NOVEL WEB Chapter 170
The Empire’s territory is so vast that the climates of the extreme north and south vary greatly even in summer.
In the northern regions, the weather feels like early autumn even in the height of summer, prompting the nobles to go on vacation, while in the south, winter sees no snow at all, remaining pleasantly cool.
“I never thought I’d live to see snow…”
In the southern region of the Empire, the territory of Somerset, the inhabitants had only heard tales of snow but had never actually seen it.
Now, as the white flakes fell from the sky, the territory inhabitants rushed out of their homes, overcome with excitement.
“It’s cold! Real snow is really cold!”
“Look, it sticks together!”
“How can it be snowing in our territory?”
Children, not to mention adults, were ecstatic to see snow for the first time, tasting and throwing it, returning to their childlike glee.
“I’m glad things are going as planned.”
“I truly appreciate you granting my unreasonable request, Lord Yustaf.”
“My prized pupil begged so much that I couldn’t refuse.”
As Yustaf observed the snow-covered territory from the mansion, Jenia rolled her eyes slightly at his words.
“There were many requests for rain, but asking for snow was a first, so I couldn’t guarantee it would work.”
One of the primary roles of wizards was to summon rain for fields in summer.
It was quite common for a lord from a drought-struck area to invite a wizard to request a rain spell, something Yustaf had done many times in his youth.
However, Rupert’s request for the Somerset territory was not for rain but for snow, which required some modifications.
It was a tricky task involving the setup of a magic circle to lower the entire territory’s temperature from the existing rain-summoning spell.
Yustaf was worried about the costs spent to make the snow fall, which were higher than he expected.
“I want to help Lord Rupert with this endeavor!”
He couldn’t let either Ioleen, who had ties to the Imperial Family, or Amelia from the House of Duke Bluewell see his pupil Jenia downcast.
So, he decided to use his treasured magical materials to aid the plan.
Of course,
“I will cover all expenses.”
Thanks to Rupert volunteering to shoulder all the costs of the materials used for making it snow, Yustaf only needed to provide magical assistance.
“Rupert, your sister must be truly lucky to have such a brother.”
“I hope so. It’s a shame for not just Aida but the territory inhabitants to go their whole lives without seeing snow, so it serves the dual purpose.”
While seeing Rupert willingly spend quite a sum just because his sister wanted to, Yustaf remarked.
As they conversed, a girl in red clothing could be seen riding a splendid sleigh through the main gate.
Aida, the very reason all this was happening, was making her way out of the mansion.
“Let’s go, Rach!!!”
“Woof!”
In no time, Rach, who had grown to the size of a small calf, was vigorously pulling the sleigh along the snow-covered path.
In spite of the rather rapid pace, Aida stood confidently on the sleigh’s seat.
Behind Aida, plenty of gifts she had prepared for the village children were piled high.
‘Wait, is she really going to distribute gifts to the kids?’
Rupert finally understood why Aida had been so diligently saving money as he watched her add toys and goods made at the Somerset Workshop.
“Wow!!! The captain is flying!”
“Not the captain! It’s Santa Aida!”
Aida and Rach reached the village in an instant.
Rach, racing along the snow-covered path, was so fast he could have been mistaken for Rudolph.
All the territory inhabitants out to experience the snow witnessed this scene, left stunned by the unexpected agility.
“Henry, you better not cause trouble next year!”
“Yes! Captain!”
“Jefferson, next year you and I will carve Rach and me for a display in the plaza!”
“I’ll definitely do it!”
Aida weaved through the village, handing out gifts one by one.
The children who received the gifts felt as if they had discovered treasure like adventurers.
“Merry Christmas!”
“What’s Merry Christmas, Captain?”
“My brother said it’s a good thing!”
“Then, Merry Christmas to us too!!”
After distributing gifts to the children around the village, Aida hurried to the church.
“Miss, what brings you here…?”
The church’s inhabitants were just as caught off guard by the sudden snowfall.
“Merry Christmas!”
Aida handed out all the remaining gifts from the sleigh to Father Mikhail, who oversaw Somerset’s church, along with children.
“Wow! This is candy!”
“There are toys in here too!”
“Isn’t this from the Somerset Goods Store?”
The children cheered loudly, delighted by the various snacks and toys laid out before them.
“This is what my brother got from the uncle!”
“Master Rupert, you mean?”
Mikhail opened one of the small boxes Aida handed him.
Inside was a simple but neatly carved necklace depicting the Goddess Gaia.
