In the Norse camp, a faint chill lingered around the central command tent guarded by the Valkyries. Birdsong and insect cries had gone silent, and all was still. Inside the dim room, the atmosphere was solemn, with a slight sense of pressure. In the empty space, the only sound left was the soft scratch of a pen moving across papyrus.
Phew! This pile is finally almost done…
Skadi, bent over the desk, used the moment while her pen drank in ink to shift slightly in her chair and stretch her stiff neck, shoulders, and limbs. She glanced at the few remaining files on the table, and a sense of accomplishment rose in her heart. The corner of her mouth lifted pleasantly.
But then, looking down at the stack of documents she had already reviewed by her feet, nearly a meter tall at least, the Goddess of Winter could not help falling into a daze. Her dark brows drew together.
It feels like it's been a long time since I worked this hard…
But now that I think about it, it's strange. Whether as the divine consort of Jotunheim or the Queen of the Land of Shadows in role-play, I've tried both before. Why did neither feel as exhausting as Greece?
I was clearly busy back then too. I had plenty to do.
Like skiing… hunting… exploring… sleeping… enjoying the scenery?
As she drifted into memories of the past, Skadi could not help laughing silently, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
She had indeed been busy, but all of those had been amusements suited to her divine nature and personal temperament.
As for those so-called duties, she had only dabbled in most of them and had never put in much serious effort. Naturally, she had not experienced much hardship either.
When did I become this idle?
It seems… it was after I brought that guy home…
Ever since Samael and Odin joined forces and took control of Jotunheim, whether it was the small details of daily life or the difficulties of government, she seemed never to have worried about the things around her.
Even establishing order in chaotic Jotunheim, imprisoning Surtr, King of the Fire Giants, mediating conflicts among the Nine Realms, securing a place in Asgard, and standing as equals with the Aesir and Vanir…
To others, each of those deeds was close to a great undertaking, yet she had never felt they were particularly difficult. As long as that man was there, she only had to enjoy herself as much as she liked.
Tamamo-no-Mae's reminder had been right. She had been protected too well. She had never thought about how hard it was to be a qualified decision-maker.
The iced porridge in the morning, the cold drinks in the evening, the snow boots and hunting dogs prepared in advance at winter hunting spots, the flowers and plants she had once transplanted into the courtyard on a whim and barely cared for afterward, yet which had always grown lush and thriving…
Looking back at those details she had never noticed before, she finally understood how difficult it was to make time for all of them amid so much work.
And now, after experiencing some things herself…
Whenever she thought of that person, her heart ached faintly… and she felt a faint worry as well…
The fear of no longer being needed. The fear of losing him like this…
Skadi rubbed her aching wrist and shook her head helplessly.
Forget it. I don't know when that guy will wake up. For now, I should sort through the work piled up in front of me as much as I can. I can't rely on him forever, can I?
As her thoughts returned, the Goddess of Winter continued reviewing the files at her desk, speeding up the final work. She rang the bell beneath the table, signaling for new documents to be brought in.
The clear chime rang out, and a figure followed the shadows into the room.
So, tonight will be an all-nighter!
Just as Skadi made up her mind to fight through the night and reached for the files, her fingertips touched a familiar chill. Her nostrils moved instinctively, and the sweet-sour scent of cream and fruit flowed into her nose.
The Goddess of Winter looked up at the ice-and-snow "castle" on the plate beside her, along with a glass of golden mead mixed with ice, lemon, and liquor, thick bubbles rising from within. She froze slightly.
At the same time, a pair of hands settled on her shoulders.
Skadi's body first stiffened, but as those fingers kneaded through the tight, stiff muscles around her shoulder blades, bringing an indescribable comfort, a familiar feeling rose in her heart. The Goddess of Winter's tense muscles gradually relaxed.
"You're awake? How do you feel?"
The goddess's tone remained cool and aloof, but the corner of her mouth lifted without her noticing.
