Prologue

The North: where the land is barren but the scenery majestic, the weather bitterly cold but the people fiery, and danger always lurks—yet home to people of unyielding strength.

The North's heir had to be perfect.

Especially when receiving a guest as important as this one.

Fortunately, the Grand Duke's heir apparent, properly schooled in the art of ruling from childhood, was every inch the picture of perfection.

Compared to previous years, monsters had been rampaging far more frequently this winter in the frigid lands beyond the mountain range.

The contract with the captain of one of the empire's most renowned mercenary companies would have a profound impact on the North's safety.

For that reason, the heir to the Grand Duchy was doing everything in his power to conduct the conversation with the mercenary captain flawlessly, standing in for the Grand Duke, who was away on military business.

Still, there was one flaw he alone refused to acknowledge...

“Ah, hot!”

“Gah, s-sorry—no, I mean, I sincerely apologize!”

A personal maid who couldn't even pour a cup of tea properly at such an important meeting.

Because she was physically awkward and prone to all sorts of minor mishaps, the maid had earned the nickname ‘Klutz’ and occasionally caused a scene in his stead.

Of course, everyone knew why he didn't dismiss his klutzy maid.

The two had been friends for years, quite apart from their master-and-servant relationship.

And there was another reason everyone but him acknowledged, though he did his best to hide and deny his true feelings.

The maid was simply too beautiful.

Beautiful enough to melt the cold young lord's heart—the future master of the North.

But people didn't know this.

If anyone went up to the maid and praised her elegant silver hair, her graceful, refined face, and her striking figure for someone so petite, she would thank them with an elegant smile—but inwardly, she'd unleash words as harsh as the North's weather.

Then she'd scamper over to her friend and master, pour out all her grievances in exhaustive detail, and finally tack on one utterly unconvincing remark.

“No, seriously. I’m a man!”