– Thanks to Father Mikhail’s help, the territory is improving. May the Goddess’s blessings always be with you.
“Lord Rupert…”
Following Rupert’s wish to ensure no child in the territory would be without a home, Mikhail was taking care of orphans at the church.
The gift from Rupert made for Mikhail, he held onto the necklace tightly, gazing at the children frolicking in the snow with Aida.
Despite the unexpected snow, Mikhail felt oddly warm inside.
***
“If it weren’t for Jenia’s help this time, it would have been quite the trouble.”
“Not at all. The only thing I did was ask my master for help…”
Jenia felt embarrassed by Rupert’s expression of gratitude.
Her major was fire magic.
What Rupert had requested—to make it snow across the territory—was beyond her capabilities.
If it were a request to burn down a den of monsters, she could have done so without issue.
Thus, relying on her master Yustaf’s abilities, Jenia felt disappointment for not being able to participate directly.
‘I could have shown off my skills this time…’
Though she had a new type of golem in preparation, she regretted missing this opportunity.
“Would you like to take a short walk?”
“Yes, of course.”
Yet despite her regrets, having this time alone with Rupert felt like fortune.
Thanks to Yustaf discreetly leaving, she followed Rupert as they strolled through the Somerset Mansion’s garden.
Crunch.
With each step she took in the now thick layer of snow, she could hear the subtle sound of it crunching beneath her feet.
“Even the family members are excited since it’s their first time seeing snow.”
“It seems the Empire is really vast. The village I lived in saw lots of snow.”
All around them, not just Rupert and Jenia but also maids and workshop staff romped about like children, enjoying the falling snow.
“Is that so? Then you like snow?”
“…No. Actually, I don’t like winter much.”
“May I ask the reason?”
At Rupert’s question, Jenia hesitated for a moment.
It was tied to her unhappy past, a secret she didn’t want to share with others, especially Rupert.
But,
“I lost my parents when I was young and grew up at my uncle’s house.”
Having decided to accept herself as she was, Jenia decided to share her true story with Rupert.
“So I took on household chores, and while summer was manageable, winter made laundry quite difficult.”
It was during winter that Jenia first learned to wield fire magic to warm her frozen hands by the stream.
Dipping her hands in the cold water felt like being pierced with needles, and sometimes she wished she could just cut off her hands.
That’s why she disliked winter.
Her sleeping place was by the window, the cold wind blowing in from the farthest distance from the stove.
When it snowed, her uncle’s children would joyfully play outside while she endured the cold wind to work.
“Is it too pathetic a story?”
“…No.”
Jenia worried a bit that Rupert, as a noble, might dislike learning about her situation.
She thought it might be too pitiful a tale for someone like Prince Rupert.
However, Rupert’s expression wasn’t one of disgust at Jenia’s story.
Instead, he seemed to empathize with her.
Seeing that, Jenia sighed in relief.
“Jenia, if you would, please come this way.”
“Yes.”
After a moment of silence, Rupert finally led Jenia behind the mansion.
There stood a massive tree, almost as grand as the mansion itself.
“This tree was planted by our Somerset family’s ancestor when they first arrived in the territory.”
“It’s really big.”
“Right? It blooms beautifully in spring.”
Jenia imagined what that grand tree would look like in spring.
Thinking of how romantic it would be to share that moment with Rupert beneath the tree full of lovely flowers, she couldn’t help but feel saddened it was winter.
“I’m not a master magician like you, Jenia, but I think I might just be able to do a little trick.”
“Huh?”
“Please close your eyes for a moment.”
Though unsure of his intentions, Jenia obeyed and shut her eyes.
“You might hear something pop, but don’t be startled.”
“Okay.”
Bang!
Just after Jenia answered, a popping sound echoed.
“Now, open your eyes.”
Following Rupert’s cue, Jenia slowly opened her eyes.
“What is this…?”
“Doesn’t it feel like spring?”
Jenia found herself unable to respond to Rupert’s words.
Before her eyes lay an unbelievable sight.
A breathtakingly fantastical scene of pink snow falling from the sky.
“It seems like the tree is blooming…”
“Even though you dislike winter and snow, if there are good memories, won’t there come a day when you might come to like them?”
The pink snow sakura-like fell and piled up on the tree.
Jenia gazed at the scenery for a moment before finally responding to Rupert’s words.
“I think winter would be nice if I’m with you.”
Jenia gave Rupert’s cheek a light kiss before swiftly stepping away.
Now, she felt when winter came, she might no longer recall those unhappy memories, but instead cherish today’s beautiful memory.