The journey lasted exactly three days.
Three long days beneath the endless northern sky.
Three days through frozen forests, snow-covered roads, and mountain paths where even experienced merchants rarely traveled willingly.
The further they traveled from Rosenfeld Estate, the harsher the world became.
The cold grew sharper.
The settlements became fewer.
The wilderness became larger.
And the monsters became more frequent.
Yet strangely—
The escort knights felt less nervous with every passing day.
Not because the dangers disappeared.
But because they had witnessed something absurd.
The first monster appeared during the morning of the first day.
A Frostfang Bear.
A creature capable of tearing apart an entire merchant caravan.
Its massive body burst from a snow-covered forest.
White fur covered its enormous frame.
Sharp crystalline claws glimmered beneath sunlight.
The escort knights immediately reached for their weapons.
Before they could react—
A silver flash appeared.
The monster's head separated from its body.
Silence.
Kel never even dismounted his horse.
The young lord merely continued riding.
"Store the core."
That was all he said.
The knights stared.
Then hurriedly collected the monster core.
The journey continued.
The second monster appeared an hour later.
Then another.
Then another.
At some point—
The escort stopped counting.
Until the lead knight eventually began keeping records.
By the end of the journey—
Fifty-three monsters.
Fifty-three.
Every single one had died before reaching the convoy.
No knight had been injured.
No horse had been harmed.
No delay had occurred.
The escort felt increasingly unreal.
One knight eventually whispered:
"Are we actually serving as escorts?"
Another looked toward Kel.
The young lord sat calmly upon his horse.
Reading documents.
The knight sighed.
"I think we're transporting monster cores."
The others silently agreed.
Inside his mind—
Sairen laughed.
"Your escort's confidence is being destroyed."
Kel continued reading.
"Good."
"Good?"
"Confident soldiers become careless soldiers."
The Guardian became silent.
A moment later she sighed.
"Your father really did create a smaller version of himself."
Kel ignored her.
As usual.
The third day arrived.
The weather worsened.
Dark clouds covered the sky.
Snowfall intensified.
The roads narrowed.
Yet finally—
The territory's central city appeared.
Kel slowly lifted his gaze.
And saw his future.
A city stood amidst the endless white landscape.
Massive stone walls surrounded it.
Watchtowers rose above the snow.
Northern banners fluttered against powerful winds.
The city wasn't beautiful.
At least not by noble standards.
The buildings were practical.
Thick stone.
Heavy timber.
Sloped roofs designed to survive snowstorms.
A frontier city.
Built not for elegance.
But survival.
The moment the Rosenfeld banner became visible—
The city gates opened immediately.
No inspection.
No questioning.
No delays.
The soldiers upon the walls immediately straightened.
The heir of House Rosenfeld had arrived.
The newly appointed Count had arrived.
The lord of Frostbound Coast had returned to claim his domain.
The carriage entered.
Kel observed everything quietly.
The streets contained fewer people than expected.
Workers.
Hunters.
Merchants.
Blacksmiths.
Yet compared to other northern cities—
The population felt thin.
Very thin.
The economic activity was also limited.
Several buildings remained empty.
Some shops appeared abandoned.
Kel observed silently.
Inside his mind—
Calculations had already begun.
Potential growth.
Infrastructure.
Resources.
Population attraction.
Trade routes.
Guild expansion.
The city appeared poor.
To others.
To Kel—
It appeared unfinished.
And unfinished things could be improved.
Eventually—
The central mansion became visible.
A large estate stood atop a hill overlooking the city.
Not as magnificent as Rosenfeld Estate.
Not even close.
Yet it carried dignity.
Ancient stone walls.
A large courtyard.
Northern architecture.
Strong defensive structures.
Built to endure.
The convoy stopped.
The carriage door opened.
Cold wind rushed forward immediately.
Kel stepped out.
The moment his boots touched the ground—
Everyone waiting outside bowed.
