

—

They were united in marriage for the sake of peace between their families, yet the Duke of the North showed little interest in her. It was a political arrangement, after all. Her husband’s indifference diminished his wife’s authority.

Thus, the maids of the first wife subtly looked down on Neriel Bruneau. The vassals loyal to the Duke also regarded the second wife with distance, knowing that their lord’s favor was not directed her way.

How lonely must that be? The only allies she had were the attendants she had brought with her.

To her, then…

“Good morning, Neriel!”

“Don’t call me by my name. It’s against etiquette. I am the Duchess, and you are a servant!”

“But it’s such a lovely name… If I don’t use it, it would be a shame, wouldn’t it? When it’s just the two of us, how about saying it with utmost respect in every syllable? Would you forgive me then, Neriel?”

“Ugh… Do as you wish. But it must never be in front of others!”

This warm approach from Hart was like a spoonful of warm stew for someone shivering in the cold, a joy that spread warmth from within.

It was inevitable that they would grow close. She wanted to be close. In winter, everyone longs for the warmth of a fire, so it was not strange at all.

Neriel began to keep Hart by her side, so that the first wife’s maids would not dare to touch her.

And then Hart would warm Neriel’s heart with her pretty, beautiful voice.

One day, however.

Neriel confided her deep worries to Hart.

“…My husband is so cold to me.”

“Oh dear…”

“I understand it’s a political marriage. I know my father betrayed the Duke’s family. That’s why I married, to try to get closer again. But still… since we are bound together, wouldn’t it be better to get along?”

Yes, isn’t that what marriage is?

A man and a woman standing before a priest, swearing in the name of the goddess, becoming one family. Yet the Duke of the North, Elbillion, was frustratingly indifferent.

Neriel tried to get along. She initiated conversations, prepared meals herself, and even wore revealing clothes to visit his bed.

But all were met with rejection. Truly.

On the night of their wedding, when she was rejected once more, Neriel buried her face in the blankets of her bed and cried.

“…Will I be able to get along with him in the future? I have no confidence. The thought of growing old in this mansion, surrounded only by ice-cold people, is unbearable!”

“You must have had a hard time. But still, it’s admirable, Neriel. Not everyone can take on such a challenge.”

“What good is it to challenge? Nothing, nothing changes… I wonder if that’s why people cheat. I might just bring in a man from outside!”

Bang bang.

Neriel pounded the bed sheets with her fists. Though she said that, she had no intention of doing so. It was a sign of her frustration and anger.

She had tried. She had tried so hard.

Would she wither away without ever blooming in her beautiful youth?

—

As the anger passed, sadness arrived. Neriel’s expression became damp like waterlogged seaweed, and seeing her like that, Hart made a resolution.

She didn’t want to leave things as they were.

After all, a remarkable child deserves a happy ending. For someone with a warm heart who helps the bullied servants, a gentle spring is fitting.

She resolved to take action.

Hart knew well about the Duke of the North, which only strengthened her resolve. Duke Daisy of the North wasn’t such a cold person.

There must be a reason for treating a girl who works hard for herself so brusquely. Perhaps it was to create a justification for leaving at any time. Hart speculated this way.

If there are only good intentions between them, connecting is a simple matter… So, Hart spoke to Neriel with conviction.

“You will surely recognize it someday. Absolutely!”

“…Do you really think so?”

“Yes, of course…!”

I will make it happen.

As the hearts of the two women crossed in that small room, a loud noise came from outside. People were bustling about, running around in a flurry.

When Neriel opened the curtain and glanced down, a large carriage was entering the mansion. The Duke of the North, the master of the mansion, was returning!

“H-Hart! Is there anything strange about me?”

“Just a moment, I’ll quickly fix your hair!”

Hart comforted the flustered Neriel, tidying up everything from her hair to the creases in her clothes in an instant. Then, she accompanied her outside the mansion.

As she descended to the first floor and opened the mansion’s door…

A sharply handsome man with sky-blue hair neatly swept back was stepping down from the carriage. Duke Elbillion of the North was just arriving.

“The rightful and lawful ruler of the North, His Grace Duke Elbillion Julius has returned!”

He was so handsome.

Even someone as cold as he was would leave one in awe at that face. Neriel stood confidently by the door, trying to ignore her fluttering heart.

“…….”

The Duke of the North turned around. His eyes widened in surprise.

Could it be… that warm feelings like excitement or joy were beginning to take root? Neriel’s heart started to race wildly. Perhaps Hart was right.

Could it be that he finally recognized her feelings?

Step by step.

The Duke of the North approached. Neriel wondered what words she should say, cycling through dozens of model answers in her mind, erasing them one by one.

Finally, she chose one. Neriel decided to muster a bit more courage!

Awkward, yet still. Suppressing her embarrassment.

“My dear, I’m back──”

“Heart… Am I seeing things? You are here.”

“……..”

The Northern Duke passed right by Neriel.

Neriel turned her head with a creak. That cold Northern Duke, the one who had never smiled at her, was now beaming… at Heart.

“I can only be grateful for this reunion… May I ask what happened?”

“No, Daisy… I don’t think this is the time to focus on me. Didn’t I clearly ask you to remember me like an orange?”

“The sweetness of the orange simply won’t fade.”

“……..”

Crack. The sound of a heart shattering.

Before her eyes, the Northern Duke was smiling, while Heart’s pupils trembled in embarrassment. Strangely enough, it looked beautifully like a masterpiece, harmoniously intertwined.

And so.

Neriel felt as if the world was crumbling around her.