Ethan, raising an eyebrow in surprise: "What?"
Niklaus looked at him coolly, then clarified in a low but perfectly clear voice.
Niklaus: "When you address me, just use my name... I don't want you adding any titles or anything else."
That was an unusual statement—something Ethan hadn't expected to hear.
He shot him a sideways glance, then let out a light, sarcastic smile. Ethan, in his usual manner, placed his hand on his chest pretending to be shocked: "How dare I! Addressing the second prince of the great Valderin Empire by his first name only? Without even 'my lord' before it?! That's truly unbelievable!"
But Niklaus didn't react to his sarcasm. He said more quietly, as if he didn't want to repeat himself.
"When we pass by anyone, or walk anywhere, addressing me by name alone will make the whole thing less suspicious."
Then he added, after a moment of thought.
Niklaus: "You're older than me. If you say 'my lord,' it means you're a noble's servant, and that alone might bring questions we don't need."
Ethan paused for a moment, then let out a small sigh as he looked at the sky, as if absorbing his words more deeply.
It wasn't just a change in how they spoke—it was part of the hidden plan to avoid revealing their identities. Something simple, yet carrying profound impact.
After they finished eating, darkness began to fall. The forest surrounded them with its frozen silence, and nothing remained but the moonlight beginning to filter through the snow-heavy branches.
The stars were clear, brighter than they had been in the capital. They glittered in the sky like shards of light scattered across an endless space.
There was no sleep that night—only cold creeping through the bones, and a heavy silence enveloping the place, broken only by the sound of wind brushing against the accumulated snow.
Niklaus and Ethan, despite resting, did not close their eyes. They knew that sleeping out in the open in this bitter cold was not a good idea.
Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, old images and unclear events floating through their minds, as if the night's cold had brought to the surface memories there had been no time to revisit.
Then, very slowly, the sky began to change.
At first, there was a faint glimmer on the horizon—just a thin golden line trying to cut its way through the night. Then the light began to creep slowly, touching the frozen peaks, spilling over the trees with a timid touch, as if the world itself was waking after a deep slumber.
The snow, which had been covered in darkness the day before, was now gleaming, reflecting the morning light like scattered pieces of crystal.
It was a brief moment, but it carried a strange feeling—as if this land, despite its harshness, held a kind of beauty that could only be seen when light met snow.
Niklaus took a deep breath, then stood up.
He didn't say anything. His rising was enough to announce that the rest was over.
Ethan, who had been leaning against a tree trunk, let out a long sigh.
Ethan, with heavy words but his usual sarcasm: "Oh, great! Another journey without breakfast! Are we in a survival challenge or an expedition?!"
But Niklaus didn't respond. He just started walking, while Ethan followed, muttering a few words about the bad luck that always haunted him.
The two began moving deeper into the duchy, where the trees grew thicker and the path started to twist irregularly, as if nature itself didn't want them to find a straight way.
The terrain wasn't easy. The ground became rougher, and ice began to form on the rocks, making every step treacherous.
Yet despite that, they kept walking without stopping. They only paused for moments to catch their breath, then resumed moving as if the road allowed them no rest.
And as they passed through one of the narrow paths, Ethan let out another comment, as usual.
Ethan, in an annoyed but sly tone: "Do you realize we've been walking for hours?! I don't even have the energy to complain anymore. Even my tongue is starting to freeze!"
Niklaus, though he heard, showed no reaction. He just kept walking, making Ethan let out another sigh. But he quickly added.
Ethan, with a sideways smile: "You know what? When we get to a proper place, I'm going to demand a meal I deserve. Something real—not another innocent rabbit!"