The carriage rolled steadily over the frozen mud on the journey home, its axles creaking amid the frost, snow, and frozen earth.
Beyond the windows stretched the gray-white wilderness of the Northern Frontier, where the lingering snow had yet to melt.
The carriage was not particularly warm, but the dim amber glow of the oil lamp made it feel especially peaceful.
Louis sat at the table with a hand-drawn map of the rough terrain spread before him, slowly tracing lines across it with his pen.
Emily nestled opposite him, wrapped in a fur cloak, her hands cupped around freshly brewed hot tea.
The tea carried a faint scent of bitter barley, raising a trace of warmth in the cold air.
She glanced at Louis and asked with a soft laugh, "Are you planning to map out the entire Northern Frontier without stopping for a breath?"
Louis did not look up. "Have you ever seen anyone sow seeds without plowing first?"
Emily leaned closer, tilting her head to study the map beneath his pen. "So you're plowing now?"
"Laying the groundwork."
His brow furrowed slightly as his pen traveled back and forth across the map. Occasionally, he stopped to circle a spot, then frowned and crossed it out to redraw it.
Lamplight flickered in his eyes, as though the invisible blueprint in his mind was slowly taking shape.
Emily watched, momentarily entranced, before laughing softly. "My lord... why don't you explain it to me?"
Louis still did not look up, merely raising an eyebrow. "Explain what?"
"You've been drawing on that map for so long that I've almost memorized its lines. Why not teach me a little? I could learn something too."
Only then did Louis set down his pen and glance at her, his gaze softening. "You really want to