Chapter 47 - Vignettes of a Winter Day (2)
"My lady."
"Arveil, what is it?"
Today, Ariarein was stationed not in her usual study, but in the drawing room of the royal capital estate. Arveil had suggested that on a day like this, the drawing room with the large fireplace would be better, and Ariarein had obediently accepted it.
"A message from Viscount Lamard. He says that regarding today's visit, he is very sorry but would like to postpone it."
"It can't be helped in this weather. Tell him not to worry about it."
"Yes."
"Give the messenger something warm. Also, if there are any baked sweets, wrap some up and let him take them."
"Understood, my lady."
During the morning, two more messengers visited the royal capital estate, conveyed similar messages, and left after receiving similar small hospitality.
"Oh, Arveil, with this, today's afternoon schedule is—"
"...Gone, isn't it?"
The snow had not yet stopped falling. A bad premonition crossed Arveil's mind.
"I want to go out into the garden."
"It is cold, though."
"I know, it's snow. ...It doesn't fall in Mares, does it? Especially snow like this."
"What if you catch a cold?"
"I just have to dress warmly, right?"
"That is, well, as you say."
"Then it's decided!"
Being told with a definitive smile, there was no room for Arveil to argue.
"Let's keep it until noon at the latest, my lady. I will tell them to prepare hot water now. Please promise to soak in it once you are done."
If that was the case, all that remained was a conditional struggle to ensure Ariarein did not get too cold.
"I promise. Until before lunch, and after that, I'll use the hot water. In the afternoon, let's see, I'll spend it slowly reading a book while drinking sweet tea here. Is that okay?"
Yes, Arveil nodded.
"Then Arveil, will you join me?"
Of course, Arveil had no objection.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Ariarein, who had changed her clothes in about fifteen minutes, was out in the garden covered in pure white snow, enjoying herself. She was fully equipped, wearing a knitted wrap over her indoor clothes, a coat over that, a muffler wrapped around her, a fur hat, and even gloves.
The accumulated snow went past her ankles, and with every step Ariarein took, a clear footprint remained in the snow. The snow on the garden trees had been knocked off in the morning, but now snow was starting to pile up on the branches again. The low shrubs were the same, standing quietly with snow on their heads again after it had been brushed off once.
In Mares, which had a warm climate even in winter, it never snowed. Except perhaps in the mountains of the Dragonbone or Dragonwing ranges, for Ariarein, who lived in the Marquess's palace in Mares, this was her first snow. The reason Arveil, who had tried to dissuade her, stopped halfway was also because of that. As a loyal retainer, he could not possibly force Ariarein to stay inside when she showed a child-like expression at the first snow she had ever seen.
Arveil watched over Ariarein, who had gone out into the garden in her bulky outfit, from a short distance away. He was wearing a coat over his usual retainer uniform, along with a muffler and a hat. He did not wear gloves, keeping his hands in his coat pockets. If he wore gloves, he wouldn't be able to grip his short sword as he wished, but if his hands got too cold, he still wouldn't be able to swing it. It was a desperate measure for Arveil.
Whether she knew of his struggle or not, Ariarein was moving here and there in the garden. She gazed at the snow piled on the branches of the garden trees, ducked her head at a branch that snapped back with a thud, brushed off the snow on top of the shrubs, and drew pictures with her footprints on the snow piled on the lawn.
Thinking she was just like a young child, Arveil was a little surprised at himself for finding it charming.
When Ariarein approached while exhaling white breath, Arveil thought she was going to return to the room. He was thinking that even though he had told her not to get cold, they might have stayed out a bit long.
"Are you returning to the room, my lady?"
"Hey Arveil, did you know?"
"—Know what?"
At the unusually mismatched exchange, Arveil's reply was delayed by half a beat.
"I heard that in lands where it snows a lot, children make dolls out of snow to play with."
"...I see."
After answering, Arveil thought it was a dim-witted reply.
"I thought I'd make one before going back to the room."
Arveil nodded silently. There was no reason he could stop her.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Using the snow piled on the table brought out to the garden, Ariarein finished making a curled-up cat and nodded with satisfaction.
"Arveil, how is it?"
"It looks like it's sleeping soundly."
It was a cat sleeping in a ball, such that one wouldn't know which was the head or the tail without looking closely.
"I wonder if it'll melt by tomorrow."
"I wonder. It might remain, but it might not look like a cat anymore."
"That's a shame."
As she spoke, Ariarein picked up her gloves. Not being satisfied with the finishing touches, she had taken off her gloves at the end to finish the snow cat with her bare hands. Ariarein, who was about to put the gloves on her hands, suddenly stopped her movement.
"Hey, Arveil."
She called the retainer in a small voice.
"Yes."
Responding in the same small voice and leaning in, Ariarein's chilled hands were thrust into the gap of Arveil's muffler.
"They got cold. But it's warm like this, isn't it?"
Arveil, who grimaced just a little at the coldness, thrust the hand he had taken out of his pocket under his own muffler.
"They certainly have gotten quite cold, my lady."
He spoke while squeezing her cold hands under the muffler and bringing his face close. Ariarein's cheeks, which had been slightly red from the cold, took on a different shade of red.
"Let's return to the room soon."
Ariarein, her face red, let out a small breath and nodded silently.
Second story. Presented to you with a young lady returning to her childhood and a retainer who lands a counter-attack.