Diary of Guarding Monster Girls

Frost Crystal Kingdom, Royal City.

The Kingdom is located near the Northern Lands, with a cold climate. At the beginning of this month, the blessing of the Ice and Snow Goddess descended upon the Frost Crystal Royal City.

Tall and magnificent castles stand in the center of the city, their stone walls covered with a layer of pristine snow, with the crenellations on the ramparts neatly arranged like small white blocks.

The spires of the castle towers are outlined with snow, appearing stern and majestic under the overcast sky.

Surrounding the royal palace castle is the noble district, where the architecture is splendid, often using the traditional amethyst color of the Frost Crystal Kingdom, which appears especially striking against the backdrop of white snow.

The roads made of stone are broad and flat, wide enough for four carriages to pass side by side. Occasionally, you can see carriages adorned with lavish noble family crests slowly passing along them.

Nobles clad in luxurious fur coats have just returned from hunting, their game loaded on horseback as they ride slowly down the main street of the city, followed by a retinue of attendants.

The attendants carry banners and weapons, treading cautiously in the snow, afraid of slipping or twisting an ankle, their breath quickly dissipating in the cold air.

The noble would stop when passing a carriage, lightly bowing while seated atop the horse, offering a gracious smile in greeting to the noblewomen inside.

This elegant and noble action makes the scene appear like something out of a fairy tale.

Further out lies the civilian district.

The houses here are mostly wood structures, with thick layers of snow accumulated on their shingle roofs. Some snow has melted from the warmth within the houses, forming icicles of varying lengths under the eaves.

From a distance, these houses look like small white boxes, with only the curls of smoke from chimneys showing a hint of life.

Narrow streets are covered with snow, leaving only a muddy path in the middle, trodden by passersby and carriages.

Snow piled high on both sides of this path, occasional children dig through the snowdrifts, trying to unearth small objects buried by the snow.

The civilians mostly wear old cotton clothes, tightly wrapped with cloth strips to ward off the cold.

Old people sit at their doorsteps, their eyes revealing resignation to the frigid season and a longing for the warm spring.

Despite it being winter, street vendors struggle to peddle their goods amid the wind and snow. Their stalls display simple everyday items like rough pottery and handcrafted blankets.

Their faces show the fatigue left by winter, yet they still endeavor to sell their goods to passersby, hoping to exchange them for enough money to buy more coal.

Those damn black things are frighteningly expensive this year!

At the start of the month, they were only about thirty percent more expensive than last year, but now they're already double in price!

And no one knows how much higher they might go...

It's said that a few days ago, the coal mine to the north of the Royal City suddenly collapsed, crushing many miners and slaves. That ruthless Sir Kevin lost everything and was ultimately sent to the gallows by the furious Eldest Prince himself.

Later, Sir Chuck, who was ordered to take over the coal mine, took in the surviving miners, treated them, and paid them compensation. The expenses were too great, so he had no choice but to raise coal prices.

No, it's not just coal; coarse salt prices have also increased by twenty percent.

As well as black bread, dry wood, and many other things... But overall, it's still manageable. Life is harder, but still sustainable.

If we can get through this winter, when spring arrives next year, things will get better again!

And the outermost, largest part of the city is the lower district, also known as the slums.

Crooked wooden shacks stand there, with some thatched roofs blown apart by the wind and snow, exposing the decayed wooden beams beneath. The walls are full of gaps, with cold winds howling through them into the houses.

Some houses are hastily assembled with stones, without precise polishing or joining. The mortar between the stones has long since crumbled, with wind carrying snow in and out of the holes.

The people taking refuge here have long since lost the energy to attend to such matters. They huddle together, trembling, awaiting the arrival of death.

A gravely injured man on the verge of death lies unconscious, wrapped in shabby coarse cloth clothes full of patches, with cold wind piercing his skin through the thin fabric.

His hair and beard grow wildly, encrusted with ice, and his cheeks are tinged with a bluish-purple hue.

Beside him, a woman is wrapped in a tattered blanket, holding a similarly ragged child in her arms.

The child's face is flushed red from the cold, lips blue, trembling in the mother's embrace, his eyes full of fear and confusion.

Although no one utters a word, they are all painfully aware... This winter, they probably won't make it through.

But what does it matter?

No one really cares if they live or die.

Just like after that explosion when those people threw the surviving men back as if they were trash.

They spoke grandiose words, but no one really cared about their lives or deaths.

Except... the divine.

Creek—

The rickety door gently opens, and an old man covered in snow hobbles in from the wind and snow.

After closing the door, he waits cautiously for a while to ensure no footsteps have followed him before uncovering his clothes to take out hidden items inside.

Two pieces of cut black bread, and a small piece of hardened black salted meat, these are the family's rations.

The child's eyes light up with surprise but soon fall silent again, knowing these are not meant to be eaten directly but must be cut into small pieces to soak in water.

This was relief food from the Ice and Snow Divine Hall.

The priest lords, guided by the merciful goddess, braved the wind and snow to distribute food in the slums.

The food is neither tasty nor plentiful, but it's their most crucial lifeline at the moment.

"Praise the goddess…"

"Praise the goddess!"

In the dilapidated room, they express sincere gratitude, devoutly thanking the great presence that granted them this last hope.

And at the same moment, in the heart of the Royal City, deep within the royal palace, a grand banquet is underway.

The banquet hall of the royal palace is incredibly spacious, with a massive stone fireplace ablaze, the flames dancing, emitting searing light and warmth, driving away the harshness of winter.

Above the stone fireplace is an exquisite Frost Crystal emblem, which appears even more dignified under the firelight's reflection.

A long dining table is covered with a white tablecloth, set with exquisite silver utensils, gleaming with an icy sheen in the candlelight.

Servants, carrying silver trays filled with food, shuttle between the tables, presenting various opulent dishes for the banquet.

Regrettably, though, not many people are indulging in these tempting delicacies.

Elegantly dressed nobles gather in small groups, holding wine glasses, smiling and chatting, but their minds are elsewhere.

Of course, they're not here for the food.

Their gaze, however, silently drifts towards the center of the banquet hall, focusing on that outstanding figure.

The most beloved Little Princess of the Frost Crystal Kingdom, Philia Olivia.

Today is her coming-of-age ball.