"How else would I feel? I'm doing fine. You're the one who's had it rough these past few days."
Samael answered with a soft laugh. He lowered his eyes and watched Skadi pretend to pick up a document and read it absently, while the corners of her eyes kept drifting toward him. A mischievous, teasing look appeared on his face. His left hand supported one side of that pale, swan-like neck, while the knuckle of his bent right index finger pressed against her cervical spine and massaged downward. The three fingers sweeping sideways brushed across her skin like feathers.
Hiss…
Skadi's delicate body trembled slightly, an unnatural flush spreading across her face. She bit her lower lip, inhaling sharply through her nose, barely swallowing the moan lodged in her throat.
Sure enough, those sensitive spots still worked just like before. With the slightest teasing, the ice and snow melted.
"Stop messing around…"
The Goddess of Winter glared at the bad man making trouble, but only gave a small snort.
"I saw how hard you were working, so I came especially to serve you, Lady Skadi."
Samael blinked, his tone teasing.
"I still have work!"
Skadi raised her voice slightly, her dark brows drawing together.
"I worked so hard to make this ice cream. Eat it first. If you wait any longer, it'll melt…"
Samael pushed the plate and crystal cup in front of his wife. Then, without waiting for a reply, he drew away the documents in front of Skadi and smoothly finished the remaining odds and ends.
After drinking the mead, a charming flush appeared on the Goddess of Winter's face. She carefully circled the ice cream shaped like a snow castle, looking at it from left and right, but still could not bear to take a bite. She was like a little girl who had received a precious gift and could not bring herself to damage it.
Meanwhile, Samael, who had finished the work, propped up his chin and watched his wife with a half-smile as her ice and snow melted away, revealing a more amusing side of her.
After being watched for too long, Skadi's body stiffened slightly. She set down the spoon and raised her dark brows.
"Speaking of which, don't you have work to do? How long do you plan to stay here?"
Samael raised his hands in surrender. He could only put away his teasing thoughts and leave the tent to continue his inspection.
Only after the figure outside the tent had gone farther and farther away did Skadi let out a relieved breath. She picked up the small spoon, studied the ice cream for a long while, then carefully scooped a spoonful from the edge of the snow castle and brought it into her slightly parted lips.
At once, the appetizing tartness of yogurt, mixed with the fragrance of vanilla and the sweetness of fruit pulp, bloomed across her taste buds along with the spreading chill.
After tasting just one spoonful, Skadi gathered her thoughts with a hint of regret. She carved a Rune to lower the temperature, carefully set the crystal-clear snow castle aside, cleared her throat, and restored the bearing of a goddess before calling toward the door.
However, when Brynhildr and the three Valkyries waiting outside entered the room, their hands were empty. They lowered their heads and answered softly.
"The accumulated work was already handled by His Highness Samael in the next room before he came in."
"He arrived early?"
"Mm-hmm. His Highness told us not to report it, because he was afraid of disturbing you. After finishing the government work, he even made time to visit the kitchen…"
Skadi followed Brynhildr's gaze to the snow castle on the desk, and a pleased curve formed at the corner of her mouth.
Mm. Ice cream is a good thing…
Just as Skadi was feeling cheerful and looking around the room, she noticed some kind of white trace at the corners of the four Valkyries' mouths and asked without thinking.
"You mean this? Ice cream. His Highness made it and left lots for us. It was delicious! There's still a big bucket in the kitchen. Would you like to try some?"
The pink-haired Hildr instinctively curled her tongue and licked the remaining trace from the corner of her mouth, then answered with lingering satisfaction.
Crack!
In an instant, the pleasure on Skadi's face froze. The spoon in her hand snapped halfway, and she dug straight through half of the snow castle, stuffing it into her mouth in one go.
Feeling the surrounding temperature plunge, the other three Valkyries fell silent in fear, casting resentful glances at a certain pink-haired idiot who had no idea what she had done.