Servants.
Attendants.
Guards.
Administrators.
Maids.
Every person lowered their heads.
"Welcome, Lord Kel."
Their voices echoed together.
Kel calmly observed them.
Then immediately noticed something.
There weren't many.
Far fewer than expected.
A territory this large should possess hundreds of attendants.
Yet only several dozen stood present.
The difference was obvious.
Population shortage.
Exactly as reported.
The cold wind blew through the courtyard.
Many servants wore old uniforms.
Several attendants appeared overworked.
Yet despite everything—
Their posture remained proper.
Their expressions respectful.
They were trying.
Doing their best despite difficult circumstances.
Kel noticed that immediately.
A middle-aged woman stepped forward.
Elegant.
Composed.
Professional.
A dark maid uniform covered by a thick northern cloak.
Silver strands mixed within her black hair.
The woman bowed deeply.
"I greet Lord Kel."
Her movements were flawless.
Years of service were visible in every gesture.
Kel nodded.
The woman continued.
"I am Eleanor."
"The Head Maid of the Lord's Residence."
Her voice remained calm.
Yet Kel noticed slight nervousness hidden beneath it.
Natural.
A new lord had arrived.
No one knew what kind of ruler he would become.
A tyrant?
A noble idealist?
A distant administrator?
A spoiled heir?
Nobody knew.
Eleanor certainly didn't.
Kel spoke calmly.
"You've worked hard maintaining this place."
The Head Maid froze.
Just briefly.
Because she had expected orders.
Questions.
Demands.
Not acknowledgment.
The woman quickly recovered.
Then lowered her head slightly.
"Thank you, my lord."
Kel simply nodded.
The reaction wasn't dramatic.
Yet several servants exchanged surprised glances.
Because the young lord's first observation had not been about the estate.
Or the city.
Or finances.
It had been about the people working there.
A small detail.
Yet details mattered.
Inside his mind—
Sairen chuckled.
"You already started."
"Started what?"
"Winning people over."
Kel ignored her.
As usual.
The Head Maid began guiding him toward the mansion.
The escort knights followed behind.
The large entrance doors opened.
Warm air immediately flowed outward.
A pleasant contrast against the freezing weather.
Kel entered.
The interior reflected northern practicality.
Large fireplaces.
Heavy wooden furniture.
Stone pillars.
Warm lighting.
Nothing excessive.
Nothing luxurious.
Yet comfortable.
Reliable.
Like the territory itself.
The Head Maid guided him through several hallways.
Many servants stopped and bowed respectfully as he passed.
Several looked curious.
After all—
The rumors surrounding Kel Rosenfeld had spread throughout the north.
The cursed heir.
The miracle child.
The future successor of House Rosenfeld.
Now standing before them.
Eventually—
They reached a large office.
The room overlooked the city below.
Maps covered one wall.
Reports filled several shelves.
A large desk occupied the center.
The previous lord's administrative office.
Now Kel's.
The Head Maid stopped.
"My lord."
She bowed once more.
"Everything currently belongs to your authority."
Kel walked toward the large window.
Snow drifted across the city.
Smoke rose from chimneys.
People continued their daily lives below.
The Frozen Coast.
His territory.
His responsibility.
His future.
Inside his mind—
Sairen spoke softly.
"So?"
Kel looked across the endless northern horizon.
Beyond the city.
Beyond the forests.
Toward the frozen coastline hidden in the distance.
A faint smile appeared.
"It's smaller than I expected."
The Guardian blinked.
"The territory?"
"The problems."
Silence.
Then Sairen burst into laughter.
Because only Kel Rosenfeld could arrive at a struggling frontier territory and immediately conclude that the problems weren't large enough.
Outside—
The snow continued falling.
The city continued living.
And far above—
The northern sky watched quietly.
The new Count had arrived.
And though nobody realized it yet—
The frozen frontier was about to change forever.